DELTA FORCE: PRIEST

“Do you know what time it is?”

Becca Tate sighed, juggling her phone as she pressed the elevator button, quickly stepping through the doors when they opened a second later. “Hi, Devlyn. I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

Devlyn huffed, and Becca knew her friend was switching her cell to the other ear. Probably tapping one hand on the table. “You were supposed to be here nearly an hour ago.”

Becca wasn’t sure how her best friend managed to sound both pissed and worried at the same time, but Devlyn had perfected it. And guilt flooded Becca’s system right on schedule. “I told you tonight wasn’t good for me, but you ignored me.”

“That’s because you always say it’s not a good night for you. This is the fifth time you’ve ditched me.” Another huff. “If you have something you want to say — an opinion you want to share about me and Ryker — then just say it.”

“This isn’t about you and Crow.”

“Right. And I don’t have to dart to the bathroom every hour because this baby’s sitting on my bladder.”

“You’re running to the bathroom every hour because Crow’s always hovering around you, making sure you drink twenty cups of water a day.”

And there it was. Jealousy in its most primal state. Exactly what Becca had been trying to avoid. Her, making an ass of herself because Devlyn had someone who cared, and she didn’t.

“So, this is about Ryker.”

“Dev…” She exited the elevator, pausing to lean against the wall. “You know I love you like a sister, right? That I’ll always be honest, even if the truth hurts.”

“It’s a quality I both love and question about you.”

“Then, believe me when I say, it’s not Crow. He’s wonderful, mostly because it’s blatantly obvious he’s completely devoted to you. Would die for you, not to mention kill anyone who looked at you funny. And you love him. You’re about to have a baby. You two are the poster couple for true love. I’m genuinely happy for you.”

Was that a sniff? What sounded like a choked back sob? Though, Devlyn would simply insist it was hormones. “Then, why are you avoiding us? And don’t you dare say you aren’t, because I know you. This is how you are when you don’t want to be around someone.”

“I’m not purposely avoiding you, it’s just…” How did she admit that a part of her hurt watching the two of them interact without it coming across as even more jealousy? The kind that ripped friendships apart. Because she wasn’t jealous of Crow. Sure, the guy was handsome and skilled, but he’d never really caught Becca’s eye. Not when he’d already been involved with Devlyn the first time Becca had met him. It was more the idea of him. Of being part of something bigger. That, and she didn’t want Devlyn to realize what she’d been up to all those other times. Who she’d been hunting through cyberspace and how far she’d taken that hunt.

Devlyn sighed. “You know, if you want to meet someone, you actually have to leave the office, right? Do things, like go to dinner with friends.”

“I leave the office. I’ve just been a bit preoccupied lately. And you’re the only friend I have, so…”

“So, get your ass down to O’Toole’s, and we’ll see what we can do to send you home with the cute waiter. Or one of the college guys at the bar.”

“I’m not going home with a guy who’s likely a serial killer in the making.”

“Becca…”

“Can we just move on to something besides how pathetic my love life is?”

“Promise me you’re on your way here, and I’ll tell you who Ryker’s talking to, right now.” Had Devlyn actually sung that last bit? As if they were twelve years old, teasing each other about their current crush? “Who might be joining us. Who has all the other men in here beat, hands down.”

Becca inhaled, cursing the sudden flutter in her stomach when Priest’s, aka Aaron West’s, image popped into her head. Ruggedly handsome, with brown hair and sky-blue eyes, the man had been haunting her dreams since she’d met him a few months ago when she’d helped uncover Agent Smyth’s true identity. Since everything had changed, and she’d secretly started searching for the hacker who’d nearly gotten Crow and his buddies killed. The asshole who’d put Devlyn’s name on some hit list — a fact Becca wouldn’t let slide without doing everything possible to identify the bastard.

