The plane landed in Atlanta, Georgia. Uncle Pete escorted me to the military base, where a vehicle from Fort Benning awaited our arrival. He paid the cab driver for the ride and grabbed our duffles from the trunk.
I was surprised to find three passengers already inside the Jeep. Uncle Pete took the front seat, leaving the space between two sexy-as-sin men in the back for me to sit. The third man, who wasn't the driver, was sitting in the back, looking squashed in the seat.
"Do you want to swap?" I offered after squeezing between the two hunky men. "I probably could fit in there better than you."
"I'm fine, Ma'am," he replied. "The name is Sybo." I thought Sybo was attractive. He appeared tanned. His eyes were amber, and his hair was sandy blond. I was shocked his name was Diaz. He wasn't what I had imagined.
"Manny Ramos," the sexy man to my left added. Lowering his voice, he said, "I hope I'm your husband." I was wrong about Manny, as well. His skin tone was only a shade darker than mine. His eyes were a warm brown, lighter than I expected.
"Binkie," the man on my right replied. Greg's eyes were blue, and his hair blond. I suspected he was of Slovakian descent like my cousin-in-law, Eddie Gazarra.
"Steph Plummeri," I said. I reached for Manny's hand and entwined our fingers. He raised an eyebrow but didn't question my motives. Our hands fit together without being awkward. I repeated the same with Binkie. He switched how they joined together, which felt wrong. "Your turn, Sybo," I said, raising my hand for him to grab. Like Binkie, he tried to fix how our hands joined.
Smiling, I released Sybo's hand to hold Manny's. He grinned and asked, "Did I win?"
"Yup," I joked.
"Sorry, guys. I'm the hubby," Manny replied, making me giggle.
"Ah. You only heard the basic information, too," I reasoned.
"You'll be briefed soon," Uncle Pete announced.
"General Adams is expecting you," the lieutenant reported once they arrived at their destination.
Uncle Pete remained silent as he jumped from the Jeep. Binkie hopped out and extended a hand to help me. I smiled and placed my hand in his, allowing him to assist. Don't judge me. It wasn't often that a man behaved like a gentleman. I have met too many assholes in the military, and it was nice to know there are still kind men in the world.
"What made you join the Army?" Binkie asked, attempting to learn more about me.
Giggling, I replied, "I had many reasons. Pissing off my mom was number one on the list." I had to admit that giggling wasn't typical with soldiers. Whatever. It was five years since I had last served. Thinking about my last mission still caused me distress. Thankfully, I was still in shape because I maintained my physical training. It was a daily habit having spent time in the Army.
"We saw you arrive with General Palmerston. Do you know him?" Binkie asked.
"I hope so," I teased. "He's my handler." Nobody would know he was also my uncle. I have kept that information a secret since joining the Army. My comrades didn't know General Frank Plum was my father. Thankfully, I resembled my mother enough to cast doubt on our relationship.
We automatically assembled in pairs as we walked into the building where General Adams had his office. His assistant, Lieutenant O'Connor, nodded before raising the receiver to notify Adams of our arrival. I stood with my hands crossed behind my back, and my feet spread shoulder's length apart. Uncle Pete winked at me before standing at ease in front of us.
I needed to lubricate my eyes. The contacts were irritating my eyelids as I blinked. "I can hear you blinking," Manny whispered. My uncle turned around and raised a brow.
"New contact lenses, sir. I forgot my eyedrops," I instantly replied.
"O'Connor, get the Captain eyedrops," Uncle Pete ordered.
It didn't take long for O'Connor to return with a new bottle of saline drops for contact lenses. I passed the bottle to Manny and tipped my head. He placed two drops in each eye before placing the bottle in my hand. I quickly shoved it into my pocket.
General Adams opened his door a second later. "Follow me," he ordered. Adams led us down the hallway to the left and through the secured doors. He opened the door leading into the meeting room. I waited until he ordered us to take our seats.
