Roth(Hell Squad 5) Read online

  The only drives and comps she’d seen with this level of security held very important stuff.

  She muttered and tried a work-around to circumvent the security protocols. “Come on, you little…” She huffed out a breath. Despite her frustration, she was actually enjoying this. In fact, she almost felt like herself again.

  She eyed the black box, pondering her options. Maybe…yeah, that could work. She tapped the screen again, her fingers flying.

  The comp beeped and data filled the screen.

  “Hot damn,” she said, grinning.

  “You in?” Noah appeared at her shoulder, and a second later, Elle as well.

  “You did it.” Elle pressed a hand to her shoulder. “Well done.”

  The quiet praise made Avery’s throat tighten. She cleared it and focused back on the screen. She hadn’t realized quite how starved she’d been for some simple contact. The only person who’d touched her since she’d been pulled from that alien tank was Roth.

  Noah leaned forward. He was wearing glasses now, and he shoved them higher up on his nose. “Looks like Coalition military info.”

  Avery peered at it, paging through the data. “It is. Specs for weapons, military combat vehicles. Shit, look. Bases as well.” She paged again and stopped.

  Elle gasped. “Is that Blue Mountain Base?”

  “Yes.” The diagrams and data listed everything about the base, as it had been before the attack.

  “Who the hell was this for?” Noah pondered.

  A sick feeling snaked through Avery. “Where did you find it?”

  “Squad Nine found it,” Noah said. “Among ruins in the city. Near a raptor installation.”

  A shiver sent goose bumps over Avery’s skin. “You think the aliens had it?”

  “I hope not.” The man frowned. “They couldn’t get in, surely.”

  Avery wasn’t sure. “I wonder what else is in here.”

  “I’ll take a look. Might be some info on the base we don’t know about, or installations nearby. There’s always the potential to find weapons, armor, and ammunition supplies.”

  “Everything helps,” Elle added. “Thanks, Avery.”

  Avery stood. “No problem.”

  “Noah, you need me for anything, let me know,” Elle said. “Hell Squad and Squad Nine are due back from a recon mission. I’m going to meet them.”

  “Got it, Elle,” Noah said, his attention already on the comp on his desk. “Thanks again, Avery.”

  As Avery and Elle hit the corridor, Avery asked, “If Hell Squad was out, shouldn’t you be on comms?”

  “It was a joint mission, and not an offensive one—recon only. So only one comms officer was required,” Elle answered. “Squad Nine’s officer, Arden, took it.”

  As they got closer to where Avery needed to turn off toward the personal quarters, she heard the distant peal of alarms, and the clang of metal. The Hawk landing pads. She stared down the tunnel. She missed the hustle and bustle that came with heading out or returning from a mission.

  “Would you like to come and see the Hawks?”

  Avery blinked and realized Elle was watching her. “Oh, I shouldn’t, I need—”

  “Come on. We both know you want to.” Elle set off.

  Avery stood there for a moment, torn, then she gave in and followed. It was the Hawks, that was all. She just wanted to see the Hawks.

  They stepped onto the busy landing pads, and Avery breathed it all in. Overhead, from two large circular tubes cut into the rock above, two Hawk quadcopters were slowly descending. People were hurrying around, all dressed in a mishmash of uniforms and civilian clothes. The squads had been formed from whoever had survived the first wave of alien attacks—UC Navy, Army, Marines, Air force, SAS, and police officers.

  A memory hit her. Her, dressed in fatigues, gesturing to her team to hurry to a waiting helicopter. She held a carbine, and the wind from the chopper made her hair dance around her face. That sense of edgy anticipation rushed through her, of knowing she was heading out to take down the bad guys. Avery blinked and the memory was gone. She took a deep breath. The blanks were slowly filling in. She just wished it wouldn’t take so long.

  The thought of being a part of a squad, of being out there on the front line, was so damn tempting. Her hands curled into fists by her sides.

  The Hawks’ skids had touched down, the rotors all slowing. The side doors slid open.

  She saw Marcus Steele and his second, Cruz Ramos leap out of one Hawk.