And she was close. Had uncovered some information from Smyth’s secure files that might prove useful if she could actually decipher the new intel she’d downloaded. The stuff she’d crossed more than a few lines to procure. She just needed to find a way to connect everything and give them what might be their first big break.

“If you’re talking about Priest, and we both know you are, who says I’m interested?”

“Please. I might have been puking the entire time we were in Montana, but I saw the way you looked at him. You never stop in the middle of hacking to thank someone for bringing you coffee. I should know. I’ve been that person for years. Yet, you paused and smiled for Priest. Every. Single. Time.” She tsked. “Face it, you’ve got it bad for the guy, and I happen to know he’s casually asked about you, too. More than once, so…”

He’d asked about her? “First of all, there wasn’t any look. Not like the constant goo-goo eyes you and Crow make.” She crushed most of the gagging rasp that clawed at throat because… Damn, Devlyn and Crow were just too perfect. Too giddy. “I was simply being polite. And second, I’m not exactly close to O’Tooles. I’m still standing in the lobby—”

“The lobby? You’re at work? Why… Damn it, Becca. You’re digging into who Morpheus is, again, aren’t you? That’s why you’re so preoccupied.” Devlyn paused, and Becca knew her friend was connecting all the dots. Figuring out Becca hadn’t been washing her hair or pining over Priest when she’d bowed out of the other invitations. “Shit, you were probably hacking your way through every secure firewall you could find all the other times you’ve ditched us, too.”

Obviously, the long nights were getting to Becca because if she’d been thinking clearly, she never would have let it slip that she hadn’t left the facility. Given Devlyn time to piece it all together. Not when she knew exactly how her friend would react. “Devlyn…”

“Smithers has assigned an entire cyber unit to gather intel on the guy. And that’s just the NSA. We both know that the CIA, DIA and every other agency has units devoted to the task, too. You’re supposed to be giving everything to do with that case a wide berth. Unless you’re hoping to add your name to that hit list Smyth — I mean Anderson — put out on everyone.”

“That hit list is exactly why I’m snooping around. And we both know those geeks down in cyber couldn’t find a hidden code if it slapped them in the face.”

“While that’s probably true, it’s dangerous.”

“Says the woman still going into field despite her condition.”

“My condition is fine. And I’m only investigating scenes that have already been cleared. No bullets.”

“Yet. That doesn’t mean a situation won’t crop up where you’re suddenly in the thick of it. And no, you arguing to the contrary doesn’t make it any less of a possibility. Besides, this is the safest place to probe into who Morpheus might be. At least, here, I’m secure.”

“They’ve gotten to people in our office, before. Despite all the modifications Smithers has put in place to ensure a breach doesn’t happen, again, nowhere is guaranteed.”

Becca pressed her fingers against the bridge of her nose, inhaling deeply. Once Devlyn made up her mind about a situation, there really wasn’t any reasoning with her. “I’ll be fine. It’s just a couple of blocks over to my car and—”

“A couple of blocks? Why didn’t you park in the underground garage?”

“Seriously? Have you never watched any kind of police procedural show? Everyone knows there are only three things guaranteed to happen in those places. Either you get killed, abducted, or eaten by some supernatural creature. No thanks. I’ll take my chances with a couple of drunken assholes, any day.”

“God, you sound like Ryker…” She paused as she said something to the man, his gravelly voice mumbling in the background. “Ryker says to wait there, and we’ll come and get you. We can pick up this discussion at one of the pubs a couple of blocks over.”

“Dev. I love you, but you’re overreacting. I walk out of here every night, most of those alone and in the dark. I’m fine.”

“And you call me stubborn. At least, use the back exit.”

“Have you seen that alley? It’s dark and creepy.”

“And, yet, a full block closer to the parking lot.”

Becca exited the facility, keeping watch as she made her way toward the lot. “A few minutes, and I’ll be in my car.”

Silence. Nothing but Devlyn breathing on the other end. Not that Becca wanted to piss off her friend, but she’d been looking after herself for a long time. She didn’t need a babysitter, now. 

