Book 14 of The Lyssa Kordenay Missions!   An international task-force is in jeopardy deep in the jungle, so Lyssa and Rodrick are going into the most dangerous part  Southeastern Asia's Golden Triangle!. WARNING: The Lyssa Kordenay Missions may be hyper-violent for some readers.

 

 

---

 

 

 

CHAPTER 1

Pete couldn't believe the Paris trip was being cut short to go back to Thailand. Hopefully Rodrick was in a good mood now, They knew Lyssa was there and that's why they were too. He'd finally got to see the Eiffel tower and a few other tourist spots. His girlfriend would be upset but He'd make that up to her with the perfume he got for her, he had blended it himself with help from the master perfumer. For five hundred dollars an ounce she'd better like it he thought to himself. Right now though he needed to concentrate on the loading of the two totes that some guy in a U.S. Army uniform dropped off. He didn't have to sign for them so obviously they had to be weapons.

 

He saw Rodrick walk out of the hangar, Lyssa was with him. No suprise there but she wasn't dolled up like usual. Jeans and a t-shirt and boots. Odd to him. He'd never seen her so casual, shorts and running shoes didn't count. Hell the woman wore high heels with bikinis around her house. The guy in the suit with them was an unknown. Pete got the feeling the big man was a spook, probably the reason they were heading back to Thailand. Kinda strange though. Lyssa gave off the impression that she was coming along. they were heading this way now and without suit guy.

 

It was good to see Rodrick with somebody cool. the last girlfriend only cared about money, wanted him to sell off the aircraft to pay for her lifestyle. Made no bones about it either; always showing catalogs of jewelry and ugly clothes that cost thousands of dollars. It was funny, Lyssa is what the last one wanted to be but without the snotty attitude, she was actually really nice. He even had standing reservations at her restaurant in Grand Cayman and never got a check, any meal for two was on the house. She didn't hover and nag either. Rodrick respected her, which was new. Not that he treated any woman bad, but Lyssa was different. something about her required you to respect her and he got the feeling that if it wasn't given that respect could and would be taken.

~o~O~o~

Lyssa stood hand in hand with Rodrick on the tarmac.

"We'll get there as fast as we can Major," she said.

"No mistakes Lyssa. this is indian territory all the way and neither of you are safe until out of Thai/Burmese airspace," Dannigan warned.

"We'll tread carefully Paul," Rodrick said.

"Good luck and take care of each other out there," Dannigan said.

"We will," Lyssa said then she and Rodrick turned and walked toward the plane.

"Looks like Pete has us loaded and ready," Rodrick commented.

"When's Pete gonna breakdown and pop the question to his girl,"Lyssa asked.

"When I get good and damn ready Lyssa," Pete answered as he walked back off the ramp.

She laughed, so did Rodrick as Pete grumbled about meddling bosses and their girlfriends.

Lyssa raised up on her toes and kissed Rodrick's cheek," go ahead and do your pilot stuff so we can go."

Rodrick patted her butt as she stepped up the ramp then took the clipboard from Pete.

"Speaking of bosses, girlfriends and questions; what about you and Lyssa," Pete asked.

"Don't go there," Rodrick said marking off the boxes on his checklist.

"C'mon Rod, I saw the newspaper pictures. Those were bridal gowns she was wearing and definitely roses you gave her. Don't blame you, saw the one of the kiss...that dress was class A superstar and I've seen movies and kissing pictures. Nothing fake about that one," Pete said.

"Don't you have shit to do so we can get in the air," Rodrick asked with a sideglance.

"Nope. Been waiting on you, slacker. Now about that kiss. Hey my parents married at 18, still hold hands and shit. I know when I see it man and you two have it for each other," Pete commented.

"Pete go pre-start or I'll call your girlfriend and tell her you went to Crazyhorse," Rodrick growled.

"Oh you're cruel boss.....really fuckin' cruel," Pete grumbled walking up the ramp.

