GRIFF

HELL SQUAD #17

ANNA HACKETT

Griff

Published by Anna Hackett

Copyright 2019 by Anna Hackett

Cover by Melody Simmons of BookCoversCre8tive

Edits by Tanya Saari

ISBN (ebook): 978-1-925539-68-4

ISBN (paperback): 978-1-925539-69-1

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, events or places is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.

CONTENTS

What readers are saying about Anna’s action romances

Action Romance Box Set

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Preview: Edge of Eon

Preview: Gladiator

Also by Anna Hackett

About the Author

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ANNA’S ACTION ROMANCES

Unexplored – Romantic Book of the Year (Ruby) Novella Winner 2017

Unfathomed and Unmapped - Romantic Book of the Year (Ruby) finalists 2018

At Star’s End – One of Library Journal’s Best E-Original Romances for 2014

Return to Dark Earth – One of Library Journal’s Best E-Original Books for 2015 and two-time SFR Galaxy Awards winner

The Phoenix Adventures – SFR Galaxy Award Winner for Most Fun New Series and “Why Isn’t This a Movie?” Series

Beneath a Trojan Moon – SFR Galaxy Award Winner and RWAus Ella Award Winner

Hell Squad – SFR Galaxy Award for best Post-Apocalypse for Readers who don’t like Post-Apocalypse

The Anomaly Series – #1 Amazon Action Adventure Romance Bestseller

“Like Indiana Jones meets Star Wars. A treasure hunt with a steamy romance.” – SFF Dragon, review of Among Galactic Ruins

“Strap in, enjoy the heat of romance and the daring of this group of space travellers!” – Di, Top 500 Amazon Reviewer, review of At Star’s End

“High action and adventure surrounding an impossible treasure hunt kept me reading until late in the night.” – Jen, That’s What I’m Talking About, review of Beyond Galaxy’s Edge

“Action, danger, aliens, romance – yup, it’s another great book from Anna Hackett!” – Book Gannet Reviews, review of Hell Squad: Marcus

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CHAPTER ONE

Life left behind clues.

Griff Callan’s boots made a dull thudding sound on the cracked pavement. He gripped his carbine, eyeing the remnants of the abandoned town his squad had entered. The morning’s thunderstorm had ended, and in places, dirt had turned to mud.

Ahead of him, a small, vibrant-green weed was sprouting through the cracks. New life fighting back through the destruction. It had been almost two years since the aliens had invaded and destroyed the Earth. The remaining human survivors were like that damn weed. Fighting back against the dinosaur-like Gizzida, struggling to stay alive, and never giving up.

He spotted a footprint in the mud, half filled with rain from the storm. He frowned. The footprint was fresh. Lifting his chin, he scanned the abandoned houses lining the street. A door hung off its hinges. Windows were smashed. A car sat in one driveway, rusted and missing parts.

Ahead, he saw some historic stone buildings—a couple of churches, an old pub. And in the distance, he saw the large, crumbling stone walls of the Old Berrima Gaol. His mission briefing said it had been built in the 1800s using convict labor, and over the years it had been a prisoner internment camp and a low-security corrections facility. Now, it was just a ruin.

This town, Berrima, south of the once-vibrant capital of the United Coalition, Sydney, had at one time been a bustling little community. Now it was dead.

The sight left a hollow echo in Griff’s chest. Life just loves messing with people. It teases you with the good, then snatches it away.

He listened to his squad as they fanned out around him. The only sounds were the whistle of the breeze, and the men’s deep, quiet murmurs. He heard Hemi Rahia snort at something his brother Tane—their squad leader—said. Both had Maori heritage, and it showed in their brown skin and features. Tane was tall and intense, while Hemi was shorter and stockier, and a lot louder than his brother.

Ash Connors and Levi King were walking ahead, trading jokes, even though the former bikers were alert and watchful. Beside Griff walked the final member of their squad, Dom Santora. As usual, the dark-haired man was silent. He wore the same high-tech armor they all did, holding a carbine with practiced ease, although the collection of knives Dom preferred were sheathed at his waist.

Squad Three had become Griff’s friends and brothers. They were a wild crew. At their hidden base of survivors, they were known as the berserkers. They were men that Griff would never have crossed paths with, pre-invasion.

“Anyone see anything?” Tane’s dreadlocks framed his tough face. When his dark eyes met Griff’s, Griff lifted his chin.

“Saw a fresh footprint.”

Tane nodded. “Saw some drag marks that looked fresh as well.”

Griff had a talent for seeing the little details that other people might miss. In his previous life—not just before the alien apocalypse that had decimated the Earth, but before the huge betrayal that had landed his ass in a supermax prison—he’d been a police detective. He’d loved it. All he’d ever wanted to be growing up was a cop. It was in his blood. He loved looking for the clues and picking things apart, then piecing the story together.

He stepped over some rubble and spotted another footprint. This one was smaller and narrower. Female.

Yeah, he felt an itch in his gut. People had been here. Recently.

He moved forward, his boot hitting a discarded tin can. It clattered across the ground, and he realized that it wasn’t dented or rusted with time.

It set his instincts burning.

Although, instincts could lie, as well. He’d learned that the hard way.

Tane paused and looked back. “Griff? Your take?”

Griff scanned the empty street again. “People are using the town. They’re here, somewhere.”

But where were they now? And why were they hiding?

“You guys find anything yet?” A bold female voice came through their earpieces.

“Not yet, babe.” Hemi grinned through his beard. “But as soon as we find something, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Well, get a wriggle on. I need a beer, and I can’t leave the comms office until you guys get your booties back here.”

Indy Bennett was Squad Three’s comms officer. Mouthy, tattooed, and without a shy bone in her body. Griff had known her since she’d been a young girl, when she’d been his best friend’s annoying little sister, then later, a gorgeous, tempting tease who set his blood alight. Fighting his desire for her had become a damn art form.

As he listened to her laugh at something Hemi said, Griff’s blood began to burn. Indy Bennett made him want so many things.

Suddenly, Griff heard a noise. The thump of something hitting the ground and then rolling. He spun, staring down the sights of his carbine. His team all froze, whipping their carbines up as one.

Tane lifted his arm, giving a hand signal, and Griff nodded. He was closest. He moved down the narrow gap between two houses.

All he heard was the wind.

He glanced back and saw Dom moving in right behind him, as silent as a ghost. No one heard Santora coming, and he was as scary as hell in a fight. There were no sounds coming from the back of the house.

Turning the corner of the old, wooden house, Griff scanned the yard…and watched the raptor rise up from behind a hedge just meters away.

The reptilian humanoid was over six-and-a-half feet of densely packed muscle, covered by thick, gray-mottled, scaly skin. Its eyes glowed red and it opened its mouth, revealing sharp teeth.

The fucking alien was too close. Griff tried to get his carbine up, but the raptor let out a guttural growl. Behind him, Griff heard the shouts of his teammates.

He ignored them and focused on his enemy. He dropped his carbine and yanked his combat knife off his belt. He launched himself at the alien.

“Raptors,” Dom barked over the comm line. “Griff has engaged.”

“Acknowledged.” Indy’s voice held an edge.

The raptor grunted and Griff went in low, slashing out. His blade sliced into the alien’s skin, just above the waistband of his thick trousers. Damn, the aliens had tough skin.

“More raptors incoming,” Tane yelled. “Take ’em down.”

The alien swung a giant, clawed fist, and Griff leaped back. As the raptor swung again, Griff ducked. Anger welled inside him, brewing like a thunderstorm.

Every time he fought, Griff felt it. Anger at what these aliens had done. Fury that they’d invaded the Earth. Rage that they’d killed billions of people, and were trying to take the planet for their own.

But it wasn’t only that fueling his fury. No, it was the ugly, acid inside him that had been building for years. Borne of a betrayal that had destroyed his life and sent him to prison.

Griff brutally swiped out his knife. He caught the alien’s gut and heard a grunt. Yeah, take that, you bastard.

Ducking and weaving, Griff kept up the fight. He fell into the red haze of his battle rage. He avoided the larger alien’s fists and got more swipes in. Blood dripped down the raptor’s scaly chest.

After a hard kick, the alien staggered back. Griff advanced and rammed his boot into the raptor’s gut. The alien soldier fell, and Griff was on him in a flash. He swiped his blade across the alien’s throat. He made a horrible gurgle. Then Griff jammed his knife into the raptor’s chest, working hard to get the blade between his ribs. Then he stabbed him again and again.

“He’s dead, amico mio.”

Blinking, Griff looked up at Dom.

His friend watched him steadily with eyes so dark they looked black, and Griff heaved in air, slowly trying to regain some semblance of control.

“You okay?” Dom asked.

“Yeah.” Griff rose.

Hell, the ex-cop and the ex-Mafia enforcer. The apocalypse had sure forged some strange relationships. If anyone had told Griff that one day his best friend would be the deadliest enforcer for the worst Mafia crime family in Italy, Griff would never have believed them. Now, Dom was one of the few people Griff trusted at his back.

Although, not that long ago, if anyone told Griff that he’d also no longer be a cop and rot for several years in a supermax prison, he wouldn’t have believed that, either.

Suddenly, shouts echoed from a neighboring street.

Boom.

Frag grenade. He and Dom broke into a run.

“Motherfuckers are over here,” Hemi called out.

They turned a corner and saw the rest of the berserkers battling more raptors. Several alien bodies already littered the muddy ground.

“Bring it on.” Levi opened fire on a raptor.

Tane tore through two more raptors, fighting hard and dirty.

Ash fired his carbine with deadly precision.

Dom sprinted ahead, yanking out a knife. He tossed the blade and it arrowed through the air, cutting into the neck of a raptor.

Griff shifted, then felt something clamp around his ankle. For a second, he was back in prison, with some criminal asshole intent on taking the cop down.

With a roar, Griff kicked his boot. He looked down and saw one of the fallen raptors wasn’t quite dead.

He viciously kicked the alien, the ever-simmering fury breaking free. The raptor rolled away and stood. Griff charged the bastard. They collided, grunting and straining, shoving at each other as they crashed through a sagging fence and toward the front of one of the houses.

With a grunt, Griff stabbed at the alien. The raptor gripped his arm, claws digging into his skin. They careened through the front door.

Glass and wood crunched under their boots. Griff shoved the bastard, using all the increased strength that came from the slimline exo-skeleton built into his armor.

With a shocked cry, the raptor fell, slamming into the floor. Griff brought his boot down and stomped on the raptor’s head. And then he stomped again. And again.

“Griff? Griff? Respond, damn you.”

Chest heaving, rage turning his vision red, Indy’s voice was no more than a drone in his ear.

All of a sudden, he heard an ominous creak. The floor gave way, and he and the raptor fell into the house’s basement.

Griff smacked onto the concrete floor. He groaned and coughed at the cloud of dust filling the air. He lifted his head and saw the raptor was dead. It’d been impaled on a broken post, which was now protruding through its torso.

Pulling himself back, Griff sucked in some deep breaths. He stood there, staring, battling back the mass of anger in his chest.

“Griff?” Indy’s voice—one part panicked, three parts pissed—finally broke through the fog in his head. “Answer me!”

Hearing her voice was like a cool breeze washing through him. “I’m here.”

A frustrated expulsion of air. “I’ve been calling you for ages.”

Shit. He stared at the wall. Had he been standing here longer than he’d thought? Maybe. “I was busy fighting for my life.”

“You could still answer my hails!”

“And get myself killed?”

“Like I care, anyway,” she snapped. “Meet the others. The Hawk is on the way to pick you guys up.”

Griff sucked in a steadying breath. “Got it.”

With a sniff, the line went silent.

Indy Bennett. The woman he wanted more than anything in his life. Griff rubbed his forehead. Hell, he was a glutton for punishment.

She made no effort to hide her annoyance with him. At one time, she’d been his best friend’s little sister and completely off-limits. She’d made a pass at him once, and he’d shut her down. Harshly.

But everything was different now.

Not too long ago, he’d watched his former squad mate, Manu Rahia, with his woman, Kate. The tough pair had been through a hell of a fight with the aliens. They’d both barely survived with their lives. But Griff remembered the way the injured couple had clung to each other. He remembered every word Kate had whispered to the unconscious Manu. She’d told the man that he’d brought color back into her life.

Griff felt the same. Ever since he’d broken out of prison in the middle of the invasion, he felt like he’d been sleepwalking. Eat, sleep, fight. That was all he’d focused on. He’d been drowning in his own pain and anger.

Even as he’d fought alongside his fellow berserkers, he’d felt like he’d been doing it on autopilot.

But now, when he looked at Indy, he felt like he’d woken up.

He’d spent all his life denying how he felt about her. Now, he wanted her with a need that was terrifying.

Griff knew he had a far bigger fight on his hands than anything the Gizzida could throw at him, if he was going to somehow convince Indy to be his.

INDY BENNETT THREW her headset down on her desk.

She blew out a harsh breath. Her squad was on their way back. On-screen, she watched the Hawk quadcopter tracking back toward the Enclave. Soon, the berserkers would be touching down in the underground Hawk hangar. Safe and sound.

She pulled in a shuddering breath. When Griff hadn’t answered her…

She didn’t care. She tossed her long ponytail over her shoulder. Griffin Callan was a part of her past. Her brother’s best friend. The man who’d broken her young heart without a single thought.

Now, he was just a member of the squad. That was it.

Indy still sometimes woke up in the dead of night, hearing his deep voice telling her that she was just like a little sister to him. That he didn’t feel anything for her.

Fuck. That had been ten years ago. A lot had happened since then, so why the hell couldn’t her brain let it go? He’d gone to jail, the Gizzida had descended, her brother and parents had been killed. A lot of shit had happened since that long-ago day.

Thinking of her parents and Gareth made her throat tight. She and her parents hadn’t always seen eye to eye, but they’d loved her. In their own way. And Gareth had been the kind of fun big brother every girl wanted. He’d been a little reckless, always forgetting family dinners and birthdays, but a loveable rogue.

He and Griff had been total opposites, but the best of friends despite it. God, she missed her brother. The Gizzida had killed her family in the first wave of the invasion.

“Are you okay?” a quiet voice asked.

Indy turned her head and looked at Arden. The woman was Squad Nine’s comms officer, and even though the two of them were like chalk and cheese, they’d become good friends.

“I’m okay,” Indy said.

“The berserkers are on their way back?”

“Yeah. Touching down shortly.”

For the longest time, Indy had watched Arden’s sad eyes and quiet manner. The woman was an excellent comms officer, and did her job competently, but she always held herself apart. Even from her squad.

But recently, Indy had seen signs that the woman was slowly coming out of her grief. The poor thing had lost her husband and kids in the invasion. Indy rubbed the ache in her own heart, thinking of her own family. It was something that left deep scars.

Like a bloom, Arden was slowly flowering. Slowly. Maybe Indy had something to do with that. She bullied the woman relentlessly into hanging out at the rec room, or joining her for a meal, or the two of them sitting quietly scribbling in their sketchbooks.

Indy looked at the screen again, and felt another shot of the fear she’d felt when she’d thought Griff had been hurt. Screw this. As she always did, Indy was going to embrace life and have some damn fun. “I need a drink. And you’re coming with me.”

Arden’s nose wrinkled.

Indy held up a hand. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

The other woman heaved out a sigh, but smiled briefly.

Soon, both of them strode into the rec room. At the self-service bar, Indy wasted no time lining up a couple of tequila shots.

Arden grimaced. “I don’t really like tequila.”

“You do today.” Yeah, the elegant, composed Arden was more a crisp, white wine kind of lady.

Indy was not.

With a laugh, Indy clinked her shot glass against Arden’s, then tossed the liquor back. She watched Arden down hers with another grimace and a shiver.

Taking pity on her friend, Indy poured her a glass of white wine. She grabbed herself a homebrewed beer.

“Gah, I hate this song.” Sickly-sweet pop was not Indy’s thing. One silver lining of the alien invasion was that there wasn’t a new crowd of pop divas and boy bands to suffer through.

She headed for the comp that controlled the music, and dialed up something more her speed. The rock song made the speakers thump, the drumbeat pounding through the rec room. For a second, she was back in her old, pre-invasion job. She’d managed a trendy nightclub back in Phoenix. She’d been damn good at it, even if her parents had thought she’d been wasting her life.

Letting the music take over, she wiggled her hips, and Arden gave her a small smile.

“You just let loose, don’t you?”

“Yep.” Indy took a sip of her beer. “Life’s too short, Ard. It was before, and it especially is now.”

Arden’s smile faded. “Yes. Yes, it is.”

Damn, Indy hadn’t meant to remind the woman of her loss. “Come on, let’s play some pool.”

“Do we have to?”

They headed for the pool tables, and Indy had barely chalked her cue when a young guy appeared.

“I’d be up for a game,” he said, with a smile.

He was cute. Probably a few years younger than Indy, with thick, blond hair and a hard bod that said he worked out at the gym. Although he was no soldier, by the look of him.

Arden waved a hand in a “go ahead” gesture and sat on a nearby stool.

Indy cocked her hip at the man. “I’d be up for accepting your offer. How about we bet a month’s worth of clothing credits?”

Everyone in the Enclave was given a strict credit allowance at the clothing store. Indy was always desperate for more.

The man’s smile widened. “You’re on. I’m Mike, by the way.”

They weren’t far into the game when she heard the berserkers arrive. They were only silent when they had to sneak up on the Gizzida. She looked over, and when Hemi caught her gaze, she blew him a kiss.

The others were already at the bar, and she surreptitiously looked at Griff.

Damn him. Damn him for being so handsome and lickable. He might annoy her, but he sure floated her boat. He had ever since her hormones kicked in and she’d grown breasts. His hair was an oak-brown color and was cut short, and his face was classically handsome. He had sexy gray eyes that could be serious one second, and teasing the next. He was all rock-hard muscle with honey skin.

He’d always been a little straight, a good guy, the one who followed the rules and did the right thing. He’d done well at school and been star quarterback of the football team. The perfect kind of guy to become a cop. She’d always enjoyed teasing him when they were kids, telling him to live a little. He’d give her a slow grin that used to light up her insides.

Now he rarely smiled. She realized she’d give anything to see that grin again.

Then she snorted, shutting the thought down. She looked up and saw her cute opponent grinning at her.

She shoved Griffin Callan out of her head. With a wide smile at Mike, she bent over the pool table to take her next shot.

CHAPTER TWO

Griff sipped his beer, listening to the laughter and conversation around him in the rec room.

Across from him, Hemi sat with his woman Cam in his lap. The long, lean Squad Nine soldier was smiling at Hemi. Ash was sitting beside them, cradling his beer. His girlfriend, Marin, wasn’t there. She was an integral part of the tech team and busy with work.

Feminine laughter broke out, followed by a deep chuckle. Levi was sitting on a stool with his legs spread and his redhead Chrissy between them. They were laughing and staring into each other’s eyes. Those two were either laughing or fighting…the couple appeared to get off on both.

Flanking Griff were Tane and Dom. Both men were quiet, drinking their beers and watching the others. Dom had a faint smile on his face, and Tane was shaking his head.

Yeah, half of Squad Three was happily shacked up and in love. Happy. For a second, Griff thought of Amelia.

His former fiancée would never have survived the aftermath of the invasion. That woman had owned more high-heeled shoes and designer clothes than anyone he knew. She’d been desperately excited for them to get married, and Griff had thought he’d spend the rest of his life with her, working overtime to pay for the shoes and the clothes. She’d been keen for them to get a bigger house and have kids straightaway. He’d thought they were happy.

Hell, they hadn’t even survived his trial. When he’d looked into her pretty blue eyes, he’d known instantly that she didn’t believe that he’d been framed. Hadn’t believed he was innocent.

“What did you make of the town today?”

Tane’s deep voice brought Griff back from his unhappy thoughts. “Something’s definitely off there.”

Tane nodded. “There have been humans around there. Up to something.”

“And the aliens were there, too. Far too close to the Enclave.”

Ash leaned forward. “Well, we all know the raptors have a hard-on for the Enclave.”

The Gizzida had been poking relentlessly at the Enclave recently. Attacking the base’s defenses, trying to get inside, sending increased patrols to the area. That had culminated in them recently taking over a neighboring, abandoned coal mine. They’d planted fucked-up landmines around the Enclave, and had been planning a larger attack.

One that Manu and Kate had foiled.

It was blatantly clear the aliens were attempting to keep the Enclave and its residents very busy.

“Other bases are reporting the same,” Tane said. “Increased alien presence that’s keeping them locked in and on the defensive.”

Griff tapped his fingers on his beer bottle. “They’re purposely keeping us pinned down. That way, we’re too busy defending ourselves to have time for any offense.”

Everyone fell silent. That meant the aliens wanted them cornered, and not out searching for the mysterious, black, octagon-shaped device that the berserkers had spotted on a previous mission.

It was becoming crystal clear that the Gizzida were up to something, and they didn’t want the humans to know what it was.

Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be good.

Griff took another sip of his beer. They needed to figure out how to defeat the Gizzida, once and for all. Otherwise, the aliens would keep picking them off until there were no human survivors left.

Throaty, feminine laughter caught his ear and he glanced across the room.

Instantly, his gaze snagged on Indy. She had her dark hair loose, and it fell around her striking face in sexy waves. She wasn’t beautiful, but her bold features and bright-blue eyes drew a man’s gaze. She smiled, all sass and color. His gaze fell on her tattoos—a tangle of red roses and green vines down both her arms.

He went hard. He muttered a mental curse, and when she swiveled and leaned over the table, his gaze went straight to her denim-covered ass. The dark jeans molded her curves, and the sight made his cock throb against his zipper.

Damn. Griff blew out a breath. He’d wanted her so much when she’d been a teen. She’d been bright, gorgeous, and wild. But he’d fought it, because she’d been too young. Besides, Gareth would have skinned Griff alive if he’d touched his baby sister.

He’d kept fighting the attraction, even when she’d hit twenty and thrown herself at him. It had taken every ounce of self-control to push her away. He’d been at the Police Academy by then, focused on his career, not relationships. And he’d been loyal to Gareth. The bro code meant he couldn’t touch his best friend’s little sister.

Now…

He watched her opponent at the pool table sidle closer, the young man’s gaze dropping to her breasts. Griff slammed his beer down.

Now, he was going to do something about it.

He ignored Tane calling out his name and sauntered over to the pool table. The man was smiling at Indy, and still stealing glances at the way her fitted tank top hugged her full breasts.

When he spotted Griff getting closer, the man froze.

“Go,” Griff said.

The man blinked. “What?”

“Go. Now.”

“Hey!” Indy shoved a hand on her hip.

The man took one look at Griff’s stony face, set his cue down, and made a beeline for the other side of the room.

Indy rounded on Griff. “What the hell?”

“I was keeping that idiot from slobbering all over you.”

She shoved her hands against his chest. He didn’t budge and her scowl deepened. “No one invited you to come over here and act all obnoxious alpha-male.”

“I’m keeping you out of trouble.”

She arched a brow. “Maybe I like trouble.”

Griff moved closer, sliding one hand into her hair. “Watch that mouth of yours, Indiana. It’s going to get you into trouble one day.”

His gaze settled on her slim shoulders and those damn pretty tattoos. He longed to know what other ones she had that he couldn’t see. He eyed the straps of her tank top. Shit. He wondered how easily the straps would rip in his hands.

She was all lethal curves, and that ink that he wanted to trace with his mouth. And her lips. Her lips were full and pouty.

Keep it together, Callan.

“Back off.” Indy let out a mad huff and tried to stomp down on his foot.

Griff shifted, pinning her between him and the pool table.

“Once a cop, always a cop,” she bit out. “It’s in your veins to boss people around.”

“Indy—”

She leaned in and her breasts rubbed against his chest. “You’re not a cop anymore, Griff, and you’re not my brother.”

He got a whiff of her scent. She smelled like coconuts. Always had. It made him think of sandy beaches, and that body of hers in a tiny bikini.

“I’m not a little girl for you to watch out for anymore,” she snapped.

“I know that.”

“Then what’s your problem? I was having fun.”

He angled his head. “My problem is that I don’t need to watch you flirting. I’ve spent the last twenty minutes watching that perfect ass of yours bending over this pool table.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why the hell are you watching my ass?”

He lowered his head, their lips only an inch apart. “Because it’s damn hard to miss it.” His voice dropped. “And I wanted to sink my teeth into it.”

Her eyes flared wide. “What did you just say?”

“You heard me.”

“You told me ten years ago that my ass held no appeal. That I’m like a sister to you.”

Griff tightened his hold in her thick, shiny hair. “It was a lie. Right now, I’m so close to tearing your clothes off you, you wouldn’t believe it. Back then, you were too young, and my best friend’s sister.”

Her mouth dropped open. “What?”

“In case I’m not making myself clear, Indy, I want you under me, or riding me. I want my cock deep inside you.”

She gasped, and Griff held back a self-satisfied smirk. For once, Indy Bennett was speechless.

“I just thought I should make myself clear.” Griff gave her hair a tug, then turned and headed back to his squad.

Let her chew on that for a while.

INDY GRIPPED her large mug of coffee and breathed deep. Mmm. Her favorite roasted Arabica beans.

She needed the caffeine this morning. She’d tossed and turned in her sheets all damn night like a pro-wrestler. She had managed a few hours of sleep, but only after she’d resorted to using her vibrator to get rid of the restless desire that had been throbbing through her body. If she’d imagined an annoying, hard-bodied, ex-cop, ex-con berserker when she’d come, she wasn’t admitting it to anyone, especially herself.

Fucking Griff Callan.

How dare he drop that bombshell on her? How dare he think she’d give a damn? How dare he think he could ignore her for years and now change his mind?

She stomped into the Hawk hangar and spotted the guys all in their gear, standing in front of one of the quadcopters.

She met Griff’s gaze defiantly, and then almost bobbled her coffee.

A pure electric pulse of heat arced between them.

Of course, he looked good. So tough and sexy in his black, carbon-fiber armor. His face was set to serious, his brown hair a little mussed.

She switched her gaze to Tane. “You guys ready to head back to the town?”

Tane glanced her way and nodded. “We’re going to take another look around Berrima. See if we can find where the survivors are.” The squad leader frowned. “And find out why the aliens seem so comfortable traipsing through the place.”

For a second, Indy wondered why she couldn’t have a thing for Tane. He was tall and built. He didn’t smile much, but he had a handsome face, when you looked past his scary, badass vibe.

Shit, focus on the mission, Indy. She sipped her coffee. She knew the squad was really searching for any sign of the black octagon weapon. It was the talk of the base. Every survivor was wondering exactly what it spelled for the humans.

The answer to that was nothing good. Anything the aliens cooked up meant death and destruction.

Suddenly, Tane’s head lifted, his gaze arrowing over Indy’s shoulder. She glanced back and watched a woman enter the Hawk hangar. Like Indy, she wore jeans and a tank top. Her silver-white hair was in a ponytail, and her skin was pale and gleaming. Unlike Indy, she had a large, black bird perched on her shoulder.

Selena, their resident alien.

The woman wasn’t Gizzida, but a species that was one of the Gizzida’s enemies. She’d been captured and held captive until Hell Squad had rescued her.

When she’d first arrived at the Enclave, the woman had been thin, shell-shocked, and sad. But over the months, she’d made a place for herself among them and was getting stronger, and gaining confidence.

Selena headed over to one of the Hawks and Indy saw the chief Hawk pilot, Finn, wave a hand at her. The black bird lifted off Selena with a flap of wings and landed on Finn’s broad shoulder. It nuzzled into the man’s neck.

Indy turned back and found Tane still watching the woman with intense interest. Indy pressed her tongue to her teeth. Nothing made Tane lose focus. Hmm. Something going on there, by the looks of things.

Then Tane blinked and straightened. He turned back to the Hawk. “Okay, everyone aboard. Let’s get this mission rolling.”

The team climbed into the quadcopter. But suddenly, Griff pivoted and moved close to Indy. She stiffened.

As soon as he got close, her nipples pebbled against her bra. She sucked in a breath, but all that did was fill her senses with Griff’s clean, soap smell.

Before she knew what he had planned, he reached out and nabbed her coffee and took a sip.

“Hey, hands off, asshole,” she snapped.

Her gaze clashed with his. When they’d been younger, he’d always stolen her drink and taken a sip. Back then, it had usually been cola, and they’d both laughed at the game.

At the time, he’d looked like a young god to her—golden skin, handsome face, thick, brown hair. Just the thought of Griff’s lips on anything of hers had sent her into fits of delight.

Now, he was a hard, intense man. Once, he’d laughed all the time. Now, he didn’t even smile.

