The Omega Team_Mission_Saving Shayna Read online

  She shook her head, red hair glinting in the overhead light. “I’ve missed several unknown calls, and when I do answer, some have been heavy breathing, which is so cheesy.” She took a breath. “But the one that sent me running here was truly scary.”

  He watched her body language as that was one of his specialties. Reading people. He’d been in the CIA long enough to tell when someone was lying, telling a partial truth, or was truly in fear. Shayna Macintyre radiated a deep seated terror. “Go on. Anything you say here will not be held against you.” The fact he’d just said a line from part of the Miranda Rights had a grin kicking up the corner of his lips.

  “I’m assuming it was a he, but it could very well have been a she because it was a computer like voice. They said, you have one week to present yourself to me of your own freewill, or I’ll take you. If you make me do the latter, you won’t like it, but I will,” she whispered as she finished.

  Mike tapped his knuckles on the table. “Sounds to me like whoever took the violin may indeed be a collector, not just of violins, but of musicians as well. Have you checked to see if other women have gone missing who’ve played music similar to Miss. Macintyre?”

  Athena slapped her forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that?” Then she snorted. “What do you think we are, amateurs?”

  Although he knew the two members who’d started the Omega Team were also a couple, they kept a strict policy of keeping their relationship professional as much as possible during office hours. However, sometimes, like now, Grey reached for the woman he loved. Mike looked down at the reports he’d been given, offering the couple a moment of privacy. When he looked back up, his gaze landed on the stunning green of Shayna.

  “You must be incredibly talented if a collector wants you and your instrument.” He nodded at the case she had yet to release. “Maybe we should put that in a safe here at the office until we find out who’s responsible,” he stated. The thought of not only guarding her, but the expensive musical instrument she didn’t seem in any hurry to let go of wasn’t too appealing. Scratch that. Guarding her was too damn appealing. The violin he could do without.

  She shook her head, making the ponytail slap around. His mind envisioned grabbing the thick strands in his fist while he tilted her head back...before he could go any further with the fantasy, he pulled his head back to the job at hand. Saving Shayna was what he was hired to do, not getting into her pants.

  “I already emailed Jacquie LaSalle, she’s our resident computer guru. If she can’t find out if another brilliant musician such as yourself has gone missing, then there isn’t one to be found.” Athena sat back with a frown.

  Mike had only been around the woman a couple weeks, but he had learned to read her. “What’s bothering you?”

  Athena reached across the table grabbing Shayna’s hand. “You’re going to need twenty-four hour protection, sweetie. I know you planned to hole up in a hotel, but that’s not good enough. You’re coming home with Grey and me,” she said with authority.

  Shayna opened her mouth. Closed it, then shook her head. “I’ll be fine in a hotel. I mean they have security, and I promise not to open my door for anyone.”

  Mike sat back looking at the two women. There were so many holes in that scenario, he could drive a diesel through it. Instead of waiting for Grey or Athena to shut her down, he decided to take the bull by the horns. “Didn’t the thief come into your apartment while you were sleeping and steal the other violin? And before you say anything, let me ask you another question. Did you not have your doors locked, because you felt safe in your apartment?”

  Again her mouth opened and shut, then she sat back with a dejected look.

  “Since I’m assigned to the case, and I have a three bedroom place, which is armed with a security system even the best trained assassin would have a hard time getting past, I suggest she stay with me.” Even as the words left his mouth, he thought of being in the same home with the younger woman and hardened. Dozens of cold showers were definitely in his future, not to mention a work out for his left hand. Of course, he was ambidextrous, so his right hand would surely be helping a brother out. The growl bubbling in his gut was barely suppressed.

  “I agree with Royce. And since you haven’t checked into your hotel, there shouldn’t be an issue. Once Jacquie is finished compiling a list for us, we should have more answers. Until then, you go nowhere alone.” Grey’s hazel eyes pinned him with a hard stare. The boss man telling him this was more than just an assignment.

