“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.”
“Hold on, hellcat.”
A promise. His words were a promise that had Helen believing in him. If nothing else, Vin stood by his promises. Maybe things would have gone differently had she made him promise to let her know when he wanted to walk away from what they shared. But she didn’t and he’d left her without so much as an ‘it’s been real’. Another sign that while she excelled in the workplace, she was a dismal failure in her love life.
As before, silence reigned on the call and Helen knew he’d muted it. Multiple times if she guessed right. Hiding things from her no doubt but she couldn’t work up the necessary anger. At this point, she wanted to go home, have a latte and snuggle under her covers wishing today never happened. Unable to do that yet, Helen wrapped an arm around her waist and waited. Life, she had a feeling, was about to change for everyone.
Chapter 3
Vin sent a chilling look at Curtis. “I don’t give a damn. Get us through.”
They’d reached the eleventh floor but this area sustained more structural damage and half of the caved in ceiling blocked the door to Helen’s floor. Vin eyed piles of tile, concrete and drywall. As point man, Curtis laid waste to the bulk of the debris in their path draining his strength. Telekinetics drained energy faster than the other skills they’d acquired and Curtis’ face showed the strain of getting them through this far.
Because he knew him better than the others, Harkum sensed Vin’s impatience and stepped forward. “Let me try.” The big man began lifting the larger pieces of fallen plaster and tile. The others joined in leaving nothing in the way except a hole in the floor from an eight foot beam which revealed a dented door with the green number twelve displayed. This door must have fallen one level down during the attack.
Peering over the four foot gap revealed exposed edges and sharp metal extensions to land a world of hurt on anyone who fell through to the tenth floor. Curtis stretched over, torso leaning far out and tried the handle which broke in his large hand. His expression would have been comical in other circumstances.
Unable to control the rage and the obstacles keeping him away, Vin turned his back. “Christ.” He pinched his nose before turning around to face the calm expressions from his men. “Kick it down.” He wanted nothing more than to get to Helen and reassure himself of her safety. Such feelings were uncommon for him on a mission but this was a woman he’d buried himself in not some faceless stranger. Vin couldn’t shake the need strumming through his veins. ‘Get to Helen’, repeated like a mantra in his head.
Curtis stepped back, allowing the strongest of their group through. Harkum lifted his size fifteens and gave the door a sound kick. The resounding thud sent blood pumping through Vin’s veins. Harkum kicked over and over until the metal screeched and caved. Using their enhanced strength, his man cocked back his leg and struck hard and fast. The door gave way to tilt on its side like a drunken sailor.
“Fuck, yeah.” Bransen cheered, green eyes blazing.
“Are we clear, Curtis?” Vin needed to move. Adrenaline and worry rode him hard. Standing still while he waited for confirmation had him vibrating. The soft sound of Helen breathing in his ear didn’t help. But the safety of his men came first.
His scout leaped across the dangerous pit balancing precariously on the ten-inch gap of floor space between him and a good twenty foot fall. Curtis placed both palms on the frame of the door and closed his eyes. They all waited with baited breath as the blond man bowed his head and focused. To a stranger it might look like he prayed. But Alpha Squad trusted the enhanced senses they’d all emerged from the government study possessing.
Curtis’ ability to mentally visualize what the eye couldn’t see saved their necks too many times to discount. Each of them was enhanced. Some skills they shared and others specific to a man. Curtis aced what they referred to as long range viewing.
He winced in pain from the effort and dropped his hands. “All clear, sir. Same damage as on the lower level but no downed wires or flooding on this floor.”
“Roger that.” Vin waved his men forward. “Let’s move.”
They proceeded through the ruined door easily hurdling over air and space. On the other side, the eleventh floor sustained visible damage. Boots clomped over debris. Smoke saturated the air along with the heavy scent of burned metal. Vin scanned with a mindful eye for bodies here as well. No one, thank God. War didn’t make him immune to death. Thankfully, they only passed three unfortunate souls between the stairway and lobby. Innocent victims whose lives were cut short.
The atrium of the floor appeared empty. The men shared a concerned glance. Vin unmuted his ear com. “You still with me, hellcat?”
Her pause was slight. “Yes.”
Vin’s grin split his cheeks at her bravery. He nodded and pointed down the carpeted hall. The lights still flickered on by some fluke. His hands signaled for only Curtis, Harkum and Bransen to follow while Nathan, Zander and Rock held their position by the door and watched their six.
They hot footed it down the hall passing open doors to empty offices. Vin checked each one for signs of survivors who hadn’t made it out in the first wave during the attack. Furniture lay turned on its side from the frenzy flight of its occupants. “Clear.”
Vin banged his fists on the only closed door on their way. No answer. The knob turned easily in his hand, revealing a storage room with supplies spilled across the floor of the five foot space. “Clear.” He backed out and continued down the hall.
Helen’s office ended cattycorner where the long hall stopped. An odd statue in a four foot rendition of a rearing horse blocked their path. The reason she was trapped in her office. Anger surged as Vin’s booted foot gave it a determined shove and the gold and black monstrosity skidded out of their way to rest against the wall.
