Chapter 12
September 7, 1982
21:00
Barley Barber swamp
East Florida
“My ass is fucking wet.”
“Practicing for your next sex chat, Corporal Mitchell?”
Hazard choked on a laugh. Never in a million years would he have expected a comment alluding to an omega’s slick to come out of the captain’s mouth. He responded on the comm link connecting him to his squadmate. “Not that kind of wet. Wet from this cursed swamp water I’m squatting in. Although if you want to hear some dirty talk I’d be happy to oblige.”
“I don’t.”
“Shame. Because I’ve been told I could have a career as a phone sex operator if this military thing doesn’t work out.”
Ice only snorted a dry laugh to that.
Hazard adjusted his position where he squatted on the swamp’s shoreline. Unfortunately, the minute movement didn’t do anything to get away from the water that occasionally rolled past him in a gentle wave. He knew by now that comfort wasn’t a priority on missions. This one just happened to be one of the more unpleasant.
Top secret plans and sensitive information had been stolen from a US weapons manufacturer. The stolen info was scheduled to go on sale on the black market in seventy-two hours. He and Ice had been sent to recover it before that could happen. It was only the two of them on comms until they were ready for ex-fil. According to their intel, the mercenaries who stole the documents were bringing them here to the dilapidated cabin in Florida that Hazard currently had his eye on. This is where the mercs planned to hide out until it was time to meet up with their potential buyers.
Hazard looked back over his shoulder to the hilly, tree-covered area where Ice was posted up with his sniper rifle. He couldn’t see him of course, but he knew the alpha was there, watching.
“At least you get to be up high and dry on overwatch and not stuck down here in this disgusting, muddy water.”
“I’ve been in worse.”
“Really? When?”
“Solo mission two years ago. The target was holed up in a shack on the other side of a tar pit. It took an entire day for the guy to show his face so I could take him out. The stench of rotten eggs from the pit was so fucking terrible I nearly threw up several times while I waited.”
Hazard made a noise of disgusted sympathy. He continued listening to the captain’s deep voice in his ear, surprised that he was talking this much.
“Never been so glad to wrap up a kill and head to extraction. I smelled so bad the pilot didn’t even want to let me on the helo.”
Hazard quietly chuckled as he imagined a smelly captain arguing with the pilot to be allowed on the helicopter. “Well, I’ll for sure be glad to get out of this swamp. And hopefully I’ll never have to experience waiting out by a tar pit.”
“You should be so lucky.”
They went quiet. Hazard scanned his surroundings once more. The moon glinted off the swamp’s murky surface. Gnarled trees rose at the edge of the water, moss hanging down like dark, tattered curtains. Occasionally a frog poked its head above the surface to let out a ribbit . A few feet in front of him, the water rippled as something swam past. He caught a glimpse of a ridged tail.
“Think I saw a gator,” he whispered.
“You got Snausages in your pack?” Ice asked in an equally low voice.
“Why would I have dog treats on me?”
“If you did, you could throw ‘em to the gator so he’d eat them instead of you.”
Hazard breathed an amused laugh before he answered. “Negative on the Snausages. Maybe he’ll like the protein pack rations I’m carrying.”
“Don’t be silly, Hazard. Nobody likes those.”
“True. But I’ll have made my escape by the time he realizes they’re shit.”
“Good to have an exit strategy.”
Hazard smiled and shook his head. He liked bantering with the usually quiet captain.
During their next patch of silence, the sound of an airboat approaching echoed over the water. In the distance, lights came into view.
“Finally,” he said, relieved. “Let’s off these mercs and get the fuck out of here.”
“Make your move, Corporal. I’ve got you covered.”
“I’m on it.” Hazard moved forward, ready for the takedown.
* * *
Ice watched through his scope as Hazard slid through the water, barely leaving a ripple in his wake. When he reached the dock in front of the cabin, he stayed submerged, lying in wait for the mercenaries.
The airboat motored up to the dock, the driver slowing down as they got closer. One of the mercs on board threw out a rope to catch on one of the posts to anchor the craft. The first merc to step onto the dock was empty handed. Hazard remained still, patiently waiting.
