Project Genesis

by Howard, Michelle

  Helen gasped.

  Vin shouldered into his torn shirt despite Dr. Chase waving another plasti-strip in his face. “Something seemed off and I chased him.”

  Slade focused on his words. “What’s this about a tracker?”

  This part concerned Vin too. “I chased the Rekabian for a good two blocks. I think it could have easily outpaced me with those long legs but it was as if it waited. Next thing I knew, it jumped from behind a building and raked me with claws that burned like hell.”

  Dr. Chase held up a clear container. “The tracer’s in here, Mr. Slade.”

  The small cylinder the size of a coin appeared innocuous floating in a blue neutralizing liquid.

  Slade accepted the cylinder tilting it this way and that. “But what led you to guessing you had a tracker?”

  “Right.” Vin reached for Helen’s hand and squeezed. “I stole a car planning to reconnect with the team and spotted the same Rekabian following. Ditched the car and used my weapon to draw it out. Sir, my weapon misfired after my ear com was destroyed but the alien still took off instead of finishing an easy victory. It was on the drive to Ms. Scott’s that I began to suspect. When it showed up later in the parking lot of a convenience store, I knew for certain.”

  “Hmmm. We’ll discuss her later.” Slade handed the container back to Dr. Chase. “Analyze this and get me as much data as possible first thing in the morning.”

  “Where’s your G32?”

  Vin grimaced. “Destroyed in an explosion.” He’d have to request a new one and get Rock to modify it. The flamethrower had come in handy when the team was surrounded today.

  “I want to see everyone in the morning. I’ve news to share and we need to pursue your rational about deliberately targeting enhanced teams. I’ll find out if our overseas allies are identifying the same issue.”

  “I’ll notify the team.”

  Slade paused, his gaze shifting to Helen. Vin tensed fully prepared to throw his handle to the floor if he made one remark.

  “Get your body armor replaced before you crash. Ms. Scott.” With that, Slade rapped his knuckles on the doorframe and left

  Chapter 18

  The healing agent plus the dose of vitamin supplement worked wonders on him but Vin still dragged as he escorted Helen back to his room. Nearing midnight, he wished the events of the day hadn’t happened the way they had. As a result of his injuries and separating from his team, he’d dragged Helen back into his mess.

  “I take it, I’m not going back home tonight?”

  Vin tensed at the calmly stated question and locked the door behind him. Helen however continued on into his bedroom. Vin followed wondering what exactly to say.

  She turned at the center of his room and folded her arms over her chest. The blousy yellow shirt looked good on her. The golden color enhanced her natural skin tones and made him think of sunny days. She wore wide legged dress pants in a navy blue that swayed when she moved. Casual and sexy. Sure to attract any man’s attention. Helen knew how to make a statement when she dressed.

  “Vin?” her brow arched at his lack of a response to her earlier question.

  “I can take you home tomorrow.”

  “Fine.” Her foot tapped and she stood there an air of expectancy around her.

  Vin walked closer until inches separately them. He reached out and unfolded her arms to grip her hands tightly. “Thank you for tonight, Helen.” She could have left him. At any point. At her house, at the gas station. He wouldn’t have blamed her either. Not after the way things ended between them.

  Her head gave an abrupt nod.

  “I owe you an apology.” A big fucking one. “Sorry isn’t going to cover it, hellcat. I know that.”

  “Your apology means nothing at this point.” She held her arms stiffly at her side. The brown depths he adored, glared hard.

  Vin whirled from the blow. Regret hit him hard. He should have expected this. “I am so sorry, baby.” Black dots marched across his vision. The boost and healing agent took care of the bulk of his injuries but he needed rest. Hopefully, Helen accepted his apology before his face met the floor.

  “Vin, I’ll stay tonight. You needed help but…” She glanced around the room before turning back to him. Her head angled to the side, the graceful line of her neck in prominence.

  He sensed her resolve.