"Wash the windshield and check the oil while you're at it,"Rodrick jokingly yelled back.

 

Pete was a former Marine therefore they had to antagonize each other. They both knew where the lines were and wouldn't cross them. Rodrick smiled to himself, he'd seen the tabloid photos himself and was rather taken aback by what he saw. He'd never seen the expression he had before. He remembered the thought in his mind clear enough; that he'd remember that moment forever. Rodrick almost dropped the clipboard then, he'd never used that word in such context before. Forever. He'd never had thoughts like that before.

Pete's yell brought him out of the space odysses.

Rodrick finished his pre-flight and walked up the ramp. Lyssa looked up from the tabloid and smiled. He winked and climbed up to the cockpit.

"Can we go now," Pete asked sacastically.

"Spin on number one,"Rodrick said putting on his headset.

"Spinning on one," Pete confirmed starting the engine.

They were all business now. The second engine was started and brought up to speed followed by the third and fourth. Carl, the crew chief called over his headset that they were buttoned up and ready to pressurize. Rodrick called the tower and was told to taxi out. Three minutes later take off was granted. The C-130 climbed fast and pulled hard to take the outbound heading. A mid-air refuel would meet them over Iraq but they'd land in India to refuel.

~o~O~o~

As they flew over the Mediterranean Rodrick came back and started to sort gear with Lyssa as she had already started loading magazines. They'd both be leading with CAR-15 assault rifles but for sidearms they differed. Lyssa carried her twin Jericho .40 cal automags and Rodrick carried two Colt Deltas, 10mm automatics. Both added the party favors; four frag grenades, one concussion, two smokers and one incendiary.

 

Lyssa slid the Marauder knife into the sheath down the back of her right thigh and the Fairbarn-Sikes knife into the right strap of her combat harness.

"Lyss...what's the story on that knife? I never seen one like it," Rodrick stated.

Lyssa pulled the Marauder and handed it to him,"its called a Marauder. Had some popularity back in the 80's. I saw it a gun and knife show once. The advert said it was 'The ultimate combat/throwing knife'. I don't know about that, but I do know its always lodged whenever I did throw it."

Rodrick had noted before how the hand guard consisted of opposing spikes and the pommel had the same opposing spikes with another directly opposing the blade. He now felt the balance of it and understood. Double bladed, double-edged; a single flat piece of steel jet black and razor sharp. A knife of only one purpose; killing.

"Not even gonna ask why you choose to carry it," Rodrick mumbled to himself," we're gonna need to talk sometime."

 

Two microsyrettes went into her boots. Rodrick checked his blow-out kit, a small first aid kit used by SEALs, then put it into his thigh pocket. She handed him two of the micro-syrettes.

"Here and be careful with these, they're poison. Fifteen second effect,"Lyssa cautioned him.

"Right. Sentry removal," Rodrick nodded.

He looked up when Lyssa said softly,"no. they're for us. One for you; one for me. Inside is a special lining, once its been used and air gets inside it'll burn itself up."

 

He stopped and looked at her and saw a sadness in her eyes. Rodrick decided he would ask about that when the mission was done and tucked the syrettes into his boots. They completed with survival gear and then filled their packs with rations and ordinance then filled their water pouches. Lyssa changed into that familiar form fitted black suit then pulled on her boots. The refuel over Iraq went without a hitch as did the one over Dhubai then an hour long stop in India.

~o~O~o~

Matt couldn't believe it. Leader of the joint task force and he'd dropped the ball. Second night in, some bunch slipped into their camp and had them all at rifle point. He spoke Thai, Burmese, Laotion, Cambodian and Vietnamese plus French just in case. He knew that this bunch was made up of both Thai and Burmese. Either bandits or opium traders. Once they talked enough he'd know what they were and then how to bargain with them. For now it was simple; keep quiet and do as they say without causing problems.

A glance at his watch told him they were thirty hours in since check in time. twenty-six hours since action had been initiated. Rescue if possible, recover if needed; liquidate if necessary. Army Special Forces would be sent after them. because they weren't expected to be close enough to the river for SEALs to be sent in, the Green Berets were the best option.

