Betrayal: Betrayal, #1

By Deana Brown

Tamara Fields was recruited by the Company at the age of fifteen. Ten years later her specialty is retrieving children taken and sold to twisted people hiding behind money, power, and prestige.

The first betrayal.

There's nothing unusual about her assignment to retrieve five children before they disappear except she's sent in at dawn instead of under the cover of night. She's also given a partner that she doesn't trust and who fights her every step of the way.

They find the children as their intel indicated and are on their way to freedom only moments before daylight spotlights their escape when gunfire shatters the silence. Running for safety one of the children dies and two bullets take her down. She's captured.

She suffers for ten days at the hands of a master before the Company executes a belated rescue. Her recovery is slow and painful and awakens a burning, simmering rage.

There are too many questions she needs answered. Who set her up, why the Company waited ten days, why they rescued her at all and why she was still alive. Battling nightmares that plague her waking and sleeping, she must discover the answers because she quickly learns they're not through with her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deana Brown
• Release date: Jul 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201442125

Book preview

Prologue

The dark star studded sky began to lighten to a deep gray as the sun started its slow climb toward the horizon bringing dawn to a sleeping world. The forest held a stillness that heralded the passage of night to day. It was a world unmarred by man except for the long line of a narrow road where a dark blue van hid within the shelter of trees and underbrush.

Tamara moved through the black veil of early morning with a silence perfected through years of training followed by experience. Quickly crossing the paved two lane road, she became a part of the darkness that was deeper than shadows against the stone wall of the fence encompassing the house and grounds on the other side.

Although the woman that made up their two person team moved almost soundlessly she still heard the slight brush of cloth against cloth, the low crunch of brush and gravel before she stopped beside her.

Her blood pumped with adrenalin, but her heart beat slow and steady. All of her senses were on high alert, her eyes constantly scanning behind night vision glasses.

As usual she was dressed for ease of movement and to blend with her surrounds from the form fitting long sleeve black knit top and cargo pants to her soft leather boots. Her dark brown shoulder length hair was tucked under the mask that hid every feature but her mouth; the gleam of her dark blue eyes concealed behind the glass that covered them.

The warning tingle that had been with her since she’d left The Company grounds ran around her nape and down her spine. She listened to that warning, but was unable to stop what had been set in motion.

Nothing about tonight’s extraction made sense. There were too many inconsistencies, too many changes in procedure. Even as she listened and watched her thoughts spun with all of the questions no one had been willing to answer.

Hell, she’d been with The Company for ten years. She’d worked alone on the assignments they gave her except when they sent in a full team, which was seldom. On this highly sensitive mission, they’d ignored her objections to Agent Beth Howell, the woman they’d paired her with. The woman might be competent, she might be considered a good agent by those in The Company, but as far as Tamara was concerned on tonight’s mission she was an amateur and amateurs could get everyone killed.

She released a slow breath and let that go. There wasn’t anything she could do about it now because they were at the location.

Her mind flipped to the next inconsistency as she lifted the cover on her watch and checked the time. Why the insistence of a pre-dawn extraction instead of a night extraction when there was a better chance of success at getting in and out undetected?

No mission went completely as planned and sending them in only hours before people were waking to start their morning was just idiocy. When asked the only reason given was the timetable of the shipment. Had no one known that ahead of time? They should have.

One of the last was the ‘no backup would be sent in’ part when usually there would be a team standing by to help get the children away after extraction. Oh yeah, way too many inconsistencies. Well, she’d just have to make sure no one paid the price for those decisions and once back she’d get answers to what the fuck was going on.

She forced her focus on the present situation as she moved along the fence until she had a clear view of the entrance. When she saw the heat signature of a man standing on the inside of the opening, she watched him shift restlessly and mutter softly as he turned to face the huge two store house at the end of the wide, paved drive.

She quickly crossed over to the other side of the drive and pressed against the corner post. A quick sweeping glance of the area inside and out of the fenced area showed no other heat signatures. Her curse was a soft soundless hiss because there should be more than one guard, the place should be crawling with them.

