Texas Stand-Off: The Omega Team Novella (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read Free

it.”
    “What’s their connection? I’d ask if they were in the same sorority or something, but I happen to know Athena doesn’t travel in those circles.”
    “No, you’re right. Athena met her on the job a while back, before I came into the picture.”
    “The Russian’s a cop?”
    “No, there was a rash of breaking and entering in a trailer park just outside of Tampa. The cops couldn’t get a good lead and the problem escalated when an elderly woman was killed during one of the burglaries. One night, another call came, but this time the situation was a little different. The woman who phoned in had the perps in custody. When Athena got there, Natasha had them subdued and trussed up like Christmas turkeys. She interviewed Taz and discovered her, shall we say…unique abilities. It was an odd pairing, but they became friends and bonded over television. While Athena likes telenovelas, Taz loves old movies.” 
    “Can we trust her or will I get a knife blade slipped between my ribs while I’m sleeping?”
    Grey laughed. “I didn’t suggest you take her to bed, Jones.”
    Deacon growled. “When does this fiasco start?”
    “She’s parked at your gate. I’d appreciate if you’d release the lock and let her in.”
    “Goddammit!” He ended the call and stomped into the house, his tread so hard he could feel the pressure on his bum leg all the way to his hip.
    Climbing the stairs to his outlook, Deacon saw an RV that had seen better days waiting for entrance. “Only for Grey Holden.” He picked up the remote and flipped the switch, muttering under his breath, “Don’t think this is going to be easy, lady. If you’re not Omega Team material, I’ll have no trouble kicking your ass to the curb.”
    Down below…the sound of the gate opening brought Taz out of her reverie. She didn’t mind waiting. The delay gave her time to review her plans. Working with Athena and the Omega Team would give her an outlet for all the pent-up energy simmering inside. She’d tried to be a normal woman, gone to an American university and made American friends. The classes were fun, but the idea of sitting behind a desk every day for the rest of her working career was intolerable. Her father was gone now, but since the day he’d rescued her from Sokolov’s horror chamber, he’d set out to teach her every trick in the book–how to survive–to fight–to win.
    Now, she needed a place to put those skills to good use. No police academy would touch her. No governmental agency would give her a chance. Despite passing the citizenship test. Despite pledging allegiance to her new country–she was suspect. All because of her father. She didn’t understand. He’d defected, knowing he would face a firing squad if he’d been caught and returned. Not even the details of what she’d suffered at the hands of a madman made a difference. So, this was her big chance. This job would give her life purpose. Athena assured her that Deacon Jones was the best. She’d told Taz he was a man’s man, tough but fair. Her heart beat rapidly anticipating the chance to learn from a master, to show him what she could do.
    As soon as the opening was big enough for her to drive through, she entered, pulling up to a garage-like entrance. In a few moments it opened and she eased into the dim interior. There was no one waiting for her, so Taz shut off the engine and opened her door. “The stairs are around the corner.”
    “Very well.” The voice might have been human, she couldn’t tell. It had robotic characteristics as well. Hearing the doors close where she’d entered, Taz presumed there was no need to lock anything up. It would take a tank to get into a place like this and she really didn’t have anything worth stealing. Opening the heavy door, she began to climb the stairs. Three flights. No windows. Wherever she was going was quite high in elevation. At the top, there was a door, but no knob or lever. Taz waited a few seconds and it swung