Blue Moon III: Call of the Alpha (24 page)

“I know this because I’m smart and it’s not hard to conclude. Millions have gone missing, none of the accountants can figure out how the Order’s many accounts keep getting hacked – even the ones in offshore banks – or strictly confidential information on our targets is being used to forewarn them before the assassins arrive.” Lion didn’t fidget when he talked. He looked Viper in his eye. “I’ve been sent to put a stop to it. I’ve been sent to bring an army back to take them out. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

“How do we know this isn’t a trap? A trap you set.” Viper pointed at Lion, his finger stabbing Lion in his chest, then letting it linger just an inch away in case he wanted to emphasize his words again.

Alpha saw the crease form in the center of Omega’s brow before he spoke in a clipped and angry tone. “Step back.”

Viper barely spared Omega a glance as he stared up, continuing to challenge Lion. Big mistake.

The large golden god was steadfast but composed. Maybe slightly bored. Because Lion wouldn’t need to move, reply, or retaliate. Viper just wasn’t on Lion’s fighting level, so Alpha was sure the ninja in Lion recognized a weaker opponent and balked at the idea of a pyrrhic victory. Clearly, he’d whip the man unconscious, but he wouldn’t feel an ounce of achievement from the win.

Little problems for an alpha like Lion would be quickly dealt with by Omega.

Alpha inched to the edge of his seat, relishing how this was playing out. Sitting ringside and witnessing the union of one of the, probably the final, fated pairings prophesied by their Elders. It’s the only reason why Lion and Omega were already so in sync. They were groomed from boys to function as one. Perhaps it why Lion’s Grandmaster Hu – also Alpha’s master – kept Lion. He had to have seen something in him to prepare him to take Alpha’s place.

Viper must’ve taken offense to Lion’s nonchalant attitude, but just before Viper could poke Lion again, Omega bunched his fingers and locked them together rigidly to form his spearhand and struck lighting fast, hitting Viper’s extended arm just below his elbow, attacking his ulnar nerve – inaccurately termed the funny bone, which Alpha never understood because there was nothing funny about it. Omega however, used that particular strike often. It was a move intended to cause extreme pain but no damage. He’d only warned Viper, the next strike, he’d break the bone. A bite from one snake to another. Viper yanked his arm back, grimacing loudly. He stared Omega down, then looked at his elbow like he’d never seen it before.

Even with Omega’s wicked-fast assault, Lion never flinched, as if he’d fully expected it. Alpha bet he did… he would’ve when he’d been Omega’s alpha.

“Don’t fuckin’ touch me!” Viper roared.

“Nor you me,” Lion said calmly. His face was still impassive, but Alpha was sure Lion was beaming on the inside at Omega’s immediate decision, but also his restraint and control.

The situation was getting out of hand and they were running out of time. Lion had come to build an army, a closeness of men, a brotherhood. Perhaps their allegiances were too different. Middle East assassins, a former DEA agent, and US SEALs working together. There’d be some differences, but they’d fail if they didn’t unite, and soon. The enemy was a step ahead, there was no time for this pettiness. Without an army, they couldn’t confront their enemies. Couldn’t protect their home and way of life. If these rebels kept going unstopped, they’d wipe out all of the Order’s finances and end the program. The elders who sent Lion made it clear not to recruit from within the Order because they had no clue who was involved in the betrayal. The man had traveled over 7400 miles to find honorable men to come with him and join the fight against a band of traitors.

“You were briefed before you arrived, Viper,” Call reminded him, placing a hand on Viper’s shoulder and inching him back and away from the newlyweds. When Omega finally glanced in Alpha’s direction, he gave him a slight head nod of praise before diverting his eyes. He’d done the right thing. Viper was either pissed or flat out embarrassed that he’d dropped the ball and led the enemy directly to them. Now they had to revise the plan. They no longer had a couple days, more like one day.

“Keep your men under control, Commander,” Lion ordered Call.

Alpha bristled, but stayed silent. Call could handle himself and could speak for himself.