  Then she saw Roth leap out of the second Hawk.

  Everything inside her went still, then quivered like it had been hit with a tuning fork. He looked hot and sweaty, his hair slicked back against his head. With his armor on, he looked even bigger, and as she watched, he started pulling pieces of the chest armor off to uncover a dark-green T-shirt, sweat-stained at the neck.

  It was true, Avery thought. She had never wanted a man quite as much as she wanted Roth Masters.

  Chapter Six

  Avery watched other people leap off the Hawk behind Roth, and then he was surrounded by women. Armor-clad, badass-looking women. One was talking to him, gesturing as she spoke. She wasn’t very tall, the top of her dark head barely reaching Roth’s shoulder.

  Mackenna Carides, his second-in-command. Avery hadn’t seen the woman in action, but she’d heard the stories. Apparently, Carides was tough with a capital T, and could wipe the floor with anyone—even the squads’ toughest soldiers.

  The other women flanked them. All strong, all competently holding their carbines. One huge, silent man followed behind. He looked like a gentle giant…until you saw his dark eyes. Eyes of a warrior.

  As Mac finished, a brunette with glints of red in her hair picked up the conversation. She stepped in front of Roth to stop him and make her point. She was talking fast and pissed about something.

  He spent every day with these women; these strong, competent women. Avery found herself swallowing against a bitter taste in her mouth. They all looked so comfortable together. They fought side-by-side, and backed each other up, every day. She wondered if he was involved with one of them personally.

  Avery tucked her hair back behind her ear. Roth didn’t seem the type to do that, but the rules were more flexible now. Here at Blue Mountain Base, they didn’t stand on ceremony. They didn’t always use rank, or wear matching uniforms. They just did what they had to do to survive.

  Arguing voices snapped her attention away from Roth. She suddenly realized a wall of very big, very tall people had approached her and Elle. A huge, rugged man was sliding an arm around Elle and tugging her close to his side.

  His green eyes were on Avery though. Assessing.

  “I damn well shot that alien. Right between the eyes.” A tawny-haired man stood with his legs spread, his hands on his lean hips, a long-range sniper rifle tossed over one shoulder.

  “Dream on, Shaw. I’d already taken him down. Three shots to the chest. That was my kill.”

  Avery’s gaze swiveled to the woman squaring off in front of the sniper. She took tough to a new level. Her dark hair was in a no-nonsense braid, and she looked like she was about to slam a fist into the sniper’s pretty face.

  “No way.” Shaw chopped a hand through the air. “You aren’t stealing my kill.”

  “You aren’t stealing my kill. I took down seven. You only got six.” The woman glowered, and it was a scary thing.

  The handsome sniper snorted, looking unconcerned. “Dream on, Frost.”

  The woman made an inarticulate sound in her throat. Avery knew she was Claudia Frost, Hell Squad’s only female soldier.

  A tall man swung his arms around both of them. “Cool it, you two. You want to duke it out, take it down to the firing range.” The man winked at Avery. “Me, I’ve got a woman to pry out of the lab.” His gaze turned inward. “I know she’ll be wearing one of those skirts that drives me crazy.”

  Claudia elbowed him. “Jesus, Reed. Is that all you think about, getting Natalya naked?
”

  Reed cocked his head. “Pretty much.”

  Claudia shrugged his arm off. “I’m going to grab a shower and a beer. Between Shaw’s blowhard recollection of events and the rest of you getting all loved up—” she shot Marcus and Elle a hard look “—you all leave me slightly nauseated.” She stalked off, her long legs carrying her out of the landing pads.

  “Man, she’s got more of a bug up her a—” Shaw’s gaze flicked to Avery and Elle and a lazy smile appeared “—butt than usual. And I did take down that raptor.”

  “So did she,” Cruz said, shades of Mexico in his voice.

  Now the sniper scowled. “I had it under control. She didn’t have to come in like Galahad and shred the fucker in the chest. She’s been appearing beside me on every mission, like I’m some damn damsel in distress who needs a bodyguard.”

