Project Terminal: End Game

by Starke, Olivia

  “Shouldn’t be anyone up this way to hear it,” Morris said as if reading her mind.

  “Last thing we need is a curious hiker up here.”

  He lifted a shoulder. “Nothing for them to see, except a few military buddies hanging out. This will be the first time we’ll be working together, outside of training exercises, Amelia.” His voice had dropped to a low rumble, and again she hated his effect on her. She crossed her arms over her breasts before he could see her peaked nipples. “And I have a bad feeling about what’s coming our way.”

  She dared a glance at his face. His lips were drawn into a line as he studied her closely. The seriousness of his look left her uneasy. “Suddenly psychic?”

  “We’re putting a stop to something people have dedicated years of their life to. Something they’ve worked hard for, and I doubt they’ll go down without one hell of a fight. I know I wouldn’t. Not when it’s important.”

  The way he studied her sent shivers over her skin. She couldn’t help but feel he had more on his mind than just the project. He was too close again, his body heat enveloping her. She tilted her chin up to meet his eyes. They were such a dark and startling shade of blue they made her think of glittering gemstones. His gaze dropped to her lips.

  When had she last been kissed? The errant question teased her mind. Not since before joining Project Terminal. For the most part, men were intimidated by her height, and she’d been accused of being too aggressive. Amelia would label it as assertive, but tall and assertive didn’t quite meet the male opinion of attractive. Unless you were a supermodel, and she certainly didn’t fall into the model criteria with her big boned and athletic frame. Even tall men avoided her, preferring a petite woman to make them feel masculine.

  No one wanted to date Sasquatch, and her sex partners could be counted on one hand with fingers left over. Not that having a man in her life was important since she had her career, her boring teaching career outside the Air Force.

  Morris moved closer, and she froze like a rabbit caught in a wolf’s stare. His warm breath brushed her lips. Her heart rate faltered while warning bells chimed in her head.

  “Did I ever tell you I have a thing for hazel eyes, darlin’?” His voice wound around her like a noose. Just the thing she needed to break the spell, and she stepped back, sucking in gulps of air to her suddenly starved lungs.

  “I’ll take first watch,” she choked out. Amelia bolted.

  * * * *

  “Swift will be discharged in two days.” General’s voice broke into Doc’s concentration. She glanced over her shoulder to the burly man, her hands still buried inside the corpse on the table. An experiment which hadn’t panned out the way she’d hoped. The virus was still taking too long; she wanted to cut the twelve hour incubation period down to six.

  “And we’ll have people in place to take her.” It wasn’t a question but a demand.

  General nodded. “Gonsalves won’t be a problem, not this time. I’ve got Carlton on board. Rick Carlton.”

  Relief washed through her at the mention of the super soldier’s name. Exactly what they needed to deal with Damian Gonsalves and his damned determination. She pulled her hands out of the dead man’s insides and removed her gloves, moving to the sink to wash up. “Perfect, as long as he understands this will be a takedown. We need Damian out of the way for good then we’ll deal with Preacher. And my sister.”

  “You still want Carlton to bring Max in alive?” He sounded annoyed, and Doc lifted her chin, staring down at the slightly shorter man.

  “I won’t have my sister’s intellect thrown away. She’d still prove invaluable if I can get her to work with me.”

  “And if you can’t? Max has made it clear she sides with Reed. She’ll stop at nothing to destroy everything we’ve worked for.”

  She decided to ignore his objections. “When Laura Swift is retrieved, bring her straight here. Dispose of Damian’s body someplace where it can’t be found, I’ll leave those details up to you.”

  General grumbled something obscene, but Doc didn’t really care what the fuck he thought. She was in charge of the project and hell if he’d bulldoze over the top of her. She squared off with him and he narrowed his eyes, making him look more the fat rodent. One which would be gotten rid of as soon as Laura was in custody and Damian and Preacher were dealt with. She’d need test subjects and what better than a rat?

  “Carlton will be here late this afternoon and ready for orders,” General said, breaking her mental planning.

  “I want him on watch outside the hospital first thing tomorrow after he’s briefed.”