Releasing a slow, silent breath, she looked at her partner who had stayed on the other side and gave a slow nod. Tucking her gun into the back of her pants, she removed the long, sharp blade from her boot. Stepping around the corner post, she moved up behind the man and wrapped her gloved hand around his mouth as she shoved the knife into his neck.

Using muscles that were deceptively strong in a lean slender body, she pushed the knife deeper as she stepped back into deeper shadows taking the man down to the ground as she crouched.

Several moments later she felt his last gurgling breath before the body went slack. Removing her hand, she wiped the blood staining the palm of her glove on his dark shirt. Scooting out of the path of any residual streams, she pulled the knife out.

After wiping the blade on the man’s already bloody shirt, she sheathed it back in her boot and removed her weapon. Her eyes swept the area carefully as she waited for Agent Howell to join her. She still didn’t move even when the woman ran over to crouch on the other side of the body.

~~~

Opening the door to the opulent, empty bedroom he stepped through then closed it soundlessly. He stopped just inside the room, one hand loose at his side, the other holding an expensive rifle with an equally expense and accurate scope.

In the light filtering through the three long windows that covered the outside wall his dark blue eyes gleamed with anticipation before he gave a brief nod of satisfaction. Crossing the room with a smooth almost feline grace, his steps were silent on thick white carpet. He didn’t bother turning on the overhead light needing only the dim glow from outside to navigate around the furniture in his path.

At the middle window, he stopped and looked out and down through the glass panes. His head moved up and down in an almost undetectable nod of congratulations on choosing the perfect vantage point.

Unlocking the center window, he eased it open several inches before lifting the rifle. Setting the stock against his shoulder, he slipped the barrel through the gap between window and frame. He shifted the weight, his grip firm his stance confident with experience.

Pressing his eye to the night scope, he turned the dial ring then the power ring until everything came into sharp focus. Easing the barrel slowly to the left he stopped, a slow smile curving the sensuous line of his mouth.

Excitement made his pulse jump, his blood flowed fast and strong before it settled into a slow warm rush. A soft chuckle rose in his chest to slip free between the firm lips still curled a faint smile.

Through the scope he watched the two darkly dressed figures crouched beside a third sprawled between them. He focused on the one a step in front of the others. His smile twisted when he saw her head turn as she checked the area. He knew she was thinking, her sharp mind running over everything she saw and heard.

He heard the door open and lowered his lids on the faint light that bled in through the hallway so it wouldn’t ruin his night vision. When he heard it close again he opened his eyes without taking them from the scope or turning around.

Sir, the men are in place.

He didn’t acknowledge the man behind him as he watched every move the figure in the forefront made. He shifted the rifle to keep her in sight even when she rose and both ran forward blending perfectly with the dark. The warm flow of his blood heated, his smile grew when the one in the rear lagged behind the other slowing their progress by mere seconds before catching up.

He spoke softly without turning his head. Barton, make sure my instructions are followed exactly as given. If anyone moves too soon or fucks this up I’m holding you responsible.

Barton didn’t move from in front of the door and had made sure his deep voice was low and toneless. He didn’t need to see the man’s face or eyes to know those words weren’t an idle threat. He might be larger and taller, but he didn’t underestimate him. He’d never seen anyone more savage or vicious than the slender man at the window.

He ignored the shiver that rippled down his spine when he remembered the one time he’d been forced to witness the repercussions of not following orders. It wasn’t just the savagery, but the sadistic delight that had glimmered in those dark blue eyes as he personally carried out the punishment he deemed appropriate.

His employer, who at that moment was aiming a rifle out the window, was crazy, brutally crazy. A man who enjoyed the vicious more than any he’d worked for. He was also the only man who had ever scared him down to the bone. A man with no morals, no conscious, and one who thrived on inflicting pain, a hell of a lot of pain, on someone before killing them.

Barton didn’t doubt the others scattered throughout the house and property would follow their orders because it wasn’t really about the money they were paid. They were all afraid of him, even when they said they weren’t.

Understood, sir. He turned and opened the door, walked through and made sure to close it behind him. He moved quickly, intent on protecting his own ass by making sure there wouldn’t be any of those mentioned fuck ups.