  Mike didn’t need to be told twice. He never failed, and sure as shit this wouldn’t be his first with this woman.

  The sound of metal scraping against the tile floor had him jerking back to the here and now. Shayna stood looking like a deer in the headlights. “Fine, but we are not locking up my violin, it goes with me.”

  Spunk. She had that in spades. Well he had a firm hand and wondered if she enjoyed that, then just as quickly suppressed his urges.

  “Come on,” he said a little too gruffly. “Grey, you got something for her phone in case he calls again?”

  A black case was laid out on the table and within minutes Shayna’s phone was handed over while Grey did his thing. Mike took the time to properly check her out, not that he hadn’t already, but he saw the strain marking her features. The tightness around her eyes and mouth, the stiff set of her jaw and shoulders. Clearly, she had been holding herself together by a thread. She had to have the same core of steel as Athena. He too stood, coming around the table. “It’s going to be okay. I promise, nothing and no one will hurt you as long as you’re under my care.”

  With a jerky nod, she licked her lips. “Athena said you were one of the best.”

  He raised a brow, then looked over at the older woman.

  “Hey, you’re an ex-alphabet member. Obviously you know what you’re doing.”

  “Alright, that should do it. I’ll let you know when Jacquie has some answers. Until then, check in every twenty-four.” Grey was a man of very few words.

  “Will do.” Mike started to reach for her elbow, stopping himself in the nick of time. The last thing he needed was skin on skin contact in front of his bosses when he’d just gotten his body under control.

  The two women embraced while he and Grey went over a few key points, all the while he kept his eyes on Shayna.

  “She may seem worldly, but she’s not.” Grey warned Mike.

  Tired of feeling like he was a kid being told he wasn’t good enough, Mike stood taller, towering over Grey. At six foot three and two hundred and fifty pounds, he didn’t easily blend into any crowd, which was why he was usually the one who took the backup position, or bodyguard point in most of he and his old partner Maddox’s missions. However, he was not a pussy who took kindly to anyone treating him as if he was less than. “If you want someone else on this job say the word, otherwise back the fuck off.”

  Grey held both hands up. “Whoa, I’m not saying that. I just know that look. I see it every time I look in the mirror when I’m thinking of Athena naked.”

  Heat licked up Mike’s insides, but he controlled his outward appearance. “Message heard and received. We’ll be sure to report in. You get any intel we should know about, be sure and let me know.” He walked around Grey toward the door, deciding it was safer for all if he got some fresh air.

  “I’m ready whenever you are.”

  ****

  Shayna wasn’t sure how she was going to survive the coming days, cooped up under the same roof with the tall drink of water that was Mike Royce. Holy. Hell. The man was sex on a stick. She’d seen the heated exchange between Grey and him, wondering what they’d argued about, but then Athena had told her not to worry. Now, she couldn’t help but hope her drool wasn’t showing as he placed a huge hand on her elbow, guiding her out of the warehouse into the bright sunshine.

  “I brought my sports car into the office today, but rest assured, it’s safe,” Mike said, leading her to the sporty little vehicle. He opened the p
assenger door, then hefted her bright colored bag and sat it into the back before striding around to the driver side.

  Her traitorous body did a hallelujah dance as he folded himself into the seat. The denim stretching tight across his thighs did nothing to hide muscles, nor the obvious bulge at the apex. Holy crap on a cracker, the man was huge. Surely he couldn’t be much bigger when he was aroused?

  “Are you hungry?” His deep voice had her head jerking up in embarrassment, hoping he hadn’t caught her staring at his crotch.

  “I could use some food.” Now that he’d mentioned it, she was starving. Her stomach chose that moment to grumble loudly.

  A push of a button had the car starting, the engine rumbling to life. “Anything in particular you like or dislike?”

  “I love Mexican, Italian, and Asian. Well, except for seafood, I love all those.” She smoothed her damp palms down her thighs drawing his gaze.