  General rubbed his palms together, the scratchy sound annoying her. Yes, it’ll be nice to be rid of him for good.

  Chapter 3

  Gabe paced back and forth outside the cabin. Inside he heard Max and Preacher in conversation and he did his best not to hear what they said. The bits and pieces that caught his attention let him know the pair had rekindled their old flame. Not that he could blame the other man, Max was an attractive woman. Tall, though not as tall as Amelia, and not nearly as enticing as the headstrong soldier. He’d never met such resistance as St. James showed him, and he had to admit it’d been a blow to his ego in the beginning. Perhaps that’s why he felt so determined now to woo her into bed. Just an hour ago he’d almost had her in his arms and his cock swelled with the memory. No doubt she’d be a hard one to handle in the sack and he’d meet the challenge head-on. Take his time to learn every inch of her body…

  He growled, frustration forcing his feet to move faster. Fuck if he didn’t need to get laid in the worst way. Not that opportunities hadn’t presented themselves while working in the private sector of security—basically a bodyguard to spoiled socialites and politicians. Women had made themselves available to him. And a couple of men, but he didn’t swing that way. He’d kept it professional, though now he wished he’d indulged a woman or two. At least he’d be more focused now and not hung up on one hot super soldier who wouldn’t give him the time of day.

  The rumble of a car’s engine echoed up the mountain and he stopped, training his directional hearing toward the sound. Down in the canyon a few miles away. Amelia would be waiting, but she’d need help if someone had indeed discovered their hiding place. He jogged out toward where she’d taken position within the pines to watch the rough trail leading to the cabin. It’d be a hard go for a car to make it over the jutted and rock hewn road, but not impossible. Amelia’s Honda Accord had survived the trip.

  He found Amelia squatting behind a tree, barefoot, focused toward the sound. She frowned but didn’t look his way when he joined her and hunkered down.

  “Why are you here?” she asked.

  “Still go barefoot when you’re expecting action?” He grinned, eyeing her bare toes. No nail polish. Then again, he wouldn’t expect Amelia to indulge in something so frivolous.

  “I need to feel the ground, shoes make too much noise.” Her voice was flat. “I can handle this on my own.”

  “We don’t know what’s coming, St. James.”

  “It’s one car, not a whole platoon marching up the mountain.” She scowled, finally looking at him. Her eyes glinted challenge in the shadows.

  “We’re in this together, remember that. It’s not you against the project, it’s all of us,” he fired back. Hell if he’d leave and put her in any kind of danger. Maybe calling women the weaker sex was antiquated and inaccurate, but he still had his genteel upbringing behind him. He’d watch over her whether she liked it or not.

  She remained quiet and turned her attention back to the canyon. They waited until they spotted the car. An old rust bucket of an Oldsmobile which probably hadn’t been through a carwash since the eighties. He made out a large form in the driver’s seat, next to him the much smaller frame of a woman. Gabe frowned, he knew the man.

  “Is that Gonsalves?” Amelia whispered.

  “Fuck if it isn’t the bastard. What’s he doing here? Is that Laura Swift with him?”
>
  They stood and walked out to the trail. The car stopped about one hundred yards back. The soldier would be sizing them up, working out the best plan to take them both down if needed. He’d be armed.

  Gabe lifted his hands. “We’re here with Reed and Max,” he called out.

  The driver’s side door opened and Gonsalves got out, keeping the door wide as a shield. “The two of you and who else?”

  “It’s just us. Max and Reed are back at the cabin,” Amelia answered. “Why are you here?”

  * * * *

  Gonsalves seemed overly cautious, but Amelia couldn’t blame him. He could be walking into a trap. He reached behind him then held up a Glock. “I want the two of you to stay in sight and in front of my car, understand? I won’t hesitate to put either of you down.”

  “We got it,” Morris called out. They turned and walked up the trail, the car following at a distance.

  Amelia hadn’t had much experience with Gonsalves. He’d come later into Project Terminal, right before she and Morris had left following Reed. But she did know his aim was dead accurate, the best shot in their super soldier ranks.

