Saving Storm
RARE
Saving Storm
Dawn Sullivan
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission from the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events or persons, living or dead are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names or featured names are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement of any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or in part, mechanically or electronically, constitutes a copyright violation. Published in the United States of America in February 2016; Copyright 2016 by Dawn Sullivan. The right of the Author’s Name to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by them in accordance with The Copyright, Designs and Patent Act of 1988.
Published by Dawn Sullivan
Cover Design: Kari Ayasha-Cover to Cover Designs
Photographer: Shauna Kruse-Kruse Images & Photography
Model: Jurnee Lane
Copyright 2016 © Author Dawn Sullivan
Language: English
Contents
Dedication
RARE: Rescue And Retrieval Extractions
RARE- Poem by Charmarie Dotson
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
A Note from the Author
About the Author
Other books by Dawn Sullivan
For Jurnee. Thank you so much for being my Storm. You are both talented and beautiful, with a heart of gold. I am honored to have you on my cover, and blessed to call you a friend.
RARE: Rescue And Retrieval Extractions
* * *
Angel: RARE Alpha, wolf shifter, strong telepathic
* * *
Nico: Angel’s right hand man, wolf shifter, telepathic, has the ability to see glimpses of the future
* * *
Phoenix: Human turned wolf shifter, telepathic, complete badass, loves anything that goes boom
* * *
Rikki: Human, kick ass sniper, touches objects that others have touched and gets visions of the past, present, and sometimes the future
* * *
Jaxson: Wolf shifter, telepathic, RARE’s technology expert
* * *
Trace: Black panther shifter, telepathic, badass sniper
* * *
Storm: Wolf shifter, strong telepath, has the ability to see into the future
* * *
Ryker: Bear shifter, telepathic
The flame of the candle flickers wildly in the dark
The only sound in the quiet room is the beating of rapid hearts
The pressure is resting on everyone’s shoulders
To get the job done with no lives lost
No one knows what will happen
When the task is finally complete
But one thing remains most certain
The RARE team won’t be beat!
* * *
By Charmarie Dotson
1
Storm moaned softly as she struggled to open her eyes. Her head was pounding, her mouth overly dry, and her arms and legs felt weighed down, heavy and sluggish. She either had one hell of a hangover, or she was just plain fucked. As much as she wished it were the first one, she knew before she even got her eyes open, just enough to peer through thin slits, that she was in deep trouble. She could tell that she was lying on the backseat of an older utility vehicle, a Ford Bronco, she guessed by the interior. Her wrists and legs were bound tightly, and there was a gag placed firmly over her mouth. It was obvious that she had been captured and drugged, but by who exactly, and what was their agenda?
The last thing Storm remembered, she and the other members of RARE were on a mission to rescue Trace’s mother and sister. They’d just received word that the house was now clear, the immediate threat neutralized, and Trace’s family was safe. The team was to meet back at the rendezvous point immediately so they could beat feet, because the General’s men were in route to try and capture Trace.
Storm recalled jumping down from the tree where she was watching the house and surrounding area from, and turning to head back the way they’d come, when someone hit her over the head with something. She fell to the ground, dropping her rifle. Slowly pushing herself back up, her head swimming as she tried to focus, Storm snarled in anger when she felt a prick in the side of her neck. That was the last thing she remembered before waking up right now. Shit, how long had she been out? It was light outside, the sun streaming in through the windows almost blinding her, so it had to be midday at least.
Storm grunted softly as the vehicle bumped over rough terrain, jostling her bruised and battered body. She cursed silently as they hit another pothole, jarring her already pounding head. Where the hell were they? She had no idea, and there was no way she was asking the bastards sitting in the front seats. No, she would not ask them, but she was not above acquiring the information on her own. She possessed several gifts, psychic abilities that few knew about, and she was about to put one to use.
Closing her eyes, Storm took a deep breath, concentrating on the driver. It took longer than normal because of the drugs that were still in her system, but she was finally able to merge with the man, slipping into his mind unnoticed. Fighting the urge to slide right back out when she was met with pure evil and maliciousness, Storm forced herself to concentrate and see what he was seeing.
They were steadily making their way up the side of a mountain, on a trail that was nothing more than a dirt road. Next to him, the passenger was talking, but the driver was not listening. Instead, his thoughts were centered on something more sinister. A stunning female, and what he was going to do with her when the General paired them. She was a shifter, what kind they did not know, yet. They acquired her just over a year ago, and no matter what they did to her, she refused to change. The most anyone ever saw were some rather large fangs that would appear when she was being severely punished for refusing orders. He did not really care what she was, though. All he knew was that she was sexy as hell, and he wanted to sink his dick into her, whether she was willing or not.
