A shaky gasp then
she cleared her throat and triumph soared through Vin. Those sounds gave
credence to Helen Scott getting herself together. “Yes…um… I was down the hall
from my office in the break room getting coffee when everything started.”
‘Everything’
,
euphemism for shitty alien attack with piss-poor timing.
Shit, her office.
Apparently, luck decided to smile at another bastard while Vin rolled on. He
remembered the layout from his rare visits.
Eleventh f-ing floor.
Vin signaled his
men with a hand gesture and received six nods in return. Their boots rang
overloud in the hollow stairway, the echo coming back at them in stereo. Curtis
flinched but continued on. Sounds occasionally gave his boy problems. Curtis'
enhanced hearing tested as the strongest of the group after the experiments
they’d endured. Vin studied his scout a moment longer confirming his fitness.
Curtis didn’t hesitate and offered Vin a chin lift. Good enough, he’d let Vin
know if he had issues.
Considering the
state of the building, this particular stairwell remained surprisingly intact
with only cracks in the pale green walls hinting at the damage sustained on the
outside. Helen’s breath hitched in his ear.
“Okay, I have a
couple questions for you while I make my way up.” Time to distract her with
meaningless chatter before she broke down.
“You’re serious.
You’re really here, Vin.” Relief crashed through her tone. The strong façade
she’d mustered weakened. None of his men could miss the fine tremor in her
voice. They exchanged glances. How many times did they perform what was to be a
simple in and out only to have hysterics throw a wrench in the works? Damn if
that didn’t speed up their pace.
Nothing could
happen to Helen. Vin managed to wake up every day and face the changes in his life
because he’d tasted happiness once. Happiness from spending time with this
woman who had no idea of the power of the gift she’d given him.
Vin needed her
alert and strong. A frightened victim was liable to make bad decisions in a
situation like this. “Hellcat, I promise, I
am
here and I
will
get you out. But you have to promise me something in return.”
Curtis paused on
the second floor landing. Harkum came up on his left, dark head cocked to the
side. Vin listened and they all heard the same thing. Running water. A quick
glance down showed dry ground around their boots. Pipes busted somewhere.
Combined with the live wires this place just became even more of a death trap
to the unwary.
‘Keep moving,’
Vin mouthed. He added a hurry up gesture. They double timed it around the next
set of stairs, a breeze whipping over his face from the increased speed that
was in no way natural.
“What do you want
me to promise?”
Such acceptance
and faith. Had anyone else every given Vin that same level of honesty and
trust?
“Promise me that
no matter what you hear, you won’t panic and run out of your office. I know
where you are right now but if you move from your position, I can’t guarantee
I’ll know how to find you.” That was a lie. He’d find her if he had to take
what was left of the building apart, cement block by cement block.
A sniffle and then
an unladylike snort. “I’m not going anywhere, Vin. I have some sense.”
“Good.” Fourth
floor. They all came to an abrupt halt. The dark gray fire door leading to this
level lay on its side blocking the turn to the next set of stairs. Snapped
hinges spoke of the force of the blast hitting this area.
Curtis tapped it
with his foot to check how secure it was. It rocked under his boots.
“Over or remove?”
The lean blond asked.
Vin tapped his ear
com, muting their conversation from Helen. No need to freak her out more than
necessary. “Over. We don’t have time to clear it.” The jump was at least a six
foot leap. Easy for them with their enhanced musculature.
Curtis went first,
landing with bent knees on the third step of the next level. Harkum went next,
hitting the stairs with a loud thud. Nathan chuckled and the others joined in.
Big bastard. Harkum stood an easy six-seven and had the muscled weight to
support his frame. Tallest one of Alpha Squad and hell of a man to have in a
gun fight.
Vin waved for
Nathan to take his turn with Nathan’s twin brother a shadow at his side. Zander
timed his jump and the dark haired brothers landed silently together right
behind Harkum and Curtis. Vin shook his head. He still couldn’t figure out how
the spooks did it. No matter the task, they were always in harmony as if more
than the genetic mixed stew they’d gone through governed their actions.
