Undercover, p.1
Undercover, page 1
UNDERCOVER
FEDERATION CHRONICLES
LAUREN DANE
UNDERCOVER
Copyright © 2022 Lauren Dane
Published by Lauren Dane Media Group, LLC
Cover Art Design © Croco Designs
All rights reserved.
This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher.
* * *
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental or has been used in a fictional manner.
CONTENTS
Federation Chronicles
Undercover
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
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FEDERATION CHRONICLES
PHANTOM CORPS
“Lauren Dane’s Federation Chronicles aren’t just great erotic science fiction, they are amazing science fiction. Period.”
—Tori MacAllister
This is a futuristic erotic romance series set in different 'Verses within the Federation and their enemy territory, the Imperial 'Verses. Each story is a standalone but there is a story arc spanning the books dealing with the unrest within more democratic Federation territory and a war brewing between the two sides.
The mini-series Phantom Corps focuses on the impending war with the Imperialists as an ultra shadowy special ops team is charged with doing whatever they have to prevent full scale war.
UNDERCOVER
RELENTLESS
Phantom Corps:
INSATIABLE
MESMERIZED
CAPTIVATED
UNDERCOVER
FEDERATION CHRONICLES, BOOK 1
“Undercover is a hot, sexy and action-packed piece of writing that will keep you glued to every page wondering what will happen next. A fabulous read!”
– Fresh Fiction
Ten years ago, Sera Ayers walked away from the love of her life and in an attempt to move on, she used her skill with languages and joined the Federated Universes armed forces to fight in the growing war against the Imperialists. These days, she’s far more used to giving orders instead of the ones she used to take from her ex and though she’s moved on, the scars on her battered heart remained.
And then her ex storms back into her life, requesting her presence for a covert special operations team. And part of her cover is pretending to be the official mistress of a supposedly indolent member of one of the founding families as they head undercover to strike at the heart of a conspiracy that could shift the power and weaken the ‘Verses.
Suddenly she’s having to fight against her deep, chemical attraction to Ash Walker while taking his orders as the leader of the team. At the same time as she’s exploring her connection to the third member of their team, Brandt Pela.
Ash and Brandt are each members of one of the Fifteen Families that settled the Federated Universes back when the first settlers used the Portals to resettle from a dying Earth. They’re pretending to be lazy, entitled boys when they’re hardened weapons against the Imperialist threat.
Ash knows he made a mistake all those years before when he chose his family’s needs over the wishes of his heart. He had a responsibility as the oldest son to make a political marriage, even at the expense of his heart. But that marriage was over and the assignment he’d been handed had provided him a way to win Sera back. Even if it was a far more difficult prospect than he’d imagined.
Every day Brandt gets to know Sera a little better and falls for her a little harder. Every excuse he thought of to keep her at arms’ length fell away as the strength of her heart calls to him in ways no one ever had before. Even Ash, who is far more than just Brandt’s friend.
Soon, the danger on the other side of the door can’t stop the passion that’s ignited between the three of them. As danger swirls all around, they have to keep their wits about them and continue their ruse, even as the three attempt to find a way to be together in the world where social connection and birthright are of paramount importance.
CHAPTER ONE
People scurried out of the way, keeping their eyes down as Sera Ayers stalked into the squat gray building on the outskirts of the city. Single-mindedly, she made her way through the myriad of nondescript hallways at the Federation United Forces. Anger coursed through her as she walked, her boots sounding a muffled thud, thud, thud on the laminate floors.
Halting at the sub-commander’s door, she slammed a fist into it several times. Her hand hurt but she felt a bit better for the small violence of it.
“Enter!”
She opened the door and went inside. Noting little more than the fact that two men were seated before Commander Yager’s desk, she opened her mouth to speak.
“Whoa! What’s so damned important that you nearly knocked my fucking door down?” Sub-Commander Yager bellowed before she could say anything.
“I just got your summons. You’ve reassigned me! That’s my problem! I’m the best you have out there. My team is good, damn it!” She shoved a hand through her hair, not caring that she probably looked like a curly porcupine.
“Sera,” Yager sighed, gesturing to the men in the chairs, “you have a new team. This is Commander Ash Walker and Para-Commander Brandt Pela.”
At the mention of the names, a roar of white noise filled her ears. In what felt like slow motion, Sera turned and looked into the face of a man she knew all too well many years before. “Ash.”
The palest blue eyes she’d ever seen gazed up at her. Eyes she’d given herself to as he was above her and below her. Eyes that had held her down as he’d bound and collared her to his will. Eyes that had haunted her for the last ten years.