Her door stood open, brass nameplate gleaming. Director of Sales Operations in black lettering. Aside from the damage, her office was as he remembered from the one time he’d picked her up from work when her car needed work and she’d reluctantly accepted Vin’s offer for a ride home. No light shown from the interior but Vin knew Helen was here. She said she wouldn’t move and he didn’t question why he automatically trusted her.
Slowly, Vin crossed the threshold, his men behind him. Silence had its own sound and his muscles tensed in readiness. “Helen. Come out, baby.” The steady hold on his weapon didn’t betray the racing of Vin’s pulse. Paintings of wild crashing waves against a shoreline hung awkwardly from the wall. Each frame depicted a storm raging similar to his hellcat when angered. A green vase with fancy flowers lay on its side dripping water in a puddle on the gray carpet and the all glass table he’d once admired now covered the floor in deadly shards.
Where was she? Scanning the spaciou
s area, Vin ignored the cracked bookshelf sprawled across the floor, black leather arm chairs rested upside down. He noticed Helen’s sleek silver cell phone resting on the top of her black desk. He prepared for anything but not the warm bundle that leaped his way.
“Vincent.”
Vin had seconds to toss his armed G32 to Harkum who caught it reflexively as Helen slammed into him arms latching around his waist and face planted in his chest. His arms enfolded her carefully in case she’d lied about injuries.
Laying his face against the top of her head, Vin murmured soothing words of reassurance and the band in his chest loosened. Her shoulders shook but she didn’t cry, merely tightened her hold as if she’d never let go. Vin inhaled her familiar fragrance. Some fruity scent she paid a bundle for and came in the tiniest glass bottle he’d ever seen. Shit, he’d missed her
“You’re alright, Helen.” He whispered the words aloud and finally she nodded, pulling back enough for him to get a good look at her face. Long brown hair which was never out of place hung in a lopsided ponytail. Dirt streaked her face and her cheeks carried a tinge of red. Beautiful brown eyes welled up with tears.
Unexplained emotions tumbled like blocks in his chest. Unable to put words to what he felt but needing to touch her once more, Vin raised his hand to run a thumb along the familiar scar bisecting her right eyebrow. A childhood accident from a swing set she’d pushed which had unexpectedly slammed back and hit her face. He remembered her grimacing as she retold the tale. ‘I duck faster now,’ she’d huffed on a laugh as if to downplay the scar.
The small inch long mark added to the perfection of her face in his opinion. Bumps and bruises served as a visible reminder of the path and choices people made throughout their life. Some good, some bad but never to be regretted. He’d learned some of his best lessons from the worst choices he’d ever made.
Like blowing off Helen Scott because of the stupid experiments he’d agreed to let the government perform on him. He should have manned up and ended things face to face instead of acting like a dick.
“Need to evac, sir. Asap.”
Harkum’s words lent him the strength to completely remove himself from Helen’s embrace. He ignored the hurt expression she managed to mask in a split second. Regret pounded a rhythmic beat in his head. Vin had never asked for anything in his life. Circumstances taught him better but being this close to her filled him with uncontrollable yearning. The only thing he’d ever wanted was the one thing he couldn’t have.
“You’re sure you’re alright?” This was her last chance to fess up before they made the trek back the way they came. Her dark hair shook briskly in the negative. Vin accepted her answer.
His brave girl. He expected no less.
Now that worry stopped gnawing at him, he took in her condition. A quick look from head to toe catalogued her appearance. Vin could attest to the softness of the silk pink blouse she wore. His fingers twitched from the memory only seconds old. Her skirt was typical Helen Scott. Tight enough to highlight her curvy ass without being obscene. It stopped inches above her knees, advertising killer legs that gripped a man tight when he plowed between her thighs. His dick jerked at the reminder. Vin shook his head at the impractical four-inch heels she wore. The killer stilettos explained why her normally short stature easily met his chest at eye level.
“I’m fine, Vincent,” she stressed.
More than fine. He must have looked like a fool standing there. Vin snapped out of his fascination with seeing her for the first time in months. “Tell me you have something else here to wear.” He waved a hand in a purely guy gesture at her clothing.
Helen smiled. “Actually, I keep gym clothes here.” Her cheeks flushed. “I haven’t found time to use them.”
As if she needed to workout. “Good. I need you to change. I can spare five minutes tops then we gotta ghost.”
Now, her eyes glowed with relief and fear. Delicate hands brushed nervously down the sides of her skirt. She looked anywhere but at him. Awkward in light of the way they’d ended? He couldn’t fathom. Her gaze landed on the guys with him.
“Of course. Five minutes should be sufficient.”
She hurried over to a closet blocked by one of those tall fake plants with large green leaves used to create a home like atmosphere. Why anyone would want work to feel like home escaped him. Her hip shoved it to the side as she bent over to reach low in the closet. The gray skirt tightened and moved up an unnecessary inch. One of his men groaned. Their expressions collectively cleared too quickly for Vin to identify who needed the beat down.
