The Pack-Retribution Read Online Free PDF Page A

dropped. “I better hurry up.”
    “No, we better.” He grabbed her hand and they walked to the elevator.
    The elevator door opened. Elite Officer Dax got off. His bulky arms folded in front of him and his usual scowl deepened on his pale face as his eyes fell to their clasped hands. “Humph, fraternizing again?” he mumbled, then curved his finger at them, standing in front of the elevator.
    Shamira took a deep breath and swallowed back a retort as she pulled her hand out of Valens’. Dax was one of their trainers. One they most disliked. Disrespect to any Elite Officer would hinder their promotion, therefore they gave him some space. Besides, mouthing off wouldn’t solve anything, so they allowed him to get away with the oozing off of his dislike for them. All she wanted was to put her team on the case to track down Cal’s killers. If tolerating Dax’s crap was a way to do it—then so be it.
    Valens lifted his eyebrow at her. He defiantly held her hand while they followed Dax onto the elevator. Shamira smiled to herself at Valens’ quiet challenge and felt comforted in his confirmation of friendship. So she gave into the challenge he initiated and tilted her chin at Dax, whose lip thinned in response.
    He pushed the button and cracked his neck while the elevator rose. “Cadet Shamira, you’ll come with me for questioning. You’re my first to interrogate. Valens, Elite Officer Finch will deal with you.”
    Shamira cleared her throat. “Did the others already begin?” she asked, purposely refusing to address him as an Elite Officer.
    Dax tilted his head slightly and cut a harsh gaze filled with contempt at her. “Not your concern. I don’t recall you being promoted to Security Force Elite Leader. Yet. Why they would consider promoting a kid when there are other more qualified Elites available?” he grumbled quietly. “Until then, your father will take over, and you’ll be under investigation with your team until you are absolved of any negligence.”
    The elevator door opened and they sauntered behind Dax down the light wood-covered walls to the interrogation rooms. Elite Officer Finch was waiting for them. He nodded at Valens to follow. Shamira took a deep breath fought to gain some composure for her session with Dax.
    He pressed his fingertip to the flat silver panel on the wood door and pushed open the clouded window. She rolled her eyes at the heavy metal table and matching chairs with white walls. It was time to deal with the pinhead.
    “Sit.” He pointed to the chair opposite the one he’d slid out for himself. Expelling a breath, he pulled over the small computer flashpad and said, “Create file for subject, Cadet Shamira Nobels.”
    The flat, thin device beeped and responded in a computerized tone, “Cadet Shamira Nobels, Security Force Elite cadet in training for Security Force Elite Leader. Direct subordinate to Security Force Elite Leader, Cal Long. Interrogation file created by Sector Nine Security Elite Leader and investigator, Officer Manuel Dax.”
    Shamira sat back in the hard chair. She folded her arms while he typed on the flashpad. By the look on Dax’s face, he planned on having her here a while. She played over what could’ve gone wrong today, but couldn’t figure out who would do this. With her team’s destruction of Monev—the crime organization that had caused the breakdown of the secure structure of peace and order on Mars—no threat to the Security Force had surfaced in a year.
    The kids were saved and the crime completely halted on the planet. Since the main henchman were taken into custody or declared dead, Monev was no longer a threat. All the members of the gang that had lived were put to death on Earth. Cal’s twin brother Renu, Monev’s leader, was laid to rest in a memorial service only because he’d once been trained as an Elite Officer. Unfortunately for Cal, he had to plan the memorial service for a brother who’d been kicked out of the Security Force as a