The General was holding her at one of his secret hideouts, but he had promised him the woman if he completed his mission. The mission was to capture a member of RARE, which he had, so now she would be his. When his thoughts drifted once again to his dick, Storm slipped back out of his mind, deciding it was best to try and get the information she needed from the other man. She sure as hell was not getting anything useful from the driver, except that the General was the one who had her. What she really needed to know was where she was, so that she could get a message to her team. She had no doubt they were out there looking for her. RARE never left a man or woman behind.
Storm was exhausted, wanting nothing more than to close her eyes and rest, but she knew she was in a fight for her life. There were only a couple of reasons the General would want her, and none were good. All would involve pain and
misery, because that was what the General got off on. Gathering her strength, Storm focused her gaze on the man in the passenger seat. Sweat beaded up on her forehead at the effort it took, but finally she was inside his head, and gazing at the driver.
“What’s your problem, man?”
“I’m thinking,” the driver sneered, not bothering to look in his direction. “Just shut the hell up for once, Terrance.”
Terrance turned his head to look out the window, muttering under his breath, “Yeah, we all know what you’re thinking about, Decker.”
A thin layer of sweat broke out over Storm’s body as she fought to stay merged with Terrance. She would not be able to hold the connection much longer, but she needed something besides the fact that the General’s goons were holding her prisoner. She did not have to wait long before she heard Like the General is really going to pair that sweet piece of ass up with him. He doesn’t even have any of the abilities required to be matched with one of the women. The General just keeps him around because he is a good soldier. He can’t shift, and he can’t do any of that crazy shit those other freaks can. He’s just human, like me.
Unable to hold the link any longer, Storm slid back out of Terrance’s mind with a soft gasp. Pain sliced through the back of her head, and she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut as she tried to block out the agony. Bile crawled up her throat, but she would not allow herself to throw up. She refused to show any kind of weakness in front of them.
“I see someone is awake,” Terrance said, his voice low and deep. “Stop the truck, Decker, so I can give her another shot of that stuff. I heard this one is powerful, and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of anything she might dish out.”
Gritting her teeth, Storm opened her eyes and spat, “Fuck you.”
“A fighter!” Terrance grinned, a wicked gleam in his dark eyes. Picking up a box from the floorboard of the vehicle, he flipped open the lid. “I love it when they resist. It always makes playing with them so much more fun.”
Somehow managing to push herself up into a sitting position, Storm glared at him, her gaze on the syringe he now held in his hand. The truck slowed to a stop, and Decker opened his door. Her eyes never leaving the object of her concentration, she growled, “You’re right, you bastard. I am very powerful.” With the last of her strength, Storm seized the syringe with her mind, tearing it from Terrance’s hand. He screamed when she stuck it into his neck, pressing down on the plunger.
“Enough,” Decker roared, as he swung around, his fist connecting with her jaw and dropping her back down on the seat. Before she could retaliate, he swung again, and pain echoed through her head as she slowly slipped into unconsciousness.
2
“That bitch is crazy! Let me in there, Decker! I’m going to teach her not to fuck with me!”
“Like you did the last time?” was the sarcastic response. “It took you over five hours to wake up after she stuck that needle in your jugular. Although, it could be interesting to see what she decides to do to you next.”
Storm stiffened as the voices penetrated the thick fog that seemed to be consuming her mind. Slowly opening her eyes, she winced at the bright light above her. Licking her dry lips, she allowed her head to roll to the side so she could look around the room. It was small, and void of everything except the small twin bed in the middle of the room that she lay on. She was unable to move her arms and legs, which were strapped to the bed by thick metal cuffs. Another large steel band across her waist held her body firmly in place.
“She won’t do a damn thing! She can’t even move.” She recognized Terrance’s voice, and satisfaction swarmed through her when she recalled the syringe sticking out of his neck.
“Just how you like your women,” Decker chuckled. “Bound and gagged. It’s the only way you can get them to cooperate.”
“Enough!” The voice was low, commanding an obedience that was immediately given. “I warned you both that she is powerful, maybe even more powerful than Angel herself. It’s your own arrogant stupidity that allowed you to become her target.”
