Hell Squad: Shaw

Anna Hackett

Shaw

Published by Anna Hackett

Copyright 2016 by Anna Hackett

Cover by Melody Simmons of eBookindiecovers

Edits by Tanya Saari

ISBN: 978-0-9943584-8-6

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.

Table of Contents

What readers are saying about Anna’s Science Fiction Romance

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Preview – Hell Squad: Holmes

Also by Anna Hackett

About the Author

What readers are saying about Anna’s Science Fiction Romance

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 – Amazon Bestselling Science Fiction Romance Series and 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

The building was empty.

There was nothing here.

Shaw Baird slammed his combat boot into a rotted cardboard box and sent it skidding across the concrete floor. He and his squad were searching an abandoned factory. Before the alien invasion, it looked like it had made cars. Old conveyors and pieces of once-high-tech equipment filled the large space. But after a year and a half of being abandoned—as what was left of humanity ran to avoid the raptor aliens—the machines were now sagging and rusty.

And up until a few hours ago, the raptors had been using the place to hold human prisoners.

Shaw’s fingers tightened on his laser rifle. Something had tipped the scaly bastards off and they’d run.

Taking one of Shaw’s squad mates with them.

Frustration boiled through him and he gave another box a kick. This one was filled with small metal parts. They clattered across the floor, making a huge din.

An ugly blackness welled in his gut. Over a week ago, the aliens had invaded Blue Mountain Base—the haven the human survivors had made deep in an old underground military installation. Many had died, the place they’d called their home had been destroyed, and now they were all on the run. But during the attack, Claudia Frost—Hell Squad soldier and all-round badass—had been taken.

A large hand clamped down on Shaw’s shoulder.

“We’ll find her,” a deep, gravelly voice said.

Shaw looked over at his squad leader. “It’s been a fucking week, Marcus.”

In that week, Shaw had barely slept, barely eaten. How could he rest when he knew Claudia was suffering? He’d seen the results of the aliens’ testing and experimenting on human prisoners, and they weren’t pretty.

“You need to keep it together,” Marcus said quietly. “We won’t stop until we find her, and I need you in top form to help us do that. She needs you.”

That ugliness in Shaw ebbed and flowed, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He nodded. He’d already made a promise to himself, to her, that he would get her home.

“Over here,” a voice with a touch of a Mexican accent called out.

It was Cruz, their second in command. Marcus and Shaw shared a brief glance, before they jogged over to where Cruz was crouched by the far wall.

“Fuck.” Shaw’s jaw tightened.

Hanging from a piece of equipment were two sets of makeshift chains. Shaw studied them. One set was smeared with blood and there were drops of blood on the floor.

He crouched, touching the sticky stain. It was still bright red. “Hasn’t been here too long.” He closed his eyes.

Cruz held a small hand-held scanner. It beeped. He looked up and nodded.

“She was here,” Marcus said.

Shaw opened his eyes and saw his squad mates form up around him. Reed, the former Coalition Navy SEAL, and big, silent and deadly Gabe. Marcus and Cruz. They were all tough, tenacious soldiers and Shaw respected the hell out of them.

“We never leave anyone behind.” Marcus’ green gaze moved over all of them, before settling on Shaw. “We will never stop until we get her back.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “But for now, we have to head back to the convoy.”

Shaw swallowed a curse. The human survivors from Blue Mountain Base had escaped the base attack in a motley band of outfitted vehicles. They were moving slowly through the mountains, hiding where they could. Thankfully, their head tech geek and electronics genius, Noah Kim, had gotten a huge-ass illusion system operational for the convoy. It essentially kept the convoy near-invisible from the aliens hunting them.

But the squads were still vital for protection and defense. Each team was cobbled together from any remaining soldiers who’d survived the invasion—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Police. Hell, some fighters on the squads weren’t even military. Squad Three, known to everyone as the berserkers, were simply hardcore. They rushed in and fought with a crazy, wild abandon. Most of them were former bikers, mercenaries or possibly even criminals…sometimes it was best not to ask.

It didn’t matter who you were before. Now everyone had to join together and find a way to help in the fight against the Gizzida.

He touched Claudia’s blood again. What the hell were they doing to her? He exhaled a long breath. She was tough as nails. She’d been former Special Air Service like him. Funnily enough, they’d barely known each other before. She’d been on a different SAS team.