“After you, sir.”
Rockland stood
relaxed beside Vin, holding a modified G32. Whatever weapon the government
issued their special ops group, Rock modified it. Vin had to give him credit.
He’d seen Rock’s weapon in action in testing and would request they all got
their weapons modified as soon as they had down time at Command Central.
“I’m last, Rock.
Don’t argue.” Gray eyes glared in his direction but Rock took a running jump
crossing the downed door in seconds. Vin prepared to join them when the low
whine of engines at maximum thrust filled the air. Their glances darted around
the stairway landing at the same time on the lone window six feet up from the
corner wall of the stairs.
“Down, everybody.”
Vin snapped the order out while dropping to his knees by the side corner wall.
Pressed firmly against the concrete, he confirmed his command had been
followed.
They followed his
order instantly, huddling together back to back and providing cover for one
another. The short stutter of Helen’s breath in his ear caused Vin’s throat to
lock up. An unfamiliar sensation expanded in his chest and sweat trickled down
his temple.
Vin unmuted his
ear com. “Baby, you there?”
“Yes.” More rapid
pants. She recognized the overhead sounds as well.
“I need you to get
down on the floor and get under your desk if you can.” She had a huge beast in
black taking up a fair portion of her luxury office. Some protection beat none.
He heard her
scrambling around and then. “Are they coming back?”
Vin hoped not.
“Shhh. Tuck your head down and make sure you’re covered.” He needed her to
remain calm.
Laser fire sounded
seconds later from outside. Engines whined and the sound of multiple air
fighters joined the mix. An explosion boomed, causing the building to rock.
Helen squeaked in his ear.
“Steady, hellcat,”
he murmured, tightening his hold on his weapon. What he wouldn’t give to be at
her side holding her. If she let him. So far neither of them mentioned Vin’s
absence over the last six months. She’d texted him in the beginning. Voicemails
followed her texts and with no less class than he expected, she acquiesced to
his silent message to fade away.
Vince cursed the
stupidity of his actions now. He missed her more than he’d ever missed any
other woman who shared his bed in the past. Doing what was necessary cost him
endless sleepless nights but his options at the time were limited and some days
he still seemed to be paying. Helen deserved better than a worn out soldier
with a dose of fuck up thrown in the mix. Vin still wondered why she’d ever
made that first phone call to him.
But Vin was
grateful. Like a dog trained to sit, whenever she called him in the middle of
the night, he’d made the long drive from DC to Baltimore without qualm for the
chance to spend a few hours in her bed. A few hours of escape that suited both
of them over the last two years.
In her arms, Vin
found peace and a small slice of contentment. Peace he probably hadn’t earned
but he’d eagerly soaked it in. And it saved his soul. It was hard to believe
how close he’d rode the edge until he wasn’t standing on the cusp of
self-destruction any longer. Thanks to Helen.
She never
complained. No feminine hints to change the status of what they had. No
pressure when he didn’t talk about what he did for the military. Not once did
she question his long absences. Helen gave Vin freedom to just be and in return
he hoped he’d given her a small measure of the same.
Of course, all of
that changed when Slade offered his whacked out version of a government pardon
six months ago. Vin and the men on team Alpha Squad became something more.
Something powerful and dangerous. Each day, they discovered abilities the
doctors in the lab hadn’t predicted. Super strength only. Yeah, right. What
about the psychic extra bullshit appearing left and right?
Too late to
complain now. The junk in their veins was permanent. So Vin had purposely
called it quits to any chance of a relationship with a woman. Specifically,
with Helen.
Wind rattled the
lone window above them followed by the screech of fighter jets. Gunfire sounded
followed by silence as the battle traveled further away from them. “Let’s
move,” Vin ordered, jumping to his feet. He wanted to get to Helen as soon as
possible. That was too close for comfort. If the Rekabians decided to level the
building they were all done.
“Helen?”
“I’m okay.” Clear
and crisp.
