Free Saffron by Taige Crenshaw and Aliyah Burke Page A

head.
    Back at camp, he waved off Shade’s questioning look and ducked into his room. Shit! The place still smelt like her and it made him want her even more. With a muttered curse, he grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder then headed back out.
    “Where are you going?” Flare asked.
    “Patrol. There are guys out there who deserve to be here at the celebration.”
    He walked away before Flare could comment again. Tossing his bag in the Jeep, he swung in and drove away in a flurry of dust and spinning tyres. Kenric drove to the farthest outpost and sent the ones there back to camp.
    In the back of the Jeep, he swung one leg as it hung over the open tailgate. His guns were in their holsters and he had a rifle across his lap. The radio at his side was very low. He sighed and continued to sweep the area with his gaze. The moon was too bright to use an infrared camera, so that and the computer were stowed.
    Sitting there, he had memories of patrol in the Middle East. There were vast differences, but also some similarities. Both places were deadly and if you dropped your guard at any moment it could very well be your last. But they were also beautiful. A slight smile lifted his lips as he gazed around the untamed land of Somalia.
    As the hours passed, Kenric thought about what Saffron had told him. “Qetesh,” The word sounded much less graceful off his lips than it had hers. Who the fuck was Qetesh?
    She’d been cold when she’d spouted off that crap about humans being accepting a lie, but, beneath that, he’d heard hurt. And that gave him some hope. For what, he wasn’t sure, because, as much as he wanted to go hash things out with her, he had a job to do. And work came first.
    So he stayed there, alternating between being furious that she’d come with the intention of possibly killing him and grateful she hadn’t. His eyes were grainy and he was tired when his relief arrived. It was Shade.
    “Morning, Boss.”
    “Shade,” he said with a nod of his head.
    “Everything go okay last night?”
    He shrugged. “Yes. Why do you ask? I didn’t radio in for any help.”
    “No reason,” he said, his expression smoothing out.
    “What’s going on?”
    “Nothing. Flare just said he saw Saffron packing a bag. We thought maybe she headed out here.”
    She’d left? More of that annoying hurt feeling spread through him. “Nope, she’s not out here. Only company I had last night was the wildlife.”
    “Okay. Oh, Kade called and is coming in with the extra guys. He’s arriving at the compound and will get a ride out to this site.”
    “Great. Stay sharp, Shade.” How am I supposed to tell my boss his brother is dead?
    A mocking grin filled his friend’s dark face. “Always do, Boss. I always do.”
    Kenric waved as he drove off, the morning air helping to revive him. He radioed the site and informed them he was heading back to the compound. Sure enough, there was a ton of hustle and bustle when he parked his Jeep and jumped out, rifle in hand. A helicopter sat off to one side.
    Waving at a few men, he strode to the building and pushed in. The cool interior made him sigh in pleasure. Heading to the bathroom, he stopped to splash some water on his face then struck out to find the boss.
    Kade had positioned himself in the office Kenric had been in when he’d first met Saffron. Knocking on the door, he waited for the ‘Enter’ before going in. His gaze landed on the man who’d hired him right out of the military.
    Kade Grimmel was someone who got others to take notice of him. Tall and fit, he had hard, sharp features. His tanned skin, black hair and vivid green eyes never had a problem attracting women but, as far as Kenric knew, the man rarely dated. He was all about his work.
    “Kenric. Come on in here and sit down.”
    “Hi, Kade,” he said, making his way to a chair.
    “Just in off patrol?”
    “Yes.”
    “Thought so. Congratulations on getting the pocket. We’re setting up to begin pumping it