But now…now she was a vital piece of him. And he was only just realizing how vital since she’d been taken from him.

“So, who was in the second set of chains?” Reed asked, with his American twang.

“Don’t know. But if they’re still alive when we find Claudia, we take them too,” Marcus said. Then he cocked his head, touching his ear. “Go ahead, Elle.”

Elle Milton was their comms officer. The pretty brunette was sitting in a large truck with the convoy. The comms truck had been retrofitted with all the necessary equipment to let the squads’ comms officers continue to do their jobs—feeding the squads intel, route information, and raptor numbers.

“Marcus, there is a lot of movement just south of your location,” Elle said.

Shaw straightened. That had to be the raptors they were after.

“But that wasn’t what I wanted to tell you.” Her exhalation came across the line. “General Holmes needs you back here. There are raptor search patrols getting close to the convoy’s current location. We need to move again, and we need Hell Squad back here.”

Shaw bit his tongue. The protective part of him—the part born and honed by taking care of his little sister in the hellhole of their childhood—knew they had to protect the convoy. There were innocent kids and elderly people, mothers and fathers, scientists and doctors. People who had already been through so much. They needed the squads to keep them safe, especially now that they were on the run.

But a larger part of him wanted to go after Claudia.

She’d been in alien hands for a week. They all knew she was running on borrowed time.

The scar on Marcus’ rugged face flashed white. “Back to the Hawk.”

They formed up, but Shaw had to force his legs to move. Cruz took the lead, and they headed out.

Shaw kept a tight grip on his long-range laser rifle. I’m coming, Claudia. Just hang on. The rifle was a familiar touchstone under his hands, and helped him keep some control. He’d been surprised when he’d first joined the Army to discover he had a knack for sniping. He could read all the environmental factors, judge a shot, and stay steady through it all until the perfect time to finally pull the trigger.

Right now, he desperately wished for a raptor patrol to appear so he could take them down.

But as they jogged across cracked pavement, where straggly grass poked through the cracks here and there, and a sagging chain-link fence ringed the area that he guessed was once the employee parking lot, no raptors jumped out to attack. None of the various types of predator aliens the raptors used like attack animals came at them.

Ahead, the air shimmered. The Hawk quadcopter dropped its illusion, its dull, grey metal body shining in the morning sun. It ran on a tiny thermonuclear engine, with four rotors that were shrouded to reduce noise.

They climbed aboard and the pilot, Finn Eriksson, leaned back from the cockpit, scanning them. His mouth pressed together. “No luck?”

Shaw gave one savage shake of his head. “Missed her.”

“Fuck.” Finn sank back into his seat. “Strap in. Time to go home.”

The Hawk’s rotors turned and the quadcopter took off. Shaw knew Finn would have engaged the illusion system. While it didn’t make them completely invisible, it blurred them to anyone who might be looking in their direction, messed with the Hawk’s signature on raptor scans, and used directed sound waves to distort any noise.

It wasn’t a long flight. They swept easily and quickly over the endless trees of the Blue Mountains. He knew that behind them, to the east, lay the ruins of Sydney, once the capital of the United Coalition of Countries. Nations like the United States, India, and Australia had banded together to form the Coalition, and Sydney had been the jewel—a melting pot of people and cultures, a center for business, art, and pleasure.

And then the alien invasion had reduced it to burnt-out houses, shattered skyscrapers, broken landmarks.

Here in the mountains, staring down at the sea of trees, it was hard to imagine an alien apocalypse had occurred. But as they passed over small towns, it was easy to see there was no life. The towns were abandoned and still, ghosts of their former selves. Their former inhabitants were either dead, or captured by the aliens, or they’d fled, searching for shelter at places like Blue Mountain Base.

Or the Swift Wind Convoy, as they were now known.

The Hawk slowed and started its descent. Looking out, Shaw saw nothing but another abandoned ghost town, with an overgrown town square, and empty buildings with abandoned cars parked at skewed angles in the street.

But once they passed through the convoy illusion system and touched down, he saw what was being hidden.

Vehicles were parked in military precision outside what Shaw guessed had once been a school. Trucks, buses, and cars were all parked in a way that would let the drivers jump in and take off with a second’s notice…a precaution, in case the aliens tracked them down and they had to evacuate.

