Hell & Back (Outbreak Task Force)

by Julie Rowe

  “Technology changes and we have to keep up, but having a whole bunch of people who know nothing about what we do inspecting our security protocols—” He cut himself off and took in a couple of breaths before finishing, “And giving orders carefully phrased as advice on how our security should be upgraded. It rankles.”

  No wonder he was mad. “Who could do a better job than us at our own security?”

  “Some contractor.” The way he said “contractor,” like it was covered in slime, raised the hair on the back of her neck. “Which is bullshit.”

  “The guy in the suit whispering in the general’s ear?”

  “There’s a reason he didn’t introduce himself.”

  Of course not. If you wanted an outsider to come in and tell a bunch of subject specialists how to do their job, you wouldn’t advertise who the outsider was in advance.

  “It’s ridiculous. We’re the experts, and we’re the ones responsible for some of the most dangerous organisms on the planet. Where are they going to find people more qualified than us?”

  He studied her, his expression relaxing into thoughtfulness. “The surgeon general seems to think these so-called experts exist and will soon ensure our security protocols reach or exceed proper ‘standards.’” He put air quotes around standards.

  “Safety or security standards?”

  “Both.” Her face must have looked blank, because he added, “To keep armed assholes out and the pathogens in.”

  “Unless you plan to blow the whole place up, there’s no guaranteed way to keep a determined armed force out of anywhere.” She’d read enough history books from various wars around the world to know that. Another thought occurred to her. “What kinds of security exists now?”

  “Restricted access to qualified personnel in an underground bunker-style facility. One way in and out. Hazmat suits with their own oxygen source. To keep the pathogens in and away from exposure to any other bacteria, viruses, et cetera, someone might bring in with them.”

  That sounded comprehensive. “So, what do they want to do? Surround the place with cannons and tanks?”

  “Something like that.”

  She winced. “Putting guns, explosives, or things that go boom anywhere near microscopic pathogens would be dumb. Unless the explosion is large enough to destroy everything completely, it could be a quick and dirty way to spread them around.”

  Disgust pulled his top lip away from his teeth. “I noted the same.”

  They hadn’t listened to him.

  “But you were a soldier,” she said, cocking her head to one side. “You’re uniquely qualified to advise them on all of this.”

  He stared at her, his face emotionless. “The asinine idiots know that. Apparently, being a veteran doesn’t make me an expert on keeping volatile biological substances secure from assholes.”

  The anger was back, lowering his eyebrows and narrowing his eyes. Making him look like he’d have no problem putting his hands around someone’s neck and choking the life out of them.

  There must be something wrong with her, because it made her hot.

  Chapter Four

  11:34 a.m.

  Henry took in Ruby’s indignant expression and the blush spreading up her neck and across her face and wondered for the eight millionth time what she was thinking.

  The pink infusing her cheeks took her from pretty to cuter than fuck. A fact he should not be noticing.

  The woman was a puzzle he’d yet to figure out. She’d started working at the CDC a couple of months ago. He’d been assigned as her mentor/supervisor and had taken one look at her and stuck her into a box labeled “timid and tame.”

  She’d been busting out of that box daily ever since.

  Ruby was quiet and reserved until she had something to say. Then, more often than not, she’d take a half dozen words and slap you between the eyes with them. The first time she’d done it to him, he’d had to stop talking to think about what she’d just said, because her tone had been so normal, casual, and helpful, even.

  He’d yet to see her angry. Did she get angry?

  She was so calm it was hard to know. Everyone had a boiling point, a moment when some fucker picked apart enough of your last nerve to set off some fireworks. He wanted to know what hers was, wanted to know where her boundaries were. Wanted to know if her skin was as soft as it looked.

  Now she regarded him with sedate blue eyes and said just as serenely, “So, what are they going to do? Take over, tear down what we’ve already done, and start over?”

  “That would be too dangerous, with all the attention we’ve been getting since the FAFO started their little bioterrorism war with the entire country…” His voice trailed off, and he started to grin. “I doubt Homeland Security would allow an unknown contractor, no matter how connected, that kind of access. Touring the current facilities, offering advice, and offering to supply the latest tech is probably what they want.”

  “That’s all well and good. But what if you had someone like one of my cousins in your meeting? Someone who figures it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission?”

  He met her gaze, saw the intelligent humor simmering under all that calm. “You’re sneakier than you look.”

  “I have a brother who requires careful handling.”

  “What does that mean?” He’d heard enough people talk about him that way after he’d lost his leg. As if it lowered his value to society.

  “He’s a physics genius, but he’s got no sense. Sometimes I feel like I’m constantly trying to train a puppy.”

  “Sort of an absentminded professor type of thing?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What does he do, besides a lot of math?”

  “He works for Mars Mission Labs on the propulsion system that will get us to Mars.”

  Henry couldn’t help himself. “Far out.”

  Ruby slanted a look at him and shook her head. “Funny.”

  “He older or younger?”

  “He’s my twin. I’m older by four minutes.”

  Henry hid a smile. “And you’ve been calling the shots ever since?”

