Talon: Combat Tracking Team (A Breed Apart) Read Online Free Page A

have, Cardinal.” General Burnett had never asked for Cardinal’s true identity. But the old man probably had it locked in that steel vault he called a brain. All the same, Cardinal felt safer with the moniker than with his real name floating around in paperwork and cyberspace.
    Burnett motioned to his lieutenant, who slid a file across the table. “Larabie is best friends with Courtland’s twin, Aspen.”
    Why did people name their kids after cities? Cardinal retrieved the file and lifted it. “Odd. What, are they dating?” He glanced down.
    “I sincerely doubt that.”
    Dread poured through Cardinal’s stomach, freezing like an iceberg as he met the blue eyes of a curly haired beauty. He darted his gaze to the general. “A woman?” His pulse thunked against the possibility then spun into chaos. “Austin’s twin is a woman? How did I
not
know that?”
    The lieutenant shifted, shooting a nervous glance to the general.
    Burnett grinned. “Maybe you’re not as good as you thought.”
    Cardinal flung the documents back. “Forget it. Deal’s off. I’m not doing this.” He stormed toward the door. “We’ll find another way.”
    “Cardinal, you are U.S. Government property. You will do as ordered.”
    “I won’t.” Rage flung him back around. “I won’t work this woman. Or
any
woman. Not ever. That was Cardinal Rule #1 when you came to me.” Breaths came in deep gulps. “I’ll find another way to get Courtland back.” Anger gave way to desperation. He raked a hand through his hair. “Figure something out.”
    Silence hung rank and thick in the room. Burnett nodded to the others in the room. “If you’ll excuse us.” He waited for the room to clear then sat on the edge of the conference table. “Cardinal, I respect what you’re saying, but it’s impractical. Your protégé vanished two months ago in a remote village in northeast Africa—right out from under your nose. You and I both know that is trouble.
If
he is still alive, every second matters. We can’t afford to waste another minute, let alone two more months
figuring
something out when you have a working plan right here in front of you.”
    Cardinal, in a half shake of his head, dragged his gaze downward. “I can’t.”
    Images of innocent brown eyes…her laughter…seeing her worked over, time and again.
And then the angel flew,…
    “You knew this.” His pulse thumped against his temple as he worked to restrain his temper.
“no. Women.”
Right then, an absolute certainty rushed over him. He stabbed a finger at Burnett. “You.” How had he not seen this earlier? Was he too eager to get Courtland back that he hadn’t considered all the possibilities? “You knew—you hid from me that Aspen was a woman.”
    Burnett let out a long sigh. “Son, we’ve been trying since Austin vanished to find a way to track him and get him back safely. When you came up with this absolutely ingenious plan to use his dog…I had no choice.”
    “We
always
have a choice.”
    Shoulders slumped, Burnett crumpled his Dr Pepper can. “No, no we don’t. And right now, neither do you.”
    Lips tight, Cardinal glared at him. “I’m not doing this.”
    “Do this or you’re through.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Something’s haunting you, and I need you to bury that—for now—and do your job.”
    “You forget,” Cardinal spat out, “I came to
you!
I offered
you
my services.”
    “Yes, but now you’re owned. By us.” Burnett pushed up and moved to the other end of the table. “I consider myself a nice man who works hard at his job. But that’s just it—I have a job. I’m tasked with protecting my country and its citizens. And that means I have to do things I don’t like.”
    Throw that political bull at him, but it wouldn’t work. “This isn’t my country.” Tremors rippled through his arms and legs. What choice did he have? Burnett held more dirt on him, could bury him at the bottom of the sea for ten lifetimes. Or expose