It all crashed down on her, the world began to close in and she fought with iron will to hold back the impending breakdown. She fisted her hands to stop them from trembling.
“Sera, you’re looking well.” Ash smiled, his posture relaxed as if she’d been an old friend he hadn’t seen in years. It appeared he wasn’t affected at all by her presence. Prick.
“Ash?” Sera said sweetly.
He cocked his head. “Yes?”
“Fuck you,” she snarled, landing a solid right hook to his jaw.
“Halt. Gods damn it, Sera!” Yager jumped up and with the other man, held her back as Ash got up from the floor where she’d sent him sprawling. “What the seven hells is wrong with you?” Yager demanded, his face an inch from hers.
“Why, nothing now. I feel ever so much better.” She hoped her smile was as feral as she felt. At least her hands weren’t shaking anymore.
The other higher up who’d come with Ash barked out a laugh and stepped back, letting her go. “I’m Brandt. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Sera looked up at him. Where Ash’s beauty was harsh, savage, this man’s was elegant. He had almond shaped eyes of a deep brown so dark it was nearly black. The twist of his braid, dark and rich as his eyes, reached halfway down his back. Lush lips and perfect cheekbones, skin in a beautiful olive tone that made her want to reach out and touch him—delicious.
“Look, I have nothing against you, Para-Commander. But I am not going to work with Ash Walker. Not now, not ever. I have a team. We work very well together.”
“Stand down, Ayers!” Yager shoved her into a chair. “You want to do time in the brig for attacking a superior officer? I expect there’s an explanation for this. Like you’ve gone insane but you’ll be making amends for your behavior which you know is horribly out of line.”
“This won’t work, Sub-Commander. Just put me back with my team.” Sera tried not to sound as desperate as she felt.
“Sera, things with the Imperialists are getting worse. You know that. You see that every day.” Ash tried to stay reasonable, despite the pain in his jaw. He’d deserved the punch, he knew that. And at least the pain kept him focused on something other than how much she still affected him even a decade later.
“Why is he talking?” Sera jerked her head in his direction, speaking through clenched teeth.
“May I speak with you alone?” Ash asked through his own tightened jaw.
“No. You may not speak to me any way at all, at any time or in any place.” Still stubborn, that much hadn’t changed.
“What th
e hells is going on here? It’s obvious you know each other. Walker, this is something you should have disclosed to me up front.” Yager looked back and forth between Ash and Sera, clearly unhappy.
“If you’ll excuse me, SC Yager, I don’t need to disclose anything to you but what I determine you need to know,” Ash growled back.
Sera groaned and got up, heading for the door but Brandt stopped her. “Sorry about this, Lieutenant Ayers, but you’ll need to stay.”
Ash watched in slow motion as she centered herself, rocking back enough to give a side kick to Brandt’s knees and knocking him down. Using his surprise, she scrambled over him and out of the room.
“Sera! Damn it, woman, hold up!” Ash rushed to pursue her.
Even though he was agitated, he couldn’t help but admire her skill. She was quick and limber as she dodged people in the long hallways. Despite his calls for bystanders to stop her, they jumped out of the way and let her past, indicating a high level of respect for her along with a distrust of outsiders.
Still, he had nearly half a foot on her and his legs were longer. He caught up to her quickly, grabbing her and shoving her into a room near the front reception area. Slamming the door, he locked it with savage satisfaction. Taking a moment to gather himself, he turned toward her, keeping her only exit through him.
“Don’t try and run from me again, Sera. I’ve had enough of that from you. Just listen to what I have to say.” Ash used the toe of one of his boots to shove a chair in her direction.
“You’ve had enough running from me? That’s rich.” Sera remained standing. Arms crossed, feet apart and eyes narrowed, she looked fearsome and unapproachable.
“Things are bad right now. The Imperialists are gaining the upper hand along the frontier. If we lose any ‘Verse in this system, we could lose everything. If they gain a hold here,” he paused for a moment, “well, you know what could happen. I need your skills on my team.”
“I have a team. Find another person, Commander.”
He growled in her direction and ran a hand over his scalp but caught the way she watched his movement. Ahh, she remembered. Once, she loved to stroke her fingertips over the smooth skin of his scalp, tracing along the tribal tattoos marking his family and position that edged the back of his head. All wasn’t lost just yet.
“Commander? Now you honor my title? Not back before you decided to punch me and be otherwise insubordinate?”
