Vin knew they connected due to the repeated jerks in the alien’s stride but they continued to advance. The first alien reached him swinging its lanky arm. The blow slammed into his armored shoulder, knocking him off balance. Vin crashed into the car behind him with such force, he left a body-sized dent. The car alarm’s high pitch sounded in the streets. Struggling to his feet, Vin turned and used his arm to block another vicious swing, his armor absorbing the impact. His foot snapped out kicking the creature’s mid-section. The Rekabian weapon clattered to the ground, the silver circle spinning.
Undeterred, it approached slowly on legs with backward knee joints. Its blue glasslike eyes had no pupil. Just an oval shaped slit tracking Vin’s every move. The large beak like mouth moved up and down making a harsh squealing noise followed by several rapid clicks.
“No clue what you’re saying, bastard.” Vin raised his G32 high and aimed at the alien’s green plated chest.
The creature charged and Vin pulled the trigger. His weapon whirled then clicked. Nothing happened. Holy fuck! Backing up slowly, Vin pulled the trigger again and again in vain as the distance narrowed between him and enemy number one. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“Vin, get down,” Rock yelled in his com.
Vin shifted his weapon and hit the concrete as the Rekabian leaped forward. A shimmering shield appeared in front of the alien but the creature didn’t stop its momentum. It hit Rock’s force field full tilt and stumbled back from the impact. The ugly bastard squealed, banging again and again on the shield keeping it from its intended target.
“Vincent!” Helen screamed his name.
Sweat trickled down the back of Vin’s collar. He trusted Harkum to take care of his heart. Vin’s breath puffed on the interior of his helmet. More sweat beaded his upper lip. Sprawled on the concrete, he sighted down his weapon aiming for where the brain should be. Deep breath in then out.
Vin reached for the ability he’d finally mastered and sent a short electrical pulse from his hands to the gun. The red light on the barrel blinked on. Vin keyed his com. “On my count, Rock.” His finger curled around the trigger. “One,” Vin narrowed his vision. “Two.” The alien pounded its frustration out in a drum beat. Boom, boom. “Three.”
This time, the weapon functioned properly and fired at the same moment Rock dropped his shield. Vin hit the alien in the middle of his sloped forehead. It froze in a macabre display, body jerking and arms akimbo. At last, it fell landing only inches from Vin’s hands. Green junk oozed from the alien to puddle on the street.
“Man, too close, Vin,” murmured Bransen through his com.
Vin rose to his feet and glanced around. His men, with the exception of Harkum, surrounded the last of the alien trio. Without its partners, the creature’s head swung left and right, squeals and clicks coming from its mouth in louder frequency.
Suddenly, it lunged toward Curtis off to the right. Rock raised his weapon without hesitation. Fire danced across the Rekabian’s torso. One long roar escaped and it collapsed on itself, filling the air with its putrid smell.
Vin let out a breath and slapped his palm against his helmet release. When the visor rose, he eyed Rock. “You added a flame thrower capability?”
His man shrugged his shoulders. “It seemed a good idea at the time.”
“Shit,” Bransen cursed and then snickered.
Vin allowed them the moment of laughter in release of the tension but his thoughts were elsewhere. “Helen!” His heart pounded fast and hard in his chest. Vin spun on his boot heels, frantically searching.
Harkum straightened from his kneeling position and relief jarred Vin. His hellcat was unharmed though the stark wide gaze she sent around the street spoke volumes. The shitty pony tail swayed losing its hold on the majority of her hair. Somehow her clothing had come through unscathed.
He’d never seen her so disheveled yet look so incredibly beautiful. It was in the way she held herself. Chin tilted at a determined angle, shoulders thrown back and spine straightened like a steel rod. His hands clenched to touch her and his mouth watered for a deeper taste than what he’d gotten in the lobby. Not bothering to wait, his legs ate the distance between them.