Devlyn continued to breathe into the phone as Becca crossed the street then headed for the lot, her blue Volkswagen one of only a few cars left. 

Becca chuckled. “Are you going to pout until I hang up?”

“Yes. And you’d better not do that before you’re safely inside your car, and you’ve confirmed you’re on your way here.”

“This kind of talk isn’t convincing me to make the twenty-minute drive to O’Toole’s. Maybe I’ll just…” She stopped, staring at the unmanned booth at the entrance to the lot. The one that was never deserted, regardless of the time or weather.

“Becca? You okay?”

She blinked, glancing around the area before nodding. “Fine, it’s just… The kiosk is empty, which is odd.”

“There’s no security guard?”

A loud rustling noise followed Devlyn’s voice. As if she’d put her hand over the microphone, or maybe rubbed it on her shirt. Hell, maybe she’d dropped the phone, altogether.

“Becca?” It was Crow, and there was no hiding the raised pitch as he said her name. “Do me a favor and go back to the facility. Now.”

“Crow. I’m sure the guard’s simply checking—”

The line went dead. Just like that. Her talking one minute, Crow’s breath sounding in her ear against echoed voices mumbling in the background, then nothing. Just an eerie silence on the other end.

Becca took a step back, quickly scanning the area, again, before turning and heading for the office. She didn’t run. Didn’t want to attract attention to herself, but she walked quickly. Arms pumping, hips swaying to allow for a faster gait.

Until footsteps sounded behind her. Close. As if someone was following just out of sight. Maybe paralleling her route on one of the alleyways. She increased her pace, breaking into a run once she rounded the corner. Heading for the office doors up ahead on her left. 

The footsteps followed suit, each thud drawing her pursuer closer. Decreasing the distance separating them until she saw a dark silhouette pop out from the alley — the one Devlyn had suggested she use earlier — and start toward her at a full sprint.

Two seconds later, and Becca was inside the building, racing for the elevator. Another couple, and she was waiting for the doors to open, ready to change to the stairs if needed. Not that the upper floors would be as secure as the underground levels, but getting caught out in the open waiting for the elevator was a stupid way to die.

A muted ping sounded just as a man appeared at the glass doors, but Becca was already darting into the elevator. Hitting the button as she removed a small canister from her purse. It wasn’t much, just a miniature version of an air horn, but the ear-piercing blast might be all she needed if the guy managed to get to her before the doors had fully closed. Might buy her those precious few seconds she needed to reach safety.

Hearing his boots scuff the floor several feet back just as the doors slammed shut had her closing her eyes — grasping the damn canister as if it was a lifeline, secretly praying the doors didn’t open up, again, if he pressed the button, even though she knew they wouldn’t. There were safeguards preventing such an occurrence from happening. From someone breaching the lower levels without having to input the proper codes.

That didn’t stop her from running out of the elevator and down the hallway once the machine had stopped and opened up to the main corridor. Two rights and a left, and she was back at her office. Using her keycard to open the door then locking it behind her. She didn’t want to trap herself in any one room, but she didn’t have many choices. The entire facility was nothing more than a series of rooms connected by long hallways. Nowhere open she could hide and have options. 

Which meant moving over to her computer station and booting up her system. Activating the interior cameras once she had everything humming. Watching the feeds for any unusual activity. Being prepared to use the fire extinguisher on the rear wall as a weapon if needed. Crack some creep over the head if he managed to reach her.

It shouldn’t be possible. Chasing her along the streets — following her into the building — was one thing. The front foyer lacked any real form of security in order to appear benign. No sense having a high security facility hiding in plain sight if anyone could tell it wasn’t a mundane office building simply by looking through the front windows or walking through the revolving doors. But to reach the lower levels…

There were key codes and access cards. All of which were changed weekly. And her boss — NSA Director Tom Smithers — had installed new security measures. Alerts that notified him, personally, if anyone entered the facility at odd hours. Just like now — ten-thirty on a Friday night. When not even the janitorial staff were scheduled to be in the building.

