Rule Breaker (Black Ops: Project R.O.O.T Book 1) Read online

  Rule Breaker

  Black Ops: Project ROOT

  TL Reeve

  Michele Ryan

  After Glows Publishing

  Rule Breaker

  © Copyright 2017 TL Reeve and Michele Ryan

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  Published by After Glows

  PO Box 224

  Middleburg, FL 32050

  AfterGlowsPublishing.com

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  Cover by LKO Designs

  Formatting by AG Formatting

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  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  AfterGlowsPublishing.com

  To the readers,

  Thank you for sticking by mine and Michele’s sides through this wild, fantastic ride. We hope you enjoy Rule Breaker as much as we had fun writing it.

  TL and Michele

  Contents

  Glossary of Names

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

  About TL Reeve

  About Michele Ryan

  Note from the Publisher

  Glossary of Names

  Asher Rainer – Commander of R.O.O.T. Has been with the division since its inception. Worked closely with his uncle, Senator Jackson Winters.

  Jake O’Malley – Second in Command, often referred to as 2IC. Best friend to Asher and a moody bastard on a good day.

  Noah Hanover – Team’s sniper who has a smart mouth and very hyper. A lethal combination for a man who can kill you from a great distance and you not even be aware you’re about to die.

  Drew Callahan – Teams Communication/Lindquist expert. Former SEAL who’s determined to do his job, and do it correctly.

  Alex Schoell – Former Army EOD expert who is now the team’s weapons expert. His favorite weapon of choice—Ak-47. The other team members wonder if he sleeps with the damn thing.

  Murray – Resident hacker and computer expert. Mostly stays at base providing support.

  Senator Jackson Winters – Asher’s uncle, Senator and Chairman of the Council which overseas R.O.O.T.

  Brigadier General Blackwell – One of Asher’s superiors. During normal circumstances, Asher deals with the General the most.

  Dr. Rae Mackenzie – A doctor working for Doctors Without Borders. A pediatrician who specializes in infectious and autoimmune diseases.

  Joseph Franks – Medic, relatively new to Barclay. Has a wife named Sydney, a daughter named Gabby and a son on the way.

  1

  “Juan is waiting for you in Room One, Doctor Rae.” Maria placed the patient folder on the table next to her. “He says his belly is aching again.”

  Didn’t surprise her. Even in the twenty-first century, cholera could rear its head at the most inopportune time. Three weeks ago, monsoon season started, and with it, the rains. Puerto Nariño, Colombia, took the brunt of the last storm. The flood washed away a good portion of the roadways and killed the water supply and rudimentary sewer system. Within days, the majority of the people had some symptoms of cholera. Thankfully, the Red Cross brought in supplies to combat the deadly bacterial disease.

  “I’ll be right there.” In the six months since she’d taken the assignment, Rae Kenzie had put in long hours for some of the most rewarding work. She’d been all over the world and didn’t think she could ever work at a stationary hospital again.

  While in medical school, Doctors Without Borders had come to her classes to explain their programs. It wasn’t a recruiting thing. She needed real experience first. Taking a position in emergency medicine had been worth it in the long run after her residency. The quickened pace came in handy while working some of the most heinous war-torn areas. Sure, she gave up the luxury of home to work in some of the worst conditions, but she’d do it again in a heartbeat.

  As a pediatrician, she’d been highly sought after. Her training in infectious disease and autoimmune therapy had made her a gold star at the top of the chart. It also put her in some of the most dangerous conditions. Last year, she’d been in Syria. She feared before long, Aleppo would fall, and those children left behind would die as well. She prayed every night the United Nations would step in and put a hard stop to the destruction.

  “Dr. Rae. Dr. Rae!” A little dark-haired girl ran straight for her. Isabella Sanchez. The girl’s toothless grin always warmed her heart. Rae had set her arm after her home collapsed under brutal winds. The bright pink cast had lifted the girl’s spirits, but not as much as a bowl of strawberry ice cream.

  “Isabella.” She hugged the girl tightly. “How are you, sweetheart?”

  “Good. Mama has present for you.”

  Her mother presented her with a package wrapped in plain brown butcher paper and white twine. “Gracias por ayudar a mi hija.”

  “De nada.” She smiled, untying the rope. She’d never hesitate to help Isabella again if the need came. She placed the cord on the counter and opened the paper. The beautiful multicolored shawl sitting inside the wrappings took her breath away. Bright reds, golds, and greens were complimented by ivory and cream. She almost didn’t want to touch it. “For me?”

  Isabella’s mother nodded. “Sí.” She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Por Isabella.”