Although his partner couldn’t see him, Ice nodded in approval. It was best to get a visual confirmation on the asset they were after before they engaged. The second merc to jump onto the dock carried a silver briefcase with a black handle. Still Hazard waited. He stayed submerged until all three men on the boat had disembarked. Once they were all off the boat, walking single file up the dock to the cabin Hazard sprang into action.
He grabbed hold of the edge of the dock and swiftly hauled himself out of the water, landing in a defensive crouch. At his sudden appearance, the trio of mercs spun around. But they were sloppy and unprepared and Hazard was ready for them. They fumbled for their weapons but Hazard had already fired off his first shot.
There was a flash of orange gunfire then one of the mercs stumbled to the side and fell into the water with a splash. Mercenary number two went down the same way. The one holding the briefcase raised it up in front of him as a shield. Hazard hesitated, not wanting to shoot the case’s contents. The man, big, bald, and desperately trying to stay alive, took advantage of his hesitation and rushed at Hazard, swinging the briefcase like a war hammer.
Hazard stepped back, but the dock was only so big. He didn’t have much room to maneuver. When the merc was closer, Hazard tucked and rolled forward, coming up behind him. Before the big man had a chance to spin around to face him, Hazard kicked out and slammed a booted foot into the back of his knee. Then, he jumped on the merc’s back, holding on to his collar as he delivered the kill shot to the top of his skull. The man’s lifeless body slowly crumpled. Hazard rode him all the way down until the dead guy lay prone on the dock, with Hazard perched on his back.
It was a skilled and deadly beautiful takedown. But Ice didn’t have time to sit there admiring his partner’s work. One of the tattered curtains in the cabin’s window twitched. Someone was inside.
“Movement in the cabin,” Ice quietly said over their comm link. “Stay down. I’ve got him.”
Hazard didn’t react so the hidden mercenary wouldn’t realize they’d been made and had lost the element of surprise. Ice waited. He steadied his breathing and curled his finger over the trigger.
The door burst open. A fourth mercenary ran out of the cabin, gun raised, yelling wildly.
From his far-off vantage point, Ice took aim and fired. The bullet sliced across the distance to strike the mercenary in the head. Red mist sprayed in the air and the merc tumbled back into the cabin to fall on the floor dead.
Hazard looked in his direction. Through his scope, Ice could see the grin on his blood splattered face.
“Thanks for the assist, Captain.”
“Couldn’t let you have all the fun.”
Hazard snorted. “Got the asset,” he said as he yanked the briefcase from the grasp of the dead merc. “Doing a sweep of the cabin before I check out the contents.”
Ice waited as Hazard momentarily disappeared from his view to inspect the cabin. He was back out on the dock seconds later.
“Empty. We’re clear.” He kneeled down and opened the case. A scoff of disdain came through the comm link. “Cheap bastards didn’t even bother to get a briefcase with a lock. Looks like everything they stole is inside.”
“Mercs on a budget. Get out of there and RV at my location.”
“Roger.”
Ice continued watching through his rifle’s scope as Hazard rose to his feet with the briefcase in hand. His lips twisted in a smile when Hazard eyed the water with obvious reluctance. The omega’s shoulders lifted in a visible sigh before his voice came over the comm link.
“Hey, Captain. Think they’ll mind if I take their ride?”
“They’re dead so probably not.”
“Good. Because I’m not getting back in that fucking swamp.”
Hazard jumped onto the airboat. The engine rumbled to life and Hazard steered the craft around to begin moving toward Ice’s location. Ice switched channels and called for ex-fil.
“Captain Anderson to control. Mission complete. Team is ready for pick-up.”
“Roger that, Captain. Your ride will be there in twenty.”
Hazard stopped the boat at the bank. He jumped off, water splashing as his boots hit the edge of the swamp. Ice stayed ready as his partner made his way up the hill, watching their surroundings just in case. Once Hazard was within speaking distance, he began breaking down his rifle.
When he had everything packed away, Hazard held up the metal briefcase and opened it to show him the contents. Several floppy discs and three manila folders stuffed with papers and held closed with binder clips lay inside.
“Bad guys dead. Intel secured. Not too shabby for our first two-man show, right partner?”
Pleased with their success, Ice nodded. “Let’s move out.”