Vin released a
relieved smile. “That’s my girl. On my way, hellcat.”
Chapter 2
Helen tried to
make herself as small as possible in the awkward curl under her desk. Not an
easy task in the hip hugging gray skirt. She’d long since kicked off her heels
though one bore a nasty scrape along the side from when she’d fallen during the
onset of the Rekabian attack.
Pushing back a
fall of hair behind her shoulders, Helen tightened her grip on the cell. With
the phone pressed to her ear, her connection to Vin reassured her. Vin. Just
his name created a haven in her mind and heart. He’d come get her, of that, she
had no doubt. When Helen first met him, she’d been drawn to the brimming
strength of purpose in his gaze.
Their eyes clashed
in a coffee shop of all unlikely places. Confidence and stern military bearing
had made him more attractive to her than any of the numerous suit clad men
present. Not her usual type, Helen had stared nonetheless as he ordered a plain
cup of coffee which he proceeded to drink black before even walking away from
the counter.
When he caught her
watching his every move, he’d winked one of his gorgeous blue gray eyes.
Instead of ducking her head and pretending she hadn’t been ogling him, Helen
had waved her finger at him in a come hither gesture while the heat of a blush
burned her cheeks. The move surprised her because she liked men to approach
first but something about his looks tempted her to tease.
His blond brow had
hiked in surprise and then with a rueful shrug and the prowling walk she loved,
he’d approached her. Nothing about the day had been normal. After mild
flirting, mostly on her part as she chattered about nonsensical stuff while
he’d continued to watch her as if trying to figure her out, awkward silence
fell between them.
Helen refused to
speak more. She’d been overly aggressive in making her interest known.
Something she’d never done before. But every inch of him screamed come get me
if you want and oh how she wanted. His looks possessed a hint of danger laced
with an edge of strength Helen envied. Finally, he’d reached into his back
pocket and handed her a small silver business card with only a number printed
in black ink.
“Vin Michaels.
Call me if you’re serious, baby and not playing games.”
Helen almost
swooned on the spot. Instead of being offended by the generic endearment, her
panties had dampened. Then, he walked away without a backward glance, leaving
her standing there mouth open and more turned on than she ever had been in her
life.
Not one to waste
time, Helen called him that night and the next. When he returned her call two
days later, he’d extended a dinner invitation that she accepted immediately.
Dinner led to other things and she’d fallen fast and hard.
Totally unlike the
narrow focus and detail she applied to everything else in her life, Helen
delved into the sporadic nature of their affair full on with no questions
asked. Passion and hunger governed her actions and Vin as a lover exceeded her
expectations with his instinctive ability to give her pleasure. Drunk on the
feelings Vin invoked during the times they were together, Helen never
questioned his past or his job.
She knew all
about leaving unwanted thoughts of a tainted past behind. Eight years at her
job and she still worried about the stigma of being the product of an unwed
teenage mother living in specialized housing. But with Vin, Helen didn’t think
about any of those things. She only worried over what she’d do if he ended
their relationship.
Helen tapped her
forefinger against the plush carpet under her legs. Could her time with Vin
even be categorized as a relationship? They called each other, screwed and then
he went home. A fiery blush heated her cheeks. In light of the way things
ended, she constantly second guessed the decision she made two years ago.
Yes, Vin ranked as
the best lover she’d ever had but with thirty looming over her head, Helen
realized she didn’t have much to show for the life she’d built with such single
minded determination. A fabulous condo in an upscale community in upper
Baltimore County, a car worth more than the hefty balance in her bank account
and her career.
Her time with Vin
had her thinking that maybe she’d finally found someone to share all of that.
His voice brought back memories of their hot delicious nights together. Nights
when they’d spoken of random topics. Likes and dislikes. Helen truly believed
they had something special until he’d stopped responding or calling.
The thought drove
the ever present wedge in her chest deeper. She still had no idea what had
happened. One moment things were fine and the next…nothing. He’d just refused
to answer her calls or text and she’d gracefully accepted his less than subtle
sign that what they had came to an end.