She snatched the coffee back. A lot had changed. “You steal my coffee again, I’ll lead you right into a raptor patrol and—”

His hands gripped her waist and he whipped them around a stack of crates, out of view of the quadcopter.

Then his mouth was on hers.

Oh, God. Heat. Electricity. So fucking good.

He tasted like her coffee and she moaned. Her travel mug fell from nerveless fingers, and she wrapped her arms around him.

She rubbed against him, kissing him back, hard. His arms snaked around her, his hands sliding over her ass.

“Always knew you’d taste delicious,” he murmured.

Anger speared through her. She bit down on his lip. He cursed and she tasted blood.

“Shit.” He lifted his head, dull color tinting his cheekbones.

Indy tried to get her breathing under control. “Keep your damn lips to yourself, Griff.”

“You liked the kiss.”

“So? I’m still pissed at you.”

He smiled. It was small, but a smile.

She let herself look at that smile for a second. Just a second. “I’m pissed at you because you crushed my heart when I was twenty.”

His smile faded.

“And I have no interest in letting you back in to cause more damage.”

He looked shocked. “Indy—”

She stepped back and scooped up her cup. “It’s ancient history, Griff. Let’s leave it there.”

He reached out for her. “No, I—”

“Griff?” Tane’s voice.

“We don’t have time for this,” she whispered furiously.

“We’ll make time.”

She hissed. “Didn’t you listen to me? Ancient history.”

His gray eyes narrowed. “If I stick my hand down your pants right now, I bet I’d find your panties are wet. That’s not ancient history.”

She sucked in a breath, reluctant heat curling in her belly.

“You want this,” he said. “You want me.”

“You didn’t want me ten years ago, or when I came to visit you in prison, or since we both ended up at Blue Mountain Base. Now, all of a sudden, you decide Indy will make a good roll in the sheets?”

His face darkened. “It isn’t like that.”

Her heart was pounding. Indy knew Griff was dangerous. He was the one man who could really hurt her.

But she’d wised up a lot in the last decade. “I’ve got no room for you in my life. I like things just as they are. If my panties are wet, I can take care of that myself.”

He growled.

“Have a good mission, Griff.” She turned, lifted her chin, and stalked away.

CHAPTER THREE

As the Hawk lifted off, Griff gave the straps on his chest armor a hard yank to tighten them. He snatched his carbine off his shoulder and checked it again.

“What’s up your ass?” Levi asked.

Griff’s squad mate sat in one of the nearby seats, his shaggy hair pulled up in a man bun and his carbine resting across his lap. He raised a brow.

“Nothing,” Griff said.

Levi made a sound of disbelief. “Sure.”

From beside him, Ash gave a slow nod. “Only one thing pisses a man off like that. A woman.”

Griff growled. He wasn’t getting into this with them. “Nothing is wrong.”

Tane shifted. He was standing and holding on to a grip above his head. His carbine was slung over his back, and he had his dreadlocks pulled back at the base of his neck today. “If you’re finished pissing off Griff, let’s go over the mission.”

The berserkers all shifted to focus on their leader. Hemi was sitting on a bench with his legs spread, chewing gum. Dom moved closer, sliding some of his favorite knives into his belt. They all fell silent.

“We’re going in to scout around the town again. We’ll break off in pairs.”

Everyone nodded.

“If there really are people there, like we suspect, I want them found,” Tane added.

Griff scowled. “They’re hiding something.”

Hemi raised his eyebrows. “You think it’s the octagon?”

Griff felt that bad feeling creep over him again. Whenever he thought about that damn octagon, he felt an impending sense of doom. It was looming over all their heads.

“Don’t know. Maybe,” Tane said. “Whatever it is, we’ll find it. Be ready.”

As the Hawk arrowed out over the green, rolling fields, its illusion system up, Griff’s thoughts tuned to Indy.

His gut churned. He’d never realized the extent of what she’d felt for him a decade ago. She’d only been twenty, a little wild, and with her life ahead of her. He’d been busy at the Academy and focused on becoming a cop. It hadn’t been the time for a serious relationship.

Shit, maybe he’d doubted the strength of her feelings. Thought she was just out for a good time.

He knew some assholes at the Enclave still thought that. They saw the attitude and tattoos, and thought Indy was nothing more than a good-time girl. He’d disabused a few of them of that notion by using his fists.

Clearly, she’d felt deeply for Griff back then. It had been more than a crush.

He released a breath. And now, maybe it was too late. She had her walls up with No Trespassing signs plastered all over them.

He shook his head slightly. Never too late. She could fight all she wanted. If there was one thing Griff was good at, it was fighting until he got what he was after. Prison had taught him to keep moving forward, one step at a time, and survive to fight another day.

He swung his carbine back over his shoulder. He was dogged—had been as a detective, and while surviving prison.

He’d prove to her that they could have something good. Whatever it took.

Griff rubbed a hand over his face. God, he was tired. He hadn’t slept well. His dreams had been haunted by images of Indy bending over that damn pool table.

Indy’s voice filled Griff’s ear. “Comms check.”

All the team checked in.

“Okay, go find some sneaky survivors, and don’t let any aliens take a bite out of you,” she added.

Griff looked out at the blue sky. Summer had reluctantly given way to let the cooler weather take over. Here and there, some of the trees were starting to lose their leaves.

Soon, the town of Berrima came into view, and he peered through the side window. There was no sign of movement among the dilapidated buildings. He saw the old highway that had run past the town, and the distinctive square outline of the old gaol. His lip curled. He had no desire to go near a prison, even if it was hundreds of years old.

The Hawk lowered, hovering above the street in the center of town.

“Good luck,” their Hawk pilot, Thom, called out.

Griff leaped off, bending his knees as his boots hit. He lifted his head and scanned the surroundings. The rest of his squad fanned out around him.

The street was silent.

He stared at a row of shops with smashed windows. Leaves and debris were plastered against the walls and covered the pavement in dirty patches. In some places, paint was peeling, and in others the shops looked almost pristine. Like customers might step inside at any moment.

So much had been destroyed and the world would never be the same. Never be what they’d lived before the apocalypse.

But Griff was starting to realize that there was still life. Life didn’t care what happened, who you lost, or who lived and died. It still marched on relentlessly. And under the crap, there was still love and happiness. There was still pleasure and pain.

Griff thought of Indy’s smile, his squad sharing jokes and laughs, the chatter of conversation between survivors in the rec room, the squeal of kids he saw running down the Enclave’s corridors.

After prison, life had been gray for him. He hadn’t given a fuck about anything. He’d escaped, picked up a carbine, and attempted not to drown in his anger. But now, he felt like he was coming out of a dream. The icy, cynical lump in his chest was thawing.

“Break off,” Tane said. “Report in if you see anything.”

Tane and Hemi moved toward the houses. Ash and Levi disappeared down a side street toward the gaol.

Dom and Griff peered into the shop windows.

“Nothing here,” Dom said.

Yeah. As Griff walked down the street, he glanced down a road heading out of town. Green fields lay in the distance. Where are you hiding?

For the next hour, the squad searched the streets and buildings. Griff and Dom looked through dusty basements and sagging attics.

Nothing.

But as they headed back toward the center of town, once again, Griff looked up toward the fields on the edge of town. Something was…off about them.

He jerked his head at Dom. “Want to take a closer look over that way.”

Dom lifted his chin. “You think the survivors are hiding in the trees?”

“Would keep them safe from the raptors.” They all knew that the raptors reacted badly to something from the trees and steered clear.

Dom grunted. “Still lots of alien nasties breeding around here.”

The Gizzida loved playing with the DNA of the local animals and splicing in their own. They’d seen mutated bugs, cats and dogs, native wildlife.

“There’s something about that hill there.” Griff stared at the hill in the center of the field. Several trees were clustered on top of it.

They climbed over a dilapidated fence.

As they got closer, Griff’s gut tightened. “Shit.”

“Griff?” Tane’s voice. “Report.”

“I worked vice for a while. Went on a few busts in the mountains, and found crops hidden under camouflage nets.”

Dom’s frown deepened. “Okay.”

Griff moved through the long grass and stabbed a finger toward the top of the hill. “Looked just like that.”

Dom stared, then his dark eyes widened. “I see it. That patch is a different color.”

“Check it out,” Tane ordered.

They broke into a jog and reached the spot. Dark-green webbing covered a large area. Griff gripped one corner and ripped it back.

Dom sucked in a breath. Healthy vegetable plants were growing, thick and green. There were multiple rows of them.

“Take a look around.” Griff moved through the plants.

“So, someone’s growing crops here,” Dom said. “Big deal. Just food for some scared survivors.”

Griff nodded and crested the hill. There were three or four more areas covered with camouflage. The area closest to him had plants as tall as he was. He set one hand on his hip, staring thoughtfully.

Then he spotted some footprints along the edge of the crops. Definitely human. He circled a tree and came to a halt.

“Fuck.”

Dom moved up beside him. “Merda.”

Griff touched his ear. “Tane, you need to come and see this.”

“On our way.”

Dom crouched down, pressing a finger to the much larger footprints beside the human ones. There were several that looked like they’d been made by very large boots, and some that looked like reptile claw marks.

Gizzida.

Griff stared at them. The alien prints were mixed in with the human ones. There was no indication that anyone had been running or panicking.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Dom muttered.

Suddenly, Griff heard a noise in the crops. He whipped his head around, and caught a glimpse of something moving through the greenery.

He quickly pulled his carbine off of his shoulder, whipping it up. “Alien.”

Dom eased his weapon up, staring intently. They both tracked their carbines through the green vegetable plants.

“What was it?” Dom said.

“Didn’t see it clearly.”

Another movement through the grass. A glimpse of scales. “There!”

Suddenly, a screech filled the air. A velox burst out of the crops. A big one.

The smart, cunning ambush predator had a powerful body, with a long tail for balance. It was covered in feathers, had a mouth full of sharp teeth, and a huge, sickle-shaped claw on each hind foot. Griff and Dom opened fire, walking backward.

He heard shouts, and saw the rest of the berserkers running up the hill toward them.

With a burst of movement, a second velox leaped out of the crops. It was close to Tane, and pounced on the man.

The rest of his team rushed to help him. Tane dodged the velox’s deadly back claws, yanked out his combat knife, and leaped on the creature.

Another screech jerked Griff’s attention back to his velox.

“Keep firing,” Dom yelled.

Griff kept his finger depressed. He aimed the fire at the velox’s mouth. Its body jerked and it shook its head. It staggered to the side.

“It’s almost down,” Dom said.

It staggered again. Damn thing was covered in laser scorches, but was still on its feet. These things were damn hard to kill.

It darted forward, and Griff and Dom both backed up.

Suddenly, Griff felt the ground beneath his feet give way. “What the fuck?”

“Cazzo!”

Griff dropped down a narrow, vertical tunnel. He flung his arms and legs out, trying to stop his fall. His boots and gloves carved through the dirt walls.

He glanced down, and there was just enough light for him to see the spikes sticking up at the bottom of the shaft.

Fuck.

Gritting his teeth, he gripped the sides of the tunnel harder, desperately trying to slow his fall.

A clump of dirt hit his face, bits falling in his mouth, and he spat them out.

The spikes rushed closer.

HER TEAM WAS UNDER FIRE.

Indy clenched her teeth, listening to the shouts and the carbine fire. This was the worst part of being a comms officer. Sitting here and listening. Not knowing what was going on, who was hurt, who was still alive. She drummed her fingers on the desk.

“Fuck!” Hemi’s deep voice. “Griff and Dom just fell down some holes.”

“Get that velox down,” Tane growled.

Fallen down a hole? Indy’s heart, already hammering hard, kicked up another notch threatening to burst out of her chest. She gripped the edge of her desk.

“There are traps in the ground,” Ash yelled. “Watch out.”

A wild screech came through the comm line. Shaking herself from her stupor, Indy tapped the screen, pulling up the feed from Tane’s helmet.

Instantly, images appeared. In the center, the nasty alien was racing toward the squad.

She instantly recognized the distinctive, powerful body of the velox. It looked a lot like a velociraptor. There was another dead velox near the top of the hill.

There was no sign of Griff or Dom.

Griff. Damn him. Where was he?

“Griff, you copy?” she asked into a headset.

Nothing.

“Dom?”

“I’m here. Stuck down a damn hole.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, stopped just short of falling on a bunch of spikes. Looks like some old-fashioned hunting trap.”

Spikes? Oh, God. Griff wasn’t answering.

“Griff? Griff!” Her head filled with horrible images of his gorgeous body, injured and bleeding.

She was a confused mass of fear and anger. How dare he make her care about him when she didn’t want to? Still, no matter what, she didn’t want him hurt or dead.

Like she always did when she got scared, she let her anger take over. “Griff Callan, you answer me right now, or I’ll—”

“I’m here.” His voice was tight.

The air rushed out of Indy. She leaned forward. “You okay?”

“Yeah. One leg hurt. Didn’t quite avoid the spikes in time.”

He sounded okay, but his tense voice warned her it might be worse than he was letting on. “How bad?”

“It’s fine.”

Shit, he wasn’t fine. She knew these alpha-male berserkers. She tapped on the comp screen and sent a message to the infirmary. She’d have Doc Emerson on standby for when they got back.

“Dom and Griff, sit tight.” She watched on screen as Tane leaped into the air, aiming his carbine down and tearing into the final velox. “The others almost have the final velox contained.”

“Acknowledged,” Dom said.

There was no answer from Griff.

Her mouth went dry. “Griff?”

“Yeah. Got it.” His voice sounded muffled.

She glanced at the second display. His tracker was moving. She frowned. “Griff, I show you as moving? What’s going on?”

“There’s a side tunnel down here.”

Indy tapped her nails on the desk. “A tunnel?”

The tracker kept moving.

“Griff, you need to stay off that leg.”

“It’s fine.”

“Right,” she snapped. “You’re probably bleeding to death.”

“It’s just a bit of blood.”

She hissed. Stubborn idiot.

Then his swift intake of breath came across the line. “Fuck.”

The tone of his voice, and the way he drew the word out, told her it was bad. “Griff?”

“Tell Tane to get down here. ASAP.”

Her pulse jumped. “What? What did you find?

“Something fucked up.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Griff clenched his teeth, pushing through the pain. As the Hawk lowered down into the Enclave, he let out a breath. He heard the drone of sirens and the clank of the retractable doors.

Shit, his leg was throbbing like hell. He was covered in dirt, sweat, and blood. And he was now the proud owner of a nasty hole through his left thigh.

Thankfully, the alien spike hadn’t hit an artery. Ash had bound him up, and it looked like the bleeding was slowing.

His thoughts churned, centered on what he’d seen down the tunnel.

Chains. A row of fucking chains, spaced too closely together to be for imprisoned aliens.

They’d been for humans. And there had been bloodstains on the floor.

All the berserkers were quiet. Usually when they came back in from a mission, they were cracking jokes and generally being smartasses to blow off steam. But now, the atmosphere in the Hawk was tense.

Tane had taken pictures. Of the chains, and what they’d found on the ground beside them. Broken black glass.

Exactly like the glass that made the alien data cubes. Just like the glass that made the alien octagon weapon.

What the fuck were the people in that town doing with the aliens?

The quadcopter’s skids touched down with a small bump. Damn, Griff wanted a beer and a shower. In prison, he’d dreamed of beers and long, hot showers a lot. In the supermax, taking a shower had been like running a gauntlet. Lots of fights. Lots of inmates out to take down the man responsible for putting them or their friends behind bars.

Griff had learned to be mean, vicious, and brutal. He shifted in his seat and felt the old scar on his back twinge. Yeah, yeah. I won’t forget you anytime soon.

The Hawk’s door opened, and he spotted Indy’s dark head and Doc Emerson’s blonde one.

Shit. He grimaced, dreams of his beer and shower evaporating. He was going to have to tangle with Indy and the doc first.

Emerson’s white coat fell around her curvy body and the thickening waistline of her pregnant belly.

“Howdy.” The doc shot him a wide smile. “Indy tells me you’re coming to visit me in the infirmary.”

Griff grunted. “It’s a scratch.” But as he pushed out of his seat, he almost fell.

Dom grabbed his arm. “Easy there.” His friend helped him out of the Hawk.

Indy jammed her shoulder up under his arm. “Idiot.”

Emerson grinned and waved over two of her nurses. The pair pushed a floating iono-stretcher between them.

Aw, crap. He hated stretchers.

“You and your scratch are all mine, Griff,” Emerson said cheerfully.

He dropped onto the stretcher, but he sure as hell wasn’t lying down. He heard Hemi and Levi laughing under their breaths. Pricks.

The nurses maneuvered the stretcher into the corridor, and Indy fell into step with the doc.

He watched Indy’s ponytail swinging behind her. Of course, that made him look down at her ass, cupped lovingly by her jeans.

Before he knew it, they were entering the infirmary.

“That leg looks bad.” The doc snapped on some gloves, then loosened the straps on his armor. She pulled the carbon fiber off.

Griff looked at the bloody mess of his thigh and shrugged. He’d had worse. Hell, it had been far worse when a fellow inmate had torn up his back with a homemade shiv.

Indy made a sound, and when he looked up, he saw she’d gone pale.

“Indy?”

“That’s…a lot of blood.”

Hell, was she afraid of blood? His hand moved automatically, his fingers wrapping around hers. She gripped on tight.

Emerson moved, giving him a shot, before she started cutting open his pants. Dammit. He didn’t have too many pairs of cargo pants left.

“You tore yourself up nicely, didn’t you?” the doc said.

She didn’t have to sound so happy about it.

Next, Doc Emerson moved a scanner over his leg. “You still have a fragment of the spike in there.”

“Great,” he muttered.

Emerson smiled. She pulled out a syringe and he saw it was filled with silver nanomeds.

The doc shot him full of the small medical machines, and he gritted his teeth through the rush of pain. Then, he watched her pick up a set of giant tweezers.

“Oh, God,” Indy moaned.

When the doc started prodding his leg, Griff hissed. “Fuck.” It was agony.

Indy’s fingers gripped harder onto his. She moved closer and he smelled coconut. Another dig of the tweezers and he groaned.

“Look at me,” Indy said.

He did. Her face was pale, but her big, gorgeous eyes were locked on him. He felt a bit lightheaded, but he kept staring at her.

“That’s it,” she murmured. “You’re okay.”

“You’re pretty easy to look at.” He raised his hand, running his thumb across her lips.

Something flashed in her eyes.

“You afraid of blood?” he asked.

Her lips flattened. “You tell anyone, I’ll punch you.”

“You’re covered in tattoos…”

“I don’t mind needles, but seeing skin torn open…” She shuddered.

They stared at each other, and Griff felt another kind of tension creep into his body. Nothing to do with injuries, and everything to do with this woman.

“All done,” Emerson said.

The doc’s words broke the spell. Indy cleared her throat and stepped back.

Emerson took her gloves off. “We just need to let the nanomeds finish healing you up.”

“So, he’ll live?” Indy asked.

“Yep.”

“Right.” She let go of his hand.

Without her touch, Griff felt strangely bereft.

INDY HATED SEEING Griff in an infirmary bed. She hated feeling worried. She knew the nanomeds would heal him up just fine, but her stomach still felt like it was filled with a thousand butterflies.

This was why she needed to stay away from him.

He shifted on the pillows, looking every inch like a caged, wild animal who wanted out.

Indy waged an internal battle, then dragged a chair over and sat down next to his bed.

“You don’t have to stay,” he said.

She crossed her arms. “Yes, I do. We both know you’ll make a run for it if I don’t stay.”

He looked disgruntled.

“Rest. Get some sleep. You look like you need it.” He did look tired.

He swallowed and shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t sleep that well.”

Indy tilted her head, studying him. “I guess since the invasion, a lot of people don’t sleep well.”

He shrugged. “It was from before that.”

Those butterflies went haywire. “From prison?”

He was quiet for a long moment, then he let out a harsh breath. “For a cop behind bars…it’s impossible to let your guard down. One time, I fell into a deep sleep, and a couple of inmates jumped me.”

Anger surged through her. “Where the hell were the guards?”

“They can’t be everywhere.”

She knew Griff had been a good cop. It was all that he’d ever wanted to be. “Were you hurt?”

He shrugged his shoulders again.

So, yes. She sucked in a breath. She hated imagining Griff lying awake at night, tired and on alert for an attack. “Fuckers.”

His lips quirked. “Indy—”

“You should never have been in there in the first place.”

His face closed down. “I was convicted.”

“I know those drugs weren’t yours. I know you were framed, and I know you didn’t kill that man, or have anything to do with the drugs they found.”

He was silent, and she saw a muscle in his jaw tick.

“Why are you so sure?” The words shot out of him. “No one else believed me.”

She leaned forward. “I know you, Griffin Callan. I watched you grow up. You’re one of the good guys.”

His jaw hardened. “Sometimes, you never really know people, Indy. Even those closest to you.”

She blinked. “Are you saying you did it?”

His face twisted. “No!” He sucked in an angry breath. “I was framed. By another cop.”

God, what a nightmare for him. “I know you didn’t do it. Gareth refused to talk about it with me. But you and Gareth, you were both cops to the bone.”

Griff jerked, his gaze moving to the wall behind her. His jaw was so tight she thought that it was going to crack. She watched his face close down.

Emerson appeared, holding a small portable comp in her hands. “Looks like you’re doing fine, Griff. The nanomeds are healing you up nicely. Please avoid any alien spikes in the future.”

Griff looked at the Doc. “I’ll do my best.”

“How are those babies doing in there?” Indy asked.

The woman patted her belly. “Cooking nicely and making my waistbands tight already. Gabe kindly told me that he and his brother were both nine pounds when they were born.” The doc grimaced.

Indy shuddered. Hell Squad soldier Gabe was huge and broad-shouldered. Poor woman. “Ah, well, good luck.”

Emerson patted Griff’s good leg, and then walked back to her office.

Indy studied his face again. She could still see the echo of their conversation in his expression. He was still holding so much pain and anger in. What had been done to him had understandably scarred him deep. He needed to let it out. And not just in the field, when he was beating up aliens.

“Griff—”

Suddenly, one of the male nurses appeared. “Hey there.”

When Griff didn’t answer the man, Indy glanced over at the nurse. He was smiling at her, not at Griff.

She gave him a small nod. “Hey, Dale.”

They’d dated for a little while when she’d first come to the Enclave, but after spending some time together, she’d realized he wasn’t for her.

“How have you been doing, Indy?” He touched her shoulder.

“Busy.” She felt unhappiness waft off Griff. “Um, do you need to check Griff?”

The nurse gave a passing glance at Griff and the screen beside his bed. “Looks like the nanomeds are working fine. You’ll be all healed before you know it, dude.”

Griff just grunted, glaring at the man.

“Thanks.” Indy smiled, hoping Dale would take the hint.

Instead, he reached out, running a finger down her arm. “What if you and I catch up? Reconnect.”

“I’m really busy.”

“I know you like a good time.” He winked. “Just give me a buzz.”

She kept her smile in place. “Really, really busy.”

Her message finally penetrated and his flirtatious look faded. His shoulders sagged. “Right. See you later.”

He walked away, and Indy turned back to Griff. He looked like his face had been carved from granite.

She cleared her throat. “Griff, I want you to know that you can talk to me—”

“No.”

He was so stubborn. She gave a huff. “You need to talk about what happened to you. Let it out. Get rid of all the poison before it damages you.”

His face turned bleak and her chest locked. Then the shutters came down again, and his face went blank.

“I don’t want to fucking talk about it. I don’t want to rehash my life imploding, my fiancée leaving me, and me being painted a criminal. I certainly don’t want to talk about what it’s like for a cop to be behind bars.” His breathing was harsh, his tone hard. “Even if I did want to talk, I wouldn’t want to talk about it with you.”

Piercing hurt filled her chest.

“You just keep smiling and flitting through life like nothing matters, Indy. You keep dating guys like him.” He jerked his head the way Dale had gone. “Leave my secrets alone.”

“You kissed me, Griff.”

“A mistake.” He looked away.

The hurt made it hard to talk. She tried to stay calm, but his harsh words had lit a fuse. “I’m only trying to help you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Don’t be an asshole.”

“I am an asshole.”

“You want to be alone and stew about the past…well, you got it.” She leaped to her feet. With one last glare, she turned, shot him the finger and strode out. She made sure the infirmary door slammed after her.

But every step hurt. Once again, Griff had torn her up inside.

Every time she got close to him, he proved that it was a fucking bad idea. Talk about not learning her lesson.

You need to stay the hell away from him, Indy. From the man she was beginning to realize was her own personal kryptonite.

CHAPTER FIVE

Griff pulled in a breath, then released it slowly. He tossed the knife.

It slammed into the target, dead center, but he felt no satisfaction.

Dom strode forward and pulled the knife out. He turned and eyed Griff. “Your leg still giving you problems?”

“No.” Griff turned. At the other end of the firing range, he spotted Manu Rahia’s big form. The former berserker was shooting with a tall woman in uniform—Kate, his woman and head of Enclave security.

Griff did not need a happy, loved-up couple rubbed in his face right now. He snatched up three knives, turned, and threw them in quick succession.

Two slammed into the target, the third glanced off the board, rebounded, and skittered onto the floor.

Shit.

“You want to talk about it, amico mio?”

“Hell, no.”

Dom walked over, leaned down, and scooped up the fallen knife. “This is about Indy.”

Griff’s head shot up, but he remained silent.

Dom smiled. “I see the way you look at her.”

Griff’s hands curled into fists. He’d hurt her. She’d been pushing and he’d lashed out. He blew out a breath. Maybe he’d just gotten too used to no one giving a fuck about him. To stewing in his own damn misery. Of course, Indy had defended herself with her sharp tongue, but he’d seen the hurt.

“I’ve known her all my life.” He heaved out a breath. “I’ve wanted her all my life. But at first, we were too young, we had our lives ahead of us, and she was my best friend’s little sister.”

Dom nodded. “And the forbidden is always hard to resist.”

But it hadn’t just been that. It had been Indy—bright, bold, smiling Indy. “She came to visit me in prison. I refused to see her.” Lost in the old memories, he felt his anger rising. Like a damn beast waking up. “There are things I can’t tell her, things that would hurt her.”

“She’s survived an alien invasion,” Dom said quietly. “She’s a fine comms officer, fearless and unafraid. She’s not a little girl for you to protect.”

Griff forced his hands to uncurl. “She’ll always be mine to protect.”

Dom set the knife down on the nearby bench. “You’ve been doing that behind the scenes since we were at Blue Mountain Base. Beating up men who disrespect her, ensuring her supply of coffee without her knowing.”

Clearing his throat, Griff mentally cursed his observant friend. Any time he’d found coffee beans out in the field—especially the Arabica she loved—he’d brought them back and given them to the scavenger team to give to her.

“You need to trust her,” Dom continued. “Open up to her.”

“You sure you used to work for the Mafia? I’m starting to think you were a damn shrink.”

Dom’s face didn’t even change, completely unfazed by Griff’s outburst.

Dammit. Griff stuck his hands on his hips. The thought of opening up his fucked-up, battered self for anyone, let alone Indy, made him feel sick.

“Indy won’t accept you holding back,” Dom added.

“Next, you’re going to suggest we hold hands, sing a few songs, maybe hug.”

Dom lifted a knife and pointed it at Griff. “I could slit your throat before you’d even have a chance to react.”

Griff managed a laugh and shook his head. “You’re so wise in the ways of women, Santora. How many relationships have you had exactly?”

“None.” The man smiled, but he had a dark look in his eyes. “But I’m observant. It’s easy to watch from the shadows when no one knows you’re there.”

Griff stared at his friend’s face. Griff’s demons were close to the surface, but Dom kept his buried deep. Not for the first time, he wondered what Dom had endured in his pre-invasion life.

“You want to talk?” Griff asked.

Dom shot him a killer look.

“Right.” Griff’s thoughts turned to Indy again.

Dom clasped his shoulder. “Talk to her.”

“She’s pissed at me.”

“Not the first time, and knowing Indy, it won’t be the last.”

That got a reluctant smile from Griff.

“Woo her,” Dom suggested.

“What?”

“Spoil her. Show her what she means to you, and that you’re sorry for pissing her off.” Dom tilted his head. “I don’t think Indy gets enough of that.”

Hmm. “You know what. That’s not a bad idea, Santora.”

OKAY, so she’d had three cups of coffee, binged on a donut from the kitchen, and raided her stash of chocolate, but she was still simmering. She hated when her comfort foods didn’t work.

Indy pulled in a calming breath and tipped her face up to the sun. Nearby, she could hear some birds chirping in the trees.

