The man had a point, Damon conceded. The animosity had to be put aside. “You and I, Colonel, need to declare a truce. I don’t want Ravyn to feel torn between us. It’s not fair to her.”
“We don’t have to declare anything, Brody. You’re not going to be around her long enough for it to matter.”
“You’re wrong, sir.”
“No, I’m not. Adrenaline and fear forge relationships that don’t last once things return to normal.”
“Ravyn and I have more than that. Sir.”
“Ravyn was the only survivor of a massacre,” Colonel Sullivan said. “She needed to feel safe and looked to you. That’s all it is. Gratitude. Dependence. It won’t last.”
“You don’t know your sister very well, sir, if you believe that.” Damon watched the colonel’s eyes narrow, and a muscle began to tic in his jaw as he battled for control.
“Are you telling me after three weeks, you think you know Ravyn better than I do? I raised her after our parents died.”
Taking his life in his hands, Damon said, “Sir, you know her as your sister. I know Ravyn as a woman.”
Sullivan grabbed the edge of the desk with both hands, but Damon didn’t move his attention from the other man’s eyes. A flicker in his gaze might be the only warning he had before the colonel attacked.
“Ravyn can do better than some rich kid playing army.”
“Yes, sir,” Damon agreed. Ravyn could do better, but it was too late. She was stuck with him now.
“You hurt her and you might as well shoot yourself because I’ll hunt you down and kill you.”
“It’s a deal, sir.” Damon saw Sullivan’s lips tighten and realized he’d given the wrong answer. Again.
“Of course,” the colonel said, sarcasm dripping from each word, “you’d have to hang on to your weapon. Would you like to explain why I found your assault rifle at the CAT facility?”
“No, sir, I would not.”
The colonel looked ready to leap over the desk, and Damon wished he could take the words back. Sullivan probably thought he was being flippant. He wasn’t. He didn’t want to admit he’d forgotten it. Damon opened his mouth to give a more politically expedient answer, but didn’t get the chance to speak.
“Brody,” Sullivan said, his voice sounding strangled, “I want your report now.” He didn’t add, “before I kill you,” but it was implied.
Damon went along with the change of subject. He didn’t want to get into a fight with Ravyn’s brother and Sullivan’s control was hanging by a thread.
Leaving out everything of a personal nature, he filled the colonel in on the events since his team’s arrival on the planet. They were on the familiar footing of a subordinate reporting to a superior officer, but the tension didn’t ease, not with the man firing questions at him every other sentence.
“This is one helluva mess,” Sullivan commented evenly when Damon managed to finish.
“Yes, sir.” Damon knew the colonel wouldn’t be receptive to a request from him, but he’d made a vow to his dead friends and their families. “Sir, once the non-military personnel are off the planet, I’d like permission to take a team after the killer.”
“Permission denied.”
“Why, sir?”
The colonel leaned forward, hands flat on the smooth wood of the desk. “I don’t have to offer you any explanations, Captain.”
“No, sir, you don’t.” Damon realized if he didn’t drop it, he’d be getting himself in even deeper trouble, but he couldn’t let this one slide. He knew the Western Alliance would send in Spec Ops teams in an attempt to capture the alien. He also knew it would be a slaughter. If he kept quiet, he was as responsible for the deaths of those men as the murderer. “But, sir, I believe right now is our best chance to destroy the killer.”
The colonel straightened, put his hands on his hips and studied him. “Explain, Brody.”
How did he explain the alien’s mind-control abilities? How did he tell Sullivan he was able to protect himself because Ravyn helped him hold an imaginary wall in place? How did he tell the colonel he wanted to try to expand the wall to encompass the entire team currently on Jarved Nine? The man didn’t exactly look like someone open to this kind of thing.
“Let’s just say, Colonel, I have an advantage later teams won’t have.”
“Let’s just say I don’t buy that, Captain.” Sullivan crossed his arms over his chest and drilled him with a glare. “We both know Command won’t allow you to return to J Nine. You’re too involved. I think you’re looking for excuses to carry out your own plan for revenge and it isn’t going to happen. The mission is to rescue the CAT team. The bodies are recovered; the survivor is rescued. We’re going home. End of discussion.”
Damon glared right back at the colonel. He remained at attention, but his hands clenched into fists. No one else was dying if he could prevent it. No one.
