In the Black Read online

  “She’s right,” Storm said. “This is a top-secret program, and it got away from them. They’ll want to keep this quiet, which means it’s gonna be buttoned up.”

  “You think they’ll give us a pass?” West asked.

  “If I work my magic, yeah.” And then Storm leaned over to whisper to her. “That reminds me, why don’t we have a talk after this? I might be able to help you out, too, so you don’t have to run.”

  “Seriously?” She clung to the small glimmer of hope.

  “Well, let’s put it this way, I give you fifty-fifty odds.”

  “I’ll take it.” It was much better than the zero percent chance she’d had a few minutes ago.

  “And are you sure, you wanna go with us, Ellie?” West sighed. “You’ll have to bug out before the feds get there, and this could get really ugly tonight.”

  She’d volunteered to go, over both King’s and Zane’s objections, and nobody would talk her out of it.

  “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  “Then be ready. We leave at o300.”

  ***

  “Hey, are you ready to talk?” Storm asked Ellie after the meeting.

  “Sure.” She followed him down the hall to technology center.

  He closed the door behind them, presumably so they could have some privacy. Ellie had a feeling she wasn’t going to enjoy this talk.

  “We’ve tipped off the feds, which means they’ll be out in force tomorrow.”

  “I know. Tomorrow, I turn into a pumpkin, to use a Cinderella metaphor.”

  “Yes, they’ll take you into custody. And the DA will want to put this case to bed as fast as possible. My hunch is they’ll press you for information on the others, and then offer you a pretty sweet deal.”

  “How do you know so much about this?”

  His smile was smug. “At the agency, I…persuaded people to help me, using whatever means necessary. And I know exactly how and where the government buries the bodies it doesn’t want anyone to find. I mean that both literally and figuratively.”

  Ellie frowned. “What are you tryin’ to tell me?”

  “The FBI wants these guys bad, so you’ve got a bargaining chip, if you use it right.”

  Ellie believed the FBI had her dead to rights. Her keycard had been used, her boyfriend had been in on the plan. And to make matters worse, she’d hidden from the authorities. Ellie had behaved like a guilty person, even though she’d had nothing to do with the plot.

  “What exactly do you mean? I’ve never blackmailed the government before.”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” Storm grinned. “Here’s exactly what you should say...”

  As she listened, Ellie began to smile.

  ***

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Can’t sleep.”

  Ellie had wandered into Zane’s bedroom when she’d seen his light was on, too.

  The next few hours would determine the rest of her life. She needed to go into the operation, rested and ready to go. Instead, she’d laid in her bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Zane.

  “Me either.” Zane was propped up in bed, and he nodded to the other side, indicating she should lie down. “Tomorrow it will be over.

  She sat beside him. “Yeah, one way or the other.”

  And most likely, if Storm’s plan didn’t work, she’d be going to jail or running from place to place.

  “We got this, Ellie.”

  “Yeah, somehow I don’t think so.”

  He opened his mouth to argue.

  “Yeah, I know. I should stay positive, but I didn’t come here for a pep talk.”

  “No?”

  “No. We left things unsettled between the two of us, and I wanna talk it out. Once and for all.”

  “Don’t worry about us right now. Tonight, keep your head straight. You—”

  She placed a fingertip to his lip.

  Ellie had intended to tell Zane how she felt. Honestly, she did, but then Zane nipped her finger, and sucked it into his mouth.

  She gasped. And Ellie lost the ability to form thoughts, let alone words. She drifted in a haze of need, one she’d been sublimating for years.

  Zane asked a silent question with eyes.

  And Ellie nodded.

  Suddenly, they were all over each other, tugging down zippers, popping buttons off, in a race to bare their skin to one another.

  They stripped down to their underwear, and then Zane pushed her back against the mattress, before he crawled on top of her.

  Zane took his time, tasting, teasing her nipples. Each swollen crest was licked, and sucked, and nipped. He leaned back to admire them, juggling the soft flesh in his hands, as though fascinated by the way they moved, mesmerized by the sight.

