Trinity: Military War Dog (9 page)

And she’d let him down.

Again.

“I’ll find something, sir.” If it took her last, dying breath.

Smile lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes. “I know you will, Darci. You’re just like your father. That’s why I put you on this.” He studied her for a minute, then nodded. “That’s all.”

Weighted by the disappointment in his expression, Darci rose. “Thank you, sir.” Why on earth were her eyes stinging? She blinked and rolled her eyes, trying to ward off the tears.

“Darci.”

Door open, she stopped. Bolstered her courage. Glanced back. “Yes, sir?”

“You look tired. Take a couple of days off. Check out the entertainment tonight? Might do you some good.”

“Thank you, sir, but the geology team heads out in the morning.”

He scribbled something on a notepad, called in his MP, handed him the slip of paper, then grinned at Darci as the young specialist slipped past her. “Not anymore. Departure delayed due to activity in the area.”

Entertainment was the last thing she wanted. “Yes, sir.”

“Lieutenant.” He scowled. “That’s an order.”

Irritation skidded through her. “Understood, sir.” Was he trying to butter her up? Soften his blow? Or was he trying to tell her something by ordering her to the entertainment show tonight?

“You okay, ma’am?”

Darci jerked her head to the side, surprised to find another specialist in place. “Fine.”

Just fine. He’d grounded her. Again.

She strode from the building, muscles tense, mind buzzing. Why did it feel like her entire career was on the line? She had to ramp things up. Quit playing it safe. She’d avoided a couple of opportunities while in the mountains with the geology team, afraid of being discovered. Well, she’d connived her way out of many a situation. She’d been gifted with a quick mind and tongue. But she hadn’t completed her mission—yet.

Her boots crunched on the dirt road between Command and the mess hall. She’d grab a bite for dinner, then head over to the field for the entertainment. She’d be there in body but not in mind—she’d be tracking routes and exploring possibilities.

Movement collided with the clap of a bark, pulling Darci up short as a large dog bolted into her path. It jumped and pegged Darci with its front paws—almost knocking the breath and life from her—then dropped back and barked twice. Alarm died down as Darci stared at the dog. Tail wagging, the canine seemed to have something on its mind.

“Hey”—Darci craned her neck to the side and peered at the dog’s underside—“girl. What’s up?” She bent toward her, noticing the tattoo on the left ear. Darci jerked back up. MWD. Which meant no petting. “So, you’re not just a stray.”

The dog sat on its haunches, pink tongue dangling out the side of her mouth. Gorgeous coloring, rippling with power and yet restraint. On all fours again, she backed up, prancing and tossing her head as she barked. Wagged her tail. As if she recognized—

Darci sucked in a hard breath. This couldn’t be happening … She leaned closer to make out the dog’s identification numbers.

It was him—her.

Darci took a step back, feeling the heat and nausea of fear spiral through her veins.

The dog tensed.

I am dead meat
.

A beast of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle towed a Humvee, severing Heath’s visual cue seconds after seeing Trinity’s spine go rigid. He slapped the MRAP and scurried down its line. “Move!” Between the two, Heath saw a lithe woman bend toward Trinity. “No! Don’t touch her.” The brakes of the larger vehicle ground, suffocating his words. Heath tightened his lips. If Trinity saw her as a threat—

He hit the back of the MRAP again and rushed through the two steel hulks, his gaze locked on the woman and his partner. “Trinity, out!”

He doubted she could hear him with the noise of the compound, but he had to try. He threw himself over the hitch and beelined toward her.

The woman took a step back.

“No, don’t move!” Heath slid to a stop, his boots stirring dust plumes. “Trinity, out!”

His girl stood down and trotted to his side. He eyed the woman as he clipped Trinity back under his control. “Sorry.” He straightened, holding the lead taut so there was no give for her to take off again. “She broke behavior. That’s unusual for her. Sorry.”

Pretty almond-shaped eyes stared back. What was that? Fear? No, not fear. Sluggish movements. Dazed eyes. Open mouth, as if words hung frozen. Shock? What…?

