Delicate Beauty

by Nikki Bolvair

  Doc slapped our files onto the examining table and opened one. “The H-15 serum you agreed to take was only supposed to give you and your team increased speed, strength, and vision. As we found out from the other studies we performed previously it also enhanced other areas of your body as well. What’s unusual is the increased levels of adrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin in your blood. All those hormones indicate being in lust or on the verge of possibly being in love. But what is most curious is the high-levels of oxytocin, which is commonly known as the cuddle hormone. Your blood cells are changing and putting out a signal of sorts to your woman.”

  “What the hell does that all mean?” Kellan burst out.

  “It means your teammates found their one true mate. They've bonded with her, and even now, their bodies feel the drag of not having her around.”

  “By touch or just being in her vicinity?” Tristan asked.

  Doc nods. “The first time you felt her near you, your bodies connected.”

  This started from the beginning. From the first moment I saw her in the coffee shop and after, when I followed her.

  We felt her. This whole time.

  “You mean she's it for us? Like we have to share her?” I asked, trying to clarify. It could be an issue between us. We’d never shared before, but if this was forever, we needed the specifics. I looked toward my brother. If I had to share her with someone, I was glad it was my twin. There was no one else I’d trust her with more.

  “It seems so.” Doc shuffled the folders. “I have to do more studying on this, but it's likely that you won't experience desire for another woman since the bonding has started.”

  “Holy fucking shit,” I cursed, surprised this was happening to us.

  My Father

  Trisha

  I had nothing. No cell phone. No money. Not even my damn shoes. But, I had rain. The delicious smell and taste of rain covered me as I walked.

  The truck driver who graciously stopped and picked me up back at the warehouse didn't say a word about my state of dress or ask why I was hitchhiking without any bags to my name. He simply pulled over, let me hop in, fed me part of the lunch he had stashed in the back, and then dropped me off in the next town with a wave goodbye. It wasn't raining then, but it sure was now.

  My foot hurt something fierce, but I tried to ignore it. The rain was a good thing really. If my captors put any trackers on my body, the steady pour would wash them away and short them out, rendering them useless.

  I needed to find out Melissa’s location, and then, I needed to know who those men were and what the hell was happening at the agency. I couldn't call my parents for fear my problems would flow over to them. While my parents were highly trained, they taught us that during a mission we never contact outside sources. The problem in the case was that I was the outside contact for Melissa. I hope she was okay.

  Walking through the puddles, I made my way toward the library a local man in town kindly pointed out to me. He suggested I find shelter from the rain for the day and also a computer. I politely smiled then limped my way there.

  When I reached the library, I quickly made my way into the restrooms in the hope they had one of those “state of the art” hand blow-dryers. I really needed dry clothes. I was in luck when I saw the chrome hand dryer gleaming on the wall when I entered the restroom. Rushing into one of the stalls, I pulled off the college shirt I wore, removed my undershirt and bra, then put the shirt back on over my bare skin. I’d dry the undershirt and bra first so I could wear them while I dried the other shirt. My pants though, would have to wait. I couldn't get caught without them on, and I didn't want to get kicked out of the only dry place I’d found.

  After I dried everything I could, I tugged my pants lower on my hips so the hem of my jeans barely covered my bare feet and headed out of the restroom with one thought in mind. I needed to make my way over to the computers.

  Typically, libraries provided customers with a code to use the computers, which also required a library card. For a homeless person with nothing to their name, this could be an issue. But for me? Piece of cake.

  I chose the spot farthest away from the librarian. The seat also conveniently faced her as well. I needed to be able to know if she walked toward me. My foot ached, but as I sat down the pain lessened a bit.

  I had to figure out what I would do from here. First, I needed to see if there was anything in the news about what had happened. I peered down at the computer monitor to find the date. Two days had passed. I couldn't believe all of this happened in two days. It seemed like a lifetime.

  I carefully hacked into the computer’s mainframe to give myself unlimited internet and security access to my work database while I kept an eye on the librarian. I didn't have to search hard for the information I needed on Myter. Apparently, no one in the agency knew about his betrayal because he was the acting lead agent on the raid both Melissa and I escaped from. The report in the agencies files also told of several casualties in this unfortunate event.

  Reading the list of causalities, my lips trembled as one of the names stood out. I raised my hand to my mouth to prevent the cries from escaping. My eyes filled with tears as my heart and soul ached. He wasn't supposed to be there, I told myself, going into denial. He wasn't there! But I couldn't be a hundred-percent sure. I shook my head as I tried to hold it in, but couldn't deny what I read.

  Tears fell as I realized this could be true. I sucked in a ragged breath to calm myself down, then flipped the switch to shut down the computer as I let the blip of information disappear, wishing I didn't know. Turning away from it, I silently pleaded to the heavens above that it wasn't true. Getting up out of the seat, I put the back of my hand across my mouth, biting my middle knuckle as I tried to hold back my anguish.

  “Ma'am?” The librarian questioned. “Are you okay?”