 

The guy in charge was Mao. Or at least the guy giving the orders for now was Mao, a Burmese. If he was the top of the ladder then things would be simpler. One thing for sure, everybody better jump on his bandwagon fast or it could cost them all their lives. Also, they needed to make sure the trail they left was obvious enough without tipping off the locals. Subtle signs that wouldn't be erased by countermeasures. At least the food and water had been brought along. Matt and company stopped when Mao called a break. He demanded to be shown how to prepare the MRE's. Matt very slickly had the team show how to prepare them that way they'd be able to eat as well. The ploy worked, everybody ate. Mao decided to camp there. Perfect. the longer they stayed still the better.

 

"We're past time," Matt whispered, "help is on the way."

Billy, the Australian, muttered, "all we have to do is stay alive long enough to pulled out."

Vincent, the Interpol agent nodded," we are alive now. That means hope for us."

The team settled down as best they could, watching the bandits in case they got a chance to turn on them.

 
 

CHAPTER 2

Rodrick walked off the ramp to join Lyssa, "All set. They're gonna fly down to Phuket to refuel then go hang out in India until they hear from us or Paul."

"Ok. Go ahead and send 'em out. Been here too long," Lyssa replied.

He knew Lyssa would have preferred to jump in than land the plane but Dannigan wanted a check in before the plane left. Rodrick put the sat-phone away then shrugged into the straps of his pack as did Lyssa then picked up their rifles and walked into the jungle. They walked the trail for a few minutes then Lyssa took point she led off the trail for fifty meters and followed it parallel. Rodrick noticed she had taken a drink of water as they entered the dense foliage but not since. It didn't take long to realize why. She would hold that water in her mouth for three hours before swallowing it.

 

The evening came and night fell but Lyssa stayed on point leading the way moving for four hours then resting for fifteen minutes. Rodrick knew it was a LRRP march, Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, but he'd never used it. SEALs didn't move over land like that. Special Forces and Delta did. That and the fact that she wasn't hacking through the underbrush. It was like she knew exactly how to move through it like a snake.

~o~O~o~

Dawn came; Lyssa finally stopped and whispered," we'll eat here and break for an hour then you can take the point for a while."

Rodrick all but collapsed, "now I see why you do triathlons everyday."

"That's different baby," Lyssa spoke in a hushed tone.

She stood up and walked over to him and kissed his lips lightly," we have to push hard, alot of ground to cover and we have no time to waste."

"I'm out of shape," he chuckled.

"You don't do this anymore," Lyssa remarked.

"yeah," he admitted," when we get back let's take some time off."

"Ok," she smiled," get some sleep."

Rodrick nodded then leaned back against a tree and fell asleep.

 

All too soon Lyssa awoke him," Time to go."

They both stood up and stretched for a minute or two then he struck out taking point until noon then she took the point again. By evening they found the first campsite. Rodrick checked in with Dannigan via the satellite phone then headed out after eating, with Lyssa again on point. They moved through the night until dawn then stopped again to eat and sleep for an hour. Rodrick had noticed her mood change, she was becoming much more intense. Talking less and less, he was seeing the Operator now. A hunter of men.

 

Late in the afternoon they found the second campsite. Her movements reminded him of a predatory creature. Steady, careful, with absolute purpose and deadly silent. It took only minutes for her to pick up the outbound trail. She led off paralleling the trail at 30 meters, criss-crossing back and forth every so often, keeping them on track. Not too hard, somebody was blazing for them and being sneaky about it.

Rodrick had counted out eight separate tracks, Lyssa counted twelve plus the task force. Lyssa led on through the night again and they took a break at dawn. She gave Rodrick two hours, the strain was really showing now. When she awoke she froze. An Asiatic cobra had taken place between them.

 

Lyssa called softly,"Rod....Rod! freeze!"