“Commander, I do not wish to be on your team. Period. I do not wish to be in the same room with you. In the same universe with you. I want you to go away. Find. Another. Girl. I’m not interested.”
Gods she was magnificent when she was angry. He took in every part of her. The curve of her waist, the swell of her breasts. The way her bottom lip looked so juicy he always wanted to bite it—to savor her bit by bit. He’d forgotten just how long her legs were. Only Sera could make combat gear look sexy. And oh, how she did.
“I don’t need to find another girl, Sera. You’re what I need. What Brandt and I need. We’re heading through the Portal and we need your language skills. More than that, you’re an excellent fighter, good on your feet and smart.”
“I don’t want this! Why are you doing this to me?” She held herself totally erect, still, her arms stiff at her sides.
His heart constricted in his chest at the anguish in her tone. She was perfect for their team. He hadn’t lied about that. Brandt ran the names through the computer and hers was at the top of the list. Ash had been surprised to see how far she’d come in the last decade. When he’d been with Sera she’d been a translator in the diplomatic corps. There’d been talk of her joining the military corps briefly. She’d certainly had the linguistic and martial arts skills. But after they’d crashed and burned she’d left the diplomatic job and joined the military. She’d risen quickly and with a great deal of commendation. For a woman of an unranked family to reach lieutenant and to command her own team was nearly unheard of.
All of Ash’s feelings for Sera had rushed back as Brandt had briefed him. He hadn’t kept tabs on her because he couldn’t bear it. Couldn’t bear knowing she’d gotten married and had children with another man or something else like that. It’d been selfish, but he knew his flaws.
As he stood there, watching her anger and frustration, he knew he’d come not just for his team but to make her his again. Period. He may not have kept tabs on her but he hadn’t stopped thinking of her over the last ten years. No matter how hard he tried.
There’d never been anyone after her. Not like she was to him. There’d been women in his bed, yes. But no one held his heart because it belonged to the very angry woman across the room.
“I’m doing this because it’s what needs to be done. You took the oath, Sera. You joined the Corps and pledged to do what was best, above your own wishes. You said you’d do what was necessary to fight the Imperialists. We need you on our team. You’re wasted here. And I’m not asking. I’m ordering you to get your gear because we’re out of here in two turns.”
Sera stared at him, openmouthed, helpless fury riding her hard. She hated him just a bit less than she loved him and she loathed her weakness for him. Ash Walker made her vulnerable and she couldn’t afford it.
“I’d rather sit in the brig.”
He sighed. “You’d be wasted in the brig. I told you, we need you.” He pulled a comm unit out of his pocket. “Brandt, send in two guards to escort Lieutenant Ayers to her quarters to pack her gear. They are to stay with her and be sure she gets to our rendezvous point by the proper time.”
“Ash,” Brandt paused, “yes, sir. I’ll have them wait just outside the front doors. I’m on my way.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this.”
“Get over it, Sera. It was ten years ago.”
“I hate you. I hate the sight of you.” Sera pushed past him and out into the hall. She didn’t resist when Brandt took her arm and handed her over to the guards.
“Ayers, I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was a problem,” Yager said quietly, pausing to scowl at Brandt and Ash.
“It’s not your fault, sir. Please make sure my team gets a good leader.” Her people. She’d trained them. They’d been like her family and all she had left was to hope they’d be all right.
“Count on it.” Yager nodded, turned a glare on Ash and they watched as the guards led her out to their vehicle to transport her to her quarters.
Brandt looked over at Ash, his face lit by the yellowish street lamps they drove past. He could see how troubled his friend was—had been since Brandt had given her name to him.
“You okay?”
“I never should have let her go.”
“No. You shouldn’t have. But you had no other choice and you did what you had to do. You can’t change the past, Ash. The real question is about right now. What are you going to do?”
“I can’t believe I walked away from her to marry Kira. Brandt, you don’t understand, Sera was perfect. So strong. She led all day long. But at the end of her shift once we entered our quarters she let all that fall away. Gave herself to me. Gods, that pretty skin of hers turns the most alluring shade of pink. I can still see the marks on her ass and thighs after she’d been flogged or paddled.” Ash kept his eyes on the passing scenery so Brandt knew he was thinking back.
“Knock it off, Ash. You’re making me hard. And I can’t see how this is going to help. Are we bringing her on to help win the war or to get her back in your bed?” Brandt was troubled by the answer he’d give if he had a say. He liked the look of Sera Ayers and couldn’t deny her appeal after hearing Ash talk about her through the years.