She and Arden were up in the Garden. The grassy area was hidden in a bowl of carved rock at the top of an escarpment. The Enclave residents accessed it through a tunnel. Part of the space was cordoned off for the vegetable gardens, while the rest was interspersed with trees and flowers. It was dotted with picnic tables and was a favorite playground for the Enclave’s children. Overhead, the retractable doors were open, letting in the sunshine. A high-tech illusion system kept it hidden from the Gizzida.

Indy and Arden had spread a blanket on the grass, were getting their dose of vitamin D, and doodling in their sketchbooks.

With a huff, Indy moved her pencil and it tore through the paper. Sighing, she forced her muscles to relax. Damn Griff had her all churned up.

“Indy.”

She looked up. “Yeah?”

Arden was sitting with her legs tucked beneath her, using charcoal in her book. The woman’s fingers were stained black and a strand of her hair had escaped her messy bun. Indy arched her neck, looking at Arden’s picture.

Damn, the woman was good. She’d done a black-and-white sketch of Squad Nine. Roth and Theron were tall, shadowed presences at the back of the picture. The four female soldiers were lined up in front, looking badass. Warriors readying for war.

It was striking, and Indy felt the power in the image.

Arden had started taking art classes with Niko, the civilian leader of the Enclave, a few months back. She clearly had a natural talent.

“Let me see your work,” Arden said.

Indy tilted her sketch book.

Her picture was a bleeding heart surrounded by thorns. But the thorns were just starting to show budding roses forming.

“Filled with meaning,” Arden said.

“It’s for Ahmad. You know, he’s the husband of Trevor from the maintenance team. He requested it.”

Indy sketched tattoos for survivors who’d been left scarred by the Gizzida. So many had been trapped in labs, cut open, experimented on. For the scars that couldn’t be healed by nanomeds, Indy did her part to help cover them over and transform them into something else. There was a small team of tattoo artists at the Enclave who inked the designs. Shaw from Hell Squad did the occasional one and was damn good.

Arden nodded. “It’s great.”

Indy stroked the image. “Thanks.”

“You seem to have bled off some of the anger you arrived with,” her friend noted.

Indy wrinkled her nose and stretched her legs out. “Men. Can’t kill them, or castrate them, or smack them in the head with a bat.”

The faintest smile touched Arden’s lips as she closed her sketch book. “You fought with Griff.”

Arden knew all about Indy’s history with Griff. “He kissed me.” She threw her arm out.

“Okay. And it was bad?”

“No. It was the freaking best kiss I’ve ever had. He churns me up, Arden. He confuses me. I know I should keep away from him, but he draws me back. I’m like a moth with a death wish, drawn back to the flame. On the last mission, he got hurt…”

“But he’s okay?”

“The doc patched him up.” Indy blew out a breath. “He’s so angry, Ard. It oozes out of him. In the field, he lives up to the name of berserker. He goes into these berserker-like rages when he fights the raptors.”

“From what you’ve told me, he has a right to the anger. He was framed, his entire life destroyed. And a cop in prison…I can only image how bad that was. It’s a lot for a man to accept.”

Indy ran her hand down her ponytail. “I know. I want to help him.” She pressed her lips together. “But he doesn’t want my help.”

“Indy.” Arden touched her arm. “If he didn’t want your help, he’d ignore you, not fight you. I think you got too close and he lashed out.”

Thoughts churning, Indy stared at the trees. She spotted Selena sitting at a picnic table. As Indy watched, several brightly-colored birds flew down and landed in front of the alien woman. Selena laughed and held out a hand. The birds jumped onto her arm.

The woman had some sort of connection with nature. Indy had heard that she was letting the doc and the tech team run tests on her. She’d done some crazy healing on Ash’s girlfriend, Marin, when the woman had been badly injured during an alien attack. Indy was just glad that Selena was smiling and happy. Being the only one of her species on Earth had to be frightening.

“I’m done,” Indy said. “I’m not getting burned again.”

Arden started packing up their gear. She gave Indy a piercing look. “If I had a chance to be with the man I loved…”

The woman’s words drifted off and Indy felt like a terrible friend. “Arden—”

Arden’s lips pressed together. “Let’s go.”

They gathered their gear and headed back to their rooms. When Indy entered her quarters, she dumped her gear and instantly went to her special shelf and lit some incense. As soon as the smoky, woodsy scent filled the air, she felt her blood pressure lower. She loved the stuff, and her candle collection. They were lined up on the shelf and she loved trading them with Chrissy. The mechanic had an outstanding collection, which Indy secretly suspected rough-and-tumble Levi gave to her.

Indy flicked on some more lights and that’s when she noticed the gift on the table in her small kitchen. She stilled, staring at the red wrapping paper and silver bow.

She frowned. Who the hell had gotten into her quarters? She strode over and tore the paper open. Silky, emerald-green fabric slithered into her hand. She lifted it and stared at the sexy little robe. She fingered the fabric. It was gorgeous and completely something she’d covet.

Under the robe was a large packet of Arabica beans.

Ooh. She smiled, set the robe down and lifted the beans, breathing in the yummy scent. There was a white card resting in the wrapping. She picked it up, her belly tightening. It only had one letter on it—G.

She knew exactly what Griff’s bold, messy writing looked like.

Damn you, Griffin Callan.

Ignoring her squirming belly, Indy headed into the kitchen and pulled out her coffee machine. She ripped open the packet and tipped some beans in. She was having another coffee and then she’d contemplate whether she wanted to punch Griff or kiss him.

CHAPTER SIX

Griff headed toward the Command Center for the briefing. The doc had done a great job healing up his leg, and today, he only felt the faintest throb from it.

He hadn’t seen a single sign of Indy and had no idea what she’d thought of his apology-slash-wooing gift. He thrust his hand through his hair and tried to focus on his damn job.

When he turned the corner, he spotted Indy outside the Command Center. She was leaning against the wall, one foot pressed to it. His mouth went dry. She was wearing the tiniest pair of cut-off denim shorts that showcased her stellar legs and a blue tank top that showed off her tattoos.

She straightened, staring at him boldly as he got closer. He couldn’t read her face at all.

When he reached her, her arms shot out. She took two handfuls of his Henley and yanked him toward her. Then her mouth was on his.

Fuck. The kiss was hard, fast, her tongue instantly tangling with his. He reached for her, but she stepped back, shot him one hot look, then spun and entered the Command Center.

Griff blew out a breath, his hard cock pressing uncomfortably against his zipper. He adjusted himself. Great, now he’d have to go into the briefing with a damn hard-on.

And he had no damn clue if that kiss was an “I forgive you for being an asshole” kiss or an “I’m pissed and going to mess with your head” kiss.

When his hard dick wasn’t as obvious, he entered the Command Center and joined his squad. Dom and Ash were standing by the back wall and he found a spot beside them.

Around them, all the squads and their leaders were assembled. The Enclave’s civilian leader, Niko, was up front having a quiet discussion with General Holmes.

Pictures of the abandoned town were displayed on the screens on the wall.

“Okay, everyone, listen up.” Holmes stepped forward, looking his usual polished self. “The berserkers have brought back intel from the abandoned town, Berrima, we’ve been checking on. It’s southwest of the Enclave.”

More images appeared on the screen. The dilapidated buildings, the ruins of the historic gaol and courthouse, the hidden crops, the traps that had been dug in the ground. Murmurs rippled through the gathering. Then images of the chains Griff had found appeared. The bloodstains, the broken, black alien glass.

Murmurs turned to shocked hisses.

“No sign of humans?” Marcus Steele asked. The leader of Hell Squad was frowning.

“They’re there somewhere,” Tane said.

Another image appeared. A raptor footprint.

“Do you think the raptors got them?” Roth, from Squad Nine, asked.

“At this time, we don’t know what’s going on there.” Holmes clasped his hands behind his back.

“We believe that humans are living there, and there are signs of the raptors visiting.” Santha, from the Intel team, stepped forward. The woman’s green eyes hardened. “My team have had reports from other small survivor groups that the Gizzida are spreading rumors about the Enclave. That we can’t be trusted.”

“What?” Marcus growled. “And people are buying that?”

“People are scared,” Santha said simply. “All I have are snippets of rumors.”

“And as far as Berrima is concerned,” Santha’s handsome second-in-command, Devlin, said from beside her. “All we know is that something’s not right.”

“Maybe they’re working with the aliens.” The feminine voice belonged to Avery. The brunette was Roth’s woman, and a former Coalition spy. She knew better than anyone about humans and the aliens colluding. She’d witnessed former Coalition President Howell’s traitorous dealings with the Gizzida, in return for the safety of the Enclave.

“Noah?” Holmes asked. “Did you run the glass?”

Noah Kim, head of the tech team, nodded, his long, black hair almost brushing his shoulders. “I ran some tests. I’m not able to definitively say it’s from the octagon, but it’s definitely of Gizzida origin.”

“These people know something.” Niko frowned at the screen.

“Tane, I need you to find them,” Holmes said.

There was movement from nearby, and Griff watched Indy step forward. His gut clenched.

“You need a decoy,” Indy said.

Holmes frowned. “What?”

Griff straightened, a trickle of unease slithering down his spine.

“These people are in hiding, perhaps doing less-than-honorable things in order to survive. They’ll know all about the Enclave, our squads, and us fighting back against the Gizzida. They see anyone military, they’ll stay hidden.”

Dammit, she was right.

Indy tossed her ponytail back, staring right at the general. “If they see a defenseless woman, clearly not military, they’ll be more likely to show themselves. Perhaps take her in and spill their secrets.”

What? Griff’s spine went ramrod straight.

Holmes nodded cautiously. “That’s a good idea, Indy.”

“And I’m the best one to go in,” she added.

“No,” Griff growled.

Several heads turned in his direction. Indy shot him a hot glance before turning back to the general.

Was Holmes actually considering this insanity? Griff swallowed another growl.

“You’re not trained,” Griff said. “Send in a female squad member.” He glanced over at Squad Nine on the opposite side of the room. The tough, trained women were all standing against the wall, watching the proceedings intently.

Indy shook her head. “These people are clearly smart and scared. They’ve stayed alive by trusting their instincts. They’ll sniff out military training in an instant.” She held her arms out, her gorgeous tattoos gleaming under the lights. “I’m the opposite. I’m no threat.”

Griff took a step forward, barely controlling the urge to snatch her up. “No fucking way.”

“You’re not in charge of me, Griff Callan.” She looked back at Holmes. “Send me.”

INDY WANTED TO HELP.

It’s what Gareth would do. Her brother had been so gung-ho, rushing into everything, always wanting to help and protect.

“No.” Griff sounded extremely pissed.

She didn’t give a damn. She was maybe thinking of forgiving him for being a dick, but that didn’t give him the right to dictate her life.

“Your idea has merit, Indy,” Holmes said with a nod. “Plan the mission out.”

Elation tore through her. “Thank you, I’ll—”

She heard a low male curse, then big hands gripped her hips. A second later, the world tilted, and she was lifted off her feet.

She gasped and found herself tossed over a hard shoulder.

What the fuck? “Put me down!”

“Not until you see sense.”

Griff strode out of the Command Center, and in their wake, there was nothing but silence. From her upside-down vantage point, she could see everyone staring at them. Most people looked amused. Arden shot her a concerned frown, and Cam from Squad Nine gave her a thumbs-up and a wink.

Damn the man. She was going to kill him.

Once they were out in the corridor, he strode away from the Command Center.

“I’m going to you make you pay for this,” she hissed.

He didn’t respond.

She banged a fist against his back. Of course, he was all rock-hard muscle, and paid no attention to her attempts to beat him up. “I’m going to…” She didn’t know, but she’d come up with a fitting revenge.

“Put itching powder in my shirt like you did when you were eight?”

The old memory made her pause. God, that had been hilarious. A way for a desperate little girl to get the handsome older boy’s attention.

Stay focused, Indy. Griff wasn’t a boy and she wasn’t that starstruck little girl.

The next moment, he shouldered through a door, and a slap of humidity hit her skin. The sharp stench of chlorine filled her nose. They were in the indoor pool area. Thankfully, the space was currently empty, the water glimmering under the lights.

Her world turned again and he set her down on her feet.

She spun to face him. “What’s your problem?”

“You and your death wish.”

“I want to help!”

“Not you. They can send somebody else.”

Indy suddenly realized that Griff was incredibly tense. His hands were curled into fists, and the muscles in his neck were strained.

She swallowed. “We all have to do our bit, Griff. The aliens won’t let us be.”

“You do it from behind your comms desk.”

She shook her head. “I want to live, and that means I have to help the fight any way I can. I want to live—for my friends who died, for my parents, for Gareth.”

Griff winced and turned away, staring at the pool.

“You never talk about him,” she said quietly.

Griff jerked. “Don’t do this mission.”

“I have to.”

He turned to face her, his features ravaged. “I can’t lose you too.”

God. How could this man make her so angry one second, and then make her want to soothe him the next?

“You won’t. I’ll be smart, careful.”

A shudder ran through his body. “I want to protect you. I want you untouched by all the aliens’ shittiness.”

“I’m already touched by it. We all are. It’s not about staying removed from it, it’s about how we deal with it. We keep moving forward, and when we can, we find some sweet in the middle of all the shit.”

He shoved a hand through his hair. “I’ve seen how bad things can get. I see it every night in my fucking dreams.”

“You have nightmares?” she asked carefully.

“Indy, I…I don’t want to talk about it. And not because I don’t want to talk to you.” He pulled in a shuddering breath. “No questions. Not right now.”

For the first time, Griff let her see the demons haunting him. They flickered in his eyes—hungry and twisted.

Her throat tightened. “Okay. But, I have to do this mission, Griff.” She gave him a small smile. “Besides, I’ll have backup. Some wild, crazy, tough berserkers.”

His arms flashed out and he yanked her to him. She didn’t even stop to think. She wrapped her arms around him and held on tight. She pressed her face against Griff’s neck, breathing him in.

“I’ll keep you safe,” his words a growl as his arms tightened. “I’ll keep you safe from everything that might hurt you.”

Indy felt a reluctant burst of warmth in her chest. But it was tinged with a pinch of worry. Why did she think he wasn’t just talking about the Gizzida?

CHAPTER SEVEN

The Hawk’s skids touched the ground, and Griff watched as Tane wrenched open the side door. Indy drew in a deep breath and rose out of her seat. She patted the pockets of her jeans, and then hitched up the straps of her backpack.

She looked like some disheveled university student. Her hair was loose, her jeans ripped at one knee and streaked with strategically placed dirt, and her simple red T-shirt was rumpled and faded. A leather necklace circled her neck, the pendant resting between her breasts. Her hair was tangled, like she’d been busy surviving on her own.

“Be safe, Indy,” Tane said. “We’ll be watching your back.”

She nodded at Tane. The rest of the berserkers called out their goodbyes and good lucks.

Griff couldn’t handle it anymore. He launched out of his seat, shouldered past his squad leader, and pulled Indy into his arms.

She shot him one wary look before he slammed his mouth down on hers. It was hard, furious, and he poured all his emotions into it.

When he pulled back, her lips were red.

“No risks,” he growled. “Be safe.”

“I will.”

“We won’t be far away.”

She smiled. “I know.”

Then she dragged in a breath, pulled away from him, and leaped out of the Hawk. She looked back, the quadcopter’s rotors making her hair dance around her face.

She turned and walked toward the trees, in the direction that would lead her to Berrima.

Grinding his teeth together, Griff dropped back into his seat. Tane closed the door, and the Hawk rose.

Which was lucky, because Griff was barely holding himself back from leaping out of the aircraft, scooping Indy up, and taking her far, far away.

They’d dropped her well outside of the town, but not too far. Fuck. She was still at risk. She was out there, alone, and who knew if there were raptors, or any of their other, fucked-up alien creatures around?

He leaned forward, pressing his head into his hands.

“You want to talk about it?” Tane asked.

Griff raised his head. Every single member of his squad was staring at him. “Why does everyone think I want to talk?”

“Saw you cart her out of the Command Center, bro,” Hemi said. “Thought you were pulling the big brother, family friend thing. But you just laid a hot and heavy one on her.”

Levi snorted. “These two have been striking sparks off each other for months.”

Hemi crossed his brawny arms, looking at Griff expectantly. “Spill. Cam is itching for the details.”

“No sign of anything.” Indy’s voice came through their earpieces, interrupting the interrogation. “Eww. I think I stepped in kangaroo crap.”

“Acknowledged, Indy,” came Arden’s cool voice. The other woman was standing in as their comms officer.

Hearing her voice made something crack open in Griff’s chest. “She’s mine.”

His squad mates all traded glances.

“She know that?” Levi asked.

“I’ve told her. She’s not on board yet.”

“Ah. Well, I think you have your work cut out for you,” Hemi said.

“I’ve known her forever. I’ve wanted her forever.” Hell, he’d loved her forever. Maybe not in a romantic way at first, but he’d always cared about her.

Then, he’d wanted her when she’d been throwing herself at him. And there had been far too many lonely nights in prison, when thoughts of Indy were the only things that got him through.

Now… Now, he loved her, and wanted her.

“Another one bites the dust.” Levi smirked and pointed a finger at Dom, then Tane. “You guys are next.”

“How about we focus on Indy, out there, alone?” Griff suggested.

Tane lifted a comp screen. Indy had a hidden camera inside the pendant on her necklace.

“She’s not alone,” Tane said. “We won’t be far away.”

They all crowded around to watch the feed from Indy’s camera. Right now, Griff could see her walking along, the image bobbing with each step. She was moving through some trees.

“I’ve reached the outskirts of the town,” she murmured.

The first houses came into view. He tapped his boot impatiently on the floor of the Hawk. This had to be a taste of what Indy endured daily, being a comms officer. Sitting far away, listening in, but not a part of the action. It sucked, and he felt a sudden, new admiration for the job she did.

She peered around, taking everything in. Then Griff heard her indrawn breath.

Several figures stepped out of an abandoned house.

Indy waved. “Hi.”

The people watched her, wary, but finally they nodded.

As Indy strode forward to meet them, she purposely looked all around, so the camera could pick up a good view of her surroundings.

“Good girl,” Tane murmured.

More people appeared out of the houses like ghosts. Griff frowned. They’d searched those buildings. The people had to have built hidden entrances to their tunnels.

“Wait.” Griff spotted something. “There.”

Tane froze the screen. In their earpieces, they heard Indy calling out hello and giving her name. Tane zoomed in.

Griff sucked in a sharp breath. Lurking in the shadows of an alley, just fucking meters away from where Indy was, was a canid.

Dammit. He had a really bad feeling about this.

INDY GLANCED AROUND at all the people. There were a fair number of men, women, and children. She studied each person carefully as discreetly as she could. They all seemed mostly healthy, though in general, there was a faint whiff of despair about this group. She guessed that was understandable, having survived the invasion and resorting to eking out their lives any way they could.

A small gaggle of kids nearby was eyeing her curiously. Two little girls met her gaze and giggled. Indy couldn’t help but smile. Kids were like Teflon, so much crap slid right off them.

A man stepped forward. She pegged him for late forties. He had salt-and-pepper hair, a face lined by the sun and stress, and a hard body.

“I’m Jasper. Leader of this group.”

“Indy.” She nodded. “Former uni student.”

“Come,” a woman with scraggly blonde hair said. “We’re just starting to prepare dinner. You must be hungry.”

Indy smiled again, following the woman over to where some others were setting up some rickety camp chairs. Two men had started a fire.

Jasper sat on a small stack of boxes nearby, his dark gaze on Indy. There was nothing sexual in it, but regardless, it made the hairs on the back of her neck rise. She chalked it up to him being suspicious and protective.

“Where did you come from?” he asked.

She perched on the edge of a chair. “I’ve been up in the mountains. For the last few weeks, I’ve been working my way down here, avoiding the fucking aliens. Trying to find others.” She saw several people trade glances. “I heard there was some kind of a base around here somewhere. Is that true?”

Silence. Only the crackling of the fire.

Another man nearby shifted in his chair. He was older, his hair pure gray. “We take care of ourselves around here.”

She nodded, glancing around at the tired, drawn faces.

Several women were getting large pots out, ready to put on the fire. She saw some others chopping up vegetables.

“That looks great,” Indy said. “I haven’t had fresh fruit or vegetables for a really long time.” That was a lie—the Enclave’s Garden was well-stocked—but she needed to stay in character.

One of the women smiled at Indy, her brown hair cut in a messy, short style—more from necessity than stylishness. “You’ll like it here. We have great fresh food.”

Indy smiled back, but something about the woman’s words felt forced. “Great. What’s your name?”

“Kath.”

“Um, aren’t you afraid of the aliens?” Indy asked. “Do you have soldiers or weapons?”

Kath glanced away. “Jasper takes care of us, no matter what.”

Indy kept the smile pasted on her face, but inside, her belly was churning.

Soon, they were all munching on their surprisingly tasty food, and she listened to the murmurs of conversation around her. Several men were discussing the crops and what they were going to plant next. Kath was talking with another man and woman, discussing school lessons for the kids. The blonde from earlier and some other women were coaxing the kids to eat their vegetables. Some things never changed.

What wasn’t discussed was the Gizzida. Indy didn’t hear a single mention of the aliens.

She felt Jasper watching her several times with what seemed like a laser-guided stare. Like he could see through her act, and knew all her lies. It left her unnerved. She popped a piece of fresh carrot into her mouth and tried to act calm.

Some of the men were looking at their watches and muttering to each other. Indy kept eating, but angled herself so her camera was catching them. There was an itchy feeling surrounding her, sending her instincts into overdrive. Something was definitely up here. She just couldn’t figure out what it was.

“So, where are you from, Indy?”

She glanced up at Jasper. “Well, my family originally came from the United States, but I spent my teens in Singleton in the Hunter Valley.” She’d carefully constructed her cover story before the mission. “I was at uni in Sydney when the aliens attacked. Ended up with some survivors in the Blue Mountains.”

Jasper grunted.

“Is everyone from around here?” she asked.

Kath nodded. “Most of us are locals. A few stragglers have come in from Wollongong and beyond.”

“And you haven’t gone to this base that’s around here?”

“No.” Jasper rose. “We take care of ourselves, and won’t put ourselves at risk by trusting strangers.” He shot her a hard look, then strode off.

“Don’t mind Jasper.” Kath cleared away some dirty plates. “Being in charge is a stressful job.”

Indy nodded.

Coffees were handed around and Indy did her best not to wince at the horrible brew. Dishwater would have tasted better. Eventually, parents and caregivers herded the kids into the nearby houses.

Kath waved a hand. “Come on, Indy. Let’s find you somewhere to bed down for the night.”

The woman led Indy into a house. Once, she suspected it had been a cozy family home. Now, it held an air of ruin and neglect. Kath moved to the wall, and Indy watched the woman pry off a sheet of drywall.

“What the…?” Behind it, hidden in the frame of the walls, were pillows, blankets and clothes.

“We keep all our stuff hidden. Don’t need any scavengers stealing our things.” Kath handed Indy a pillow and blanket.

Indy managed a smile. “Kath, I’ve heard good things about this local base. It has food, medical supplies—”

“We haven’t.” Kath glanced out the window. “Don’t let Jasper hear you talking about it.”

“What have you heard?” Indy asked quietly.

“That base works with the aliens.”

Indy bit her lip. Shit. Once, the Enclave had worked with the Gizzida. Had these people heard about Howell and his treason?

“Who told you that?”

Kath flicked out a blanket, laying it on the floor. “It doesn’t matter. Recent talk says the Enclave isn’t safe. You need to stop talking about it.” Kath smoothed her hands down her rumpled shirt. “There’s a place for you here, if you want it.”

“Okay.” Like hell Indy would spend any longer here than she had to.

“Dinner was great.”

That got a smile from the woman. “I used to cook at a pub in Wollongong.”

“Really? I used to run a nightclub.”

Kath frowned. “Thought you were a student?”

Shit. “I was. I worked at the club on weekends.” She tried to look sheepish. “I didn’t really run it, I was just an assistant manager.”

Kath nodded and plumped up some pillows.

A few other survivors came in, calling out goodnights as they set up their beds.

Indy lay back on her pillow, staring at the ceiling. She wondered what the berserkers were doing. What Griff was doing.

She wasn’t certain how many minutes had passed, but suddenly, a roar of sound tore overhead. She jolted, flying up into a sitting position

What the hell? Pulse thundering, she leaped up and ran to the window.

“Indy—”

She ignored Kath. She saw the lights in the night sky.

A ptero.

The distinctive shape of the alien ship swiveled overhead. It was landing.

“Fuck. We need to get out of here!”

“It’s okay.” Kath gripped Indy’s arm. “It’s fine.”

“What?” Indy stared at her, feeling like her eyes were bugging out of her head. “It’s the aliens. We need to run. Hide.”

Everyone in their house was awake, watching her with blank eyes.

“It’s fine,” Kath insisted.

The ptero touched down at the edge of the town, and Indy could barely believe her eyes. Not a single person moved to hide or run.

She saw Jasper and a few of his men exit a house. They looked tense, but no one seemed scared or terrified.

Then, a woman’s sharp scream cut through the night. Indy rushed to the door. As she stepped onto the front porch, she saw two men dragging a woman out of a house. She was shouting at them, dragging her feet, and trying to yank her arms out of their hold.

“You assholes!” she shouted. “You’ll all burn in hell.”

Indy frowned. “What’s happening?”

“It’s the Giving,” Kath said. “Every two months, we have to give to keep our community safe.”

Indy’s chest locked. “Give? As in a person?”

“That’s the deal,” Kath said sadly.

Her heartbeat thudding like a drum, Indy turned her attention back to the imprisoned woman, and saw four giant raptors had exited the ptero. They were walking down the center of the street, their giant boots thudding on the cracked asphalt.

Fear and anger tore through her. “This is insane!”

Kath turned to her. “The aliens came, but they didn’t kill us. We were terrified, but they said they’d leave us be…if we gave them some humans. A human every few months in return for them not invading our community. They told us we couldn’t trust the Enclave, that we couldn’t trust anyone.” The woman’s eyes pleaded with Indy for her to understand. “We had to make a sacrifice to keep the children safe.”

Screw that. “You use your children as a damn excuse for cowardice.”

The woman being dragged toward the Gizzida screamed again, her dyed red hair tumbling around her shoulders. Indy had seen enough. She charged forward. She leaped down the steps, flew down the front path, and out onto the street.

“We’re humans,” she yelled. “We work together, work with each other to survive. Not with the enemy who want to destroy us.”

“Indy.” Kath gripped her arm. “Stop. Be quiet. Any drifters or dissenters—”

Indy spun around. “Will be next? Is that what you’re saying?” She shot an enraged look at Jasper. “Say anything in dissent, and I’ll be chained up underground until you can give me to those fuckers? You’re all sick.”

Jasper’s gaze narrowed. “How do you know about the chains underground?”

Indy ignored him. The raptors had halted some distance away, watching the proceedings with almost bored looks. She rushed forward, and landed a hard kick to the knee of one of the men holding the woman. With a grunt, he went down on the ground. Indy grabbed the sobbing woman, and threw a punch at the other man. She’d trained with the berserkers and she knew how to throw a damn good cross.

He staggered back. Indy tugged the redhead closer and she started to sob.

Jasper strode forward and backhanded Indy in the face. She flew to the side with a cry, crashing to the ground.

Ow.

“Maybe we’ll give you to the raptors instead,” Jasper said.

Indy lifted her chin. “You made a big mistake, asshole. Huge. Colossal.”

Jasper snorted. He snatched some chains from one of his men. Roughly, he grabbed her wrists and slapped the chains on her.

The cold metal made her mouth go dry. Griff and the berserkers would come. Then, Jasper cinched the chains so tight she cried out. The raptors’ guttural sounds came from close by. They started forward again.

As Jasper yanked her up onto her feet, the chains clanked, and suddenly, Indy tasted fear.

CHAPTER EIGHT

On screen, Griff watched the bastard hit Indy. He surged up out of his seat.

“Cool it,” Tane warned.

“He’s dead.”

Tane released a breath. “Keep your shit, Griff.”

“They’re sacrificing humans, Tane.”

“And they’ll regret it,” Tane said darkly. “Thom, get us down there.”

“With pleasure,” the Hawk pilot called back.

The quadcopter rose smoothly, shooting forward. Griff shifted in his seat, carbine in his hands. His fingers clenched and unclenched on the metal. The Hawk’s illusion system was up, keeping them camouflaged as they flew in over the town. He craned his neck, looking out the window.

Down below, he could see that bastard, Jasper, dragging Indy towards the raptors.

“Now!” Tane yanked the side of the quadcopter open.

The Hawk was hovering several meters above the ground. Griff shouldered on past Levi and Ash. He leaped out of the quadcopter. Before his boots hit dirt, he was firing on the raptors.