  “We’re done. I…my heart can’t take the beating. I don’t deserve it.”

  Vin could have handled it if she was bitchy when she made the claim. Instead, tenderness beat at him from her brown orbs making his heart hurt with deep seated guilt. Vin swallowed but managed to nod his head even though his world crashed around him and this time it had nothing to do with his injuries. No, the pain clawing frantically at his middle was due to all he’d lost without ever really having it.

  “I understand.” He needed to get one more thing out. “I never ever meant for you to get hurt.”

  She snorted and began to disrobe with a lack of regard for his presence. Vin turned and made his way to the closest side of the bed. Not bothering to remove his ruined clothes, he dropped backwards and closed his eyes.

  Helen moved around the room and the covers shifted beneath him as her weight depressed the bed. Vin rolled to his side facing the view of her slim back. He ached to reach out and touch her but no way she wouldn’t blast him. A full twelve inches separating them in the bed.

  Desire overcame common sense. He needed to speak with her. “Helen, let me.”

  She rolled in the bed abruptly, her hand slashing in the air. “No. Just, no, Vin.”

  He heard the break in her voice and the chasm in his chest widened. Still, his hand stroked tenderly through her hair. “Sleep, hellcat. I won’t bother you any more. Tomorrow, I swear…I promise, I’ll make sure you get home.”

  “Thanks.” Her words mumbled as she again presented him with her back.

  Vin flung an arm over his eyes and blinked away the burning sensation. Fuck him. He’d lost her for real this time.

  ***

  Helen laid down in the bed intensely aware of the man in bed next to her. Darkness flooded the room and she could just make out the shadows dancing on the wall. She kept her breathing steady, feigning sleep while her mind whirled. Her heart felt ripped down the middle. Trying to put feelings for Vin in perspective and battling the wave of emotions just seeing him caused.

  She loved him. Rushing around to save him tugged at her heart and Helen admitted what she’d fought in the last few weeks. She loved Vincent Michaels. But she also had to accept that Vin wasn’t interest in the love she offered. His firm resolve during that fateful day spoke clearly to his feelings on the matter.

  Tears trickled down her cheek.

  “Shit.” Vin cursed behind her and his arm curved around her waist and he hauled her body across the bed until she bumped his large frame. “Don’t cry. Don’t lie here and expect me to ignore you crying, Helen.”

  She sniffed, her body going lax in defeat. Her hands moved of their own accord along the smooth hardness of his chest to settle on his broad shoulders. “I can’t understand you.”

  He sighed above her. “You’re right. I can’t go on like this.”

  Helen dug her nails into his flesh. “What?”

  Vin feigned a cry. “It’s time I told you everything.”

  Helen remained silent. His hands she noticed, absently slid up the sides of her torso and back down. The soothing caress had a hypnotic effect and she found herself relaxing further despite her wishes to keep her feelings bottled away.

  “Six months ago, the military gave me a choice,” he started. “It involved a highly unorthodox experiment dubbed Project Genesis.”

  Helen sought to lift her head but he palmed her hair in the back and pressed down until her face rested in the crook of his shoulder. “Vin.”

  “Shh, let me get it all out. The drugs given to us had the desired effect. My team and others developed enhanced strength and psychic abilities. We thought we
were the only ones. The government’s special soldiers but David Slade revealed that there are others. The program…Project Genesis was shared with other countries' military forces when signs of the Rekabian ship was detected by satellites a year ago.”

  “That explains the other soldiers around the world on TV. They used powers too as they fought the aliens. I saw them on the news.” Helen remembered how confused she’d been at the time. She lifted her head completely.

  “Yes. In exchange, all of us had to sign a contract for five years of continued service to the military.”

  Helen frowned as she lined the dates in her head. “That’s why you left me.” All this time, she thought she’d done something wrong. Failed in some way but in reality he hadn’t trusted her. It stung.