  His hand went to the gear shift, but his eyes seemed captivated by hers on her thighs. “Then we should get along just fine. I know a great little place we can order some take out Chinese. What do you like?”

  She told him, then he had his high tech car call the restaurant. By the time they reached the place, her mouth was watering and her stomach felt like it was eating her backbone.

  “They have a drive thru window, which works in our favor.” The grin he flashed her had all her girlie parts lighting up like the Fourth of July.

  Holy crap. How the heck was this man single, and how was she going to keep from attacking him? Well, she’d never been accused of being a femme fatale, so he was relatively safe.

  Mike’s home was situated in a private community on Cory Lake. The gate was manned by a guard who made him show his license before large iron gates were opened, making butterflies dance in her stomach.

  “What if I want to come and go?” she asked.

  Mike shifted gears. “I don’t want anyone to know you’re here. If someone is tracking you, then entering you into any system could alert them.”

  The thought had her gut twisting. “So, I’m basically a prisoner until this is over?”

  He didn’t say anything until they were pulling up to a single level home with terracotta tiles. The beautiful home sat back away from the road and had its own gate that required another code to get into it. “You are not a prisoner, Shayna.”

  The gates opened, then he accelerated, keeping her from saying another stupid comment. No, she wasn’t a prisoner. Someone was stalking her, and he was there to keep whoever from getting their hands on her. Shayna needed to remember he was one of the good guys, and pray Athena and her team found the bad guys quickly, her next tour was set to start in just over a month. If she wasn’t on it, another prodigal violinist would fill her shoes, then what would she do?

  Mike pulled into a garage that looked like it came straight out of a showroom. Two other vehicles completely different than the one they were in were parked side-by-side. One a big black pickup that looked like it could drive over the sports car, and the other, an SUV in a pearl white, with a price tag she didn’t even want to guess at. Her mind raced to think of what the man had to do to make enough to afford that kind of cash.

  “I’ll grab your suitcase since you don’t like anyone to help you with the violin case. If you want, you can place it in my safe. I can guarantee you, nothing short of a nuclear bomb can get inside it.” Mike opened his door before she could respond.

  She didn’t wait for him to come around and open her door. “I like to have it on hand in case I want to play, or I need to practice.”

  He stopped in the middle of bending down, then stood, staring at her over the low-slung car. “How much is that one worth, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  Chewing on her bottom lip, she decided it was better to be honest. “About thirty thousand dollars, give or take a few.”

  Mike whistled. “That’s a lot of cash for an instrument. Wouldn’t any violin make the same sound if it was tuned properly?”

  Unable to stop herself, she snorted. “After we eat, I’ll show you what this one sounds like, then we can pull up someone playing the same song on a violin less superior.”

  He shrugged, but she’d show him.

  “Let’s get inside and eat before this gets cold.” He held their food in one hand and pulled the suitcase behind in the other. At the door to the interior of the house, he entered another code. Damn, was the man paranoid or what?

  “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” he mentioned looking over his shoulder.

  Holding up both hands, she gave him her most innocent look. “Hey, it’s working in my favor at the moment.”

  She expected to walk into a typical man cave, or bachelor pad with a dull black and white motif. The warm and cozy mud room led into a large kitchen, with every appliance a woman would need to make a gourmet meal while her family sat nearby. The colors screamed homey elegance, and the seating invited guests to sit down and relax.

  “Take a seat. I’ll get us some plates. What would you like to drink? I’ve got wine, water, and juice.” He placed their takeout bag on the counter, then turned toward a cabinet with a glass front.

  “Water for me, please.”

  Once he had two bottles of water and plates out, he took a seat next to her at the counter, then neither of them spoke while they devoured their meals. Shayna sat back with a sigh, exhaustion hitting her hard. A yawn catching her by surprise, making goosebumps break out and causing her to shiver.

  “Alright, how about a small tour of the house, and I show you to your room?” Mike finished off his water.

  “I’ll do the dishes,” she protested.