  His hand slipped between her legs. The warmth of his palm rested against her soft cotton panties. He traced the thin material for a moment, and then pulled at the edges, another silent question.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  Needing no further invitation, Zane stripped them off, leaving her bare to his hungry-eyed gaze. He missed nothing, noticed all of her.

  Cupping her pussy, Zane began a gentle rhythm, kneading her, until she gasped. Zane claimed her mouth in a ferocious kiss.

  Heat rolled through her body.

  She grew wetter with each caress, needier. His fingers parted her folds, grazing her clit, but not stroking it.

  Ellie moaned in response.

  “Want more?”

  “Yes, I want all of it. All of you.”

  This time, he used two fingertips, circling her entrance, but not penetrating it. And Ellie wanted a hell of a lot more than his fingertips inside her.

  Ellie bit her lip. “Are you tryin’ to kill me?”

  “Just wanna make sure you’re ready.” He was hard and swollen, pressing against his boxer briefs, his cock a hard, thick mass against her leg.

  “Zane…”

  “I’ve been waitin’ years for you. So, I’m takin’ my sweet time.”

  I might not survive it.

  He made her feel savage, out of control. Ellie wanted to grind against his palm, dig her fingernails into his back. Then demand that Zane fuck her. Hard. Again, and again.

  Zane chuckled, low in his throat. He had the upper hand, and he knew it. Zane was playing with her, toying with her. And Ellie loved every second of it.

  Ellie gave herself over to pleasure, unable to think of anything else but Zane. Ellie rode his hand, climbing toward the most intense climax she could remember.

  Every time she got close, he pulled back, stopped fondling. Instead, he left her wet, halfway out of her mind, quaking with need.

  “Zane!”

  “What?”

  I can’t do this anymore.

  Zane wasn’t immune to it either. The head of his cock had left a damp patch on the cotton.

  Two can play this game.

  She traced the hard length, and he groaned. Ellie circled the dewy head, stroking it through the cloth prison.

  “Ellie…”

  Before he could stop her, Ellie pushed his underwear down. His dick sprang free, hard and pulsing, flushed a dark and angry reddish purple.

  Ellie touched the slick flesh with a teasing fingertip, and his cock jumped, seeking more contact. She rubbed her thumb over the tip, and he groaned, long and low.

  “Need more?”

  “God, yes.”

  “Then, I’ll give it to you.” His foreskin slipped up and down his thick cock as she stroked. Pumped.

  Zane’s breath came faster and faster. His eyes had narrowed to slits and his teeth sank into his lower lip.

  And then Zane seized her wrist, holding her still.

  He rolled Ellie over, and spread her open once more. After slipping on a condom, Zane pushed his cock between her slick folds, but he wasn’t done teasing.

  He pushed his dick in her pussy. Slowly, edging, teasing, but never satisfying. He rubbed into her, but Zane didn’t thrust. Ellie moaned, hips archi
ng up, but he captured them, held her still for his leisurely invasion.

  Zane filled up her world.

  His big body laid on top of hers, pinning her open. He edged inside, letting her get used to his thickness, the length. But Ellie couldn’t take this much longer.

  “Zane please?”

  “What do you need?”

  Her thighs were soaked, and Ellie was so wet, so needy, her clit ached, throbbed. All she had to do was touch it, but when she tried, Zane slapped her hand away.

  “You. Fuck me.”

  And then he went deeper, harder, thrusting now, stroking her with his cock, driving her toward a release

  It felt so damn good, it was nearly painful.

  Zane leaned back so he could watch her. And his expression made her gasp.

  This was need. It was raw, bare.

  “It’s time,” Zane said hoarsely.

  One more fierce thrust and Ellie was on the edge of orgasm. Only it felt more like a ledge. Any moment, she would tip over the side of the mountain and free fall, but somehow, she knew Zane would be waiting at the bottom to catch her in his arms.

  Her muscles tensed, clenched his dick, and she teetered.