“Helen?”
Vin’s voice jerked
her to attention. The sound of roaring jets overhead diminished. Helen
straightened as much as possible bumping her head on the under side of her
desk. Concern laced his tone after months of silence without any contact from
him. Six lonely months. “I’m okay.” She made her tone as firm as possible.
Bad enough she’d
almost fallen apart when he called.
“That’s my girl.
On my way, hellcat.”
Helen jammed her
fist in her mouth to muffle her cry. She hated his bratty nickname for her
except the familiar term gave her something to cling to when she preferred to
break down and bawl. But Helen Scott didn’t cry. She got herself together and
marched on. Along those lines, Helen scrambled from beneath her safety spot and
rose to her feet. Muscles twitched in her back from being cramped during those
brief minutes. One more reminder about all the aerobic classes she promised to
attend yet failed to schedule time for.
“We’re on the
eighth floor. Shouldn’t be much longer. Are you injured at all?”
We? Who did
Vincent have with him? Helen reviewed what she knew of her former lover, the
list came up woefully short. His background was clearly military. A fact he’d
confessed to after their second night together even if she hadn’t recognized
the overly watchful and edgy restless look he never lost. But Vin never talked
about which branch he belonged to or what he did. Helen read his
‘don’t
trespass’
message loud and clear.
As for his family,
Helen couldn’t recollect a single conversation involving mention of them. She,
at least, talked of her mother. Not often, since she didn’t exactly see eye to
eye with Carmen Scott. But she’d spoke of the woman who gave birth to her.
“Helen? Are you
hurt?” His impatience nudged at her.
“Um..no… I don’t
think so.” She did a quick check over her body. The silk blouse in pale pink
looked worse for wear as she twisted her torso from side to side. Though
wrinkled, the gray skirt to her suit had come through mostly unscathed.
Wrinkles didn’t count in her opinion, all things considered.
Once more, Helen
ran a hand over her loosened hair. Her neat bun of earlier long since gone
leaving the shoulder length mass to fall about her face. She leaned over her
desk and rifled through the neat rows of office accessories until she spotted
the colorful box of rubber bands. Helen grimaced. Not her first choice but she
needed to pin her hair up and this would have to do. Struggling to keep the
phone propped between her ear and shoulder, Helen gathered it and twisted the
band on the bulk and created a ponytail. It sagged along her neck but she
didn’t let hair concerns distract her.
Next, Helen
scanned the floor and slid her feet back into the expensive gray pumps that
would never be the same again. When the attack first occurred, she’d finished a
quick snack in the break room. A simple bag of chips to make up for the lunch
she’d skipped and the dinner she’d probably bail on due to laziness.
Thunderous booms
and the rocking building scared her more than she wanted to admit. Glancing out
the windows over the sleek wooden tables revealed the oval shaped black space
crafts which had become more and more recognizable as the Rekabians increased
their visibility around Earth. Helen had no time to prepare as they suddenly
open fired. Glass had splintered all around her.
People ran through
the halls screaming. Some foolishly took the elevator while others bee-lined
for the stairs. Helen didn’t know what happened to them or if they’d made it
out. Instinct and self preservation caused her to run back in the direction of
her office seeking some form of safety.
Originally, the
space craft as large as a football field had caused great curiosity mingled
with awe. Newsfeeds and social sites flooded with information about proof of
life outside of their small world. Aliens, who initially seemed interested in
forming a partnership of sorts with the Governments of Earth, sent a digital
greeting referring to themselves as Rekabians. Within a month of contact, the
aliens which no one had ever seen began sending out smaller sized crafts which
hovered randomly over various cities. Unsure of their purpose, America
responded by sending stealth fighters airborne as a precautionary measure.
Within weeks, the
four or five space crafts numbered in the twenties and appeared around the
world not just the US. For once, every country acted of one accord. Every
worldwide military branch sent their fighter jets to meet the potential threat.
It was Earth against the unknown. Nothing happened. The crafts just lingered
around seemingly harmless. Now it looked like the Rekabians had decided to make
their move.
