"Check your fucking crystal ball, asshole. These guys you're working for will kill you in a second if they need to."
"Why would they need to kill me?" Carter asked, looking genuinely perplexed. "I'm loyal and valuable. You're only half of that."
Yeah, loyal to a bunch of money-hungry, homicidal, assholes.
"Let's cut through the bullshit. What's the new drug you're testing?"
Even though neither man advanced on the other, their eyes remained pinned.
"We actually have you and your team to thank for that. You made everyone realize that just because someone gives you such powerful abilities, doesn't mean you're going to be loyal. Hence, the creation of the new drug. Toved." Turning his head, Carter looked at the retreating vehicle before turning back to Eden. "Time to go."
Pulling out a gun, Carter went to shoot, but Eden dove into him before he could pull the trigger. Wrestling the weapon away, Eden grabbed it just as an elbow landed in his wounded gut. Falling back, Carter took that moment to flee.
Rising to his feet, Eden went to chase after him but was too late. Instead, he watched as the car sped down the driveway.
Turning, he realized for the first time that every man Eden and his team had injured was gone.
"Goddamn it!" Eden shouted in frustration, running his hands through his hair.
"Everyone okay?" Mason's voice sounded through the earpiece.
About to head toward the building, Eden stopped at Kye's words. "Striker's been given something. We're struggling to control him."
Swinging his head around, Eden took off in the direction of his team.
Rounding the corner of the building, Eden stopped short.
Crouched into a fighting position, Asher grunted and growled at Kye and Oliver. Gone was his normal grin and carefree spirit. His eyes were black and ferocious growls emanated from his chest.
"He's a fucking demon," Oliver called as he stood ready to defend himself.
Then Asher dropped his head into his hands and started shaking it. It was like he was at war with himself. Trying to fight whatever drugs were in his system.
When Asher lifted his head, his eyes zoned in on Oliver. In the next moment, he took off toward him.
Before Asher could hit his target, Eden moved quickly, clashing with Asher's body.
It was like hitting a freight train. Both men went flying. As Eden struggled to hold him, Wyatt appeared, grabbing Asher's arms while Bodie took his legs. At the same time, Mason approached with rope. It took all six of them to tie him down. Once he was secured, Asher continued to writhe and fight the rope.
"Jesus. What the hell is this stuff?" Bodie hissed, taking a step back from their friend.
Anger spiked in Eden that the assholes who did this to Asher had gotten away.
"Carter called the drug Toved," Eden muttered.
"Carter?" Oliver reeled, rising to his feet.
"As in Carter from Project Arma? The asshole who was on the same SEAL team as Troy?" Kye questioned.
"Yes. He was here. He left with the rest of them."
Bodie's fists clenched. "Damn it." That didn't even come close to what Eden was feeling. Eyes trailing down Eden's body, Bodie frowned. "You hurt?"
"Flesh wound," Eden said, already feeling it starting to heal, grateful that they healed quicker than most.
Mason stepped forward. "Hunter, Red, and Jobs, come with me. We need to search inside. Cage and Ax, watch Striker and call us if you need help."
Following Bodie, Wyatt, and Mason, Eden moved toward the door, pushing down the anger that was rising. He noticed that everyone had cuts and bruises but had clearly won their battles.
The assholes probably didn't have any new SEALs to test their drugs on. Meaning their new army wasn't as strong as if they had Eden and his team.
Making it to the front door, the entrance of the old gin distillery stood open. All four men took out their weapons. Entering the building in a single file, they covered each other as they went.
Once inside, Eden immediately noticed how similar the set up was to the last warehouse they raided.
"Fuck, more cages," Wyatt glowered.
Turning, Eden saw the similar cage set up on the sidewall. This time, the metal so bent, a man could surely fit through.
Nearing the metal railing, a pungent smell wafted through the room. It was the stench of death.
As SEALs, they had been around death more than most. Since getting their advanced abilities, they realized that death had a smell. It was a musty, metallic smell, similar to blood mixed with bile.