The berserkers charged after him. Dom moved in beside Griff, face composed but dark eyes scary as he aimed at the aliens.

Griff kept firing, pissed beyond belief. One raptor went down in a hail of laser fire. Another ran for cover.

Two raptors returned fire, and their poison splattered all over the ground. Griff dived and rolled, coming up shooting. People were screaming somewhere nearby.

Then he heard a fierce growl. He swiveled and spotted a canid running down a side street. Hemi let out a roar and turned to meet it. It leaped into the air and Hemi fired. When the alien dog got close to him, Hemi gripped it with his gloved hands, and yanked it to the ground.

All around, more people were screaming. But Griff’s eyes were focused on Indy and the bastard holding her. Jasper had a hand in her hair. Then Griff spotted the chains around her wrists. Asshole.

Anger ripped through his gut. He hated seeing the ugly, heavy chains on her smooth skin.

Griff strode up toward them, his carbine raised. The man’s face shifted, belligerence giving way to fear.

Good.

“Griff—” Indy said.

Griff kept coming and raised his fist. He punched the man right in the face. Jasper crashed down to one knee with a cry. Griff leaned over him and hit him again.

Nope. He still didn’t feel any better. He punched him again.

“Griff.” Indy gripped his arm, trying to pull him back.

He spun to face her. She reached up and cupped his cheek. The chains, pulled so tight they were cutting into her skin, clanked.

“He’s not worth it,” she said.

Griff’s arm shot out, and he yanked her close. Apart from the abraded wrists and the faint swelling on one cheekbone, she looked fine.

“I’m okay,” she whispered.

He lifted a hand, gently touching the swelling. Then he turned and saw Jasper was still kneeling, watching them. Griff kicked him, and the man fell down, curling into a ball.

Jasper looked up, face twisted. “You aren’t welcome here—”

Tane stepped into view, looking fierce. Jasper took one look at Tane’s face and shut up.

“You don’t get to say anything else,” Tane said.

“Selling out humans—” Hemi shook his head. “Motherfuckers.”

Tane touched one ear. “Arden, I need Hell Squad and Squad Nine. We have prisoners to bring in, survivors to re-house, and we need some cleanup.”

“On it now,” Arden replied.

“Hemi and Dom,” Tane said. “Get in that ptero and scavenge anything useful. Tech team’ll want any data cubes.”

Hemi flicked a small salute. “On it.”

“Then I want you to blow the fucking thing sky high.”

Hemi’s smile was wide. “Be my pleasure.”

Griff pulled Indy closer. He swung his carbine onto his shoulder and started unfastening the chains. Around them, the rest of his squad was tying up Jasper’s men, and Ash was trying to reassure the frightened survivors.

With Indy so close, her coconut scent in his senses, he finally felt his pulse start to slow.

She was okay.

He watched as people crept out of the shadows. They all had a beaten look about them. A brunette who’d talked to Indy earlier appeared. The woman approached cautiously and Indy stiffened.

“They protected us,” the woman whispered. “They did what they had to.”

Griff scowled. “Giving fellow humans to invading aliens to keep yourself safe is fucked.”

“He’s right, Kath,” Indy said.

The woman flinched and backed away.

Another woman strode up. She was older, with hair dyed bright red, and her clothes were streaked with dirt. He realized it was the woman the humans were going to give to the raptors before Indy intervened.

She shot a venomous look at the other woman. “Crawl back into your hole, Kathleen.” She lifted her chin and looked at Indy. “Thank you.”

Indy nodded. “You’re welcome.”

With a nod, the woman boldly strode over to the survivors. A teenaged boy ran at her, throwing his arms around her.

“Mum!”

“I’m okay, baby. We’re okay.”

A second later, two more Hawks swept into view, setting down beside Thom’s quadcopter. Hell Squad leaped out of one and Squad Nine out of the other.

Hell Squad, with their lone female soldier, looked rough and hard as nails. Marcus Steele strode in front of them, his scarred face looking unhappy.

Squad Nine consisted of four deadly women, who looked damn fine in their armor, backed up by the brawn of Roth and Theron.

Roth and Marcus strode over, both men studying the situation around them.

“What a fucking mess,” Roth said.

“Shades of Howell,” Tane said unhappily.

“All right, asshole, time to go.” Tane yanked Jasper to his feet.

Sienna from Squad Nine stepped closer. She was shorter, with sexy curves, and dark hair pulled back from her face. She looked like she should be in a kitchen baking tasty treats, not dressed in armor with a carbine on her shoulder. She smiled and held up some plastic restraints. “I’ve got cuffs for everybody.”

“Kinky,” Taylor called out.

“That’s how I roll, bella,” Sienna replied with a sassy wink.

From nearby, Sienna’s man Theron rolled his eyes.

Tane raised his voice. “Everyone will be taken back to the Enclave.” He glared at Jasper. “Whatever you’ve been told about it is likely wrong.”

“You’ll be questioned,” Marcus said to the man.

Jasper stared at the ground.

Once all the prisoners were detained, Hell Squad started sorting them into groups for transport.

Marcus turned to the rest of the survivors. “You’ll have shelter at the Enclave.” His gravelly voice rumbled over the street. “You’ll get food, medicine, clothes.”

“You’ll kill us,” someone called out. “You’re lying.”

Hell Squad’s leader scowled. “I don’t know what these bastards have been telling you, but the Enclave is a base dedicated to protecting human survivors.”

“The aliens say you guys give people to them as well.”

“That’s a lie,” Marcus said. “The Enclave is a safe place. And we do not work with the aliens. We never hand over anyone to be killed.” He turned “Cruz, organize the survivors for transport. Work with Mac.”

Hell Squad’s second-in-command nodded, and moved to join Squad Nine’s second.

Boom.

Everyone jolted and a few of the survivors screamed. Griff looked over and saw the ptero in flames. Hemi and Dom were sauntering back toward the group. Hemi was smiling and Dom looked impassive and scary as always.

“Crazy berserkers,” Mac called out.

Marcus shook his head and looked at Jasper. “Whatever you know about the aliens, you’ll share.”

The man shot him a belligerent look. Griff scowled. Looked like the jerk was finding some bravado, now that he realized no one was going to kill him.

Suddenly, Kath appeared. The woman reached out and grabbed Indy’s arm. “I know you think we’re all terrible and evil, but really, we were just scared.” The woman pulled in a breath. “I am sorry, Indy.”

Indy nodded, exhaustion written across her face. “It’ll be okay now. You can have a fresh start.” Then Indy tilted her head. “Kath, if you have any info on the aliens, it could be helpful.”

Kath swallowed.

“A way to help. Make amends. For example, have you seen a large octagon made of black glass?”

The woman’s eyes flared and Griff’s gut tightened.

“Yes,” Kath said. “Once, I saw them with a black octagon.”

INDY LAY IN THE BATH, her head resting against the edge of the tub, soaking in the warm water and bubbles.

Emerson had treated Indy’s face and wrists, and all the people from the town had been settled into the Enclave. Some were in cells, others had been issued quarters.

It was damn lucky that Niko had the construction team working on fitting out some unused parts of the Enclave as new quarters. She bit her lip. The base hadn’t reached its limit yet, but she knew if they kept bringing in survivors, eventually they’d reach a point where the Enclave’s resources would be maxed out.

She chewed on her lip. That was a problem for another time.

Over the next few days, the Berrima residents would all be questioned. Others had already confirmed Kath’s story. They’d seen the aliens with the octagon several weeks back. It appeared that Jasper and his gang of enforcers knew more. Laura Bladon and her interrogation team would keep questioning them.

Hopefully, they might get something that would help them find the octagon.

Indy closed her eyes, and instantly she was back in the town, Jasper dragging her toward the raptors. She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling, and blew out a breath. God, why did she keep reliving it, feeling the fear? She rubbed her still-raw wrists. Emerson had put some antiseptic cream on them. Her injuries hadn’t been severe enough for nanomeds.

She’d known her squad would come for her. She hadn’t really been in much danger. And, of course, Griff had come for her. Her avenging angel.

Okay, not an angel. He was too hard and badass to be an angel. A warrior.

A shiver worked through her body and she rubbed her face. She kept having little panicky moments every time she thought of being back in that horrible situation.

Time to get out of the tub before she turned into a prune.

She pulled out the plug and climbed out. After drying off, she wrapped herself in her pretty emerald-green robe. It was silky and lovely. It had to have cost Griff a bunch of clothing credits. But she loved it and it made her feel happy.

She was back in her living area when she heard a knock at the door.

She opened it to find Griff in the corridor. He was freshly showered, in well-worn jeans, and a white T-shirt that looked glued onto his hard chest.

Without saying a word, he brushed past her, striding in. She closed the door and watched him dominate her quarters. Tense, edgy energy throbbed off him.

“You okay?” she asked.

He turned. “I was going to ask you that.”

She tucked a strand of wet hair back behind her ear. “Yes. No.” She blew out a breath. “I will be, eventually. It sucked.”

He stepped forward and grabbed one of her hands. He stared at her raw wrist, a muscle ticking in his jaw. Then gently, he lifted it and pressed his lips to the mark.

Indy’s breath hitched.

He did the same to the other.

“I’m okay, Griff,” she told him again.

“You were chained. Helpless. Raptors right fucking there. That prick hit you.”

She carefully watched his face, hearing the deep emotion underscoring his words. “Yes. But I knew you’d come. I knew you and the berserkers would save me.” She reached out, stroking her finger down his arm.

“You were chained and you couldn’t get away.”

At that moment, she realized there was more to this conversation. She pulled in a breath. “Is that how it felt in prison?”

His gray eyes bored into hers.

“And unlike me,” she continued, “you didn’t have the knowledge that someone was coming to rescue you.”

His body was tense. “No. As a cop, I was a target. Hell, some of the people in there, I was the one who put them in there. There were fights. So many fights.” His tone was weary. “I had to be the toughest, hardest bastard in there to survive. Had to watch my back constantly.”

God. Sympathy flooded her, but she knew he’d never accept it, so she kept it in check.

“And the worst part was, I knew I’d never get out.” His words were a flat monotone. “I knew no one was coming for me.”

His words made her heart hurt. She bit back all the words she wanted to say and moved closer. She hugged him hard, stroking her hands up his back. “You’re not there anymore.”

“Shit, Indy, I came here to check on you. To make sure you were okay.”

“Well, let’s make sure we’re both okay.”

The quiet settled around them.

“They’re questioning Jasper and his men?” she asked.

Griff nodded. “Laura’s working them over. And she can be one scary redhead.”

Indy looked up at him. “She’ll get them to spill what they know.”

“Apparently the Gizzida have been spreading rumors to any small groups of survivors that the Enclave only looks out for itself and no one else. Sowing discord.”

“Those bastards!”

“Just a new tactic to use against us.”

“You think Laura will get a lead on the octagon?”

“Hope so.” He gripped her shoulders. “I should go. You need to get some sleep.”

Suddenly, she didn’t want him to go. “Griff…”

He patted her arm and headed for the door.

Dammit. “I don’t want to be alone.”

He stopped, his gaze moving to her face.

She tightened the belt on her robe. “I don’t want to be in the rec room, or around people, either. But I don’t want to be alone.”

He stared at her for a second. “A friend—”

“Stay. Please? I…I just need you to hold me.”

Another tense moment passed, then he moved back to her. He wrapped an arm around her and gently urged her to the bed. Before she could say anything, she watched as he toed off his boots. Next, he ripped his T-shirt over his head.

Despite her tiredness, Indy’s heart went into top gear. Oh, God, that chest.

But she didn’t get much of a look. The bed dipped and he stretched out beside her.

When he pulled her in close to his hard, warm body—her back nestled against his chest—she let out a sigh.

“Thanks.”

“No matter what’s going on between us, I’ll always look out for you, Indy.”

Warmth unfurled inside her. “Okay.” She blew out a breath, and for the first time since they’d returned from the mission, she finally felt her muscles relax.

She looked at the wall and thought of her family.

“I wish Gareth was here,” she murmured.

Griff stiffened and didn’t say anything. She felt his jaw rub against her hair.

“Sleep, Indy. You’re safe.”

CHAPTER NINE

Griff woke with his face buried in thick, dark hair that smelled like coconut and flowers. He shifted, glancing down. A slim arm, covered in red-and-green rose tattoos, was thrown over his chest. Vivid. Gorgeous.

Indy.

He was on his back, and she was plastered against him, half on top of him. Her robe had fallen open during the night, and he felt the weight of her bare breasts against his chest.

He swallowed a groan, his cock hard as iron.

Then he felt her lips move against his chest. He froze. Just an accident. But then that clever mouth started moving across his skin, peppering kisses.

Now he groaned aloud. “You’re awake.”

“I’m awake.” She licked his chest, her mouth moving over one of his nipples. She bit him lightly.

Shit. He needed to find some control. He tangled his fingers in her hair and tugged her head up. “You need to stop.”

“Why?” Her eyes were sexy, still slumberous from sleep. “I’m just getting started.”

“Indy. You had a rough time yesterday. I won’t take advantage of that.”

Her gaze narrowed on his face. “I want you, Griff. We’ve already waited long enough.”

Her hand traced lower, over his abs, then kept sliding lower still. He grabbed her wrist before she found her target. He yanked her up his body and found her mouth with his.

His tongue slid against hers, and she moaned. She kissed him back—deep and wild—their tongues tangling.

Griff pulled back. “No more.”

“I’m fine.”

“Not today. Today, you regroup and recover.”

She growled. “So damn proper and righteous.”

He kissed her again, rough and hard.

“Okay,” she said breathlessly. “Not that proper.”

“I’m looking out for you, wild girl.”

She licked her lips, then pouted. “I don’t like the thought that you can turn me down so easily.”

Griff barked out a laugh. “Baby, there is not one thing easy about you. My cock is about to break in half, and my control is paper thin.”

Pleasure filled her face. “Okay.”

He fingered the silky strands of her hair. “I’ve thought about kissing you. A lot.”

“Good.” The word was a sexy purr. “I’ve thought about a lot more than kissing you. And in a lot of detail.”

Her hand moved south again and Griff grabbed it.

“Griff,” she complained.

“I’m not gonna fuck you now, Indy.”

Her face fell.

“Not now. Not with bruising on your wrists and along your cheek. Not after the day you had.”

But Griff knew it was more than that. His gut was churning, because there was more between them than just her bad day. Old truths and lies from the past. And he wasn’t sure what the hell he was going to do about it.

She blew out a breath. “I’m fine.”

He sat up. “You will be. But my jeans are staying on. No matter how sexy and tempting you look.”

She pouted again, and damned if she didn’t look cute. He wanted to make her feel good, see her smile, see pleasure on her face.

She sat up as well, fiddling with the robe he’d given her. As he’d known, the rich color was spectacular on her. He reached out, running his fingers over the silk. She tilted her head, watching him.

“My jeans are staying on,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean your robe has to.”

Her breath hitched.

Griff nudged the silk off her shoulders, marveling at the beauty of her. The ink on her skin, her full breasts topped with pink nipples. Nipples that were hard and pointed right now. He pushed her onto her back, rising above her. He stroked his hands down her body. Just the right amount of curves to drive him crazy. Her hips lifted.

“You’re fucking perfect,” he said.

“My parents didn’t think so.”

He heard the hurt in her voice. Her parents had been decent people. Her dad a lawyer, and her mother a good lawyer’s wife. They were never quite sure what to make of their wild, bold daughter. “They loved you.”

She sighed. “I know. But they thought I was wild and irresponsible.”

“I’d say full of life.” He dropped his head and let his lips trail over the tattoos on her arm.

“To them, I was just a bartender who was wasting my life.”

Griff paused. “You ran the hottest club in Phoenix, baby. Your company asked you to help open new ones all around the world.” He knew that was why she’d been in Sydney during the invasion.

She shrugged a shoulder. “It was never enough for them.”

“You were damn good at it. And now, you’re a damn outstanding comms officer, helping to fight back against the aliens. You are pretty fucking amazing, Indy Bennett.”

He kissed her again, loving it when she writhed beneath him. He moved lower, spending some time tracing her collarbones, then giving her pretty breasts the attention they deserved. He sucked on her sweet nipples, loving her husky cries.

Moving lower, Griff kissed her belly, delving his tongue in her belly button. Then he moved lower, desperate for a taste of her. He parted her thighs.

“Oh, God,” she murmured.

“Nothing to do with God, wild girl.” Griff closed his mouth over her. He licked and sucked, and soon she was writhing and sobbing his name.

“You taste so damn good,” he growled. “I need more.”

“Yes!”

“This is mine, Indy.” He stabbed his tongue inside her. “No one else’s.”

“Griff!”

He tongued her clit, holding her down as he increased the pressure.

“I’m going to… Oh, my God.” She cried out as she came.

Griff was so hard, his cock throbbing painfully. His brain shut down and he quickly lowered the zipper on his jeans.

Kneeling over her, he pulled his cock out, stroking it. Her gaze was glued to him, her lips open.

Oh, those red lips gave him ideas. Another time.

He stroked his cock brutally, desperately needing to come. “I’m gonna come.”

“Come.” She licked her lips. “Let me watch.”

He groaned and his release hit him, his come splattering onto her belly. She watched him with those gorgeous eyes, never looking away.

When he was done, Griff was wrung out. He spent a few moments just sucking in air. He felt better than he ever had in his entire life.

Indy smiled at him, and it warmed cold, dark places deep inside his gut. He dropped down, pulling her close.

But once again, the truth was like a solid wall between them. He tightened his hold on her. A truth that could break them both.

INDY WALKED through the corridors of the Enclave later that morning with a spring in her step. She lifted her travel coffee mug and took a sip.

Mmm, sweet, sweet coffee. But in her head, she was happily replaying not-so-sweet images of her morning with Griff.

She shivered. She wanted that thick, delicious cock inside her. Her belly fluttered. Oh, yeah, she remembered every inch of it.

But she had to admit there was a part of her—buried deep inside—that wanted more than just sex. She blew out a breath. She’d crushed on Griff as a teen, he was the first man she’d ever loved, and he’d dealt her a crushing blow at twenty.

Now, her feelings were deeper, richer, and threaded with their history. It scared the hell out of her.

She pictured him again, rising above her, hard, ripped abs and thick cock. He’d put her first. Her pleasure, how she was feeling. No man had ever done that before. People often looked at her and only saw the tattoos and her wide smile. They automatically assumed she was just out for a good time.

Not Griff. He knew her better than anybody.

Ahead, the door leading into the cells and interrogation area appeared. A handsome, buff guard stood in uniform at the door.

He spotted her and smiled. “Ah, hey, Indy.”

“Hi, there.” She’d flirted with James a time or two before. But today, she kept her smile friendly, and her hands to herself.

“You want to observe the prisoners?” he asked. “Your squad is already here.”

“I sure do.” When she breezed past him, she didn’t miss the disappointment in his eyes.

As soon as she entered, she took in the barred cells, and the interrogation rooms with their thick, plate-glass windows. The berserkers stood, grouped in front of one window.

Griff’s head lifted like he scented her, his gaze instantly zeroing in on her.

“Hey, sweet thing,” Hemi said, in his booming voice. As she walked past him, he reached out and slapped her butt.

She shot him a mock glare. “Lucky I like you, Rahia, or you’d lose that hand.”

“Like you’d ever hurt me.” He grabbed her hand, lifting it gently, and looked at her wrist. Something flickered in his dark eyes, and he brushed the bruises lightly with his thumb. “Brave. You did good out there.”

She smiled. She didn’t just like the goofball, she loved him like a brother.

When she looked up, Griff was scowling right at where Hemi was holding her. Her heart did a little flip-flop. Oh, she liked that possessive look in his eyes.

Then she turned and looked through the glass.

Inside the small room, Laura Bladon was questioning Jasper. Her red hair was pulled back in a braid, and she wore fatigues on her fit body.

She peppered the man with questions, and he alternated from belligerent to beaten. She had a commanding voice and the patience of a saint. Damn, the woman was good. Of course, she was happily sharing quarters with the arrogant, way-too-smart Noah from the tech team. Being in love with the man would require a good dose of patience.

Suddenly, Laura slapped a hand on the table. “You might have had a protection deal with the Gizzida, but it wasn’t going to last. Whatever they have planned will end us all.”

Jasper’s chin dropped to his chest. “I know.”

Laura straightened.

He looked up, face tortured. “I was trying to buy some time. For the kids. Fuck.”

“You saw the octagon,” Laura prompted.

“Yeah, they were transporting it somewhere. They fucking bragged about it.”

The room around Indy went quiet.

Laura tilted her head. “Where?”

Jasper shrugged. “Somewhere in the mountains.”

Laura leaned in. “You know what it is. What it does.” These weren’t questions.

“Yeah.” Now, he had a defeated look. “It’s a bomb.”

Curses echoed around Indy.

“And it’s not just the one. It’s part of some trio of bombs. There are three of them, strategically placed around the world. This is their end game. They set these off, and they rid the Earth of the last of the human species.”

CHAPTER TEN

Just off shift from patrolling around the Enclave, and fresh from a shower, Griff entered the Command Center.

But he wasn’t thinking of their patrol, or even the Gizzida. Nope, he was thinking of a sexy, outspoken, tattooed brunette.

He spotted her among the crowd, standing with the rest of his squad. She glanced over and shot him a smile. The damn thing lit up her face, and hit him in his gut like a punch. God, she was gorgeous.

Griff moved over to join her and the berserkers. At the front of the room, Holmes was talking about the octagon.

“We have drones doing intensive sweeps of the mountains,” he said.

Indy shifted in front of Griff, her body brushing against his. He smiled. As the general continued talking, Griff felt a brush of fingers against the front of his jeans.

Shit. He stiffened. Indy’s fingers were hidden between their bodies. Again, she brushed her hand down the length of his hardening cock. The wild little minx. He forced his face to stay blank and his body still, so he didn’t draw any attention to them. They were standing in the middle of a damn crowded room.

She kept stroking him and he gritted his teeth. “Wild girl…”

At his whisper, she glanced back over her shoulder. He got the full blast of her teasing smile.

“—sending Squad Three in to do a sweep.”

The general’s voice jerked Griff back to reality. He coughed to cover the desire raging through him.

Tane glanced at him, eyeing him strangely for a second, before the squad leader turned back to look at Holmes. “We’ll investigate the area of highest activity.”

The general nodded. “Good luck.”

Indy turned. “You guys be careful out there.”

“Recon only, Indy,” Hemi said.

She caught Griff’s eyes for a moment. He wanted to kiss her, but tapped her nose instead. With a smile, she turned and joined Arden. The women walked down the hall leading to the comms office.

Thankfully, by the time he got to the squad locker room, Griff’s raging hard-on had cooled. He slammed his armor back on, then grabbed his carbine, checking it over.

“So, saw Indy smiling at you,” Hemi said.

Griff just grunted. He knew his squad could gossip with the best of them.

“Today at least,” Levi added.

“Let’s move it,” Tane said.

Together, the team moved toward the Hawk hangar. Before they entered, Tane gripped Griff’s arm, pulling him to a stop.

“You go gently,” Tane warned. “Indy might be brash on the outside, but that attitude is hiding a big heart.”

“I know that. Better than anybody.”

Tane stared at him with a scowl, the scrutiny making Griff’s neck itch, then the other man nodded.

Soon, they were in the Hawk, winging their way toward the Blue Mountains.

“Welcome aboard Erickson Air,” their pilot said. “We’re expecting clear skies, but there is always a chance of alien-induced turbulence, so please keep your belts fastened.”

Today, their pilot was Finn. The man was magic at the Hawk controls. Griff pressed one palm against the cool metal wall of the Hawk, staring out the window. All he could see were trees and a clear blue sky.

Sometimes, he missed Blue Mountain Base. He missed all the trees, the quiet calm of the mountains.

“So, we evacuate Blue Mountain Base and the Gizzida move into the area?” Ash said.

Tane looked thoughtful. “We aren’t focused on the mountains anymore, so they can hide shit up there.”

It wasn’t long before Finn had them flying through a valley, with rocky, tree-covered slopes rising up on either side. They passed a pretty, narrow waterfall dropping down to the valley floor below. It had no doubt been a popular spot for hikers to visit once.

Griff’s fingers curled into a fist. The aliens couldn’t have it. They couldn’t have this planet, and they couldn’t have what was left of the planet’s people. They especially couldn’t have Indy.

He would fight, with everything he had, to protect it. To protect her.

“Anyone see anything?” Tane asked.

Everyone was looking out the windows.

“Only trees,” Ash answered.

“Nothing from up here,” Finn called out.

Suddenly, the Hawk jerked like it had hit a rock wall.

The berserkers were thrown around the cabin, and curses echoed off the walls. Griff nearly fell on his ass, but caught himself at the last second.

What the fuck?

“Finn?” Tane roared.

Everyone rose. The Hawk was stationary, bobbing in the air, its engines vibrating hard under their boots.

“We’re stuck in some sort of…web,” the pilot yelled.

Fucking fantastic. Griff stared through the window, arching his neck. That’s when he saw it—a glistening, near-translucent net spread across the valley.

Like a fucking spider’s web.

Shit, he really hoped a giant, alien spider didn’t appear.

Tane cursed, slowly and steadily under his breath. He wrenched open the side door.

“Indy, our Hawk is trapped in some sort of web,” Tane said. “Clearly Gizzida construction.”

“Hold on, Squad Three.” Indy’s voice. “I’m getting a drone into position so you can take a closer look.”

“It’s tangled around one of the rotors,” Finn said. “Doesn’t matter how much power I give the engines, we’re stuck.”

“Squad Nine encountered something like this in the city while flying the Darkswifts,” Indy said.

Out the side door, Griff saw the shining string of the web. It was close enough that he could reach out a gloved hand and touch it. He plucked it. Damn, it was strong.

Shit, they had to cut themselves loose or they weren’t going anywhere.

“I’ll climb out—”

“Watch out!” Finn shouted. “Incoming.”

That’s when Griff heard the rhythmic whoop, whoop, whoop sound of something slapping through the air. He turned his head, felt Tane right beside him, as they looked out the side of the Hawk.

Three flying aliens came into view.

The things were huge, with large wings covered in brightly-colored feathers. On top of their long heads, they each had a large, bony-looking crest.

One let out a piercing squawk that echoed down through the valley.

“They don’t look too bad,” Hemi said.

The flying aliens moved closer and dived, sweeping in close to the Hawk. One opened its mouth, and dark-green poison sprayed out. It splattered against the side of the Hawk, and there was a hiss of burning metal.

“Shit,” Hemi muttered. “I take it back.”

PANIC LEFT a sick taste in Indy’s mouth.

She listened to the guys cursing, and then the sound of carbine fire.

“Tane?” She tapped her fingers on the keyboard. “Tane, report.”

His deep growl filled the line. “We’re still stuck in this Gizzida web, or net, or whatever the hell it is.” She heard carbines again. “Ash is on the autoturret. We have three flying creatures, Indy. New ones that we haven’t seen before. Feathered wings, crests on their heads, and they spray poison.”

Her nose wrinkled. Nice.

“Watch out!” Hemi shouted.

She pulled up the Hawk’s diagnostics and saw the weakening points on the hull. Shit, if they didn’t get out of there soon, the Hawk would disintegrate.

They needed help.

She swiped her screen. “I’m sending in Squad Nine. They’ll be coming in on the Darkswifts.”

“We’re too far away,” Tane said. “We won’t last that long.”

Her chest constricted.

“The poison’s eating in close to one of the engines,” Finn added.

“I’m going to cut us free.” Griff’s deep voice.

Indy stiffened. What?

“Griff, shit,” Tane bit out. “Get back here.”

Indy tapped again, switching to the camera view from Tane’s helmet. On screen, she saw Griff’s tough body…just as he climbed out of the Hawk.

She watched him climbing up the side of the Hawk, then reach out to touch the web she could barely see. Then he aimed for one of the rotors, climbing swiftly up the gray hull.

Tane looked down at that moment, and she got a sickening view of just how high up they were.

God. Her heart lodged in her throat. If Griff fell…

Then Tane shifted his head, and she saw one of the flying aliens. Her belly contracted. The things were huge.

An alarm went off, drawing her attention back to her screen. Her redirected drone was in range. Drone feed filled her screens.

She gasped. “Tane, you have six more flying aliens incoming.” Her hand curled into a fist, and she fought not to thump it against her desk.

“Acknowledged,” Tane said.

She heard carbine fire, and watched as one of the creatures sprayed poison at the Hawk. Right at Griff clinging to the outside of the aircraft.

Dammit. She held her breath and leaned forward.

The poison hit, Griff cursed, and then he slipped. He slid a meter down the Hawk before he was able to grab something. He dangled off the side of the quadcopter.