  “I suppose I have. Nate is interested in outer space, cars, craft beer, and role-playing games.”

  When she didn’t add anything else, he asked, “That’s it?”

  She shrugged. “Pretty much.”

  “Okay. So, since you’re so good at handling flaky people, how, ah, will I know you’re mad?”

  She gave him an incredulous look. “You’ll know.”

  His own sister gave him that same look when he’d said something really stupid. “Okay,” he said, having to work really hard to keep the laughter out of his voice.

  The lab door opened with a hiss, and DS walked in. Dr. Rodrigues had hired him away from the city of El Paso’s transit system. In his fifties, his gray hair buzz-cut short, he worked out regularly and taught judo four days a week.

  Henry had met some tough sons of bitches in and out of the military; DS made most of them look like weekend warriors.

  Now, the older man wore a smile with more than a touch of wicked humor. “Did you have fun at your meeting?” His voice dripped with more glee than a kid upending his treat bag of Halloween candy on the living room floor.

  Conscious of Ruby sitting a few feet away, Henry threw out the first half dozen responses that came to him due to excessive bad language. He finally decided to keep it simple. “Fuck off.”

  DS laughed, glanced at Ruby, giving her a nod.

  She sighed. “Don’t pick on him. He’s had to deal with a lot of stupid people already today, and it’s put him in a bad mood.”

  “No promises, missy.” DS moved his gaze from Ruby to Henry and looked right at him while saying, “Pulling people’s heads out of their asses is what I do best.”

  “Give it to me straight, you cantanker
ous old bastard.” Henry didn’t have the time or patience to deal with DS rubbing his nose in whatever shit pile might have sprung up as a result of the meeting.

  “I might have something nice to say.”

  “You’re gloating.”

  The smile on the old man’s face finally settled into thoughtfulness. “You upset a few folks,” he said to Henry. “I’m thinking about recommending a finishing school so you can learn some manners.”

  “I laid out the facts and didn’t swear once.”

  “You told them they weren’t qualified to have an opinion on the subject of lab security.”

  “They aren’t.”

  “Idiots are everywhere.” DS’s voice sharpened. “Telling them they’re an idiot when you want them to do something for you or agree with you makes you dumber than they are.”

  “Then I guess I’m a goddamn idiot.”

  DS crossed his arms over his chest and just stared.

  “Will there be repercussions?” Ruby asked.

  DS finally glanced at her. “Nothing official, but he’s ruffled some feathers.” A wry smile kicked up one corner of his mouth. “On the other hand, a couple of the other idiots really enjoyed his honest and unvarnished appraisal of the ideas expressed at the meeting.”

  “You’re just fucking with me, aren’t you?” It wasn’t a question.

  “I just came from Rodrigues’s office. Find someone to take your regular workload for the next couple of weeks. You and your sidekick here are going to be busy evaluating all our level three and up labs.”

  “In the country?” Ruby asked.

  “For a start, but I think it will end up being any lab or containment facility we have everywhere.”

  “Sweet,” Ruby said in a breathy voice that made his cock come to attention. The look of pleasure on her face hit him square in the gut and sucked all the blood out of his brain. He couldn’t look away, never wanted to look away. Was that how she looked when a man was deep inside her? Fuck, he wanted to know.

  He fucking wanted her.

  DS shifted his weight, and Henry realized the old man’s attention was on him.

  He yanked his gaze away from Ruby’s face and stared blankly at his computer screen. “At least I won’t have to listen to any complaints about the mission.”

  “Just make sure you stay on mission.” DS’s voice had gained an even sharper edge than usual. “It’s easy to get sidetracked when you’re dealing with this many”—he glanced briefly at Ruby—“variables.”

  The old man didn’t miss much.

  “Huh?” she asked.

  “Staying focused isn’t going to be a problem.” Henry made sure to keep his tone calm and confident.

  DS stared at him for a few seconds more then nodded. “Rodrigues wants to see you two in her office right after lunch. Use this time to reassign your current workloads.”

  Ruby sighed dramatically. “Dare I ask Raymond to take on the measles monitoring?”

  “That’s a possibility.” Henry looked around but didn’t see the man anywhere. “Where is he?”

  “Rodrigues is giving him her this is your last chance speech. I’ll make sure he gets here when she’s done with him.” With another hard look at Henry, DS nodded at the two of them and left.

  Ruby grinned and all but bounced in her chair, the excited grin on her face turning her from pretty to fucking gorgeous. “This is going to be so cool.”

  This was going to be an exercise in restraint.

  “We’re not going on vacation.” Jesus, his voice sounded rough, like he was two seconds away from losing his shit. His cock was hard enough to shatter rock.

  “No, but we’re going into the most secure labs in the world, where the most dangerous pathogens are kept…” She beamed another eye-blinding smile at him. “So cool.”

  “You said that already.” Now he sounded about as friendly as a hungry grizzly.

  Her face fell. “Would you prefer a different partner…assistant…whatever I am?”