Eyes dropping to the ground, three dead bodies lay in different cages. Each with a bullet wound between their eyes.
"Shit," Mason muttered.
Bodie stepped forward, frowning. "Why shoot some and get the others out?"
Eden had an idea. "They're handcuffed to the railing. They probably put up a fight. When everyone needed to get out, they couldn't take them or leave them for us."
"So, they killed them," Wyatt growled.
"Let's split up and search the place," Mason snarled, voice hard. Flat. "Move quickly. We need to get a sample of Striker's blood before the drug leaves his system. Grab any evidence you see. I want these assholes caught."
25
Shylah grunted as murmurs roused her from her sleep.
What the heck? Did people not know how to be quiet? It was the middle of the damn night.
It was the middle of the night, wasn't it?
Cracking one eye open from her spot on the sofa, Shylah glanced around Luca's living room. She had let Lexie take the spare bed while she'd offered to take the couch.
No light shined from behind the curtains. Yep, she might be slightly drunk, but she knew when it was sleep time.
About to drift back to sleep, the voices moved closer.
Damn it to hell, who did she have to kill around here to get some rest?
Glancing up, she saw Eden walking in her direction with Luca trailing close behind. Well, maybe she would give Eden a free pass.
Scanning his body, Shylah's eyes stopped at a red patch on his shirt. Was that blood?
Shooting up into a sitting position, the room spun. Grabbing her head, her fingers latched onto the side of the couch to stop from toppling off.
Eden's face came into view as he crouched in front of her. Worry lines etched his face, and dark circles colored beneath his eyes.
"Hey, Shy, ready to go home?" Lifting his hand, Eden pushed some hair out of her face.
"It's nighttime, Eden." Her words slurred slightly.
No smile touched his lips. "Sorry, I needed to see you tonight. I hope that's okay?"
Eden needed her? Worry seeped through the drunk haze as she considered what they might have found on the mission.
"Are you okay?" Nodding, Eden took a seat on the couch next to Shylah's legs. The red stain coloring his shirt coming back into her view. "You're hurt."
"Just a graze. I'm fine."
Reaching out, Shylah lifted his shirt. A large bandage covered his lower abdomen. If the size of the bandage was anything to go by, that was no small cut.
Looking up, Shylah glared at Eden. "Liar."
Shylah attempted to push his shoulder as she spoke, almost pushing herself off the couch in the process.
Eden turned his head to Luca, eyes narrowing. "How much did you let them drink?"
Let them?
She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or her inner feminist, but Shylah took offense to that.
"Eden, I am a grown-ass woman. If I want to drink a bottle of wine with my new friends well, then that's what I'll do."
Expecting some equally snarky response, Shylah was surprised when Eden's lips quirked. "God, I missed you."
Eyes softening, Shylah leaned forward, sliding her head against his chest. "I missed you too." She wasn't sure if they were talking about that night or the last year but, she missed him anytime he wasn't right by her side. "Wanna share the couch with me?"
Shu
ffling over, Shylah eyed the space she'd created, then Eden's body. It would be a tight squeeze.
A deep chuckle made Eden's chest vibrate. "I think you'll find my bed a bit more comfortable."
"But your bed isn't here." Shylah frowned. "Besides, you're the only thing I need to feel comfortable, Eden."
Wasn't that the truth. How many nights had she woken over the last few months searching for Eden? Too many.
"That's damn beautiful."
Shylah's eyes shot up to glare at Luca's, about to chew him out for his sarcasm. When he looked nothing but serious, she rested her head back on Eden's chest.
"We are beautiful, aren't we, Eden? Let's never separate again."
"Already done," Eden whispered, his lips touching her head.
Wrapping his arms around her body, Eden stood.
"Don't drop me," Shylah muttered. "I ate a few of Mrs. Potter's donuts and strudels. I think I'm double the weight I was when you dropped me off."