Indy was going to be sick. Swallowing back bile, she kept her gaze glued to the screen. “Don’t you dare die,” she muttered under her breath.

The autoturret fired, and she saw one of the flying creatures crumple and plummet.

“Woo-hoo!” Hemi shouted. “Nice shooting, Connors.”

Indy tuned them out. As she watched, Griff pulled himself back up onto the Hawk. He moved back to the rotor, and yanked his combat knife off his belt. He started hacking at the web.

Indy watched the red dots on her screen getting closer. “Tane, they’re almost on you.”

She heard the autoturret firing again.

The drone was closer now, giving her a perfect view of the stuck Hawk, and the flying aliens, circling it like vultures. On screen, she saw one of the aliens dive…aiming right at Griff.

“Griff, watch out!” she yelled.

The creature sprayed a deadly stream of poison, before pulling up at the last minute. It winged away, but the poison had splattered all over the Hawk and Griff. She heard his grunt of pain across the line.

“Griff,” Indy whispered. Beside her, Arden grabbed her arm and squeezed.

Griff made a pained sound, but on the screen, he kept cutting at the web.

Another red dot dived. “Griff, there’s another creature incoming!”

Dammit, she watched him look up, then keep cutting. She saw that his movements were sluggish and uncoordinated. She bit her lip. He was hurt.

She swiped the screen, taking over the controls of the drone. Someone in the drone team would track her down and ream her, no doubt. At this point, she didn’t give a shit.

She urged the drone forward, pushing it ahead at full speed. She aimed it right at the flying creature.

Just as the alien was closing in on Griff, Indy’s drone slammed into the creature’s body. With a wild screech, it fell out of its dive, tumbling in the air, and flapping its wings to try and right itself.

The drone’s image tumbled as well. Oh shit, the drone was going to crash.

Then the camera image righted itself, although it flickered. The drone was still airborne but a little dinged up.

She saw Griff was still clinging to the side of the Hawk, but slipping.

“Web is…free of the rotor.” Griff’s gritty voice was barely understandable.

She watched as he slid down the side of the quadcopter. Her pulse jumped. Oh no, he was going to fall.

Then a strong hand clamped onto Griff’s wrist.

She circled the drone around. Dom was out on the side of the Hawk, holding onto Griff. Tane was behind Dom, holding onto the other man’s legs. Hemi was holding onto Tane.

Together, the berserkers heaved Griff back inside.

“Go. Go!” Tane yelled. “Fuck. Griff’s burned to shit. Alien poison’s chewed through his armor, burned his face, shoulder, and chest.”

Indy felt her stomach heave. She spun, and grabbed her trash can from under her desk, just as her coffee and breakfast came back up.

“Get us back to the Enclave as fast as you can, Finn,” Tane called out.

Tane had shut off his camera. She couldn’t see Griff, or what was happening.

“Lay him out,” Ash’s voice. “Fuck. Levi, pass me the emergency nanomeds.”

Fear filled Indy. He was hurt bad. She yanked her headset off and tossed it on the desk. With a shaking hand, she sent a message to Doc Emerson.

“Indy, I’m sure he’ll be fine.” Arden’s face was pale.

Indy managed a nod, then she jumped out of her chair and sprinted for the Hawk hangar.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Enough.” Griff growled the word and shoved Ash away from him. “I’m fine.”

Ash just raised a brow. “Only thanks to the nanomeds I shot into your ass cheek.”

The squads all carried doses of emergency nanomeds on their missions, but tried not to use them, unless they were the last resort. The nanomeds needed proper monitoring, or they could go haywire.

Griff felt the burn of the nanomeds in his veins. It was almost as bad as the burn of the Gizzida poison that had chewed through his armor and skin. Ash had taken Griff’s chest armor off, and thankfully there was no residual poison on his trousers or shirt.

“You’re damn lucky the poison didn’t reach bone,” Ash said. “It was fucking close.”

Griff rubbed his healing shoulder. It was still red and raw. Thankfully, the pain was manageable now.

He felt the Hawk slow and move into a hover. It started descending, and he heard the distant ringing of sirens. Griff grabbed his damaged armor. He’d have to visit Manu at the armory, and trade it in for some new stuff.

After the Hawk landed, Tane slid the door open. The first thing Griff saw was Indy bearing down on them, her face like a thunderstorm.

“Are you insane?” she shouted.

“Uh-oh,” Levi murmured as he helped Griff up. “You’re in for it now.”

Ash let out a low laugh and gripped Griff’s other arm. The men helped him out of the Hawk.

Indy scanned his body. “Do you want to kill yourself?”

“No, I—”

She held up a hand. “Climbing out of a Hawk in midair with flying aliens around is a freaking bad idea.”

The rest of Griff’s squad laughed around him.

“Welcome to the world of pissed-off women.” Hemi slapped Griff’s uninjured shoulder.

Indy glared at the man.

“Shit.” Hemi held his hands up. “I’m not the one who climbed out of the Hawk and got burned up.”

Indy’s gaze switched back to Griff. Her face changed and he saw the fear under her anger. She reached up, cupping his still healing cheek.

“I’m okay,” he told her.

She sucked in a breath and nodded. Her gaze fell to his burned armor and her chest hitched. “Don’t do it again.”

The berserkers were laughing again.

“Nanomeds are healing him up fine,” Ash assured her.

“The doc is still checking you over.” Indy cocked her hip, full of attitude, and pointed.

Nearby, Emerson waited with an iono-stretcher. She waved at him.

“Not getting on that stretcher and not going to the infirmary.”

Indy’s eyes sparked. “Griff—”

“No. I want a shower.” And he wanted to lie down before he fell down.

Dom moved up beside him and took the armor off him. There was the faintest hint of amusement in the man’s eyes.

Emerson pulled out her scanner. “Okay, tough guy. I can check you out here. Let’s make this quick and painless.”

Indy cupped his cheek again. “Are you in pain?”

“Not now.” He rubbed his thumb along her cheek.

Emerson did her scans and checked his healing wounds. Finally, she stepped back and nodded. “Clean bill of health. No poison in your system, and the nanomeds are working just fine. Another few hours, you’ll just have fresh, baby-smooth skin.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Indy said.

Griff lifted his chin at the doctor.

“Take it easy for the next few hours,” Emerson warned. “You’re a lucky man, Griff.”

When the doctor bustled off, Griff looked up and saw Tane standing with Holmes and Marcus.

With Indy tucked under his arm, they wandered over.

“We must have been in the right area,” Tane said. “The raptors are protecting something up there.”

Holmes nodded. “I’ll have Lia redirect more drones to that sector, and get Santha’s team to go over the data. We can tighten the search parameters.”

Marcus crossed his muscular arms. “We need to find this damn octagon. Soon.”

Suddenly, a group of women rushed into the hangar. Griff spotted Lia from the drone team, Chrissy and Cam, and Marin from the tech team.

Lia ran straight to Finn, who was checking his Hawk over. The pilot swept her into his arms, and she peppered his face with kisses. Chrissy jumped on Levi and in a millisecond, the pair were locked in a kiss.

“Get a room,” Hemi called out.

Marin snuggled into Ash’s chest and he held his woman tight, his face buried in her mass of curly hair.

Cam stood with her hands on her hips, eyeing Hemi. “You look okay.”

“I’m not okay, because you aren’t kissing me.” Hemi yanked her close, his mouth covering hers. Cam pressed her long body against his.

A second later, another figure appeared in the doorway. Selena’s pale skin was luminous in the harsh hangar light. Her silver hair was pulled up in a ponytail, making her look almost human. The alien woman glanced over the hangar, her over-large green eyes zeroing in on Tane before her gaze skidded away.

“Everyone okay?” Selena asked.

“We’re fine,” Hemi said. “Although Griff’s only fine because of the nanomeds.”

Griff shot the finger at his teammate.

Then Indy snatched Griff’s carbine off his shoulder and shoved it at Dom. She grabbed Griff’s hand and dragged him out of the hangar.

“Indy—”

“Shut it. This time, I’m looking after you. No lip.”

INDY LISTENED to her running shower.

Griff was in there, washing off the grime and blood from his mission.

She moved around her quarters, lighting candles and some incense. Hopefully, the scents would help soothe her. She went over to her closet and quickly changed. She saw her hands were shaking. She clenched them together and blew out a breath.

She knew all the members of Squad Three were extra courageous. But her courageous idiot had almost gotten himself killed.

She knew how dangerous it was being on the squads, being out there fighting against the aliens. And the berserkers took even greater risks than anyone else. They rushed into a fight with no concern for their own safety.

Her arms dropped to her sides.

She wanted Griff. She wanted him in her bed. She wanted to eat breakfast with him, shower with him, snuggle with him.

Hell, she loved him. She’d always loved him.

She pressed a fist to her chest. It wasn’t just a crush or a young girl’s infatuation anymore. It was growing into something deeper.

She’d learned early on that life liked to throw curveballs. And invading aliens had been the biggest damn curveball of all. You had to learn to hold on to the good stuff and suck the marrow out of life while you could.

Indy suddenly noticed an absence of sound and realized the shower had stopped. She turned and watched Griff walk out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel wrapped around his hips.

Hel-lo. Her gaze skated over his broad shoulders, then his ripped chest and abs. The air locked in her lungs, and her girly parts came alive. She watched a drop of water roll down his chest, all the way to the V of the muscles at his hips. He’d always been in good shape, but the alien apocalypse had honed him.

Her gaze fell on the tattoo on his forearm. The other berserkers were covered in tattoos. Well, she wasn’t sure about Dom. A few peeked out at his collar, but unlike the others, who weren’t afraid to get naked at the drop of a hat, Dom was more circumspect.

Griff’s only tattoo was on his muscled forearm. At first glance, the black ink looked like a tribal tattoo, but buried in the center of the stunning image was a man. Muscled, bearded, shaggy-haired, the man was bent over, holding up a giant boulder on his back.

“Indy.”

Griff’s voice made her look up. She watched his hot gaze move over her. She’d changed into her best lingerie. Hi-cut lace panties that only covered half her ass, and a tiny black bra that was mostly delicate lace. From the look on his face, her berserker appreciated her effort.

“Sit,” she ordered. She walked to him and maneuvered him to the edge of her bed. He dropped down.

Indy ran her hands over his cheek, then his neck and shoulder. She checked every inch of where he’d been wounded. A few parts were still a little raw, but he was healing well. In most places, his skin was pink and healthy. She smoothed her hands down his arm, letting her body brush against his.

“You are so damn gorgeous,” he said.

She smiled down at him. “You’re rather hot, yourself.” She stroked the lines of his tattoo. “What’s this mean?”

He was silent for a second. “It’s Sisyphus. He was an ancient Greek king who was punished by the gods and sent to Tartarus.”

“The Titans’ terrible prison,” she said quietly.

Griff nodded. “His punishment was to roll a giant boulder up a hill. But every time he neared the top, the boulder rolled back down, forcing him to keep rolling it for eternity.” Gray eyes met hers.

The demons were there. I see you. “You got it when you went to prison.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it’s beautiful work.” She dropped to her knees between his spread legs. She pressed her hands against his muscled thighs, feeling them flex. “But you aren’t in prison anymore, Griff.”

Her fingers went to the towel.

“Indy.” The word was nothing more than a deep growl.

She tugged the towel away, uncovering his thick cock. She watched the muscles in his hard stomach clench.

“You want my mouth here?” she murmured.

Her hand wrapped around him and his hips bucked. “Yeah, I want your pretty lips wrapped around me.”

“Brace.” She licked the head of his cock and gloried in his groan.

She sucked him deep and heard him curse. He swelled in her mouth, one of his hands tangling in her hair. But he didn’t push or demand, just held on.

Indy moved, sucking and licking. She moved up to the tip, then took him deep again, feeling him butt the back of her throat.

“God, your mouth, Indiana,” he groaned. “So damn good.”

She hummed around him and he cursed again, his fingers tugging on her hair.

Griff’s body jerked. “Yes, just like that.”

God, she loved driving him wild. She dug her nails into his thighs, taking him as deep as she could.

“Enough.” The word vibrated with a deep, hungry need.

Griff shoved his hands under her arms and pulled her to her feet. She swiveled, sitting in his lap, and rubbed her ass against his cock.

“You like being naughty, don’t you, wild girl?” he murmured in her ear.

“Yes.” She undulated.

“You wore these sexy little panties just to taunt me.” His fingers slid along the edge of her panties. “You sucked my cock in that pretty, little mouth of yours, trying to make me come.”

“Yes.”

His fingers slid under the lace, shoving the scrap aside, and she moaned, grinding against him.

His finger found her clit, rolling it until she made mindless, husky sounds. She writhed against him, feeling his hard cock beneath her, rubbing against her ass.

“Griff, I need you. Inside me.”

“I want to watch your face the first time I slide inside you.”

He surged up, and Indy expected to find herself flat on her back on the bed. Instead, he pulled her into his arms, took two strides, and spun her against the wall, pinning her there. With one tug, he tore her panties off her.

Their gazes locked. He hitched one of her thighs around his hip. The thick head of his cock rubbed between her thighs.

Indy moaned, and Griff let out a sharp groan.

“You got an implant?”

She nodded. Most adults had contraceptive implants. She had one of the doc’s new ones.

“Ready, baby?” he murmured.

She reached between them, palming his girth. “Yes. I want this and I’m ready for it.”

Slowly, he slid inside her, inch by inch. He was thick, stretching her, and she moaned. She watched his face and saw he was savoring the sensation. His cheeks were flushed with dull, red color.

“Jesus.” She panted. “Griff. I need…”

He pulled out and thrust back in. She cried out. He did it again, picking up pace and strength.

Her body jolted under the impact, and she dug her nails into him to keep herself anchored. Pleasure was like a wild animal clawing at her. Griff was inside her. Griff, the man she’d wanted forever. She undulated against him.

His thrusts became relentless, raw. His mouth hit hers, the kiss almost punishing.

“More,” she begged against his lips.

“I’ll give you what you need, wild girl.”

Griff’s hands slid under her ass and he spun. He carried her to the bed, lowered her, and the sheets were cool under her back. Then her big, hard berserker lowered himself on top of her and slid back inside her.

“Yes, Griff!”

She’d never get enough of him. She threw her head back and drowned in the pleasure.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Griff kissed Indy again and again. Damn, the taste of her, the feel of her. He could barely keep himself under control, thrusting inside her tight warmth.

He felt each thrust, each impact of their bodies, through every cell of his body. His eyelids drooped, everything in him centered on her.

Her hands clutched his back, her nails digging in. “Don’t think, Griff.”

“So tight,” he growled. Her hair was spread out on the bed like an inky cloud, and her breasts jiggled with each thrust. He wanted to see her come apart for him, while his cock was inside her. “Touch that sweet clit of yours.”

Her eyes flashed. She lifted her fingers to his mouth and he sucked them. Then he watched her slide them down her belly.

“Oh, yes.” She bucked against him, and he knew she’d found that nub. “So good.”

“Come, Indy. Come on my cock.”

A cry broke from her throat, and he felt her contract on his cock. He gritted his teeth, watching her body twist and shudder.

“That’s it, baby,” he said. “I love watching you come.” He kept up his steady thrusts.

“Ride me,” she panted. “Make me yours.”

He shifted, throwing her legs up on his shoulders. She felt so damn warm and tight.

“Harder,” she cried. “No holding back. I like it hard.”

He hammered into her, needing to meld them into one. To claim this woman as his.

“Yes, like that,” she cried. “Make me feel it.”

He felt her scratch her nails down his back, hard. He knew she’d drawn blood.

Pleasure pounded inside Griff, and his vision blurred. There was only her. Only Indy. “Christ, Indy.”

He shifted the angle of his thrusts until he knew he was rubbing on her clit. Her cries became more frantic. She was going to come again.

“Griff!” This time, she threw her head back, and cried out as she came. He watched the pleasure flow over her face.

His own raging need tore through him, and a second later he thrust deep, and came with a shout. He groaned long and loud.

Griff fell to his side beside her.

“Oh, God.” Her voice was breathy. “If I’d known it would be like this, I would’ve scaled the prison walls to get you.”

A laugh burst out of him. Only Indy could make him laugh about prison.

They lay there, close, until their breathing returned to normal. Then Indy sat up, crawling over him to get off the bed. She slipped her sexy, silky robe on.

“I’m starving,” she said.

“I could eat.” Mind-blowing sex and nanomeds had left him ravenous.

In her small kitchenette, she fiddled around, putting some food together. She brought the plate to the bed and they lay together, talking and eating.

Then Griff grabbed one of her wrists. He pulled her arm out, and pressed a kiss to the tattoos on her wrist. He moved up her arm, loving each vibrant picture and color. There were little items hidden among her vines and roses.

“That one’s you,” she said quietly.

He froze, his gaze moving to where she pointed at her bicep. Hidden among the roses was a single star.

“Like a police badge,” she said. “I know you aren’t a cop anymore, but it still suits you.”

He pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her deep. “Indy.”

Griff kissed down her neck, then to her shoulder. Her tattoos started at the top of her shoulders and ended at her wrists. She didn’t have any ink on her chest, but he saw some on her back. He urged her over and took in the vines and flowers that trailed down her back. He made a hungry sound in his throat and followed the ink with small kisses.

She moved beneath him, then surged up. “My turn.”

She pressed her lips to the newly healed skin on his shoulder, then slowly moved down his chest. She took her time, kissing him all over. She dragged her teeth over his skin, then soothed it with her tongue. She kissed his scars, shifting around him and moving her mouth down his back. She ran her tongue down his worst scar—the ragged one beside his spine.

“This must have hurt so much.”

He heard the sorrow in her voice.

But Griff didn’t want to talk about the past. He didn’t want to see the sympathy in her eyes.

He grabbed her, spinning her around. He laid her out in front of him. She smiled, letting her thighs fall open. Indy Bennett, spread wide in front of him. The best view ever.

Griff nudged her legs farther apart and lowered his head. “Gonna make you scream, wild girl.”

Her breath hitched, and he pressed his mouth to her and feasted.

INDY WOKE, blinking at the hard wall of muscle in front of her face. She smiled. Griff’s back covered in that honey-tinted skin. Nothing like waking up with a sexy man lying beside her.

She rose up on an elbow and looked at Griff’s face. Sleep relaxed the hard lines carved into his features. He looked more like the handsome boy she’d fallen for when she was young. She felt something shift in her chest. She was determined to make him laugh more. He’d laughed a lot when they were younger.

After the octagon was destroyed, after they drove the aliens away, then they could finally find some peace.

But if they didn’t defeat the Gizzida…

Indy didn’t let the dark thought take root. She traced a finger over the scar on Griff’s back. She’d noted all his scars, all his badges of survival. She also noticed the scratches she’d left on his back. Jeez, she’d scratched him hard.

And she so wasn’t sorry.

As she kept stroking him, he stirred, his eyes opening.

She traced that ragged scar by his spine. An ugly feeling tried to worm through her happiness. “I’m so sorry for this.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about,” he mumbled. “The inmate who cut me with a shiv is to blame.”

Her belly clenched. “I wish you’d never got it. I wish you’d never had to spend a single second in prison.” She could practically feel him lock down. “I wish I could find the person who betrayed you and kill them.”

“Enough.” He sat up quickly, the sheet sliding off him.

“You need to talk about it, Griff. Even now, I can feel you tensing up.”

“Leave it.” His voice was sharp.

Indy tossed her hair back. A part of her wanted to listen, but another part of her wanted to help him. She wanted those smiles and laughs back. “You should let the poison out—”

Griff shoved off the edge of the bed and stood. “Enough, Indy.”

She watched him snatch up his jeans and violently pull them on.

She tugged the sheet up and stood, wrapping the fabric around her. “Griff—”

He spun. “Prison is over. Done. Talking about it won’t change it.”

She paused. “I don’t think it is done. Not for you.”

His anger filled the room like a thundercloud. “You want to pick the scab off? Make me bleed some more? Do you enjoy making me feel like shit?”

She swallowed. “It should just be a scar for you, Griff. Not a scab.”

“Fuck.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “I just had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months, hell, maybe years, but you want to drag me into the mud.”

“I know you’re angry at whoever betrayed you and put you in prison. And at your ex.”

He strode to her, like a big cat hunting prey. Indy tried not to step back, but the force of his anger made her retreat. Her shoulder blades hit the wall.

“What part of not wanting to talk about it don’t you understand?”

“Griff—”

He made a sound and punched a fist into the wall above her head. The plaster cracked.

She flinched, her heart thudding hard in her chest.

“I should have known you’d push.” He sucked in a sharp breath. “Amelia is a memory. She was what I thought I wanted, and although I was committed, she wasn’t.”

Indy waited, biting her lip.

“Don’t be afraid of me,” he whispered.

“I’m not.” She lifted her chin. “I’m made of tougher stuff than that ex of yours. I can put up with your shit, Griff. Your anger, your bad manners, your grumpiness.”

He laughed abruptly and looked surprised that he had. He cupped her cheek, his anger fading. “Indy. Bright, gorgeous Indy.”

She saw something flicker in his gray eyes.

“What are you hiding from me?” she asked.

He closed his eyes.

“Did…did someone hurt you in prison…sexually? If they did—”

“No.” He sucked in a breath. “That doesn’t mean some didn’t try. But I was a mean motherfucker.”

“I was so afraid for you. And Gareth, well, he refused to talk about it.” She felt Griff stiffen. She blinked. The tension wound around them. She frowned. “Griff—”

He gripped her chin. “I’ll protect you, Indy.” As he looked at her face, a fierce look entered his eyes. His lips brushed hers. “I’ll protect you from everything, no matter what.”

She sensed the heartfelt promise in his words. But she also heard the echo of something else beneath the surface. Something she wasn’t quite grasping. “No.”

He stilled again.

“I don’t need protecting. I’m here for you, and I want you to talk to me.”

“Leave it.” The sharp tone was back.

“You need to talk about it. About prison, about what sent you in there, about losing your career—”

“Fuck!” He stepped back, running a hand through his hair.

The explosion made her pull in a careful breath. “Griff—”

“It was Gareth!”

The air froze around her, and Indy’s heart started to pound. “What?”

Griff cursed again. “I swore I’d never tell you. Never hurt you.”

She shook her head. “What do you mean, it was Gareth?”

Griff’s shoulders drooped. “He was the one who betrayed me.”

Shock vibrated through her and she gasped. “No.”

There was misery in Griff’s eyes. “He got messed up with cops taking drugs from evidence. He killed one of them, framed me to take the fall.”

She shook her head. No, not her bright, reckless brother. Then she remembered how he’d refused to talk about Griff once Griff was in prison.

No. Not the brother she’d looked up to. Indy pressed her closed fist to her chest, over her hammering heart. It felt like the organ was going to tear through her ribs.

“No, no, no,” the words tumbled out of her.

“I’m so sorry,” Griff whispered.

“This is what you’ve been keeping from me,” she whispered.

“I didn’t want to hurt you.”

Oh, God. Pain tore through her like an electric shock, and she couldn’t process it. “I…I…”

Griff reached out and Indy stepped back. She wrapped her arms around herself.

He watched, his face shutting down. They stared at each other for a beat. “There’s something else I haven’t told you.”

She braced, not sure she could take more.

“I’m falling in love with you,” he said.

Indy sucked in a breath. Shock and a whirling mix of emotion swirled through her. She could barely breathe.

“I’ve loved you like a sister, as a friend, but now what I’m talking about is loving you as a woman,” he said. “Loving you in every way possible.”

God. Her heart was beating so hard. He was falling for her. Griff Callan was falling in love with her.

Then he turned and slammed out.

Indy staggered to the bed and dropped down. How had her life imploded in only a few words?

Images of her brother raced around her head—his laughing face, his giant hugs, the deep rumble of his voice.

She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, emotions rising and falling.

Her brother was a murderer and a criminal. She squeezed her eyes closed. He was a man who’d sent his innocent best friend to prison to save himself. God, it hurt. Pain like knives inside her.

It was going to take time to process that.

And then Griff had dropped a second bombshell on her.

Griff. She sprang to her feet. She needed to find Griff. He’d confessed his feelings, and fully expected her to push him away.

Fuck that.

But she’d only taken one step when she heard the chime of the built-in communicator beside her bed.

“Dammit.” Duty called.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

At the last possible moment, Griff snuck into the back of the packed Command Center.

Lia stood at the front of the room, talking with Holmes. The redhead was gesturing a lot with her hands. Nearby, Santha was talking with Niko and Dev, her face serious.

Griff moved over to his team, lifting his chin in greeting. Hemi’s gaze moved over him, frowning.

Yeah, Griff figured his friends would spot the fact that he was fucking torn apart inside. For a few blissful hours, Indy had been his.

And then he’d torn her world apart.

“Drones spotted the octagon,” Tane murmured. Then he looked past Griff. “Hey, Indy.”

Griff stiffened and turned. Indy eyed him with an inscrutable look. His gut tightened. He had no idea what she was thinking, feeling.

With a nod at the general, Lia stepped forward. “Thanks for coming, everyone. My team has pinned down the location of the octagon.”

The tension in the room ratcheted up. Indy’s hand slipped into Griff’s. He inhaled sharply in surprise, and then he squeezed it.

“After Squad Three and their Hawk got caught in the Gizzida net trap, we concentrated drones in that particular area.”

A map appeared on the screen. “The octagon is in the town of Katoomba. Pre-invasion, it used to be a major tourist spot in the Blue Mountains.”

Griff studied the old pictures of the pretty town perched on the edge of a mountain. One of the attractions was a long, stunning waterfall that dropped down into the valley below. And there was also the iconic rock formation of the Three Sisters.

The three sandstone pillars stood at the edge of the escarpment. He knew the unusual rock formation had been formed by erosion, and was named after a legend told by the local Aboriginal people of the area.

“The octagon’s being kept in a large resort area perched on the edge of the cliff.” As Lia continued, the pre-invasion pictures gave way to the current ones. The town was now a mostly destroyed shell of what it had once been. “The Gizzida have been clearing the trees. No surprise there.” Stacks of downed trees were visible.

Griff studied the resort. The stone buildings had once been grand. But now, windows were broken, the pool was filled with green sludge, and alien tech was dotted all around the property.

“The octagon’s inside the main building. Unfortunately, we only got a quick glimpse, before the drone was spotted and destroyed.”

A fuzzy image appeared. It had clearly been taken through a window with grimy glass. But the bulk of the black octagon was visible.

Indy sucked in a breath, and Griff squeezed her hand again.

Lia scanned the room, her pretty face looking serious. “The town is teeming with Gizzida. It’s heavily fortified. They’ve chosen a very secure location to store the device. There’s a cliff face on one side, and on the other side, they have increased raptor soldiers and lots of turrets set up.”

The room was full of low rumbles now.

Marcus scowled at the screen. “Can we fly in?”

“There aren’t any great places to land. They have anti-aircraft turrets situated here and here.” Lia used a laser pointer to show the locations.

“There must be a way in,” Roth growled.

Tane stared thoughtfully at the screen, as the images scrolled through. “What’s that cable coming across the cliff over here?”

Lia’s brows drew together. “That’s the old Skyway.”

“I remember that,” Shaw from Hell Squad said. “Big tourist attraction. A glass cable car took passengers from one side to the other. Gave a great view of the Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls.”

“Right,” Lia said. “The place was called Scenic World. It had the Skyway across the cliffs, as well as the Railway down into the Jamison Valley, which was the steepest passenger railway in the world. The original railway was built in the 1800s to haul coal out of the valley. It was extensively refurbished to become a tourist attraction. On top of that, there was also the Cableway, which was a cable car down into the valley. And the Walkway, which consisted of a bunch of wooden walkways meandering through the rainforest in the bottom of the valley.”

“Is the Skyway still intact?” Tane asked.

Lia zoomed in on the images. “The cable is.” Then she zoomed out. Griff saw a large building consisting of lots of different levels perched on the edge of the cliff.

Holmes’ eyes widened. “You can’t possibly want to take a cable car across a canyon into a heavily fortified alien base?”

Tane shrugged. “We could do it.”

“I very much doubt the engines of the Skyway would still be operational,” the general said.

“So, we take a portable, thermonuclear one with us,” Hemi said.

Shit. Griff stared at the image of the cable. He could just see one of the glass cars sitting near the Skyway station. He felt Indy tense beside him.

“Holy shit,” Mac from Squad Nine murmured. “You guys are serious.”

“Trust the berserkers,” Taylor said with a smile.

Yeah, they’d done some crazy shit in the past. But they always got the mission done.

“How do we get to the Skyway?” Griff asked. “If we fly in, the raptors would spot us.”