  “Stop, it’s not what you’re thinking.” Vin’s hands moved and cupped her face. “I trust you.”

  Helen stiffened and shoved hard at his chest. “Stay out of my mind.”

  “Helen, I’m not in your head. I promise, hellcat. Your face, it’s easy to guess what you’re thinking.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me instead of letting me wonder and worry.” Her voice locked but she forced the rest out. “I thought something must have happened to you but then I spotted you one day leaving the coffee shop where we met when I was at a seminar in DC.”

  Helen remembered the feeling of betrayal as if it were yesterday. Hurt, she’d run without getting her favorite latte. Now months later, he was telling her he’d made the decision without a care for her feelings.

  “Listen, we were each sworn to secrecy. A lot of bad things happened during the experiments. There were days when some of the teams didn’t know if they’d survive. Secrecy was stressed and in light of the changes,” he paused and leaned back. “I don’t know what other abilities I might develop.”

  “But…”

  Vin pressed a finger to her mouth. “We were only supposed to be stronger. Soldiers capable of dealing with more, lasting longer in the field but the psychic abilities seem to be an unexpected side effect.”

  Helen swallowed. “Are…” She cleared her throat. “Can you do more than what you told me?”

  Vin shook his head. “Electronic charges. Like when I electrocuted the alien at the convenience stop. I haven’t developed any new skills in the last couple of months but the drugs they gave us, no one knows what to expect.”

  Helen studied his guarded expression and came to her own conclusions. “Did you think you were protecting me? That I wouldn’t want to be there for you, Vin?”

  He broke her gaze for the first time and turned away, his hand coming up to grip his head. “Being with you, those times together are cherished memories for me. I don’t know what I’d do if you… if your feelings ever changed because of the man I am now.”

  Helen pushed sympathy away. “You had no right to make the decision about our relationship without giving me a chance. I’m tired.” She rolled back away from him. His arm didn’t let her go but she snuggled into the covers.

  A beat of silence and then. “Sleep, hellcat.”

  And she did.

  Chapter 19

  Once more Vin found himself in the conference room with Alpha Squad and Slade. His team celebrated his return with hearty smiles and jokes. Harkum leaned over and gripped Vin’s shoulder tight. They exchanged a mutual look and Vin acknowledged the depth of his friend’s concern.

  The doctors had probably shared everything about his condition upon arrival. “I’m good,” he murmured and met the glance of the others. Bodies relaxed and postures resumed a casual slouch at his disclosure. They talked amongst themselves until Slade started to speak.

  “I’ve read everyone’s recap and the lab techs are working on the alien technology discovered in Vin’s wounds. A file is loaded on the main database with all the information we’re gathering on the Rekabians. We’re sharing with our allies to put together a plan.”

  “What’s the General’s opinion?” Vin asked.

  “The General is at a meeting with the President. He’s been at the White House all week with the heads of several security forces and they’re we conferencing with leaders around the world.”

  “How do they want us to handle the escalating attacks?” Vin thought about the strain on all of them trying to neutralize the Rekabian threat. Even enhanced, they’d need rest soon and not just in sporadic hours here and there.

  Slade frowned. “We’ll continue to do what we have to.”

  Vin thought on that and realized, there wasn’t anything else they could do. Everyone would fight until they couldn’t anymore and a victor was declared.

  ***

  The next morning when Helen woke, she was alone. She fixed the bed and went into his living area to wait. Vin entered without knocking. She immediately got to her feet even as she marveled at how sexy he managed to look. Once more, he wore his black uniform, gun holster strapped to his thigh and the longer gun on a strap across his back. Reluctantly, she admitted the look worked for him.

  “Morning, Helen.”

  Vin’s words lacked their usual flow of intimacy. Helen inclined her head. “Vin.”

  “The team and I will escort you to your home. Thank you for last night.” He folded his arms over his chest and spoke directly to her.