“Why aren’t you in
Hong Kong, hellcat?”
Helen pulled the
phone away from her ear to glare at it. One of the frustrating things about
their time together was the fact that Vin always seemed to know her schedule
while she never knew his. No idea when he was state side or out of the country
as she often suspected he was. Nestling her cell under her neck, she focused on
the more obvious. “You know I hate that name.”
“But it’s so
appropriate.”
“Hardly,” she
snapped. The nickname implied a woman prone to hissy fits. Helen preferred the
term vocal about espousing her ideas.
His warm chuckles
greeted her sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. “Stop avoiding the
question and tell me why you’re home early and at work.”
Demanding. How
could he infuse a simple question with his demanding presence? As if he had the
right to demand anything from her. Months of silence lay between any rights she
may have given him, yet Vin acted as if they’d just talked yesterday.
Helen contemplated
not answering but the move seemed juvenile and played into his stupid nickname
for her. Telling him what he wanted was the easiest route. “I canceled the
trip. The warehouse here had an issue with the samples so I didn’t have time to
go and tour our new plants overseas.” In light of the attack, Helen wished
she’d stuffed herself on the plane and headed off to Hong Kong. Which reminded
her. “Did Vice President Stone make it out safely?” Security on the building
down the street had been tight all week in preparation for his visit.
Vin grunted and
she could hear him speaking with someone else. “Yeah, we got him out and on his
way.”
Which explained
why Vin was here. He and his infamous
we
. Hurt ticked at her heart but
Helen blocked the sensation. Why should she be hurt that Vin wasn’t here
specifically for her? What mattered was the fact he was in a position to help
when she needed it most. Still, the pressure in her chest tightened.
“Talk to me,
Helen. On the tenth floor and clearing our way. Might take a moment longer.”
While his tone
remained neutral, Vin’s statement implied they’d run into some obstacle he
wouldn’t discuss. Licking her dry lips, Helen blurted the thought foremost in
her mind. “Why’d you stop calling?” As soon as the question escaped, Helen
wanted to call it back. She banged the cell on her forehead before placing it
back at her ear.
Desperate, party of one please
.
“Yeah, not exactly
a good time for that talk.”
Anger rescued her.
Forget desperate. Despite the conviction that she would accept they were over,
Helen wanted to know his reasons. He owed her an explanation at the least. “On
the contrary, I think it’s perfect timing. Clearly, neither of us is going
anywhere. Consider me a captive audience.”
Laughter sounded.
Multiple variations. Not his. Helen dropped her head and braced her hand on her
desk as embarrassment rushed through her. “Is someone else on the line with us,
Vin?”
“I have you on an
open com with my team.” Amusement danced through his explanation. “I’m sure
they’re pleased to meet you.”
“Damn it,” Helen
rarely cursed. Straightening to her full height she adjusted her skirt and
wished for a mirror. Looking a disheveled mess was not how she wanted to appear
in front of Vin for the first time after their break up. Or anyone else for
that matter. In her head, she’d dreamed of their paths crossing but she’d
always been dressed to kill, her emotions under tight control as she ignored
him the way he’d ignored her. Toss that fairytale out the window.
Helen had no idea
what an open com meant but it was evident more than one person heard their
conversation. “My apologies, Vin.” Soldiers ran on a hierarchy of sorts. Had
she made him look bad? Helen rolled her eyes. Not that she should care. He’d
dumped her.
This time she
recognized his short laugh. Tingles rippled over her skin from the decadent
sound. Vin’s laugh poured over her like melted chocolate and Helen forced
herself not to drool.
“You just made
their day. Helen meet Nathan, Zander, Curtis, Bransen, Rock and Harkum. My
team.”
“Ma’am.” Sounded
several times over the line.
Helen rubbed her
face, wanting to scrub away her humiliation. “Nice to meet you all. I’m Helen
Scott.” She started to add her title but doubted any of them cared. “Thank you
all in advance for helping me.”