Rogue (Book 2) (The Omega Group) by Andrea Domanski Read Free Book Online Page B

night wasn’t the first time the council asked me to leave.”
    “Is that why you joined the Omega Group?” Jackie asked.
    “Yeah. Myrine had come to the village a few weeks earlier to
recruit new agents. My father, of course, wanted nothing to do with it and sent
her packing. But when I was kicked out, I had nowhere else to go, so I called
her.”
    Han raised his arms. “And the rest, as they say, is
history.”
    “There’s still something I’m not sure about,” Jackie said.
“That guy that shot at us when we got off the jet. Was he Yavapai? Can they shift
into bears?”
    “I don’t know. When Gina and I were together the Yavapai
didn’t have that ability, but that was five years ago. Judging by last night’s
attack of the village, I think it’s a safe bet they’ve attained it somehow.”
    They walked in silence until Han spun on his heels, a look
of confusion covering his face. “What the—?” Before he could complete the
sentence he collapsed to the ground, a tranquilizer dart protruding from his
thigh.
    “Run, Jackie!” Carter started to shift into his wolf but was
hit in the chest by another dart. The effects were immediate. The world around
him slowed as his vision dimmed. The last thing he saw was Jackie firing her
weapon until another dart hit her in the shoulder. Then the world went dark.

Chapter
9
    Someone’s licking my face.
    Han struggled to open his eyes against the weights that
seemed to be holding them closed. His arms and legs felt like lead when he
tried to move, and a sharp pain cut through his head at the effort. Where am
I?
    Another slobbery lick along his jaw brought him closer to
consciousness. One eye opened just as a pair of furry lips started nibbling on
his ear. “Gad!” he screamed as he shuffled away in a crab walk.
    “Had a rough night there, son?”
    As his surroundings came into focus, Han saw the man that
was speaking to him, but couldn’t quite put words together to answer him.
    “You and your girlfriend best be moving along. Not all the
pack mules are as friendly as Betsy, here.”
    Han shook his head in an effort to get the synapses firing
again. Pack mules? Girlfriend? As though a dam in his brain suddenly
opened, the memories flooded back and he shot to his feet.
    Jackie lay sprawled on the trail a few feet away. Carter was
nowhere to be seen.
    “Don’t worry. She’s just sleeping it off. You really
shouldn’t drink like that out here.”
    “What time is it?” Han could hear the gravelly tone in his
own voice.
    “Almost nine o’clock.”
    Han looked down at his leg, but the tranquilizer dart was no
longer there. He knelt beside Jackie and searched her for a dart. Nothing.
Whoever shot them must have collected the evidence. Smart.
    Jackie groaned as he rolled her to her back. “Take it easy,
girlfriend. You’re going to have a hell of a hangover.” When she opened her
eyes, Han could see that she was feeling the same kind of headache he was.
    “What happened?”
    “We just had a little too much to drink last night. That’s
all.” Han hoped she was thinking straight enough to realize they weren’t alone.
When she locked her gaze on his, he knew she was with him.
    As he pulled her to her feet, he saw her gun lying on the
ground. Jackie must have seen it, too. She dropped her backpack on top of it to
hide it from the man’s view and said, “Note to self: No more vodka while
hiking.”
    Han turned to the man and shook his hand. “Thanks very much
for waking us up. I hope we haven’t caused you too much trouble.”
    “No trouble at all. It’s the most excitement Betsy and I
have had on this trail in years. You guys enjoy the rest of your vacation.” As
the man turned back down the trail, his mule looked over her shoulder at Han
and gave him a snort. “She likes you.”
    As soon as they were alone, Han and Jackie tried to piece
together what happened. Jackie said she’d gotten off a shot before getting hit,
but didn’t know if she’d struck