Chapter 4
Hunter Rhodes stood outside the bunker, doing something he rarely did.
He was waiting.
Hunter had met with Lewis several times in the years before the man’s death, and Lewis had informed him that Elaine would be resistant to his help. The older man would always give a wistful smile when he spoke of how stubborn and cynical his daughter was. Perhaps that was the only trajectory her life could have, being that she was bred to save the world. A daunting task to put on the woman’s slim shoulders.
But Lewis had also spoken of her kindness and loyalty, her intelligence and diligence in solving the conundrum that was time travel. Hunter was determined to help her accomplish the task, for he firmly believed his future was now inexorably tied with hers.
“No sightings of any New Establishment soldiers or spies within forty miles, sir,” his second-in-command said, interrupting his thoughts. “Should we set up camp?”
“Let’s wait until Dr. Randolph gives us the okay, Scott,” Hunter said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Although we could overpower her in minutes, I want this to stay friendly. Let’s give her the appearance of control, if nothing else.”
“Aye,” Scott said. “I’ll inform the troops.”
“Thanks,” Hunter muttered, his gaze traveling to the wide metal entrance of the hub, which creaked as it was pulled open. Elaine walked up the stairs, chin thrust high, spine straighter than a line drawn against a wooden ruler. Hunter’s lips curved into a smile of admiration. She was a tough cookie—something he was grateful for. Weak souls didn’t make it far in this world.
She came to stand before him, tall and strong. Hunter guessed her eyes would’ve been categorized as hazel, but the swirling colors within the amber hue made them so much more. They reminded him of the honey-colored sap that used to ooze from the maple trees on his grandfather’s farm, all those decades ago when he was a child. Flecks of dark yellow sliced through the mahogany, causing Hunter to wonder if he’d ever seen the same combination in another’s eyes. It was doubtful. They were absolutely stunning.
“I have confirmed that you knew my father,” she said, the slight antagonism in her tone reminding him to stay calm so he wouldn’t stir her ire. “He says that you want something from me in return for your protection. We have a lot to discuss. I’m prepared to invite you inside.”
“Thank you—”
“But,” she said, lifting a finger as she interrupted him, “I need to make one thing completely clear. I am the leader of this hub, Captain. I give the orders, and you report to me. A team cannot function adequately when there are two commanders. I need your allegiance and declaration that you accept these terms. If not, we are at an impasse, and you and your soldiers can get off my land.”
Hunter pulled the stack of toothpicks from his pocket and thrust one between his teeth, chewing as he contemplated her. He’d picked up the habit years ago when he stopped smoking. Cigarettes from unknown vendors were often filled with nefarious substances and he’d finally beaten the horrid addiction, but the oral fixation never ceased.
“That’s an uncivilized habit,” Elaine said, face scrunching with disgust.
Hunter breathed a laugh. “We don’t all grow up as princesses of fancy scientific hubs. Sorry to disappoint you, duchess.”
Those glorious eyes narrowed, causing his smile to deepen. Hunter had a feeling sparring with the intractable woman was going to be a hundred shades of fun. How interesting. He hadn’t had fun in so long. An image breezed through his mind of smaller hands in his, clutching, as soft, feminine laughter permeated the air…
Pushing the thought away, Hunter inhaled a deep breath. “As you know, my men are watching, Lainey. I can’t concede command to you. It would usurp the entire chain of command in our unit.”
He held up a hand when she opened her mouth to argue. “But,” he said, giving her a glare, “I will concede that you are the leader of this hub. We are here to protect you and ensure you solve time travel. We serve at your discretion. Now, if that’s settled, I’d really like to sit down and discuss our intel with you. The New Establishment has finally turned their sights on the hubs. Lewis was terrified this would eventually happen.”
Her mahogany eyebrows drew together, full although she didn’t seem to be wearing a stitch of makeup. “We have declared neutrality and are so far off the grid that it’s ensured our safety so far.”