  “That’s it. Give it to me.”

  Ellie jumped.

  And the orgasm washed over her, like a remorseless tidal wave, a force of nature.

  Zane watched the whole thing. He stopped thrusting, balancing on his elbows, so he could experience it.

  She was too far gone, to be self-conscious.

  Ellie whimpered, holding nothing back, letting go completely. Her pussy clasped his cock for dear life.

  And then he moved even deeper inside her.

  Ellie yielded to him completely, giving herself to Zane, soaking the mattress beneath them, coming for him until she simply couldn’t have another orgasm.

  Zane lunged into her. “Can I…?” His eyes slammed shut, and he seemed to have difficulty concentrating. “Can I take off the condom? I need to feel you, all of you.”

  She shivered.

  There was something raw in his tone. Didn’t Zane realize she was already his?

  Ellie could only nod.

  Zane pulled off the condom and tossed it aside before parting her sex again and plunging his cock back into her pussy. Ellie shut her eyes, grateful for the heat of him, the length of him, the friction.

  His dick felt right inside her, as though it should’ve always been there.

  This time Zane wasn’t gentle, or slow. He fucked her hard, slamming into her pussy, taking it. His balls slapped against her ass, her breasts bounced, and her cunt wept for him.

  “You will come for me again.”

  It wasn’t a request.

  Ruthlessly, he plunged into her, his pubic bone grazing her clit with every movement. Until she arched for him, wailing as the second orgasm hit her like a lightning strike.

  Clutching her hips, Zane pumped inside her, flooding Ellie with his come, leaving his mark upon her. When they were both done, shuddering and damp, he flipped their positions, so she was on top of him, sprawled in a boneless heap.

  Zane stroked her hair, and Ellie’s eyes drifted closed. Strange. They were on the verge of catastrophe, and she’d never felt better.

  Ellie was at peace.

  ***

  He was lost in her.

  Zane had wanted to make love to Ellie for years, and here she was. In his arms. In his bed. His dick was sopping wet from her pussy. If there was some way to make this night last forever, he would.

  She was sleepy and warm on top of Zane, but he couldn’t let her rest. They had so little time together, and he wanted to make it count. Zane couldn’t predict the outcome of the operation tonight. He didn’t want to waste a single minute.

  He took her mouth in another kiss, because it belonged to him.

  Zane cupped her cheek and smothered her gasp when he rocked against her. She splayed her legs on either of his hips, her molten pussy was against his cock, which was twitching back to life.

  He had to have her again. Had to. It wasn’t even a question.

  She arched against him, his cock clamped between her inflamed folds. He surged against her, pumping, stopping only to claim her kiss-swollen lips in deep, drugging kisses.

  He rubbed the tip of his cock against her clit and Ellie twitched, gasping, gripping his shoulders. He seized her hips, grinding. It didn’t take long for them to reach orgasm this time. Ellie spasmed above him, and he came again, filling her once more.

  When it was over, Zane held her once more, rubbed her back, kissed her sweaty temple, couldn’t stop touching her.

  “We have to leave soon.”

  “I know,” Zane said, glancing at his phone. “But not yet.”

  And when he’d recovered, Zane took her again.

  Later, they reluctantly got out of bed.

  Zane helped her dress. Ellie was sleepy, replete, like a doll in his arms. And he wanted to take her back to bed, but that wasn’t an option.

  Zane went slowly, tugging on her panties, and then her jeans, her bra, and then Ellie’s top. He drank in every touch, every glance, memorizing her. Savoring Ellie.

  “It’s time.” He held her hand.

  And they went off to battle.

  Chapter 12

  “On my signal, we go in hard and fast.”

  West had spoken over the comms and Ellie almost screamed in surprise.

  Ellie wasn’t used to having a voice in her ear. And she was on overload anyway. Ellie had never been involved in a military operation before.

  Maybe coming here had been a bad idea. And yet, she couldn’t let everyone face this without her.

  Ellie couldn’t back out now.

  A chorus of “copy thats” came over the line.

