TheSatellite by Storm Savage Page A

reveal himself eventually and when he does, Flame will have to take him on alone. She can light one of those daggers and drive it through his evil heart.”
    “And just how is she supposed to get close enough to accomplish that?”
    “That is where her sisterhood training comes into play. Only a woman of her stature possesses enough discipline to resist his seduction long enough to see the fiery footprints and still take action. Ordinary women just don’t stand a chance.”
    “I’m not letting her enter a game of seduction! You’ll have to find another way.”
    Flame finally entered the conversation. “The decision is not yours to make,” she said in eerie calmness. “I’ve listened carefully to everything said over the past couple hours. I’ve considered the risks and searched my soul. This is the mission my ruler spoke of. I cannot back down.”
    Hatch blinked in surprise. “You’d go against my wishes?”
    “I’m sorry, but you don’t know everything. Some people are more in tune to the spiritual realm than others. You’re going to have to trust me.”
    He stared in disbelief. Sweat broke out on his skin as he tried to control his rising ire. “What exactly happened during your visit to that secret village of yours? You’ve changed during our trip.”
    “I cannot speak of matters concerning my sisterhood.” She stood up and began to peel off her clothes. “I’m going for a swim. I’ve been in these clothes all day, you coming?”
    He glanced at Ian, then at Raef who had been unusually silent for the most part. They shrugged in unison.
    “She never was shy,” Raef teased. “I think I’ll join her.”
    “Guess I better go for a dip, too. You’re not skinny dipping alone with my woman.”
    Raef laughed. “I won’t be alone with her. Look around. Everyone is naked and in the pool except us.”
    Hatch watched Flame dive into the deep end. Her body glided like silk rippling in the breeze as she moved through the clear water. Her natural beauty lacked nothing in comparison to the other women. They were thinner but most of them had fake breasts and other work done to fight the effects of age. Flame carried herself with supreme confidence among her peers, unfazed by the Hollywood beauties around her.
    He kept a close eye on Raef as he swam toward Flame. She turned and splashed playfully at him. He grabbed her waist then took her under water. Hatch stripped then jumped into the water after them.
    “So you decided to be brave and join us, huh?” She laughed joyfully upon coming up for air.
    Raef surfaced beside her. “You needed cooling off.” He smirked. “You’re way too uptight these days, old boy.”
    “Don’t mistake my mature character for lack of stamina. I could outride you any day, you and that pack of old goats if I wanted to. I’m not much older than you, I just act my age.”
    “No such thing.” Raef dipped below the surface again and took Flame with him.
    Hatch swam under to keep an eye on them. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her back up. She laughed before dunking him. The three of them frolicked in the water for several minutes trying to dunk each other.
    At last Flame came up, gasping for breath with a bright smile on her face. “All this testosterone is squelching my fun. I have a way to settle it.”
    “By all means, do tell,” Hatch stared at her suspiciously, wondering what she had in mind.
    “First one to swim over and back wins and we end this petty rivalry.” She looked expectantly from him to Raef.
    “What’s in it for us?” asked Raef.
    “The satisfaction of winning?”
    “Ah I need more incentive than that. How about the winner receives a kiss from you?”
    She glanced at Hatch. His jaw twitched, yet he couldn’t back down. His woman and his bandmate had just challenged him in two ways. He’d gone and opened his mouth to boast. Now he had to accept their little game or live in embarrassment.
    “Fine,” he muttered. “Never backed down to