by Anna Hackett
Then she heard the screams.
Her heart was already clenching into a tight knot, her throat closing. She whipped around and through the gap of cars she had a perfect view of the tree-covered hill.
“No!”
The raptors were there, herding many of the fleeing, panicked humans into a cage.
Chapter Fifteen
Adam’s entire body froze.
He stared in horror as some of his people raced back down the hill in a mad rush.
“They were hiding on the other side of the hill,” someone screamed. “Help!”
But the worst was seeing the small group who’d been herded into the ugly black cage…identical to the one that had held those poor humans from before.
He sensed the squads running forward around him.
But Adam knew it was too late.
The cage was on the back of an alien truck, the engine gunning. The raptors were already throwing the last few people in and a team of raptor soldiers stood, weapons raised, facing in the direction of the convoy.
One raptor was holding a heavy electrical weapon, a second raptor beside him holding the ammunition for the weapon. Adam cursed. They had intel on this alien weapon. A large weapon carried by one raptor soldier and the ammunition carried by a second, the gun could spew out electrified poison that debilitated in seconds.
They weren’t shooting at the fleeing people, thank God. But Adam knew if any of his squad soldiers raced to help, they’d be mowed down from the higher ground.
Then he noticed something else.
The raptors were wearing some sort of masks over their faces.
The answer struck him. Hard. The trees. They were trying to minimize or negate the effects of whatever the hell the trees did to them.
“Let me go!”
Adam watched in horror as a raptor soldier lifted a kicking, struggling woman.
He watched Santha fight against the larger alien. God, no.
Behind him, he heard a strangled sound. Cruz bolted past Adam, his weapon raised.
Adam caught Marcus’ gaze and nodded.
Marcus and Gabe grabbed the distraught soldier and dragged him back.
“No!” The man cursed them all in Spanish, but his gaze never left his woman.
They were all stuck. Helpless to do anything. Adam tried to think of something, to work out a way to rescue their people, forming and discarding scenarios faster than he could count.
But there were no choices except very bad ones.
He bit off a curse, trying not to look at the desperate soldier fighting against his friends to get loose.
Adam felt a hand slip into his. Liberty stood beside him, her face pale, her eyes wide.
On top of the hill, there was a blur of movement near Santha and her captor. Adam’s heart surged. A dark shadow appeared from nowhere and with a few slices of a knife, the raptor holding Santha screamed and fell. Santha fell too, but landed on her feet.
She was free.
Devlin Gray stood there, Gladius knife in hand, waving at Santha.
Then four raptors charged them.
Devlin went down under a hail of kicks and punches. Santha was once again lifted off her feet, and this time unceremoniously tossed into the cage.
“God-fucking-dammit,” Marcus bit out.
The berserkers were also cursing and Squad Nine stood by, tense and angry.
They all watched as Devlin’s now-prone body was tossed into the cage. The alien vehicle revved and pulled away.
“No. Santha.” Cruz’s voice cracked.
“We will get her back,” Marcus said savagely. He pressed a hand down on his friend’s shoulder. “We leave no one behind, and we’ll get her back.”
Because he needed it, Adam yanked Liberty into his arms. He held her tight and her arms wrapped around him.
He’d lost more people.
The sense of failure was so huge. And the sight of Cruz, who was now sitting on the ground, head in his hands, but vibrating with the sheer need to go after his pregnant partner, was almost more than Adam could bear.
“Adam.” Liberty cupped his cheeks. “Everyone needs you. Santha, Devlin and our people need you.” Her fingers brushed his skin. “I’m right here, by your side, every step of the way.”
“I…” He heaved in a breath.
“Hey.” Her eyes were direct. “You use your best skill. That damned enviable focus of yours. We need a plan.”
God, she was right. He drew his shoulders back, leaned down, and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. Then he faced his people.
Once again, they looked like the survivors of a war. Battered, bleeding, afraid. He saw a pale Selena with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Emerson and her team tending to the wounded. He saw the soldiers bristling with the need to act.