  Hell Squad all looked at each other. Marcus cleared his throat. “We’re all a bit jumpy after that aquatic alien dragged you through the ocean, tried to drown you and nearly ate you.”

  Avery really wanted to know what he was talking about. The sniper huffed out a breath, swiped a hand through his hair, and settled on a frustrated nod.

  Just then, Squad Nine reached them. Avery looked up, her gaze clashing with Roth’s. He gave her a small nod and she lifted her chin.

  A man in a neat khaki uniform strode onto the landing pads. With the bit of distinguished gray at his temples, and a handsome face—not to mention the air of authority that cloaked him—he had ‘man in charge’ written all over him.

  In the short time she’d been at base, Avery had developed a hell of a lot of respect for General Adam Holmes. He’d pulled off a miracle in creating Blue Mountain Base, keeping this many people secure, and feeding and housing them. Not to mention forming the squads and fighting back at the aliens.

  She wondered if anyone else noted the lines bracketing his mouth, or the dark shadows under his eyes. The man looked like he was running on fumes.

  “Steele? Masters? What did you find out there?” the general asked.

  “Aliens everywhere, sir,” Marcus said, his arm tightening around Elle.

  “And they’re acting more aggressive,” Roth added.

  Avery’s stomach tightened. Not good.

  “And it looks like they’re testing new weapons.” Marcus’ gravelly voice did not sound happy. “Same poison they’ve been using but it’s electrified as well.”

  Holmes’ face twisted and he looked like he wanted to swear. “Any chance we can get our hands on some of it? Let Noah and his team take a look at it.”

  “We’ll see what we can do,” Marcus said.

  Roth took a step forward. “General…it gets worse. We spotted patrols at the foothills of the Blue Mountains. My guess is they’ll continue pushing our way.”

  Holmes’ jaw tightened. “They know we’re here somewhere. I’ll double the base patrols.” He shoved his hands on his hips. “I’ve also been working on a number of evacuation plans. I think it’s time we start running evac simulations.”

  Elle gasped. “People will panic.”

  “I know.” Holmes looked beyond exhausted, now. “I can’t help that. I’d prefer them panicked, but alive. Every man, woman, and child in this base needs to know exactly what to do if the base is attacked.”

  “Where will we go?” The words slipped out of Avery’s mouth.

  Holmes’ piercing blue gaze leveled on her. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

  She held out a hand. “Avery Stillman.”

  “Stillman?” He frowned, then his brows rose. “The CCIA agent?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Well, Avery, let’s hope we never have to evacuate, but for now, I just need everyone to know we have a workable plan.” He looked at the weary, sweat-stained soldiers. “All right, everyone dismissed. Clean up and get some rest.”

  Hell Squad and Squad Nine started moving out, murmuring and patting each other on the back. Avery caught the Squad Nine women eyeing her with undisguised curiosity as they passed.

  “Marcus, I don’t think you’ve met Avery,” Elle said.

  He lifted his chin. “So, you’re Masters’ favorite interrogation target.”

  Avery rolled her eyes. “The guy is persistent.” She glanced Roth’s way. He was standing near the doorway, talking with his squad. He hadn’t looked her way as he was leaving, and she felt her shoulders slump a little.

  “You really don’t remember anything?” Marcus asked.

  She shrugged. “Some of it’s coming back. Slowly.”

  “Avery just helped Noah and I access a CCIA drive,” Elle said. “Lots of interesting info on there.”

  Marcus studied Elle’s face before his piercing gaze fell on Avery again. “If Masters gets to be too much, let me know. I’ll handle it.”

  Avery straightened. “I appreciate the offer, but I can handle Roth just fine.” She saw that he and the others in Nine were now gone. “I should be off. Elle, I’ll see you later.”

  “Sure, Avery. Thanks again for your help today.”

  “Nice to meet you, Marcus. And thanks for the work you do out there.”

  Marcus inclined his head.

  Avery wandered the tunnels, not really sure where she was headed. She was thinking about the inhabitants having to abandon the base. If it came to that, some wouldn’t make it—the injured, the elderly, the very young. She thumped a fist against her head. She needed to remember.

