Iron rations, p.1
Iron Rations, page 1
IRON RATIONS
AN OPS PROTECTOR ROMANCE
GIULIA LAGOMARSINO
Copyright © 2024 by Giulia Lagomarsino
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover Design courtesy of T.E. Black Designs
www.teblackdesigns.com
Photography by Wander Aguiar
https://www.wanderbookclub.com/
Model: Andrew Biernat
Created with Vellum
For Oreo
CONTENTS
Cast of Characters
Iron Rations Meaning
1. Rafe
2. Nicholas
3. Raven
4. Nicholas
5. Raven
6. Nicholas
7. Raven
8. Nicholas
9. Raven
10. Nicholas
11. Raven
12. Nicholas
13. Raven
14. Nicholas
15. Raven
16. Nicholas
17. Raven
18. FNG
19. Raven
20. Nicholas
21. Raven
22. Nicholas
23. Raven
24. Nicholas
25. Raven
26. Nicholas
27. Raven
28. Nicholas
29. Raven
30. Nicholas
31. Cash
32. Raven
33. Nicholas
34. Raven
35. Rafe
36. Nicholas
37. Cash
38. Raven
Also by Giulia Lagomarsino
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Cash Owens- Owner of Owens Protective Services, sniper, and overall badass.
Eva James- deadly mistress of throwing knives and Cash’s…person
Team 1:
Jerrod Lockhart- Complete hardass, rule follower, and generally the guy considered to always have a stick up his ass.
Juliette Cassinelli- Junk food addict, avid runner, tiny human that can’t reach the top shelf. Oh, also a fabulous model who has stolen the heart of the unmovable Jerrod Lockhart.
Edward “Edu” Markinson- Hater of hospitals, slow drivers, and references to anything in the ’80s.
Brock “Rock” Patton- Wannabe model, obsessed with his looks and constantly combing his hair…A ferocious fighter for a man so obsessed with his looks. Also, as a side note—he can’t act for shit and hates the word ‘loins’.
Wren Crosby- Rich, self-obsessed heiress looking for the man of her dreams…i.e. someone with a lot of money who can take care of her for the rest of her life. Loves to look in the mirror, comb her hair, and obsess over facial products.
Scottie Dog Thacker- Tactical vomit expert, hater of flying planes, and always up for a good time. If you’re with him, have a barf bag in hand. Has never had even a sip of alcohol in his life.
Quinn Lake- Awesome geologist who is terrible at telling people no. She’s a runner—running from situations so she doesn’t have to grow a spine and deal with confrontation. Awesome at Battleship and Twister.
Team 2:
Marcus “IRIS” Slater- His name stands for I Require Intense Supervision. EOD expert that has taken up a new love…blowing up shit.
Jane Layne- IRIS’s sidekick in real life and in her mystery novels. Also known as Shayla Jacque. Absolutely despises technology, and goes so far as to use a typewriter to avoid it.
Mick “Slider” Jeffries- Not Slider from Top Gun. Sorry, ladies, I know he was gorgeous, but it’s not the same hottie.
Tate “Thumper” Parsons- No, not named for the adorable furry rabbit. Thumper got his nickname after losing a foot to an IED. Now using a robotic foot, he is probably the fastest person on the team.
Bree Wilton- Financial guru, killer of the boardroom, and newly appointed partner in her firm. Wilts under the sun. Hates hiking, dirt, bunnies, and generally all things that don’t come with a luxury sticker.
Team 3: Now known as The Ditty Boppers
Eli Brant- Fierce team leader, but will put you in your place with a good practical joke when necessary.
Sarah Williams- Pickpocket, crazy lady that reacts inappropriately in tense situations.
Red Warren- Funny, meat-eating, California-hating, rifle owner. Proud to take out the bad guys in any way possible.
Zoe Thacker- Screenwriting badass that hates guns, refuses to eat meat, but loves a good gunfight.
Bradford Kavanaugh- Son of a senator, terrified of mummies, scarabs, and basically anything from ancient Egypt. Loves practical jokes, except when they’re about him.
IT Department:
Rae Dennon- Sarcastic, witty, badass woman. Terrified of nothing, will take down any man with little effort, and has an intense feud with Dash.
Duke Mason- The mechanic. Sexy, dirty, and the man every woman wants. His hands alone could have a story written about them and all the things they can do. Not afraid to have his ass kicked by Rae.
Dash- Awesome with computers and a skilled fighter. Constantly being compared to Rae, the sexier version of him. Still trying to convince Fox he’s just as awesome.
Laura Woods- Hot teacher with a thing for Dash. But waiting in the wings is the sexy roughneck Andrew. He’s just as lethal as a mechanic. But who will she choose?
Black Ops Team: Also known as The Three Js
Jack Cox- Team leader who loves aviator sunglasses as much as a good gunfight. Willing to take one for the team as long as the mission is long and hard…just like his johnson.