God, she hoped she’d set off a few alarms. The kinds that would have half a dozen highly trained NSA agents suddenly bursting into the hallways. Massive guns. Outfitted for a small invasion. That all she’d have to do was wait and help would come.

Seeing the doors to the elevator open on one of her monitors, four men dressed in black step out, had her pulse tapping triple time. Her hands shaking ever so slightly. They weren’t NSA. Whether it was the way they walked or how they scanned the area, as if wondering which direction to take, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that they weren’t men she wanted to fight.

Why hadn’t she gotten Devlyn to teach her how to shoot? Becca had been meaning to. Had even gone to the range, once, but she hadn’t gotten past the cold press of the gun in her hand. How it seemed to weigh twice as much as she’d thought. Sure, she knew the basics. But, wasn’t there something about a safety? About squeezing instead of pulling the trigger? And what happened when everyone was moving? Running and jumping?

Since she wasn’t a field agent, she wasn’t required to pass a firearms’ safety test. No obstacle course training or negotiation tactics. In fact, other than the few times she’d helped out Cannon and his crew, she hadn’t actually been in the field. Even then, she’d only used her hacking skills. Had been completely removed from any risk.

And why hadn’t she insisted on learning how to fight better? She knew enough self-defense moves to drop a guy on his ass. Give herself an out, or at least a chance to grab one of the canisters out of her purse. Sound. Spray. She had a variety, each designed to give her an opening to run. But this was way out of her league. Went beyond some drunk creep hoping to cop a feel.

These men were killers. She could tell by the stiff lines of their silhouettes. What looked like knifes and goggles and canisters strapped on their vests. The kind Crow and his buddies wore. The kind that spoke of hard men accustomed to doing hard things. And she had no doubts they’d put a bullet between her eyes without blinking.

Which meant changing her tactics. She grabbed her cell, tried to dial out, but it was dead. Either drained with some kind of weird electromagnetic pulse she hadn’t noticed, or they were jamming the signal.

She shifted gears — lifted the landline. Nothing. No tone, no static. Just a big empty. It shouldn’t have been possible, but it was dead, too. Like she’d be if she didn’t do something. Figure how to outsmart them.

Use her only line of defense. Her brain. If she could somehow trick them into one of the detention cells, she could lock them inside. Get clear before they overrode the system. Maybe used a grenade to blow the doors.

Which meant jumping on her computer. Opening and closing some of the remote doors to lead them down the far corridor. Hope they thought it was her trying to escape. It took a few minutes before they abandoned their methodical search. Started following the string of doors she activated. The noise that no doubt carried down the hallways. 

She made a point of switching everything over to her laptop once the men had passed the corridor leading to her office and continued down the hall. Just in case she had to adjust her strategy on the fly. Work some kind of magic at the drop of a hat while leaping over desks or trying to lock some of the security doors. While she doubted it would stop them, it might slow them down. 

Having all the lighting in the building suddenly wink out had her cursing. Watching as the camera feeds blacked out, next. Followed by the interior doors unlocking, the audible click sending a rash of goosebumps cascading down her arms.

Well, crap.

This was bad, and not the position she wanted to be in, where her primary skills were eliminated. Just wiped off the board along with the electricity.

It took a few moments for the emergency backup power to kick in, but it had limited capabilities. Was mostly scattered lighting and the ventilation system. No camera feeds, no fancy security. Which meant all the extra tech she’d used to make her office one of the hardest rooms to hack went out the window. Gone as the locks disengaged, nothing but the metal slab between her and those men.

Were they heading back this way? Did they have a layout of the facility? Knew which room was hers? And now that she couldn’t continue leading them away, would they turn around? Deduce they’d been played and resume their original plan?