Manny sat beside me, leaving Binkie and Sybo to take the seats across the table. Generals Palmerston and Adams sat at the ends. I listened as Adams described the mission. My stomach felt squishy as he said we had to purchase an Army Ranger from the sale. I flipped to the details of the sale, which described it as a means to perfect interrogation and torture techniques. Apparently, it was the newest craze.
"Any questions?" General Adams asked.
"Do we have to speak Russian?" I wondered.
"Binkie is fluent. Have you selected your husband for the mission?"
"Manuel Ramos," I replied.
"Very good," Adams said, recording the detail in the file. "Mr. and Mrs. Flores will need passports and other identification." After removing some documents, Adams pushed a folder to Manny and me. We opened it to collect our ID. I appear five years younger in my passport photograph. The picture was taken before my last mission.
I wondered where I would gather my wardrobe. My duffle only contained black cargo pants, black shirts and black underwear.
We were flying to Moscow and connecting with an undercover Ranger and his friend. One of the men will drive us northeast to a small town to change vehicles. Manny and I, as a married couple, wanted to purchase a man to perfect our torture techniques. The thought of harming someone made me sick. Sybo and Binkie would be our bodyguards.
I tried to follow the route but got lost after a few minutes. Binkie was familiar with the terrain and promised to keep us on track. My spidey sense tingled, indicating the captured Rangers were mainly in the initial region, but the leader of team alpha got transferred to another area. I would know more once we arrived.
"What if the man we want isn't there?" I asked.
"Use your senses to find him," General Adams replied. "Bomber, we need your intuition and skills to complete this precarious mission. Other Rangers teams perished during the rescue attempt. Your contact will assist you if necessary." I sensed there was more to the story, part that Adams wasn't willing to share with my team.
"Men, I'll meet you in the barracks. Get a few hours of sleep. We leave at 0300 hours," I ordered. Manny's worried expression nearly had me asking him to stay. However, Adams wanted to discuss my heritage and genetic capabilities. The others would learn when there was a need to know. For now, I had to protect myself.
Uncle Pete remained in the room. "Plummeri, do you understand the danger of your travel to Russia?" General Adams asked.
"Yes. Uncle Pete issued coloured contacts to mask my eyes. I would have to wear them until I'm ready to sleep," I replied. There was a possibility I wouldn't sleep during the mission.
"I'm talking about if someone detects your abilities," Adams said.
I sighed. I always feared that someone who grew up hearing the stories about the moroi or moroaica would uncover my secret. "Sir, with all due respect, my military specialty is explosives, and I've successfully masked what I could do using them. In the file, you indicated Callahan would provide the necessary tools, weapons and clothes," I replied. The clothing was listed on the final page of the document. It was a relief that I didn't have to shop while there.
"And if you miss your connection?" Adams asked.
"I'll have a contingency plan arranged by our arrival," I replied. Adams dismissed me. I needed to sleep before all hell broke loose.
Once I arrived at the barracks, to my assigned bunk, I heard the other female soldiers leaving for their shift. Their commanding officer ordered them not to talk to me or ask why I was granted a temporary bed. It was a relief, considering I wouldn't tell them if asked. I would have to change the sheets before I left.
I woke up fifteen minutes before my departure time. After changing the sheets, I quickly showered and fixed my hair. The contacts I wore and removed earlier were cleaned and popped back into my eyes. I met the team outside the barracks, where a Jeep waited to drive us to the nearby military airfield. The plane would fly us to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. We fly directly to Moscow, Russia, from there.
When we arrived in New York, I quickly grabbed my passport and other ID and shoved them into the purse Stacy Adams provided me for the trip. She had everything I could possibly need. Hopefully, I wouldn't need the feminine protection items.
My nerves and spidey sense were on edge when we boarded the flight in New York. Thoughts swirled through my mind. When did the Rangers team alpha get captured? How old was the intel? Does the military have eyes on the situation? Why wasn't an extraction team sent earlier?
"Wifey, are you okay?" Manny asked.
"I'm okay, Juan," I replied, using his cover name.
"You seem jumpy and unsettled," he said, correctly reading my body language. I had until we landed in Moscow to control my involuntary reactions.
