Backlash: Prequel to The Wildblood Series Read Online Free

catch.
    “In twenty-four hours, a group of us are going to head south, go to Divide and have a look around.  A very specific group of us.”
    They both understood the double-meaning without any prompt from Wade.
    “Do you think that will help?” Mac had to ask, knowing he'd not be on the same page, at least for the Gen En things they planned on attempting.  They'd wander around the site of the Code Thirteens and see if they could sense any residuals – 'ghosts' they called it, glimpses of events that had happened.  It wasn't one of the abilities he took to easily.  He'd learned to suppress ghosts, to ignore and push them aside.
    “It can't hurt,” Shan reasoned, not liking that he felt disconnected.
    “When you two are finished, home,” Wade said, making his way out.  “Check with Dispatch.”
    “Were you bored out there last night?” Mac wondered.
    “Not even a little, but we're not done talking about what's going on tomorrow morning.  Even if you didn't contribute anything that goes on between Wade and I,” Shan tapped her temple, “here, in our heads, I'd want you there for the support, because we never know what the fuck could happen.”  She was on the verge of anger.  “That's not the case.  When you're close, it's easier for me to sense things.  Maybe you're a catalyst, maybe it's just because I trust you and Wade without questioning why.”  Taking a breath, she added, “If you think you're not important to the team, you're just wrong.  Deal with it.”
    He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.  It wasn't easy to cuddle in tactical gear, but Mac made the effort.  “I didn't mean to piss you off.”
    “Just because you react different to the Gen En doesn't mean it's a bad thing.  Someday we'll figure it all out.”  She couldn't stay mad at him for very long.  “Then you can make up all those dates we've missed.”
    “Someday soon, we'll have that time alone.”
    “The time we've been trying to find for over a year now?” she asked.
    “You were too young.  Even if you didn't think so then and still don't believe it now.  I know you trust me on things Security, trust me about this too, Shannon.”
    She nodded again with a sigh.  “It just seems like it's never going to happen.  It's so damned frustrating.”
    “I know,” he said, amused.  “Believe me, I know.”
    “I don't . . .”  Shan turned enough to get closer.  She grimaced, rolling her eyes. 
    “What?” he encouraged.  “You're not going to offend me.”
    “Let's not pretend you don't go out and get laid regularly.  I don't care about that; I know how you feel about us.”  She kissed him, slow, memorizing every detail of the few moments.  “Sometimes, you need to say it anyway,” she told him.
    “I  . . . want you . . . to . . .” he whispered huskily.  “Finish my shift so I can go get something to eat.”  He jumped back but got a slap on the shoulder anyway.
    “You, bad,” she glared, suppressing a grin.
    Before she could unleash a barrage of words at him, Mac grabbed her and kissed her hard.  “I love you, crazy woman.  We'll get rotated back to our regular winter schedule in a few days, this will be finished, and we'll make a night of the time Security owes us.  Or a day, or a couple days.  Stop being impatient.”
    “I'm not impatient.  You make me crazy, but it's not a permanent affliction.”
    “Ah, but it is.  You get infected with me and it's for a lifetime.”  He smirked, daring her to challenge him.
    Shan just rolled her eyes.

Chapter 3
    Sept 22, Divide, noon
     
    Wade paced the asphalt, trying to sense what happened a day earlier.  He was aware exactly what had taken place; seeing it for himself would help him to pick it apart and analyze it as he could.  Even with the entire team there, he was drawing a blank.  Ghosts more often happened at random and only rarely they'd been able to sense events deliberately.
    Taylor shadowed him.  It was his job – not regular