  They paused in front of the cabin and Reed stepped outside, his sniper rifle on his shoulder. “What the hell?”

  “It’s Gonsalves,” Morris answered.

  Max appeared from behind Reed. “I gave Damian the coordinates for the cabin in case they needed a place to hide out.” She waved at the car. Gonsalves got out and Max jogged out to meet him. Reed made a low, threatening sound in his throat like a jealous dog.

  Amelia turned her attention to the passenger who remained motionless. She squinted, focusing her heightened vision. It was a small blonde woman with what appeared to be an oxygen tube running from her nose. Max walked to the passenger’s side of the car with Gonsalves, and the two helped the frail looking woman out. An argument ensued.

  “You’re not carrying me, damn it,” the blonde snapped.

  “The thin air will wear you out, Laura. You need to hang on to your strength,” Gonsalves shot back, preparing to scoop her up in his arms.

  She pushed at him, stepping back. “I’m perfectly capable, and I’ll kick you in the balls if you don’t back off.”

  Amelia couldn’t suppress a grin. Laura Swift turned out to be more than she’d expected. But Laura’s energy suddenly seemed to wane and she wobbled on her feet. Gonsalves caught her before she hit the ground, cradling her in his arms. Max grabbed the oxygen tank and the three of them strode for the cabin’s door.

  “She got shot when Gonsalves made a run on Headquarters,” Reed explained. “Not sure of the specifics, but an asshole thing to do, taking a woman with him into a mission.”

  Amelia’s nostrils flared and she shot him a withering look. “Mind explaining that jackass statement further, Preacher?”

  The Marine met her irritated gaze. “She’s a civilian and couldn’t be more than one hundred twenty pounds soaking wet. He had no business dragging her into the middle of Project Terminal.”

  “So she should stand back and let the men handle it?” Nothing infuriated Amelia more than having a woman’s abilities pulled into question. Granted, Swift most likely had no military training, but she seemed to be a fighter. After all, she’d survived a fatal virus.

  “Let’s go inside and see if our guests have any news.” Morris shoved between her and Reed, keeping himself there. “There has to be a good reason he’d drag Laura up here, she doesn’t seem really fit for travel.”

  Amelia ground her teeth, but Morris had a point. She spun on her heel and walked inside the cabin.

  Chapter 4

  “I caught sight of Rick Carlton outside the hospital and decided we needed to leave.” Gonsalves stood by the bed where Laura now lay, her breathing sounding labored. Max was at her side checking her pulse, not looking too concerned.

  “Carlton? Wasn’t he that Navy SEAL they brought in after we left?” Gabe asked.

  Gonsalves nodded, looking down to his ward. He frowned. “I hated dragging Laura up here. I almost lost her after she got shot, and I know the high altitude will be hard on her.”

  Gabe looked between Gonsalves and the blonde then to Reed and Max. Good God, he’d walked into a love nest. He glanced at Amelia and she seemed to have picked up the vibe. She lifted an eyebrow, the corner of her lips turned up.

  “Don’t be melodramatic, Damian,” Laura said, her voice quavering. She seemed too fragile to have survived a bite from the undead. “I’m fine.”

  “She’ll just have to stay off her feet,” Max said to them before turning her attention to Laura. “Don’t move around too much, okay? A collapsed lung is nothing to mess with.” She smiled at the other woman. Laura’s chin jutted, but she gave a short nod of agreement.

  “Her pain meds are in the car,” Gonsalves said. “I’ll go grab them and our few belongings.”

  “Only if I need them, I can’t handle another day of being loopy,” Laura muttered after he’d left. “I don’t know how drug addicts do it.”

  Max chuckled. “Smart girl.”

  Amelia walked out the front door and Gabe followed. She veered down the drive passing the car and Gonsalves. Gabe caught up to her. “Where are you going?”

  “I left my shoes back there.” She picked her way carefully over sharp rocks.

  “I can go get them for you,” he offered.

