TALON WATCHED carefully as Drew brought Finn out to the mats. They were going to see what his hand-to-hand combat was like first. They had to start with a human, and Drew was one of the agents Gregory trusted around the enhanced.
They both had protective headgear on. Talon did his best not to stare at the lithe little body that followed Drew out, remembering how it felt in his arms the night before. Talon had tried to shake Finn awake at first when he came back from the bathroom, completely stunned he was still there. He looked like shit. Talon could see the dark shadows under his eyes, and his own blood stained Finn’s pants and his shirt. The jacket had been discarded.
In the end, Talon just picked him up. Then what did the kid do? Instead of lying there while Talon took him to his spare room, he moaned softly and curled up in Talon’s arms, burrowing his head in the crook of his neck. Talon had nearly groaned right back and had hurriedly laid him down on the bed. Finn had let out a deep sigh, and Talon just stood and stared and thought about how uncomfortable he looked. With resignation he’d undone Finn’s pants and slid them off his hips. He’d chuckled softly when he’d seen the Superman shorts. He would bet money Finn had never wanted another living soul to see those.
Talon had covered him up and taken a determined step back as Finn had rolled on his side. He wasn’t about to go there. He couldn’t ever go there. Talon had been able to get his rocks off when he wanted to. Surprisingly, for all that regulars seemed to be scared of the enhanced, there were always plenty of willing bodies ready to get a thrill out of a hookup. It was a bit like the thrill of extreme sports, and for some reason, it had bragging rights attached as well. He supposed it was because they were convinced an enhanced could and would lose control in the middle of sex.
Talon fisted his hands. Not gonna happen. Talon would never lose control ever again.
“So I want you to do whatever you can to pin each other to the mats for five seconds,” Talon said. “You are not here to kill each other. I am mainly concerned with what Finn uses for avoidance and defense. The other members of the team will be jumping in the ring at certain times, but they will not execute any moves. Their presence is simply to distract, and they won’t show any favoritism.”
Drew nodded once. He knew the drill.
Finn glanced at Talon, and Drew took full advantage. In one move he shoved Finn to send him off balance, side-stepped, and brought the flat of his hand to connect with Finn’s nose. Everyone winced as Finn hit the deck. Talon’s fingers itched as Finn howled and brought both hands up to his face. Talon raised his hand, and Drew immediately stopped. Drew had properly held back, actually. Finn’s nose would hurt like fuck, but Drew could have easily knocked him out.
Talon opened his mouth to explain to Finn that in a fight, there would be no referees around to tell him when to start, when Drew took a step forward and extended his arm to help Finn up. Before anyone could blink, Drew was on his back, staring up at the ceiling. Finn had waited until he came in close and then used his own foot in a sideways swipe to take Drew’s legs from under him.
Gael laughed out loud, and even Talon had to hold back a smirk. Finn was still holding his nose. “Gael, get Finn some ice.”
Sawyer snorted. “Yeah, can’t have pretty boy getting a black eye.”
Finn lowered a bloody hand and glowered.
Drew got to his feet, grinning. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to bust your nose.”
Finn ignored them both and walked off the mats, heading for the restrooms.
Talon sighed and held his hand out for the ice as Gael came running back. Gael dumped the bag in his hand with a smirk, and Talon followed in the direction Finn had gone.
Talon pushed the door open a few seconds after Finn disappeared through it. Finn was wetting some paper towels in the sink. Talon pulled out the chair. “Sit.”
“I can wipe my own fucking nose,” Finn said, except the anger didn’t really cut it because “nose” sounded like “dose.”
Talon struggled not to laugh. On second look there was barely any blood. He doubted if it would even merit a black eye tomorrow. “I’m sorry. Did you want me to tell Drew to go easy on you?” Talon asked pointedly and got a glower for his efforts. He sighed. “Whatever happened yesterday doesn’t mean I can show you any favors.”
“Did I ask for any?” Finn rounded on him indignantly. “Don’t you think I don’t know you’re just waiting for an excuse to get rid of me?” He turned back and washed his hands.