Heath scanned her body to make sure Trinity hadn’t bitten her. The woman wore black tactical pants like his, and that gray-on-black North Face jacket wasn’t military issue. Long, black, silky hair pulled away from her face. Pink lips. Attractive—
very
. But no wounds as far as he could tell. And no words.

Heath signaled for Trinity to heel. “Did she hurt you?”

As if he’d thrown a bucket of water over her, she hauled in a breath. “What?”

A protective instinct rose within him. He touched her elbow. “Hey, you okay?” Man, if Trinity shook her up this bad—what was she doing out here in a combat zone? Who was she? Civilian?

She shook her head again and pulled away. “Fine.” Her gaze flicked to Trinity. “She … she seemed to want to play.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” He looked back the way he’d come. “Can’t believe she did that. She never breaks behavior like that.” She was trained not to. This could spell out a disaster, especially on a base where there was constant action and threats. “We need to work on proofing. I guess she’s out of practice.”

“Aren’t we all?”

Her words caught him by surprise, considering her toned physique and confidence that surged to the front all of a sudden. At her transformation, he didn’t believe for a second she was out of practice. But he was. He stopped his hand midair—subconsciously reaching for the scars that had shaken the confidence he’d once had in approaching women. “Maybe so.”

Though her eyes slanted a bit, she looked half Asian. But she was all beautiful. Her skin—one word came to mind: alabaster.

Okay, now he was losing it. Who even used words like that anymore?

He extended his hand. “Heath Daniels.”

“Jia.”

Her fingers were cold and small in his, yet strong. “Nice handshake.” He liked that. A lot. “My uncle says you can tell a lot about a person by the strength of the handshake.”

A subtle tinge of pink hit her cheeks. Was she blushing? Man, when was the last time he’d done that to a woman? Maybe he hadn’t lost his touch.

“Yeah?” She folded her arms over her chest. “And what does mine say?”

“Confident.” Heath nodded, as if agreeing with his own assessment. Yeah, now that she shook off the shock of meeting Trinity close up and personal, this woman had confidence oozing out of her pores. “You aren’t afraid to try something new.”

“Interesting.” That wasn’t quite an affirmation, but the way her lips quirked told him she wanted to smile. But wouldn’t.

Why? Could she see his scar? He adjusted the black A Breed Apart ball cap, smoothing his hand down his shorn hair. She hadn’t seen the back of his skull, so she couldn’t have seen the scar. Right?

Shift gears. Don’t obsess or stress
.

Laughter billowed on the cool wind as the sun set. Heath glanced toward the building guarded by sandbags at least six feet high and deep. Hogan, Aspen, and Jibril disappeared around the door. Chow time.

“We’re heading to the mess hall. Want to join us?” It seemed logical, and maybe it’d give him a chance to unwrap the mystery before him. She’d given almost all one-word answers. Was she always this stiff? Or had Trinity rattled her?

Nah. She wasn’t the type easily rattled.

Which meant something else was behind her standoffish behavior. The training in him made him want to find out what she was hiding. Or maybe it was the soft brown eyes against that fair skin that tricked him into inviting her to dinner.

Heath took a step toward the building and away from those thoughts.

“I …” She wet her lips.

“It’s a nice quiet dinner with … about five hundred grunts and bad food.” He chuckled, trying to ease her nerves. Heath coiled his hand around Trin’s lead, noting his partner full at ease so he didn’t have anything to be worried about. “I promise, Trinity won’t drool on your food tray”—he paused for a smile—“much.”

“Sorry, I’ve got to get to work.”

Yeah, should’ve known a pretty woman wouldn’t want to hang out with a washed-up wannabe when there were men around who had all their well-muscled pieces in the right places.

“No worries.” He tugged open the door and stepped into the mess hall. Why he even created that personal invitation to rejection he didn’t know. He rubbed the back of his neck and entered the cafeteria. Something about her … he couldn’t put his finger on it. But she seemed … familiar.

            Six              

T
he whumping of rotors had nothing on her pulse. Darci stalked back into the command building and down the hall. Did the general know? If he knew and hadn’t told her … How could this happen? Breathing hard, she hurried around the corner. And skidded to a stop.

No guard.

Meant no general.

Darci spun. What was she going to do? She darted her gaze around the narrow hall, as if the gray cement and walls would provide the solution.