“In masks?” a guard asked.
“Like I said, we didn’t want to get in trouble.” CJ shrugged. “We could have gotten disqualified. Damn. Now, we will.”
The two security guards looked normal enough, just men with Tasers in black uniforms. There was something about their eyes that bothered CJ, a cruelty there he didn’t expect from some guy just trying to make a living.
“Oh, come on.” One of the security guards shook his head. “I don’t need to see your faces to know what you are. One big guy might have fooled us, but two? You arrogant hybrids shouldn’t have come here. You think you’re better than us, but our bosses are smarter than all you dogs.”
“We’re not hybrids,” CJ replied. “What would hybrids want with an obstacle race?”
The security guard snickered. “Who cares? If you’re hybrids, we turn you over to our bosses. If you’re not, then we’ll dump your bodies into the Hudson River, and you’ll be another unsolved mystery for the cops to worry about.”
CJ growled. “You’re going to kill us for some trespassing?”
The guard waved his Taser. “Our boss said you dogs might come sniffing around after Hawaii, and here you are.”
“You don’t have to do this,” CJ said. “You can walk away.”
“I think not, mutt. I always thought your kind were overrated.” The guard raised his Taser and pulled the trigger.
CJ was ready for the shot. He ducked behind the empty crate, the darts missing his head. Only a hybrid had those kinds of reflexes.
Julius grabbed a crate and threw it at the other man. The crate smashed into him, downing the guard.
CJ sprang up and charged the first guard. He smashed a fist into the man’s face and sent him flying to the ground. He hurried over to the groaning second guard and knocked him out with two quick punches.
“Let’s get out of here before their friends arrive,” Julius said.
CJ kicked the unfired Taser away from the guard and into the dark shadow of the slide. With that, he ran for the fence.
* * *
After ditching their masks, the two hybrids strolled back to their motel as if they hadn’t confirmed an evil murderous conspiracy’s involvement with the event. They didn’t want to take the chance of getting some random driver involved in their business, but no one followed them. By the time they got back to their room, it almost felt like they’d been on a relaxing evening walk.
CJ was the first speak once they were inside. “What the hell was that? A trap? Did they know we were coming beyond just guessing? Do they know where we are now?”
Julius shook his head. “This all seems too complicated for that. If they knew we were at this place, they had plenty of opportunities to try and take us down here. Surprise would be their best bet.”
“True.” CJ dropped into a chair, now more worried about Kendra than ever. “But it sounded like they were at least expecting us to show up.”
“Yeah.” Julius nodded. “It’s definitely Ouroboros. I doubt they’re running this whole thing, but they have more than those two guys. That probably explains the security situation. Too high-end a system might have alerted suspicious people in the government.”
“We need to contact Maximus and figure out what to do,” CJ said. “We didn’t kill those guys. They might be ready for us or try to tell the cops.”
Julius shook his head. “Whatever it is they’re up to, they’re not going to call the cops in. We lost our element of surprise, but they don’t know how many of us are here. That’s still a big advantage. They’ll probably assume we’ve got all of Alpha Squad, which means they’re going to want to dig in and be careful to avoid taking on twelve hybrids at once. But you’re right. Let’s call Maximus and continue to monitor the situation.”
* * *
The next morning, CJ muted the TV. A local news channel was running a story on the race with zero mention of any guards getting hurt or intruders at night. Maximus was putting men on standby, but he wasn’t ready to deploy further men without more information. He wanted them to continue their recon and withdraw if overwhelmed.
“We still have no idea what that device was,” CJ said with a frown. “And we don’t know if they were all over the place.”
“Then we’ve only got one option.” Julius nodded toward the closet. “Now that it’s event day, there will be security screenings. We’re not going to be able to sneak guns in. They obviously get they can’t shoot at will, so we’ll go in there and check things out. We need to figure out if there’s anything in the main building and what those devices are.” He cracked his knuckles. “We had our masks on, so they can’t ID us, and there will be a lot more people, including big guys, to hide among.”
“I should warn Kendra off,” CJ said.
Julius shook his head. “If they know she’s a Vestal, they might be more aggressive now that they know hybrids are there. For now, the safest place for her is in that crowd.”
CJ growled. “Anyone who hurts her is going to get a lot more than a punch to the face.”
He could understand Julius’s logic, but the situation had changed. Before, they suspected the enemy was there, but now they knew not only was Ouroboros there, the organization was willing to kill non-hybrids if necessary. Betting on the safety of his Vestal wasn’t acceptable.
CJ needed to come up with a better plan and fast.
Chapter Sixteen
Kendra smiled at Graham and his camera. She flashed a V sign. “And that’s why I’ll conquer the race today. It’s time for me to become a champion again. Thanks for all your support. I couldn’t have come as far as I have without all you loyal viewers. Remember to smash those like and subscribe buttons! Until next time, this is your Roving Champion.”
“And we’re out,” Graham said. He narrowed his eyes. “I wonder if we should have had you do that out of the tracksuit, especially since you’re wearing sponsor gear. They might get annoyed if we don’t show it enough.”
