The Beast Within (Book One of the Changes Series)

-Major Hardaway's POV-

There was always more work to fill any and every moment of every day. At least I was occupied with something that could lead somewhere. The current results of Dr. Chaplin’s test study looked promising.

The phone on my desk began its annoying ring again. I ignored it, doubting it was a person I would want to talk to, but the phone just kept ringing.

I cursed the caller underneath my breath, “Major Hardaway speaking.”

“Yes, Cynthia, why haven’t you returned any of my phone calls?”

I felt the vein in the middle of my forehead tighten. I would’ve rather heard the phone ring for an eternity before talking to this asshole. Anyone else would’ve addressed me as Major, or at least by my last name. But the blatant disrespect men like Wrenford displayed towards their “underlings,” especially women, was to be expected. At least he wasn’t the type that hid his disdain. I knew exactly where I stood with him.

“Hello Sir, I was just going over the results of the last trial, and I’m confident you and everyone in the Pentagon will be pleased over the findings. Dr. Chaplin is also positive we will be ready in the next six months as planned. There’s one specimen, in particular, Sgt. Killian. He seems to—”

“Dr. who? You made sure she had clearance to be on this case study, right?”

I felt a smile creep over my face. He knew damn well who Anastasiya was, and he most likely was aware of every success I’d achieved so far. I enjoyed the apparent displeasure my success caused him.

“Dr. Chaplin is our lead biochemist; she has been with us since the beginning of the second trials,” I confidently stated.

“Oh yes, now I remember; the doctor you had flown halfway around the world because the men we had weren’t good enough for you. Anyway, I thought Killian was from Navy special forces?”

My brows knitted. Where was Wrenford going with this?

“That’s correct, Sir.”

“There aren’t any Sergeants in the Navy. How can we trust that you can lead a team if you can’t even keep your subordinates’ ranks in mind?”

You nasty son-of-a—

Chief Petty Officer Killian is called Sergeant by his team. I can send his dossier to you again if you would like, Sir.”

“No, I called to let you know the new direction this little experiment is taking. We’ve received new intel, and we’re confident we have found the target’s headquarters.”

“That’s great news, Sir. I’ve heard similar speculations, and I’m positive my team can be assembled and ready to strike in five months instead of six.”

That should shut him up.

“Well, I’m afraid that isn’t good enough. We need the team up and going in a month. If the information we’ve gotten is correct, our window of opportunity is a small one.”

He couldn’t be serious.

I cleared my throat, “One month, Sir? That would be cutting the testing extremely short; I don’t think Dr. Chaplin can clear the team that early.”

“That wasn’t an option; it was an order. If you don’t have what it takes to get the job done, I’ll replace you with someone who does. So, do we have a problem, Major?”

Oh, now I was a Major. His condescending tone always found a way underneath my skin, but at the moment, it was more unbearable than usual. He had the nerve to threaten my position, even though he knows as well as I do, the operation was going nowhere fast before I came in and made it work.

Since my freshmen year at West Point, I’d been working smarter and harder than everyone else. I’d be damned if I let my victory fall into someone else’s lap, especially Wrenford’s chauvinistic ass.

“That won’t be necessary, Sir. I’ll relay the order and pick the top six from the bunch, and start training. They’ll be ready in the time allotted, Sir.”

“Good, that’s what I like to hear. Send me all of the latest studies and don’t forget to send me a list of the chosen ones. I’ll be in touch, but the next time I call, you need to promptly call me back. It’s rude not to. Keep up the good work, Cynthia.”

My clenched jaw was sealed, and I was finding it challenging to unhinge it to deliver an end to the conversation, but he had already hung up.

The sense of accomplishment I felt before the call was replaced by a numbing uncertainty. I hung up the receiver and tried to go back to the test results on my desk, but the words held no meaning. This was the first time I had felt doubt since I’d taken the experiment over. I didn’t feel it when I dropped all the test groups for a new batch of two hundred candidates. Not even when I fired five of the most intelligent military biochemists for one civilian bio-genius from Ukraine. At first, all the higher-ups were skeptical of my tactics, but in the end, no one could argue with the results.

I got a rush every time I went against the odds and came out on top, and I wasn’t done yet.

The computer came to life with a push of a button. I knew what file I was looking for. His picture flashed up on the screen.

“One down five to go.”

His stats were off the charts, but there was something else in the pit of my gut that let me know he was part of the puzzle. The leader… Sgt. Killian.