* * *
They trekked through the forest until they reached the extraction point. Hazard leaned against a tree while they waited for ex-fil. He grinned at the captain, who was braced against a tree directly across from him.
Ice tilted his head to the side in question.
“What?”
“That was the most I’ve heard you talk during a mission.”
“Guess your can’t shut up-itis is contagious,” Ice dryly said.
Hazard laughed. “Must be. Don’t take any medication for it. I like you this way.”
Ice shook his head once.
“Don’t need you to like me to do your job.”
Hazard eyed the captain from beneath his lashes. The alpha was big and dark and powerful. The strength of his presence was an overwhelming force that made his heart skip a beat. He liked the captain when he was silent. He liked him when he talked. He just liked him. He met Ice’s gaze fully, a slow smile curling his lips. “Too late.”
Their gazes held for a moment. Hazard read curiosity in the captain’s eyes. But not wanting to make it weird, and mindful that he needed to keep his attraction hidden, he lowered his lashes.
“Ready for my post mission reward.” Hazard changed the subject as he dug into one of the pockets of his tac vest. Grateful for his waterproof pack, he took out his cigarettes and a lighter. Lighting up, he pulled in a deep drag. Satisfaction instantly hit his brain. His shoulders relaxed when he exhaled, the scent of cherries drifting into the air on a cloud of smoke.
“Got another one of those?” Ice asked.
Hazard squeezed the cellophane pack to show that it was empty. “Sorry. This is my last one.”
After considering for a moment, he held the cigarette out to Ice. At the offer, the alpha briefly hesitated before he reached out with a gloved hand and plucked the cigarette from between Hazard’s fingers. Ice pushed up his mask. He put the cigarette to his lips, the end glowing orange as he inhaled. He blew a stream of smoke in the air then looked down at the cigarette in surprise.
“Why is it sweet?”
Hazard laughed at his reaction. “It’s an omega-cig. They’re specially flavored for our omega taste buds. Most of them are sweet. I like the cherry flavored ones.”
Ice took another drag before he passed the cigarette back.
“I didn’t know they made anything like that.”
When Hazard accepted the o-cig back for another inhale, he tried not to think about the fact that his lips were touching where the captain’s had touched. An indirect kiss. Silly. Silly. Silly. Of course, he’d much rather feel those full lips on his directly.
Hazard inwardly groaned. He needed to cool it on those thoughts or he’d have a wet ass again. And this time it wouldn’t be from swamp water. To distract himself, he decided to share a nugget of info and fill in another gap in the captain’s shifter knowledge.
“Prior to the omega revolution, it was frowned upon, and in some places forbidden for omegas to smoke. But after, when we gained more freedom, Big Tobacco saw an opportunity to win over an untapped market. So they invented flavored cigarettes and marketed them with a campaign of ‘Bad ass on the outside and sweet on the inside. Just like you.’ They were an instant hit.”
Ice snorted. “Ridiculous.”
“Corporate America will do anything to make a buck,” Hazard said with a shrug. He dropped the cigarette butt in a wet muddy patch on the ground and stubbed it out beneath his boot. “Smoking is a bad habit and I should quit.”
“You won’t.”
“Nah. It feels too good.”
“You often do things that are bad for you?” Ice asked.
“As long as it gives me satisfaction,” he answered with a playful smirk.
Ice leaned his head back against the tree. The new position made it seem as if he was looking down his nose at Hazard and his dark gaze felt oddly heavy as it landed on him.
“I imagine you get into a lot of trouble like that,” he said in a low voice.
Hazard blinked. Those intense eyes, the voice that had dropped to become even deeper and rougher than usual. His breath was suddenly coming a little short in his chest and heat bloomed behind his navel. Fuck. Why did he always react to the captain like this? He cleared his throat before he spoke, but his voice still came out too husky for normal conversation.
“Sometimes. But I like trouble.”
Fucking hell. That didn’t sound normal at all. It didn’t even sound like his usual playful flirting. It sounded seductive. Like he wanted to seduce the captain. Which he was starting to realize he did want to do, but fuck he didn’t want to blast it out while they were still in the field. Actually, he didn’t want it known regardless of where they were.