Suddenly the door barged open. It was Gael. “Talon, we’ve got a situation with an enhanced. They want us to try to get there before they send in the cops.”
Talon took a step and turned to Finn. “You’re done for the day. Go get your car and situate yourself. I’ll drop your bag off later.”
DREW CAME jogging in as Talon and Gael left. He looked sheepishly at Finn. “We just got finished for the day, huh?”
Finn nodded and pressed his nose gently. It didn’t really hurt. Drew looked apologetic, and Finn laughed. “I’m just messing with you.”
“You got the drop on me, though,” Drew pointed out.
“Where are they going, and how come you’re not going?”
“I’m not part of their team, officially. I was just brought in to spar with you. I work out of here, so Gregory kind of co-opted me for the project. They just got a call about some kid who’s gone nuts at school.” Drew shrugged.
Finn followed Drew as they walked back to the locker room.
Drew got changed quickly. “I’m going to go straight home and do some cardio. Then I’ll get showered. What are you doing tonight?”
Finn laughed. “I don’t even know where I’m living yet.”
Drew brightened. “Oh, I do. You’ve got an apartment in the same community as me. Gregory has got six of them on hold for the project. How about you follow me home, and I’ll show you around? You’ve got a bucar, right?”
Finn blinked at him.
“A bureau vehicle,” Drew explained. “Normally agents only get to use them for work, but you have the authority to use it as a sole vehicle for all your training.”
Which is just as well, Finn thought dryly. He didn’t have another car. Finn nodded at Drew, though. Might as well. Not like he was doing anything else.
Chapter Six
FINN WHISTLED quietly to himself in awe as the barrier lifted at the entrance to the apartment complex. Drew had shown him the code for the gate and the barrier and even preprogrammed the address into the GPS in case they got separated. Finn had found the map in the brown envelope, but he let Drew fuss.
He pulled up into the bay next to Drew’s and got out. The complex was beautiful. There was a huge central pool area complete with Jacuzzi and fitness room. Three identical apartment buildings surrounded the pool, with plenty of parking at the rear of each one. It was like he was on vacation, and he suddenly itched to get in the water.
“Totally cool, huh?” Drew grinned at Finn’s reaction. “Your home for at least four weeks.” He looked down as Finn shut the door of the small rental compact he’d been given. “No bag?”
Finn shook his head. “All my things are in Talon’s truck.”
“Well, that doesn’t matter. We’re about the same size.” He looked at Finn assessingly, and Finn stared back in confusion.
“I’m sure I’ll be able to get them off Talon later.”
Drew waved his hand. “Sorry, I forgot. We thought we’d go out tonight. Nothing fancy, and I know you have training, but there are a few agents who live nearby. I kind of arranged for us to meet them later. Thought you’d like to get to know some people of normal size.” Drew smirked. “And none of your team live here.” He walked to the closest building. “Up here. Building B. You’re on the second floor. Apartment 214. The kitchen is stocked, and my number is preprogrammed into your cell. I thought we’d meet the guys around six thirty—get some wings or something. I’ll pick you up.” Drew showed him how to slide his card into the building door. “I’m in buil
ding A, apartment 310. If you want to go for a walk around to see the place, just give me a call.”
“To be honest I’m kind of wiped out,” Finn answered apologetically. “But I’ll see you later?” He turned and headed into the cool building. He didn’t bother with the elevator, as he really needed to start thinking about his fitness. He ran at home and considered himself in reasonable shape, but he had a feeling the bar had just been raised considerably higher. He was still smarting over making a fool of himself in the gym. He’d gotten back at Drew, but he’d looked stupid in the first place.
Finn unlocked his apartment door and stepped in, and his mouth dropped in amazement. It was perfect. A tiny kitchen to the left widened into a much bigger living area, complete with couch and TV. He crossed the room eagerly as he spotted the sliding doors. Fuck me—he even had a damn balcony with a view of the pool.