  “No. Ouch!” She hobbled off the trail and Gabe noticed the blood trail she left as she hopped away. She sat on the ground and picked up her foot, eyeing the slicing injury from a stone. A pretty nasty gash across the arch.

  He frowned, kneeling beside her, taking her foot gingerly. “Fuck, this looks like it needs stitches.”

  “It’s just a scratch, I’ll heal.”

  “I know they’ve dulled our pain receptors, but this has to hurt, darlin’.”

  “Don’t call me that, damn it.”

  He lifted an eyebrow. “Call you what?”

  She glared back. “Darlin’. I hate it. You never called any of the other women in the project darlin’.”

  He couldn’t help a smile. “That’s because none of the other women have those big hazel eyes of yours. I told you, they’re my weakness. And that long auburn hair you used to sport.”

  “Damn good thing I cut it then.”

  He laughed. “God, how I’ve missed you, Amelia.”

  A muscle in her jaw worked, her skin taking on a deep red. “That makes one of us.”

  He couldn’t help himself and leaned forward, invading her space. “You didn’t miss me at all? That breaks my heart.”

  She sucked her top lip between her teeth, her nostrils flaring. “Back off, Morris. I can still kick your ass.”

  He glanced down and noticed her nipples peaked against her t-shirt. He sucked air through his teeth, desire shooting fire through his veins. He’d never been a man to beg, but at that moment he was sorely tempted.

  * * * *

  “Amelia,” Morris’s voice sounded hoarse.

  It was back, that feeling she couldn’t catch her breath. Amelia froze, unsure what her next move should be. Her brain reprimanded her for allowing Morris so close, warning her away. Her hormones pulled her in another direction—one she shouldn’t even entertain. At least not with this man.

  He moved slowly, his hand leaving her foot and skimming to her knee. Testing the waters like an insecure teenager would, and she knew she needed to give him the brush-off like she always did. Put him back in his place as the despicable man she considered him to be. Though she couldn’t remember why he was despicable, not at the moment. She looked to his hand, his long fingers wrapped around her knee, his broad palm heating her skin. He had big hands, capable hands. Hands that promised many things to a body starved for physical attention.

  Other than being a terrible flirt, she couldn’t recall him dating while in Project Terminal. Or putting the moves on any other woman but her, despite the fact Doc seemed to have had her eye on him for a short time. Then again, she’d had
her eye on many of the super soldiers in the project.

  Reed had been much worse than Morris, only taming down after he’d started not so-secretly seeing Max. Not that the project had been conducive to dating, doing so would’ve gotten you kicked out.

  She licked her lips, trying really hard to remember her reasons for hating Morris. When nothing came to her she blew out a breath, and as if reading her failed resolve, he moved in. The shock of his lips on hers made her gasp, but he clutched the back of her head, keeping her from moving away. The kiss was firm, pressing her to respond. She closed her eyes and moved into him, her hands finding his shoulders, digging her fingertips into the muscle. He growled, pushing her onto her back, covering her with his huge form as his tongue delved between her teeth. Pent-up sexual frustration came unleashed and she moaned, meeting his tongue. She ground her hips into his, feeling the hard ridge of his cock beneath his fatigues.

  “Oh fuck, darlin’, you’re testin’ me,” he groaned against her mouth, his Texas drawl more pronounced and the cold bucket of water she needed.

  She shoved at his chest, pushing him off to the side before scrambling away. She gulped air, trying to right a tipped world. His eyes were dark, doing nothing to quell the lust still raging through her system.

  “Don’t do that again,” she said, wishing her ragged voice sounded more determined.

  “I didn’t do anything you didn’t invite.” He looked ready to devour her whole. “Tell me why it’s such a bad idea, Amelia.”

  She struggled for a reasonable answer. “Because you’re a pig.”

  He leaned back against a tree, propping his forearms on his bent knees. “Why is that, because I’m attracted to you? What about finding you desirable makes me a pig?”

  He had her backed into a corner and she bristled. “I’m not that kind of woman.”

  A grin spread over his face. “The kind that doesn’t enjoy a good fuck?”

  She met his gaze head-on. “The kind who fucks.”