Her stomach was a cocktail of cake and wine. And she had zero regrets.
"A few? I think you women about cleared her out for the month," Luca muttered with a chuckle.
Shylah wanted to be offended, but the baked goods were just too dang good to feel bad about. "She should bake more or make them taste less good, then."
"I'm not going to drop you. You weigh nothing," Eden said sternly as he marched to the front door.
That was the support she needed.
"Sorry, Shylah. Someone needs to be honest around here," Luca teased from behind Eden.
Shit, had she said those words out loud?
Entering the dark night, Shylah shut her eyes.
"Thanks for having me, Luca," Shylah sighed the words but knew he would hear.
After securing Shylah in the car, Eden walked around and climbed into the other side. The quietness of the engine, mixed with the musky scent of Eden, began to lull Shylah back to sleep almost immediately.
"Let's have some drunk sex when we get home." Her mind was a bit cloudy but, hell, she didn't think she'd ever had a better idea.
"I like the sound of that," Eden's voice responded, deep and rumbly.
"Yeah, drunk sex is the best." Shylah smiled over at Eden, only to see his face hard and set.
"No. I like that you called it home. Although sex with you always sounds like a good idea."
"Well, it is home for me, for now."
Furrowing his brows, Eden didn't respond for a moment. Shylah had the distinct feeling she'd said the wrong thing.
"Would you do it differently if you had your time again?" Eden asked quietly.
"What?" Shylah questioned, dreading his answer.
"The months we were separated. Not telling me about Project Arma when you found out. Not coming back to me sooner."
Jeez Louise, Shylah was not in the right mindset to answer that question right now.
On second thought, maybe alcohol infused honesty was the best time.
"I know what you want to hear, Eden, but I really don't know. I don't think I would change what I did to get Project Arma shut down." Sparing a glance at Eden, she saw his knuckles turn white as his hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Because I knew that I could do what I needed to do to save you, and I didn't want to put your life at risk."
"But in the process, you put your life at risk, Shylah," Eden pressed, voice hard.
Giving a small shrug, Shylah looked ahead at the dark night. "That's love. It's nothing that you wouldn't do for me."
Eden huffed out a breath. "But I'm trained and can look after myself."
Slightly miffed by that comment, her eyes shot back to Eden. "Untrained females can look after themselves. They just do it differently. We use our brains rather than our muscles. Everything would have worked out exactly like it was supposed to if you hadn't been sent on a damn suicide mission."
Eden stiffened, eyes narrowed on the road ahead of him.
Shit, she could have phrased that in a gentler way.
"After Project Arma. Would you have done that differently?"
"It wasn't supposed to be that long, Eden," Shylah spoke softly. "I woke up in this white room with beeping machines, all alone. I remember scanning the room, having no idea where I was or what was going on but needing you. When you weren't there, it was almost more painful than my injuries.
"The doctor walked in. He was older, and I remember he was wearing a white lab coat. I was relieved to see another person. Someone who would tell me what was going on. Then he started talking in some mumbo jumbo doctor language. I started putting together pieces of what he said. The first thing that became clear was that I'd been in the hospital for a while. My mind automatically went to you, Eden. Did you get out? Were you safe?"
Taking a breath, Shylah continued, "Then he told me about my arm." Shylah glanced down at her hand, remembering the absence of feeling in it. "He told me about the months of rehab that would be required to make it functional again. Told me it would never be like it was. I thought back to you again, and I wondered if that would bother you. Then he started talking about the second bullet wound. I didn't even remember I had a second bullet wound." Closing her eyes, Shylah said the words she hated saying out loud, "He told me I couldn't get pregnant. I didn't know I wanted kids until they told me I couldn't. Suddenly the idea of you being there wasn't so great."
"Why the hell not?" Eden's voice was loud. Angry.