“There are many private channels and enterprises you’re not aware of, Lainey. And if I recall, the Australian hub is also quite remote. The New Establishment craves power and they’ll stop at nothing to get it, hence our presence here.” He gestured toward his men, all watching their interplay as they each struggled to define the terms of their alliance.
Growing frustrated at her continued silence, Hunter felt his tone grow brisk as he said, “Look, lady, I’m here because of a commitment I made to your father—”
“And because you want something from me in return,” she said, arching a brow.
“And because I want something from you in return,” he conceded. “But I’m not a saint. If you’re going to be this antagonistic during our…acquaintance, I’ll just pack up my men and leave. Let’s see how you do when Eli shows up on your doorstep and my men are gone. Is that what you want?”
The woman’s shiver was visible at the mention of Eli Hernandez. The leader of the New Establishment on the Eastern American Isle had a reputation for being cold and unyielding. A tyrant who would stop at nothing to become a supreme dictator and oppressor.
Sighing deeply, Lainey rubbed her forehead. “I welcome your protection and agree to your terms. You serve at my discretion, so that we can achieve our common goal.”
His grin was back, causing Hunter to wonder if he’d smiled this much in a continuous loop…ever? Something about the prickly woman amused him. Extending his hand, he offered it to her. “Should we make it official?” he asked.
Her gaze was wary as she contemplated his hand. Eventually, she slid her palm over his, the smooth flesh a contrast to his callused skin. As they shook, their grips firm and determined, Hunter was overcome with the feeling this moment would turn out to be one of the most momentous of his life. He’d always been a strong believer in fate and understood the significance of great moments of importance.
Once their alliance was formed, Lainey removed her hand, sweeping it through the air toward the men. “They can set up camp around the perimeter of the hub. We have two outside showers that Marie uses when she’s spent too long in the chicken coop. Your men can use those. We’ll supply you with soap and toiletries. We’ll also supply you with food, but don’t expect much. It’s basically eggs, stew, and bread around here. We live off the land and harvest what we can.”
“We’re grateful for anything you can provide,” Hunter said. Turning to Scott, he gave the command for the soldiers to make camp around the compound. When they were set, he trained his gaze on Lainey. “Ready when you are. Should we go inside?”
Her nostrils flared as she studied him. Giving a brisk nod, she pivoted and headed down the stairs. Deciding that he should follow her, Hunter descended into the scientific hub of the Eastern American Isle.
Chapter 5
Lainey led the way to the break room, determined to retain the upper hand. The arrogant captain might now be her ally, but he certainly hadn’t earned her trust. Breezing through the doorway, she motioned for him to sit in the chair to her right, situated at a round table.
Hunter eyed Cyrus, whose large frame was already stuffed into the wooden chair at her left, and sat down across from him. Claire trailed through the door, notebook and pencil in hand.
“Hey guys,” she said, circling them to stand beside the open chair across from Lainey. “I’m Claire,”—she thrust her hand toward Hunter—“and you must be Captain McHotty Pants. Nice to meet you.” White teeth glowed from her brilliant smile.
“Hello, Claire,” Hunter said, shaking her hand. “It’s so nice to actually receive a
warm welcome from someone around here.”
“Oh, we’re happy to have fresh blood, believe me,” Claire said, lowering into the chair. “Let the boys know, the window that looks out to the showers from the back storeroom is placed high enough that Marie and I can only see their chests. Promise.” Giving a sly smile, she traced an X with her finger across her thin sweatshirt.
“Okay.” Lainey shot her a glare. “We’ve got a lot to dissect here. Let’s get to it. Claire will take notes, and Cyrus is here as my head of security, to ensure your men and his are on the same page.”
Claire lifted the back of her hand to her mouth and whispered loudly to Hunter, “She only seems super-serious. I promise, once she relaxes, she’s really great.”