“Sir—”
“Not one more word, Captain,” Sullivan warned, voice low. “Just so you understand, this is a direct order. You are not taking a team to hunt the murderer. Is that clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Damon ground out. It was splitting hairs, but the colonel had not forbidden him to hunt alone. It would be easier in a team, but he could do it himself without disobeying the order of a superior officer.
He wasn’t leaving until he’d taken out the killer.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ravyn wanted to run, but she knew better. Damon and Alex were used to her and wouldn’t flinch if she burst into a room, but she didn’t want to startle the rest of the Spec Ops team. Given the situation, their reflexes would be set on a hair-trigger. Sure enough, each man reacted when she entered. Ravyn paused, letting them identify her, and scanned the common room. Everyone was accounted for with two notable exceptions. Instinctively, she stretched her senses, reaching for Damon.
It didn’t take long to zero in on his location, but he’d closed off his emotions enough so she couldn’t tell what he felt. With a worried frown, Ravyn started for the door on the far side of the room and then stopped. Neither Damon nor Alex would appreciate her interference. They needed to work this out themselves. She just hoped no one got hurt.
Reversing course, she headed for the corner Stacey had claimed. She was busy, so Ravyn leaned against a nearby table and waited. When the opportunity arose, she said, “You’re not going to be able to transmit through the energy shield over the city.”
“So I’m discovering.”
Ravyn lifted her brows at the anger she heard in Stacey’s voice. “What happened?”
For a moment, Ravyn thought Stacey would play dumb. With a sigh, her friend removed her headset and tossed it on the table next to the comm unit. “I don’t know how you’ve kept from killing your brother all these years. The man is such a jerk!” Stacey said with feeling.
“What, specifically, did Alex do?”
“He mistook me for an Irish setter. He ordered me to stay!”
Ravyn pursed her lips to keep from smiling. She’d known for years about Stacey’s fascination with her brother, but she’d also known her friend held an idealized view of Alex. It seemed the blinders had come off. If Alex had riled her up with one word, something was going on between them. Ever since Lara had exited his life, Ravyn had talked them up to each other, hoping Alex would be interested and Stacey would still like the “real” man.
“He does tend to a bit be autocratic,” Ravyn said with care.
“Autocratic, arrogant, bullheaded, heartless.”
Stacey’s voice rose with each word and Ravyn noticed they’d managed to catch the attention of everyone in the room. That wouldn’t do. To get down to the nitty gritty, they needed to lose the audience. If Stacey believed Alex to be heartless, she’d gotten much closer to him than she knew. Close enough to make her brother lash out. “Is there anything else you need to do here?” Ravyn barely waited for her to shake her head. “Good, let’s go.” She grabbed Stacey’s hand and gave her a tug.
“Where are we going?” she asked as they left the room.
Ravyn ignored the question. “These are all bedchambers,” she said, as she continued to lead the way down the long, wide hall. “There are enough rooms for everyone to have their own. If they want. Damon and I are in the largest suite.”
They reached the sitting room. Ravyn pushed the door open, gestured for Stacey to enter and then closed it behind them. Since she and Damon didn’t spend much time here, nothing looked too out of order. She couldn’t say the same about the bedroom.
She’d taken no more than a couple of steps away from the door when she found herself wrapped in a bear hug. It took her by surprise since Stacey wasn’t one to display affection, but she recovered and returned the embrace. Tears gathered in her eyes as she clung to her friend. It began to sink in that she and Damon had help now. They weren’t on their own any longer.
“Do you know how scared I was?” Stacey asked, sounding choked.
“Probably not as scared as I was,” Ravyn said quietly. She didn’t try to hide the thickness of her voice.
“No, probably not, but, good grief, Ravyn, I felt what you were feeling a few days ago and you were terrified. Do you know how insane that made us?”
For a moment, Ravyn froze. She didn’t realize Stacey could pick up on her fears too. There were times she didn’t even like
her brother
knowing how she felt. Slowly, she released the breath she’d been holding. She couldn’t do anything about the connection, but she found it interesting how her friend aligned herself with Alex. It made her even more curious about what had gone on between the two of them.
“And then,” Stacey continued, tightening her hold, “when we went inside the building and found all those bodies....”