He heard Barton leave but kept his focus outside, his mind detailing every step of the plan he’d set in motion. Finally, he breathed softly. Today was the day everything he’d dreamed about for years happened.

He slowly lowered the rifle when the figures disappeared as they reached the house. A low laugh escaped, a hum of anticipation pumping hotly through his veins. Gotcha.

1

Crouched beside the body of the only guard they’d encountered, Tamara’s gaze searched the grounds and house in front of them. Her instincts were tingling a strong warning that rippled along her spine. Where the hell were all of the men with guns and dogs that should be patrolling and guarding the house and those within?

Her mind screamed abort the mission, something she’d never done before. The only reason she even considered it was because something was definitely wrong. Nothing was what it seemed, too many things didn’t add up and hadn’t since she received her orders.

Several moments later, she sighed silently when her instincts had her rejecting that plan. It didn’t matter that she thought the packages they were there to retrieve were probably already gone. Retrieved before they were moved, sold, and forever lost to anyone trying to rescue them from the unending nightmare that would destroy their innocence perhaps their very souls. She couldn’t abort unless she knew for sure because she would not abandon those five innocents whose faces were already in her head to a fate worse than death.

Anger had her clenching her teeth until her jaws ached at the thought of just what that fate would be. With a slow, deep breath she buried that useless emotion as she searched every shadow in front of her as she fought between following her orders or her instincts. Following her instincts won.

Just as she reached that decision, a brief flicker on the second story of the house had her heart kicking hard against her ribs as her eyes snapped up. She wasted precious seconds searching the windows trying to pinpoint what she’d seen. Nothing.

When she saw how the sky had lightened to deep gray over the roof’s edge, she dragging her eyes away and back to the house in front of her. They needed to move.

With only a narrow-eyed glance and a brief nod at the woman crouched to her left, she rose to her feet and ran. Stopping behind the trunk of a huge oak tree, one of many that dotted the two acres of landscaped lawn, she once more checked to make sure no one was alerted by their movements. If there was anyone on the grounds to notice. Something she was beginning to doubt.

Even with her focus on listening and watching everything around her, she was aware of her partner’s every move. She hadn’t forgotten how confrontational the woman had been in the van on the drive over. The bitch had argued and disputed every step of the plan Tamara outlined. Fucking amateur.

Now she had to wonder if the fact that instead of staying up with her she lagged just a few seconds behind, those few steps slower than she should have been, was an amateur move or something else. The thought of either had her wariness and anger simmering just a little bit stronger, her fingers tightening on the grip of the Glock in her right hand.

There wasn’t time to find out and take care of it while they were out in the open and their time was running out. The changing colors of the sky was a warning that darkness would soon change to daylight making them too visible.

She spared only seconds on another quick but thorough look around, which still showed no one else in the area. It had better be lack of experience, she murmured in a voice softer than a whisper as she looked over to where the woman stood behind a tree much like the one she was using.

When Agent Howell turned her head toward her, she gave the hand signal to move then ran. Their destination was the house that rose two stories, its dark windows only visible as faint outlines with a dull gleam of glass, the doorways on the lower level barely discernible.

She stopped and pressed against the wall beside the side entrance. A swift glance then she crouched and removed the tools needed to unlock the door. She listened as she worked the lock and counted the fifteen seconds it took her partner to reach her side where she should have been instantly.

She slammed a tighter control over the anger that was rising to more than a simmer. She would have to deal with her sooner or later, but it would have to be later because there were five children depending on them.

The soft click of the lock releasing pulled her complete focus back to the room she was about to enter as she replaced the tools. With gun snug in her palm, she grabbed the doorknob. With another short nod to the woman at her side she turned it and opened the door wide enough to slip inside.

A sweeping search told her the room was empty. She moved soundlessly across the marble floor stopping to crouch out of sight beside the large center island. She searched the kitchen’s dark interior with its stainless steel appliances and granite counters. Nothing moved and no sounds disturbed the almost unnatural quiet.