Harkum stepped aside as Vin rushed to reach her. Uncaring that his men watched, Vin slid his weapon to the side and grabbed Helen in his arms. He could only imagine what would have happened if they weren’t here and she’d come out of the building alone caught by those aliens. His arms locked around her small waist at the thought. She stiffened in his hold but when he refused to let go, she gradually let her body relax.
“Vin?” Her lips moved over his shirt as she spoke.
He leaned back to brush at the stray strands of hair falling around her face. Brown eyes peered back. “Yeah?”
“I want a latte and two aspirin. No, I need them.”
Bransen started laughing first. His low chuckle spread among the group. Vin’s lips curled up. Hell on wheels and high maintenance. “I think I can make that happen after the day you’ve had.”
Unwilling to release her hand, he led her to their black armored vehicle which remarkably showed no signs of damages. Harkum hopped in the driver’s seat with Rock climbing in next to him. The rest of the team scrambled in the back, leaving the open seat next to Vin for Helen. Curtis landed in the seat directly across with a deep weary sigh, leaned his head back against the chair rest and closed his eyes.
He’d pushed his boy hard earlier but he’d come through. “Curtis, you good?”
Curtis blinked slowly as the truck began to move. “Ready and rocking, sir.”
His friend’s eyes were blood shot and his stoic expression faded to reveal a painful grimace on his lips. As soon as they returned to base command, the doctors would fix Curtis up with the vitamin supplements they all took.
Vin turned to Rock, a question burning his mind. “Flame thrower?”
More laughter and Rock’s face split with a grin, gray eyes gleaming as he hefted the extremely modified G32. “I saw the potential and went with it.”
“You’re seriously upgrading the rest of us as soon as we get back.” Flamethrower. His boy’s skills continually amazed.
“Hell yeah,” the twins agreed in unison, causing much eye rolling. Their bodies were modified weapons capable of releasing lightning bolts from their hands. Show offs.
“What about you? What the hell happened with your weapon?” Harkum peered threw the rearview mirror to toss the question at Vin.
“Firing mechanism locked up.”
A round of curses met his answer. No one questioned how he’d unlocked it, mindful of a civilian in their presence.
“Seriously letting Rock work on all our weapons.”
Each of them nodded solemnly and settled down.
Helen yanked on Vin’s shirt drawing his attention. “We need to talk.”
Talk about their relationship? Or talk about the things she’d witnessed them do? Vin bit back a sigh because all of it linked together and half of it classified, meaning he couldn’t talk to her about it.
“Later, hellcat. Promise.” He waited for her to protest. Tensed in preparation for an argument. Thankfully, she subsided.
***
Helen bolstered her nerves and reflected on the last hour. The things she’d seen created all sorts of questions in her mind. Not the least of which centered on the how and why they could do such. She eyed Vin as he high five and back slapped his men. The armor no longer covered their bodies and their faces were no longer hidden behind the darkness of helmets.
Although Vin had foolishly launched himself at the aliens and used his gun, she’d missed if he used any…powers. She wasn’t even sure if that was the right word to use to explain what these men could do but it was all she had. Watching that creature bear down on Vin, froze her in place. Throat locked, she’d prayed hard and nearly tore away from the protective shelter of Harkum’s body.
Fortunately, the large man hadn’t given an inch and she’d stared, forced to witness every
thing in slow motion. More was going on with them but she couldn’t put her finger on it.
The smiling twins who could fire some sort of energy bolts from their hands, the gray eyed guy who she was pretty sure caused the shield around Vin when the alien had almost crushed him. His man, Curtis knew exactly how many aliens awaited them outside the building before they’d exited.
Slumped back against his seat, with eyes closed and mouth drawn tight, Curtis appeared completely done. Helen worried for him. She wondered if Vin sensed how worn his blond friend was. None of them looked in good shape but Curtis appeared the worst. Vin nudged her leg drawing her attention. Helen turned only to have him slide his arm around her shoulder as he pulled her closer to his side.
