Page 1 of Deadly Alliance

Chapter One

“You are not takingthis seriously! Do you even care if someone else dies because you did nothing?” Shane Rhodes slammed his fists onto his boss’ desk and wondered if the woman even heard him.

A lifetime in the military, overcoming the most extreme situations, surviving brutal missions, had made him one of the finest operatives in the world but none of those things mattered when he faced Beatrice Dante. The slender pixie-sized woman was a powerhouse, running her organisation with ideas of her own and an unyielding iron will.

He’d joined ‘Purgatory: Defend and Rescue’ less than a year ago and thought it would be the best transition from active service to civilian life. And now, the infuriating red-haired woman was making him doubt his decision.

As he paced the area, Shane refrained from rolling his eyes. Who held a serious discussion in a warehouse with boxes piled up to the ceiling, mismatched chairs, creepy old dolls stacked on various shelves, and was that—? “Why are we here? And are those camouflaged-coloured sex toys in those boxes?” Incredulous, Shane didn’t dare approach them.

Set up in a small but functional corner office, Beatrice leaned back in her chair and sighed at his impatient words. The woman looked way younger than she was in years. At least according to the information he’d gathered on her. When she’d first approached him with the possibility of working for her organisation, he was dubious, but her reputation preceded her, hell, it was a few miles ahead!

“To answer your questions in no particular order—we met here because it’s a practical place that I own and is bug-free. And more people are supposed to join us. Second, don’t touch the dildos because you may have a nasty surprise and third, I’m taking what you told me very seriously.”

“Is that so? Women are dying and here we are in the middle of nowhere doing nothing.”

Ever so slowly, Beatrice came around the desk and crossed her arms. For a brief instant, the memory of Mrs Hannison, his fourth-grade teacher, popped into his head, making him even more impatient. “Would you prefer we start running around like headless hens? I know this situation affects you the most…”

“Affects me?” Those words sounded very tame in his ears. Worse, it spread unimaginable pain through his chest. “Nicholas is my best friend, and his little sister, a woman I’ve known all my life, was killed! Strangled to death. The madman even sliced her skin. Fuck yeah, it affects me.” Shane knew he was losing control; it was so unlike him, he barely recognised his reaction.

The image of Nicolas when Shane had told him of his sister’s death when he’d returned from a mission popped into his head. The scream of pain that was wrenched from his best friend would haunt him for the rest of his life. Misty was the centre of Nick’s world. Knowing she had been murdered in such a way was destroying him.

As he resumed pacing, Shane saw Beatrice stood unmoving, her eyes lost in memory.

“I need to solve this, Beatrice. I need Purgatory to help me find this killer.”

When she lifted her head, it was hard green eyes that met him. “This may be more complex than solving a murder, Shane.”

As anger bubbled up once more, someone knocked on the corrugated metal wall.

Shane turned as a couple walked in, and he recognised the man immediately. Owen Sorenson. He’d worked with the ghost operative and former Navy SEAL twice, and it had been challenging and profoundly informative. The man barely spoke, and each interaction was like extracting a tooth, but the warrior had exceptional instincts. The blond bearded man was followed by a dark-haired beauty with golden eyes. Shane wasn’t fooled by the way Owen positioned himself in front of her as he entered, it was a subtle, protective move.

Owen nodded at Beatrice and offered him his hand. “Rhodes, good to see you again.”

The woman went to kiss Beatrice on the cheek before returning to Sorenson’s side. Beatrice took two steps in their direction. “Rhodes, I’d like you to meet Dee Sorenson. Purgatory’s most dangerous member.”

The woman didn’t offer her hand but smiled at him, scanning him from head to toe. Shane accepted equality of women in civilian life, but as for missions, he had never worked with a woman. It was another strange transition with the Purgatory team he was still dealing with.

As civility was in order, he forced a smile and offered his hand. “I’m Shane Rhodes.”

The woman seemed to draw into herself before grabbing his hand as if touching him was an effort, but the discomfort quickly vanished from her expression.

Shane frowned, not sure how to react. If this woman was such a threat, she disguised it well. He risked a question. “Beatrice asked you both to come?”

Dee angled her head, putting both her hands in her pockets. Owen started walking around as if checking the boxes, but Shane knew his eyes were on him. Was it a threat or amusement he detected?

“You sound suspicious, Mr Rhodes. What’s on your mind?”

“Honestly?”

A smile stretched on her face. She was stunning when she smiled. However, the quick look Dee gave Beatrice warned him that something was up. “I wouldn’t expect anything but honesty, Mr Rhodes.”

“You are not an operative. And even if you were, I doubt you would be the most dangerous woman on the team.”

Eyes twinkling, Dee looked at him. “Are you misogynistic, Mr Rhodes?”

Shit, that was a trap. “No. I didn’t say that.”

“Because Bea didn’t say the most dangerous woman, but member.”