She probed every hidden crevice through narrowed eyes behind the lenses of her glasses. Shit! The word echoed in her head even though no sound slipped past her lips. The empty, unoccupied feel of the house had the hair on her nape standing on end.

Maybe the Intel that sent them on their present job was wrong. That one guard at the gate and the lack of men walking the perimeter told her something was definitely very wrong.

Instincts combined with her training and experience whispered that if the children were somewhere inside then someone could be expecting them. Would they bait the trap with those children or give false intelligence and only the possibility of them?

Those questions where shoved to the side when she sensed movement to her left. Her head whipped in that direction, eyes narrowing even more on Agent Howell who was visible to more than just her even without the lenses that turned the dark into bright green. Fucking amateur! She’d tried to tell Sharp that but he hadn’t wanted to listen. Yeah, she was going to have to deal with her soon or chance the bitch screwing the whole mission.

The agent had four years of field experience, which meant she should be smart enough not to poke her head out where anyone who walked in, one of those missing guards or even a servant, would immediately see her.

The suspicion she’d had earlier grew stronger although the research she’d done before the mission hadn’t shown anything off. That didn’t mean she trusted the information or the woman. She didn’t trust anyone but herself, which was why she worked alone. Her new partner was solidifying that reasoning.

A faint shift in the shadows over the woman’s shoulder had her eyes jerking up to look harder, closer. Uneasiness rippled along her spine, the muscles in her neck and shoulders tightening as she focused on the darkness that was too dense for her glasses to penetrate. Even after several seconds passed and she didn’t see anyone or anything those muscles didn’t loosen.

It could be one of those missing guards or it could just be a ghost shadow, one she’d seen before with the glasses when nothing was there. It would be smart to check it out; make sure it wasn’t trouble waiting for them.

Another glance at her watch stopped her from following through on that thought. Fuck, they didn’t have time to interrupt the plan already in play. They had to move faster, get in and out or that trouble would be a certainty.

Reluctantly turning her eyes forward, she rose to a standing crouch and moved quickly to the short hall that held the basement entrance. Once the walls hid her from sight of anyone entering the kitchen, she straightened. Two steps down she pressed against the wall beside the door and brought her gun up. Opening the door slowly, she listened closely then looked inside. Nothing but narrow walls framing solid wooden steps that led down. There was faint light visible at the bottom where it opened into a larger area.

She turned her head toward Agent Howell who had moved up beside her. She pointed toward the floor with one finger then lifted it toward the kitchen, indicating she needed to stay and watch their backs in case that shadow proved to be more substantial.

When the woman opened her mouth to argue, her own lips tightened into a hard line, her fingers again tightening on the Glock in her right hand. She waited for the words that would seal the woman’s fate whether she knew it or not.

It no longer mattered if it was lack of experience or something else the woman was trying to accomplish. What Agent Howell hadn’t yet understood was that if it came down to her or the children, she’d simply take her out and leave her in exchange for the packages they were there to rescue. To her, five children were more important than one blatantly incompetent agent.

She saw the woman’s mouth snap closed before she nodded sharply and spun to face the kitchen, her gun up and aimed toward the opening. Inhaling deeply and letting the air escape without a sound, Tamara brought her full focus back to what she had to do next.

Stepping onto the narrow landing, she stopped to listen. Her lips twisted into a grim smile when she heard the faint scuff of a boot on cement. Well, they’d found the missing guard or guards. She had no way to tell just how many but that didn’t matter because it was too late to turn back.

Now, she breathed as she glanced over her shoulder. The woman stared at her for several heartbeats before she lowered her gun and stepped into the doorway.

Tamara stared at her for a brief beat before telling herself to ignore it and turning forward. Pressing her back to the wall, she started down the narrow stairs. She stopped before reaching the light that cast its glow over the bottom four steps and pushed her night vision glasses up onto her head as she crouched.

Tilting her head, she listened until she heard the swish of cloth on cloth, scuff of restless feet. Following the sounds, she slid onto the next one down and into a crouch, which made her visible to the man below.