Skylar West: Neighbor to the grouchy Jack McClain. Mother to Parker, the son of notorious arms dealer...the son of a notorious arms dealer: Rico Gelbero. Desperate to break free from the confines of her little house, she’s willing to do anything to leave Texas in the dust.
Johnny Wood- Dangerous cowboy, loyal to Rafe—a man that would kill his own mother if it finished the job. Respects a man willing to get the job done.
Tahlia James- Mad scientist…well, coroner. Desperate for the truth and willing to do anything to get those answers, as long as it doesn’t include enclosed spaces. Not afraid of Johnny and his sexy body.
Jason Long- Number 3 of the baddies. Dangerous and dark, always full of threatening wisdom. Stay out of his way.
The Odd Squad:
New Guy- Also known as FNG- Doesn’t have a death wish, but firmly believes he can never be killed. Willing to take horrible risks to prove he’s unstoppable. Medic and smart as a whip, but also one of the most ridiculous men you’ve ever met.
Honey- Wife of FNG. Named for her honey scent and the way she sticks with FNG. Oh, also the daughter of a dangerous cartel leader.
Fox- Works in training, has an undeniable fascination with throwing knives, and loves singing show tunes…sometimes a little too much!
Anna- Gorgeous Hollywood star who has captured Fox’s twisted heart. Her looks aren’t nearly as deadly as her right hook.
Max Huxley: Former military. Licensed pilot. Rivals Scottie Dog’s amazing flight skills. Has a bit of a drinking problem and loves his pink Hawaiian shirts and straw hat. Don’t even think of taking his cigar from him.
Christa Corvin- The preacher’s daughter who is looking to break out into the world as something other than the good girl in church. Enter Max with his constant drunken state, filthy cigars, and dirty mouth. What could possibly go wrong?
The Other Guys:
Jones- Spotter for Cash during their military days, with a bad attitude since losing the use of his leg. Like you really need one of those.
Rafe- Evildoer posing as the good guy. Or is it the other way around? Dangerous antihero with not a single redeeming quality who stays hidden in the shadows. Unknown relationship to Cash.
Liberty- Pretty ballerina with hidden talents. Obsessed with Rafe and willing to sacrifice anything to be with him. Or is she???
Nicholas Tate: Former SEAL who worked with Fox. Still a mystery, but currently works at OPS, though he can’t seem to find his place. Must be crazy to be friends with Fox.
Raven: Cat burglar with a slight case of OCD. Kicks ass, beautiful, and witty—this is one woman you don’t want to meet on a dark rooftop!
IKE- Roguishly handsome with a penchant for cigarettes, action, and a writer lady named Jane. He moves in the shadows, taking only the dangerous jobs. He’s the man nobody wants to be compared to. Well, him and a mechanic.
The Young Squad:
Asher White: This suit-wearing enigma has a thing for dangerous jobs, fast women, and…trains. Yes, you heard that right! Don’t come between a man and his love of locomotives.
Jade Buchanan- The wife of the elusive Asher. Forced into an arranged marriage by her power-hungry father, she suffers from terrible nightmares, longing to leave this horrible life behind. Died when she crashed a minivan into a tree.
Chase Carter: Tattooed badass with a bullring in his nose. His wacky personality is nearly as irritating as his love of playing Monopoly.
Mercy Monroe- Awesome doctor with a sarcastic sense of humor and fierce will to live life to the fullest. As with the other women of OPS, nothing can keep her down.
Patrick Cook: This is no ordinary gigolo. Hang onto your hats ladies! You’re not just getting a striptease with this stud!
IRON RATIONS MEANING
; Iron Rations Origins:
The name 'Iron Ration' came from the tinned, boiled beef to distinguish the emergency supplies from fresh rations.
OPS Meaning:
The strength of a man in desperate times.
1
RAFE
“Move into position,” I said through comms.
“On the way,” Libby replied.
I’d become used to working alongside her. We moved as one, always knowing what the other would do in any situation. It wasn’t the same as working with Johnny, Jack, and Jason. While it was ideal to go out on missions with them, they had settled down and switched their priorities.
Although, I guess I technically set that in motion when I cut them loose.
The only thing I had to worry about with Libby was if she went off the rails and did something crazy, which I had a bad feeling was about to happen.
“Stick to the plan.”
“What else would I do?” she huffed as I watched through my binoculars as she made her way into the high-rise.
“That’s what I’m worried about.”
“Since when are you worried about anything?”
Since time was running out. But I couldn’t tell her that. I knew this would all come crashing down soon. I had tried to find a way in—to come up with some solution that would get me what I needed—but we were at the tipping point where I would no longer be able to put off the inevitable. I knew what I had to do, and when that time came, I wouldn’t be able to tell Libby a single part of my plan. She would try to stop me, and I would rather die than let this go on a minute longer than I had to.
Of course, I would get my wish in the end. It was all part of the bigger plan.
“Do you still have eyes on Raven?”
