Page 5 of Nightstalker

“All due respect, Jasmin, that is classified information.” Linc’s stare almost made me shrink back into my seat. Almost.

Fuck no!

“Fuck your all due respect bullshit! That might work on the pansy ass women you know, but I asked you a direct question. I expect a direct answer. In case you have forgotten mister I have been dark for two years. This is how a team works, they share information. As far as clearance I can assure you, my clearance is above top and it is up to date.” I felt my anger elevate to a near nuclear level. Was this asshole for real? I took a chance and looked around the table at my team. They all had the same expressions on their faces. Eric was especially enraged. What the hell was that about?

“Fuck me! Jas calm the fuck down,” Z yelled as he slammed his fist on the table. I fucking hated being chastised like a child. Fuck that!

“So tell us, Red Wing, what is your relationship with the Russians now?” Eric asked as he jumped in on the action.

Linc’s face flashed with some sort of emotion but he schooled his features before I could place it. Asshole!

Z sighed and set his tablet on the table; a look of resignation on his face. “Looks like we are doing this now,” he muttered.

Z flipped off the sixty inch monitor and walked over to the control panel on the wall. He lowered the blackout shades that also served as soundproof insulation over the polycarbonate ballistic windows.

The entire office was fitted with bullet proof and sound proof walls. Every precaution had been taken so that the outside world could not intrude; something that was necessary when you are dealing with top secret missions.

With the blinds drawn, Z circled back to his position at the head of the table. He gave each member of the team a look that told us we were not going to like what he had to say.

Fuck. Why couldn’t today just be a normal debrief? I needed a beer and some sleep.

“I told you it would take my team all of five fucking seconds to start to sniff this shit out.” Z was looking at Linc as he sat back down in his seat and steepled his hands in front of him.

He addressed the team, “Lincoln was part of a joint task force. His mission was to find an American DEA agent who was assisting the Russian government, and the Bratva, in the transportation of drugs into and girls out of the United States.” Z stopped, blowing out a breath with a look of pure hatred on his face. “His investigation led him to The Black Dolphin and prison officials who were allowing the Bratva to continue to run drugs from prison.”

“Mother fucking, Russians,” Eric repeated yet again.

He just could not help himself. It was almost laughable at this point. I knew he had some sort of resentment towards the Russian government from his time in the CIA. Unfortunately he had never spoken to me about his time in Russia, his CIA involvement, or the scars on his back. One of those scars was the brand of a dolphin. I didn’t like people prying into my shit so I repaid the favor and did not pry into theirs. Eric would talk when he was ready.

“Wait just one fucking minute! Black Dolphin!” I quickly stood up and started pacing. I did my best thinking while pacing the floor. “Red Wing was dark for two years…deep cover in Russia. Eric started here at Z Corps with me two years ago, and before that I was in the Ukraine on a black op with the CIA…and Z was a consultant when we were taken.”

I stalled not wanting to remember that horrible time. The horrid smell of piss and blood was only overpowered by the smell of constant burning flesh. Branding. I did not want to relive my worst memories here in front of my team. I saved that for the dark of night, where no one could see my weakness and torment. When I sat alone and tried and remember the missing pieces of that time, and when I sleep I relive what I did remember in vivid, living color. Only to awake with headaches so bad I almost black out. Yeah, Z would yank my ass if he knew about those.

“Orenburg Oblast,” I spit out.

I remember the guards speaking to each other when they thought I was unconscious after a beating. They were taking us to Orenburg Oblast, the city where The Black Dolphin was located. I just needed to remember more.

“Was that where we were held?” I whispered. After the recovery mission the CIA scrubbed all records of Zane and I being in Russia. As a matter of fact my life as Laura Bennett had been cleaned from all CIA records, and Jasmin Smith was born in her place.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, “Jasmin, baby girl sit down.” It was Drew; he was the only person alive that got away with calling me, ‘baby girl’.

I didn’t realize I was almost starting to hyperventilate. Shit and damn! I needed to reel my shit in and lock all this fucked up shit swirling around in my mind away. I could feel one of those headaches coming on now.

“Jasmin…” Linc tried to call out my name. Seriously? The asshole wants to speak? I ignored him and faced Z instead.

“Explain.” There was nothing else to say. Just one single word, Z knew what I was asking.

“Jas, do you want me to clear the room?” At least Z had the courtesy to ask.

“These men are my brothers and they deserve to know too. I have nothing to hide from my team.” What else could I say? Each of these men would take a bullet for me.

“It’s not pretty...” Eric started but before he could finish I shook my head at him, quieting him down.

“Jasmin, you need to sit down,” Z ordered. He walked over to the credenza where all the liquor was kept.

Oh fuck me, this was going to be worse than I thought. Not that talking about a time you were captured and beaten was a good time to begin with, but something was not adding up. All the fine hairs on my arms were standing straight up.

This was happening, and it was happening in front of the new asshole. Fuck me!