  Zane and the rest of the crew weren’t perturbed in the slightest. If anything, they seemed excited, filled with nervous energy. People who signed up for the military like Tommy and Zane, or para-military groups like Annie and Mack were just a bit crazy. Ellie liked the sanctity of her clean lab, the scientific method.

  The compound was in the middle of nowhere. Black Star Security had arrived in a caravan of Jeeps and parked several miles away, hoofing it so they wouldn’t draw attention to themselves.

  And now they were crouched in position, in front and behind the building, disguised by the shrubbery near the entrances.

  Zane was in his element, surveying the area with his night vision goggles.

  The nearest house was several miles away. Dawn was hours from now. There were no street lamps out here, so the place was pitch black.

  West spoke again. “Before we head in, let me remind you. These bastards have a nerve agent and aren’t afraid to use it. Everybody put their gas masks on and keep them on until I tell you to take them off.”

  She put her mask on, and it was rubbery against her face, hot. Ellie had used one at the lab, but it hadn’t been this industrial or large. She felt like the clunky thing was wearing her face instead of the other way around.

  Zane turned to her. “When we breach, you’re staying behind me. Understood?”

  “Got it.” It wasn’t even a question.

  “Alright. I’m countin’ it down,” West said. “Three. Two. One—”

  A gunshot broke the silence, ricocheting off the ground.

  So much for the element of surprise.

  Ellie crouched further down, protecting her head. They should’ve hidden behind something more substantial. Where’s a boulder when you need one?

  “Shit. I was hopin’ this would be easy. Good thing, we have a plan B. Nox, shoot out the windows,” West ordered.

  “It would be my pleasure, Chief. Can someone give me cover?”

  Zane peppered the house with gunfire, while Nox expertly took each rear window, one by one, like he was playing a shooting gallery game at the fair. Only he wasn’t aiming at rubber ducks.

  “Excellent work. King, it’s time for tear gas,” West said. “Let’s smoke these asshol
es out.”

  She held her breath, as Tommy tossed tear gas grenades through the windows. Almost immediately, the men inside coughed and hacked.

  “Breach!” West yelled.

  En masse, they ran for the doors. Nox was the first one inside on their half of the building, and then Tommy. She and Zane brought up the rear. Storm, West, Annie, and Mack were in the front.

  Things were chaotic inside.

  There were shouts, grunts of pain, and Ellie couldn’t see a damn thing. Not to mention, they were in unfamiliar territory. Smoke had filled the air, and she was grateful for the mask. Ellie held it close against her face, keeping it in place.

  A man fired off a shot and then disappeared behind a corner. Evidently, they had caught them unaware. If they’d been tipped off somehow, the sovereigns would have been prepared. Maybe dumb luck had played a role. Had one of them woken up while Black Star was getting into place?

  But when they walked around the corner, he was gone.

  It didn’t make any sense. There was nowhere to run or hide. They’d covered all the exits. Right?

  Ellie had a terrible feeling.

  And then machine gun fire sliced through the air, turning furniture into toothpicks.

  “Fuck!” West called. “Take cover.”

  "Come on, follow me. We’ve gotta get you someplace safe." Zane led her down the hallway, and she stayed close. Adrenaline coursed through her body and the blood roared in her ears. In the distance, she could hear shouts and more gunfire.

  Ellie silently prayed everyone was okay.

  He found the entrance to the basement and she followed him down the stairs. The floor was made of concrete, and the door was steel, heavy.

  Zane pulled on a chain hanging from the ceiling, and the bare light bulb above their heads flickered on. It was cold and musty, filled with a few dozen wooden shelves and hundreds of dusty old Mason jars. Evidently, someone had been canning for a while.

  He searched the place methodically.

  “Okay, there’s nobody here, and there’s only one way out.” He pointed to the stairs. “You should be secure here.”

  “Yeah.” Ellie was shaken. Like Nox had pointed out, she’d never been in a firefight before.

  Zane took her by the shoulders. “You alright?”