Chapter 15
October 1, 1982
22:00
Vaughn Inc. Headquarters
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Their time of inactivity was finally broken with a mission related to Carlos Cortez. Intel still hadn’t uncovered his grand plan, but they had ferreted out some of his associates — both public and secret. According to intel, a Mr. Rufus Vaughn was one of Cortez’s secret connections. Mr. Vaughn was the CEO of Vaughn, Inc, a company that sold all-natural heat and rut suppressants and other shifter aides. They didn’t know their exact relationship however. Although Lieutenant Colonel Gibbs had a hunch that Vaughn was funneling money to Cortez.
As a result, the 448 had been sent to obtain documents to prove that the two men had a connection. The mission was stealth, meaning no interaction with anyone on site and no kills. Their goal was to get in, get the info, and get back out without anyone knowing they’d been there.
In the dead of night, Ice quietly snuck up on the corporate offices for Vaughn Inc, a three-story blue glass building. Hazard was at his side. Jax had set up as overwatch some distance away, keeping an eye on the premises. The only one inside was a lone security guard, sitting at a desk in the lobby. Ortiz had shifted to her wolf form — a large, light brown wolf. She’d patrolled the perimeter, sniffing and searching for any traps or alarms. A single, sharp yip was the sign that Ice and Hazard were good to infiltrate.
Ice picked the lock of the emergency exit door at the rear of the building. They slipped inside to what appeared to be an employee break room. Cautiously, Ice peered around the corner. There was no movement, no one coming to investigate. Taking the elevator would alert the security guard, so they proceed to the emergency stairwell.
Moving fast and silent, they went upstairs to the third level where the executive offices were located. Hazard was at his back, so close and in sync it was as if the other man was his shadow.
According to recon, Vaughn’s office was the last of the three doors on the left. Hazard opened the door and Ice went in first. There was no one inside.
“Clear,” he said in a low whisper.
At the all clear, they both clicked on their pen lights in preparation to search for any documents tying Vaughn to Cortez. They’d just approached the desk when Jax’s voice came over the comms.
“Head’s up, boys.”
They both went still to listen.
“You’ve got company coming. Vaughn is here.”
“Damnit, we haven’t started the search yet,” Hazard whispered back. “What the fuck is he doing here this late?”
“I don’t know but the security guard is about to lead him up to your floor.”
“We’ll hunker down until he leaves,” Ice said.
“Keep it stealth,” he reminded them.
“Rog.”
Hazard clicked off his pen light. Ice did the same then raised a finger to signal for silence. He leaned in close to Hazard so that his lips were right up against his ear.
“Follow me.”
He led the way to a door on the back wall. He opened it, hoping it was somewhere they could hide. It was a closet filled with office supplies. The space was small, barely big enough for both of them to fit. They had to squeeze in close. Ice shut the door with a quiet snick .
Moments later, the office door opened and the light switched on. The closet door wasn’t flush in the frame, allowing light to creep in around the edges. That, along with the light coming in under the bottom of the door, kept them from being in complete darkness as they listened to what was happening in the office.
“I need to grab one thing and then I’ll be out of here.”
“Of course, Mr. Vaughn.”
They stood as still as stone as right outside their hiding space, footsteps moved across the room and a desk drawer opened.
Ice stared into Hazard’s eyes while they waited. It was too dim in the closet to see their color. But he found that he could picture their green-gold exactly. The air smelled of ink, dust, and paper. Ice wished he could smell Hazard instead. They were so close this would be the perfect opportunity to do so without being obvious. Unfortunately, the blockers Hazard wore hid his scent. Ice couldn’t smell but he could look.
He lowered his gaze down the line of Hazard’s nose to his lips. They were full, the dip of his Cupid’s bow a temptation that begged to be touched.
What would Hazard do if he kissed them?
Ice mentally drew up short at that thought. What the hell was he doing thinking about kissing his squadmate? And in the middle of a mission no less.
Hazard tilted his head to the side. His lips curved in the smallest of smiles. Then, just the tip of his tongue peeked out to lick over the center of his bottom lip.
Ice’s eyes widened. Was Hazard thinking the same thing? He couldn’t ask, not daring even a whisper in case they were heard. And he had no place asking a subordinate anything about kissing. He jerked his eyes away, but there was nothing else to look at besides boxes of Bics and reams of printer paper.
Hazard shifted his stance, bringing them closer together. The extra clips on the front of his tac vest brushed against Ice’s own.
Ice’s gaze flew back to Hazard. He watched as the omega tilted his head back and parted his lips. Ice didn’t know if Hazard was about to speak, but he placed a gloved finger on those lush lips to stop him just in case. And then, he let it linger there, surreptitiously brushing over the dip of the Cupid’s bow that had captured his attention earlier before he dropped his hand.