There was silence, and then the door to her small prison opened and someone entered quietly. Storm clenched her hands tightly into fists, as her gaze met the man’s who stood just inside the room. The General. He was not necessarily a very large man, but his presence demanded attention. He stood up straight, shoulders back, head held high. He was middle-aged, with dark blonde hair peppered with grey, light-blue eyes, a stern disposition. The picture Phoenix sketched of him from Angel’s description months ago showed the General in wraparound glasses, but he was not wearing any now.
“So, I hear you are showing your value to my men already.” Walking over to the side of the bed, he chuckled lightly. “That was a nice little trick, taking control of the needle and putting my man down like that. I wonder what other tricks you have up your sleeve?”
That was when Storm realized her second mistake; letting the General’s men see a hint of what she was capable of before she could really use her abilities against them. Her first mistake? Allowing her dumb ass to get caught in the first place.
“The thing is, these men are a dime a dozen. They are big on brawn, but small on brains. I need them, but there are always more out there to take their place. Let me show you what happens to someone who screws up in my employment.” Walking back over to the door, the General motioned to someone. “Come in here, and bring Terrance with you,” he ordered, before walking back to Storm’s side.
Storm quickly schooled her features when Jinx walked in, a gleeful Terrance on his heels. Not only had Jinx helped RARE out several times in the past, but he was also Angel’s son. Storm would not give him up. Letting her gaze rest on Terrance instead, she raised an eyebrow. “Did you have a nice nap, Sleeping Beauty?” she drawled.
“I’ll show you a nice nap,” Terrance sneered, before throwing his head back to laugh. “Are you going to let me have first crack at her, General? I would love to take this bitch down a few pegs.”
That was the second time he called her a bitch, like it was supposed to be demeaning toward her. Storm grinned as she watched him closely. She would wear that title proudly. She always stood up for what she believed in, and she was not afraid to speak her mind. She was never going to change who she was to try and please anyone. “I’d like to see you try,” she challenged him softly. Even strapped down to the bed, she knew she could take him.
The General held up a hand, and Storm could have sworn she saw a glint of humor in his eyes. “There is no need for that. I actually brought you in here for a different reason, Terrance.”
Coming down off his high somewhat, Terrance asked in confusion, “What reason, Sir?”
“I need to teach Storm a lesson, and I would like your help with that.”
Terrance’s face lit with excitement as he nodded. “I would love to help, General, just tell me what you would like me to do.”
“Good.” Storm watched as the General’s eyes hardened and he nodded to Jinx. “Let’s show Storm here what happens when someone who works for me screws up. I will not tolerate fuckups to the extent that it may cost me a prisoner such as yourself.”
Terrance’s dark eyes widened as he took a step back, but it was too late. Jinx pulled his sword and quickly made one clean swipe, disconnecting the man’s head from his shoulders, before wiping the blade clean on Terrance’s clothes and putting it back in the scabbard at his back.
Storm looked back at the General and shrugged. “Just one more asshole that I won’t have to kill when I leave this place,” she quipped, but inside she was trembling just a little. Jinx was a force to be reckoned with, and even though she knew he was really on their side, the man could still scare the hell out of anyone.
Leaning closer, the General replied softly, “You really should care, Storm. If I could have that done to someone on my payroll, someone who actually does something for me instead of fucking up all of my best laid plans, what do you think I will do to you when you piss me of
f? RARE has been nothing but a pain in my ass for almost a year now. You have no idea what I am capable of doing to you.” Glancing at Terrance’s lifeless body, he promised, “If you pull any more stunts like you did today, what Jinx did just now will be nothing compared to what you will endure.” Straightening, he stepped away from the bed and ordered, “Jinx, get Decker in here to clean up this mess. When he is done, move this new acquisition of mine to the padded room for the next forty-eight hours. If she behaves, I may allow her the privilege of something a little…bigger. I have a meeting with some investors in the next few days, but I will be back in a couple of weeks. After that, I will be taking Storm to Alaska with me. I have some experimenting to do, and I believe she is the perfect subject.”
The General left the room without another word, Jinx following, but returning shortly with Decker in tow. Both men were silent as Decker removed the body, which took two trips. It was odd to see the man walk out with just a head in his arms. Jinx was the only person she’d ever met who preferred a sword to a gun. Although, she was sure he could handle a gun or knife just as effectively.
Once what was left of Terrance was removed, Jinx shut the door behind Decker, locking it before turning back to face her. “Don’t even think about trying to escape,” he warned darkly. “It will only end badly for you.”