He opened his eyes and saw what she meant. The former SEAL moved slowly, drawing the swaying snake's attention, reaching for his dive knife. Lyssa moved as well, refocusing its attention on her. With reflexes like lightning he swept his knife, severing the cobra's head. They both sighed with relief. After stretching again they moved out, with Rodrick on point until the afternoon. That evening she determined they were fourteen hours behind them.

Lyssa took them through the night and by morning they were only three hours behind but it would be five hours after a break. Rodrick slept fast and hard,but awoke at her whisper. They had the day to narrow the gap even closer. He led the way out slowly and carefully. Before sunset they had gotten close enough twice to hear voices. The group were making camp, this was good for Lyssa and Rodrick. They moved a mile ahead to make camp themselves and slept for four hours before checking in with Dannigan.

~o~O~o~

Matt felt uneasy. The jungle felt different now. Like a dangerous animal was close by. He whispered to the others to be on guard. They all nodded agreement. He'd already discovered that Mao was a bandit that crossed back and forth over the border. He preyed on anybody that couldn't fight back. The Burmese knew that at least one of the task-force was American and was hoping to ransom them back. The problem was he needed to get to a safe village with communication. They had all eaten again then pretended to get comfortable, as if settling in for the night. Mao as usual had four guards.

 

It was around two in the morning when Matt was awoken by Billy, the Australian. He whispered to Matt, "wakey wakey mate. Something is up, it don't feel right."

The guards were getting tired. Matt noticed it too but froze. Slowly a black form materialized behind one and he immediately dropped. A coughing sound was heard and another fell. They heard another coughing sound and guard number three also fell over.
Number four was already downed as well. It then seemed like large creatures were moving around.

One of the two shadows slithered in close and whispered,"follow me silently."

~o~O~o~

The others were already awake nodding quietly. They crept out after the larger of the two shadows for almost one hundred meters then the shadow stopped and counted them.

"Good, everybody's here," Rodrick said.

"Are we glad to see you Yanks," Billy said.

"Everybody good to travel right? nobody hurt,"Rodrick asked.

"Yeah, we're good to go. Hey aren't you the pilot," Matt asked.

"Yep. I'm here to get you boys back home,"Rodrick smiled in the darkness," we just need to wait a little while longer then we'll move out."

They all murmured their assent and waited silently.

~o~O~o~

Lyssa had moved slowly from one man to the next, the Marauder filled her hand. Silently she thrust the blade between each man's jaw and base of his skull into the brain; a slight twitch was their only reactions. One to the right stirred and started to sit up. Lyssa rolled over then slammed the edge of her hand to his throat and he fell back. Like a sledgehammer she thrust her blade down into his eye. One lay sleeping on his stomach with his arm under his head; a quick double twist making the bones of his neck crackle and he stopped breathing.

 

Finally there was only one left. The one that had seemed to be the leader from his position in the camp. Lyssa gingerly lifted away his rifle, pistol and machete then nudged his head lightly with the muzzle of the suppressed pistol. His eyes snapped open and saw a shadow crouched in front of him.

 

"Who are you," Mao asked in Burmese then French.

He heard the ominous click of the hammer being locked back. Lyssa took a cord and moved slowly behind him, tying his wrists behind the tree then stepped back in front of him. The bandit watched as she pressed a sticky grey block just above his groin and pressed a button. Red numbers started flashing.

"Who are you,"Mao demanded in Thai this time.

Lyssa stood up and and replied in Thai, looking down at him, "Past the gates and before the throne; I've been to hell. Where I'm sending you......is much worse."

she faded back into the jungle and disappeared. Three minutes later the charge went off pop blowing his pelvis open. Pain was instant. Mao looked down then screamed long and loud as his blood flowed out soaking the jungle floor. None of his men moved. The Burmese realized he was alone and dying slowly.

 

CHAPTER 3

Dannigan pounced on the ringing phone startling Madison,"Yeah?"

"Paul? that you,"Rodrick asked.