“Enough, Claire,” Lainey said. Gathering her bearings, she trained her gaze on Hunter’s. “First, I want to discuss whether you believe the New Establishment has discovered I’m trying to solve time travel. If so, I can only imagine they wish to seize the Sphere and use it for their nefarious reasons. They probably want to go back in time and create a world in their image from the very beginning.”
“I don’t know yet,” Hunter said, “but we can’t rule it out. If they do want to go back and alter time, they could take over the hub and systematically torture and kill everyone you love until you turn over your work to them. Then, they’d kill you. I’m sorry to be so blunt, but we don’t have the luxury of sugarcoating here.”
Lainey’s eyes trailed to the surface of the table, and she traced her fingers over it, realizing the moment was substantial, and her life would never be the same. Whether she liked it or not, the hub had moved from inconspicuous anomaly to target in the span of a day.
“I’m a fan of bluntness, Captain Rhodes.”
“All right then,” Hunter said, swiping his fingers through his hair. The color was an amalgamation—not quite black, not quite brown—and a few tresses at his temples were just beginning to gray. It should’ve made him look old. Instead, it made him look incredibly handsome and wise. Small wrinkles extended from the corners of his eyes, more pronounced when he smiled, as he’d seemed intent on doing during his assessment of her when they’d spoken outside. It infuriated her that the man would take her anything but seriously. She was the foremost physicist on the planet and held more intelligence in her little finger than he probably did in his whole being. Jerk.
Smart people don’t belittle others, Lainey. The second they do, they become ignorant. Her mother’s sweet voice filtered through her head, reminding her that extreme intelligence didn’t equate to greatness. Her parents had always instilled the belief that compassion, loyalty, and honor were all vastly more important than genius. Clutching onto that, she resumed listening to the man who’d shown up only an hour ago and proceeded to upend her entire life.
“Obviously, the most important thing is that you get your contraption to work,” Hunter continued. “Where are you at in the process?”
She gave him a sardonic smile while rapidly blinking her eyelids. “Yes, because it’s so easy to travel through time. You know what?” she said, snapping her fingers. “I think I’ll just walk into the Sphere room and command the machine to work. Enough stalling, right?”
His resulting glare was acerbic. “I understand your undertaking is massive, Lainey. I guess what I should’ve asked is, how can I help you solve time travel faster?”
The question was so benign and asked in such good faith that it pissed her off. The man seemed incapable of reacting to her jibbing. Although it was irrational, she wanted him to be as off-balance as she.
Attempting to get a rise out of him, she said, “My name is Dr. Elaine Randolph. You can call me Dr. Randolph or Elaine. Only my friends call me Lainey. Are we clear?”
Claire muttered a whispered, “Oh snap!” from across the table as Hunter’s eyes drilled into hers. Then, those infuriating lips curved again. Damn it! Never had she seen a more mocking expression—or one on a face so ruggedly attractive. Deciding he was a bastard, Lainey gritted her teeth and tamped down the urge to tell him to go to hell.
“I understand, Elaine,” he said, eyes rolling slightly as he sat forward in his chair. “What do you need to get that heap of metal working?”
Exhaling a huge breath, she sat back, feeling defeated. “The equations all make sense on paper. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to generate a wormhole that retains stability long enough to create a portal to send any object or person to 2035.”
Hunter nodded, the hunch of his shoulders contemplative. “Your father informed me that you only have one nuclear fuel rod here at the hub. If I could supply you with more, do you think that would help generate the energy needed?”
Grinding her teeth at the reminder Lewis had secretly met with the man numerous times, she shook her head. “The fuel rod we have is enough to create the portal back to 2035. I only need to create it a few times. Once to test the apple, once for the cat, once for Luke, and once for myself and my team. When everyone at the hub has been transported back to 2035, I’ll close the wormhole, and the machine will no longer exist, as this thread of space-time will be erased after I prevent my grandfather’s actions.”
“How many will you be transporting back?”
“Ten, counting our test subject Luke, Cyrus and his two men, my scientific team, Marie, Sara, and our courier and tactical surveillant Alora.”
