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

his whereabouts to a certain Russian general.
    I’m trapped. As always
.
    Had to get out of there. Disappear. He would not do this. Could not. “I don’t owe this country anything. I don’t owe
anyone
anything.” The words were cruel. And wrong. It was the anger talking. The demons he’d inherited.
    “Maybe not, but you
are
a citizen of it. We granted that, remember? And you signed on the line for this job. We own you, Cardinal.” Burnett’s eyes narrowed. “And that missing boy is your responsibility.” He smacked a hand on the table. “Now man up and do what needs to be done!”
    Cardinal stormed out of the office, down the hall, the stairs, to the parking garage. In his car, he left the grounds and headed west. Though Reston was only thirty minutes away, traffic dictated the three-hour drive. Familiar with the area, he made his way to a nearby park and planted himself on a bench. He’d promised himself he’d never do this. Never become the epitome of filth and slime that had defined Cardinal’s life for twenty years.
    Elbows on his knees, he stared at the ground covered in a fresh blanket of wildflowers. Cold seeped into his bones despite the summer heat, but it was nothing like the chill settling over this mission. Over his objective—getting Aspen Courtland to cooperate and think it was her idea.
    “I promised,” he muttered past his hands, fingers laced and held in front of his lips.
    But…Austin.
    Cardinal had hand-selected the young man for the field. He’d trained him, guided him, become friends with him. The government intentionally withheld information about Austin’s family so Cardinal would not have any impetus or inclination to alter his decision or recruitment.
    Nearby a horn honked and snapped him out of his somber thoughts. A quick check of his watch shoved him to his feet. He headed past the hotel, down the sidewalk, and straight toward the pavilion.
    The sister—she would want to help, right? This plan he’d concocted depended on the twin’s reaction. But he’d thought he was dealing with a guy. Not a woman. A twin was a twin, right? The connection should be there. She should see the imperative nature of using the dog. At least, he hoped she did because he’d take the dog—that’d be so much easier. But they couldn’t afford the time or risk to yank the dog and force him to settle in with a new handler.
    The dog was the key. And getting to the dog, the key was the sister.
    Aspen.
    He turned into an alley and thrust his fist in the air. “God, why must You torment me? You know what is in me. You know the blood that beats in my heart.” Fists over his eyes, he ground his teeth. “Do not…do not let me lose myself.”
    Was it possible…was it at all possible to complete this mission without becoming his father?

A Breed Apart Ranch
Texas Hill Country
    Soulful brown eyes held hers, eagerness and willingness to go the long, hard mile for her pouring out of them. His eyebrows bounced with meaning.
    “Hey, handsome.”
    He scooted closer, his happy impatience melting her heart. She didn’t deserve his loyalty. His passionate attention. But he gave it all the same.
    Cupping his face, Aspen smiled down at him. “You are amazing.” He smiled.
    Or near enough for a Labrador retriever. Talon swiped his tongue along her face, his backside wagging so hard she thought he might wipe out. She rubbed his ears and planted a kiss between his eyes. “Thank you, boy.”
    “How’s it going?”
    Aspen straightened and turned toward the voice of Heath Daniels, lead trainer at A Breed Apart. His Belgian Malinois bounded into the training area with zest and zeal Aspen was convinced Talon once possessed. She eyed her blond guy. “We’re making progress.”
    Heath, arms folded over his chest and hands tucked beneath his armpits, smiled at her. “You got him over the hurdles.”
    Beaming beneath the hidden praise in his words, Aspen grinned back. “Six months ago, I would’ve thought this was