Inouye Read online

  Three other rangers crept from the woods into the tall grass, which barely rippled at their presence. For a brief moment, she actually felt sorry for Snyder. There was no way his training had prepared him for the difference in magnitude between basic ground troops and TJF elites. Apparently, he'd come to the same conclusion, as he ran back up the stairs and pulled the flitter door shut behind him. A heartbeat later, the engines began to power up.

  The ranger next to her stood and braced herself as she shouldered an enormous barrel. Despite its size, the weapon made little more noise than a loud cough as it fired. The oversized projectile opened halfway across the clearing, spreading into a fine wire net that adhered itself to the back half of Snyder's flitter. The woman lowered her weapon and pushed a button at her waist. A soft whump was followed by silence, the flitter's electrical systems knocked dead.

  "Bird is grounded, May. Repeat, the bird is down.” The ranger turned and smiled at Lucia. “S'not as good as blowing things up, but the LC says we can't kill the guy. Waste of an opportunity if you ask me. Still, that'll knock out the electronics, so he's trapped in there. If he shoots himself, s'as good as a win in my book."

  She recognized Grenville as he stood up, and another ranger wearing corporal’s pips came out of the grass midway between the flitter and where Lucia was hiding. "Chen! Circle round, give me a perimeter, and make sure there weren't any other idiots who are working on getting out of here." The ranger next to Lucia nodded and disappeared into the woods as though she'd never existed.

  The corporal smiled and fixed their eyes on Lucia. "Mx. Sarmiento? If you're okay, I've got a couple individuals who would be very glad to see you."

  As soon as Lucia stood back up, a wash of happiness rolled through her like a wave and pushed down the pain in her ankle. Three heartbeats later, Inari was at her feet and leaning against her leg as though she couldn't get close enough. Lucia lowered herself to the ground to keep the weight off her foot and let her fingers comb through the wolf's odd, lensing fur, more content than she'd felt in the last twenty-four hours. At least until a shadow fell across both her and the wolf, and she looked up to meet Ren's stern face.

  Lucia swallowed and fought the urge to stand and hug him. Her throat was thick. "You came to find me."

  His hand was warm as he supported her weight, helping her to stand. His concern echoed through her connection to Inari, like a shadow of thought. He inspected her quickly, before wiping some of the grime from her cheek with one calloused thumb. "You're not hurt?"

  She shook her head. "No, I broke away before he could...before..."

  "Atta girl." His smile was genuine, and the concern turned to relief with a hint of pride. He glanced back toward the flitter. "May and Grenville will wait until Chen and her wolf have secured the area. Then May will have Chen cut a way into the plane. Snyder's not going to hurt you, or anyone else."

  Lucia doubted Snyder acted alone. It wasn't the sort of conspiracy that could exist on its own within the local forces. There had to be others, well placed, who could enable Snyder's actions. They wouldn't get named, and indeed, they'd likely let him take the fall as an independent madman, or however the tribunal ended up spinning the story. Just because the tribunal didn’t look any further wouldn’t mean those others weren’t there.

  But she could worry about that later. She threaded her fingers into his, relieved when he allowed the contact. "How did you know?"

  "Inari figured it out. Realized that he'd been at the crash site but hadn't called in anyone to rescue you. He'd known and said nothing. At best that made him complicit, but I suspected far worse."

  "But how did you know I'd gone?" It was still the wrong question. She needed to know why he'd come for her at all but couldn't bring herself to ask.

  "I—" He stopped as quickly as he started. "I didn't tell you the truth when we were in the cave. Wolves do sometimes bond across two people. It's not very common. Hell, I only know of a few stories. And they all end with marriage. The stronger the bond becomes the more all three of them tend to know each other's feelings. It can be uncomfortably intimate. And if the relationship fails...it's bad for everyone involved, but the wolf takes it the worst." He took another deep breath. "I didn’t want you to think I was using Inari to leverage you into a relationship. And frankly, I'm not good boyfriend material."

  She rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a chuckle. "Yes, because who would want to date a hunky special forces guy and his invisible, telepathic wolf?" She squeezed his hands. "But you’re right. So, maybe we don't jump to the endgame yet. Maybe we take some time and really get to know each other first."

  "You're not horrified that I'll have an idea of what you're feeling? Or you me?"

  "Honestly, I think it's a hell of an easier footing than a lot of couples get." She grinned and curled her fingers against the skin of his temple, brushing the back of her knuckles across the stubble of his haircut. "So, can you tell what I'm thinking now?"

  "You're curious. And annoyed. Wondering when I'm going to kiss you."

  She laughed. "Or maybe I'm wondering what you'll do when I kiss you first." Lucia leaned up onto her tiptoes and pulled his mouth down to hers. His lips were as soft as she remembered, careful as he returned the kiss like he had to keep himself in check or risk hurting her. She planned to break him of that habit eventually, to remind him she wouldn't shatter and wasn't the porcelain doll she might once have been, but for the moment it felt good to be treasured.

  Better than good. It felt like being home.

