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

open. She glanced up in the corners, searching for a camera. “Ah, yes.” There it was. She resisted the impulse to wave.
    In his control room, Deacon watched Natasha Levin. For some reason, he’d expected a bigger woman, taller with obvious muscles. There was nothing intimidating about this auburn haired sprite. She didn’t appear strong enough to open a mayonnaise jar, much less handle a gun. And hand to hand combat? Maybe if they were competing for the best nail color.
    He smiled. This wouldn’t take long. By the time she reached the final security checkpoint, he was waiting.
    Taz pressed the only button she could see. “May I come in, please?”
    The big metal door slid open and she found herself face to face with a big man. Shoulder length blond hair framed a face which was now contorted into a frown. Taz couldn’t help it, the sight struck her funny. A tiny giggle erupted from her mouth before she caught it, pressing her lips together.
    “Something amuses you?”
    This handsome man wanted to intimidate her. Even though Taz respected her superiors and would bend over backwards to please him, she didn’t scare easily. Not after what she’d been through. Standing up as straight as she could, she looked him in the eye. “Yes, sir.”
    Her answer surprised him. “What?”
    “You. You look like you’ve been sucking on a lemon.”
    Her explanation just made him frown more. “Follow me.” Turning his back to her, he walked off, apparently expecting her to fall in line.
    She did and when he abruptly stopped, Taz froze in her tracks, her nose mere inches from his broad back. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing.” Honestly, he didn’t quite know what to do with her. She was way too pretty for his peace of mind. He started walking again, turning to the right and leading Natasha into a big room with plate glass windows overlooking the river.
    “Bullet proof?”
    Deacon gestured for her to sit in an oversize leather chair near the fireplace and he chose one across from her. “Yes.”
    “What are you afraid of?”
    Her question surprised him. Little thing was ballsy. She reminded him of Annie, which bothered the hell out of him. At that moment, Deacon decided he wouldn’t like this woman. He couldn’t afford to. “Nothing.” What haunted his dreams at night was none of this woman’s business. 
    “Everyone is afraid of something, Mr. Jones.”
    When she raised her face to him emphasizing that determined little chin, he couldn’t help but count the freckles sprinkled across her cheeks…thirteen. “Really? What keeps you awake at night, Miss Levin?” With her tendency to say whatever she was thinking, he assumed it wasn’t a man.
    Without hesitation, she said emphatically. “Memories.”
    Deacon could tell by the set of her mouth she didn’t intend to elaborate. “So, Grey tells me you want to be on the Omega Team.”
    “Yes, sir. I am qualified to be a bodyguard, carry out rescue missions, even train soldiers for counterterrorism efforts.”
    Her brash, enthusiastic self-confidence gave him a headache. He bent his head, resting his face in the palm of his hands. “Give me strength,” he prayed under his breath.
    “Don’t worry, while I’m here, I’ll be your strength.”
    Her words seemed to shock him, he jerked his head up and glared at her. “I don’t need protection.” She reminded him of Ariel. All she needed was a bikini top and a fish tail. Damn, he shifted on the cushion, pulling his pants leg down to adjust his swollen package. Hell. Maybe he did need protecting…from her. 
    She shrugged. “It will be good practice.”
    The last few words she uttered held the only trace of an accent he’d heard. “You’re here for me to evaluate your abilities. That’s all.”
    His edict didn’t seem to require a reply, so she gave him none.
    “What’s your background? What type of training have you had?”
    His voice seemed tired. Taz didn’t know if it was just because he was frustrated