  She placed the gift on the desk and enveloped the woman in a hug. “Por Isabella.” Yes, the people didn’t have much in the tiny village, but what they did have was heart, in spades. She stepped back then took the little girl’s hand. “Come on, let’s see how your arm is doing today.”

  Maria grabbed up her package and carted it behind Rae as she made her way down the hall to one of the open rooms. When she had the little girl on the table, she glanced at Maria who nodded. “Okay, Isabella, let’s get your cast off so Dr. Rae can X-ray your arm.”

  Rae closed the door behind her and set out for Juan’s room. She knew the little boy wouldn’t be there if he felt well. He’d been a trooper through the worst of the sickness. When she stepped into his room, his father sat in the chair next to the table while the little boy lay with his eyes closed and his mouth open slightly. The pallor of his skin shocked her. Green along his jaw gave way to pale cheeks and a bit of yellowing under his eyes. She frowned.

  Rae grabbed his folder and glanced at his symptoms. Upper abdominal pain. Yellowing of the skin. Fever. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Poor kid. She gently nudged him, and though the poor baby was sicker
than a dog, he grinned. “Hi, Juan.”

  “Buenos dias, Dr. Rae.” His lips thinned as he rolled onto his back.

  “Not feeling well today?”

  He gave a quick shake of his head and pointed to his bloated belly. “Hurts.”

  “I bet it does. Maria already took some blood, so I won’t be doing that again.” She glanced at his father. “Has he eaten anything in the last two days?”

  “No.” Sadness filled his father’s eyes. “Nothing.”

  “Give me one minute.” She squeezed his shoulder and walked out. The small lab they used was across the hall from his room. She had a sneaking suspicion she knew what happened to him. But to treat it properly, she needed the right diagnosis.

  Sitting on the printer, the white piece of paper held the key to what ailed Juan. Sometimes curing one disease brought on another. And in the little boy’s case, he hadn’t been the exception to the rule. He went big. Acute pancreatitis. There were several different antibiotics she could use with modifying his diet a little. Bland foods at first. Nothing acidic, even fruit. Then little by little as he got better, they could add more of his favorite foods.

  She crossed the hall and entered the room. “You’re going to be just fine, sweetheart.” Rae showed the father the diagnosis and then explained it in the simplest terms possible. Juan would need antibiotics and rest. In a few days, he would start feeling better, and in a week, he should be back to playing soccer with his other playmates at school.

  The relief in his father’s eyes almost knocked her feet out from under her. Juan’s family had been hit particularly hard during the flood. His mother and baby sister had been washed away. His older brother had been badly hurt and transported to a hospital in Bogotá where he remained in a drug-induced coma to help reduce the swelling in his brain. The situation was still touch and go.

  “Gracias.” His father gripped her hand in an affectionate way.

  “My pleasure.” She smiled. “I’ll have Maria come in and start his IV.”

  On her way back to Isabella’s room, she stopped to wash her hands and check the schedule. She had a few appointments to go for the day, but the majority of the people who came to see her and her team were walk-ins, and a good portion of them tried to pay. To see the relief on their faces when she waved off their money or their goods when they left was payment in full.

  The door flew open and a man carrying twins no more than nine months old rushed into the small waiting room. Sweat rolled down his brow, the pulse at his neck throbbed, his face twisted with fear. His rapid Spanish made it hard for her to keep up. She held up her finger as she rushed to him to grab one of the babies.

  “Maria!”

  The door to Isabella's door flew open and her assistant ran out. “What's—merde!” She took the other baby from his arms. “They were playing. A snake. They've been bit.”

  “Let's get them to a room. Does he know what bit them?”

  “Sí.” A woman rushed through the door carrying a bag.

  “Is it dead?” She gave Maria a sideways glance. No way in hell they needed a live poisonous snake in the office.

  “He killed it. Chopped off the head.” She grinned as she laid the baby on the table beside his sister. “I got a puncture mark on him.”

  “Nothing on her.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she removed the shirt and shorts the baby girl had been wearing. “I'm not seeing anything. I think she's okay.” The little girl stared up at her while the boy didn't move. His skin turned a sickly shade of white, probably from shock and fear. To be on the safe side, they had to know what they were dealing with. “We need the snake.”

  “I'll get it.”

  The woman appeared at the door at the same time Marie opened it. The mother handed the duffle to her. Worry etched the mother's face.

  “It's not poisonous.” Maria sagged. “It's a baby anaconda.” She poured the remains of the reptile on the counter.

  She gulped. The nasty slithering mess fell on the floor in a heap. “So gross. To be sure, we'll take blood from him and watch the bite area. I'll also give him a shot of penicillin to be on the safe side.”

  The little girl smiled up at her, and she lifted the baby. “She is fine. No bite. We're going to take good care of him.”