  As if she could have done anything else. Helen raised the barriers around her heart. She just needed to get through the ride home and she’d put Vin and their relationship behind her permanently. Maybe date one of the guys at work who always flirted with her. Helen wanted to settle down now more than ever.

  “Right. Well I have the guys waiting. Wanted you to get your rest after yesterday.”

  Vin’s voice and tone conveyed nothing but his eyes mirrored the sadness she hid inside.

  “Thanks.” They were like polite strangers.

  Helen expected him to walk her out but he continued to stare. “Helen?”

  She paused.

  ***

  “Okay, just listen. I’ll talk and you don’t have to do anything but listen.” Vin took a deep breath as he prepared what to say. When Helen bared her feelings to him, she took a risk and he’d thrown her offer back in her face. Now he could do no less than to take the same risk.

  The blasé look on her face did not encourage. “Fine.” Her eyes snapped and the glare left him in no doubt that her mood was not conducive to listening.

  “My mother was a junkie that left me in the hospital after I was born. It took two weeks for the state to find a relative to take me.” Vin ignored her gasp and continued. “My grandmother raised me until I was six. Soon after she died from a massive heart attack. She was really old. Too old to be raising a kid.” Whenever Vin thought of his grandmother, his thoughts darkened. She’d been a good woman but in no way equipped to handle a growing baby.

  “When the state couldn’t find my mother or another relative, I entered foster care and didn’t get out until I was seventeen and joined the military.”

  “Why are you telling me this, Vin?”

  “In hopes you understand why I tried to push you away. I wanted to protect you. You’re the only one whoever wanted me.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Vin.”

  He flinched but forged on. “Everything about you matters, Helen.”

  “Does it?”

  The terse question gave him pause. Vin owed her. She’d offered him her heart and he’d pissed away the gift. “Hell, we’re the same in a lot of ways. You got shit on by two men and have trust issues with relationships. I’ve never had a relationship and my issues are too many to list.” Blue gray eyes snared her. “But I want you and for some unknown reason that I’m thankful for, you want me too.”

  One hand ran impatiently through his hair while the other gripped his neck tight. “I know I fucked up earlier. Give me a chance, hellcat. Us.” His eyes and tone pleaded but he didn’t care.

  “Take me home, Vincent.”

  He clenched his jaw so tight, pain shot down his neck. He was scared, V
in realized. For the first time in his life, fear gripped him hard at the thought of reaching for what he wanted. One precious dream that he never thought possible. Letting her walk away from them from what they could have wasn’t an option.

  “I love you, Helen.”

  ***

  She tried to swallow but the sob caught her off guard. Facing him was the hardest thing but Helen forced her feet to turn in his direction.

  “Helen.” He dragged her name out and the sadness in his eyes spoke volumes. There was nothing more for her to say.

  “I love you, hellcat. You love me too, even if you won’t give me the words.”

  Helen sniffed, scrubbing frantically at her eyes. She needed to get out of here. Heading for the door, she reached blindly for the knob. Vin shifted blocking her exit.

  “I know you love me because you’ve shown me. Every touch, every kiss.” His thumb caught her tears. “Don’t leave me, Helen.” She couldn’t take her eyes from his. “Keep fighting for me.”

  Helen burst into tears as he used her words against her. “You don’t fight fair, Vincent Michaels.”

  “Stay, Helen,” he continued. “Fight for me until I get it right because I’m for damn sure I’ll mess up time and time again.”

  She wanted, no expected a kiss full of passion and instead he kept the brief touch light. Soft. And Helen stood there wanting more.

  “Helen?”

  Everything about Vin exposed his vulnerability. His stance, the precious words he’d given her. He didn’t care that she saw it all. The bravery it took for this man with his background was what decided her.

  “I love you, Vin.”

  “Thank fuck.” His arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her hard against his body. They held on to one another and let minutes tick by. Helen would have stayed in his arms forever except Vin pulled back.