They waited for him to speak, and in all their faces, he saw that none of them had given up.
“Everyone back inside the barrier. Shore up the gaps. Squad soldiers on patrol. Squad leaders in for a planning meeting.” He felt Liberty’s warm hand at his back, and he ensured he touched the gazes of everyone present. “We are going to get our people back.”
***
Liberty stood to the side, watching Adam run the planning meeting. She’d left for a while to help calm the frightened survivors, but now she watched, listened, and waited.
She spotted Cruz nearby. The man was standing straight and tall, focused on every word Adam said. He was practically vibrating with the need to act. Claudia was beside him, murmuring quietly, keeping him controlled, Liberty guessed.
Poor Santha. Liberty felt her own belly tighten. She prayed the woman, her growing baby, and the others with her were okay.
“We are going to get them back.” Adam’s voice was unyielding, unwavering. “We have lost too many already in this battle. No more.”
There was no bend or give or doubt. She saw that absolutely firm belief soak into the crowd around him. Even Cruz raised his head.
Adam laid a map out over the hood of a car. “Now, we devise our plan, and ensure every single one of us makes it to the Enclave.”
“Santha and Devlin have trackers implanted in them,” Cruz said, his voice harsh. “It’s part of the requirement for being on the intel team.”
Adam nodded. “Elle, bring up the tracker coordinates. And I need a drone headed in that direction, immediately.”
“On it.”
Adam pressed a hand to the back of his neck. “I’ll need one squad to take point on staying with the convoy. To keep making their way to the Enclave.”
Voices and shouts broke out. No one wanted to stay behind.
Adam held up a hand. “I know. I know you all want to go in and fight to get our people back. But, these people—” he pointed at the survivors around them “—need help too. I won’t risk them while we do this.”
Roth stood. “My team will take the lead on that.”
Adam nodded. “Thank you, Roth.”
Shouts erupted. Liberty spun and gasped. One of the alien balls bounced over the barrier and landed nearby. It rolled forward, its ugly, sinewy appearance horrible in the bright light of the day.
All the soldiers moved, carbines raised, circling the object.
But the ball slowed to a stop, not bursting open and spilling killer spiders everywhere.
Adam held his breath.
Suddenly, the ball started to move, wiggling a little, then a small pocket opened up in the front of it. Something small fell out of it and landed on the ground.
“What the fuck?” Marcus moved closer, Gabe at his side.
The ball rolled backward and, as soon as it did, the soldiers opened fire.
Seconds later, the ball was just a mass of part flesh, part bone on the ground. Marcus knelt and grabbed the object the ball had dropped. He held it up.
Elle gasped. “An alien data crystal.” She hurried forward. “Someone get Noah. I need the device he uses to interface this with our comps.”
Liberty stayed out of the way as No
ah Kim appeared and hooked the crystal into Elle’s comp. Soon, Adam and the squad leaders were huddled around the screen, as Elle worked feverishly at the keyboard.
A moment later, Adam spun around, the squad leaders cursing behind him. His gaze caught hers, his face serious. “It’s a ransom demand.”
A ransom demand? Liberty pressed her hands together. She was pretty sure the aliens wouldn’t want worthless Earth currency. “What do they want?”
“Me.”
Her stomach fell away. “No.”
“They want to meet with me. Alone.”
She rushed toward him. “It’s a trap.”
“I know.”
“The prisoners are bait,” Marcus said.
“I know that, too,” Adam replied, his voice tight.
“You can’t go, Adam—” Fear was acid in Liberty’s veins.
He pressed his hand over hers. “I can’t not go.”
The damned aliens had been studying them all this time. They knew Adam would never abandon his people. They knew how to lure him out.
“Roth, you keep the convoy moving,” Adam said. “Get to the Enclave.”
“Yes, sir.”