He turned and headed back to the kitchen and walked through another door. A bedroom and a fairly decent-sized bathroom. He grinned. Decent-sized? Listen to him. The bathroom at Deke’s was smaller than this, and they’d had to share, and this was way nicer.
Finn took one look at the bed and ran and jumped on it. He stretched out and stared at the ceiling. Whatever happened at the end of four weeks, there was no way he was ever going back to Cookeville. He was here to stay.
FINN LOOKED around the numerous scattered tables outside the bar and knocked back his Bud Light. It seemed to be a thing in Florida, where there were more tables outside the bar than in it. All the tables had huge Hawaiianesque straw umbrellas that looked like two scarecrows had just died on them.
He looked at the group seated around the table. Drew, four guys, and two women. The loudest one was currently regaling them with a story about bugs, and he didn’t mean listening devices. Apparently this guy, Eric, was a deputy sheriff, and they’d been called out to a reported home invasion. Except when they got there, it wasn’t anything on two legs doing the invading, but three large palmetto bugs that crawled out when the lady was moving furniture. The lady had screamed and called 911.
Finn joined in the laughter around the table when Eric added that she wanted SWAT called in, and the only way they managed to get her off the dressing table she’d climbed on was by pointing out the critters could actually fly. Apparently she screamed so loud, a second patrol car was dispatched because the neighbors reported her being attacked by the police.
Finn was glad he picked out some sunglasses in the airport because everybody was wearing them, and not because they looked like some bad commercial for a Men in Black movie. The Florida sun was so bright, everyone actually needed them. It also meant he could surreptitiously study everyone from behind them.
Eric was definitely the loudest of the group, and it was a toss-up whether the shades were needed for the sun or the god-awful Hawaiian shirt he was wearing.
His partner, Angela, had come along, a soft-spoken woman Finn guessed was in her late forties and around ten years older than Eric. They seemed to make it work, though, because Eric was quite tender toward her, and Finn wondered if they had more than a working partnership.
Drew spent most of the time talking to the other guys: Matt Harker, Dennis Painter, and Emilio Harve. They said they worked out of the Tampa field office, so Finn assumed they were agents, but he wasn’t going to ask outright at the bar. Matt had reddish brown hair and white skin that one wouldn’t think had ever seen a Florida summer. He seemed pleasant enough. Dennis—the oldest of the three—reminded Finn a little of Deke, unfortunately, and his coloring was the opposite of Matt’s. His skin looked like it had been baked by the sun. In fact, the bread Finn liked wasn’t as toasted. Emilio, Black-Hispanic in coloring, barely said one word. Neither Matt nor Emilio said much, just listened to Drew and Dennis. Finn couldn’t hear what Drew was saying in hushed tones over Eric, but Drew and Dennis each glanced at Finn twice, so he guessed he was the topic of conversation.
The last of the group was a woman called Hannah Bishop. She had just quit her job in a bank, and after a two-week vacation, was flying to Quantico for the latest intake. Apparently she’d known Drew since they were kids. Finn tried not to feel envious.
“You know, I can’t decide whether I’m jealous or plain relieved it’s not me,” Hannah said, smiling.
Finn put his Bud down. He wasn’t sure what to say. It couldn’t be discussed, and certainly not in a bar. Gregory was very insistent on that. He eyed Drew to see if he had heard what Hannah had said because only he or Drew could have told anyone about it, but Drew was still talking in whispers to the other guys.
Angela leaned forward a little when Finn didn’t immediately reply. “I mean, everyone’s seen them on TV, but I can’t believe they’re actually going to be allowed to be agents.”
Finn grimaced. They were already fucking agents. He kept his mouth closed, though. He wasn’t about to be drawn into a conversation about something he shouldn’t be talking about.
He was saved from any reply when Drew stood and offered to get the third round, but both Emilio and Matt stood and gave their apologies. Angela murmured something quietly to Eric, and they stood.
Drew raised his eyebrows. “One more?” He looked at Finn, and Finn nodded. He wanted the chance to talk to Drew, but he wasn’t saying anything in front of Hannah.