"Yeah Rod its me. what've you got," Dannigan answered.

"We have the package," he answered,"Good for extraction in 3 days. I think 3 days."

Dannigan sighed in relief, "What's the Butterfly say?"

"Hanging back. cleaning up the mess," Rodrick replied.

Dannigan was silent for a moment, "Keep our Butterfly hidden Rod. Nobody sees, got it?"

"I hear you, Paul. Do my best," Rodrick signed off and disconnected.

Dannigan turned to go back into his office, "Madison alert Mason's flight crew. Let 'em know their starting back now."

"That's great,"Madison exclaimed and then started dialing.

~o~O~o~

Pete answered on the fourth ring,"Hello?"

"This is Control. Ramrod is returning now. You have a three day ETA," Madison said.

"HOT DAMN! Acknowledged Control; three days inbound," he confirmed.

Madison disconnected with a smile. A quick glance at Dannigan's door then she pulled up the European tabloid website again and scrolled through the pictures to get to the Dior bridal show. Lyssa looked so gorgeous in the gowns. Rodrick reminded her of James Bond in his suit giving her the enormous bouquet of roses she thought smiling.

Madison wondered aloud," is this a prelude to something? Lyssa never walked a bridal show before. She's always avoided those like the plague."

~o~O~o~

Rodrick heard a distant popping sound then saw the shadow of Lyssa at the edge of the clearing and crept over to meet her.

"Reported in. They know we have them and expect to be back to the LZ in three days. Paul wants you out of sight as much as possible," he said in a whisper.

"Ok. I'll take point from now on. Once we get back to the jeeps I'm going to have a problem staying out of sight so make them go really slow," she told him.

Rodrick nodded then on impulse hugged her tightly to him.

"I'm ok," she whispered,"we're all ok but we have to move baby."

Rodrick nodded and slowly let her go and watched her melt into the shadows.

"Psssssst...hey let's go guys. We got business," Rodrick spoke softly.

The group nodded quietly and followed him down the trail.

 

They moved steadily until dawn when they got to a small clearing and found four MRE's unopened on the ground stacked neatly. Rodrick looked in his pack and silently cursed himself, he had four MRE's left. The men dug into the pouches without reservation in quiet celebration. Lyssa had given all the food she had left to feed them then moved further out from the camp.

"Hey. Don't leave the area. I'm going to look around," Rodrick ordered quietly.

He followed the trail ahead for ten minutes and found Lyssa digging at the base of a bush.

A minute later she yanked, pulling up a root of some kind that she then peeled and sliced pieces off to eat. Rodrick walked up closer and passed her one of the MRE's from his pack. She shook her head but he gave it to her anyway.

"Eat damn it. You burn calories too and you're pushing harder than anybody else," Rodrick swore.

Lyssa gave him a nasty glance then took it. She opened it, took out the crackers and peanut butter packs then handed it back to him.

"More," he said angrily.

"Later. When I need it," she replied.

He took out the dehydrated fruit mix and the oatmeal bar and gave them to her,"We'll share then."

He leaned over and kissed her then went back to the group as they talked and joked about the close call they'd all had.

 

"Get some rest guys, we move in an hour," Rodrick told them.

"An hour? That's insane, we've been going all night," Vincent the Interpol agent protested.

"He's serious Vin, rest up now,"Matt advised.

Billy piped up,"You Yanks don't play around, do ya?"

Matt nodded," if I haven't missed my guess Rod's former Spec Ops."

"Ex-SEAL. And no....I don't play around," Rodrick answered then leaned back against a tree and closed his eyes.

They all followed suit and felt like their eyes had just closed when he awoke them again.

~o~O~o~

Rodrick nudged their feet, "Let's go...up and at 'em. We got business."

