Clarity (The Admiral's Elite Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hill might have been holding us for has him more than a little dubious about our Intel and the source.”
     
    “Is he going to check why whoever asked him for this little favor pointed him toward this particular poppy field? I mean that area isn’t exactly on the beaten heroin path.” Becca frowned. “No one would want to set us up, would they?” She eyed him curiously, searching for a tell of some sort. Knowing if he didn’t want her to see, she wouldn’t.
     
    “Set up is a strong accusation, Becca.” One shoulder rose and fell in a shrug. “Of course we’re looking into every possibility.”
     
    The political speak was answer enough. Michael suspected, which meant Black did too, that they had been at the very least misinformed. At worst, they had someone at the top who wanted to see them gone. Michael wouldn’t be able to comment on the subject if the admiral ordered him not to. Becca had to give the cruel bastard credit, he knew how to keep his secrets. To be privy to those secrets, all it required was the lifelong servitude of one unfortunate soul. A soul she happened to love, and hated watching suffer. Her thoughts remained private. It did no good to share them since he obviously couldn’t say more on the subject. Instead she nodded. “Sounds good.”
     
    Michael’s pained expression tore at her. He had to be chafing under Black’s orders to stay quiet. With increased trips to DC, just Black and Michael, there was much more secrecy swirling around the top command. Several times Michael had returned sporting new injuries, though whether those were from Black or some other source he couldn’t divulge. As far as she knew, this past mission was the first instance the unit’s safety had been threatened. And for a man like Michael who valued those under his command, it would be pure agony to know someone might be gunning for them. Grim, he remained tight lipped and clearly unhappy.
     
    Giving him a reprieve, Becca changed the subject. “So do we have a debriefing or is he satisfied?”
     
    His relief that she wasn’t going to press was evident. In that way it was a blessing that Becca figured out his tie to the admiral and the corresponding limitations. She knew when to stop asking. Shaking his head, he let his eyes wander past her to the room and the yet to be unpacked bag covered by a fine coating of sand dust by her heavy wooden footboard.
     
    “He’s satisfied for now.” Expression changing, Michael pushed off the door with his shoulders. “As a matter of fact, we’ve got a few days off unless something big comes up. I was asked to pass that along.” Silently, he glided across the stone floor, stepping around the overflowing pack between them. “I ran into the other two in the kitchen so you’re my last stop, I guess.”
     
    As he neared, Becca felt her body respond automatically. Her pulse picked up and other things happened lower down. By her figuring, if she wasn’t feeling tiptop she should be in bed. Right? Dizzy when she sat up? No problem, she could lay down for a while. “So we have time to ourselves?”
     
    He didn’t answer, taking several more steps without breaking eye contact. Fascinated, Becca watched the vibrant cerulean blue all but disappear into deepest slate. Swallowing, she took an involuntary step backward, his intensity warning the primitive part of her brain she was being hunted. Another part of her, equally primal, liked it. 
     
    ***
    Michael stalked Becca , hi s Becca. The meeting with Black was frustrating to say the least and he could feel the tension humming in his body, looking for release. Their respite was not so much a reward to the troops as it was regrouping time for Admiral Black. At least one person in Washington was looking to sink them and it had Black more shaken than Michael had seen him in decades. They agreed that Black himself would do some further investigating. God only knew what that meant for those the admiral decided were on his list