More images filled the screen, and Lia tapped a finger against her chin. “Like I said, Scenic World had several other attractions. The old Railway runs up to the Skyway building from the valley. It would cut a path straight up the hill.”

Holmes nodded. “It’s crazy, but it could work.”

Tane’s gaze narrowed. “But a Hawk couldn’t drop us right at the base of the Railway. It’s too risky. They’d have to fly in blind, which would be beyond dangerous, or if we have lights on, the raptors could spot us.”

“And there could be more traps like that web shit,” Hemi added.

Finn moved closer, brow creased. “We could circle around and come in from the western side of the valley, away from the Gizzida encampment. I’d try and drop you as close as I could to the Railway.”

Tane nodded. “That could work.” He pointed at the map. “If you dropped us here—”

“That’s a long fucking walk in a dark rainforest,” Griff said.

Tane raised a brow. “Not if we take our bikes.”

All the berserkers had big, armor-plated motorcycles that were covered in weapons and modifications, including illusion systems to keep them hidden. They’d taken them out on loads of missions.

“Hell yeah,” Hemi said.

Griff didn’t love the idea of riding through a rainforest in the dark either, but he guessed it was no crazier than taking a cable car into an alien base.

“Oh.” Lia spun and tapped on a comp screen. “Look.” A map appeared, outlining some winding paths in the forest on the valley floor. “This is the old Walkway system belonging to Scenic World. If any of the walkways are intact, you could ride along them right up to the bottom of the Railway.”

Tane gave a single nod. “I suggest we have another squad cause a distraction. Keep the Gizzida looking away from the Railway and the Skyway.”

Roth cleared his throat. “I know a squad who could do that.” Behind him, his soldiers were smiling.

“We have another problem,” Lia said. “The signals are all screwed up in that area. The aliens are jamming all long-range signals. So, no comms.” The woman’s gaze fell on Indy. “Your comms officer would need to be with you, in close range.”

Fuck. Griff’s spine locked. The last thing he wanted was to take Indy into this clusterfuck. He didn’t want her anywhere near the octagon.

He felt Indy’s fingers brush his thigh.

She lifted her chin. “I’m in.”

Of course, she was. Griff looked at Tane, then the rest of his team. They all looked at her and nodded their heads.

They’d protect her.

Something inside him settled. These crazy bastards would all help him keep her safe. And Griff would give his life for her.

“We got the green light?” Tane asked.

Holmes nodded. “Yes. Do it.”

“I suggest you go in at night,” Lia said. “They’ll be less likely to see you coming.”

Tane nodded. “Okay, we have a mission to plan.”

“Squad Nine.” Holmes’ blue gaze shifted to Roth. “You’ll provide the distraction for the berserkers.”

Roth looked at Mac and the two nodded. “With pleasure,” Roth said.

As Griff headed out of the room, Indy looked up at him. “You going to explode?”

“I just want you to know that I’ll protect you with everything I have. Whatever it takes.”

Out in the corridor, she merely stared at him.

God, he’d prefer to be facing a pack of canids right now. “I never meant to hurt you before…”

“By telling me the truth?”

He nodded.

“By telling me that you’re falling for me?”

“Indy—”

She made a frustrated noise, went up on her toes, and kissed him. He returned it, wrapping his arms around her. She hummed into his mouth. Instantly, desire roared to life. With a moan, she jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist.

As he deepened the kiss, wolf whistles broke out.

She rubbed her nose against his. “Griff—”

Relief slammed into him, along with fierce satisfaction. Despite everything, this beautiful, bright woman still wanted him. He kissed her again. He wished like hell he could drag her back to her room and lock them in there for days.

Then Griff cleared his throat. “Gareth—”

“He fucked up,” she said, interrupting him. “He stole your life, your freedom from you.”

A muscle ticked in Griff’s jaw. “You loved him.”

“Yes, but he covered his own ass and betrayed you.” Anger exploded in her eyes. “That selfish bastard.”

“Indy…whatever his faults, he loved you.”

She sucked in a breath. “Now isn’t the time to talk about him. I need time to process his actions, but regardless, Gareth isn’t here anymore.” Her voice was firm. “It’s just you and me, and right now, we have a mission to plan.”

“Indy, whatever you need, I’ll give it to you.”

She nipped his lips. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Thank God, you two finally sorted your shit,” a deep voice said.

Hemi. Griff and Indy spun to find Hemi and Tane standing in the hall, watching them with amused expressions.

Griff pulled Indy close. “Yeah.”

Tane eyed him. “You going to be okay on this mission?”

“We keep her safe. That’s my priority.”

Tane nodded.

“Well, at least the edgy tension you two have been pumping out will be gone,” Hemi said. “Been waiting for you to jump his bones, Indy.”

“Tension’s not gone, Big H,” Indy drawled, scratching her nails down Griff’s chest. “I have a lot more jumping of Griff’s bones to do.”

Hemi barked out a laugh.

Tane shook his head. “How about we table the bone jumping for now, and plan our mission? You know, the dangerous one that might save the world?”

“Or the one that might kill us all,” Hemi added dryly. “You never know what the hell’s gonna happen.”

Indy tilted her head. “Fair enough. I definitely would rather we didn’t die, so let’s do this right.”

The berserkers spent the rest of the day locked in a room in the Command Center, prepping for the mission. They studied the Skyway in detail. The tech team worked to put together a sturdy, reinforced, and portable engine for them, powered by a small thermonuclear generator.

Indy pulled up every picture of the old Railway she could find. She worked with Griff and the others on the plan of attack.

“So, I’ll come in with you,” Indy said. “My relay to the nearest drone should keep our comms link open.”

“As soon as we cross the Skyway—” Griff splayed his hands on the conference room table “—we find you a safe place to hide while we go after the octagon.”

Her nose wrinkled, but she nodded.

“Now.” Griff straightened. “You need some armor.”

Griff called in the ladies from Squad Nine. Taylor and Sienna appeared and whisked Indy away. He was confident they’d properly set her up with some armor and gear for her to wear. He wasn’t taking any chances.

He stared up at the map on the screen. He tried to tamp down the fear of taking the woman he loved into a shitstorm.

INDY TAPPED her boot nervously on the floor of the Hawk. She fought the fear, and lifted her chin. She knew she could do this.

Moments later, the Hawk was airborne, and angling away from the Enclave. Even with a belly full of nervous flutters, it was actually nice to be in an aircraft, out of the base, soaring through the blue sky. The sun was setting, turning all the clouds on the horizon shades of pink and gold.

Around her, Griff, Dom, and Hemi were tense and quiet. At the back of the Hawk, three huge, rugged bikes were locked into place. She knew the berserkers, especially former bikers Levi and Ash, spent a lot of time tinkering with the bikes. Hemi’s even had a missile launcher attached to it. She shook her head. Don’t mess with a berserker.

Even though she couldn’t see, a second Hawk piloted by Thom was following right behind them, carrying Tane, Ash, and Levi, and their bikes.

No one spoke as they zoomed toward the Blue Mountains. She glanced at Griff, sitting beside her. At first glance, he looked calm, but she could see the lines bracketing his mouth. She pressed a hand to his arm.

His head turned, and he gave her an intense look.

“I’ll follow instructions,” she said.

He raised a brow. “That’ll be a first.”

Indy slapped his arm. “I want us all to get back safely.” She wanted time with Griff all to herself. She wanted to explore every inch of him, cook him breakfast, knock back tequila shots together and have drunken sex with him. She wanted him to finish the falling and tell her he was one hundred percent in love with her. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “You’ll be careful?”

He turned more toward her. “I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep you safe, from anything that could hurt you.”

She stared at him. “Griff—”

“Entering the Jamison Valley,” Finn called back.

Griff straightened, and the moment was lost. Indy looked out the window, and in the growing twilight, she could make out the dark trees below.

“Look,” Griff said.

That’s when she saw the bright lights shining on top of the clifftop ahead. Her stomach pitched. The Gizzida stronghold.

They zoomed deeper into the valley and lost sight of the alien base.

“Approaching drop zone,” Finn said.

The Hawk descended, then pulled into a hover just above the ground. Hemi pushed the door open and jumped out, carbine in hand.

Griff helped Indy down, then he and Dom set up the ramp. The men wheeled their bikes out. The second Hawk had landed close by in the clearing. More berserker bikes were parked, ready to go. Levi and Ash were maneuvering a large box off the Hawk—the portable engine to power the Skyway. She watched them lock it onto the back of Tane’s bike.

God, it was dark here. Leaves crunched under her boots, and the night coolness washed over her cheeks. Indy moved closer to the bikes and tripped over a tree root. Damn.

Griff grabbed her arm and steadied her.

“Thanks,” she whispered. So much for her stealth skills.

“Good hunting.” Finn’s voice came quietly through their earpieces. Indy swallowed. Hard.

The Hawks lifted off silently. Then, there was nothing but the darkness, and the low murmur of insects.

“Mount up,” Tane said quietly. “Let’s ride.”

The berserkers all turned on the low-impact lights on their bikes. Griff swung a leg over his bike and looked back at her. Indy climbed on behind him, settled in, pressed up against his back.

“Ready?”

“Ready.” She wanted this mission over as fast as possible.

They rode through the trees, bumping over sticks, rocks, and leaves. Tane took the lead and beyond the faint glow of the lights, all she saw was darkness. She held on tight to Griff and wished it was just the two of them on an open road. No armor, no mission, no aliens.

Maybe one day, if they succeeded in destroying the octagon.

“Walkway ahead,” Tane murmured in their earpieces.

Indy peered ahead. She watched Tane gun his bike up a set of steps and onto a wooden walkway set among the trees. It was wide, with railings, and it was easy to imagine tourists wandering the paths in the dappled shade of the rainforest.

The rest of the squad followed. She held on tight and Griff rode his bike onto the walkway. From there, they picked up speed.

“Rotted area,” Tane called out.

She felt Griff accelerate. “Hold on.”

She gripped his armor harder and a second later, the bike flew into the air. She gasped, seeing the section of the walkway that was completely rotted away.

They landed with a thud and kept moving. Indy leaned into the turns with Griff. In a few places, the branches had grown in, slapping at their faces.

“Coming up on the Railway platform,” Tane said.

The berserkers all pulled their bikes to a stop on a wide platform. She watched the men swing off their bikes, then push them in under some overgrown branches to hide them. Then the men lift their carbines.

Tane clicked on the light on his carbine and shone it upward. She stared up at the narrow train track heading up the side of the mountain. Built in beside the tracks was a set of stairs, for maintenance or emergencies, she guessed. It was so steep, it looked almost like a ladder. The metal parts of it were rusted and the wooden pieces rotting in places.

She groaned internally. She knew there was about three hundred meters of track to climb, and the steepest part of the track was fifty-two degrees. This wasn’t exactly going to be a stroll in the park.

“God, three hundred meters of this.” Levi groaned. He was the unlucky one who was carrying the portable engine on his back.

They moved closer, passing an abandoned train car. It had clearly been designed specifically for the tourist attraction, and looked almost like a rollercoaster car. It had a clear plastic roof, and sides that were now covered in grime.

“Watch your step.” Tane started upward first.

To say it wasn’t easy was an understatement. Indy climbed each step carefully, the track flattening out in a few places, but mostly it was steep as hell. In places, she used her hands to help pull herself up.

She sucked in some air, her lungs aching. Damn. She needed to get into the gym more. The guys weren’t even breathing heavily, while she sounded like a set of bellows. Hemi was even keeping up a low stream of conversation.

The trees closed in very close to the track. She turned her head to the darkness, could almost feel the yawning valley stretching away. She bet it was a lovely view in the day time. Up on the adjacent cliff, she could see the lights of the alien encampment. Somewhere below that, she knew the Three Sisters stood. She was a little bit sorry that it was too dark to see the rock formation.

Suddenly, Indy heard a strange chittering noise in the trees near the track. She paused, tilting her head. “Shh.”

Hemi went quiet. The berserkers all lifted their weapons.

The noise had stopped. It was quiet except for the night’s insects.

Indy shook her head. “Must have imagined it.”

Griff moved closer.

“Stay sharp,” Tane said.

“Right,” Indy said. “We should be coming up on a section of tunnel.”

Soon, Tane’s light illuminated the dark mouth of the train tunnel. Indy shuddered. She did not want to go in there.

“Keep moving,” Tane ordered. “Not too much farther now.”

Thank God. Indy followed Hemi into the tunnel, Griff behind her. The track was steep here.

They were well into the tunnel, when she heard the chittering noise again. She froze, and sensed the squad do the same thing around her.

“What the hell is that?” she said.

“No idea.” Griff angled his head up, looking around the dark tunnel.

“I don’t see anything,” Dom murmured.

Tane scowled at the tunnel ceiling. “Keep going.”

They moved upward cautiously. The sound seemed to echo off the walls. Then Indy spotted something up near the ceiling. It was…moving. She pointed. “What’s that?”

The berserkers whipped their carbines up. They moved closer, Tane’s light illuminating some sort of beige object attached to the tunnel roof.

“Cocoon?” Griff suggested.

It looked almost like a beehive. It was vibrating.

Before Indy had even finished the thought, the cocoon burst open. A cloud of black insects poured out.

The men’s shouts reverberated off the walls.

Oh, shit.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“Fuck!” Hemi waved his arms around.

“They’re mutated alien bugs,” Levi yelled.

The insects swarmed them. Indy felt the creatures nipping at her face. She threw her arms over her head. Then Griff was there, throwing an arm over her and pushing her down. But she could still feel things stinging and biting, and she bit back a scream.

“Incoming,” Ash called out.

Indy heard a muffled thump, and then smelled the sharp scent of cedar oil. He’d thrown one of the cedar oil grenades that had been engineered to use against the canids. She knew that the alien hunting dogs detested cedar oil.

“Limited effect,” Tane said.

“Coming through,” Hemi bellowed.

Suddenly, flames lit up the tunnel. The chittering noise reached a fever pitch that buzzed in her ears.

Griff grabbed her arm and helped her up. Ahead of her in the tunnel, she saw Hemi waving a small flamethrower around. The black insects dropped from the air, their burned husks littering the tracks.

The remaining bugs coalesced into a small, black cloud, then streamed out of the tunnel.

Indy released a breath, trying to calm her racing pulse. She’d take her comms desk over this insanity any day.

She glanced up and saw that Griff had tiny bites all over his face. He reached out and tugged on her ponytail. “All right?”

She nodded.

“Everyone okay?” Tane asked.

“Fuck, I hate bugs.” Levi grumbled, swiping at his face.

Indy saw he’d copped the brunt of the attack. He’d smeared blood across his cheek.

“You must taste good, King.” Ash grinned at his best friend.

Levi shot Ash the finger. “Chrissy thinks so.”

Indy groaned. “Don’t start.”

“All right.” Tane swung his carbine up. “Let’s get to the top.”

Finally, after what felt like forever, they reached the top of the railway. Indy was huffing now.

“You’re out of shape, wild girl.”

She poked her tongue out at Griff. “Maybe I’ll start going to the gym a bit more.” Only problem was, Indy hated the gym.

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I know some other, more fun exercise we can do.”

She felt an instant jolt of lust. “Oh, yeah. If you’re lucky, I might take you up on that.”

“Skyway platform and engine room is over to the right,” Tane said, interrupting their teasing.

The building was made of lots of glass, with a large wooden deck, to no doubt take advantage of the views. She saw the deck had once been a restaurant. Most of the tables and chairs had been knocked over.

They walked through the building, their boots echoing. Then they reached the Skyway platform. Indy studied the faded, curling posters, advertising all of Scenic World’s attractions. She stared at the thick cable coming into the Skyway building, and saw the glass-sided, blue-and-yellow car hanging off it, ready and waiting for passengers who would never arrive.

At the end of the platform, Tane kicked open a door, then Levi and Ash carried the small engine inside. Glancing inside the room, she saw Levi pull a small toolkit from his pocket. He rolled it open. Then he set to work, opening up panels on the Skyway engine. He started disconnecting lines and connecting up the portable engine. Ash stood beside him, holding a light, and handing him tools.

She knew that once upon a time, Levi and Ash had run some successful auto shops as part of their motorcycle club. They still kept their skills sharp.

While Levi worked, Indy moved across the platform. She looked out across the dark valley at the bright lights on the other side.

Her gut rolled. They had to succeed. They had to destroy the octagon.

“Babe.” She felt Griff’s heat behind her, and he dropped a kiss to her shoulder.

She spun, pressing her arms to his armor-covered chest. “We’re going to do this.”

He nodded. “Yeah.” He touched her cheek. “We sure the fuck are.”

“Starting it up,” Levi called out.

The portable engine rumbled to life. Then there was a clanking sound, and the glass car moved forward several meters before it stopped again, rocking on the cable.

Levi punched a fist in the air. “Woo-hoo, we are operational.”

“Well done.” Tane turned to face the car. “Let’s get aboard.”

Indy pulled in a deep breath. Time to be badass.

GRIFF PRIED the doors to the Skyway car open. He waved Indy inside.

She stepped aboard, taking in the seats on either side of the narrow center aisle. Moving over to one of the windows, Griff used the butt of his carbine to knock the glass panels out.

The rest of Squad Three filed aboard. Soon, they were slamming the butts of their carbines against the glass.

“Indy, call in Squad Nine,” Tane ordered.

She nodded, tapping on her portable comp screen.

Tane nodded at Levi. “Let’s go.”

The car jerked to life, sliding out of the Skyway station. They moved out over the darkness of the valley below. There was some clunking and Griff hoped to hell whatever Squad Nine had planned would mask any noise.

“Stay in the center of the car,” Griff told Indy.

With another nod, she crouched down in the aisle. It was the safest place for her. Once again, he wished she wasn’t here with them, heading straight into danger.

But as he took in her steady, focused face, he knew she’d do her job. He could sense her nerves, but she was doing what she had to do.

That was his Indy. She’d never hide from a fight.

If he’d been with her when he’d gone to prison, she would’ve raised hell to try and free him.

A second later, a dark shape whizzed past the car, followed by several others. He heard Indy gasp.

Suddenly, lasers lit up the night, shooting at the Gizzida encampment.

Griff smiled. Squad Nine and their distraction were here.

“Hell, yeah,” Hemi said. “Those ladies are going to tear things up.”

“I’m gonna tell Roth and Theron you called them ladies,” Levi said with a smile.

Griff watched the Darkswifts swoop and soar. “Look over there, you alien bastards.” While the Gizzida were busy fending off Squad Nine, the berserkers could slip in on the cable car.

“Squad Nine is focusing fire on the anti-aircraft turrets,” Indy murmured. “God, I love those ladies.”

He glanced out the window and could just make out the waterfall flowing down the cliff.

“We’re past the halfway point,” Indy said.

Griff peered forward. He could barely see the other side. The spot where they’d stop was blanketed in darkness, but several hundred meters farther along, the raptors had the clifftop lit up.

The cliff edge got closer and closer. Griff saw several huge piles of downed trees. The Gizzida had cleared the area. He felt his teammates turn more alert. Everyone’s carbines were up and aimed.

“Eyes open,” Tane said. “Get ready, Three. Indy, stay in the center of us.”

Griff spotted movement in the trees. “Hang on. There’s something near those piles of trees.”

“Raptor patrol on screen!” Indy cried.

The raptors were marching along, relaxed and unhurried. Shit, probably a regular patrol.

Don’t notice us. Don’t notice us. Everyone in the car tensed.

A raptor pointed toward the cable car and Griff sensed their confusion. Then they started shouting. The alien soldiers lifted their weapons and started firing on the car.

“Fuck!” Tane yelled. “Get down.”

Griff dropped to his knees, firing out the window. “Indy.”

“I’m in cover.”

The rest of Squad Three fired on the raptors. Laser fire lit up the night, illuminating the clifftop.

Bone-like projectiles peppered the car, shattering the remaining glass.

“Sniper!” Griff yelled.

Boom. The car rocked wildly on the cable.

Griff cursed, gripping the frame to stay on his feet.

“Projectiles are explosive,” Indy said.

“We’re almost there,” Tane shouted.

The car jerked to a stop.

Tane wrenched the doors open. “Go!”

The berserkers rushed out, firing on the raptors.

Griff nudged Indy forward. She kept her head down.

“Stay down,” he told her. “And stay in the center of the group.”

In a huddle, they ran forward. Hemi lobbed a grenade. It hit the raptors and exploded, sending several aliens tumbling to the ground.

“Raptors all down,” Indy said.

The berserkers straightened. Ash blew out a breath and Hemi smiled, looking satisfied.

“Let’s get to the hotel,” Tane said.

They moved through the few remaining trees and came out on an empty street. Wary and silent, they crept along the cracked and buckled asphalt. Ahead, the rooftops of the resort buildings were visible. Light speared into the sky, and the Darkswifts were still firing lasers at the ground, evading the return raptor fire.

Tane held up a hand. “Through there.”

They climbed through a hole in the fence. A rectangular pool lay ahead. Griff imagined that at one time, it had been a relaxing, tranquil place. Now, the pool was filled with green sludge. Several wooden pool chairs were rotted and collapsed on the paving surrounding the pool.

Griff scanned the area, searching for somewhere safe to stash Indy. There. “Indy, over here.”

It was a tiny pool house. He guessed sunbathers had once taken shelter in there from the sun.

Indy looked inside and nodded.

“Stay,” he said.

She rolled her eyes.

“I mean it. Stay in here and don’t move.”

She went up on her toes, gripped his armor, and yanked him down for a kiss. “I’ll be careful. Be safe, Griff. You belong to me now, and I’ll be pissed if this body gets scratched, shot, or burned.”

He smiled at her. “Okay, wild girl.”

She pressed her lips to his ear. “You should know, I’m falling in love with you, too.” She pulled back and winked at him.

With her words glowing inside him, Griff spun and joined his squad. They moved together toward the main hotel buildings, making their way up a path through a dense, overgrown garden.

“Let’s find this octagon and blow the fucking thing to pieces.” Hemi patted the explosive charges on his belt. “I want to get home and crawl into bed with my woman.”

They reached the end of the garden. Ahead, the main hotel building had been built to make the most of the view of the valley. Raptors were running, and turrets were firing into the sky as they tried to take down the Darkswifts.

“Ready?” Tane asked.

“Fuck, yeah,” Griff answered.

Hemi pulled a grenade out and grinned, his teeth white against his beard. He lobbed it toward a cluster of raptors.

Boom.

More grenades followed, and Griff tossed his own explosive. Explosions lit up the night.

Griff smiled. The berserkers always enjoyed making a mess.

Guttural roars echoed nearby. Raptors poured out of the hotel building. They were racing in the berserkers’ direction.

Griff lifted his carbine and fired.

Indy’s voice in his ear. “Ten raptors incoming.”

The berserkers laid down a hail of laser fire.

“Wait.” Indy’s voice was tense. “There’s a larger signature heading in your direction.”

“Rex?” Tane asked.

Griff frowned. The last thing they needed was a giant rex stomping around.

“No,” Indy said. “It’s not as big as a rex, but it’s larger than a raptor.”

A giant creature came into view, appearing from around the side of the hotel.

“Fuck me,” Hemi breathed. “What the hell…?”

“Cazzo,” Dom murmured.

It looked like a raptor—humanoid in appearance—but it was way taller. Damn thing had to be at least ten feet, if not more. It had the same gray-green, scaled skin, but was more streamlined than the stockier raptors. It also had spikes that sprung up from its shoulders and down its powerful arms. It looked more beast-like than a standard raptor. It also didn’t appear to have any eyes. Where its eyes should be was just smooth, scaly skin.

Then it tossed its head back and opened its mouth. A mouth filled with needle-like teeth. It let out an ear-piercing shriek that cut through the night.

Griff winced. “What the fuck is that?”

INDY CROUCHED, hidden in the darkness, listening to the fighting both in her earpiece and not too far away. As explosions went off, the ground vibrated beneath her.

She watched the larger red dot approaching the berserkers. What the hell was it?

An earsplitting shriek drowned out everything else.

“Ahh.” She pressed her hand to her ear. The sound drilled into her head and was painful as hell.

“What the fuck is that?” she heard Griff say.

“What is it?” she asked.

Indy looked at her screen, pulling up Tane’s helmet cam. But he was on the move, the image jumping, so she couldn’t see anything clearly.

She popped her head out of the pool house. She glanced over the garden to where the fighting was, in front of the main hotel building.

Then she saw the creature.

Indy sucked in a breath. Well, it sure wasn’t pretty. It towered over the regular raptors, and had ugly spikes coming from its shoulders, like some sort of evil collar.

It tilted its head, then it charged. It ran straight at Levi who was firing on it.

“Fuck,” he yelled.

Levi dived out of the way, and the creature ran through a stone wall lining the garden area, trampling it to rubble.

She watched the berserkers fan out, concentrating their fire on the alien.

Griff darted around the paved patio area. He bumped into some outdoor furniture, knocking a chair over. It crashed onto the tiles.

The creature spun, shrieked again, and charged at him.

No. Indy’s chest hitched.

Griff dived, then came up running. The creature was following him, the ground pounding under its huge feet. The rest of the berserkers were firing and shouting.

The creature stopped, spun, and tilted its head again. It was clearly trying to hone in on someone.

That’s when Indy realized what it was doing. “Hold still and hold your fire! It’s attracted to sound and movement.”

“You sure?” Hemi asked.

The creature took a step and Hemi fired. The alien shrieked again and swiveled in Hemi’s direction.

Indy winced. “I’m sure.”

The berserkers all stopped firing and froze. The creature stopped. Its scaled chest rose and fell as it waited.

“Back away slowly,” Indy whispered.

Her gaze moved to Griff, watching as he slowly stepped backward.

But the creature heard something. It swiveled, zeroing in on him.

“Griff, run!” Indy screamed.

The alien shrieked and charged. God, it was too close. It was going to get him.

“Over here, you ugly motherfucker!” Hemi yelled.

The shrieker turned and charged at Hemi.

From the other side of the patio, Tane let out a shrill whistle. “Over here!”

The creature stumbled to a halt. It appeared confused, its head swiveling back and forth. Then it threw its head back and shrieked. It spun and charged toward Tane.

The Squad Three leader turned and ran. He pumped his arms and legs, moving like a rocket. He leaped over an overturned patio table, heading toward the hotel.

The shrieker followed, thundering right behind him. Indy’s heart leaped into her throat.

Tane jumped, smashing through the glass of a French door. The shrieker followed, crashing right through the wall, bricks tumbling around it.

A second later, Tane jumped back out another door. Nearby, the shrieker ducked out of a doorway, looking dazed. It was shaking its head, as though to clear it.

“Converge,” Tane shouted.

The berserkers moved forward, opening fire with their carbines.

The creature shrieked, its body shuddering. Indy saw it go down on one knee. It let loose another shriek, but it sounded far less powerful than before. Indy grinned. Take that, alien sucker.

Her elation was short-lived.

A clawed hand wrapped around the back of her neck and lifted her off her feet.

Shit. Fear burst through her. She shoved her tablet in her pocket, then she thrashed and kicked her legs.

Her assailant spun her and she found herself eye to eye with a raptor.

Her blood turned to ice. It looked unlike any raptor she’d seen before.

Like the shrieking creature, this raptor had spikes sprouting all across its broad shoulders. It was more muscular, its scales rougher, and its red eyes looked half crazed. It was far more savage-looking than the raptors they’d dealt with before.

“Fuck off,” she said between gritted teeth.

Its red eyes narrowed and its claws dug into her skin. She swallowed a cry. She wanted to call for Griff or the others, but they were in the middle of a firefight. She could get them killed.

The spike raptor lifted her higher and carried her into the darkness.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“It’s almost down,” Griff yelled. “More grenades.”

Each berserker tossed more grenades at the alien. They did love blowing shit up.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The creature let out another wild screech, then flopped forward. It smacked into the ground and stopped moving.

Griff blew out a breath.

“Fuck,” Tane bit out. “We have more company.”

Griff spun and spotted a raptor patrol running at them. His brows drew together. These raptors looked different. A few inches taller, more muscular, with brutal-looking spikes all along their shoulders.

“What the hell?” Hemi said. “Raptors have been taking badass, ugly steroids?”

Griff tensed. Why hadn’t Indy warned them?

“Indy, we have more raptors incoming,” Tane said. “I need numbers.”

There was no response.

“Indy?” Tane barked.

Griff turned. He looked toward the garden between him and Indy’s hiding place. Then he broke into a sprint.

“Griff!” Tane roared.

Griff ignored his squad leader. He heard his teammates dive into cover and start firing on the incoming super-raptors.

He leaped a hedge and saw the pool. He skirted the edge and sprinted toward the pool house.