  “What? No.” He caught himself and continued calmly, “No, you’re…” so fucking hot I can’t wait to get your clothes off so I can touch every last fucking inch of you “…the best person to go with me. We need more staff familiar with all our facilities. And you’re an infectious disease specialist.”

  “I know that, but…”

  “Rodrigues assigned me as your mentor to see if we could work well together. Most of her people are teamed up with another investigator, but I haven’t met anyone I felt I could work with.”

  Her eyes widened and were so fucking blue, looking into them made him feel like he was flying, weightless, free.

  He hadn’t felt like that in…years. Not since before the IED.

  He crashed back to Earth and cleared his throat. “Until now.”

  Ruby smiled, and this time all that fucking sunshine was aimed right at him. “Thank you. I…” She blushed again, and he loved seeing the pink infuse her cheeks. It made him want to stroke her skin and feel the heat for himself.

  She turned her gaze shyly away. “I’m glad you’re happy with my work.”

  “Damn straight.” The words rumbled out, harsher than he wanted, but she didn’t seem to mind. She darted a glance at him. Now even her ears were red.

  Holy shit, she was flirting with him.

  A large part of him wanted to grab hold of her interest and devour her. Taste that glowing skin, discover if she was as hot for him as he was for her.

  His cock throbbed, hard enough to make sitting painful. If he stood up, he’d better be sure his lab coat covered up the fucking tentpole pitched in his pants.

  He glanced around the lab. Most people appeared to be focused on their work, but a few were glancing over at Ruby and him with curious expressions.

  “Start writing a report on the measles outbreak so someone can come in and take over. As soon as I talk to Rodrigues, we’ll discuss our next steps.”

  “Yes, sir. I’ll get started right away.”

  Henry winced. “Don’t call me ‘sir,’ I’m not an off…a sir kind of guy. Just stick with Henry.”

  “Sorry,” she said. She got up and stepped over to him and bit her lip. “But when you issue orders, you sound like army.” She headed toward the staff washrooms and disappeared into the ladies’ room.

  He sounded like army?

  Did that mean the same thing as dangerously desperate?

  He’d nearly kissed her when she’d put that succulent bottom lip of hers between her teeth.

  What did he think he was doing, taking her with him to every biosafety lab over a level two? There was no way in hell he’d be able to keep his fucking hands to himself.

  A smart man would take someone else. A smart man would take a useless fuck like Raymond instead. A smart man would run away from temptation as fast as he could. But he wouldn’t do any of those things. After seeing the naked want and pleasure on her face, he couldn’t disappoint her now.

  He was an idiot.

  Get back to work, stupid. Sound advice. Too bad he wasn’t of sound mind and body and hadn’t been for a long time. After the incident that took his leg and killed some of his brothers in arms, his battle, it had taken him a long time to figure out his shit. To forgive himself. He shouldn’t even be alive. He’d sacrificed himself to save his battle and had expected to die. But he hadn’t; he’d survived only to be forced out of the military and stripped away from the only people who understood why he’d broken cover, given away their position too early, and triggered a land mine.

  He’d done it to stop the armored vehicle from running over it first. A vehicle with ten men in it. The only thing that went wrong with his great self-sacrificing plan was surviving it.

  He focused on his breathing, a form of meditation he’d picked up early while in the Special Forces. When his emotions got out of contro
l, it was his go-to coping strategy. It allowed him to control himself, his breathing, his heart rate, his stress response. He got all his wounded bits and pieces, and the parts of his soul permanently damaged by the hell he’d gone through in Afghanistan, tucked back inside the cocoon of calm. Then, with unforgiving focus, he began creating a task list for the work he’d have to set aside in order to take on the mission.

  No, not mission. It was work. Lives didn’t hang in the balance…but they did. Potentially millions of lives.

  Mission it was.

  Ruby came back from the bathroom and quietly went back to her own work. He liked that about her. He found it soothing. Reassuring. Safe.

  Wow, words every woman wanted to hear.

  If he said them out loud, he wouldn’t have to worry about keeping his hands to himself, because she’d laugh in his face.

  Rodrigues texted, asking him to meet her in her office.

  “Who do you want to take with you?” she asked with no preamble after he walked into her office.

  “Ruby.” Hey, he sounded like his normal grouchy-asshole self.

  She frowned. “You don’t want someone with more experience?”

  “She’s got enough experience. What she doesn’t have, I can make up for.”

  Rodrigues stared at him and lifted one eyebrow.

  Henry sighed. Of course she wasn’t going to make this easy.

  “She and I get along well. She’s”—he searched for the words—“calm, quiet, capable. She doesn’t get on my nerves.”

  “And you don’t scare her. Yes, that’s the feedback I’ve received from several people. Some of them think she’s too much of an introvert, though. You have a strong personality, and you need a partner who can stand up to you. Give you alternatives when you need them.”

  “She’s not an introvert. She just doesn’t say anything until she actually has something to say.”

  Rodrigues didn’t look impressed.

  “After that meeting this morning, I was pretty pissed off. Ruby helped me see the opportunities.”

  Both her eyebrows went up. “In that case, do you want to consider this a trial partnership?”