Special Forces: Operation Alpha
Counterstrike Book 5

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Cara Carnes

She fights for those who can’t fight back…

Jennifer Davenport vowed to never back down from a fight. Raised in a violent home, she’d survived her share of nightmares and monsters lurking in the shadows. She’s made it her life mission to help all of Counterstrike’s clients start a new life. Her former Delta force brothers get them out, and she paves the way to a better future. Easy, right?

Yeah, no. She’s used to threats, but when they turn deadly, she finds herself turning to mysterious, sexy leader of the local MC. The Scythe MC’s President is everything she shouldn’t want yet can’t resist.

Banner “Razor” Nilon left military service wrongly branded as “dishonorably discharged.” Rather than walk away, he chose to fight within the shadows. The Scythe MC was formed for one purpose: redemption. The goal was simple: operate off the radar and prove he and his club brothers were all innocent.

But the club hit Counterstrike’s radar in a big way and the beautiful, brilliant attorney has shaken his entire world up. Walking away when she’s in trouble isn’t possible, especially when the little spitfire defends his club. Yeah, taking on her war to find whoever wants to kill her might not be the smartest plan, but he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe—even if it means playing nicely with her protective, billionaire do-gooder big brothers and all their former military operatives. They may not always play by the rules, but Razor’s never met a rule he wouldn’t break.

Banner “Razor” Nilon is President of the Scythe MC, the members are all former military that had in one way or an other been forced out due to political circumstances beyond their control.

When we first meet Razor he’s with his VP Frenzy and his SoA Sandman meeting with Counterstrike’s Ethan, Milo and Jen at Cholo’s restaurant. While the Scythes have kept under the radar, they are also cleaning up the gangs in the area with new rules about what they can and cannot do. If they don’t like it they can leave or face the consequences.

Counterstrike wants to know why they are here and unfortunately even Tex can’t smooth over the tension. The is the first time we see Jen’s reaction to the bad boy biker.

We get to see Jen’s true colors when the Scythes save the day after many Counterstrike personnel have testified in the Guerillo case. The AG wants all the media coverage he can get totally unaware of the danger he’s putting the others in. Jen was truly impressive as she gets the Scythe’s out of handcuffs.

It’s later on as some of those waves have settled that Counterstrike finds itself in need of more operatives. Women having to wait too long for extraction putting them even more at risk. Jen decides to take things in her own hands and goes to meet with Razor alone on his turf.

This is just one of my favorite scenes.

Too many people needed their help and wouldn’t get it. She clutched the two folders she’d put together as she made her way toward the back of the small club. If Cholo was right, the higher ups in the Scythes frequented this establishment.

This is so stupid.

Yep. Ethan and Milo would kick her ass if they found out she was here, but someone needed to help these two women. If Counterstrike didn’t have the time, then maybe the Scythes would.

Face it. You just wanted an excuse to see Razor again.

Ugh. She couldn’t deny that part of her brain. She’d become a bit obsessed with the sexy biker. He exuded the same lethal badass vibes as the Counterstrike operatives but, unlike them, he made her entire body heat with an awareness she hadn’t felt in ages. When he looked at her, she felt…

Exposed.

No, she felt like a woman, one stripped bare of her legal persona and overprotective big brother armor. Razor didn’t strike her as a man who’d shy away from going after what he wanted and, unless she’d read him entirely wrong the few times their paths had crossed, he wanted her.

Feminine laughter echoed from the darkened corner she approached. Dread curdled her bravery a few beats. This was a terrible idea. Turn around. Soft shafts of life fractured the darkness when she took another step forward. Long, red hair bobbed up and down as a large hand gripped the curly mass.

“Looking to join in or take her place?” The husky whisper against her ear jolted her half a step forward. Her arms scissored out to prevent a fall, but a firm grip steadied her at the waist. “Sorry, beauty. Couldn’t resist.” A husky sigh rushed warm heat against the shell of her ear. Tingles ignited across her skin. “Fuck, you smell good.”

“Razor.” Her back pressed against a hard chest. “Sorry. They told me you were in the back.”

“Someone’s got a sense of humor. They won’t ever give my location away, but they will send wayward little lambs to my VP or SoA.” Amusement filled his voice as his hand stroked along her hip. “You here looking for an adventure? I doubt your brothers would approve of you dirtying yourself by showing up here all alone.”

Jen gulped. Getting dirtied up sounded a bit fun, thrilling even. “You make that sound like a bad idea.”

“Oh, it isn’t.” He chuckled, bathing the heated skin along her ear with another bout of breath once more. “I’m sure it would be one hell of a ride.”

Images assailed her as the visual cue “ride” took on a life of its own. This wasn’t why she’d come here, but maybe it should’ve been. Face it, Jen. You wanted to see the dirty-minded biker again. Alone. “We need to talk.”

“Is that right?” He huffed and loosened his grip. “If that’s what you want.”

She wanted far more than talk but took a steadying breath and turned to face Razor. Scruff covered his masculine jaw, adding another layer of don’t-fuck-with-me to his already lethal vibe. Would the scratchy whiskers feel good against her skin?

“Keep looking at me like that and we’ll have a problem,” he warned. “There’s talk, and then there’s talk, beauty. You aren’t ready for the kind of conversation I want to have.”

Oh, she was. So ready.

“Come on, little lamb. Let’s go into my lair.” He took her hand. Warmth seeped into her skin as he guided her to an empty booth across from the one the man and the redhead occupied.

Razor steered her into the booth, facing her away from the couple. Amusement broadened his full lips into a grin when their gazes locked. “What can I get you? Whatever you want.”