Sensing her or seeing movement from the corner of his eye, the tall, broad shouldered guard  in the basement spun toward her. Who the fuck—- Surprise lit his gray eyes, a scowl darkened his hard features even as he grabbed for the gun in his shoulder holster.

Without hesitation she moved the barrel of her silenced Glock 9mm a mere inch and squeezed the trigger twice, the resulting sharp pops too low to carry outside the basement. The penetration of the first bullet pierced his throat stopping his surprised exclamation in mid-sentence. The second slammed through his left eye, his head jerking back as his body dropped making only the slightest sound.

Even before he landed, she hurried down the rest of the steps listening to make sure her partner followed. Once on the basement floor, they spun away from each other, one aiming left while the other aimed right and swept their guns in an arc around the room.

Empty except for one guard? Again?

Fuck! Had the children been moved even though they should have been there for another day? Or was she right in thinking that they had never been there to begin with?

Neither was a good option, but it didn’t matter because all she could do was finish by checking the basement then get the hell out. She wasn’t leaving until she was sure there weren’t any innocents locked up inside.

There were two rooms on the far side, the door to one closed, the other wide open and the interior empty. She pointed toward the closed door and waited until Agent Howell was facing it with gun aimed.

Walking to the guard’s body, she tucked her gun away. Bending, she grabbed it under the arms, lifted the shoulders, and pulled. Swallowing a low grunt at the weight, she dragged it toward a darker corner of the room out of sight. Sweat formed a thin film on her face and made the fine tendrils of dark brown hair that had escaped her cap stick to her neck even though she could feel cool air flowing from the vents in the ceiling.

When she was satisfied he was out of the way she removed her hands and let the body drop to the floor. She pulled off her mask and shoved it into a pocket before taking out her gun. Keeping it at her side, she crossed to her partner who had also removed her mask. Turning to face the door, she brought her arms up and aimed. Even as she started to nod for Beth to open the door the doorknob turned and it opened a crack.

Mister? Mister?

Tamara saw Beth’s finger tighten on the trigger of her gun and quickly pushed it down and away as she lowered her own. The voice was that of a child, not an adult. She took a step closer and saw a pair of sky blue eyes peering up through the narrow opening.

Mister?

Tamara wrapped her fingers around the doorknob to keep the door open. He’s not here, little girl. The cupid’s bow mouth opened on a short squeak, blue eyes widening before disappearing. Smiling slightly she opened it all the way and was just in time to see the owner of the voice scramble onto a bed and crawl across its wide surface to huddle with four other girl’s approximately the same age.

She stepped into the eight by ten windowless room that held only a full size bed and a floor lamp that cast a soft glow over the pale faces peering at them from the farthest corner of the mattress. All five were dressed like dolls in frilly dresses of varying colors with matching socks and shoes.

Even as she felt relief that they’d made it in time, tension overrode it spiraling up her spine. The girls were dressed for transport and there had only been one guard outside and one inside. Shit! she muttered under her breath. They had walked into a trap. How had they known about the mission? Were more than just the kidnappers involved?

Letting those and the other questions spin in the back of her mind, she took a breath and forced a smile while keeping her gun at her side and out of direct sight. That man’s gone. When five pair of eyes widened in alarm, she softened her voice even more. Hey, you don’t need to worry we’re not going to hurt you.

Her soft tone and words had no affect except to make them scoot closer together, their arms tightening around the body closest to them. She sighed when they continued to stare at her with wide terrified eyes. You all need to stay right here for just a moment. We’ll be right back.

She backed out of the room. She needed to find them another way out and while doing that, she had to come up with a way to quiet those children’s fears so she could get them to follow her out.

First things first. She turned to Agent Howell, kept her voice low enough the children wouldn’t hear her I’m going to check this end of the room, you check the other. See if there’s another way out.

Why do we—-

Tamara barely managed to slap control over the anger that surged in response. That wasn’t a request! Just do what you’re fucking told. She didn’t miss the sullen twist of lips or anger that glittered in the woman’s light green eyes now visible in the overhead light. At least she was smart enough to keep her mouth shut as she turned and moved toward the far end of the room.

