Falcon: The Quiet Professionals Book 3 by Ronie Kendig Read Free Book Online

wanted someone he could trust on the inside trying to get information on Meng-Li Jin. Information that can’t come from external recon. And with the way things have gone and Walker’s information turning out to be limited, eyes inside is more important than ever. We need to know what he’s doing. Plant some bugs and cameras. Monitor. See who’s coming and going.”
    Eamon nodded.
    “Do you have civvies?”
    “Sorry?”
    Her gaze swept his tall frame. “Normal clothes.”
    “I know what they are. I wondered why you’d asked.”
    “Put on your best duds, Titanis. We’re hitting the Kandahar Ritz, aka Takkar Towers, tomorrow.”

CHAPTER 5
    Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan

26 March—1400 Hours
    W ater dribbled across his shoulders, a long cry from the hot showers of home, but enough to scrub the Afghan sand from his skin. Sal roughed a cloth lathered with soap across his arms and abs. The bubbles sickeningly reminding him of the general’s blood bubbling up between Cassie’s fingers.
    Sal swallowed and hung his head, closing his eyes and mind from the memory. He breathed deeply. Felt the swell of distant images flooding in, thickening the water around him. Drenching him in the blood of not only the general, but of Vida and Mario.
    No!
    Heaviness shoved his shoulders. Weighted his muscles. His heart.
    Palming the wall of the cubicle shower, Sal pushed back against the oncoming torrent. Despite his resistance, it came. He gritted his teeth, knowing it was his punishment. His penance. His world, his mistakes, thrown in a blender. Words clashed with visages. Voices with people. Truth with guilt. Blurred. Mixed up.
    “We’ll finally be together.”
    Happiness. She’d been so excited.
    Kisses. So many kisses. Passion. Losing control.
    “You’re such a good man. You honored my sister.”
    An explosion. A bang.
    Sal snapped his head up, hauling in a ragged breath. Somewhere in the showers came the plodding of feet. Only then did he realize the bang had been a stall door in the unisex bathroom. Breathing hard, he shook off the memories.
    He’d failed her. Failed him. Failed the general. Failed himself.
    Balling his fists, he ground his molars against the anger.
She’s dead!
Dead because of Cassie. The fury rose up like a volcanic explosion. He bit through the tears that demanded freedom. The pain that roiled like a tornado, whipping his life into a frenzy.
    He banged his head against the prefab wall.
    It’s your fault she’s dead!
    So sweet. So trusting. He’d promised her… promised he’d take care of her.
    Nobody should trust him. Candyman lost a leg because Sal hadn’t protected him. General Burnett died right in front of him. Vida died because of him, because of his weakness.
    He growled. Against the truth. Against the litany of condemnation. The pressure built within him. Demanding release.
    Sal reached outside the curtain and tugged his Ka-Bar from its sheath. Trembling beneath the weight of his anger, he placed the blade against his lifted bicep. Soap slid down his forearm, over the scarred ridges.
    “We can get married now!”
    Hand fisted, muscles taut, Sal drew the blade across.
Freedom! Release!
Pain sluicing with release. He closed his eyes for a second then breathed out. Lifted the blade again and carved another. Watched the crimson line speed down his arm, chasing time. Chasing memories. Chasing pain.
    He clenched his eyes tight.
    Go away. Just… go away
.
    Steel glinted beneath a mixture of blood and water as it pinched his flesh with another line between good and evil. Right and wrong. Sin and redemption.
    “Falcon!”
    Sal blinked. Stilled. Swallowed hard as his pulse jammed.
    “You in here?” Dean’s voice was close.
    “Yeah.” Sal cleared his throat. Glanced at the Ka-Bar. At the blood on the floor, diluted by the water. Dean wouldn’t understand. The guy had everything under control. Exuded authority and strength. He hadn’t made stupid mistakes that cost lives. Hadn’t convinced