Secret Shade (Sapphire Shade Book Two)

By Ann Serafini

In the first installment of the Sapphire Shade Series, Asiah O’Connor’s life was torn apart by tragedy. Now, after losing almost everyone she’s ever loved, she and her twin sister, Meri, sequester themselves on a tiny, distant planet called Ocea as she was instructed to do by her former mentor, Chase Brandon. Honing her newfound abilities and exploring the wonders of the strange planet, Asiah builds a wall around her broken heart, vowing never to fall in love again.

Seventy years later and knowing she can only complete her delicate mission by positioning herself close to those in power in the world, Asiah has returned to Earth and completed sufficient education to secure herself a government job in espionage. On one of her first overseas missions, Asiah is forced to reveal her powers to one of her teammates, a handsome agent named Benjamin Torricelli.

A former Navy SEAL fresh out of a four-year relationship, Ben can’t quite wrap his mind around the things Asiah can do. All he knows is that he’s falling for her dangerous beauty in a bad way.

When the government gets ahold of Asiah’s secrets, Ben must choose between the country he’s defended since he was 18 and the woman who’s stolen his heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Serafini
• Release date: Apr 10, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311827159

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Secret Shade

Sapphire Shade Series: Book Two

Copyright © 2014 by Ann Serafini

All rights reserved. No part of this book (whether print or electronic edition) may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of Ann Serafini.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is purely coincidental.

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The Sapphire Shade Series

Sapphire Shade

Secret Shade

For Andrew.

You are my biggest fan and my greatest supporter. None of my books would be any good at all if it weren’t for you.

I love you.

Also for Paula and Tony

I’m so happy that you’re part of this process. Thank you!

Prologue

Earth date: July 16, 1999

Day 24,076

Ocea

Asiah O’Connor sat cross-legged on a rocky ledge overlooking the Green Sea with a leather-bound journal in her lap. Two suns were setting across the water, coloring the sky pale orange. She knew it would only last a short while before another sun rose behind her, once again filling the sky with yellow light.

It had been her custom to write in her journal every day for the past 66 years, chronicling her life on this strange and beautiful alien planet. Her pen hovered above the page, halted by a bout of uncharacteristic writer’s block. She couldn’t quite put into words her feelings today. After six and a half decades, it was her last day on Ocea.

She couldn’t wait to return to Earth and found it hard to believe she’d been gone so long. While she could barely contain her excitement to return, she would never forget this place and its wonders. Sitting atop these mossy cliffs and watching the suns set as the green whales swam in the bay below was one of her favorite pastimes. It was her favorite place to meditate, something she did often.

Asiah could tell her twin sister, Meri, was lonely on this planet with no one but Asiah with whom to spend her time. Asiah was lonely as well, but had learned that she didn’t need anyone else to survive. Meri was the only person she cared about in the world. Some years ago, she’d made a vow that when she returned to Earth she would never let herself fall in love again. Love was for weak-hearted people who couldn’t survive on their own. A half of a stronger whole. Well, Asiah was a strong whole all by herself and after 66 years was finally at peace with the thought of being alone the rest of her life. The thought no longer bothered her. Closing her heart would be better for her in the long run and thus better for humanity as a whole.

Asiah and Meri looked the same as they did the day they arrived on Ocea. Nothing aged on the small, lonely planet. Asiah could continue to keep herself from aging when she returned to Earth, but had decided that she would let herself age normally upon her return. She had a delicate mission, one that could quite possibly take centuries to complete if she kept herself alive that long, but she planned to complete it before she died naturally. There was no point in dragging out her existence if it only served to postpone the completion of her task. It would be done her way, in her lifetime. If she couldn’t complete her mission before then, perhaps it wasn’t Earth’s destiny to survive.