“They’ll see plenty of it later.” Kendra shrugged. “It’s not like they’re specifying a certain number of shots per minute.”
She didn’t dislike her sponsors and never agreed to promote a product she didn’t believe in, but the constant weight of commercial concerns could drain all the fun out of a competition.
It should have been her against the course without any other worries. All those other concerns had piled up with success, though sometimes she wondered if things were better when she was less popular and focused only on the athletic side of things.
“It’s good you’re wearing it, and you’re right, it’s not just about a certain number of times, but we’ll need more close-ups.” Graham lowered the camera and looked her up and down. “They’re always bitching about not getting enough close-ups and logo focus. You announcing things at the beginning and end of the videos isn’t enough. They’ve complained about it in the past. Not just that company, but others.”
“We can do plenty of close-up takes whenever you feel like it.” Kendra smiled.
Even if sponsorships were a pain, she wanted to focus on how blessed she was to be able to do what she did for a living. Besides, she couldn’t feel down or anxious.
Yesterday had been wonderful, and while she was sorer than she anticipated, she didn’t think it was a bad trade-off. The wonderful sex had left her a lot more relaxed than she expected, meaning she could tackle the race without the demons of doubt who always tried to sabotage her before an event. Victory required both physical and mental toughness.
Her stupid superstition had limited her potential through the years. Or maybe it hadn’t. Maybe she had to wait for the right man to come along, in particular, one super-stud who’d come out of nowhere to rock her world. She needed more CJ, not less.
Graham tilted his head and stared at her, the corners of his mouth curling up in a smile. “Oh my. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. You horny little bitch.” He laughed. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”
Kendra blink
ed. Sometimes having somebody being her friend for years was a pain. It was hard to get anything past him.
“What? How did you know?” She looked down at her tracksuit as if she’d left evidence there. “I… I’m… oh man. Yes, I did, but I haven’t said anything. I didn’t give you any goofy smiles.” She frowned. “I think I didn’t. Did I?”
“Girl, you should never play poker. You’re terrible at hiding anything.” Graham smirked. “You have been way too bubbly with everything that’s going on, especially since it felt like you were going to explode from stress just the other day, but now you’re carrying yourself a certain way. I thought you were nervous about the race and accepted it, but it finally just clicked into place. Sex, the best, most relaxing drug on the planet.”
“What can I say?” Kendra let out a nervous laugh. “I took your advice. Didn’t you say that would take away all my problems?”
Kendra stared at him, challenge in her eyes. She wasn’t worried or ashamed of what she’d done and wasn’t about to let anyone, including Graham, make her feel that way. She was finally feeling good and didn’t want to let it go.
The mischief in Graham’s eyes pointed away from accusation, calming Kendra. “I recall saying something along those lines, yes.” He ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek as he continued looking at her. “It’s not a bad thing, depending on the answer to one important question. Did it take away all your problems?”
“It took away enough. And now I feel a lot more relaxed.” Kendra might be close to Graham, but even he didn’t need to hear about the good soreness from getting pounded by her special man. “I’m feeling as good as I have in a long time, and it’s all because of CJ. I don’t have any complaints and I’m more than ready for the race.”
“I’m not complaining,” Graham replied, “but I thought you didn’t like to do that kind of thing right before competition. That’s always been your rule, not mine. That’s why this is so surprising.”
Kendra nodded to an area closer to the fence with fewer people. She didn’t want to talk about her love life and have some random person overhear her and post about it out of context on Facebook or Instagram. Graham nodded and followed her with the camera lowered.
“I don’t know,” Kendra said. “I was trying to make sure this wouldn’t happen, but it just sort of happened. I’ve never been so drawn to a guy before. I barely could stop myself the other day, and I already probably went too far even then.”
“The other day?” Graham laughed and slapped his knee. “Oh, damn. You’ve got it bad. I didn’t even realize when it was so obvious.”
Kendra didn’t want to voice the truth aloud. It sounded ridiculous in her head, and she could only imagine it’d cross over to the absurd if she told Graham.
She couldn’t help it. She was through hiding things both from herself and others. A champion faced all foes, including herself.
“I think I’m in love,” Kendra said.
“You’re in love?” Graham’s brow lifted. “That quickly? I thought I was the easy target for Cupid, not you. Damn! This is a special guy.”
Kendra folded her arms and leaned against the fence. “I know it all sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know what to say. Being around him makes me feel good, and by good, I don’t just mean horny, but don’t get me wrong, the other day…” She rubbed her shoulders and tried not to squeeze her thighs together. “I’ve never, ever had my world rocked like that or even close to that. It’s like he was born to get me off. Maybe even designed that way.”
“That sounds great, but are you sure?” Graham sounded suspicious, his smile fading.
“I know what I felt. I didn’t have anything to drink if that’s what you’re asking.”
Graham sighed. “You’re not getting what I’m saying.” He put his fingers to his forehead. “I saw the guy, and he’s definitely a hunk with stamina, so I get that, but it’s been a while for you. Maybe it was an okay performance that you’ve turned into the best ever because of your dry run, and you’re letting it convince you it was more special that it was. I’ve had that happen to me with guys.”