“They’re all currently on the compound?”
She tilted her head. “All but Alora. She’s out performing reconnaissance and gathering supplies at the moment. We expect her back any day. She’s been gone for months, and her missions rarely last longer than that.”
“What intel do you have on the New Establishment?” Cyrus asked.
Hunter laced his fingers together atop the table. “They’re systematically taking over each settlement and compound on every isle. The Insurgency is doing a good job of fighting back, but with their lack of supplies and technology, it’s only a matter of time before they’re defeated. Solera and Terrum remain unoccupied, but the war grows closer to their borders every day,” he said, referencing the largest two communes on the Eastern American Isle.
“Why don’t you fight with the Insurgency?” Cyrus asked.
Hunter’s brows converged as he studied his thumbs, circling them over his clenched hands. “The New Establishment has seized communes on many isles too easily. I think the Insurgency has defectors in their ranks who are working with the New Establishment to ensure their success in exchange for guaranteed safety once they rule the world. Sadly, I don’t think the New Establishment leaders plan to honor those agreements, but in times of war, people make decisions they deem best.”
“So, you’d rather be a rebel? Someone who fights on the fringes with allegiance to no one?” Lainey asked.
White teeth peeked from behind Hunter’s lips where he bit the full bottom one as if tamping his grin. “If I’m not mistaken, Dr. Randolph, I just pledged my allegiance to you. Outside, when we shook hands. I’m sure I remember us agreeing to terms. Do we need to pull it up on the security cameras—?”
“I remember exactly what was said,” she replied, struggling to keep the frustration from her tone. “I’m just clarifying your position.”
He studied her, unmoving, for a long while before the features of his face fell into a pensive expression. “I don’t much enjoy fighting for other men or causes anymore. I’ve learned it’s best to fight for myself, so that’s what I choose to do. My soldiers are good men, and I expect them to be treated with respect. Each one of them is willing to die for the rest, and now, they’re ready to die for you. It’s an honorable stand.”
Lainey felt the contrition in her bones before it even registered in her mind. Her father had made a pact with this man to keep her safe, and he was here to honor that promise. Although she hated the circumstances, her ungratefulness was unwarranted. Realization washed over her as she recognized she was directing her frustration toward Hunter instead of the actual culprit: her fat
her. The handsome captain was an easy target but he didn’t deserve her ire. Although she didn’t trust him and vowed to remain wary, she would be unwise to not take advantage of his skills, soldiers, and intel.
“Thank you,” she said, her tone devoid of irritation or sarcasm toward Hunter for the first time. “We appreciate your help. In the interest of accomplishing our goal, I need to get to work for the day. We have some new equations we need to try in the Sphere.”
“Fair enough,” Hunter said. “Cyrus, I’d like to introduce your men to mine and send them out on some small scouting missions together, so they can begin to trust each other.”
“Agreed,” Cyrus said. “I have two soldiers who trained with the Old Rebellion, Steven and Ivan. We’ll be outside at eleven hundred hours to meet your soldiers.”
“I could supply you with a list of my men if it will help you learn their names and ranks quicker,” Hunter said.
“That won’t be necessary,” was Cyrus’s gruff reply. “I have a photographic memory and never forget a name, face, or rank.”
“Well, all right then. I’m going to head out and grab one of those outdoor showers calling my name. Don’t look at my back too hard,” Hunter said, winking at Claire. “I’ve got some nasty scars.”
“Ohhhh,” she said with excitement, causing Lainey to imagine heart symbols appearing in place of her eyeballs.
“You forgot to tell us,” Lainey said, attempting to steer the meeting back on the right track before Claire started drooling.
“Excuse me?” Hunter asked, shifting his gaze from Claire to her.
“What you want from me. What’s so important that you secretly met with my father and pledged your protection and loyalty to him and to me?”
“Oh,” Hunter said, the smile evaporating as he nodded slightly. “Yes, I guess that would be significant.”
A Paradox of Fates Page 4