When Helen pulled out a designer gym bag in bright pink, Curtis chuckled and Vin shot him a dark look. His man blanked his expression instantly. Pink gym bag? Who made that shit? Then he caught sight of the triangle logo on the front with the letters LS&G. Her company. Helen hesitated with the bag loosely in her hands. Her teeth nibbled on her bottom lip. No sign of the confident woman who lead a team of top developers in the industry.
“I can change in the bathroom down the hall.”
“No.” No telling what damage existed in the rest of this place. Vin wasn’t letting her out of his sight. “She needs five.” His men instantly headed for the door. Harkum paused to hand him back his weapon closing the door behind him.
Helen wasted no time. Her fingers flew to the buttons on her top as she began undressing. No hint of modesty in his presence. His body took notice. How could he not? Vin tapped the ear com, disconnecting him from the team.
She dropped the shirt to the floor unmindful of the flash she provided him. A lacy black bra barely kept things in place. Vin swallowed, watching the swell of her breasts as she bent and twisted to unzip the skirt and soon it joined the pink bit of silk on the floor.
Dressed in only heels, black lace panties and bra, she presented every man’s wet dream come to life. Memories of a similar strip tease under different circumstances bombarded him. Vin adjusted himself in the black cargo pants, drawing her attention.
“I assume you can talk now?” Her finger pointed at her ear before she leaned over and unzipped the bag to pull out black and blue clothing.
Vin froze, his eyes drawn to the arch of her spine when she kicked off the heels and slid her slender limbs into black athletic pants. Pants that left no secrets by any stretch of the imagination. Cotton inched lovingly up and molded to her butt and thighs. Another triangle etched in blue discretely placed at her hip denoted this as more of her company’s brand. When she stretched to pull the blue top over her head, Vin choked. The mounds of her breasts rose tantalizingly close to the edges of those very thin lacy cups.
He struggled between wishing for the lush bounty to spill over and praying the flimsy material could actually contain them. Helen smoothed the blue material down her torso and the moment was lost. Vin shifted his weapon from his right hand to his left and leaned his hip against her desk.
“What’s to talk about?” No matter what he felt, Vin couldn’t let her back in.
She paused in a perfect squat, highlighting a round ass to put on socks then reached in the bag for a pair of black sneakers. “Really, Vincent? That’s how you want to play it?” Not giving him an opportunity to answer, she continued. “I thought we had something good going. Did I miss a clue?”
Not a good time for this conversation yet the glare she shot his way as she laced up the shoes guaranteed she’d wait him out for an answer. “No. You didn’t miss anything. Stuff came up.” Could he sound any more lame? “Work stuff.” Totally blowing this. He finished on a sigh. “Not you.” Never Helen.
Helen straightened to her full five four. “I see.”
Her face told another story. Shadows darkened her eyes and they stared at one another across more than just the distance of the office. Seconds ticked by and when Vin said nothing further, her lips pressed into a frown. “Fine. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable in front of your team earlier when I asked.” She shrugged into a light weight black jacket with the now familiar LS&G logo
over her right breast. “I’m ready.”
“Helen.” Vin wished things were different. But they weren’t. The only thing he could do was guarantee her safety. He’d protect Helen with his dying breath, ensuring her light continued to shine even if it no longer shined on him. She grabbed her cell as she breezed by him. Shoulders back and spine straight, she headed for the door and opened it.
“Nothing left to explain, Vincent.”
Fuck. Ice dripped from the dismissive words and Vin knew he’d missed his golden chance. It was probably better this way. On the slim chance it was possible, she wouldn’t want the man he was now anyway. He let her lead but gripped her wrist when they reached the hall where his men waited. “We go in order. You in the middle at all times. When I say stop you don’t take another step. When I say go, you hustle that sweet butt forward. Understand?”
She could be pissed all she wanted but she’d follow his orders in this situation. If all went well, he’d have her out of here in a flash. Then he’d do what he did before and let her go. The toughest decision he’d ever made in his life was about to be on instant replay.
“I understand perfectly.” No expression on her smooth face. No glare from those pretty brown eyes. No pleasure or any other defining emotion looked back at him. Just the blank stare of a stranger.
Just moments ago, he’d been her hero. Now he didn’t exist in her universe. The feeling sat like hot coals in his gut despite the fact he knew it didn’t change matters between them. “Let’s move out.” Vin dropped her wrist.
Curtis took the lead and they all went down the hall back toward the stairway, Harkum bringing up the rear. Vin flicked his ear com back on and spoke. “We’re heading out.”
He received an affirmative from the others. At the entrance to the stairs, Vin passed his weapon to Harkum again. Curtis, Bransen and Harkum jumped over the pit to wait for the others. Vin signaled Nathan, Zander and Rock to do the same.
No one could miss the power in each man’s action. Muscles barely strained from their smooth leap. Helen swallowed thickly. Her eyes darted from his men waiting at the bottom landing of the stairs then back to him.
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