Shrugging, Shylah leaned her head against the chair as the emotions of that day came rushing back to her. "I felt damaged. Like I couldn't give you what you deserved." Eden growled, but Shylah kept speaking. "He said there were surgeries they could perform that would have about a fifty percent chance of success. I got it in my head that that would fix me. My plan was to find you after the surgery. So, I waited, had the surgeries, they didn't work. So, then I told myself that once my hand worked again, I would find you. So, I started my rehab. In my mind, the thought of finding you without the ability to have kids, the scars, and a hand that didn't work seemed too much."
"Too much? What does that mean, Shy?" When she was silent for a moment, Eden spoke again, "I'm trying to understand."
"I just . . . I already felt not good enough for you. So, the thought of returning as even less than I was before . . . I needed to get myself better physically, mentally, and emotionally before I returned."
Eden pulled into his garage and switched off the engine. Not making to move or saying anything, Shylah held her breath as she waited.
"Can you say something, Eden?" Before I have an aneurysm, Shylah wanted to add but didn't.
"I wish you trusted me and my feelings for you."
With the alcohol wearing off, a bone-deep tiredness began to creep into her body. "I just see you as this perfect man, while I'm just ordinary Shylah."
Shaking his head, Eden looked straight ahead. "You're anything but ordinary, Shylah. And I'm only perfect for you."
Pushing his door open, Eden stepped out, shutting it harder than normal.
Yep, he was mad.
Opening her own door, Eden was already there, offering her a hand to help her down. Stealing a glance at his face, she noticed he gave nothing away with his expression.
Shylah nibbled her lip as they went up to the bedroom. Damn her and her honesty. She bet Eden had asked her while she was drunk on purpose. Sneaky bastard.
Once in the bedroom, Shylah stripped off her clothes and jumped straight into bed.
"I could sleep for years," she groaned as she sank into the cotton sheets.
"I'm going to take a shower," Eden muttered, exiting the room before Shylah could stop him.
Damn it to hell. She couldn't very well sleep if she knew he was angry at her. Rolling onto her back, Shylah stared at the ceiling.
Would she do it differently if she had the choice? She would have loved to have Eden there with her for her recovery and rehab. Hell, it would have made everything a million times easier.
Shylah had so much self-doubt in her worth, thou
gh. She knew it stemmed from growing up with parents who had little faith in her. Moving away from them had been the best thing she ever did. Calling them a couple times a year was the extent of their contact with each other, and she'd never told them what happened. For all they knew, Shylah was still working at a US Navy Base.
Sighing, Shylah's eyes darting back to the bathroom door. She loved Eden, and she needed to trust Eden's love in her.
Shutting her eyes, Shylah tossed and turned until she heard the bathroom door open. After some shuffling sounds, the mattress dipped, but Eden didn't move to embrace her.
Rolling onto her side, Shylah wrapped her arm around Eden's middle.
Mouth next to Eden's ear, she spoke quietly, "I wouldn't change saving you for a second, Eden. But if I had my time again, I would come to you earlier. Trust you to love me even if I didn't feel worthy."
Motionless for a moment, Eden's arm snaked around Shylah and pulled her close. "There won't be a next time, but if for some reason there was, I would hunt you down. There's not a place on this Earth you could hide from me. And you are worthy of so much more than you'll know." Dropping a kiss on her head, Eden pulled her body closer. "I love you too damn much to lose you again, Shylah."
"I love you too, Eden." Too damn much.
26
Eden kept his body low, crouched to the ground so he could move quickly at any moment. Ten sets of eyes sat trained on him, watching. Waiting for his next move.
The key to winning any fight was to not give anything away. As soon as the other person could anticipate your next move, it was game over.
Around him, Eden could hear the ticking of the clock, the sound of a car engine, the chirping of birds. But he would not take his eyes off the man in front of him for a second. No way in hell would he risk it. He knew exactly how deadly his opponent was.
One wrong move would cost Eden more than he was willing to pay.
The man in front of Eden's weight suddenly shifted. It was only slight, but it was enough to give him away.
Eden: A steamy contemporary military romance (Project Arma Book 2) Page 18