I swung my gaze over to where Raven was perched on the opposite rooftop. She was watching the target while Libby moved in for the kill.
“Roger that. She’s in position.”
“I’m heading up now.”
I heard the ding of the elevator as she got on, then everything went quiet. My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it, concentrating on the job at hand. But when it didn’t stop, I pulled it out. It was the clinic.
“Yeah?”
“Rafe, we have a problem.”
I hated those words. “What happened?”
“The body…it’s gone.”
“What do you mean it’s gone? A body doesn’t just get up and walk away.”
Silence met me on the other end of the line. “She woke up.”
I stood, grabbing my bag. “When?”
“This morning. We weren’t sure…it was only briefly. I was going to call you if she woke again.”
“Lock down the facility. No one moves until I get there.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And I want the security feed ready for me. If I find out anyone’s tampered with it, they’ll have to deal with me.”
“Of course.”
I ended the call and switched back to comms. “Abort mission.”
“What? I’m about to go in,” Libby hissed.
“Negative. We’ve got a problem.”
2
NICHOLAS
“Tate! Hey, Tate!” Fox shouted behind me. He’d been chasing me around the OPS building for the past two weeks, trying to get me to go on a double date with him.
I ignored him and kept walking. The last thing I wanted was to be set up with anyone. I rounded the corner and ran for the end of the hallway, hoping I could lose him in the tunnels. The underground building was filled with passages that would confuse the hell out even the people who built this silo.
I was just about to round another corner when he popped out in front of me with a grin on his face. “Gotcha! Man, it was like you were trying to lose me.”
“Yeah, how about that,” I muttered.
“But you can’t. I know this place like the back of my hand.”
“That’s a shame.”
“No, it’s really not,” he said, acting like he was confused.
He couldn’t pull this shit with me. I worked with him long enough to know that he liked it when people thought he was stupid. It fed into his persona.
“I have someplace to be.”
“Yeah, the garage. I heard you telling Cash, but you’re going the wrong way.”
“I was taking the long way.”
He tossed his head back and laughed. “Man, you crack me up.”
There was absolutely nothing funny about what I said, but this was typical Fox. I thought after I was discharged from the military that I could live a normal life. I had a good job and only talked to him when I absolutely had to. And then he changed my world with one phone call. The darkness he fed off had seeped into me on a daily basis since my return. I tried to ignore it, but he pulled it out of me no matter how hard I tried to resist.
I shoved past him and kept walking, hearing his footsteps slap the concrete behind me. “Fox, I can go to the garage on my own.”
“Oh, I know. I’m just waiting for you to say yes to the blind date I have set up.”
“No.”
“Why not? She’s great.”
“You actually know her?”
“Yes.”
“Fox, give me one good reason I would want to go out with this woman.”
“Well, she’s depressing as hell. She thinks the world is going to end at any moment. Although, I have to agree with some of the things she says.”
I stopped and spun around. “Lee? The woman Brock was sleeping with?”
“How did you know?” he grinned.
“Not happening.”
“Why not?”
“Because she likes to tie up her men. I’m not into that.”
“Have you ever tried it?”
“No, and I’m not going to. I like to be in charge in the bedroom.”
He scoffed at my dismissal as I continued to the elevator. Now that he was following me and I couldn’t shake him, there was no point in taking the long way out of the building.
“I wish you would have an open mind about this. She’s really hot.”
“Don’t let Anna hear you say that.”
“No, hot for you. I’m married. I don’t look at another woman twice.”
The elevator dinged and I stepped off on the ground level, ignoring the smirk Cash shot me as I walked past his office. He probably sent Fox after me just to piss me off.
“So, I made reservations at the Italian place in town.”
“You don’t need reservations to get in there.”
“No, but it’s harder for you to back out if there’s a reservation,” he grinned.
“Well, you can cancel it. I won’t be there.”
I noticed he was paying close attention to my arms, and then he started swinging them in time with mine.
“What are you doing?”
“What are you talking about?” he asked, his eyes never leaving my arms.
“You’re mimicking the swing of my arms.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Why are you doing it?”
“Because I want to walk like you.”
“Why would you want to walk like me?”
“You have a strut about you. I like it.”
I wasn’t buying it. He was doing something else and I needed to find out what that was. I stopped and faced him. “What the fuck are you really doing?”
He rolled his eyes, heaving a big sigh. “If you must know, I’m learning your tells and the way you walk.”
“Why?”
“Because I like you?”
“Why are you really doing it?”
“In case you ever disappear,” he said immediately. “I need to be able to mimic you at a moment’s notice.”
“Why would I disappear?”
“It happens all the time. You know, even The Kamau isn’t immune to the underdealings of our world.”
“That’s not a word.”
“I just made it one.”
“Fox, I need you to listen to me.”
“Oh, gotcha,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at me intently.
“I’m not going to disappear.”
“Right, but if you did—”
“I’m not.”
“But if you did—”