  Thirteen

  Ren sat on the stoop, watching the slow set of the sun paint the distant mountains with scarlet and purple, while Kronus hung heavy in the sky. One of Kronus's other moons, Diarra, glittered in the sky like an oversized star, but the others were below the horizon.

  'Ri scampered and played in the lichens and rocks that made up the cabin's front yard, leaping up to try to catch the night insects as they began to glow and take flight. It had taken three months to arrange a new set of dates for leave. In the interim, Lucia had kept him up to date on the proceedings with Snyder. As he’d expected, the man had been found guilty and sent to prison. And two weeks after he arrived, the former captain had been killed in a riot.

  Ren wished he could say he was surprised.

  Behind the cabin, he heard a vehicle pull in and stop, then the crunch of shoes on gravel. He wiped his palms on his trousers and blamed the beer for his sudden damp skin, the unexpected race in his pulse. Already he could feel the pleasure, contentment, and simple joy radiating from his wolf. He wished he could share the animal's faith. Trans-orbital vid and messaging systems were one thing. Face-to-face was entirely different.

  Lucia rounded the corner, the sunset light painting her pale dress in vivid indigo and making him catch his breath. She dropped her luggage next to her on the path and let out an appreciative sigh. "That's gorgeous."

  Ren stood to cross to her side, but Inari was faster. She charged across the distance and slammed into Lucia's legs insistently, almost bowling her over. Fortunately, Lucia just laughed and knelt to offer scritches along the wolf's sides. "Yes, I missed you too, 'Ri."

  He helped her back to her feet and smiled down at his wolf. "Hey. Let other people say hello." With an easy tug, Lucia settled her back against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her, chin on her shoulder as they watched the red ball of the sun finish its trek below the horizon. When dark had descended, he turned her to face him, unable to wait any longer before tasting her lips.

  She broke the contact with a soft laugh. "About time. I thought you weren't ever going to get around to kissing me. You should listen to your wolf more."

  "Oh? What's she saying now?"

  "That she's just fine out here, and you need to take me inside so we can get reacquainted." Lucia's eyes glittered in the dark as she dragged her palm down his chest.

  Fire traced the wake of her touch, sending desire to flood his veins like molten honey. "Reacquainted, eh? I like the sou
nd of that."

  She stepped back and started to walk into the house, leaving him to trail behind like smoke following a candle. "Then what are we waiting for?"

  Nothing at all. He didn't know how it would end, but Ren knew this much. He was done waiting.

  THANKS FOR READING! I hope you enjoyed your visit to the Three Systems, and to the Rangers of Fireteam Bravo. If you’re not ready to leave yet, then you’re in luck – the story continues in Book 2, Grenville, available now at your favorite e-tailers:

  https://books2read.com/u/b5rw7l

  Also by JC Hay

  TriSystems: Rangers

  Inouye

  Grenville

  Chen

  Penzak (Coming Soon – Originally Shadow of the Past from Pets in Space 3)

  May (Coming Soon)

  TriSystems: Smugglers

  Heart of the Spider’s Web (in Pets in Space 4)

  The Corporate Services Books

  Dubai Double Cross

  Mumbai Manhunt

  South Seas Salvation

  Flare: Team Corona (Part of The Great Space Race)

  Hearts and Minds

  Acknowledgments

  No book exists in a vacuum – there are limitless hands (and paws) that shape the creation of a story, and while there’s never enough room to thank all of them, I certainly have to try.

  First, to my darling spouse – of course, thank you for being the amazing supportive person you have always been. You have been remarkable at being my shoulder, my support, and when I needed it, my taskmaster. Thank you for continuing to be my happily ever after, and for continuing to say yes every day.

  For Shannan, who told me I should, and Kim who made me look good, and for Sasha – my brilliant editrix. You took rough-thrown clay and somehow shaped it into a Ming vase. You eye for story, your skill in pushing me, and your knowledge of what I’m trying to say have all been invaluable in the creation of this series.

  To my papillons, F and L – even though I know you can’t read this. The umbra wolves are my love letter to you. They wouldn’t have existed without you in my life. The joys, and also the grief that you’ve taught me have made my life immensely richer. There is nothing so bad that it can’t be healed by cuddling a fluff, chasing a ball, having a good meal, or sleeping at the seaside. I’ll miss you forever, F.

  And lastly, thank you dear reader, and all the readers. Science Fiction Romance is a niche inside another niche, and it is your belief that they aren’t strange bedfellows, your voracious appetite for more great stories, and your dedication that keep me going. You are collectively the reason I sit down in front of the keyboard every day, and the payout that makes all the low times worthwhile.

  Bless you all,

  JC

  About the Author

  JC Hay is an SFR Galaxy Award-winning author of Science Fiction Romance, an inveterate dog lover, and dreamer. His tales of heroic hearts and fantastic futures reflect his heartfelt belief that sci-fi and romance go hand-in-hand, because the coolest gadgets in the world are useless without someone to share them.

  In addition to Romance Writers of America, he is also a proud member of the SFR Brigade (for Science Fiction Romance), and a proud member of RWA’s PAN (published authors network).

  http://jchay.com

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