He expected Ice to stalk away or tell him to shut up. But he did neither. They went silent, locked together in eye contact that seemed to tug at something in his chest. They were in the middle of a forest, chill wind blowing around them, and yet somehow the space between them felt tense and hot. A thought teased at the back of Hazard’s mind. If he took a step forward, what would happen?
Before he could say anything else — as if he even knew what to say — the chop-chop-chop of an incoming helicopter intruded, popping the strange bubble of intimacy around them.
“Choppers here,” Ice said unnecessarily.
Hazard’s response was equally as unnecessary. “Yes, it is.”
The helo settled in the clearing to their left, blades kicking up loose grass and dirt. The tension broken, Hazard ducked his head and jogged over to it. The rear door opened and he moved inside, Ice right behind him.
Hazard strapped into his seat and settled back for the return trip to base, instinctively knowing that Ice was ready for quiet. He leaned his head against the head rest and let his mind drift. The mission had been a success. And Ice had talked more than usual, his voice easily switching between crisp when giving orders and husky with humor when responding to Hazard’s nonsense. He’d heard that dry huff of a laugh several times tonight and he liked it. Maybe a little too much.
After their talk that had gone on into the early hours of the morning, the mood between them had changed. And when they’d been assigned this mission together with just the two of them Ice hadn’t protested. Instead, he’d sat down with Hazard to go over plans, and actually listened to his input. They weren’t going to be braiding each other’s hair anytime soon, especially since he didn’t have any and he had no idea what was on Ice’s head beneath that balaclava, but they were developing a working relationship that had the potential to become something great.
And beneath that working relationship, his attraction to the captain continued to simmer. But other than his playful teasing and flirting, he didn’t let it show. Or at least, he usually didn’t. As far as he knew, Ice had no idea he was genuinely attracted to him. He certainly never planned to say anything. Not only was it inappropriate since Ice was his superior officer, but he had a feeling that Ice would slam the metaphorical door on their budding friendship and he’d be right back where he started — being coldly ignored except for the occasional grunt of acknowledgement.
But it would be fine. He simply had to let the attraction run its course and eventually it would fade. Maybe another alpha would come along — one who wasn’t his teammate and his superior — and he’d forget all about Captain Anderson with his pretty dark eyes, broad shoulders, and dry, husky laugh. Wherever this alpha was, they needed to show up soon, before he fell much deeper under Ice’s spell.
* * *
It was nearing six in the morning when they landed on base. Ortiz was waiting for them on the tarmac.
“Welcome back!” she shouted over the noise of the helicopter powering down.
Hazard handed over the briefcase to Ortiz as he greeted her. “Morning, Major. Mission was a success.”
“Good work,” she said as she accepted the case. “The two of you have today off. Debriefing tomorrow at oh-eight-hundred. Be sure to go by medical if you need to.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The major left to take the briefcase up to HQ.
Neither of them had sustained any injuries so after caging their weapons, they walked to their barracks together. There was a light on inside. It shone through the window, seeming to beckon them home. At the front door, they took their boots off and left them outside so as not to track the mud and gunk inside their living quarters.
“Looking forward to a hot shower,” Hazard tiredly said as he crossed the common room on quiet, socked feet.
“You should be. You stink.”
“Hey, didn’t anybody ever tell you it’s not polite to tell an omega they stink?” Hazard playfully protested. “We’re too fragile for that kind of raw criticism.”
Ice scoffed. “If you wanted to be treated like a delicate flower, you wouldn’t have spent the last twelve hours rolling around in a swamp with the gators.”
Hazard looked up at the big alpha. He put on an exaggerated pout and batted his eyelashes. “Well at least tell me the way I took down that merc was pretty. Us omegas love hearing that we’re pretty.”
“You were-.”
Hazard cut in before Ice finished his sentence. “Yeah, yeah. I know. I was effective.” He shook his head with a low chuckle. “Good night, Captain.”
He’d just reached his bedroom door when Ice called his name.
“Hazard.”
He turned back to see dark eyes watching him from behind that wolf mask. “Sir?”
“You did good work tonight.”
Hazard brightened at the unexpected praise. “Thank you, Captain.”
Ice nodded. “Make sure you wash behind your ears. Think I saw a clump of swamp mud back there.”
Hazard’s smile bloomed into a full-on laugh. “Will do.”