INVISIBLE PRISON (INVISIBLE RECRUITS) by Mary Buckham Read Free Book Online Page B

called on to join this agency, but it also made sense that we didn’t broadcast our abilities until we had to. That way anyone who dropped out early days in the training wouldn’t be a threat to the others still on site. They might sell the intel that there was such a group being assembled, but it was going to be a harder sell without being able to say there were witches and fae and pixies training.
    I shook my head. “No. Neither Stone or I got a bead on the person or persons responsible,” I said.
    “Responsible for what?” Kelly perked up. Good news was it appeared my actions in the gym didn’t scream magic using. But someone knew who or what I was. Then Kelly added, “Unless it’s none of my beeswax.”
    “You didn’t really say beeswax.” I smiled to make sure she knew there was no sting to my words. In fact I was trying to shift her away from the topic of someone intentionally trying to sabotage another recruit’s chances at staying with the Agency.
    She gave a half-shrug and picked at her pasta salad. “I hope they do something other than more fighting this afternoon,” she said, dividing the multi-colored noodles on her plate into color-coordinated piles. “Many more blocking body blows and Stone wins.”
    “He’s intentionally pushing us hard today,” I said.
    Kelly’s brows rose as if I’d accused him of indecent exposure. “Because?”
    “Survival of the fittest,” came Monroe’s whip-fast retort. Yup, no molasses on this one. She glanced at me before adding. “Some of us might have unfair advantage in some areas, physical endurance and fighting abilities being one.”
    Not to mention any of our other abilities. My gaze caught hers. but she gave nothing away. Not even an acknowledgement if she was human or not.
    “So what do you think he’s going to have us work on later?” Kelly asked, frowning. “Weapons?”
    “Good guess.” I agreed, wondering if she were going to eat her noodles or maul them to death. Each of us dealt with the stress in different ways. “But I’m thinking he might go in another direction.”
    Before Kelly could ask what I meant, Monroe jumped in, “Cognitive abilities?”
    I nodded, adding, “Or maybe leadership skills.”
    The whistle to signal the end of lunch blew before we could speculate more, which was probably a good thing. It was easy to psych ourselves out thinking of worst-case scenarios, especially with Stone being in charge. But obviously I hadn’t thought devious enough as those of us that remained as potential agents huddled together in the gym, waiting for our next assignments.
    Stone put an end to our misery by stepping forward and announcing, “Team building.”
    I wasn’t the only one that groaned. Beside me Amazon woman scuffed her shoe against the floor and shook her head. Kelly just opened her eyes wider as Monroe scanned the group, having the least chance to get to know anyone, thus facing the biggest challenge to assess who could be a team asset and who a team drag.
    “Noziak, you’re Team Leader One. Mandy Reyes.” He nodded toward the Chiquita with the attitude from last night. “You’re Team Leader Two and Princess,” he shot a hooded glance toward Monroe. “You’re Team Leader Three.”
    So maybe I was wrong. Seemed Stone was gunning for Monroe. Those weren’t hubba-hubba sparks flashing between them earlier but get the hell out of my way fireworks . But by the look on Monroe’s face she wasn’t about to give an inch. After sparring with her earlier I’d say Stone had an uphill battle if he thought she was going to walk away quickly.
    In the meantime Stone had turned his attention to me. All business and no fun he gave me a get on with it chin nod. “Pick your first team member, Noziak.”
    If he thought he was going to stump me he was wrong.
    “Kelly McAllister,” I said, earning a big grin from Kelly and frown lines from Stone. Reyes chose Amazon woman, who was named Jaylene Smart, while Monroe selected a woman