The man who had sacrificed his life for Asiah, Chase Brandon, told her she needed to stay on Ocea until she’d reached her maturity and achieved her Oneness, neither of which had happened yet. She couldn’t wait, though. She had run out of things to learn about her people and had mastered her powers years ago. She wanted to learn things on Earth now. Technology had advanced by leaps and bounds over the last 66 years and she needed to catch up with the times. How would she ever be able to save the world if she didn’t know how things worked anymore?

She ran a finger over the worn engravings on the wrist cuff that held her power stone in place in her wrist. She wouldn’t use it anymore once she returned. She and Meri had developed a serum that Asiah would inject herself with weekly to boost her powers. Asiah called it Liquid Sapphire. It was an inert compound that was harmless to ordinary humans, but worked the same way her power stone worked when in contact with her blood. She had mastered her powers to the point where she didn’t need the stone to use them, only to make them virtually limitless. She tired quickly when she didn’t use the stone or the serum. She hated to leave the wrist cuff behind, as it was her last gift from Chase, but it would only stand out as strange on Earth. She liked to think that Chase would be proud of her for finding an alternative way to use her power stone.

She sighed and closed her journal after writing only a few sentences. She already had shelves full of journals from her time here which she planned to leave behind, and perhaps there just wasn’t anything else to say. She intended to leave for Earth in the morning and begin the next stage of her life. She could only hope that the things she’d learned on Ocea would be enough to help her save humanity from extinction.

Chapter One

February 2003

Washington, D.C.

Harold Spencer peered at the woman on the other side of the one-way glass intently. She didn’t exactly look like the hard-ass interrogator Mullins was making her out to be. She was quite a looker, though. Maybe she muddled the suspects’ minds with her supermodel good looks. He chuckled to himself. No, there had to be something more. These were hardened criminals in this line of work, the type that would make most people keep their distance. She looked comfortable in her navy blue suit and yellow silk blouse. She wore patent leather pumps that were entirely too sensible, and was looking this particular suspect directly in the eye without blinking. The suspect looked miserable.

Why didn’t this guy lawyer up? Spencer asked Mullins.

Waived. Says he has no reason to get a lawyer if he’s innocent, the younger man said, running a hand through his light brown hair that was only just beginning to gray at the temples.

What have you got on him?

Mullins shrugged helplessly. Circumstantial evidence only. O’Connor there is our last hope. We have to spring him in an hour unless she comes up with something.

Do you think she will? Spencer raised an eyebrow.

Mullins grinned. She always does. He sobered. Can’t say I’m happy about you stealing her away from us.

Nothing’s decided yet. Besides, I still haven’t seen anything worth stealing. I only have your word that she’s the best.

Just watch, Mullins said, leaning back in his chair and nodding at the glass.

Spencer turned his attention to the pair in the interrogation room, sitting across from one another at a small metal table. The man was handcuffed to a metal bar attached to the table. His entire body radiated tension, a stark difference from the woman across from him who sat with her long legs crossed, dangling one shoe off the end of her toe and bobbing her foot up and down.

So, you never met Miss Sullivan before last Friday? Agent Asiah O’Connor asked the man.

I told you, that was the first time! Randy Marx said, looking agitated. He clenched his cuffed hands together nervously.

O’Connor considered him a moment. You frequent the Blue Monkey Bar on Adams, is that correct?

I don’t see what that has to do with anything, Marx muttered.

"I hear they have killer happy hour specials. Are you acquainted with a woman by the name of Ariel Collins?"

No, should I be? Marx focused on a spot over O’Connor’s shoulder, avoiding her penetrating blue eyes.

She used to tend bar at the Blue Monkey and went missing last month. What about Sue Littleton?

He shrugged. Doesn’t ring a bell.

She used to work at the coffee kiosk near the chemical warehouse where you work. She went missing last October. Last one: Maribel Rodriguez?

Spencer saw something flash across the man’s face. Regret? Fear?

Marx didn’t say anything. He just glowered at O’Connor.

Do you know her? O’Connor prodded.

Yes, he said through gritted teeth.

Oh, good. I was beginning to think I had the wrong list of names, O’Connor said dryly. What was your relationship with Miss Rodriguez?