  She had to remember something that would help avoid an evacuation.

  She turned toward the personal quarters and ended up at Roth’s door.

  After a few minutes of trying to talk herself out of it, she knocked.

  It took a moment, but finally it was yanked open. “Mac, I said I’m not up for a beer—” Spotting her, he broke off.

  For a long moment, they simply stared at each other.

  Avery opened her mouth to speak, but she was having trouble breathing, and no words would come out.

  Roth had clearly just stepped out of the shower. The only thing he wore was a towel wrapped around his lean hips, leaving everything else bare.

  Holy hell, the man was ripped. His arms were huge, his shoulders hard, his pecs sculpted, and his abdomen…it was ridge after ridge of muscle. Avery shifted, trying to quell the hungry feeling inside. She watched a small droplet of water that clung to the hair on his chest. It broke free, traveling downward over taut bronze skin and even tauter muscles.

  “Avery?”

  She jerked her eyes to his. “I…wanted to talk.”

  He stepped back, holding the door open wider.

  She walked into his quarters. They were much the same as hers. Bed against one wall, small kitchenette tucked in the back, and a tiny living area with a sagging couch. There was a door she knew would lead to a compact bathroom.

  She wandered in and eyed the tablet on the coffee table. It displayed an old sports e-magazine on laser ball. “You’re a fan?”

  “I was.”

  Right. Because there was no laser ball league anymore. All the stadiums would be empty, the players dead. “I loved laser ball. Played when I was at school.” Based on American football, it incorporated a powered ball and shoes. Players ran faster, threw farther and jumped higher. “One of my foster fathers was the coach of a high school team. We used to watch all the games.” Her throat tightened. She’d let herself get too attached to Mr. Lee, and it had hurt when she’d been shifted to another home. She wondered if he was still alive and was shocked at the flash of grief that stole her breath.

  “Hey.” A warm hand brushed her cheek. “You okay?”

  She nodded and turned, to find her nose almost buried in that hard chest that kept pulling her gaze in like a magnet. He was too close. “We should toss a laser ball sometime. Bet I could score in under five minutes.”

  Roth snorted. “My father was a professional coach. I got a university scholarship on laser ball.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really? Did you ever consider going
pro?”

  “Yeah.” He paused, his face hardening. “But…my family was killed during my freshman year, and I dropped out.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry.” She didn’t remember the drug addict mother who’d given her up. She imagined losing a loving family you’d had your entire childhood was devastating. “Car accident?”

  “No. They were at the Mount Brookside Shopping Plaza.”

  Cold washed over her. Mount Brookside had been a terrorist attack. The shopping center had been raided by armed gunmen, then bombs had detonated. “God, Roth, I really am sorry.”

  His face was composed, but those pale eyes glittered. “Thanks. After that, playing ball didn’t seem so important. I joined the Army.”

  God, he’d given up his dream to fight for his country. To battle terrorists. She felt something inside her crumble. She took a step backward. “I’m going to try the memory stimulation—”

  Roth scowled, crossing his arms over his chest. “We’ve been over this. No.”

  She scowled back. God, couldn’t the man put some clothes on? “My body, my brain, my decision. I have to do something, Roth. I have to help.” She spun away, taking a deep breath. “I’m useless like this, all these broken memories. Medical won’t clear me to fight—”

  “You were in that tank for who knows how long, Avery. I know I was pushing you before, but now I think you just need more time.”

  Time they didn’t have. She straightened and looked him directly in the eye. “The alien troops are back on the streets, getting closer to this base. Will they wait for my head to fill in the blanks?”

  His mouth firmed into a line.

  She closed the few steps between them. “We both know how it will go down if the base is overrun. People will die.” Her breath hitched. “And so many are already dead.”

  He gripped her shoulders, his thumbs brushing over her collarbones. “I know you think that’s on you, but it isn’t.”

  “I was head of the negotiations, Roth. My responsibility.”

  He cursed and shook her a little. “Let it go.”

  “I can’t.” A harsh whisper and she felt something inside her break. “I messed up, I have to make up for it somehow.”