  I didn't answer as I made my way past her desk, taking myself further into the sea of books toward the back of the building, to where all the textbooks gather dust. A place where few people could be found. A rolling book cart sat forgotten in the aisle, and I found a small alcove between two walls, ducking into the space and pulling the cart across the entrance. I curled into a ball, rocking as I let my quiet sobs erupt.

  If the news was correct, my father was dead.

  ***

  Hours passed before I calmed down. When I finished my crying, I took on new emotions, anger and revenge. I needed to find Melissa. I needed to figure out what was going on with me and who killed my father. I uncurled from my spot and pushed the book cart away. It must be close to evening, and the library would close soon.

  When I stood, I felt the all telling tingles at the back of my neck and knew the men were close. Instead of running, I was going to find answers. I melted into the aisle of books. Come out, come out, wherever you are. . .

  I found myself waiting in the romance section, looking at no book in particular, when I found one that piqued my interest. I slid it out and turned it over to glance at the cover. The Academy by C.L. Stone.

  Huh. I read the synopsis on the back as the men drew near, waiting.

  They wouldn’t do anything in here. It was public with too many witnesses. It was safe for all of us. I couldn't try to kill them, and they couldn't try to kill me here. I highly doubted that was what they had in mind in the first place, I surmised, remembering the last time we were together. Oh, those men wanted to tie me up all right, just not for the right reasons.

  I heard and felt their presence before I saw them. The soft shuffle of boots on hard carpet came from nearby. I put the book back and stood in the middle of the aisle. I was caught. I wanted to be. Because these men had information I wanted. These men were there when my father died, just like I was. And possibly, they knew who murdered him.

  “Trisha,” came the unmistakable voice of one of the twins.

  I turned toward him, knowing full well the other twin would be waiting on the other side of the aisle to block me in.r />
  I folded my arms and glared at him. “Found me, huh?”

  His lips twitched at my comment. His eyes sparkled, but they were also guarded. He lifted his hands half way up in front of himself as if trying to reassure me.

  “You're not an easy woman to find, but my brother, Triton,” he nodded behind me, “is somewhat of a genius in that department. You wouldn't have stayed hidden for long.”

  I shifted to put my back against the books, keeping an eye on both of them. “Then, you know. About,” I swallowed, “the casualties from that night, right?”

  “Yes, we do,” Triton said. “And we know one of them was supposedly your father.”

  I sucked in a breath at that and took a moment. I stared forward at the books across from me.

  “Myter,” I said, with so much venom. “He did this. Oh my word.” I put a hand to my mouth, sinking to the ground once again as realization sunk in. “She told me...She said he shot one of ours.” I put my hands over my face as I broke down again. “I was there, and it never crossed my mind. I never even thought...I could have saved him if—”

  “No.” They both knelt with me.

  One of them brushed a strand of hair away and tucked it behind my ear before putting his finger on the bottom of my chin and tilting my head up. I gazed into crystal blue eyes, and surety filled Tristan’s strong voice as he said, “You couldn't have. You didn't know.”

  A hand on my back urged me up, and my body felt calm when I knew it shouldn't. I didn't have anything. I was stranded in a town I didn't know. My boss, I was sure, had gone rogue and killed my father. Melissa was still missing. They said they were on my side, but I needed to know for sure. I needed to talk with Ammon.

  I pulled away from them, trying to be strong. “You say you know my brother-in-law, but I have yet to have proof. What if you’re really who’s behind all of this?” I shook my head and distanced myself from them. “I don’t trust you. I need to talk to Ammon first.”

  Triton nodded and held the phone out to me. I carefully took it from him, but our fingertips touched, sending a pleasant ripple of comfort racing up my arm. I kept the shock from showing as I gripped the cell phone and tugged it away from him.

  Triton cleared his throat. “Just press four-two-six-six and send. You’ll get him.”

  I scooted further down the book aisle, taking the phone with me, until I reached a return cart. I stepped behind and did as he instructed, waiting for my brother-in-law to pick up.

  “Steel.” A familiar gruff voice filtered over the line.

  Just the sound of it brought unwanted tears to my eyes. “Ammon?”

  “Trisha,” he breathed out with relief. “It is you. I wasn’t sure but when—”

  “Ammon, what’s going on?”

  “Trisha,” he said again. “I'm so sorry you've been dragged into this mess. And it seems I have some explaining to do. First off, you can trust Tristen and Triton. They’re going to take you to a safe place until we figure things out.”

  “Ammon, is it true? Is my father dead?”

  “We haven’t confirmed it yet.”

  I’d bottled up my anger, but now, I wanted answers. My father was most likely murdered and Myter did it, I was sure. “Are you the one that can give me clearance to know what’s going on?”

  “Yes, but first you need to tell me something.”

  I glanced to the twins who were keeping an eye on me. “What is it you need to know?”

  “Is it true? Is there something going on between you and two of the teammates?”

  The question made me weary. It was true there was something definitely going on between all of us, but I wasn't sure I wanted to admit it out loud.

  “I'm taking your silence as a yes. Damn it, Trisha. I'm putting you under protective custody until we figure this out. Those men you’re with are the best of the best. In fact, they're better. They're super soldiers.”