Marcus pulled the side door of the Hawk open. “Get some rest. As soon as we get new intel, we’re heading back out.”

Shaw leaped out of the Hawk and instantly started pulling at his chest armor. Around him, he saw the survivors of Blue Mountain Base bustling with activity. Some were military, wearing a mixture of uniforms and whatever the hell they could scavenge. Some were working on the Hawks, others on the convoy vehicles. Civvies were mingling here and there. He saw some kids running around, kicking a soccer ball.

Shaw envied them being able to find some fucking semblance of normality and enjoyment in the middle of chaos.

Reed slapped him on the back and headed off to find his fiancée, Natalya. The energy scientist would probably be helping the geek squad somewhere. Gabe gave him a solemn nod and followed the others. Hell, even big, deadly, and not-very-talkative Gabe had a woman of his own—the sexy and smart head of the medical team, Dr. Emerson Green.

“Get some sleep, Shaw,” Marcus said.

“I’m going to check in with the drone operators and see if they’ve spotted anything—”

Marcus scowled. “You mean bug them until they bug me to get you off their backs.”

Shaw slung his rifle over his shoulder. “Whatever it takes.”

“You’re running on fumes, Baird. Get some rest, or you’ll be no help to her.” With one hard look, Marcus strode away, no doubt to drag Elle back to their makeshift quarters. Marcus never missed a chance to get his woman naked.

Shaw had been happy for his squad mates, as they’d all found women who gave them some good in the bad. He’d always preferred to enjoy the variety the single ladies offered, rather than tie himself down. He didn’t want someone dependent on him, waiting for him to screw up.

He was good at screwing up when it mattered.

But now, watching the guys go, he felt a flash of envy. There were women waiting for his friends, to hold them tight and make them feel better for a little while.

He rubbed a tired hand over his face. He’d give anything right now to have Claudia beside him, ribbing him about being a crap shot or about one of his latest sexual escapades.

He headed back toward one of the converted buses that were filled with bunks for the single squad soldiers. Marcus was right. He’d barely had more than a couple of hours of sleep over the last few days, and if they got a lead on where the raptors had Claudia, they’d need to move fast.

But he was still going to check in with the drone operators, first.

He rubbed at his face again and realized he’d cut himself on something. He’d thought his temple had been damp with sweat, but it was blood. He rubbed it between his fingers, and thought again of those bloodstains on the concrete at that factory.

Someone moved up beside him. “Hey, Shaw.”

He looked down and saw Liberty. The curvy blonde was gorgeous, and made no bones about the fact she loved sex. Most people looked at Liberty and didn’t see beyond the beauty. But Shaw knew she worked just as hard as the squads behind the scenes to keep the convoy survivors calm and in good spirits. He’d heard that if you needed shampoo, soap, lotion, or—for those whose contraceptive implants had stopped functioning—condoms, Liberty could get her hands on it.

Liberty offered him a smile designed to send all the blood in a man’s body south. “I’ve arranged to have the truck I share with some of the other single ladies to myself for the next hour.” Her smile widened and her hand stroked down his arm. “I thought you might like to keep me company.”

Casual sex wasn’t frowned on like it once had been. Since most people had lost their loved ones in the invasion, sex was a way to get skin-to-skin with someone and hold on tight. To find some laughs in the darkness and not feel so alone.

For some, for him, it had always been about outrunning the darkness and the memories for a few hours.

Now, Liberty’s nice little offer, something that he would have been all over a week ago, made his stomach turn over.

“No.”

She frowned at him, and Shaw rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sorry. I’m tired and hot and dirty…”

She smiled. “It’s okay.” She touched his arm again, her expression becoming concerned. “You haven’t found Claudia yet?”

Just hearing her name made his throat go tight. He shook his head.

Liberty’s fingers tightened on his arm. “Hang in there, Shaw.”

He didn’t even watch her go. His gaze turned inward. It wasn’t him who had to hang in there, it was Claudia.

Shaw turned and headed toward the bus the drone operators used.

Chapter Two

Claudia Frost shifted, her chains clanking, trying to find a more comfortable position.

She was slumped on the floor, her arms stretched above her and tied via a chain to the ceiling of wherever the hell she was now. She was thirsty and her body hurt like a bitch.

