Military intelligence officer Lieutenant Barb Carolus is ordered to investigate Colonel Locke, a rogue officer suspected of selling military weapons on the black market. Colonel Locke is from Barb’s home planet and she knows exposing his crimes will tarnish the reputation of those rare people like her who’ve escaped the poverty and gangs of their home world to become officers. But orders are orders and she always does her duty.<br><br>For the mission she’s teamed with the unconventional -- and in Barb’s opinion, entirely unprofessional -- undercover agent Taya Borovsky. Working with Taya will test Barb’s by the book approach to the limits, especially when attraction overcomes her irritation with Taya. Bitter about upholding standards nobody else does, Barb gives in to her desires.<br><br>When the mission goes bad, Barb and Taya are on the run and outgunned. To survive, Barb must learn from Taya’s unconventional methods and improvise a solution to complete her mission and save their lives.

Loose Cannon

“Keep an eye on the instruments.” Taya headed out to the tiny nook referred to as a galley and returned a few minutes later with two glass mugs full of hot black tea. “Sugar?” She pulled some paper sachets from her pocket.


Barb did usually enjoy sugar in her tea—it had been such a rare treat back home—but the sachets looked as if they’d been in Taya’s pocket for a month. “Thank you, no.”


Taya shrugged, tore open about four of the packs, spilling sugar on her lap. She dumped what she hadn’t spilled into her tea and brushed the rest off her knees to the floor. She lounged back in her chair, looking as if she was preparing for a nap.


“We should discuss our plans,” Barb said. “Explain to me how you intend to get Locke to the meet.”


Taya gave her a narrow look. “Listen, Barbie, let’s be clear. This is mymission. I’ve been working on the contact for a month. You’re not going to swan in here and take over.”


“That’s Barb. And there’s no need to be hostile.”


Chapter 3