It was empty.

He felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Indy. He scanned the deck area. No sign of her.

Then he heard an angry female shout in the distance. Back toward the hotel.

He spun, raised his carbine, and searched the darkness. He spotted movement. There.

One of the super-raptors was holding Indy by the back of her armor. She was kicking out as the alien dragged her through a side door into the main hotel building.

Griff touched his ear. “One of these super-raptors has Indy. It’s taken her inside. Eastern side. I’m in pursuit.”

He lifted his carbine and ran.

“Acknowledged,” Tane said. “We’ll be there when we can.”

Griff picked up speed. As he neared the door, he lowered his shoulder and smashed through. In the gloom, he could see a large ballroom. Large circular tables and chairs had been shoved out of the way.

The super-raptor spun. He grunted, and a second super-raptor appeared out of the darkness.

Shit. The new raptor stomped toward Griff. Then broke into a run.

Griff tried to dodge, but the alien hit him and they crashed through the French doors and out onto the patio.

Griff rolled away, careful to avoid the deadly spikes on the raptor’s shoulders. He got to his feet and swung his carbine up. He fired, but when the alien got too close, he dodged to the side. He swung his carbine onto his back and bent low, yanking his combat knife off his belt.

The raptor swung a clawed fist. Fuck. Griff ducked. Damn, this creep was faster than a regular raptor as well.

He dropped to one knee and slashed at the alien’s legs.

The alien roared and kicked.

Its boot caught Griff and sent him flying. Shit. He rolled, blocked the pain, and whipped his weapon around to fire again.

The raptor let out an enraged roar.

Dammit. Griff kept firing. He needed to get this fucker down and get to Indy.

The super-raptor advanced, the laser fire barely slowing him down. Griff lifted his knife again. He’d spent a lot of time practicing his knife skills with Dom. Time to put them to use.

Breathing out, he lined up the shot, and threw the knife. It flew through the air and speared into the super-raptor’s left eye.

With a guttural cry, the raptor staggered back, clutching its face.

Griff lifted his carbine. He concentrated his fire, walking closer. The alien’s body jerked and flailed, and finally, he toppled over like a fallen tree.

Indy.

He spun, running toward the building, rushing through the broken doorway. In a second, he took in the ballroom. It had once probably been a nice, pleasant place to sit and enjoy the view. Now, it was filled with organic-looking cables. Other Gizzida tech was stacked in haphazard bunches all over the place, and the room stank like raw meat.

And in the center of the space sat the octagon. His pulse kicked up. It was a dark, light-absorbing black, about the size of a car. It was open at the top, like a flower.

Worse, there was a smaller replica of it, resting on the ground right beside it. Hell.

He ripped his attention from the octagon device. He had to find Indy first. Where was she?

Then, he heard her shout from the other side of the room. She was cursing worse than any sailor, soldier, or berserker he’d ever heard.

He rounded the octagon.

The raptor was still holding her, ignoring the names she was calling it. The damn alien lowered his head and sniffed her.

The bastard. Griff advanced.

Indy smacked the raptor and yanked the knife off her belt. The Squad Nine ladies had equipped her with a smaller combat knife. She shifted, then jammed her blade into the raptor’s shoulder.

His girl. So fierce.

The super-raptor let out a guttural growl and tossed her. She flew through the air and hit the wall with a sickening thud. She slid to the ground, body limp.

No! Griff aimed his weapon and started firing. “How about you take on me, asshole?”

The super-raptor turned. Its wild eyes glowed red, and the spikes on its shoulders started to glow red as well.

With a roar, it charged at him.

GOD, she hurt.

Indy sat up, hugging her ribs. She bit back a groan. Her armor had taken the brunt of the impact, so nothing was broken, but it still hurt. She pushed her hair out of her face and saw Griff and the giant raptor fighting each other.

The damn alien towered over Griff, but he showed no fear as they grappled, hand to hand.

Her man. Courageous to the bone.

She watched him dodge a blow, and kick the raptor in the thigh. Indy shifted, and suddenly realized she was right beside the octagon.

Griff and the raptor crashed through some gear, knocking over boxes. God, she had to find a way to help him.

Her knife was gone. She moved closer to the octagon, searching for any Gizzida weapons.

The top of the octagon was peeled open. She went up on her toes and looked inside.

Ugh. It stank.

She saw it was filled with a dark-brown fluid. She frowned. What the hell? She was expecting wires or explosives of some kind.

Then she saw small things swimming through the fluid.

She glanced back, and watched Griff heft a box and throw it at the alien. The raptor stumbled and fell over a table, crashing to the floor.

She quickly pulled out her tablet. The screen was cracked, but it still had power. Thank God. She snapped a few photos of the inside of the octagon. Then she spun and took a snap of the smaller octagon as well.

She had no idea what these damn things were supposed to do, but seeing that brown fluid filled with living things, she was worried. What would happen if they blew it up? Her stomach rolled, her gut telling her the answer probably wasn’t good.

A crash reverberated through the room. She spun. Griff and the raptor were straining against each other.

She had to help him.

Looking around, she saw a raptor gun resting on a crate. Yes.

She grabbed the heavy weapon and almost staggered. It wasn’t one she’d seen before. She realized it was more like a bow and arrow. She hefted it and a bone-like bolt clicked into place. She aimed toward the raptor.

Damn, the thing was unwieldy. She pulled the string back and her arms started to burn. She aimed slightly away from Griff, and released.

The bolt slammed into the wall and turned red.

Oh, shit. “Griff, get down!”

He didn’t question her, just turned and dived.

Boom.

Debris flew through the room and Indy ducked, throwing her arm up. When she opened her eyes, there was a gaping hole in the wall, leading into a bathroom. Holy shit. Dust hung heavy in the air.

The big, spiky raptor rose, shaking its head to clear off the rubble and dust coating it. She saw that the spikes on its shoulders were glowing.

Griff rose, stared at the hole, then Indy. He grinned.

She grinned back.

Then the raptor launched itself at Griff. He dodged, but the enraged raptor kept coming.

“Indy!” Griff yelled.

She spun and saw another spiked raptor heading in her direction. She leaped onto a box and lifted the weapon. Another bolt clicked into place, and she aimed and fired. The bolt hit the raptor in the chest.

Boom.

Indy saw bits explode into the air and winced. She spun.

The other raptor rushed at Griff. Griff moved, but his boot caught on something and he tripped. Everything slowed down and Indy’s heart lodged in her throat. The raptor hit him, slamming him against the wall.

A scream caught in Indy’s throat.

Griff made a horrible, terrifying noise. It echoed through her earpiece.

The raptor’s spikes had pierced Griff’s chest.

The raptor backed up, its spikes sliding out of Griff. He let out a pained grunt, and slid to the floor.

She watched blood pour down his chest and smear on the wall behind him. Her stomach dropped away.

The raptor made a strange, guttural sound. Indy realized it was laughing.

No way. She lifted her weapon, but realized it had no more bolts. Dammit. With a sob, she threw it aside.

There was no way she was letting the alien bastard kill her man.

She looked all around and spotted heavy chains dangling from the ceiling. She tilted her head.

A huge black box was suspended up in the air. Right above the spike raptor.

Fierce determination filled her. She leaped off the box, running toward the chains.

The raptor turned, watching her come.

She jumped, grabbed onto the chain, and swung wildly. She gave it a yank.

The box slammed downward. The raptor looked up and grunted. The huge box crashed into him, pinning him to the ground. He moved once, then slumped down. His burning eyes were still open, watching her, but he wasn’t moving.

Indy let go of the chain and dropped back to the floor. She stared dispassionately at the crushed alien.

It made a gurgling sound and then fell silent. Heart hammering, she turned away. She had to get to Griff.

She circled the dying raptor and touched her ear. “Griff’s hurt! Get inside now!”

She dropped to her knees beside her man. He groaned and lifted his head.

“In-dy.”

“Shh.” She breathed, pressing her hands to his chest. There were several ugly puncture wounds that went straight through his armor. “You’ll be okay.” She wanted to cup his face, but blood was seeping through her fingers and she needed to keep the pressure on.

He tried to talk and blood spilled onto his lips.

Her belly turned to stone and she bit back a sob.

“You got…pics of octagon?” he asked.

“Yes. Don’t talk.”

“Give to…Tane.”

There was so much agony in Griff’s eyes. “Shush. Wait for the others so we can get you out of here.”

“Love you, Indy. Always have.”

With a sob, she pressed her lips to his. She tasted the coppery tang of blood. “I love you, too, Griffin Callan. I’m crazy about you and have been since I put itching powder in your shirt. We have more living to do, Griff. More fucking to do. More drinking and laughing. And one day, I want a belly full of your baby.”

His eyes flared. “Wanted more time.”

“Then you live, dammit.”

“Indy—”

His face was so serious her belly jumped.

More of Griff’s blood pumped through her fingers and she fought back her tears.

Suddenly, she heard a noise behind her. A low growl raised the hairs on the back of her neck. She grabbed Griff’s carbine and spun around. At the other end of the carbine, she watched a canid jump onto a table. It eyed them hungrily, drool dripping from its sharp jaws.

Anger exploded in Indy. She pressed the trigger and fired on the alien hunting dog. She gripped the carbine, ignoring its kick, and kept firing.

The canid yelped, lost its balance, and fell to the floor.

When she turned back, she saw Griff had collapsed to the side. “No. No.”

She tried to heave him up. They were both covered in blood now. So much blood.

Another noise behind her, and with a cry, she swung the carbine around again.

“It’s okay, Indy.” Tane appeared, carbine in hand. “It’s just us.”

She saw the remaining berserkers over Tane’s shoulder. The squad leader’s gaze fell on Griff and his dark eyes flashed.

“Hell,” Hemi said.

“Help him,” Indy begged.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Indy watched Ash drop down beside Griff. The berserker muttered a curse and tore open a small pack on his belt.

“Sprung a leak, buddy.” Ash carefully pulled off a piece of Griff’s chest armor. Next, he examined the wounds, his jaw tightening.

Indy bit her lip. She hated seeing that harsh look on Ash’s handsome face. She already knew Griff’s wounds were bad.

Ash slapped some adhesive bandages over the wounds. They glued on tight to help stop the bleeding.

Griff grunted, but she could see that his eyelids were drooping. She gripped his hand.

Ash looked at Indy, then Tane. “He needs nanomeds, but he’s already had two doses recently. It’s super risky to give him another one out here in the field.”

No. Indy gripped Griff’s hand.

“Options?” Tane asked.

“We try and get him out of here. If he worsens, then I’ll inject him.”

“Hemi, lay the charges on that octagon,” Tane ordered. “Then let’s get Griff out of here.”

“Wait.” Indy held up her hand. “I looked inside the octagon. It’s filled with some sort of organic fluid. If we blow it, there’s no telling what it might do.”

Tane bit out a curse, watching as Ash continued to try to staunch Griff’s bleeding.

“I took pictures of it,” she said. “We need to analyze them, work out what it does, and find a safe way to neutralize it.”

“They’ll fucking move it again,” Tane said.

Indy fished around on her belt. She held up a small device. “Tracker. It isn’t small or particularly stealthy, but we might get lucky and they won’t spot it.”

Tane took it and gave her a faint smile. “Good work. I’ll plant it, you organize our evac.” He looked at Griff, and all hint of a smile dissolved. “We can’t get back across the Skyway, the Gizzida will try and stop us. And Griff won’t make the journey back down the Railway.”

She nodded. “I’ll see if Finn will risk a hot evac.”

“Do it. We need to get Griff to the doc.”

Indy reluctantly let go of Griff’s hand and raised her tablet. She tapped in a message to Finn. As soon as she could, she grabbed Griff’s hand again. His breathing was labored.

“Ash?”

The medic met her gaze. “He’s bad, but he’s tough.”

“Squad Three, you there?”

Finn’s voice through the earpiece almost made Indy cry. “We’re here! Griff’s hurt, we need a pick up now, Finn.”

“Shit, okay,” the pilot said. “I’ll be coming in hot. Squad Nine took out most of the turrets, but its not going to be easy.”

“Finn.” Tane strode back into view, finger pressed to his ear. “We’ll take down any turrets we can, but there are still a fuckload of raptors around.”

“Shit,” Finn muttered.

“We could jump into the valley with wingsuits,” Levi suggested.

Ash gave one shake of his head. “Griff isn’t up for that.”

Indy’s heart knocked hard against her ribs. What he meant was that Griff wouldn’t survive the jump.

“Don’t worry,” Finn said. “I have some support with me and we have a plan. Head to the clearing west of the resort.”

Tane scowled. “Support?” He shook his head. “Okay, Ash and Levi, you carry Griff. Indy, stay close. Let’s move.”

Indy rose and swung Griff’s carbine over her shoulder. With Ash and Levi carrying Griff between them, they all burst out of the building. Tane and Hemi went first, firing on the raptors. All around, weapons fired and explosions boomed. Indy kept her head down and tried to keep her cool.

Behind her, Dom was facing backward, firing his carbine with deadly precision.

Indy glanced at Griff and felt like wire wrapped around her throat. He sagged between the men, barely conscious, his face contorted in pain.

She was damn well getting him out of here and he was going to be okay. She lifted Griff’s carbine and fired on the raptors rushing across the grass.

“Nice work, bella,” Dom said.

Together, the two of them kept the raptors off them. Then she saw Dom jerk.

“Dom?”

“Keep moving.”

She saw the ugly bone projectile lodged in his shoulder. It had penetrated his armor. “You’re hit!”

“I’m fine. Let’s get out of here first. My friend needs help.”

She heard the worry in the other man’s voice and nodded.

They reached the clearing. Indy searched the night sky. Nothing. Where was the Hawk? She yanked out her comp. Her belly clenched. “Oh, no.”

Tane spun around. “I don’t like the sound of that, Indy.”

“We have another shrieker incoming. It’s being flanked by multiple spike raptors.”

“Shrieker? Spike raptor?” Hemi grinned. “Love the names, babe.”

“Fuck.” Face like stone, Tane scanned their surroundings. “Hawk can’t land with that many bogeys incoming.”

She sucked in a breath. They weren’t going to make it. She could see it in Tane’s eyes.

“Tane,” Ash called out. “Griff’s not doing so great.”

Indy squeezed her eyes closed and touched her ear. “Finn, we’re at the clearing, but it isn’t safe for you to land. We have incoming Gizzida.”

“Too late, Indy.” Finn’s voice. “We’re going to do a hot evac. Not leaving you guys.”

Suddenly, the Hawk appeared right above them, dropping its illusion. The downdraft washed over them and Indy gasped.

“You’re a crazy motherfucker, Erickson,” Hemi yelled.

Tane waved his arm. “Go, go.”

The raptors were closing in. The shrieker sprinted ahead and let out a piercing screech.

Oh, God. Her stomach pitched. It would reach the Hawk before they could get aboard and take off. Tane, Dom, and Hemi started firing.

Tane started walking toward the shrieker. “You guys go, now.”

“Fuck that,” Hemi roared.

“That’s an order, Rahia.”

The side of the Hawk slid open. A slender woman stood in the doorway, wearing dark armor. Her silver-white hair was loose, waving in the wind.

Selena.

Tane spotted her. “What the fuck?” As the shrieker neared, he wrenched his gaze away from Selena and fired his carbine.

Selena jumped down, walking across the grass serenely. “Get Griff aboard.”

“Indy,” Dom said. “Go with Griff.”

Indy nodded, stepping toward the quadcopter. She saw Ash and Levi heave Griff inside, and a shudder passed through her. Thank God.

She passed Selena, and the woman nodded, before focusing on the approaching Gizzida. Indy felt something brush her legs and looked down. Her heart thumped. The grass beneath their feet sprouted upward, growing wildly behind the alien woman.

Holy. Cow.

Selena lifted her head, her face hardening. Then she raised her hands.

What the hell was she doing? Indy kept moving toward the Hawk, but kept one eye on Selena.

Another shriek cut through the night. Indy frowned. This one wasn’t from the shrieker. She looked up and heard the beat of thousands of wings in the night sky.

A huge flock of birds swooped down. They arrowed straight into the Gizzida, nipping, pecking, and squawking. Indy saw they were regular Earth birds in a bunch of different species—magpies, cockatoos, crows, colorful parrots, large hawks. They moved like one mass, shifting and attacking.

“Fuck me,” Hemi breathed.

The raptors were dropping back under the onslaught of the birds. Selena kept her hands in the air, her face set with concentration.

Suddenly, the shrieker broke loose of the flock. It started careening toward them, lowering its head to charge.

Selena stepped forward to meet it.

“Get in the Hawk,” Tane bit out. “Fuck.” He moved in behind Selena, firing over her at the shrieker.

Then Selena went down on one knee, pressing her palms to the ground. Indy watched, amazed, as a ripple went through the earth.

Her mouth dropped open.

The ground heaved right in front of the shrieker, dirt flying into the air. The force of it knocked the giant alien over.

“Let’s move it.” Finn’s voice in their earpieces.

The shrieker sat up, looking sightlessly in their direction. Selena pressed another wave of power into the ground. There was a massive tremble, and Indy threw her hands out to stay on her feet.

Then Tane scooped Selena up in his arms and sprinted for the Hawk. Indy started to climb aboard and Dom grabbed her hand, pulling her in. She saw him grimace and her gaze dropped to the ugly bone projectile still lodged in his arm.

“You’re hurt—”

He shook his head. “Griff needs help first. This can wait.”

Tane leaped in, releasing Selena, and slamming the door closed. “Finn, get us out of here!”

The Hawk lifted off.

Ash had Griff laid out on the floor, and was injecting a syringe of silver nanos into him.

With tears in her eyes, Indy dropped down beside her man. She gripped his hand. “You’re going to be okay, baby. Ash is fixing you up.”

“What the fuck was that?” Tane barked.

Indy looked up and saw him squaring off with Selena. Just a few months ago, the alien woman would have cowered. Now, she just ignored him and turned to watch Griff.

“This isn’t over,” Tane warned. “We’ll talk about this back at the Enclave.”

Selena sent him a glare. “I don’t believe you have any say in what I do, Tane Rahia.”

Despite the serious situation, the urge to laugh welled in Indy’s throat.

Finished injecting the nanos, Ash sat back and picked up a comp screen. “No response yet.”

“Come on, Griff,” Indy urged.

Ash stared at the tablet. “Come on, man. Fight.”

The seconds ticked by as the Hawk swept away from the mountains, heading back toward the Enclave.

A muscle jumped in Ash’s jaw. “He’s not responding.”

“Griff,” Indy said brokenly.

“Give him time,” Tane said. “He’s a tough bastard, and he’s survived worse.”

Selena dropped down beside Indy and slid her arm around Indy’s shoulders.

“Indy, you got pictures of the octagon?” Tane asked.

She blinked. He wanted to talk about the octagon now? Then she realized what he was trying to do. Distract her. She didn’t look away from Griff’s pale face. “Yes.”

“We didn’t fucking destroy it, though,” Hemi grumbled. He sat close to Griff, watching.

“No.” Tane scowled, his dark eyes on Selena. “But we have intel that we didn’t have before. And while we didn’t win this battle, we’re still in with a chance to win the war.”

Suddenly, Ash cursed. “The nanos aren’t working! They’re going into a cascade. He’s crashing.”

Indy’s chest filled with concrete. “Griff.” Pain tore through her. She’d lost everything, everyone she’d ever loved. She couldn’t lose Griff.

She leaned down, pressing her face to his. “Griff, don’t leave me.” Her voice broke. “Please, baby.”

A bright light flared inside the Hawk.

“Selena—” Tane ground out.

The alien woman leaned past Indy and pressed her glowing palms to Griff’s chest. Her skin was luminous, her face locked in concentration.

Indy stared at Selena, then her gaze went back to Griff. She watched the bandages that Ash had put on him peel off. His wounds started to heal right before her eyes. Oh, god.

Griff opened his eyes. “What the hell?” His voice was raw and raspy.

“Griff.” Indy leaned over him, squeezing his hand.

Selena lifted her hands and sat back. The light of her skin started to dim. She made a soft, whimpering sound, and started to crumple.

Tane grabbed her, lifting her off the floor and dragging her into his arms.

“Not too bad this time.” Then her eyes rolled back, and her head fell back over Tane’s arm.

“Stubborn little…” Tane dropped into a seat, cradling Selena in his lap.

Indy leaned into Griff and burst into tears.

She felt strong arms wrap around her, and warm lips pressed to her ear.

“Don’t cry, wild girl.”

“You were dying, asshole. I’m allowed to cry.”

“I’m not dying now.”

“I still get to be pissed at you for a while.”

As he chuckled, Indy pressed her face to his chest and listened to the beat of his heart.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Griff snuck out of the infirmary bunk.

He didn’t need the doc whining at him anymore. He was fine. His wounds had been gone before the Hawk had even set down after the mission.

Selena had healed him and left him buzzing with energy.

He’d almost made it to the door when Emerson stepped into view, her arms crossed over her chest. She shook her head.

“I’m fine,” he said defensively.

“I’m not going to say anything. We both know that Indy will ride your ass enough for all of us.”

Griff grinned at her. “I’m more than happy for her to ride me. Just preferably with a different body part involved.”

Emerson rolled her eyes and waved him off. “Go. Damn berserkers.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

“Everyone’s in the Command Center for the debrief.”

Griff strode down the corridor. He had one important job to see to before he went to find his woman. It was still early, so the corridors were mostly empty, most Enclave residents still tucked up in bed.

He made short work of his task, taking great pleasure in it, and finally made his way to the Command Center.

As he snuck through the doors, he spotted Indy’s pictures of the octagon on the screen.

“More than ever, we need to know what it does, so we can determine how to destroy it,” Holmes said.

“What’s the second one?” Marcus asked. He stood with his wife, Elle, tucked under his arm. Hell Squad’s pretty comms officer was listening intently.

“We aren’t sure yet.” Niko answered. “A prototype? Maybe it boosts or amplifies the larger one?”

“And the tracker?” Tane asked.

“Functional,” Holmes answered. “The octagon is on the move and we’ll continue to track it. We will find a way to destroy the damn device one way or another.”

Griff moved closer to his squad. As he neared, Dom turned his head. “Griff.”

Indy’s head shot up, her brows drawing together. “Why are you out of the infirmary?”

Griff ignored her attitude and strode up to her. “Indy.”

“You should—”

He gripped her slim waist and tossed her over his shoulder. He turned, seeing everyone in the room looking at them. The ladies of Squad Nine were standing in front of him, each wearing an expression of amusement on their faces.

“We’ll be busy for the next eight hours,” he said.

“Eight hours?” Sienna shivered.

He headed for the door, laughter filling the room behind them. Indy wriggled, and he slapped her on her ass. “Hold still.”

“You’re lucky I’m glad you’re alive, Griffin Callan. Otherwise, I’d be giving you a piece of my mind.”

He headed down to the lower level where her quarters were. “I’m going to have a piece of you in a moment.” He ran his hand over her ass. He couldn’t wait to get these jeans off.

She made a sound caught between a huff and laugh. At her door, he pressed his palm to the lock and walked inside. He set her down.

She spun, about to let fly, when she noticed her room had changed. Her eyes widened. He’d moved in his giant TV screen, and his duffel bag was sitting on the floor by the closet. His weapons were scattered on the table.

Her blue gaze shot to his. “What’s going on?”

“I moved in. These are our quarters now.”

She cocked a hip. “Oh?”

“And you’re going to marry me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Not with that half-assed, alpha-male proposal. Or rather, order.” She sniffed. “Do it right, and I might think about it.”

“Later.” He picked her up, took two steps, and threw her onto the bed. “I’m hungry. And there’s nothing sweeter than my wild girl.”

Her hands slid into his hair, and their kiss was wild and hungry. They tore at each other’s clothes. He yanked her jeans down her long legs.

“Hard, Griff. I need it hard.”

He pushed her knees up to her chest, moving down to press a kiss to her belly. “I’ll give you whatever you need, babe.” He needed hard as well. He needed Indy.

He moved his mouth lower, right between her lush thighs. He worked her hard, sucking and licking.

“Griff, I’m going to—”

She cried his name, the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. Griff rose, shoving his jeans off and freeing his cock. He covered her and thrust inside her.

“Yes.” She wrapped her legs around him. “Like that. Right where you belong.”

Desire overtook him, his hips pumping. “You feel like heaven. Freedom. Sunshine.”

Her hand cupped his cheek, her fingers brushing his lips. He sucked one into his mouth and she moaned. Her hips lifted, matching his rhythm.

Emotion coalesced in Griff—a massive, hot tangle he couldn’t control. “Need you.” His voice was a growl.

Somehow, she saw it, felt it.

“Take your anger out on me,” she said. “Take out all that fear. No holding back.”

“My wild girl,” he growled, “leading me around by my cock. Leaving me hard. Bossing me around.”

Her hands gripped his shoulders. “You love it.”

Because he couldn’t stop, he thrust into her harder. “I do. I love you. I love when you smile at me, when you snipe at me. I love you naked with your legs spread for me. I just love you.”

Her nails dug into the skin of his back, scratching hard. “I love you too, Griff. Now, stop talking and fuck me until I come.”

“Whatever my lady wants.”

“I’m no lady, baby.”

He pulled out and flipped her over. He yanked her hips up and she let out a husky cry. When he slammed back into her, she cried out. “I love that, too.” Then he set to work giving his woman exactly what she wanted.

Dom

HE LIKED THE NIGHT.

Dom Santora walked silently toward one of the entrances leading back into the Enclave. He didn’t mind patrol. Usually, he’d be on patrol with Griff, or one of the other berserkers. But after their mission in the mountains, they had a few days off.

Dom didn’t really like time off. He’d swapped a patrol shift with a soldier from another squad. He shifted his shoulder and didn’t even feel the faintest twinge. The doc had pulled the Gizzida projectile from his arm, given him a lecture about not getting to her quicker, and then shot him with nanomeds.

It had been a close call for Griff. Dom scowled into the night, remembering the tense moments. His friend had almost died, but thankfully, he’d live to fight another day. And was happily recovering in Indy’s tattooed arms.

The faintest smile tipped Dom’s lips. He’d never expected to form a bond with a man who’d once been a cop. He and the police had never mixed. But now he counted Griff as one of the few people he trusted. He was very happy Griff and Indy had found their way to each other.

His smile faded. If his friends had any chance at the happy ending they deserved, then they needed to find a way to destroy the octagon weapon. The tech team were tracking it and analyzing Indy’s pictures, but right now, they had a lot of unanswered questions.

Dom glanced at his watch. His shift was almost over. He’d been patrolling and checking for any Gizzida activity. It had been quiet. Too quiet. In his gut, he felt something was coming.

Yes, darkness was coming and it wouldn’t be good for the remaining survivors.

He released a breath, looking up at the stars twinkling in the night sky. He’d been born in the dark, raised in it, lived in it. It was all he knew, and he’d fight so the others had a chance to live in the light.

Suddenly, he scented something on the air. Flowers. Sweet and light.

He circled some trees and heard a small, indrawn breath. That’s when he saw her.

She was sitting in the darkness, knees drawn to her chest, staring up at the stars.

“You shouldn’t be out here,” he said.

She jerked, looking in his direction, searching the darkness until she spotted his shadow. She pushed to her feet and swallowed. “I just wanted some air.”

“It’s dangerous to be outside the Enclave. You know that.”

“Everything is dangerous these days.” She tucked a strand of pale-brown hair back behind her ear.

“You think a raptor won’t snatch you, just because you’re close to the Enclave? You’re smarter than that, Arden.”

She tilted her head. “You know my name.”

He knew a lot about her. Arden Carlisle. Comms officer for Squad Nine. Quietly beautiful. Elegant. Heartbreaking sadness in her big, violet-blue eyes.

He knew that she’d lost her husband and children in the invasion. He knew it had scarred her deeply. Yes, he’d watched her and he knew her name.

Dom also knew she was way out of his league.

He leaned in closer, watching her stiffen. Her gaze locked on his face.

“Advice, Arden. Don’t sneak out. The Gizzida are planning their endgame. They’re going to get bolder, take greater risks. If they find you out here, they’ll snatch you without a second thought.”

She swallowed again and nodded. “Okay. I’d better go in.”

Dom crossed his arms over his chest and watched her gaze drop down to them.

And even in the darkness, he saw something flicker in her eyes. She quickly turned away, panic on her face.

He didn’t know what made him do it, but he reached out and grabbed her arm. He felt a burst of warmth against his fingers. He breathed in and her scent filled his senses.

“Arden, promise me, no more sneaking out.”

She looked back at him and lifted her chin. For a second, he marveled at her alabaster-smooth skin.