  “What?” I gasped. “You're kidding.” I glanced over to Tristan who leaned against the wall with his arms folded, listening in. “I knew there was something wrong. Something different.” I spoke carefully, “That guy Kellen seemed to know what I was thinking.”

  “Look, Trish, I can’t tell you too much over the phone, but I promise you you’re safe with them. I trust these men with my life as much as yours.”

  “Trust? You trust them with your life? Well how about Kellen?” I demanded bitterly. “You trust him too? Because he tortured me.”

  “He did what?” His voice hardened with anger. “Put one of them on the phone, now.”

  I held out the phone to the two of them. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Tristan came forward to take the phone and put it up to his ear. “Hello? Yes but...We didn't know who she was—Yes, sir. I understand, sir.” He glanced my way as his mouth turn down in disapproval. “I didn't like it either, but we can't—Okay, sir.”

  As he hung up the phone, Triton spoke, “You just got him in a heap of trouble.”

  I folded my arms. “Good. He deserved it.”

  Tristan held out his hand. “Truce?”

  “Truce.” I held out my hand and braced myself for the sensation I knew would come when our hands touched. The current sizzled between us, and my heart raced as blue eyes smiled into mine. I let go of his hand and tried to shake the tingles out of it, still unnerved by the feeling.

  “So, I take it your name's not Lisa?” Triton smirked as he curled an arm around my shoulders, which I promptly shrugged off.

  I grinned at his frown and followed Tristan toward the library’s entrance as I replied, “No. It's not.”

  A Bond

  Trisha

  As we drove in awkward silence, I couldn't help as the anger in me slid away, and a trickle of desire took its place. While still upset, this awareness the three of us felt toward each other confused me. Or, at least, I did toward them. I folded my arms as I sat between the two men and looked around, recognizing the area we drove through.

  “Where are we headed?” I finally asked as I broke the silence that stretched between us. We were headed back in the direction I’d run from, but I wasn't really sure if we were going back to the same place or not.

  “We're heading to see a doctor friend of mine,” Tristan stated as he drove.

  “Why?” I asked defensively. “Are you going to chip me?”

  “Chip you?” Triton, in the passenger seat beside of me, questioned. “Beauty, we don't need a chip. For some reason, we already have our own little built-in homing beacon when it comes to you.”

  I twisted my lips, filing the information away. On some level, I knew that. I had my own for both of them. It was quite disturbing and comforting at the same time. Disturbing that I could never sneak up on them and comforting that I could always tell where they were. Not that I planned to stalk them or anything.

  “But you knew that, didn't you?” Triton continued. “It's like that for you as well.”

  “Why?” I demanded. “Why is it like that between the three of us? Why are we connected?”

  There, I’d asked it. This crazy ass idea that they wanted me to believe. The very thing that had been plaguing me since the first time I felt the signs of awareness from them. Why did we have this unique connection?

  I jumped when I felt the electricity before Triton’s fingers touched my hand. He glided his fingertips across the top of my hand to the tips of my fingers, and I felt sparks of electricity when we touched. It didn't hurt. In fact, it was soothing, warm, and sensual.

  I moved my hand away from his and took in a deep breath. That was beyond anything I had ever experienced, and it worried me.

  “So, this doctor,” I began, putting my other hand on top of the hand that still tingled. “You think this doctor will know what's going on with us?”

  “Beautiful.” Tristan glanced at me and then back to the road. “My brother and I already have an idea of what's going on with us. It's just you that hasn’t come
to terms with it.”

  I bristled at his comment and turned my body slightly toward him. “Then enlighten me.”

  “To put it in the simplest of terms,” his hands tightened on the wheel, “you're our other half. Mine and my brother’s bodies have been altered and because of that, we're able to identify our mate. Our souls are destined to be together.”

  I knew it was true, but him saying it confirmed what I suspected. “But why me?” I let out a curse. “I can't believe I'm saying this, but take me to your doctor. I want him to explain it.”

  “You're taking this a lot easier than the first time I suggested it,” Triton said from the passenger seat.

  “At this point in time, feeling what I’ve been feeling and seeing what I've seen between the three of us, it's kind of hard to deny. But, I still want to see the doctor.”

  “And your father?” Tristan asked.

  My heart constricted. “I don't know,” I whispered. “I need to talk to my mother, but...”

  “You can't,” Triton edged in. “Not while Myter is still in the agency's good graces. We need your friend, Trisha. She's the key to bringing them down.”

  “I know.” I thought about it for a minute and nodded. “Okay. Doctor first—Wait! If I'm this way with you...” I started thinking back to their interrogation of me. “You know where she is, don't you? The asshole, Weston—”

  Tristan shook his head. “Not Weston.”

  “But, they said—”

  His lips kicked up as his brother answered. “They said that hoping you would break under duress.”

  I glared up at both of them. “So, none of your team members have the connection with her like we do?”

  A full grin came out of both of them. “We didn't say that.”

  When we arrived at the base office, we had to go through security, which I wasn't on the “list” for. Even though Doc's approved visitors were on a low clearance level, they still needed clearance for me to enter.