Another silent glare.

You were in love with her, weren’t you? she asked quietly.

Marx turned away to look at the wall. After a moment he nodded.

Did you kill her? O’Connor’s voice was oddly soothing.

She wasn’t supposed to die … Marx said brokenly.

And the others?

They were different! They deserved what they … Marx trailed off, realizing what he was saying.

O’Connor raised her eyebrows. What did they deserve?

Marx narrowed his eyes. To die.

And you thought you were the one to mete out justice, then?

I saw them for what they really were.

Which was?

Whores. Whores that deserved to die.

And you killed them.

Yes, and I would do it again.

O’Connor stood up and picked up the file from the table. You’ll probably want that lawyer after all, she said, and sailed out of the room.

Told you, Mullins said with a wink, and led an aghast Spencer into his office.

Agent O’Connor walked in a moment later looking perfectly unruffled, and nothing like she’d just made a man confess to a quadruple murder.

O’Connor, this is Harold Spencer, Deputy Director at the CIA. And this is Asiah O’Connor: the best profiler we’ve had in years, Mullins said as he sat down behind his desk.

Spencer shook O’Connor’s hand. Looks like you made quick work of that one, Agent O’Connor.

She shrugged. Everyone wants to tell their story. They just need the right amount of persuasion.

It didn’t look like you had to persuade him at all.

Some are more willing than others, was all she said. She flipped her long chestnut braid over her shoulder.

Spencer had to admit that he’d seen interrogations go on for days at the CIA for much less heinous crimes than a quadruple murder. She’d cracked Marx in less than ten minutes.

The Deputy Director here wants to take you away from us, Mullins said, somewhat despondently.

Yes, the Agency could use someone of your talents. I hear you’re quite the technology guru as well, Spencer said.

You could say that, O’Connor said.

She’s being modest, Mullins jumped in. She out-hacked a cyber-terrorist just last week.

Now Spencer was impressed. He was looking for someone with a background in information technology. Would you consider a job at the Agency? I’m sure you know it comes with a healthy pay raise.

I would be honored, sir. Her face betrayed nothing of how she truly felt about the promotion.

Great! I’ll have all the paperwork sent over this afternoon. We’ve already done all the requisite background checks. You can start Monday in Langley. Spencer stood and extended his hand.

She rose and fixed her blue eyes on his. When he shook her hand a little shiver went down his spine, but from what, he couldn’t tell. Must be his bad back; it had a tendency to tweak now and then. With a nod she left the office.

Something else, eh? Mullins said.

Where’d you find her anyway? Spencer asked, still looking at the door.

She found us. Came looking for a job right out of Harvard.

Thought it was MIT?

Both. She completed her two masters programs concurrently.

Spencer snorted. No way in hell.

"Way. And she’s only 24. Must be a prodigy or savant or something. Now you see why I don’t want to give her up."

Yes. Lucky me, Spencer said.

No joke. Anyone working with her should be so lucky. As for anyone on the opposite side … I don’t want to know what she did to make that guy talk. She may be good at her job, but something’s a little off with that one.

I know what you mean, Spencer agreed. I know exactly what you mean.

***

Langley, Virginia

Asiah stood awkwardly next to her new boss’ desk waiting for the rest of her team to arrive. It was her first day at the CIA and she admitted to herself that she was a little nervous. She was used to working in a male-dominated field after a year with the FBI, but in this office she’d seen only a handful of women and they were all assistants or receptionists. She hoped her gender wouldn’t hold her back here like it had when she’d tried to get into college 70 years ago.

Her return to Earth four years ago had gone about as smoothly as she could have expected, considering she only came back to Earth for short visits during her 66-year tenure on Ocea. She enjoyed attending college, if only to be around other people again. She worked tirelessly to complete two master’s degree programs concurrently and had had little time for any sort of social life.