“General Holmes.” Elle stood. “We have the signals from Santha’s and Dev’s trackers. They aren’t far. In a small town a few kilometers away. They aren’t moving.”
Adam nodded. “Get drones into that area. And get Finn back here with a Hawk. I’ll need transport.”
“Adam.” Liberty tried to keep her fear from her voice. “You can’t go alone.”
“I won’t. I need a small team who knows how to stay hidden.” He eyed the squads. “Four soldiers only, two from Six and two from Three. I don’t want to risk an entire team.”
Cruz stepped forward, his face unyielding. “I’m coming.”
Liberty wasn’t sure that was a good idea. It was clear the man was holding on by a thread. But something told her that if he was denied the chance to go, he’d find a way to get there anyway.
“You can’t go off half-cocked, Ramos.” Adam’s tone was clipped. “That won’t help her.”
Cruz gave one curt nod. “I’m ready.”
“And I’m coming, too.”
Liberty’s gaze happened to be on Elle as her fiancé volunteered. She expected to see fear, but instead she saw a fierce pride on the other woman’s face. Obviously, watching her man go out and fight every day had taught the comms officer to keep her fear hidden, and help and support him the only way she could.
Liberty needed to do the same.
“I’m coming.” Tane’s voice was low and deep. “And Hemi.”
“Yeah, baby,” Hemi Rahia rumbled. “I haven’t reached my quota of dead aliens for the day.”
“We have drone feed,” Elle announced. “Oh, God.”
They all huddled around the portable comp screen. Liberty only glanced at it, but it was enough to have her stomach turning over.
The raptors were tormenting the people in the cage. Prodding them through the bars, taunting them.
“God, our people are hysterical,” Elle said.
The humans were screaming and crying, agitated and afraid.
Doc Emerson pushed forward. “You’ll need someone to calm the survivors. If they see soldiers and weapons, they might panic more. They’ll be traumatized, upset, afraid. Some might need medical attention. I’ll go.”
Liberty saw a muscle tick in Gabe’s jaw. “She’s too valuable.”
Emerson’s gaze narrowed on her lover.
Adam held up a hand. “He’s right. We have too many injured from the previous attack. I need you here with the convoy. But I need someone for the mission who can calm the people down.”
Emerson rubbed her forehead. “Rick is steady under fire, but he’ll be the first to admit he hasn’t got the smoothest bedside manner. Molly isn’t experienced enough.”
Liberty felt her chest go tight, then lighten. “I’ll go.”
***
No. No. No.
The words pounded in Adam’s head like a jackhammer.
He saw Liberty standing there, so calm and ready. He tried to form some words, but all he could think was that he didn’t want her going in. He didn’t want her anywhere near the aliens.
“If anyone can calm the survivors, it’s Liberty,” Elle said. “They trust her. They listen to her.”
“And she damn well fires a weapon like a pro,” Marcus added. Adam’s gaze flicked over to Marcus and the soldier gave a shrug of apology.
Yeah, Marcus knew what it was like to have to take your woman onto the battlefield.
But he also knew in these times, things like this were necessary.
Liberty was watching him. There was no judgment or apprehension on her face. Whatever he decided, she would agree with his orders.
Dammit. His hands curled. “Elle, find Liberty some armor.”
He saw Liberty’s shoulders relax. For better or worse, he was now taking her on an impossible mission. One where hope was their biggest asset.
“Marcus, Cruz, Hemi, and Tane. Get ready. As soon as the Hawk lands, we leave. Let’s get our people back.”
Around them, people started chanting. “Bring them home. Bring them home.”
Adam stared at the woman who’d shaken up his world in just a few days. He hoped he could live up to that promise. To bring everyone home alive…including Liberty.
Chapter Sixteen
The afternoon sun was hot on Adam’s back. He stared through the binocs at the Gizzida outpost.
And the cage of humans out in the middle of the street.
They had no protection from the sun. He could see many were panicked, crying. From what Adam could make out, Devlin was still unconscious. Santha was sitting beside him, one hand rubbing the slight curve of her belly.