She didn’t know. Couldn’t waste time waiting for one of them to pop open the door — drop her before she had a chance to gasp. Fight back.

Why didn’t she have a gun? Or a knife? Maybe a taser that sent ten thousand volts coursing through their muscles. Something to give her a remote chance at walking out of the building alive. Instead, she had a few canisters of pepper spray, a flashlight and that air horn. 

Becca stuffed her laptop in her bag, grabbed the horn and the flashlight, then listened at the door. Nothing. No footsteps. No voices. Just an eerie silence she hoped wasn’t foreshadowing her future. One where she was dead. She took a deep breath, then cracked the door open and peered down the hall. Dark shadows lined the edges, only the junction at the end visible in the pale light.

Another breath, and she was moving. Tiptoeing down the hallway, fingers white-knuckled around her only forms of protection. She took her time, placing each step carefully. Using every ounce of skill, she had to remain silent.

Was this how Devlyn felt every time she went on an assignment? Heart thundering in her chest. Palms slick with sweat as she fought to draw in enough air just to keep moving. Did she have to force herself to swallow past the ball lodged in her throat? The one about to spew all that coffee Becca had drank across the floor?

How her best friend made it look so damn easy, Becca didn’t know. Couldn’t puzzle out when it was taking all her focus just to walk and not scuff the floor. Keep her breath from wheezing out between clenched teeth. 

She reached the end of the hallway seconds, minutes, maybe days later, her pulse echoing in her ears, hands visibly shaking. She paused long enough to clear the hallway, then she was moving, again. Not quite running but faster than she’d ever walked in her life. Like earlier, only even quicker. One hand tracking her progress along the wall, the other brandishing the flashlight. Praying she didn’t reach the corner and run headlong into one of the men.

Was that a scuff behind her? A door opening and closing? Maybe a frustrated curse? She paused, listened, then froze when voices sounded in front of her. Just beyond the next junction. 

Becca took a step back, froze, again, when something slammed shut behind her. Definitely a door. Maybe two corridors over.

She flicked off the flashlight, turned and headed for the next hallway, taking the first left, then darting into the men’s locker room. She didn’t waste time searching for a spot to hide, just ducked behind the door. Praying if someone checked the room, they’d leave the door open when it stopped automatically on a forty-five, the hydraulic hinges locking it in place. It didn’t leave her much room, but if she was careful, she’d be able to shimmy out from behind it. Backtrack to an area they’d already searched.

Becca held her breath, silently questioning her decision as the clock on the wall softly ticked in the background. No other sounds. Nothing to suggest anyone had followed her or decided to check this area of the facility. She was just about to step out when the door creaked, quickly swinging open — nearly smacking into her face.

She tightened every muscle, tried to make herself as small as possible, when the door stopped, the surface an inch away. She didn’t move — didn’t breathe — waiting to see if the creep would step inside or simply take a look.

Could he see in the dark? She’d never, personally, used night vision goggles, but she thought she’d read that they amplified any available light. And with no windows letting in the moonlight, and the emergency lighting only working in the hallways, the room was black. Like an endless shadow with pockets of even darker shades. No real light to magnify.

There was a muted rasp, then a gloved hand wrapping around the edge. Gripping the door level with her eyes. She pressed her lips together, hoping he couldn’t hear the way her heart was pounding in her chest. So loud, she was sure it was vibrating the door. Probably shaking the entire foundation.

“Check every damn locker. I’ll take care of the other room. If you can’t find her, we’ll head back to the elevators. Meet up with the others then do a systematic sweep of the facility. There’s nowhere for her to run.”

“You sure he wants her alive? It’d be a lot easier just to cap her ass.”

“That’s the order.” The bastard snorted. “I wouldn’t screw with him if I were you. The guy’s nuts.”

“Whatever. Though, accidents do happen.”