She and Meri had settled in Boston, an ironic location as it was the first city Asiah had seen in America when her family immigrated there from Ireland when she and her sister were only 12. Meri attended medical school at Harvard while Asiah split her time between Harvard and MIT. She and Meri barely saw each other for the three years they lived in Boston. When Asiah graduated she applied for a job with the FBI and Meri was accepted into a surgical residency program at Georgetown University School of Medicine. They’d been living in the DC area for the past year and finally found a little more time to be together when Meri wasn’t on shift at the hospital.

The two sisters had become extremely close while they spent six and a half decades on the isolated planet together. Where there had been distance during their early years, they found that there was no other person they’d rather be sequestered with than each other. The closeness bound them together, but both longed for the company of others and they returned earlier than Asiah had originally planned.

Asiah loved sitting in a large lecture hall and feeling the surge of intellectual thoughts swirling around her. While her courses were fast-tracked and she spent every waking moment studying, she couldn’t always avoid the attention of the men in her classes. She’d lost count of the number of men she’d turned down for dates in the last four years, and didn’t regret a single one. She wasn’t put on this planet to find love; she was here to do a job. She’d learned long ago how damaging love could be, and she vowed never to put herself through it again. She didn’t regret falling in love with Chase, but it had taken years for the dull ache in her heart to subside and she wasn’t about to try again.

She did enjoy learning all about the new technology that hadn’t existed when she’d left Earth. Computers fascinated her and she wanted to know everything there was to know about them. This was the reason she’d decided on two master’s programs instead of just one in international relations. The computer information systems degree was just for fun. She’d found that having the tech degree also made her more hirable, hence the reason she was standing in the Deputy Director of the CIA’s office right now.

Two of the three men on her team already sat at the conference table casting her surreptitious glances. One was a lanky blond with blue eyes and a crooked smile. The other was a muscular black man with a diamond stud in one ear. Both looked like they could drop a man with a single punch. Her new boss, Harold Spencer, was speaking to the blond man about his golf game.

Ah, Torricelli, about time, Spencer said as another man joined them. This one was tall and muscular like the other two, with unruly black hair and dark eyes that barely spared her a glance. His immaculate black suit and maroon tie lent him an air of sophistication that Asiah suspected was only skin-deep. He sat on the edge of his chair looking anxious.

I called you in here to introduce you to your new teammate, Spencer said to the men and gestured toward Asiah. This is Asiah O’Connor. She’s the Bureau’s best profiler so we had to snatch her up. They say she can get into anyone’s head. Asiah, this is Benjamin Torricelli, Sawyer Jacks, and Clarence Mason.

She nodded at Torricelli, the blond and the black man respectively in turn and noticed Torricelli scrutinizing her carefully.

Welcome to the Agency, he said, somewhat breathlessly, as he stood and extended his hand.

She grasped his hand. Thank you, Agent Torricelli. I look forward to working with you. I’ve heard great things. He seemed a little out of sorts so she smiled at him.

He returned her smile, albeit weakly, and nodded. She decided he was quite handsome.

Spencer turned to Asiah. Agent Jacks is your team leader and will be handling your training for the first few months here. Your team is known around here as Whiskey Squad.

She raised an eyebrow at the name and the Deputy Director shrugged. What else were we supposed to call it when we got to ‘W?’ I’ll let the four of you get acquainted. Why don’t you do that over that pile of paperwork on your desk, Torricelli?

Yes, sir. He looked at Asiah again and gestured to the door. Ladies first.

She nodded to Spencer and headed out to the hallway. She began walking briskly toward where she knew Torricelli’s office was. She had made sure to get the lay of the land earlier while she was waiting for Spencer to get out of a meeting.

Where are you going in such a hurry? Torricelli asked, hurrying to catch up with her.

Your office. Paperwork, remember? It’s this way, right? She turned left down another hallway and started counting doors. His was the fourth on the left, or was it the fifth?

Well, yes, but do you want to grab some coffee or something first? Believe me, the paperwork will still be there when we get back.

