Page 3 of Lethal Game

Colonel Maximillian’s forehead lowered over his eyes. “Were you aware General Stone had some reluctance in assigning you to this mission?”

“Not directly, but it doesn’t surprise me.”

“Oh?”

How many conversations like this had he had recently? Five? Six? “Sir, I received injuries in an attack that killed all the men in the armored vehicle with me. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t hesitant.” No officer wanted to have a suicidal or homicidal soldier on a mission. Survivor’s guilt could lead to either one. Or both.

“Do you consider yourself fit for duty?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Why?”

Goddamned why-questions.Whyjudged, weighed and measured what was in a man’s head. What was in his head was not pretty, and not to be shared.

“Sir, I signed on to serve my country. My service isn’t done.”

Maximillian tilted his head to one side. “That is one of the best non-answers I’ve ever heard.”

Fuck it. Con leaned forward and said in a less civilized tone, “I got thrown off the horse. I need to get back on and finish my ride.”

“And if you don’t?”

Con’s throat closed up. “That thought can’t be in my head.”

The colonel’s face lost its sharp inquisitiveness for a moment, replaced by a surprising level of comprehension. A second later it was gone and he was flipping through pages on his desk. “You’ve had some problems with your temper since you returned to duty.”

“I’m working on that.” Anger was easy. Acting on it was even easier.

The officer considered Con for a couple more seconds, then nodded briskly. “My Biological Rapid Response Team is tracking a very dangerous man who’s created his own extremely deadly strain of anthrax. We managed to prevent an attack on a base in Afghanistan, but not before nearly one hundred people died of the infection. We think he’s not done. We think he’ll continue to strike at high-quality American or allied targets. What we don’t know is where he is or where he will attack next.”

Con straightened. Hunting down a homicidal nutcase wasn’t the sort of duty he’d taken on before, but it sounded dangerous.Good.

Holy fuck he was messed up.

Maximillian continued. “We were successful in preventing the last attack because we had one of our infectious disease specialists embedded with an A-team training members of the Afghan military. General Stone agrees with me—until this man is found, we need more cooperation between my team and Army Special Forces. I asked for specific men to work with my people. Men who are not only well trained and smart, but also creative and who can take a step back and support his teammate or take charge of a situation if that’s what’s needed. Sharp says you’re that kind of man. Are you?”

It might be nice to have a specific enemy, with a face and a name, rather than a faceless one who could be anybody. The need to kill, to avenge his dead, was a relentless voice in the back of his head. This mission could provide the opportunity to give himself that and maybe a measure of peace.

“Sir.” He paused, trying hard not to come on too strong. If he lost this chance, he might not get another. “I’m a team player. That means I’ll play whatever role is needed by the team.”

Colonel Maximillian smiled and it wasn’t nice. “Do you mind working with a woman?”

“No, sir. Sharp mentioned the possibility I’d be paired with a woman.” Man, woman, two-headed alien, he didn’t care as long as they shared a common enemy.

“You’re okay with that? No hesitations?”

The colonel seemed unusually concerned.

What the hell?While he might smack down a fellow Special Forces soldier for being an ass, he’dneverlay a hand on a woman.

“Sir, I’m the youngest of five children with four older sisters. Working with or for a woman is nothing new to me.”

“Good.” Maximillian nodded. “I don’t mean to sound paranoid, but the doctor you’re going to be working with is somewhat high-strung.”

“High-strung?”

The colonel shook his head. “That’s the wrong description. She doesn’t trust...people. I’ve been trying to find a suitable partner for her, but I’ve been unsuccessful.”

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