Hazard licked his lip again, except this time his tongue traced over all of that plush bottom lip, leaving it damp. It looked very soft. Ice swallowed a groan. Barely realizing what he was doing, he started to lower his head...
“Got it. My mate would have a fit if I didn’t have this for our daughter’s birthday breakfast in the morning.”
“I understand that, sir. My mate rules the den too.”
Ice abruptly straightened, the voices out in the office snapping him out of whatever trance he’d nearly fallen into. Was he actually going to try and kiss Hazard? While he was wearing his mask? He needed to get his head back in the game.
Looking at Hazard, he narrowed his eyes in warning. Hazard merely smiled and shifted back so that their vests no longer brushed together.
More footsteps. The light clicked off. The office door closed. Still they waited, making sure the forgetful Mr. Vaughn didn’t return for anything else.
Jax spoke into their ear pieces again.
“You’re all clear. Security is back at his station and our visitor is heading out.”
Ice breathed a small sigh of relief, watching as the tension eased from Hazard’s shoulders. He opened the door and they stepped out into the dark office.
“Let’s get what we came for.”
Back at the desk, they clicked their pen lights on again. Hazard began rifling through his desk drawers while Ice searched through the file cabinet sitting next to the desk. After a couple of minutes, they were both still empty handed.
“I’m not finding anything,” Hazard said with a frustrated curse. He stepped back and eyed the desk. “Hold on a second.” He squatted down and looked under the desk top. “There you are,” he said as he reached up. There was a click and then a hidden compartment opened beneath the bottom drawer on the left. There was nothing inside it except for a single blue folder. Hazard snatched it up. “Whatever is in here it must be pretty incriminating if he needs to hide it away like that.”
“Let’s see what you found.”
Hazard handed him the folder. Ice opened it and spread the documents out on top of the desk, making sure to keep them in the correct order. They’d hit pay dirt. Letters from Cortez making requests for payments and supplies. Receipts for Western Union wire transfers to a C. Cortez in Arizona. And there was more that they didn’t have time to read.
Taking out a slim camera from his pack, Ice quickly took photos of every single document. Then, he carefully put everything back inside the folder. While Hazard returned the folder to its hiding place, Ice updated the other half of the team.
“Information secured. We’re coming out.”
***
When they made it back to their RV point, Ortiz was already there and back in human form.
“Folks back at HQ will want to analyze what we found but it definitely looks like he’s in bed with Cortez,” Hazard said.
“That brings us another step closer to finding him. Good job, you two.”
She lightly grasped the back of Hazard’s head, leaning down to touch their foreheads together. They both breathed in, scenting each other. It only took a second then she was releasing him. After she moved away, Jax came over and repeated the action with each of them.
Ice watched, slightly surprised. He thought that they would only scent each other during times of tension or to reassure each other after a stressful event. But they’d just done it now when everyone was fine and happy.
Hazard turned to him. Before Ice even had a chance to turn down his offer to scent, Hazard raised his hand for a fist bump. Appreciating that Hazard respected his preference not to engage in that behavior, Ice tapped their gloved knuckles together.
“Nice work,” he said.
“Thanks, Iceman.”
Ice tilted his head to the side. “We’re using nicknames now?”
“Yep. I figure after snuggling in a paper supply closet we’re close enough for ‘em.”
Ice snorted a laugh. They hadn’t snuggled. But it was cool of Hazard to make light of what had happened in order to keep it from getting weird. Or maybe he didn’t even realize where Ice’s thoughts had gone. “Then I guess nicknames are fine. Squirt.”
Hazard’s eyes widened. “Absolutely not! Think of something else because I am not going to have people hear you calling me Squirt .”
“Why not? You’re the smallest one on the team.”
Jax grinned. “Look at you two. And to think that you didn’t want a partner, Ice.”
His outrage over the nickname apparently forgotten, Hazard looked up at Ice with a playful pout on his lips and humor gleaming in his eyes. “You didn’t want me, Captain?”
I want you.
The illicit thought sprang into his head. Unbidden but fully formed. He wanted Hazard. Wanted him physically. Wanted to touch and kiss and —.
Damnit.
He was saved from having to answer by the arrival of their transport vehicle.
“Be quiet and get in the truck.” He opened the back passenger side door and gave Hazard a little push to get him moving. He waited until the corporal was settled in his seat before he said, “Squirt.” Ice closed the door before Hazard could respond. He walked away to get in on the other side, chuckling at the outraged expression on the corporal’s face.