She moved again and pain flared down her left leg. She bit down on her lip until she tasted blood. No fucking way she’d let those scaly alien bastards have the satisfaction of hearing her cry out.

They moved her every few days, mostly forgot to feed her or leave her water, and they—or more accurately, he—tried everything to persuade her into giving them information on the Swift Wind Convoy.

Like hell.

She moved again, the chains digging into her raw wrists. They’d taken her armor, so all she wore were her fatigue trousers and a tank top now stained with sweat, blood and grime.

“Your pain is worse.”

The quiet voice came from behind her. “Yeah. But nothing I’m not trained to handle.”

“They keep breaking your leg, Claudia. Over and over.”

Just the mention of that made her left leg burn and throb. “Once my squad gets here, I’ll get it healed right up.”

Her fellow prisoner was quiet for a moment. “You’ve said they were going to come for a week now.”

“They’ll come, Selena. They’ll come.”

Selena was another prisoner. Claudia had no idea what they wanted with the soft-spoken woman, but they threatened her a hell of a lot. Strangely, though, for the most part, the Gizzida seemed to leave her alone. Regardless, the woman was terrified. Every time Selena heard them coming, she started shaking. But through it all, she refused to break down.

The other woman was Claudia’s only company in the darkness. They were always tied up back to back, and the raptors put hoods over their heads when they moved them, so Claudia didn’t even know what Selena looked like, but she already admired the woman’s quiet, elegant strength.

They were both helping to keep each other sane.

The other thing that kept Claudia from losing her mind was knowing Hell Squad was coming for her. That had to be the reason the raptors kept moving her so frequently—her squad was right on the aliens’ tails. Each time her captors moved her, they seemed pissed and agitated.

“And your friend, Shaw, will be with them, yes?” Selena said in her calm, smooth voice.

Claudia swallowed, trying to wet her dust-dry throat. “Yes.”

“You talk about him a lot…when you are delirious with the pain.”

Claudia let her head drop forward, her chin on her chest. “Do I?”

“He must mean a lot to you.”

Hell Squad was coming. Shaw was coming. Claudia pressed her hands together above her head, although she could barely feel anything with her swollen fingers. Okay, there was one other thing that helped her from losing her fucking shit in this hell hole.

Thoughts of Shaw.

In the SAS, they hadn’t known each other beyond a nod in the field. Even back then, his love of the ladies had been legendary. Once, he’d tried to come on to her at a bar after a joint mission. She’d punched him in the gut for an answer.

But it wasn’t until after the alien invasion, when they’d both been assigned to Hell Squad, that he’d become like family to her. All of the Hell Squad members had.

Claudia had grown up with a single mother. Her potty-mouthed mum would have been the first to tell you she’d never win an award for mother of the year, but the chain-smoking brunette had made sure her daughter had clothes and food, and went to school. Claudia smiled at the memory. Well, by high school, she’d been pretty talented at sneaking off to hang out with the neighborhood boys—the Rocca brothers and their friends. They’d had cars and she’d loved hanging out, learning to drive and how to fix them.

After the five Rocca boys had all finished school by the skin of their teeth, they’d joined the military, and she’d been so damned lonely.

She’d decided to give college a try, and had been surprised when she’d scored a volleyball scholarship. During her first year of university, her mother had succumbed to emphysema. That string of events had set Claudia’s life on a path she had never, ever planned to take.

Claudia closed her eyes. Not going to think of fucking Brad Walker now. No way in hell.

Shaw’s grinning face floated through her head.

Her tense muscles eased a little.

With a muscled, lanky frame, he looked more like a swimmer than a soldier. But she’d seen him shirtless enough times to know there was solid muscle under his armor. And that face…he was handsome, but it was his humor and the energy that shone out of him that drew people in.

The ladies especially. Claudia pulled a face. And hell, the man ran through the ladies like…well, a good analogy escaped her right now. They loved him and they never seemed to mind when he was done with them. They all talked to him, smiled, and stayed friendly afterward.

Shaw was like that. Everyone wanted to be his friend.

But Claudia knew him far better than the pretty young things he dallied with. She’d seen his focus and dedication in the field. She’d gotten glimpses beneath the sexy exterior he showed the world. He tried to keep whatever the hell had happened to him when he was younger buried, but if you looked past the quick smile and the sparkling eyes, there was pain there, driving him.

