Excerpt: Trust Not

The figure in black swung over the balcony railing with the agility of a cat and the sound of a shadow. With stealth and caution the shadow slipped through the sliding glass door and through the darkened bedroom, reaching the attached bathroom and closing the door quietly. Flipping on the lights, the woman currently known as Daniela Bazilio-Gerard gave a small sigh of satisfaction, and began peeling off the black silicon mask covering her face. Rolling the thin fabric into a tube, she quickly shed her cat suit and flexible boots, then removed her hood, unpinning and releasing a mass of curly dark hair. Naked, she folded her stealth-wear into a small square and tucket it into a bag she then slid into a secret compartment she had created behind the third ceiling tile above the shower. Pulling a long, white, cotton nightgown down over her head, she left the bathroom and moved swiftly to the bed. Sliding under the covers, she quicky rearranged the pillows she had left as a decoy, and settled herself into a sleeping position before reaching for the small remote control tucked behind the teak headboard. With a flick of her finger, she broke the loop on the security camera focused on her bed, and changed her position, knowing that the guard monitoring her room would appreciate the flash of breast as she turned.

Allowing her mind to relax, she slipped into sleep, only to be jolted awake as an explosion rocked the compound.

*****

Jacob “Jeb” Stuart pancaked flat against the uneven ground, his assault rifle and his eyes both aimed at his target. He’d held this position for nearly three hours, and was prepared to hold it forever, if neccessary. Somewhere in the vast compound of Eduardo Bazilio were three American Marines, and Jake was part of the team sent in to liberate them.

It was an odd team, he had to admit. Ten members from various branches of military and paramilitary service. Brought together, forbidden to discuss their individual training, and quickly briefed and dispatched, it felt like a mismash to Jake. He preferred the more intimate well-oiled machine of his SEAL team. Being snatched up and positioned with this force had been an unwelcome shock. No matter how the powers that be couched the assignment, it felt like a punishment instead of an honor. Jake flexed his shoulder and checked his scope. All he wanted to do was finish the rescue and get back to his team.

A shadow of motion caught his attention. Flitting across his sight line, it was here and gone almost before it registered. Tapping his lip mike, he whispered, “Bogey at my two.”

“Negative,” the voice of his dubious leader came back. “Maintain silence and stop jumping at shadows.”

Jake cursed in his head, his lips sealed. He knew he had seen something, and it angered him to have his judgement questioned, especially by a paramilitary doofus with a superiority complex. Narrowing his eyes, he scouted the area, looking for his bogey, the hairs on the back of his neck bristling with wariness.

The explosion was not what he was expecting.