They'd been moving all day but the DEA agent had his mind on other things. Other thing actually. Matt could have sworn he saw something dark in the distance move, like a person, but when he blinked it or they were gone. Rodrick had to have at least a partner. He'd seen a second person back at the Burmese camp moving around. There was the stack of MRE's waiting on them as well. A partner that seemed to prefer being unseen. Everyone on the task force had high clearances and had worked undercover for at least ten years. It wasn't like they couldn't keep a secret so why the hush-hush routine. He personally had worked with Rangers and Special Forces before in South America.

 

Matt thought to himself, 'who was the big secret out front? Why did Rod look so angry as they ate the MRE's and guilty as he ate his own?'

Then it hit him; unless they had no more for the other teammate. The DEA agent wanted to slap himself as the pieces clicked into place like a thunderclap. The teammate had given up ALL their MRE's to feed them!

He signaled the rest of the group forward to him,"hey guys. We got a problem. Whoever is on point; Rod's teammate, gave up all their food to feed us."

"We have supplies left in the jeeps. Unless somebody else raided them," Vincent said.

"That's the thing. They may not take us back to the jeeps, might just bee-line it to the airfield," Matt amended,"That's provided Rod and his partner didn't destroy the jeeps and all the equipment on their way in to conceal our op."

Expressions hardened then, they hadn't thought about that.

"No more eating or snacking until we get where we're going. Rod and his partner pushed long and hard to get us. They're still running hard to get us out. So no bitching or whining. we move like they do," Matt ordered.

Nobody said anything in protest, just nodded their understanding and kept moving.

~o~O~o~

Lyssa moved steadily ignoring the slight pain in her legs, scanning the ground ahead for anything out of the ordinary back the way they came criss-crossing the main trail to keep them on track. She had no more supplies except water and the filter pump to refill her camel-back. It was tempting to just stay on the main trail and run. The problem was that it was too well traveled for concealment and they had a long way to go.

 

One of the guys may have seen her in the distance after she had sneaked in close to put the fruit packet and oatmeal bar back in Rodrick's pack. He didn't do this anymore and needed more intake than she did. One thing for sure; as soon as they got back to Cayman she was cleaning up and going straight to her restaurant, provided she didn't order to go from the airport and pick it up on the way home. that really sounded good. First things first, get everybody back to the plane and on their way home.

 

Lyssa moved at a steady pace until dusk then stopped for a few minutes.

Rodrick came up and said softly," the guys want to continue on through the night but did ask about picking up the jeeps."

"You tell them yes," she asked.

"Yeah but they are refusing to take any MRE's from me," he said and added at her confused look," Matt the DEA guy figured out you gave up all your supplies."

Lyssa muttered under her breath making him chuckle.

"They will be ready in ten minutes," he added.

"Ok, to the jeeps and then stay on the trail," she said standing up.

"When we get home....." he started but was cut off.

"When we get home I'm going to eat then take an hour long bath and go to sleep for two days," Lyssa said," then we'll talk or whatever you wanna do."

She moved onward melting into the foliage.

"Yeah.....when we get home a long talk," he mumbled to himself then turned back to get the group moving again.

~o~O~o~

At dawn Lyssa stopped again and marked subtly that she wanted them to stop there then moved on for another ten minutes. She was able to see through her spotting scope they had stopped. She slept for half an hour then drank as much water as she could then stretched out.

She eased back and woke Rodrick up then moved off again after telling him they would reach the jeeps in an hour, after that not see her until the airfield unless there was a problem.

"Don't run yourself to the ground. We have plenty of time but make damn sure you grab something to eat from the jeeps. Eat something. We'll go slow so you have the time to," he said.

Lyssa nodded, it'd do no good to argue with him. Almost an hour later she got to the jeeps and checked them. All was good. Lyssa took one MRE and refilled her camel-back from the jugs of water. She ate some of it walking down the trail. Maybe a fifteen minute lead was all she had left now and needed to gain more. Lyssa started jogging down the trail. When her muscles warmed up more she lengthened her stride, running. Hopefully Rodrick could keep them from barreling down the trail after her. Finally at sunset she slowed down, walking until night fell and the headlights of the jeeps stopped moving. She stretched again then ate more of the MRE. She slept for four hours then stretched and started moving down the trail more.