She braced a palm on his muscled thigh and nervously checked around the truck but no one paid them any attention. Vin tugged again until she had no choice but to allow their bodies to nestle together. She’d accept the comfort he offered but she’d protect her heart this time. From shin to shoulder, Helen connected to every inch of him. The heat of his body blasted through her clothing warming her chilled skin.
The shock of it all began to seep in. She survived an alien attack. The Rekabians would have killed her if not for Vin’s presence in her building today. Her coworkers, customers, plenty of people she saw on a daily basis were probably injured, dead, or missing. She should call someone. Do something besides cuddle up to her ex-lover in the back of his truck. Helen jerked and pat her pockets pulling out her cell phone. Its silver bar blinked at full strength.
“What’s wrong?” Vincent glanced down watching her every move.
Flushing, Helen admitted, “I left my purse in my desk. It has my license, money.” She scrolled searching for her bank contact. Her mind compiled a list of things she needed to do. She’d have to call her boss as well and apprise him of the situation. The poor man was at a beach in Florida taking advantage of the first vacation in years, thanks to his wife’s brow beating.
Vincent’s hand reached out and snagged her phone before she could complete the call. He powered it down and shoved it into the busy looking utility belt at his waist. Shock gave way to anger, snapping her out of her daze. “I need my phone, Vincent.” She emphasized his name, knowing he hated it. “I don’t have anything except the clothes on my back.”
A scary thought among many. Its only temporary, she soothed. As soon as he dropped her home she’d deactivate all her credit cards online and stop first thing in the morning to replace her ID.
“I’ll give it back later.”
His authoritative tone brooked no argument. Which in turn made her want to argue. She was a grown woman capable of making sound decisions as evident by the volume of responsibility her company entrusted in her. Still, she tried to temper her tone. “Vincent.”
“Not now, hellcat.” Something about the shadows lurking in his blue gray gaze as he repeated his earlier words stilled her protest. Studying him closely, she realized he was as burned out as his team, he just covered it better. But there were telltale giveaways now that she searched for them. A tightness to his mouth. The small crease between his brow and the taut muscles beneath her hands.
Helen clamped down on the words she wanted to spew. Now probably wasn’t the best time. His full lips smiled in appreciation and the slant of his shoulders relaxed further at her continued silence. As if by mutual agreement, they both eased back in their seats. Helen lowered her head to rest in the crook of his neck.
Soon, she found herself nodding, occasionally jerking her head upright when visions of aliens assaulted her dreams. Fatigue beat at her senses. Long nights at the office finally caught up.
“You okay?”
Vin’s question probed at the ragged edges of her nerves.
Since there was no easy answer she settled for the generic. “I’m fine.” Licking her dry lips, she glanced around the interior of the darkened vehicle. She needed to tell him before she drifted off fully. “Vin?”
He grunted above her and his chin pressed down on the top of her head.
“Thank you.” He might not want her any longer but he’d saved her life.
“Anytime, hellcat. Anytime.”
She moved her right hand slightly and pinched the tight flesh of his abdomen in retaliation. It was all she could muster up the energy for. He chuckled above her and Helen let sleep take her under.
Chapter 6
As the sky darkened with the start of the evening, the truck pulled up in front of the main building behind the security gate. Clearance was never an issue for Alpha Squad and today proved no different. The guards at the gate waved them through without looking at the extra passenger in the backseat.
“She holding up?”
Vin shifted his hold. He’d pulled Helen across his lap completely when her body went limp. Securing his arms around her waist as she snuggled into his chest, he answered Harkum. “She’s solid.”
The most solid woman he knew. Instead of screaming and crying, she held it together. Instead of arguing over her cell phone, she gave in. He’d witnessed her internal struggle. Her need to prove she was strong and independent battled with the other emotions careening through her.
Helen’s acquiescence pleased him. When he thought she’d crash, his hellcat drew on a hidden well of strength.
Curtis blinked his eyes open though he didn’t move his head. “Didn’t know you kept such high company, Vin.”
Quiet laughter drifted around.
“How’d you score a chick like her anyway?” Bransen asked. Devilment danced in his gaze and even the twins smirked.
