Chapter 2
Kate turned on quaking legs, burning fury spreading across her chest as she ripped the door open and stormed down the hall, snatching an empty paper-shred box from a stack and slammed into her office, knocking the perfectly arranged set of awards on the wall askew.
Everything in her life was being knocked off kilter. Kate took a shaky step to the wall and straightened the tilted frame, catching a glimpse of her shell-shocked reflection in the glass.
The sudden rush of tears caught her off guard and she quickly dashed them with her palm.
She’d just quit her job. Her entire life plan was destroyed. Everything gone.
And she had no idea what to do now…
In a burst of rage, she flung out her arm and swept the awards from the wall. They crashed to the ground, the glass shattering in a jumbled mess on the floor.
Panting, Kate spun to her desk, her neatly arranged row of two black pens and two blue pens undisturbed. The alphabetized stack of case files sat opposite her computer- exactly as she’d left them. Ready to go back to work as soon as she sat down.
Only she wouldn’t be working on those anymore.
She shoved them to the floor, papers flying out of control. The insane mess in her room would drive her crazy any other day, but not today.
Franks could clean up the mess he’d caused. She wasn’t devoting a single more second of her time to this place.
Kate grabbed the single picture of her family off her desk, shoved it into her bag and left.
She held onto her anger like a shield of armor, trapping the growing horror of her new situation inside. Her entire life was the CIA. Franks would black ball her for sure, making sure she’d never get any kind of job in security.
She took the stairs down to the lobby, the last thing she wanted to do was get trapped on an elevator with someone and be forced to make conversation.
Kate emerged into the large bland entryway and gave a last glance of goodbye at the wall of stars commemorating those who’d given the ultimate sacrifice.
And then, as if she hadn't been kicked when she was down enough, Agent Coons came striding across the lobby directly toward her, his expression contrite. “Kate –”
“Shut it, Coons. I don't need you rubbing it in my face.”
“I want you to know I had nothing to do with this, I told them you deserve the promotion more than me.”
“I'm sure you did. I'm sure you were so altruistic that you refused the promotion knowing you didn't deserve it.”
Coons flinched. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“As if you had that power. Don't worry, I'm out of here. I quit. Go join the boys club and relax. You and all your buddies can have your circle jerk in private with no more females to interrupt.”
Kate shoved past him, keeping her chin held high, as she clutched the black strap of her tote so hard the seam imprinted into her palm and walked out on the job that had been the focus of the last seven years of her life.
After failing the Air Force’s flight physical for a heart murmur she hadn't even been aware of, she'd been forced to alter her life plans from boots on the ground to heels in an office, working behind-the-scenes as a CIA analyst.
Agent Franks would already be busy at work trashing her reputation and ensuring she never got a government job again.
This was it. She had no backup plan.
Where would she go? Definitely not back home to mama to lick her wounds, even though her mother would welcome her with open arms. Kate had too much pride to sink to that level.
“Agent Richards!”
Kate kept walking. She recognized the voice of Agent K. She’d done some work with him on a few missions in the past. He’d always treated her with respect, but right now she didn’t want to see anyone from this place.
“Kate, wait!” Agent K jogged to catch up with her.
“Can’t talk right now.” Kate kept going, hoping he’d give up. She needed some time to lick her wounds and decompress.
“I heard what happened.”
She stopped in her tracks. “Already?”
Great. Franks hadn’t even waited on her to clear the parking lot. Asshole.
“I was in the lobby and saw what happened with Coons. He gave me a run down. I’m sorry. Franks is a sexist pig.” K shoved a hand through his brown hair, his gaze full of sympathy.
His compassion set her teeth on edge. “Not to be rude, but do you want something? I really am not in the mood to talk right now.”
“Yeah, I know this may be too soon, but I could really use you on a job if you’re willing.”
It took her a full minute to process his statement. “A job? Didn’t you hear – I no longer work for the CIA. I can’t help you on any more jobs.”
K didn’t even blink. “Not for them. This would be off grid, totally private, may even get your foot in the door for a future in private security if you’re interested.”
“You want me to work for mercenaries?” Not exactly what she’d had planned.
“They aren’t exactly mercenaries,” K hedged.
“Then what are they?”
“Soldiers. Extremely skilled soldiers who aren’t really known.”
“So, they aren’t mercenaries and they don’t work for the CIA…” Kate let her words trail off, hoping Agent K would fill her in.
“Exactly.”
She rolled her eyes. She knew what kind of men K was talking about. She might work on the analyst side of the CIA, but she knew black ops. “Let me guess. OGA? One of those little groups created by the government to do its dirty work, but the government doesn’t have any idea they exist.”
He shrugged, palms up. “They’re a hell of a lot better than what you’ve been working with and they don’t have any harassment suits filed against them.”
“Neither does Franks,” Kate said.
“Not that anyone knows about.”
Dammit all to hell. Franks had gotten his bluff in on her perfectly. She should have thought to do more in depth digging into his past. “Bastard.” She could have used that knowledge for leverage against him.
“Look, knowing that wouldn’t have helped your case. Franks is still where he is for a reason. The higher ups know about his reputation and haven’t cut him yet, they probably wouldn’t for you either.”
K’s matter of fact tone helped calm her down some. She could deal with facts way better than she could deal with emotions. “Let me guess, you know why that is.”
Again with the shrug. “Maybe.”
“You’re starting to piss me off, K.”
“Not my intention at all. I’m just trying to offer a helping hand to one of the most talented and hardworking analysts I know.”
“You’re good at diffusing.” And he was making it hard for her to hold on to her frustration. “It doesn’t really matter anyway. No one will hire me when Franks gets through ruining my rep.” She’d end up as a freaking checker in the grocery store.
“These guys don’t care about him and don’t like the CIA. I promise, if he trashes you, it’ll only make them want you more. Plus, they like me, so they’ll listen if I recommend you.”
She eyed him cautiously. “If they don’t like the CIA, why do they like you?”
“Let’s just say we’ve got a mutual enemy. So, what do you think?”
“Think?” What was she supposed to think? She didn’t know anything about them or what they did. Her entire world had just been turned upside down – she couldn’t think past the next street.
K shifted from his right foot to his left, ignoring the people passing them by. “Look, they’re good guys who do good work. You’d be working with someone who respected you.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know…”
“It’ll give you some time and cash to figure out what you want to do next. It’s a win – win.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I mean unless you’ve already got something else planned.”
The only thing she had planned was downing the entire bottle of merlot in her apartment and licking her wounds. Her current cash situation would get her through the next six months if she was frugal and she could probably find a job in another state working for a tech company or something.
K was offering her an opportunity to serve and maybe keep her in a field similar to her own. She might not have to start completely over. “Any of them chauvinists?”
K grinned. “Nope. Half of them are happily married. I promise, you’ll like them.”
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and blew a strand of black hair out of her face. “Fine. I’ll do it.”
K rocked up on his toes. “Great, I’ll call Grey and let him know you’re coming to the interview.”
“Interview? I thought you said they needed me for a job.”
“They do. Grey’s just gotta clear you first.”