“Likewise, Lion.” There was no disrespect in either of their tones.

As tempers cooled and Pierce did his thing, trying to track down the location from which the drone had been dispatched, Hawk laid out more diagrams of the surrounding wooded areas in vicinity of the Order’s main compound.

The night wore on, every man focused and brainstorming on the new plan. They picked and nibbled at food, but no actual dinner was prepared and served. There just wasn’t any time. Alpha dug his thumbs in his eyes; they burned from constantly staring at computer screens and blueprints. Call circled around the back of his chair and the next thing he felt was gun-calloused hands massaging his shoulders. He held in his seductive groan. Too many men present.

“Got it!” Pierce came jogging into the living room, his small frame sliding to a stop on the slick hardwood floor. “Viper’s identity was picked up via satellite that’s owned by the Russians—”

“What the fuck? Russians! We can’t go to war with the Russians with only six goddamn men.” Viper stood, interrupting Pierce’s explanation.

Again, Alpha had an urge to roll his eyes. How in the name of all that is righteous was this man a national hero, when he could not listen, could not take discipline, couldn’t take an order? Just because his hair was still in the classic military buzz cut didn’t mean he was still a military man. If Alpha had to call the man anything, it would be a buffoon. His body was still fit, toned and muscular, but Viper’s mind was not fit enough to benefit them. They needed sharp and accountable men if they were to succeed. Alpha made a mental note to speak with Lion before they retired for the evening, since it was his mission. If he was getting the same vibe that Alpha was getting from Viper, he was almost certain Lion would dismiss the unpredictable man from the mission. Viper was recruited by Call to be the technology specialist on this assignment, because according to his cherished, there wasn’t a system in the world that Viper couldn’t hack. That was a very usable skill, but also a completely useless skill if he couldn’t be trusted. Alpha would prefer Pierce’s calm and calculated mind over Viper’s insubordinate one, but Hawk informed them that under no circumstances would Pierce be permitted to join the team. Alpha agreed. The man was just too sweet to go to war and fight on the front line.

“Stand down, soldier,” Call shot at Viper. Alpha saw Call’s patience was waning along with everybody else’s. It was almost two in the morning. “Let Backhander brief us without interruption.”

Pierce picked right back up where he left off. “It’s a Russian satellite that has been hacked by, if I had to guess, your rebels. From my understanding, all of you are very heavily trained in not only combat and martial arts but also technology to effectively perform your duties for your Order. So these rogue assassins are using their heightened skills to not only screw over their own Order, but other nations, as well. And I believe they have sent a group into the United States. I can’t say for certain if they are here to stop us or if they are on another job and have been alerted to us.” Pierce grabbed a handful of his short brownish-blond hair; his pink lips looked chewed and gnawed on. “I know it doesn’t seem like much, but I was able to hack into the Russian satellite and pick up the dispatch location of the drone, which ended up being a gutted-out warehouse when I pulled it up on the map. The property is registered to a dummy organization with no names or contact information listed. It took a while to sort through the thousands of addresses they linked to the drone, but my software was able to decode it and we have a location. It’s risky, but it’s our best guess at this point, given our limited time. Whoever’s doing this is extremely smart and I certainly advise to proceed with caution. They already know you’re coming and they’re going to be ready. It takes away our element of surprise.” He looked at Hawk with concerned eyes. “Maybe you all should not go on this mission, there’s too much unknown.

“It’s going to take me a couple of months to gather decent intel and devise a plan. But at least we’ll be more knowledgeable and sure. We’re going in blind here,” Pierce argued.

Lion stood tall, all eyes on him. Although they’d been going over everything repeatedly for hours, they were still sharp and pumped for action. “Unfortunately, that is not an option. I appreciate all of your assistance, Backhander. It’s been extremely valuable. You’ve been very hospitable, and I will never forget it. But this is the plan that we’re going with.” Lion reached down and held his hand out and Omega immediately slid his hand to connect with Lion. “They are going to assume that the drone shook our confidence, forcing us to stay and hash out a new plan. So we’re still going to take them by surprise. This is the time. If you are with me, say you are, if you are not, then don’t stand in our way.” Lion was only looking at Viper, since he was the one who appeared perturbed.