“Sometimes… Sometimes I have to get out. The walls close in, Dom.”

So, she knew his name, too.

And he understood the feeling of being trapped. In his previous life, he’d been born trapped, lived trapped, and in the still of the night, he’d wished he could escape. He wished he could live in the light.

Even with that life behind him, he still carried it with him. It was like a stink he’d never be rid of.

One he’d never inflict on anyone else.

“If you want to go outside again, you call me,” he said.

Her lips parted and she stared at him. His gut clenched. Cazzo. Why the hell had he said that?

“You’d do that?” she murmured.

She was so damn beautiful. “Yeah. So, call me, si? And no more sneaking out alone.”

White teeth bit down on that luscious bottom lip.

“You get me, Arden? I need to know you understand.”

“I get you.”

He nudged her back toward the hidden door into the Enclave. “Now get back inside.”

She nodded, then found the hidden keypad and tapped in the code. The disguised door opened, and she took a step inside. She paused. “Good night, Dom.”

“Good night, bella.”

The door closed behind her and Dom stayed there in the dark. Where he’d lived all his life.

But for the first time in a long time, he wished he belonged in the light.

CLACK.

The balls flew around the pool table. Indy slid off her stool and smiled.

“I’ll turn you into a pool shark before you know it.”

As she stepped back from the pool table, Arden looked less than convinced.

Indy took the cue from her friend and bent over the table. Instantly, she felt his gaze on her.

She glanced back over her shoulder, and saw Griff staring at her ass. He was sitting on a stool at the bar with the rest of the berserkers and Hell Squad.

She leaned forward a little more, giving her ass a little wiggle. She lined up a shot and sank a ball. She handed the cue back to Arden.

Her gaze collided with her man’s and she felt scalded.

She turned her attention back toward the pool table and saw General Holmes stride in. He looked mad as hell. His mouth was tight and it looked like he’d been running his hands through his hair.

The general strode over to the bar, opened a beer, then tipped the drink back.

Indy raised a brow at Arden. “Who pissed off the general?”

Arden’s lips twitched. “Last I heard, he was having a ‘conversation’ with Hemi and Levi.”

That meant Holmes had been reaming them out for disobeying orders. “Why?”

“You didn’t hear?” Arden asked.

“Um, I’ve been a bit busy getting naked with my berserker.”

Arden’s cheeks went pink. “Right. Well, Hemi and Levi convinced Maddy from the Hawk team to fly them out and recover Squad Three’s bikes.”

Indy bit her lip. “Unsanctioned?”

“Yes.”

“And Maddy let them talk her into that?”

“Yes.”

Indy shook her head. The young, fun Hawk pilot was probably regretting falling for the charm of those berserkers. “They get the bikes back okay?”

Arden nodded. “But boy, the general can shout.”

It wasn’t the first time the general had shouted at the berserkers, and knowing her squad, it wouldn’t be the last time.

A handsome man, who Indy thought might be from the construction crew, was glancing Arden’s way.

Indy leaned in close. “Hey, Arden, there’s a cute guy staring at you.”

The woman hunched her shoulders. “Not interested.”

Hmm. Arden was proving to be a tough case. Indy just wanted to see her friend happy.

“Your berserker is staring at you like he wants to eat you whole,” Arden muttered.

Indy smiled. “I hope so.”

Arden shot a quick glance toward Squad Three and her cheeks went even pinker. “You love him.”

“I’ve loved him all my life. Completely. He’s a good guy.” Indy leaned against the pool table as wild, booming laughter echoed over the crowd in the rec room. Hemi, of course. Her smile widened. “Griff and the berserkers, they fight hard, protect with everything they have, but they live hard, too. They grab life with both hands. Griff’s been angry—about his imprisonment, about the invasion—but he’s starting to let it go. I know he might never get over what happened to him, but he’s learning to enjoy life more. I can help ease his burden.”

“Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose him?” Arden asked quietly. “We all know the octagons are out there. We know the aliens are planning something terrible.”

Sympathy for her friend rocketed through Indy. “Sure. But the risk is worth it. For however long we’ve got, loving him is worth it.”

She saw something shift in Arden’s eyes, and the woman glanced at the berserkers again.

Indy grabbed her arm. “You deserve some happiness, Arden. To feel some pleasure. To live.”

Arden gave a tiny nod. “Maybe you’re right.”

Indy bumped her shoulder against Arden’s. “Your shot.”

Arden lined up her cue, concentrating hard. As Indy watched her friend, a hard arm snaked around Indy’s waist and hot lips pressed against her ear.

“I’ve been watching you lean over that table. Watching that sweet ass of yours…”

Tempting the devil, she rubbed back against Griff’s crotch.

He nipped her ear. “Bad girl.”

Then he reached around her and set a small box on the table. Her chest hitched.

“Open it,” he said.

Arden was staring at Indy with wide eyes and a growing smile.

Heart beating hard, Indy lifted the box and flipped it open. Resting on the velvet lining inside was a gorgeous, unique ring. It had a square, aqua-blue stone, flanked by some baguette diamonds.

Griff spun her around to face him. “Marry me, Indy? Be mine now and forever?”

“Yes,” she yelled.

With a whoop, he lifted her off her feet and spun her around. Then he kissed her and she quickly wrapped her legs around his waist, sinking her hands into his hair.

“That was a much better proposal.” Happiness and love washed through her. Every word she’d said to Arden was true. This was so worth it. She’d take on dragons for the chance to love Griff.

Cheers and whistles erupted around the rec room. God, they were always putting on a show for everyone.

“You’ve made me the happiest damn man in the world,” he said.

“And I’m going to make you even happier when you take me back to our room.”

His hands flexed on her ass and she got one of his amazing smiles.

“Never change, gorgeous,” he said. “I love you just as you are.”

“Good. Now, your fiancée needs a kiss.”

Griff took his time, kissing her deeply until she was squirming against him. She pulled her mouth from his and nipped his earlobe.

She lowered her voice. “Now your fiancée needs you to carry her to bed and get her naked.”

“That, I can do, wild girl.”

They stalked out of the rec room to a round of applause.

I hope you enjoyed Indy and Griff’s story!

Hell Squad will continue with Dom, the story of dark, mysterious berserker, Dom Santora. Coming June 2019.

For more action-packed romance, read on for a preview of the first Eon Warriors adventure, Edge of Eon.

Don’t miss out! For updates about new releases, action romance info, free books, and other fun stuff, sign up for my VIP mailing list and get your free box set containing three action-packed romances.

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PREVIEW: EDGE OF EON

She shifted on the chair, causing the chains binding her hands to clank together. Eve Traynor snorted. The wrist and ankle restraints were overkill. She was on a low-orbit prison circling Earth. Where the fuck did they think she was going to go?

Eve shifted her shoulders to try to ease the tension from having her hands tied behind her back. For the millionth time, she studied her surroundings. The medium-sized room was empty, except for her chair. Everything from the floor to the ceiling was dull-gray metal. All of the Citadel Prison was drab and sparse. She’d learned every boring inch of it the last few months.

One wide window provided the only break in the otherwise uniform space. Outside, she caught a tantalizing glimpse of the blue-green orb of Earth below.

Her gut clenched and she drank in the sight of her home. Five months she’d been locked away in this prison. Five months since her life had imploded.

She automatically thought of her sisters. She sucked in a deep breath. She hated everything they’d had to go through because of what had happened. Hell, she thought of her mom as well, even though their last contact had been the day after Eve had been imprisoned. Her mom had left Eve a drunken, scathing message.

The door to the room opened, and Eve lifted her chin and braced.

When she saw the dark-blue Space Corps uniform, she stiffened. When she saw the row of stars on the lapel, she gritted her teeth.

Admiral Linda Barber stepped into the room, accompanied by a female prison guard. The admiral’s hair was its usual sleek bob of highlighted, ash-blonde hair. Her brown eyes were steady.

Eve looked at the guard. “Take me back to my cell.”

The admiral lifted a hand. “Please leave us.”

The guard hesitated. “That’s against protocol, ma’am—”

“It’ll be fine.” The admiral’s stern voice said she was giving an order, not making a request.

The guard hesitated again, then ducked through the door. It clicked closed behind her.

Eve sniffed. “Say what you have to say and leave.”

Admiral Barber sighed, taking a few steps closer. “I know you’re angry. You have a right to be—”

“You think?” Eve sucked back the rush of molten anger. “I got tossed under the fucking starship to save a mama’s boy. A mama’s boy who had no right to be in command of one of Space Corps’ vessels.”

Shit. Eve wanted to pummel something. Preferably the face of Robert J. Hathaway—golden son of Rear-Admiral Elisabeth Hathaway. A man who, because of family connections, was given captaincy of the Orion, even though he lacked the intelligence and experience needed to lead it.

Meanwhile, Eve—a Space Corps veteran—had worked her ass off during her career in the Corps, and had been promised her own ship, only to be denied her chance. Instead, she’d been assigned as Hathaway’s second-in-command. To be a glorified babysitter, and to actually run the ship, just without the title and the pay raise.

She’d swallowed it. Swallowed Hathaway’s incompetence and blowhard bullshit. Until he’d fucked up. Big-time.

“The Haumea Incident was regrettable,” Barber said.

Eve snorted. “Mostly for the people who died. And definitely for me, since I’m the one shackled to a chair in the Citadel. Meanwhile, I assume Bobby Hathaway is still a dedicated Space Corps employee.”

“He’s no longer a captain of a ship. And he never will be again.”

“Right. Mommy got him a cushy desk job back at Space Corps Headquarters.”

The silence was deafening and it made Eve want to kick something.

“I’m sorry, Eve. We all know what happened wasn’t right.”

Eve jerked on her chains and they clanked against the chair. “And you let it happen. All of Space Corps leadership did, to appease Mommy Hathaway. I dedicated my life to the Corps, and you all screwed me over for an admiral’s incompetent son. I got sentenced to prison for his mistakes.” Stomach turning in vicious circles, Eve looked at the floor, sucking in air. She stared at the soft booties on her feet. Damned inmate footwear. She wasn’t even allowed proper fucking shoes.

Admiral Barber moved to her side. “I’m here to offer you a chance at freedom.”

Gaze narrowing, Eve looked up. Barber looked…nervous. Eve had never seen the self-assured woman nervous before.

“There’s a mission. If you complete it, you’ll be released from prison.”

Interesting. “And reinstated? With a full pardon?”

Barber’s lips pursed and her face looked pinched. “We can negotiate.”

So, no. “Screw your offer.” Eve would prefer to rot in her cell, rather than help the Space Corps.

The admiral moved in front of her, her low-heeled pumps echoing on the floor. “Eve, the fate of the world depends on this mission.”

Barber’s serious tone sent a shiver skating down Eve’s spine. She met the woman’s brown eyes.

“The Kantos are gathering their forces just beyond the boundary at Station Omega V.”

Fuck. The Kantos. The insectoid alien race had been nipping at Earth for years. Their humanoid-insectoid soldiers were the brains of the operation, but they encompassed all manner of ugly, insect-like beasts as well.

With the invention of zero-point drives several decades ago, Earth’s abilities for space exploration had exploded. Then, thirty years ago, they’d made first contact with an alien species—the Eon.

The Eon shared a common ancestor with the humans of Earth. They were bigger and broader, with a few differing organs, but generally human-looking. They had larger lungs, a stronger, bigger heart, and a more efficiently-designed digestion system. This gave them increased strength and stamina, which in turn made them excellent warriors. Unfortunately, they also wanted nothing to do with Earth and its inferior Terrans.

The Eon, and their fearsome warriors and warships, stayed inside their own space and had banned Terrans from crossing their boundaries.

Then, twenty years ago, the first unfortunate and bloody meeting with the Kantos had occurred.

Since then, the Kantos had returned repeatedly to nip at the Terran borders—attacking ships, space stations, and colonies.

But it had become obvious in the last year or so that the Kantos had something bigger planned. The Haumea Incident had made that crystal clear.

The Kantos wanted Earth. There were to be no treaties, alliances, or negotiations. They wanted to descend like locusts and decimate everything—all the planet’s resources, and most of all, the humans.

Yes, the Kantos wanted to freaking use humans as a food source. Eve suppressed a shudder.

“And?” she said.

“We have to do whatever it takes to save our planet.”

Eve tilted her head. “The Eon.”

Admiral Barber smiled. “You were always sharp, Eve. Yes, the Eon are the only ones with the numbers, the technology, and the capability to help us repel the Kantos.”

“Except they want nothing to do with us.” No one had seen or spoken with an Eon for three decades.

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Okay, Eve felt that shiver again. She felt like she was standing on the edge of a platform, about to be shoved under the starship again.

“What’s the mission?” she asked carefully.

“We want you to abduct War Commander Davion Thann-Eon.”

Holy fuck. Eve’s chest clenched so tight she couldn’t even draw a breath. Then the air rushed into her lungs, and she threw her head back and laughed. Tears ran down her face.

“You’re kidding.”

But the admiral wasn’t laughing.

Eve shook her head. “That’s a fucking suicide mission. You want me to abduct the deadliest, most decorated Eon war commander who controls the largest, most destructive Eon warship in their fleet?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Eve, you have a record of making…risky decisions.”

Eve shook her head. “I always calculate the risks.”

“Yes, but you use a higher margin of error than the rest of us.”

“I’ve always completed my missions successfully.” The Haumea Incident excluded, since that was Bobby’s brilliant screw-up.

“Yes. That’s why we know if anyone has a chance of making this mission a success, it’s you.”

“I may as well take out a blaster and shoot myself right now. One, I’ll never make it into Eon space, let alone aboard the Desteron.”

Since the initial encounter, they’d collected whatever intel they could on the Eon. Eve had seen secret schematics of that warship. And she had to admit, the thought of being aboard that ship left her a little damp between her thighs. She loved space and flying, and the big, sleek warship was something straight out of her fantasies.

“We have an experimental, top-of-the-line stealth ship for you to use,” the admiral said.

Eve carried on like the woman hadn’t spoken. “And two, even if I got close to the war commander, he’s bigger and stronger than me, not to mention bonded to a fucking deadly alien symbiont that gives him added strength and the ability to create organic armor and weapons with a single thought. I’d be dead in seconds.”

“We recovered a…substance that is able to contain the symbiont the Eon use.”

Eve narrowed her eyes. “Recovered from where?”

Admiral Barber cleared her throat. “From the wreck of a Kantos ship. It was clearly tech they were developing to use against the Eon.”

Shit. “So I’m to abduct the war commander, and then further enrage him by neutralizing his symbiont.”

“We believe the containment is temporary, and there is an antidote.”

Eve shook her head. “This is beyond insane.”

“For the fate of humanity, we have to try.”

“Talk to them,” Eve said. “Use some diplomacy.”

“We tried. They refused all contact.”

Because humans were simply ants to the Eon. Small, insignificant, an annoyance.

Although, truth be told, humanity only had itself to blame. By all accounts, Terrans hadn’t behaved very well at first contact. The meetings with the Eon had turned into blustering threats, different countries trying to make alliances with the aliens while happily stabbing each other in the back.

Now Earth wanted to abduct an Eon war commander. No, not a war commander, the war commander. So dumb. She wished she had a hand free so she could slap it over her eyes.

“Find another sacrificial lamb.”

The admiral was silent for a long moment. “If you won’t do it for yourself or for humanity, then do it for your sisters.”

Eve’s blood chilled and she cocked her head. “What’s this got to do with my sisters?”

“They’ve made a lot of noise about your imprisonment. Agitating for your freedom.”

Eve breathed through her nose. God, she loved her sisters. Still, she didn’t know whether to be pleased or pissed. “And?”

“Your sister has shared some classified information with the press about the Haumea Incident.”

Eve fought back a laugh. Lara wasn’t shy about sharing her thoughts about this entire screwed-up situation. Eve’s older sister was a badass Space Corps special forces marine. Lara wouldn’t hesitate to take down anyone who pissed her off, the Space Corps included.

“And she had access to information she should not have had access to, meaning your other sister has done some…creative hacking.”

Dammit. The rush of love was mixed with some annoyance. Sweet, geeky Wren had a giant, super-smart brain. She was a computer-systems engineer for some company with cutting-edge technology in Japan. It helped keep her baby sister’s big brain busy, because Wren hadn’t found a computer she couldn’t hack.

“Plenty of people are unhappy with what your sisters have been stirring up,” Barber continued.

Eve stiffened. She didn’t like where this was going.

“I’ve tried to run interference—”

“Admiral—”

Barber held up a hand. “I can’t keep protecting them, Eve. I’ve been trying, but some of this is even above my pay grade. If you don’t do this mission, powers outside of my control will go after them. They’ll both end up in a cell right alongside yours until the Kantos arrive and blow this prison out of the sky.”

Her jaw tight, Eve’s brain turned all the information over. Fucking fuck.

“Eve, if there is anyone who has a chance of succeeding on this mission, it’s you.”

Eve stayed silent.

Barber stepped closer. “I don’t care if you do it for yourself, the billions of people of Earth, or your sisters—”

“I’ll do it.” The words shot out of Eve, harsh and angry.

She’d do it—abduct the scariest alien war commander in the galaxy—for all the reasons the admiral listed—to clear her name, for her freedom, to save the world, and for the sisters she loved.

Honestly, it didn’t matter anyway, because the odds of her succeeding and coming back alive were zero.

EVE LEFT THE STARSHIP GYM, towel around her neck, and her muscles warm and limber from her workout.

God, it was nice to work out when it suited her. On the Citadel Prison, exercise time was strictly scheduled, monitored, and timed.

Two crew members came into view, heading down the hall toward her. As soon as the uniformed men spotted her, they looked at the floor and passed her quickly.

Eve rolled her eyes. Well, she wasn’t aboard the Polaris to make friends, and she had to admit, she had a pretty notorious reputation. She’d never been one to blindly follow the rules, plus there was the Haumea Incident and her imprisonment. And her family were infamous in the Space Corps. Her father had been a space marine, killed in action in one of the early Kantos encounters. Her mom had been a decorated Space Corps member, but after Eve’s dad had died, her mom had started drinking. It had deteriorated until she’d gone off the rails. She’d done it quite publicly, blaming the Space Corps for her husband’s death. In the process, she’d forgotten she had three young, grieving girls.

Yep, Eve was well aware that the people you cared for most either left you, or let you down. The employer you worked your ass off for treated you like shit. The only two people in the galaxy that didn’t apply to were her sisters.

Eve pushed thoughts of her parents away. Instead, she scanned the starship. The Polaris was a good ship. A mid-size cruiser, she was designed for exploration, but well-armed as well. Eve guessed they’d be heading out beyond Neptune about now.

The plan was for the Polaris to take her to the edge of Eon space, where she’d take a tiny, two-person stealth ship, sneak up to the Desteron, then steal onboard.

Piece of cake. She rolled her eyes.

Back in her small cabin, she took a quick shower, dressed, and then headed to the ops room. It was a small room close to the bridge that the ship’s captain had made available to her.

She stepped inside, and all the screens flickered to life. A light table stood in the center of the room, and everything was filled with every scrap of intel that the Space Corps had on the Eon Empire, their warriors, the Desteron, and War Commander Thann-Eon.

It was more than she’d guessed. A lot of it had been classified. There was fascinating intel on the four Eon homeworld planets—Eon, Jad, Felis, and Ath. Each Eon warrior carried their homeworld in their name, along with their clan names. The war commander hailed from the planet Eon, and Thann was a clan known as a warrior clan.

Eve swiped her fingers across the light table and studied pictures of the Desteron. They were a few years old and taken from a great distance, but that didn’t hide the warship’s power.

It was fearsome. Black, sleek, and impressive. It was built for speed and stealth, but also power. It had to be packed with weapons beyond their imagination.

She touched the screen again and slid the image to the side. Another image appeared—the only known picture of War Commander Thann-Eon.

Jesus. The man packed a punch. All Eon warriors looked alike—big, broad-shouldered, muscular. They all had longish hair—not quite reaching the shoulders, but not cut short, either. Their hair usually ranged from dark brown to a tawny, golden-brown. There was no black or blond hair among the Eon. Their skin color ranged from dark-brown to light-brown, as well.

Before first contact had gone sour, both sides had done some DNA testing, and confirmed the Eon and Terrans shared an ancestor.

The war commander was wearing a pitch-black, sleeveless uniform. He was tall, built, with long legs and powerful thighs. He was exactly the kind of man you expected to stride onto a battlefield, pull a sword, and slaughter everyone. He had a strong face, one that shouted power. Eve stroked a finger over the image. He had a square jaw, a straight, almost aggressive nose, and a well-formed brow. His eyes were as dark as space, but shot through with intriguing threads of blue.

“It’s you and me, War Commander.” If he didn’t kill her, first.

Suddenly, sirens blared.

Eve didn’t stop to think. She slammed out of the ops room and sprinted onto the bridge.

Inside, the large room was a flurry of activity.

Captain Chen stood in the center of the space, barking orders at his crew.

Her heart contracted. God, she’d missed this so much. The vibration of the ship beneath her feet, her team around her, even the scent of recycled starship air.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” a sharp voice snapped.

Eve turned, locking gazes with the stocky, bearded XO. Sub-Captain Porter wasn’t a fan of hers.

“Leave her,” Captain Chen told his second-in-command. “She’s seen more Kantos ships than all of us combined.”

The captain looked back at his team. “Shields up.”

Eve studied the screen and the Kantos ship approaching.

It looked like a bug. It had large, outstretched legs, and a bulky, segmented, central fuselage. It wasn’t the biggest ship she’d seen, but it wasn’t small, either. It was probably out on some intel mission.

“Sir,” a female voice called out. “We’re getting a distress call from the Panama, a cargo ship en route to Nightingale Space Station. They’re under attack from a swarm of small Kantos ships.”

Eve sucked in a breath, her hand curling into a fist. This was a usual Kantos tactic. They would overwhelm a ship with their small swarm ships. It had ugly memories of the Haumea Incident stabbing at her.

“Open the comms channel,” the captain ordered.

“Please…help us.” A harried man’s voice came over the distorted comm line. “…can’t hold out much…thirty-seven crew onboard…we are…”

Suddenly, a huge explosion of light flared in the distance.

Eve’s shoulders sagged. The cargo ship was gone.

“Goddammit,” the XO bit out.

The front legs of the larger Kantos ship in front of them started to glow orange.

“They’re going to fire,” Eve said.

The captain straightened. “Evasive maneuvers.”

His crew raced to obey the orders, the Polaris veering suddenly to the right.

“The swarm ships will be on their way back.” Eve knew the Kantos loved to swarm like locusts.

“Release the tridents,” the captain said.

Good. Eve watched the small, triple-pronged space mines rain out the side of the ship. They’d be a dangerous minefield for the Kantos swarm.

The main Kantos ship swung around.

“They’re locking weapons,” someone shouted.

Eve fought the need to shout out orders and offer the captain advice. Last time she’d done that, she’d ended up in shackles.

The blast hit the Polaris, the shields lighting up from the impact. The ship shuddered.

“Shields holding, but depleting,” another crew member called out.

“Sub-Captain Traynor?” The captain’s dark gaze met hers.

Something loosened in her chest. “It’s a raider-class cruiser, Captain. You’re smaller and more maneuverable. You need to circle around it, spray it with laser fire. Its weak spots are on the sides. Sustained laser fire will eventually tear it open. You also need to avoid the legs.”

“Fly circles around it?” a young man at a console said. “That’s crazy.”

Eve eyed the lead pilot. “You up for this?”

The man swallowed. “I don’t think I can…”

“Sure you can, if you want us to survive this.”

“Walker, do it,” the captain barked.

The pilot pulled in a breath and the Polaris surged forward. They rounded the Kantos ship. Up close, the bronze-brown hull looked just like the carapace of an insect. One of the legs swung up, but Walker had quick reflexes.

“Fire,” Eve said.

The weapons officer started firing. Laser fire hit the Kantos ship in a pretty row of orange.

“Keep going,” Eve urged.

They circled the ship, firing non-stop.

Eve crossed her arms over her chest. Everything in her was still, but alive, filled with energy. She’d always known she was born to stand on the bridge of a starship.

“More,” she urged. “Keep firing.”

“Swarm ships incoming,” a crew member yelled.

“Hold,” Eve said calmly. “Trust the mines.” She eyed the perspiring weapons officer. “What’s your name, Lieutenant?”

“Law, ma’am. Lieutenant Miriam Law.”

“You’re doing fine, Law. Ignore the swarm ships and keep firing on the cruiser.”

The swarm ships rushed closer, then hit the field of mines. Eve saw the explosions, like brightly colored pops of fireworks.

The lasers kept cutting into the hull of the larger Kantos ship. She watched the ship’s engines fire. They were going to try and make a run for it.

“Bring us around, Walker. Fire everything you have, Law.”

They swung around to face the side of the Kantos ship straight on. The laser ripped into the hull.

There was a blinding flash of light, and startled exclamations filled the bridge. She squinted until the light faded away.

On the screen, the Kantos ship broke up into pieces.

Captain Chen released a breath. “Thank you, Sub-Captain.”

Eve inclined her head. She glanced at the silent crew. “Good flying, Walker. And excellent shooting, Law.”

But she looked back at the screen, at the debris hanging in space and the last of the swarm ships retreating.

They’d keep coming. No matter what. It was ingrained in the Kantos to destroy.

They had to be stopped.

Eon Warriors

Edge of Eon

Touch of Eon

Heart of Eon (coming soon)

PREVIEW: GLADIATOR

Fighting for love, honor, and freedom on the galaxy’s lawless outer rim…

When Earth space marine Harper Adams finds herself abducted by alien slavers off a space station, her life turns into a battle for survival. Dumped into an arena on a desert planet on the outer rim, she finds herself face to face with a big, tattooed alien gladiator…the champion of the Kor Magna Arena.

A former prince abandoned to the arena as a teen, Raiden Tiago has long ago earned his freedom. Now he rules the arena, but he doesn’t fight for the glory, but instead for his own dark purpose—revenge against the Thraxian aliens who destroyed his planet. Then his existence is rocked by one small, fierce female fighter from an unknown planet called Earth.

Harper is determined to find a way home, but when she spots her best friend in the arena—a slave of the evil Thraxian aliens—she’ll do anything to save her friend…even join forces with the tough alpha male who sets her body on fire. But as Harper and Raiden step foot onto the blood-soaked sands of the arena, Harper worries that Raiden has his own dangerous agenda…

Galactic Gladiators

Gladiator

Warrior

Hero

Protector

Champion

Barbarian

Beast

Rogue

Guardian

Cyborg

Imperator

Also Available as Audiobooks!

ALSO BY ANNA HACKETT

Team 52

Mission: Her Protection

Mission: Her Rescue

Mission: Her Security

Mission: Her Defense

Also Available as Audiobooks!

Treasure Hunter Security

Undiscovered

Uncharted

Unexplored

Unfathomed

Untraveled

Unmapped

Unidentified

Undetected

Also Available as Audiobooks!

Eon Warriors

Edge of Eon

Touch of Eon

Galactic Gladiators

Gladiator

Warrior

Hero

Protector

Champion

Barbarian

Beast

Rogue

Guardian

Cyborg

Imperator

Also Available as Audiobooks!

Hell Squad

Marcus

Cruz

Gabe

Reed

Roth

Noah

Shaw

Holmes

Niko

Finn

Theron

Hemi

Ash

Levi

Manu

Also Available as Audiobooks!

The Anomaly Series

Time Thief

Mind Raider

Soul Stealer

Salvation

Anomaly Series Box Set

The Phoenix Adventures

Among Galactic Ruins

At Star’s End

In the Devil’s Nebula

On a Rogue Planet

Beneath a Trojan Moon

Beyond Galaxy’s Edge

On a Cyborg Planet

Return to Dark Earth

On a Barbarian World

Lost in Barbarian Space

Through Uncharted Space

Crashed on an Ice World

Perma Series

Winter Fusion

A Galactic Holiday

Warriors of the Wind

Tempest

Storm & Seduction

Fury & Darkness

Standalone Titles

Savage Dragon

Hunter’s Surrender

One Night with the Wolf

For more information visit AnnaHackettBooks.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’m a USA Today bestselling author and I’m passionate about action romance. I love stories that combine the thrill of falling in love with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. I’m a sucker for that moment when the team is walking in slow motion, shoulder-to-shoulder heading off into battle. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.

My books are mixture of action, adventure and sexy romance and they’re recommended for anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories where the boy wins the girl at the end (or sometimes the girl wins the boy!)

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Website: www.annahackettbooks.com

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

What readers are saying about Anna’s action romances

Action Romance Box Set

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Preview: Edge of Eon

Preview: Gladiator

Also by Anna Hackett

About the Author