 

CHAPTER 4

The former Marine, Pete, feathered the throttles back as he brought the aircraft in on final and saw the green smoke. They were there waiting for them.

"Hot damn! A clear LZ. Carl hold on we're going in," he called over his headset.

"Set us down good Piper. I'm ready to drop the ramp on solid touchdown," the Californian load-master called back.

He came in low and set it down. The C-130 ran the length of the field as the ramp dropped then turned around.

"Lyssa's on board," Carl called out.

When she came into the cockpit Pete asked,"where's the boss, gorgeous?"

"Bringing up the rear with the tourists Pete. I heard the engines before I popped smoke," she said out of breath.

"Jeeps inbound Pete! Get ready to haul ass," Carl called out.

A minute later the plane shook as the vehicles drove inside and parked. Rodrick climbed into the cockpit and saw her.

"Be ready in just a minute then hit it," Rodrick said looking back.

The vehicles were secured fast as the ramp closed.

Rodrick all but jumped into his seat,"LET'S GO PETE!"

"Blasting off boss," Pete said ramming the throttles forward.

The plane lurched then roared down the runway. After the plane soared upward then leveled off the Burmese border was crossed in no time.

 

"Rod I know you're tired but let me get a quick nap of say two hours and I'll fly us all the way to Iraq. There's mid-air refuels gonna meet us over India, Iraq and Italy. We don't land until we get to Rammstein Air Force base, Germany. We drop off the tourists to get on a C-5 to go back to the states and we go home," Pete said.

"Ok,I'll take a couple of hours. Carl are you up," Rodrick asked.

"Right here boss," the load-master answered.

"Tell those guys to stay out of the cockpit. When I go to sleep the door will be locked to keep them out. Do NOT, repeat, DO NOT tell them anything about Lyssa. That's an order," he said.

"You got it boss," Carl answered.

Rodrick looked over and saw Lyssa slumped in the navigator seat looking very much already asleep. Three hours later he shook Pete awake. After he took the controls, Rodrick went over to the navigator's seat, gently wiped her face clean and sat down leaning up against the bulkhead to fall asleep. Pete was as good as his word and flew all the way to Iraq. Over Italy they switched again until Rammstein Air Force base but woke him up half an hour out from it.

 

Rodrick called tower services requesting ten gallons of water, two towels and four large pizzas with sodas. On the tarmac the task force unloaded as the plane was refueled. Rodrick paid for the items that were brought out. The task-force called out their good-byes and thanks as they rolled down to the other end. they had time to get cleaned up as their equipment was loaded into the C-5 Galaxy headed back to the states.

Rodrick wanted to get back into the air before Lyssa woke up for real. Take off was text book as Pete and Carl ate their pizzas and rested until they reached Heathrow in London.

 

Pete took over and Carl climbed into the pilot seat as Lyssa and Rodrick went to the cargo bay after closing the cockpit door. They used the jugs of water to clean up then sat down and shared one of the pizza's. Rodrick got Lyssa dressed in her jeans and t-shirt then laid down with her on the seats.

After they crossed the Atlantic Rodrick went back to the cockpit. He let Pete and Carl sleep and flew them down the coast. They refueled twice and everybody was awake coming in on his private airfield in the Bahamas. He and Lyssa transferred from the C-130 to his Gulfstream and flew down to Grand Cayman. The plane hadn't even parked when Lyssa called her restaurant and placed an order making him laugh. The detour to the restaurant took only moments and they continued on to her beach house. They carried the food in and sat down to eat. He went for a swim in the sea as Lyssa took a long bath then got into bed. Rodrick took a shower and shaved then turned both their phones off and settled in beside her.