A violent shudder went through her friend and Ravyn found herself offering comfort and reassurance even though the reference to her teammates brought back her own pain. She blocked it. She needed to hang on a little bit longer, then they’d be home and she could let loose, but not yet. Not yet.
Finally, Stacey pulled away, and with obvious self-consciousness, turned her back to wipe at her eyes. Ravyn knew the show of emotion made her friend uncomfortable and she gave her the space she needed to recover. Crossing the room, she settled on a sofa and tucked her legs beneath her. She waited silently until Stacey sat in a chair across from her, but Ravyn didn’t get the chance to speak first.
“So, what’s with you and Brody?” Stacey asked.
“I thought that was obvious.” She knew a diversionary tactic when she heard one, but decided to go along. Sometimes the fastest way to get answers involved a circuitous path.
“Judging by the way you aligned yourself with the captain when we showed up, you know Sullivan doesn’t like Brody. Are you aware of the reason? ”
“Reasons,” Ravyn corrected. “And yeah, I know those too. Damon and I talked about it.”
“I only heard about Brody messing up.”
Ravyn’s feet hit the floor as she leaned forward. “Damon didn’t mess up,” she said fiercely. “He did the best he could. Even men who had more than a couple of months in uniform might have made some, if not all, of the decisions he made. I don’t know what Alex told you, but Damon isn’t to blame.”
“You’re in love with him.” Stacey sounded amazed.
Letting some of the tension drain away, Ravyn leaned back. “Of course I am,” she said simply.
“I wondered what kind of man would hold your interest. I should have guessed it would be someone in Spec Ops like your brother.”
Ravyn shrugged. “Damon and Alex aren’t that much alike. They share some core values, but Damon is a lot more laid-back.” She grimaced. “Except when my safety is the issue.”
Stacey’s expression became intent. “Does Brody feel the same way about you?” she demanded.
“Yes.” Ravyn hid another smile as the lines on Stacey’s face smoothed out. She didn’t know if she should feel grateful she inspired such overprotectiveness in others or insulted that everyone felt she needed to be protected.
“I hope Sullivan doesn’t try to come between the two of you. He’s cold-blooded enough to attempt it.”
For a moment, Ravyn didn’t respond. “Alex won’t try to break us up. He’ll grumble and threaten Damon’s life, but he won’t go beyond that.” She hoped.
“You’re dreaming,” Stacey replied.
Oh, yeah, Alex had done a number on her, Ravyn decided. After a brief, internal debate, she said, “I can guarantee Alex will make a complete turnaround and insist Damon stay with me.”
Stacey snorted in disbelief. “You wouldn’t say that if you’d heard how your brother talked about Brody.”
“Doesn’t matter. Once Alex finds out I’m pregnant, he’ll handcuff Damon to me if he needs to.”
Ravyn watched Stacey’s eyes widen. Her mouth opened and shut several times with no sound emerging. Taking pity on her, Ravyn said, “The doctor confirmed the pregnancy, but Damon and I already knew and we’re both happy about it.” She paused and then added, “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything to Alex.”
“Of course I won’t. He’s not going to be thrilled, Ravyn.”
“I know, but Alex is nothing if not pragmatic. Besides, it’s time he got over some of the things he’s holding against Damon. Like the fact his brother married Lara.”
“Sullivan should be thanking his lucky stars someone else married that ice goddess.”
Ravyn lowered her lashes, hiding her amusement at Stacey’s obvious jealousy. “You know I agree with you,” she said with careful neutrality. “The other problem is Damon’s family has money. Alex doesn’t like rich people.”
“Why not?”
Ravyn didn’t respond. Instead she rose and walked over to the table, studying the food there. Before she decided whether to divulge one of the major factors in the development of Alex’s defenses, she wanted to know how serious Stacey was. Did she love the man behind the image she’d created? Stacey huffed impatiently, but Ravyn didn’t hurry. Settling on a fruit, she wandered back to the sofa and began peeling the pink rind.
“Well?” Stacey prompted.
“How long have you and Alex been spending time together? Three weeks?” Ravyn asked, keeping her gaze on her hands.
“Just over two weeks,” Stacey clarified.
“Not easy to avoid each other onboard ship.”
“He insisted on training me.” Her tone was bewildered.