She sighed. She knew all about burying the past. Like recognized like.

She wished she’d kissed him.

God. Her chains rattled again. She didn’t regret much in her life. She believed regrets were a waste of time, but she wished she’d stopped protecting herself long enough to at least have a taste of a man who was her friend, her sanity, her secret obsession, and who drove her crazy.

Somewhere, a roller door rattled open. Footsteps and the guttural voices of the raptors.

Behind her, Selena whimpered.

Damn aliens. Claudia raised her head. She knew if her squad didn’t get here soon, she wasn’t going to last much longer.

But until then, she’d fight, and she’d do what she could to protect Selena.

A big body stopped in front of Claudia. She looked up. The aliens called themselves the Gizzida, but humans had nicknamed the humanoid reptilians running the show the raptors. This one was a standard soldier, over six-and-a-half-feet tall, heavy muscles packed under thick, gray, scaly skin. An elongated jaw and heavy brow ridges dominated his ugly face, along with red eyes.

But it was the raptor she saw step into view behind this one who made her blood run cold.

He was a few inches taller, and his face was somehow smoother, a little more refined. He wore a red leather bandolier crossed over his muscled chest, and it was the color of his red eyes. But his eyes never seemed to boil with the hungry hatred she saw in the other raptors.

His eyes were coldly intelligent and lethally empty.

She’d nicknamed him the Huntsman.

He stepped closer, and she saw a movement by his hip. As usual, he was flanked by his pet canids—alien hunting dogs with the same gray, scaly skin and red eyes. These ones were far bigger than any she’d fought before. He stroked one on the head.

“You will share the location of the human survivors,” the Huntsman said.

It was damned freaky to hear them speak English. And this one was good, no halting or stammering or incorrect pronunciation. Just precise words in that guttural tone.

“You’ve had me for days. They’re long gone.”

“You will share what you know. How they are traveling, how many of them, any pertinent details.”

“Fuck you.”

The Huntsman stepped closer, his cold gaze tracing her face. “I admire your loyalty and dedication. They are admirable, but not when they are to your detriment.”

Claudia choked out a laugh. “Then you don’t understand loyalty and dedication, asshole.”

He moved closer still, crouching, then one clawed hand touched her face. “I am learning a lot about humanity from watching you.” His head tilted. “But you are not like the others of your species, are you, Claudia Frost?”

She jerked her face away from him. “I’m a soldier. I do what I have to do.”

“As do I.” The Huntsman stood and nodded to the raptor soldier in front of her, who slammed a huge fist into her belly.

The air rushed out of her lungs, pain exploding, but she ground her teeth together to keep from crying out. She lifted her head, skewering the Huntsman with her gaze. “When my squad gets here, they are going to beat your scaly asses.”

The soldier punched her again, this time in the face.

Claudia tasted blood. She licked at it, then spat at the alien.

The Huntsman crossed his arms. “Yes, let’s talk about your squad. Hell Squad. I would like to know every last thing about them, too.”

“All you need to know, asshole, is that they are the ones who’ll take you down.”

Another vicious punch to her stomach.

“Claudia.” Selena’s quiet voice was edged with concern. “Be quiet.”

“Unchain our fighter.” The Huntsman’s face was devoid of any emotion. “I think she would like a few rounds in the ring.”

Claudia’s abused stomach clenched. He loved watching her fight his men. Wherever they went, he set up a fighting ring and sent raptor after raptor to fight her.

Her leg was already sore, and they all knew it. They focused on it until it broke, then they healed her with their tech, and made her fight some more.

She knew they’d make her scream.

But they wouldn’t break her.

“Bring it on,” she spat. “I’ll fight you until I can’t fight anymore. My squad will keep fighting you, and they are going to rain pain down on all of you.”

As the raptors stepped closer, she heard Selena sobbing quietly, and Claudia readied herself for the agony.

***

“We are seeing increased alien activity in several locations throughout the Blue Mountains.” General Adam Holmes pointed to an image projected onto the canvas wall. “Here, here and here.”

Shaw took a sip of the protein shake he’d taken from the kitchen truck after he’d grabbed a few hours of sleep. He was feeling gritty-eyed, but watching the general outline the extent of the alien activity nearby, he was starting to wake up.