A snort before there were footsteps, heading away. Stopping then fading behind the squeak of a door. The ladies’ locker room. Becca had been asking maintenance to oil the damn thing for weeks. Though, it mapped out the other asshole’s progression. Confirmed there was only the one guy with his hand wrapped around the frame. Would he open it? See her hiding? Would he catch a hint of her perfume amidst the orange-scented cleaner wafting through the air? Would she be able to sneak out only to be caught by his partner? And where were the other two?

No time to worry when the guy jerked the door closed then moved in front of her, his back facing her, his gun sweeping the dark room. Becca held her breath, trying to press even harder against the wall, when his head tilted and he turned, those insect-like goggles staring right at her.

She reacted. Whether on instinct or pure fear, she wasn’t sure, but in less than a heartbeat she had the flashlight level with his face — the switch flipped over. A bright beam cut through the inky black, lighting up his features in a harsh yellow glow. 

The guy cursed and tripped back, swiping at his eyes in what looked like an effort to remove the goggles. But she was already stepping forward. Bringing that flashlight up under his chin. Using her foot to sweep out one leg. There was a moment of him flailing his arms in an attempt to regain his balance, then he was hitting the floor. His body splayed out across the tiles.

She thought about grabbing his gun, but he still had his fingers wrapped around the stock, and she didn’t want to waste the time. End up in a fight she couldn’t win. Instead, she flicked off the light then ran. Gave him a boot in the head for good measure as she darted past, then was out the door and racing up the hallway. She reached the corner just as another one of the men stepped out — crashed into her. Their momentum carried them across the corridor and into the far wall, the guy’s back smacking into the concrete.

Becca didn’t wait for him to get a better grip — maybe shove a knife between her ribs — she just stuck that air horn right against the side of his head and engaged the trigger. The guy screamed as the horn released a piercing screech, falling to his knees a couple of moments later. Blood trickled down the side of his head as he collapsed into a crumpled heap, hands still cupping his ears.

Footsteps behind her. Fast. Each step getting louder. She didn’t turn to look, just kneed the guy in front of her in the face then started running. Doing her best to stick to the shadows. Hoping she could reach the next junction before the guy pursuing her saw which direction she’d taken.

“You’ll pay for that, bitch.”

His voice. It was same one she’d heard while hiding behind the door. The partner of the guy she’d blinded with the flashlight. She dodged left, taking the hallway leading to the elevator. She didn’t know if she’d make it, but it was her best shot when the other exits were deeper in the facility. Would most likely trap her in one of the rear sections.

More footfalls behind her. Two sets, though, she wasn’t sure if one of the men had recovered or if it was that fourth creep she’d seen on the cameras. If it meant the path to the elevator was open. If the damn thing would even work or if they’d somehow locked it on this level.

She rounded the corner, caught a glimpse of the silver doors through the glass partition up ahead, when she was hit hard from the side. The force knocked her against the far wall, snapping her head into the concrete before she tumbled onto the floor. Head throbbing. Pain pulsing through her body. Something warm and wet washed down her face as a wave of nausea churned through her stomach.

She tried to shake it off when someone kicked her in the ribs, rolling her another few feet before kicking her, again. Not stopping until she hit the wall. Was wedged against a door frame. Mumbled voices echoed around her, each word blending into the next. The room dipped when she managed to open her eyes, stare up at the man standing above her. Was he holding a gun? She couldn’t be sure, not with everything blurring in and out of focus and only the dim glow of the emergency lighting illuminating the hallway.

He raised his arms, pointing directly at her as he grinned, the white of his teeth a stark contrast to the eerie shadows. She was dead. No way to avoid it. To pull a miraculous save out of her ass. Not with the guy only a few feet away. His weapon trained on her.

She tried to keep her eyes open — face what was about to happen head on. But everything was fading. A veil of black moving in from the sides. Slowly eating up the small amount of light. There was a moment of pause. Of everything standing still, that evil smile lifting ever so slowly. Then, the world went black, as the report of a gun sounded around her.