~o~O~o~

Dannigan read the email. An eavesdropped report from the DEA component of the joint task force.
"it has been determined that the mission had not been compromised but had suffered random happenstance. Hot Extraction effected by private contractor that had also facilitated the team's insertion. Aforementioned contractor to be requested in the future if team re-deployment is authorized in three months. Private contractor: Rodrick "Ramrod" Mason of Ram-Air Charters. If team re-deployment authorized Mason to be offered twice initial fee for team insertion with bonus if team requires hot extraction again. end report."

That made Dannigan pleased with them both. There'd been no mention officially or unofficially of Lyssa; excellent. He dialed Rodrick's satellite phone and got a very nasty voice-mail greeting making him laugh. He dialed Lyssa's Caribean number next which went to voice-mail as well but with her usual greeting. He left a message for her to call, when up for more than an hour.

~o~O~o~

Lyssa woke up and went into the bathroom and stood under the shower to wake up, shampooed and conditioned her hair then ran the razor over her legs and bikini area and under arms. Finally she rinsed off thoroughly and stepped out, grabbing the fluffy towel to dry off with. After running a brush through her hair she wandered to the kitchen and brewed coffee. Shortly after pouring a cup Rodrick blundered into the room, shielding his eyes.

"Fuck its bright.....I feel like a vampire on a day pass," he groaned then poured himself a cup.

"Welcome to my world," Lyssa sighed and drank.

"No way in Hell could Paul be paying you enough to do that shit on a regular basis," Rodrick commented.

Lyssa didn't say anything to that as she poured herself more coffee.

"Baby, right now I kinda wish you had a housekeeper. I'm hungry and I know you are too but I don't feel like making breakfast," he said.

"I'll get somebody from the resturaunt to bring something," she replied.

A quick call and their breakfast would be delivered in half an hour. She'd checked her phone waiting for the coffee to brew but wasn't going to return Dannigan's call today. He didn't claim crisis so he could wait. The meal arrived and she tipped well for it. They ate then returned to bed and slept more.

~o~O~o~

The sun was low on the horizon when Rodrick rolled over and felt the bed empty again. He looked out the window and saw Lyssa on the deck looking out at the incoming waves.

Rodrick walked up behind and wrapped his arms around her. She made a purring sound when he pressed a kiss behind her ear then turned in his arms to face him.

"Now its our time, everything and everybody can wait til at least tomorrow," Lyssa said looking up into his eyes.

He picked her up and carried her over to the hammock and eased into it then set them into a gentle swinging.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking baby," he said softly.

"Anything in particular or you want me to guess all night," she asked.

"You....me.....us. The fashion show. The missions," he said.

"Yesterday, today and tomorrow," Lyssa remarked.

"Yeah, I mean. Well. Yeah," he vocally stumbled around.

Lyssa twisted around and looked at him now fully awake and alert.

"You've been thinking about our relationship," she said flatly.

"Yeah. A lot. Things have. You know; happened between us," he tried to continue, "We've done things. Together, we've done things."

Lyssa chuckled, "Yes. We've definitely done things Rod."

"Not just that Lyssa. I mean real things. Yeah we've had sex. Made love. But we've also fought together. Had good times, had bad times and we understand each other. You know where I'm coming from....I know where you're coming from. You know; THINGS," he still grasped for the right words.

Lyssa sat up and straddled him, "ok normally I'd tease you about the trouble your having but this is serious to you so its serious to me."

Rodrick closed his eyes for a minute then opened them again,"That's what I mean. We do the, you know...... communicating thing."

"Ok, you're really having a problem, just say it flat out Rod. Bluntly," Lyssa said.

"I've been thinking about," Rodrick paused in mid sentence, "love."

"Do you love me Rod," Lyssa asked.

He nodded slowly.

She leaned in close,"say the words. For you; for me. Say them Rodrick."

His mouth opened then closed then opened again.

Lyssa finally kissed him then looked intently, "you can say it Rod.....you need to say it as bad as I need to hear it."

Rodrick closed his eyes,took a breath and held it for a moment then opened them," I love you Lyssa Kordenay. I love you."

Lyssa looked at him for a moment," And I love you Rodrick Mason. With all my heart I love you."