  He shook his head. “I have a dishwasher, and you’re tired. Next time I’ll let you be on clean up duty. Come on.” He held out his hand.

  At five foot seven, she wasn’t used to being short next to men, but with Mike Royce, she felt positively tiny. His large hand waited for hers. She placed her palm in his, instant warmth infused her.

  With a tug, he pulled her to stand. “No room is off limits. If you get scared, come find me.” Green eyes filled with heat and promise stared down at her.

  For a minute she wanted to lean up and beg him to kiss her, but her phone vibrated in her pocket. The interruption made her release his hold. “My mom.” She showed him the text. Her mother had learned how to use emojis and was now a huge fan.

  He gave a clipped nod, then led the way through his house. The homey feel continued throughout until they reached what was clearly his office. He quickly led her past his own bedroom to the one next door. “Here’s your room. It has its own ensuite. You should have all the things you need, but don’t hesitate to holler if you want anything.”

  “I’m just going to take a shower, then hit the bed, where I’m sure I’ll sleep for the next twelve hours.” She shifted from one foot to the next, waiting for him to leave, or stay and offer to wash her back. Damn, why were her hormones acting like a hussy in heat?

  “I’ll leave you to it then. If you need me, I’ll be in my office just down the hall for the next couple hours.” Mike turned on his heel, and strode out, back ramrod straight.

  ****

  Mike didn’t think he could stay in her presence for another second, especially not one where a bed was within ten feet of them. His job was to keep her safe, and he was sure she wasn’t safe from him stripping her bare just to see if she was as soft as she looked. Nope, he was not going there. No, he didn’t need to work another day in his life, his parents had seen to that long before he was born. However, Mike enjoyed his job. He’d loved working for the government. Covert operations gave him a thrill he’d needed after losing his mom to cancer, followed closely by his dad from a heart attack. As the last Royce in his family, he almost felt it was his duty to do something worthwhile.

  An hour ticked by, then another. When he felt it was relatively safe to check on Shayna, he shut down the computers after checking all his alarms were set. He may live in a gated comm
unity, but his property backed up to seventeen thousand acres of woodland, which was one of the reasons he couldn’t sell the property. He needed to feel close to the outdoors, yet have all the amenities of the city. He was a Miami man through and through. Loved all the night life the city came with. If he’d seen Athena before Grey had snatched the woman up, he was sure he’d have made a play for the gorgeous Latin woman. However, now that he’d seen Shayna, he couldn’t fathom a more beautiful woman. His mind came to a screeching halt. Yes he could, and had. He just couldn’t come up with names at the moment.

  Shaking off thoughts of women, and focusing on the case instead, one that was clearly not quite so cut and dried, he listened at the closed door next to his own. Reassured she’d fallen asleep, he made his way back to the master bedroom. His body went through the steps of stripping and showering, images of a naked Shayna not a room away had him standing at full attention. “At this rate, I’m going to need more than a cold shower, and a hand job to get through the coming days,” he muttered. Flashing green eyes, and a body made for sin appeared in his mind. Mike reached for the body wash on the shelf. Using his hand as a substitute, he worked himself up and down. Forgoing a slow buildup, he imagined what she would feel like sliding up and down his shaft. It didn’t take him long before tingles began at the base of his spine, then he was shooting ribbons of come out the tip of his dick. He finished his shower, then dried off, wrapping a towel around his hips. He’d just stepped into his bedroom when he thought he heard a noise in the hall.

  Grabbing his gun out of its holster, he went to the door and listened before easing it open a fraction. The sight that met his eyes had him sweating and swearing in equal measures. Shayna walking barefoot down his hallway in a T-shirt and nothing else. But that wasn’t what was alarming. No, the fact she didn’t seem to be awake was what bothered him. He knew enough about people who sleep walked, and what not to do. She walked into his kitchen, her feet as silent as a wraith. Her hand went to the lock, and as she went to open it, he sat the gun on the counter and put his over hers.