Kendra mulled it over. The thought hadn’t occurred to her, but now that her friend said it, she rejected it out of hand. There was something special between her and CJ, something primal and different from any other relationship she’d ever experienced. She wouldn’t let Graham talk her out of her dream man and likely soulmate.
“It’s not like I don’t, you know, take care of myself.” Kendra glanced around to make sure nobody was listening. “And I know my body. And I know my heart. I don’t know what to say other than I think he could be the one. This is something special, and I’ve had sex after dry spells before and never felt anything like that.”
Did it sound crazy and irresponsible? Probably. She also didn’t care.
A lot of people thought she was crazy and stupid when she left school to become an internet star, but it’d worked out for her. Sometimes a woman needed to trust her own instincts and leap into the unknown.
Graham sighed. “You’re a big girl. I’m not going to tell you what to do, but trust me, I’ve had plenty of guys rock my world and convince me they were the one, only to find out I was nothing more than a notch on their bedpost. Don’t let your heart run everything.” He tapped his temple. “Relationships can be fun, but your head should always be in charge. That way you don’t end up on the bad end of a bottle and quart of ice cream later.”
Kendra looked around. “Well, he’s coming to cheer me on at least. Though, he’s not here yet.”
Graham’s doubts seeped into the back of her mind. She’d given into CJ, and he wasn’t even from the area.
They were both travelers. Banging and running would be an easy strategy. Just because she thought he was perfect for her didn’t mean he felt the same way.
“It’s a big crowd.” Graham smiled. “I’m sure he’ll come.”
The loud hiss of air brakes caught her attention. A semi-truck with a long white trailer was pulling up near the fence toward the back of the course. Staffers ran to open the gate.
“The race starts in a couple of hours and they’re still getting deliveries.” Kendra shook her head. “I hope it’s nothing important. I’m ready to race.”
She pulled out her phone and sent a text.
Hey, are you here yet?
Graham eyed the phone. “I’m not going to tell you how to live your love life, but for today, you need to concentrate on the race, not your man.”
“I’m more prepared for this race than I’ve been for one in a long time.” Kendra smiled at him.
Her phone chimed with a new message from CJ.
Be there in about fifteen minutes.
Kendra held up the phone. “And he’s coming.”
* * *
Graham wandered off to get more prerace crowd shots while Kendra waited near the front gate for CJ to arrive. She spotted him in the distance walking with another huge man around his size. At first, she thought they might be brothers, but once they got closer, she could see the differences in their faces, not to mention the other man’s red hair.
The second man said something to CJ before jogging off into the crowd. Kendra waited for CJ to get past the admissions tables and head inside to the gate area, which was dominated by concession stands and a bustling crowd.
CJ jogged up to her and nodded past the smoothie stand marking the edge of the concessions area. “Let’s go somewhere we can talk without yelling.”
They headed past the stand and toward the fence line, the density of athletes and spectators decreasing with each step. Kendra’s heart kicked up. CJ didn’t seem like the dirty type, but she wasn’t sure she could bring herself to turn him down if he was planning something sweaty and hot that didn’t involve obstacles.
CJ looked around and cleared his throat. “I’ve got something to say, and I want you to not overreact. Just listen to me and then come up with a response, after thinking about it.”
Kendra’s
stomach tightened. Crap. She was going to get dumped by her soulmate right before a big race. Graham had been right.
“O-okay.” Kendra nodded quickly, trying to will her galloping heart to calm down. “What is it?”
“I don’t think you should do the race,” CJ said.
“Huh?” Kendra stared at CJ, trying to be certain she’d heard what she thought. It was a relief that the words out of his mouth didn’t involve “We can still be friends,” but she didn’t understand why he wouldn’t want her to do the race.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about the race. I think you shouldn’t do it.”
“A bad feeling?” Kendra frowned. “You don’t think I can do it? Just because we had a little fun yesterday doesn’t mean I can’t perform. Yes, you rocked my world, but even you aren’t so good as to disable me the next day.”
CJ placed his hands on her shoulders. It took all her self-control not to nuzzle them.
“I know you can do this,” he said. “This isn’t about me questioning your capabilities.” He offered a lazy grin. “You took control for most of the second half yesterday, and you never slowed down. I know you’ve got the endurance and muscle strength.”
Heat assaulted her cheeks. Kendra chuckled and looked away.
“I didn’t want to seem greedy,” she said. “Even a guy like you might want a break.”
“With you? Never, but I didn’t mind having you on top.”
Kendra frowned and shook her head. She jerked away from CJ. “Don’t think you can distract me with talking about how much you liked doing me. Why do you have a bad feeling about the race?” She stepped closer to whisper. “Is this about your job?”
CJ sighed and nodded. “Kind of.”
“You found something, didn’t you?” Kendra bore into him with her most suspicious look. “You must have seen something the other day when I was taking you around, but you didn’t want to mention it because of client confidentiality.”
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