Overhead, canvas flapped in the gentle mountain breeze. Someone had rigged the khaki canvas tent up between some trees to house the mobile military ops center. A few folding tables were set up with comps, and at one of them was Hell Squad’s comms officer, Elle.

“Main roads,” Marcus said from beside Shaw.

The general nodded. “Yes. The activity is all centered on the main routes out of the mountains.”

Roth Masters, head of Squad Nine, cursed. “They’re trying to block all our possible escape routes.” The rugged man was standing on the other side of Marcus. Both men were cut from the same cloth—tall, muscled, excellent leaders and brilliant soldiers.

General Holmes rubbed a hand down his face. The usually spit-and-polish general was no longer wearing his neat, pressed uniform since they’d been on the run. And he had more than a five o’clock shadow on his face. He also looked how Shaw felt—damned exhausted.

“The aliens know we’re here, somewhere. And they’ve guessed we’ll be trying to head out of the mountains. We just need to make sure we keep avoiding them and get to the Enclave.”

Shaw had heard a lot about the Enclave. Roth and his woman, Avery, had been on a covert recon mission, and had crashed near the secret human sanctuary. The former president of the United Coalition, and all-round asshole, President Howell, had a private agreement with the aliens in place to protect the Enclave. The price had been the entire rest of the human population, which the Gizzida were busy trying to stuff into tanks in their labs to turn them into raptors.

Howell had met with a fitting, grisly end, and the Enclave was under new management. They were opening their doors to the residents of Blue Mountain Base.

Shaw thought for a second about their former home. For a year and a half, it had sheltered them, and they’d had an almost-normal life there. Friday night parties, a school, damn good food, and Noah Kim and his geek squad had worked hard to keep the lights on and the water mostly hot.

Now it was gone. His gut hardened. Just like Claudia.

“Our proposed new route is this way.” The general’s finger followed a twisting path through the mountains and across a bridge. “It’ll take us longer, but we’ll avoid most of the aliens.”

Shaw’s jaw tightened. That path could take them a hell of a long way from wherever the aliens might be holding Claudia. “We still need to find—”

Holmes held up a hand and released a breath. “I know, Shaw. I’m trying to balance the needs of protecting the hundreds of people out there—” he pointed to the people milling around, talking, eating, and exercising “—and Claudia’s life.”

Marcus pressed a hand to Shaw’s shoulder. Silent support.

Suddenly, the flap on the tent burst open. A gorgeous redhead by the name of Lia rushed in. She was one of the best drone operators they had.

“Sir? We have a lot of Gizzida activity by the Gordonstone Bridge. And I mean a lot. Something’s up.”

“Dammit, that’s along our new escape route. Thanks, Lia.” With a frown, the general turned to Elle. “Elle, can you pull it up on screen?”

Elle tapped her comp keys. “Coming up…now.”

The drone feed filled the screen, and Shaw knew the tiny little drone was zooming through the sky, operated by one of Lia’s team. After the aliens had destroyed the planet’s satellites, the humans had compensated by creating the drones and sending them out to gather intel. It gave the squads a fighting chance every time they went into the field.

The image showed raptors all over a large, metal bridge that spanned a wide river.

“Hell, you have the drone in close.” This came from Finn, the Hawk pilot. He abandoned his relaxed pose at the back of the tent and moved forward.

Lia barely spared him a glance. “We have several skilled drone pilots. We’re getting better and better at getting the drones in close and avoiding detection.”

“Sweetheart, you aren’t a pilot unless you’re sitting in a damn bird, flying it.”

Her face went cool and she raised a brow. “Only arrogant, hopped-up flight jockeys spout that kind of nonsense. I bet I could out-fly you with a drone or a Hawk any day.”

“People,” Holmes said. “Focus.”

On any other day, Shaw would have been amused by the interplay, but right now, he was focused on the mass of aliens on the screen, his gut going hard.

“Damn. That’s a lot of aliens,” Marcus muttered. The rest of Hell Squad murmured their agreement from behind him.

There were large groups of raptor soldiers. Then Shaw saw something else lumber into view.

“Rex,” he said. “No wait—” three more appeared in the image “—make that rexes.”

The huge alien monster resembled the Tyrannosaurus rex of old, so they’d been dubbed rexes. They were huge, vicious, and very territorial.

