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

“Because I can hold my liquor,” Barb said with dignity, trying to ignore the fact her head was spinning a bit and the room felt strangely muffled and a long way off. “Also, you made me eat a mountain of noodles, which probably soaked it up.”


“I ate a mountain of noodles, too, and I’m sloshed.”


“Yes, but you were probably still half-drunk from the night before.” Barb took off her jacket and tossed it on the back of a chair. Taya grabbed it and started going through the pockets. “What are you doing?”


“You’ve got blunters, haven’t you? That’s why you’re not drunk.”


“I certainly have not. And I resent the accusation.” Taya still looked at her suspiciously. Barb sighed and turned the pockets of her pants inside out. Empty. “There. Nothing.”


“What, you think I have a secret pocket in my bra, maybe?”


“You don’t? They sent you in poorly equipped for this job.”


“You have a secret pocket in your bra?”


Chapter 12