It was an easy choice for Alpha to make. They were talking about his home, his master’s home. Though his home now was inside Call’s heart, the Order would always be his home, as well. He stood up. Ready to fight with his brothers and his commander, who was already standing. It would be the first mission that Alpha went on as an assassin where he was not the leader. But he trusted Lion. Trusted his judgment. Most of all, he trusted Omega. “You know I’m with you, brother.” Alpha was talking to both of them. Then Viper and Hawk stood, giving a confident nod of agreement. “I want to make it understood that nothing happens on this mission without my order. Is that clear?” It was silent as they all met Lion’s bright hazel eyes one at a time, as he received their nonverbal understanding.

“I appreciate your dedication. We leave at 0700. I’ll make sure the jet is ready and loaded. It’s not American and stealth, it’ll fly high enough to avoid any radar systems. Hawk, if you could be on weapons detail and ensure that the armory is clean, loaded, and ready to be transported. I suggest you get some rest, gentlemen. It’s going to be a long flight, but an even faster fight. There will be no rest stops, no sightseeing, no checking into hotels. We go in, and nature is our shelter. We attack at the hour of the owl’s call.” Midnight.

Everyone turned, going their separate ways. Every man had his own ritual to prepare for war. To prepare for battle. They were really not so different. Alpha could already read the need in Call’s eyes. Alpha tilted his head up and whispered in Call’s ear, “I will only be a moment.”

“Don’t be long.” Call’s voice was husky from fatigue. Damn if that demand didn’t give Alpha chills. He definitely wouldn’t be long.

Lion and Omega were already halfway to Omega’s room when Alpha called out to them. Lion turned. “Yes, Alpha?”

He didn’t beat around the bush and he didn’t have time for proverbs. “Do you trust Viper?”

“No. His call sign is fitting. I think he’s cold and venomous,” Lion said definitively. “I have a feeling we picked up on the same shortcomings of that soldier, brother. But we will need a technology expert. It’s the only reason he is still on this assignment. Though you and I are qualified, we can’t run the technology and fight at the same time. So he’s in. However, if he crosses me, I’ll make sure it’s the last mission he ever destroys.”

Alpha agreed with and accepted Lion’s answer. He gave Omega a brief but prideful glance as he stood a few inches behind Lion, his presence so large that not even Lion’s huge body could shadow it.

“Our original plan. Are we still in agreement? If anything happens to Call, if they capture him. Omega I need you to reveal our identities, no matter what. It may be the only way to save him.” Alpha asked. He had a feeling he didn’t need to, but when it came to Call, he’d quadruple check everything. His cherished was going into a war zone full of elite, masterfully trained assassins. He had full confidence in his commander, but he was getting ready to fight a type of war he’d never experienced before. Alpha wouldn’t be a good partner if he didn’t have a contingency plan as back up to their other contingency plan.

“Rest well, brother,” Omega replied for both of them. Alpha’s smile was slight, but there.

“And you, as well.” Alpha turned to leave, but stopped short. He turned with the same relaxed smile, his voice as calm and soothing as it always was. “Congratulations on your new partnership,” he said in Persian.

“Blessings, Alpha.” Lion put his arm around Omega and led them into the bedroom.

ἈΙ

aLPHA

Call was already in the shower, his back against the cool tile, the hot water pelting his skin. Through the glass doors, Alpha watched Call while he stripped down to join him. As soon as Alpha was inside and the door closed, there were only hands, grunts, and passionate moans.

Alpha’s hands slid over the dark hair on his cherished one’s chest, smoothing them before placing sensual licks in between in his pecs. He licked at the water that mixed with Call’s natural scent. Alpha moved up the left side, his tongue flicking around the scars, the craters, the beauty.