Jake Cogburn, code name Hondo, is the deadliest agent in the CIA's secret enhancement program. Designed to be the perfect killing machine, he's the program's greatest asset, and biggest secret, until the night he removes his tracker and disappears. Once he goes rogue, his handler and only friend, Mike Grant, has a big decision to make; hunt him down or delete all the information in his file, including his last known whereabouts.<br><br>Mike has always sensed there's something more to Jake than a mindless killer. He feels drawn to the secret assassin in a way he can't describe, and even though he's sworn an oath to his country, he feels his first loyalty is to his secret agent. Knowing there will be severe consequences, he does the best he can to assist Jake after he disappears, going rogue himself in order to help Jake get a head start.<br><br>But once he helps Jake, who will help him avoid the consequences of a rogue heart?

The Rogue Element

I’d sealed my own fate with that decision. At least I would die with a clear conscience.


What was Jake doing now? Did he still dream? Were those dreams becoming more intense, the colors more vibrant, the face clearer? Did those dreams lead him home? Where was Jake’s home? The files I deleted gave absolutely no clue of who Jake was, where he came from, why he was chosen for the program, or even what his name was. Of course I scoured every file I could find but I learned nothing about the man who still haunted my dreams and my waking moments.


I liked to imagine meeting him under different circumstances. Perhaps, if we had met at the academy or in a bar or even on an assignment, the courses of our lives would have changed and we could have avoided this outcome altogether. On the other hand, maybe it was for the best I never met him in a more personal setting. I would have certainly developed an infatuation.


Would have? Shit, son, you already have


Chapter 4