Then Shaw frowned. “Holy hell, is that what I think it is?”

Elle looked back over her shoulder. “Yes. They’re saddled, with riders.”

“Rex riders,” Shaw murmured. They’d never seen this before. The rexes were wild and unpredictable. Usually the raptors sent them in, like wild bulls, and let them stomp around, destroying stuff.

“What the hell are they up to now?” Roth muttered.

Shaw frowned. That many rexes in one place was bad enough, but having riders meant they were controlled. Not good.

The sound of a throat clearing came from across the tent. Captain Laura Bladon stood, her red hair caught back in its usual braid. Since she’d shacked up with Noah Kim, she’d relaxed a lot, but she still wore her uniform—even if the jacket was gone and the top buttons on her shirt were open. She was damned efficient at her job as head of the prison and interrogation unit.

“My team has been working with the medical team to research all the various alien species. We believe the rexes have an extraordinarily strong sense of smell.”

“With our illusion system, they can’t see us, hear us, or capture us on scans,” Elle said. “But they can smell us. They’re trying to sniff us out.”

Curses echoed around the tent, and the general dropped into a chair, staring at the rex riders. “We cannot let them get close enough for that to happen.”

As everyone in the tent talked around him, Shaw continued to watch the aliens on the screen. He really didn’t give a fuck about the rexes. Sure, he wanted the convoy out of the mountains safely, but all he really wanted to focus on was their next move to find Claudia. And all of this was just noise getting in the way of that.

Movement at the edge of the screen caught his gaze. The image wasn’t crystal-clear and he squinted, trying to make it out.

Someone was fighting.

“Wait. Lia, can you have your operator zoom in?” He pointed. “Over there.”

Lia nodded and touched her ear. Through her earpiece, she talked to her operator.

The image changed, the drone moving closer, then zooming in tighter.

There. His heart stopped. It was Claudia, wrestling with a huge alien raptor.

Shaw could barely draw a breath. He watched her slam a boot into the raptor’s midsection. It toppled over like a tree. Another came in from the side. She spun, and this time her kick connected with the alien’s head and sent him staggering. Shaw realized her hands were chained together.

She moved back, shielding a smaller, more slender figure who was hunched in a ball beside her. That had to be the other prisoner.

Claudia turned, and the drone captured a perfect view of her face.

Shaw felt a sense of admiration, relief, and pure, unadulterated rage. He saw that same tough face he’d seen every day for a year and a half. Not beautiful, she had too many angles and sharp edges for that, but it was certainly compelling. Her “I’m going to pound your face into the ground” look was in place. It was one of her best. But her left eye was black and swollen.

And she was babying her left leg.

Three raptors charged at her, and he knew this wasn’t going to be a fair fight.

One raptor punched her in the stomach, and she fell to her knees. Another kicked her from behind, and she went down. He could see her mouth moving, and knew she was no doubt hurling insults at them.

The third raptor tangled a hand in her hair and slammed her head into the ground.

This time she didn’t get back up. She didn’t move at all.

Shaw didn’t realize he’d moved. But suddenly, he was aware he’d charged forward, and Marcus and Cruz were holding him back, one on each side.

“We’re going in,” Shaw snapped. “Now.”

Marcus nodded. “We’re going in.”

General Holmes sighed and rubbed his face. “Half the damn alien army is there. You go in, it tips them off that we’re close.”

Shaw surged against the arms holding him. “We can’t fucking leave her there.”

“I know that,” the general bit out. “But like I said before, I have to think about everybody.” He stabbed a finger to the outside of the tent.

Shaw gritted his teeth. Fuck, he knew the general was right, but dammit, he was torn.

Holmes shoved his hands behind his neck, staring at the ground.

Then he raised his head. “Go.” He took them all in, his blue eyes glittering. “Go and get her.”

Marcus and Cruz released Shaw’s arms, and a second later, all the men of Hell Squad were running from the command tent.

Chapter Three

The Hawk dipped low, and beneath them laid the twisting snake of a river, the sun glinting off the water. Shaw gripped the handhold overhead, staring out the side window of the copter.

They were getting close. Close to the raptors, the rexes, and Claudia.

He was going to bring her home.

“Okay, listen up,” Marcus growled.