With an internal reminder that her superiors wouldn’t be pleased if she killed the pissy bitch, she walked to where the guard lay sprawled on the bare concrete floor and carefully checked the shadowed walls for another exit. The anger that had been with her for hours still simmered low and hot, only her firm control keeping it from boiling over. She was fed up having to watch her back from someone who should be covering it.

If she had to have a partner, why had Sharp paired her on a sensitive assignment with someone with so little experience even if he hadn’t known she was such a confrontational bitch? There wasn’t any way to answer that question, but before they started out with the children, they were going to come to an understanding.

From now until they were safely away, there could be no dissent, no hesitation or they could all die. Too much time had already been wasted.

Moments later they met back at the door. Agent Howell had her gun pointed at the floor, her anger and other emotions concealed behind a blank stare. There’s nothing on that end but a couple of empty shelves. No doors. One window too small to crawl through even without the bars covering it. Now why the hell are you looking for another way out?

Tamara took two steps, which put them only inches apart and face-to-face. Startled, the agent took a step back.

Satisfied she had the woman’s full attention, she kept her voice low as her temper edged closer to the surface. That’s a moot point since there isn’t one. Her hand lifted without her making the effort, the lethal black weapon drawing the woman’s attention. Agent Howell, I will not tolerate any more of your petty stunts. From now until we get back to The Company you will follow my orders without argument or hesitation. That means that when I say move, you fucking move. I will not allow you to compromise this mission or endanger the lives of the children we’re here to rescue with your inability to follow instructions. Is that understood?

The agent’s chin lifted at a belligerent angle, eyes glittering with hatred, lips thinning. And if I don’t?

Tamara’s smile had a feral twist to it, her fingers curling tighter around the grip of the Glock her finger lightly caressing the trigger as her anger edged over her control. Then I will take pleasure in putting a bullet in your brain and leaving you as a gift for the bastards running this operation.

Agent Howell’s eyes narrowed, the corners of her lips curling in a faint sneer. I don’t believe you.

Tamara leaned a bit closer, holding those green eyes with her dark blue ones. And you know me so well. Her voice dripped ice. Do you really know how far I’ll go to protect myself and those children?

Watching those eyes, she saw the moment the woman realized it wasn’t an idle threat. She didn’t bother trying to hide her satisfaction when fear flickered in those depths before it was quickly hidden. Fear was a healthy emotion, especially if it kept you alive.

The woman dropped her eyes and after a moment nodded. Fine. Let’s just get this over with.

Knowing that they finally understood each other, Tamara turned and moved back into the room with the children. She knew exactly what to say now. Girls, do you want to go home? Their heads lifted, the fear shining brightly in their eyes mixed with a glimmer of hope.

Home? To my mommy and daddy?

The same blue eyes that had peered through the crack in the door, stared into her darker blue ones. Those eyes shimmered with tears as the child sniffled, her mouth trembling.

Tamara kept her tone gentle, even as tension rippled higher with each passing second. Yes, home to your mommy and daddy. She held her hand toward the child. The five year old hesitated only a moment before she wiggled away from the clinging arms of the other four. She crawled across the bed and grabbed that hand.

I want my mommy and daddy.

She lifted the girl to the floor. Then we need to hurry. The others quickly followed. For the first time, her partner didn’t hesitate. She stepped forward and lifted each to the floor as Tamara and the girl clinging to her hand moved through the doorway.

Once at the bottom of the stairs, she turned and squatted. Dropping the gun to her side, she looked into the eyes of each child. We’re taking all of you home, but we need to hurry and we need to be very, very quiet. Can you do that for me?

The blue-eyed girl leaned close to her. My name’s Mary, she whispered.

Tamara didn’t tell the girl she knew her name and every relevant fact of her young life. Instead, she squeezed her tiny hand gently. Ok, Mary. Can you be really fast and really quiet?

Mary dropped her head, her lids briefly lowering before she looked up again. Yes, she whispered back, her head moving slowly up and down, silken blond curls bouncing around an urchin face. The other four glanced at Mary then nodded but didn’t say anything.

That’s good. Stay behind me. She stood and turned back to the stairs. With her gun held ready, she