Red Zone (Red Zone 1)

He ran his hands over her head. There was a lump the size of an egg above her temple. He assumed that was the reason she was still out cold, but he didn’t know for sure. It could have been that her system just shut down under the assault. Who knew what the chemical in her body was doing to her? He wished like hell that Doc was with him. She needed someone with more medical knowledge than he had to check her out.

“We got anything in the jet’s med kit that will wake Friday up? In case we need it.” In case she slipped into unconsciousness.

“You worried she won’t rouse on her own?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll ask the pilot. Make sure he has the kit ready for us when we arrive. Do we need a medic? I can have someone meet us at the jet.”

“Give me a second. I’ll check the rest of her. Right now, I’m most worried about the lump on her head.”

He pulled the T-shirt he’d given her over her head. There were bruises and red marks dotted over her torso. A scrape on her shoulder. He ran his fingertips over the abrasion. He should have been there. He should have prevented this. He should have protected her. Slowly, he moved his hands down her ribs, feeling for breaks. Releasing a tense breath when he didn’t find any.

Gently, he removed the oversize combat pants Sandi had given her. There was a massive bruise covering her hip, but no broken bones, no cuts. No lasting damage. His fingers trembled as he dressed her again. She was pale. Too pale. Her body kept taking hits—the poison, the red mist, this. How many more could she suffer until she didn’t bounce back? Didn’t wake up again?

“We don’t need a medic.” He climbed in beside his woman and took her into his arms. “Not unless she doesn’t wake up. But her injuries aren’t life-threatening.” They were just wrong. Her beautiful skin should never be marred by violence. Never.

Mace climbed into the driver’s seat. “The jet is ready to go. We’ll deal with her on board.”

“Any sign of trouble at the airfield?”

“No. There’s too much security there. That’s probably why they hit us en route. They took us out in the quietest part of town.”

“They shouldn’t have known where we were to begin with. We screwed up.” His voice was tight as he looked down at the woman in his arms. “Somebody shared information. We have a mole. Or a traitor.” The word left a foul taste in his mouth. They’d all been betrayed more than enough already.

“Once you guys are in the air, I’ll hunt him down myself.”

“And deal with him.”

“Permanently.” Mace’s voice was steel.

Chapter Twenty-Five

CommTECH headquarters,

New York City, Northern Territory

“What do you mean you’ve lost touch with your team?”

Miriam Shepherd sat with her hands clasped on the top of her glass desk, her attention very much focused on the holographic image of the Enforcement captain standing in the middle of her office. The man had managed to fail her yet again. It would be the last time she allowed it to happen.

“The last communication we had from the mercenaries stated they were under attack.” The man paled. His eyes kept shifting to the figure standing behind Miriam. She’d made no secret that Kane, her head of security and company enforcer, listened in on the report. The captain should feel nervous. After his update finished, he would have the pleasure of meeting Kane in person.

“The smuggler and his team attacked our men?” If they had, she’d seriously underestimated the group.

“No.” The Enforcement agent shuffled anxiously. “It was an unknown team. They seemed to be after the scientist, too.”

“Interesting. Did your team manage to find out who these opponents were?”

“Negative. All we know is that the other team was trying to take Friday Jones alive.”

Miriam felt cold rage work its way through her, turning her blood to ice. Obviously one of her esteemed fellow leaders had decided to pick up the scientist and download the information in her head. Yes, she could see the potential for scandal. Played the right way, information of the meeting could help someone usurp Miriam’s position of power.

The Enforcement captain cleared his throat. “Do you have further instructions, Director?”

“Not at this time.” She cut the feed, and the man disappeared.

Kane moved, rounding the desk to face her. “You want him dealt with.”