Vin extended his booted foot and kicked Bransen’s calf. Hard. While trying not to jar the precious bundle on his lap. Sen feigned a wince and snatched his legs back.
“Where have you been hiding her?” Curtis appeared honestly intrigued. His face still pale from the energy he’d expended. Down but not out. That was his friend.
Vin didn’t know how to answer. He and Helen technically weren’t together anymore. Seeing her brought out all the feelings he thought he’d tamped down. Not that it mattered, he was no longer the same man from their time together, which left him back at square one. The new mission objective involved getting Helen settled safely and then fading back into the woodwork. Vin sure as hell wasn’t telling this group those details.
Instead, he settled for part of the truth. A part he knew would drive them crazy. “She asked me out. Pretty determined about it.” He added a smirk for good measure.
The expressions on their faces were well worth it. Vin opened the door as the questions and ribbing started. He ignored each one as he hefted Helen in his arms and carried her from the vehicle. Her body cuddled close to his and a soft sigh puffed from her parted lips. Helen always slept like the dead and the memory made him smile. Vin made tracks across the yard and up the sidewalk while the guys yelled out seeking attention.
Harkum beat him to the door of their dormitory and opened it with an elaborate hand gesture. His best friend’s grin spoke volumes as Vin entered and headed down the hall to his rooms. More shouting and laughter ensued as Bravo Squad met them coming from the opposite direction.
From the look of it, the boys of Bravo had also recently arrived at base. They still wore their gray flight suits and carried under their arms the specialized black helmets geared to transmit the data from their enhanced vision to their brains at rapid speed. The six man crew hailed as the best pilots the US had to offer. They’d also been responsible for warning Vin and his men of the Rekabians presence street side after shooting the alien craft out of the sky.
Curtis trudged toward his room, refusing the twins’ offer to watch a marathon session of reality TV involving women in bikinis. Vin made a note to give the doctors a heads up on his condition. They’d all need time to recoup because Vin sensed the situation with the Rekabians would demand their every free moment.
Sen whooped loudly and raced to the theater room, Bravo Squad on his boots. Using his shoulder, Vin pushed o
pen the door to his private rooms and adjusted his hold on Helen who barely stirred at the noise. Harkum followed him in and Vin didn’t waste his breath protesting. His suite consisted of a living area with the basics, a flat screen, sofa and a coffee table where he kept his phone charger and candy. A nice size bedroom took up the room in the back where he only had a bed. Then there was a token kitchenette with a sink, a small fridge and a microwave.
Vin laid Helen carefully on the top of his navy comforter. She immediately turned to the side, almost rolling off the bed to the floor in the process. Only his quick reflexes saved her from a knot to the skull. Her hands folded under her chin and she curled her knees in a fetal position. She looked like she belonged, which was what he was afraid of. Now his bedding would smell like Helen and remind him every time he buried his head in his pillows. Sleepless nights were once more in his future.
When Vin returned to the living area, Harkum held two beers in hand. He drunk from the open one and tossed the other at Vin. Catching it and sitting it untouched on the coffee table, Vin dropped himself onto the sofa. “No thanks.”
Harkum chose to remain standing but leaned his weight against the wall, legs crossed at the ankle. “Who is she really, Vin?”
Leave it to his buddy to drill down to the bottom line. Vin reached for the yellow box on the table and shook out a handful of the lemon candy. After sucking on the tangy treat, Vin gave Harkum the honesty their friendship warranted. “A woman I used to see.”
A frown creased Harkum’s brow. “Used to as in no longer?”
Vin nodded and unlaced his boots. He knew what was coming and might as well settle in.
“No longer as of six months ago?” Direct hit. Give the man a prize.
Vin eased his tired feet onto his table and finally faced Harkum. “Yes. Used to as in I stopped things six months ago for obvious reasons.”
“Well, shit, Vin.” Harkum lowered his frame to a squat along the wall and still the giant had no trouble meeting Vin’s eyes. “She know and bail?”
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