Hannah must have sensed his reticence, because she also stood. “I’ve actually got a ton of packing to do, and I’ll be away all next week visiting Mom.”
Drew walked toward her, and they hugged. “Say hi to your mom for me. I’ll try and be up for Thanksgiving.”
Finn smiled pleasantly as she left and waited while the server put down three more bottles. He’d hoped Dennis was also leaving, but it didn’t look like it. Finn glanced around. There was a ball game on TV near the bar, and most people were over there. He wouldn’t be heard.
“So who did you piss off in a former life, huh?” Dennis drawled and took a swig from his fresh bottle.
Finn smiled politely, assuming the question was rhetorical.
“He actually didn’t do too bad for his first day,” Drew said, also smiling.
Dennis grunted and looked around. He leaned forward a little, not easy because of the bulk around his middle. Finn absently wondered if the guy was an agent, because he knew there were fitness standards, and Dennis didn’t look like he could chase after a suspect anytime soon. “You take it from me, son. Go get yourself another job,” Dennis said.
Finn didn’t reply. He had no clue what to say.
Drew shifted in his chair a little. “Go easy on him.”
Dennis tipped the bottle back and drained it in one go, then stood. “Just telling it like it is. See you Monday, I expect.”
Finn nodded politely and watched as Dennis stumbled a little as he walked away.
Drew sighed. “It’s okay. His sister’s picking him up.”
“Is he an agent?” Finn asked quietly.
Drew shook his head. “No, he works in white-collar as a computer analyst. Insurance fraud, that sort of thing. Sorry if he’s a bit negative.”
Finn shrugged.
“So what did you think of your first day, then?” Drew grinned, changing the subject.
Finn shook his head. “Unbelievable. I actually can’t believe I’m here.” He considered a question he’d been dying to ask. “You work with the team quite a bit. It isn’t something you’ve ever wanted for yourself?”
Drew took a swig from his bottle, and Finn got the impression he was thinking about his answer. “To be honest, yeah. I haven’t applied, though.”
“Mind me asking why not?”
Drew took another swig of his bottle.
“I know I’m being set up to fail,” Finn said. “I know full well the only reason I’m here is because the agency wouldn’t take me normally. I’m dispensable.” He grinned to soften the words. He didn’t want Drew feeling guilty by shooting down his dreams.
Drew sighed. “Caught that, did you?”
Finn smiled, but h
e couldn’t help the twist he felt in his gut at having it confirmed. Seemed like everyone knew. “But you’re already a trained agent. The failure of this team isn’t going to impact on your career, surely?” He was convinced there was something Drew wasn’t saying. “Tell me about the others who didn’t make it.”
Drew looked up, startled, and Finn’s stomach took a quick dive. That was it. His innocent question to keep Drew talking had hit on something. He waited patiently.
Drew started. “You’re the fourth that I know of.”
“All already agents?”
“Yeah. One of them—Hillier—was a close-combat specialist, and even he couldn’t put Vance down. That’s his ability, Vance.”
“Close combat?” Finn queried.
“No, incredible strength. Think Superman-type shit.”
Finn blinked. Wow. “To be honest I kind of thought most of the abilities were exaggerated on TV. I mean, how come they’re not set on world domination or some such shit?” He was joking, but he shut up when Drew didn’t laugh. Okay, so he was officially getting a little more freaked out.
“Because there’s not enough of them, and so far the incidence seems to be confined to the US.” Drew played with the label on the bottle. “What do you know?”
“The first kids were born in the seventies. There’s been no cause identified. Suspicions vary from everything from genetics to pesticides,” Finn replied promptly. “There have been some major crimes reported. There was one guy who raided banks…. Something to do with being able to crack computer codes. Another who seemed to be able to do something with explosives. But there hasn’t been anything major since the task forces were implemented.”
“All that is true, and because the circumstances were very isolated, no major panic has happened. The government has never tried to initiate any sort of testing without consent, despite the law affecting the deceased.”
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