There were Gizzida everywhere. The raptors were moving in and out of abandoned houses and shops. A former gas station looked like it was the favored parking lot for the raptors’ vehicles.
He turned back to his small team. The soldiers were all armored and ready. Cruz still seemed to be holding it together. Liberty looked more at home in her armor than she should have. She’d pulled her golden hair back in a ponytail, and it was a stark contrast to the black of the carbon fiber she wore.
Finn Erickson leaned against the side of his Hawk quadcopter. He’d brought them in to this point, just outside the outpost, hidden behind a hill.
“Marcus, Tane, Cruz, and Hemi, I want you to sneak in quietly. Take up positions and wait for my signal.” He dragged in a breath. “Liberty, stay here with Finn. I’m going in alone.”
“No.” Liberty stuck her hands on her hips. “No. I’m here for the prisoners. I can’t help you get them if I’m out here.”
“The Gizzida want me to go alone—”
“You know they’ll never see me as a threat. You can explain why I’m there.”
He could see the pulse racing in her throat, beating against her soft skin. She was nervous, afraid, and yet she stood there, fighting with him to go into danger.
In that moment, Adam realized he was falling in love with Liberty Lawler.
He let the shock of that reverberate through his body. Now he was faced with taking the woman he was falling for into the worst possible situation.
“All right. Let’s go before I change my mind.” He glanced at the quadcopter pilot. “Stay if you think it’s safe. Don’t risk the Hawk.”
Finn nodded. “You got it, General. Good luck.” He smiled at Liberty, but there was a deep seriousness in his eyes. “Stay safe, Lib.”
“You, too.”
Adam started down the hill, Liberty keeping pace at his side. At the bottom, he stopped and hauled her into his arms. The kiss was far shorter and so much less than he wanted. He absorbed the feel of her for a second before he set her back on her feet.
“You stay alert. Use your smarts. If things go bad… Liberty if things go bad, you run. Get out of there.”
She touched his face. “Not s
ure I can do that. Too much of you seems to have rubbed off on me.”
He made a choked sound.
“Shh.” She brushed a thumb over his lips. “I promise I’ll take cover, and do what I think is best.”
His strong, brave woman. “Okay.”
They walked on in silence.
As they entered the small town, Adam wondered where its past residents had ended up. He hoped some had made it. He was glad no one was here to see the aliens fouling up the town.
They passed some houses, and he saw alien soldiers watching them steadily. They didn’t move, or say anything, but their red eyes were glowing.
Liberty and Adam neared the cage. Santha spotted them first. Her face was pale and pinched, but she nodded at them. Adam was grateful to see that Dev was sitting up, even if the man looked pretty bad. He had a black eye and blood streaked his white shirt.
When the others spotted Adam, they started crying and yelling. Arms reached out between the bars. He nodded at them, willing them to stay calm. Beside him, Liberty waved, urging them to be quiet.
Adam finally stopped in the middle of the street and held a palm out to halt Liberty.
Gizzida were walking toward them, clutching their ugly weapons.
One raptor in the middle looked the same as the others, but didn’t carry a gun. Adam assumed he was the one in charge.
“I’m here.” Adam held his arms out. He clutched a small tablet in his hand. “My device is a small translator…to ensure we don’t have any misunderstandings.”
“I speak your simple language, General Holmes,” the boss raptor growled. “You were instructed to come alone.”
“She’s a medic, not a soldier.” Adam was careful to put no inflection in his voice. “She’s here to help my people.”
The raptor leader scanned Liberty, then dismissed her with a shrug. His burning gaze came back to Adam. “Are you ready to make a deal in return for your people?”
Anger was like a buzzing in Adam’s head. He knew this bastard didn’t give a damn about the prisoners. Not for the first time, Adam wondered what made a species like this. Warlike, unwilling to communicate and work with people who were different from them. What made them so hungry to destroy?