Jen shivered at the implication and squeezed her thighs together. Focus. Razor reached over the narrow table and ran his hands through her hair, which had lost most of its curl during the day. Warmth spread through her, pooling between her legs as his fingertips glided from the tips of her hair and across to the button just above her cleavage.

Intensity resonated within his dark gaze as he flicked it open. She leaned forward into the feather soft contact as he traced along the exposed skin. Stroking up and down a couple times. His gaze wandered to the newly opened area. Although it was still a modest amount of skin, the fact her cleavage now showed just enough to be scandalous in a work environment quickened her pulse.

“That’s better.” He leaned back in the booth. “What can I do for you?”

So much. Jen shifted against the leather bench. “We have more cases than we can work right now. A few medium priority ones have fallen through the cracks.” She shoved the two folders toward him. “I think these are two the Scythes could handle, if you’re willing.”

She intentionally referenced the Scythes, needing the distance it offered. It’d be too simple to tumble into his sexy gaze and let the sexual attraction between them take over.

Amusement glinted across his handsome face a moment. He opened the first folder. Jaw clinched, he flicked through the papers. “Fuck.” Leaning forward, he slammed the folder shut, then went to the next. “Define handle. My idea of dealing with these fuckwits probably won’t match Counterstrike’s.”

Jen suspected it would. Ethan and Milo never messed around when it came to abusers. None of the operatives did, which was why she was always one of their first calls after they’d addressed an issue. It’d taken a few trips to the county jail to bail a few of them out to find the acceptable line. They couldn’t help people in need if they were in lockup, after all.

“As long as they make the first strike and do enough damage to be photographed afterward, I can explain away reasonable damage on an operative’s part,” she explained. “You are all highly trained. Bruising and some blood are well within the limits. Broken bones and anything requiring a trip to the emergency room before they’re hauled into jail, not so much.”

His mouth upturned into a half-grin. “I’m thinking you could explain away a lot.”

“I can and I have.” She motioned toward the files. “These two women are wanting assistance relocating. They both have family in the area, so this is more of an escort detail than a problematic extraction.”

“The jargon is cute coming from you.”

Cute? She wrestled with the word because it was the last thing she wanted to be when around Razor. Her gaze darted toward the couple still writhing within the shadows. “Travis and the other new operatives he took down to The Arsenal should be returning in a few days. I can see if they can handle these two requests.”

“We’ll handle them. That’ll free them up to take on the other cases you’ve likely set aside for them.” His lips thinned. “How long’s the waiting time between initial contact and action?”

Too long. Even a few hours was too many in Jen’s opinion. “It’s improving. Forty-eight hours if there’s only a minimal threat level. We’re working on securing more safe houses. Anyone in immediate danger is taken to one upon leaving our office. We don’t take risks with their lives.”

“Even though you’re covered over with cases. Tell me you don’t participate in these removals.”

“On occasion I do,” she said. “Never alone, though. I can handle myself.”

“I’m sure you can.” His gaze swept across her. “You shouldn’t have to, though.” He tapped the files and let out an ear-piercing whistle. A wince flashed across his face. “Sorry, should’ve warned you.”

He held the files up as the shadow in the booth across the way surfaced. Frenzy glanced down at her, then directed his attention to the folders.

“Get with Sandman. Organize two groups, one for each file. Roll out in an hour,” Razor ordered. “Make contact with them first.”

Frenzy nodded. He perused each folder’s contents a few moments. His lips thinned.

“Nothing broken. No need for emergency rooms. No physical contact unless they attack first.” Razor glanced up at Frenzy. “Assign a prospect to each final location for forty-eight hours afterward. Phone me once each woman is secured.”

“On it. Gladly.” Frenzy charged through the bar, motioning to tables of Scythes as he went.

“You’ve done this before,” Jen commented. “Or something similar.” The club members reacted too calmly, with precision. They filed out of the bar in an organized fashion, tossing money on the tabletops as they departed.

“We adapt quickly.” He set both hands palms down on the tabletop. “Do your brothers know you’re here?”

“No, but it was the right thing to do.”

“It was.” He leaned forward. “You have any more, let me know. Give me your phone.”

Jen’s hand shook slightly as she offered her phone. He smirked and held it up toward her so it would open with her facial scan. Then he made himself at home as he leaned back and tapped away. Awareness zinged through her as she watched him. His cell chimed. He put hers in her hand, then pulled his out and repeated the process. Hers chimed.

“Call me anytime, beauty.”

Jen nodded. “Thank you.” She stood, pausing long enough for her legs to not wobble. “Have a good night, Razor.”
Cara Carnes. Fighting For Jen (Special Force: Operation Alpha): Counterstrike, Book 5 (Kindle Locations 320-393). Aces Press, LLC.

Things really heat up when a client dies trying to give her husband another chance leaving her son under Counterstrike’s protection.

There’s something weird with the grandparents and the father is charged with murder and Jen becomes even more protective of the child. The Scythe’s are helping with protection and when we least expect it things start to go boom!

I love this series and the slow burn between Jen and Razor is fun to read. There’s plenty of action and we get some awesome surprises as the Arsenal gets involved.

I can’t wait to see what’s next in this series.

5 Contented Purrs for Cara!

Cara Carnes

Born in small-town Texas, Cara Carnes was a princess, a pirate, fashion model, actress, rock star and Jon Bon Jovi’s wife all before the age of 13. In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she’s not cemented to her chair, Cara loves traveling, photography and reading.