"Do you speak Italian?" I asked. He nodded. Quietly, I explained the situation. Manny patiently listened to everything I shared, including bits and pieces about my genealogy. He reached for my hand and entwined our fingers.
"You're putting your life on the line," Manny reasoned.
"Yes. Travelling to Russia is hazardous to my health," I joked.
"Is that why you're wearing contacts?" he quietly asked. I nodded.
Binkie tapped on my shoulder. He peeked over the top of the seat and whispered, "Sy and I have your back. We'll keep you safe."
"You understand Italian," I groaned. Something suddenly came to mind. "I was informed I needed to learn Spanish. Why?"
"We are communicating in Spanish during our time in Russia," Manny explained. "You're fluent in Italian, which should make learning Spanish easier."
Manny, Sybo and Binkie spent the flight teaching me the Spanish words for the ones I knew in Italian. It was easier to learn than I anticipated. The men made it fun. I still made mistakes, but they didn't judge. They patiently said the correct word and waited for me to repeat it.
By the time we landed in Moscow, I could converse in Spanish. It was a work in progress, but I could speak enough Spanish to pass. Hector would be shocked when I returned home. I could hardly wait to show him what I had learned.
Callahan glanced at his phone to view the photographs of the team he was scheduled to meet. Before he got to the final picture, the one of me, I approached him. Uncle Pete had Callahan's photo in my file.
"Hello," he greeted. I smiled and shook his hand.
"It's nice to meet you," I said.
"The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Flores," Callahan replied. "We should leave."
His partner shoved our bags into the trunk of the vehicle. We squeezed into the backseat like sardines in a can. "I feel squished," I mumbled.
"Sorry, ma'am, it was the only rental available," Callahan replied apologetically. "We only travel a few miles before switching to a more comfortable vehicle."
I felt relieved when we got to the farmhouse, where the van was parked. Callahan nodded at a man, who quickly unloaded our luggage and placed them in the back of the van. A large black suitcase and three smaller ones were already inside the vehicle.
"Are the bags for us?" I asked after Callahan got into the front passenger seat. His partner, Emily Vogel, drove. I had assumed his partner was a man.
"Hi, I'm Emily," she said. "My brother will return the rental vehicle."
"Oh. I thought he was Erik's partner," I replied.
"He's part of our team," Emily confessed. "I work for Interpol. Erik is my husband. Not my cover spouse. We're legally married. He went undercover to stay with me."
I didn't need to know her story, but it explained the dynamics of their relationship. Emily caught my eye and furrowed her brows. "Is something bothering you?" I asked.
"I've never met another one before," Emily replied. I patiently waited for her to explain. "My great grandma was a moroaica. I carry some of the abilities. You need to know something about the group who kidnapped the Rangers. The man in charge is a moroi. Technically, you and I are dhampirs because we aren't pure moroaica. We can fight offensively, while the leader can only fight defensively. It should be easy to eliminate him."
Erik took over the brief, "However, we learned Vlatko, a Russian government assassin, was spotted in North Korea, where the Rangers team alpha got caught."
"Why aren't we going to Korea?" I wondered.
"The team got captured in Korea, but they got transported to Russia. A contact spotted them in Olga last week. We received intel that they got moved north. It will take us nearly five days to arrive at their destination. Emily and I are switching spots at every fuel station along the way," Erik explained.
Oh boy! The mission was already messed up. A shiver ripped through my body when we arrived at the first fuelling station. "Wifey?" Manny asked.
I waited for Erik to climb into the driver's seat. Speaking in the open was too dangerous. "Erik, I need you and Emily to travel with us."
"That's fine. We're prepared to accompany your team," Erik replied.
"Go north," I said. Erik raised a brow and glanced at Emily.
"Follow her directive," Emily said. "According to my supervisor, her intuition is unmatched."
"Why did you back me up?" I asked. Emily closed her eyes and leaned back into her seat.
"Take turns resting. We need two people, besides the driver, awake at all times," Emily suggested. I let her collect her thoughts and patiently waited for her answer. "Our orders were to trust your instincts and assist if asked." Emily yawned and fell asleep. I put my head on Manny's shoulder and went to sleep.