Page 69 of Once a Killer

“You recognized Russian?” Jameson asked.

She nodded. “They’d given us some language lessons before we were deployed. Basic Pashto. And some Russian, because there were still Russians hanging around. I picked up the languages quickly, but I never had to use them once I was in country, so no one knew I understood what people were saying.”

“What did you hear?” Jameson asked, tightening his arms around her. He suspected this was the issue that had made both Larrimore and Kingsley threaten her.

“I heard Larrimore telling the Russian where our guys would be patrolling. The specific villages they’d be in. And in return, the Russian gave Larrimore a wad of cash.” She stared into the distance, and Jameson was sure she wasn’t seeing the hotel room. “After the first time, I paid attention. The same Russian guy showed up every few days.”

Jameson tightened his arms around her. “Your CO was betraying his own men?” Jameson asked, incredulous.

“Yeah. Our casualty rate didn’t go up, so they weren’t targeting the men and women from our platoon. I have no idea about troops from other bases in the area. I told myself they were probably smuggling heroin and wanted to stay away from where our troops were patrolling.”

“So what did you do?”

“My stint was almost over, and I wasn’t going to re-up. I hated Larrimore, hated what he was doing, hated being a sniper, and I was disillusioned about the war. About what we were doing there. I needed to report Larrimore to someone, but he was the highest ranking officer on the base. So when I got my next leave, I went to Kabul.

“I went to the embassy. Asked to speak to Larrimore’s commanding officer, but he wasn’t at the embassy. He was in Kabul, but I wasn’t allowed to go find him. They told me it wasn’t safe for female soldiers to be on the street. So I asked to speak to the CIA officer who was in charge. That guy was on a trip, so I got Cliff Kingsley.” She blew out a breath. “I told him what Larrimore was doing. All the details. But instead of being angry about it, he was pissed off that I’d noticed and understood what Larrimore and the Russian were saying. He tried to convince me it was a sting operation. Told me that Larrimore always changed the troop assignments after the Russian paid him, but I didn’t believe him. If it was a sting operation, why did the same guy keep coming back?

“He must have realized I didn’t believe him, because he closed his office door. Got right in my face. Told me I’d made a big mistake.”

“I told him I hadn’t. I’d watched carefully, and it was the same guy every few days. And he always handed Larrimore a wad of cash.

“Then Kingsley told me I had two choices. I could resign, or I’d get a dishonorable discharge. I knew that would haunt me for the rest of my life, so I resigned. Then Kingsley asked me if I’d ever heard of fragging.

“I knew what fragging was, but I just stared at Kingsley. He told me I needed to forget what I’d heard, or I’d be fragged. I told him I’d just resigned. I was going home. So it didn’t matter. And he said, ‘you can be fragged back in the states, too. Don’t ever forget that.’”

Jameson tightened his hands into fists. He wanted to run back down to the reception. Beat the bloody hell out of Kingsley.

She must have seen his reaction, because she curled her fingers around his. Held on tightly. “I told Kingsley I understood. And that I wouldn’t breathe a word. Said that I was going home, so I didn’t care.” She sighed. “That wasn’t the truth, but I just wanted to get away from him. So I turned and walked out the door.”

She gripped his hand hard. “When I got home, I landed in Washington DC. Went to the Pentagon, and I found a Marine officer. A colonel. I told him what I’d seen. How many times I’d seen it. That I’d reported it to Kingsley and he’d threatened to have me fragged. This guy said all the right words. Promised me he’d look into it. Make sure Larrimore and Kingsley were arrested. Punished. Locked up.

“So I went home. Still pissed off, but I assumed I’d done what I had to do. Assumed that Larrimore and Kingsley would get what they deserved.

“When I got back to the states, I enrolled in a dojo. Studied karate. Worked temporary jobs to pay for my lessons, until I got so good that the sensei offered me a job teaching there. About a year after I returned to the states, when I was watching the news, I saw Larrimore. He was still in Afghanistan. It was just a glimpse, but I knew it was him. Knew nothing had happened to him.

“I’d heard of Blackhawk Security. Knew Mel and Dev had the reputation of being straight shooters. Honest. So I went to talk to them. Long story short, they hired me. And they promised they’d look into Larrimore and Kingsley.”

“And you never saw or heard of Larrimore or Kingsley again until tonight,” Jameson asked.

“Never.” She took a deep breath. “Mel told me she believed me, but Larrimore and Kingsley were still active in Afghanistan. She said she’d pass my information along to someone who could do something about it. Which is why I was so shocked to see them at the reception. It’s the last place I expected to see either of them.”

“What did you think had happened to them?”

“I figured… no, I hoped that they were both buried in shallow graves somewhere in the desert. People who betrayed the troops they worked with often ended up like that.”

“Bree, I’m so sorry that happened to you.” He lifted her from his lap and swung her around, so her hips bracketed his and they were face to face. “That really sucks, big time. But instead of breaking you, instead of making you bitter and angry, it made you stronger. Confident. It made you into the amazing woman you are.” He put his hands on her face and brushed her hair back. Studied her grey-green eyes, her full, soft lips and her smooth, clear skin. Saw her strength. Her compassion. And the tenderness that she kept so carefully hidden.

He saw the woman he wanted more than he’d ever wanted anyone. So he leaned toward her, watching her eyes. Brushed a kiss over her mouth and tasted her sweetness. The desire that was just below the surface. And he wanted to experience that desire. Taste all of her.

Instead, he backed away as he’d promised her. He’d kissed her, yeah, but the next move was up to Bree.

Chapter 24

Bree stared at Jameson, her lips still quivering from the kiss he’d brushed over her mouth. He’d kissed her, but he was letting her make the next move. Or not. Exactly as he’d promised.

She slid her fingers over his cheek. His stubble scraped her palm and sent shivers of need rippling through her. She studied him for a long moment but saw nothing but concern in his expression. Caring. Maybe even a hint of pride.

She’dkilledpeople. How could he be proud of her?

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