She stopped walking and turned toward him. He almost tripped over her, and caught himself with a hand on the wall. What about what Deputy Director Spencer said?

Agent Jacks caught up and stood next to Torricelli. What about it? he said with a shrug.

Men! Asiah thought in exasperation. Well, she wasn’t about to let them make her look bad on her first day. She needed to make a good first impression. Listen, gentlemen. I’m here to work hard and get the job done. Your lackadaisical attitude is not going to fly with me. Paperwork first, coffee later. She turned on her heel and strode off toward Torricelli’s office.

She heard the men muttering in the hallway behind her and tamped down her irritation. She entered the office and glanced around at the space Torricelli shared with Agent Mason. There were two desks at opposite ends with a round table and white board on wheels in the center. She saw a stack of paper and files on one of the desks. She went to the desk and was about to move the stack to the table when she noticed a framed picture next to it on the desk. She picked it up for a closer look. It was of Agent Torricelli and a cute blonde woman wearing designer sunglasses. He stood behind the woman with his arms around her waist and was pressing a kiss to her cheek while she laughed. Asiah thought they made a cute couple.

Agent Mason strolled in as she was setting the photo down. He was biting back a smile, probably because of some joke at her expense in the hallway. He came over and held out his hand to Asiah.

It’s a pleasure to have you aboard, Agent O’Connor.

She shook his hand. Thank you, Agent Mason.

Call me Soultrain. Everyone else around here does.

She smiled, thinking he needed an afro and an orange polyester suit to go with that name. Alright … Soultrain.

Agent Jacks joined them a moment later. Hell, O’Connor, I thought you’d be halfway through that stack already with that work ethic of yours. He nodded to the stack of files.

She picked it up from the desk and plunked it down on the table. Between the four of us, we should be able to get through it pretty quick, right? she said brightly, hoping to inspire some motivation.

What do you mean four? I’ve got to prepare a training schedule for you. The next six weeks are going to be hell, he said with an evil grin.

And I get to do your job until your training’s finished, Soultrain said without looking up from his laptop.

Did Spencer tell you what your role on this team is? Jacks asked.

I’m sure it’s in the briefing packet I was given this morning, she replied. The stack of paperwork she had to read just to work here was bigger than the one in front of her.

You’re our techie. Gadgets, computers, equipment, that’s you. Sound about right?

Sounds good to me.

Good, because you have some big shoes to fill. Agent Johnson, your predecessor, was the best gadget guy we’ve ever had. Got his ass kicked by PTSD recently and now he’s headed for a desk job at the Denver field office.

I’m sorry to hear that. You must have been close, the four of you, she said.

Yeah, we go way back. Big Ben and I were in the SEALs together. Soultrain and Johnson were our first and only teammates at the Agency. It’s a shame to lose Johnson. A faraway look crossed Jacks’ face.

Where is Agent Torricelli, anyway? Asiah wondered.

Getting coffee, Jack grinned.

Asiah frowned.

Give him a break, his girl just dumped him this morning, and he just lost a teammate, Jacks said.

Asiah walked over to the desk and picked up the photo again. That’s too bad. They look so happy.

Torricelli appeared in the doorway holding a black mug in one hand with the letters CIA emblazoned on it in white. His gaze darkened when he saw what Asiah was holding. Tense silence filled the room as he strode to his desk and slowly extracted the photo from her hands.

He examined the picture for a moment before casually tossing it in the trash. Apparently not. He cocked an eyebrow at her. I thought you’d be halfway through that pile of paperwork by now.

She let out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding. Just waiting on you. Apparently, it’s just you and me on this.

Make that just you. I’m running a workshop at the range this morning. He checked his watch and sipped his coffee. In fact, I should already be there. He tore off his jacket and loosened his tie before hanging the two items in a closet in the corner. He shrugged into his shoulder harness and inspected his Desert Eagle briefly before striding to the door. If you hit it hard, O’Connor, maybe you’ll be done by Friday! He disappeared before she could scowl at him.

"You share an