  “Beto.” The father lifted his chin toward the boy.

  Rae grinned. “Beto.” She touched Maria's shoulder. “Get him hooked up to the IV and pump some fluids into him. I'll finish up with Isabella.”

  “On it.”

  “Have a seat.” She pointed to the chairs. “I'll be back.”

  She exited the room to finish up with Isabella's X-ray and cast, then she'd check on Juan. By now, he should be feeling a little relief. She opened the door and found Isabella giggling with her mom. “Ready for that X-ray?”

  “Yes, Dr. Rae.” She hopped off the table and followed her down the hall to the small room at the back of the office.

  “Does your arm feel better?”

  She nodded.

  “Good.” It looked better, too. The swelling was almost completely gone, even the bruising had diminished. She laid the child's arm on the board below the machine and went through the procedure to take different views of her bone. Then she took the little girl into the room to examine the film.

  “Well, would you look at that.” She pointed to the area where the break had knitted together. “Almost healed. I think we can do a soft cast now. No more plaster.” She guided Isabella back to her room, then went to the storage area and grabbed a soft cast. A couple more weeks and she'd be good to go.

  As she opened the door, the rev of jeep engines sounded in front of the office. She closed her eyes. Not now. Today isn't the day for this bullshit. The patient room door behind her opened and the twins' father stepped out.

  “Always come. You hide. Kids.” He patted her arm. “We fix.”

  “I can't let you do—”

  “We fix.” He hurried her to the room. He spoke to his wife who handed over their daughter while Maria gathered up their son. “Go.”

  “Get Juan.” She went back to grab Isabella and her mother while Maria went for the other little boy then hurried to their safe place.

  The slamming of doors accompanied shouts. Her heart pounded. She had no protection here expect for the police, and she realized quickly they were as corrupt as the guerillas supposedly protecting the jungle around them. More like the cocoa fields. Rae placed her finger to her mouth as she grabbed Isabella by the hand and hurried to the back near the X-ray machine.

  The voices grew louder. Anger laced their words. The kids were looking to her for help and she had no idea what to do. In the six months they'd been there, they'd never been subject to anything like this. The only reason she knew about the guerillas was because a couple kids who’d gotten into the cocoa plants appeared at her door sicker than shit, puking their guts up. Those who weren’t sick had been shoot or stabbed. Maria had to explain it to her.

  Crack! The first shot rang out, followed by another. The screams of frightened children along with the adults rent the air. She hurried to get them to the safe room below ground. “Hurry.” She glanced over her shoulder and watched through the window as the men began shooting each other, which made no sense at all. When standing at the door to hurry more people into the clinic, she saw more men coming down out of the hills in front of them, their uniforms the same as those the guerillas wore. The baby in her arms squealed and cried out, drawing the attention of one of the men.

  His eyes narrowed as a slow, devious grin twisted his features. He raised his gun, pointing it at her. Her heart lodged in her throat. She couldn't move. She stared down the barrel of his long rifle, her death becoming an inevitable situation.

  None of the stuff people say in the movies happened. Her life didn't flash in front of her eyes. She didn't have a chance to lament about not talking to her mother last weekend when she said she'd call home, but overslept.

  Thwack! The man's body fell forwa
rd. She expected to see another person behind him, however, no one was there. She muffled her relieved cry and hustled Isabella to the back room. After opening the trap door in the floor, she climbed in with the children. “Stay in the darkness.”

  She huddled them together as the gunfire continued to ring out around them. At some point, someone would come looking for them. Then what? She didn't know. She didn't want to think about it right now. She needed to keep the children quiet. Their parents had put their lives on the line to help her, and she had a duty to protect them.

  Maria flipped on the light of her phone. Juan sat beside her, his little body shaking as the ravages of the infection worked through him. She could only hope they wouldn't be down there long so she could get him back on the antibiotics and the pain meds. Beto lay sleeping in her arms while Isabella held her arm to her chest. Shit, the cast. She must have dropped it during the commotion. When they got out of there—if they got out of there—she'd put the cast on her arm and give her a small dose of pain medicine. It was the least she could do after dragging her away from her mom.

  For now, she was thankful no one made a sound, which also broke her heart. These children, even the youngest of them, already knew what to expect when these...men showed up to deal with whatever was going on out there. How did anyone live like this? Then, she reminded herself of the children in Aleppo dying in bombings day in and day out. The youngest had been four months old.

  She gathered Isabella to her side and put a protective arm around her. They had provisions if they needed them. They could hold out. She wouldn't give up the kids without a fight. She'd die for them. It was part of the job and part of how her parents raised her. Save those weaker than she was. Give them a chance to thrive and survive.