Shaw turned his head, and glanced at the rest of his squad. Each man was armored up and holding his carbine. Shaw’s gaze lingered briefly on the man who’d temporarily filled Claudia’s spot. Tane Rahia was a tall beast of a guy who took badass to a new level. The New Zealander had dark hair pulled back in dreadlocks, some Maori heritage, and a face Shaw guessed the ladies would love—if the guy didn’t look like he could kill you in about three seconds and not break a sweat doing it. Shaw didn’t know him well, but he’d heard Tane had been a mercenary before the invasion, fighting in some of the world’s shittiest, dirtiest hot spots. Apparently he’d specialized in hostage extraction.

He was now leader of Squad Three, the crazy lot also known as the berserkers.

“We can’t risk being dropped too close to the alien site. There are just too many of them, plus a whole pack of rexes with these riders.” A muscle in Marcus’ jaw flexed. “And they have soldiers patrolling the roads leading in. They’d see us coming before we got close.”

Shaw shifted. “So what the hell are we going to do?”

Marcus’ gaze focused in on him. “Finn is going to fly in low over the river. We’re going for a swim.”

Reed grinned. “Awesome.” The former Navy SEAL loved the water.

Shaw raised his eyebrows. “Swim in? They won’t expect it?”

“Nope. They aren’t watching the river at all.” Marcus held up a handful of tiny breathers. “Everyone take one.”

The small device clamped between a swimmer’s teeth and helped him breathe underwater for a set period of time. Their armor, with its built-in exoskeleton, would also help propel them through the water.

“Squad Nine is en route to the opposite side of the bridge.” Marcus managed a tiny smile. “They are going to cause a distraction for us.”

“That means make a lot of noise and a big mess,” Cruz added with a grin.

Roth and his mostly female squad were damned trustworthy. They got the job done, and did it well. Shaw had seen men who’d underestimated the ladies—and the Squad Nine soldiers never let them forget it.

“Whatever the hell Roth has cooked up, we get in and head straight for Claudia’s location. They’re keeping her in an abandoned building, slightly apart from the main activity near the bridge,” Marcus said. “Got it?”

Everyone nodded.

Then Marcus moved closer to Shaw. “You going to hold your shit together on this mission, Baird?”

Shaw sucked in a breath and nodded. “Whatever I have to do to get her out.”

Marcus studied his face for a second, then nodded. “Good. We stick together and we’ll get her out. No going rogue and pissing me off. I don’t need to lose two soldiers.”

Shaw nodded, but he meant what he’d said. Whatever he had to do to free her. If he pissed Marcus off in the process, well, that was too bad.

“Almost at the drop off point,” Finn called back.

Shaw grabbed his breather and stuck it in his mouth. He took a quick breath, heard the small device make a noise, and tasted recycled air. He double-checked his armor, and then checked his rifle again. His long-range sniper rifle had been with him since before the invasion. Ever since he’d taken sniper training back when he’d first joined the Coalition Army, shooting had just clicked for him. Taking his time, assessing all the factors, and waiting for the right moment…it was like time slowed, and everything inside him went quiet. There, in that moment, he had a calm and control he’d never had in his life before.

He slid a hand down the well-worn side of the rifle. Yeah, his baby had been with him in the depths of hell. Now she’d help get Claudia out.

Marcus slid the door of the Hawk open, the sound of the rushing air deafening.

“Hell Squad, ready to go to hell?”

They all knew that this time, they were going to hell for one of their own.

“Hell yeah,” the squad shouted in unison. “The devil needs an ass-kicking!”

Marcus nodded. “Gabe, you’re up.”

Gabe gave a nod and without a flash of emotion on his face, stepped out of the Hawk. He arrowed straight down into the river and sliced cleanly into the water.

“Tane.”

The Squad Three soldier followed Gabe.

Marcus met Shaw’s gaze. “You’re up. Reed is next, then Cruz and I will be right behind.”

Shaw tossed him a small salute, then stepped off the Hawk.

Finn had flown in low, so it wasn’t far to drop. Shaw cut into the water, felt the drop in temperature, then kicked upward. He touched the controls on his armor that adjusted his weight to keep him just beneath the surface. He spotted Tane and Gabe floating in the water nearby.

Only moments later, the rest of Hell Squad splashed in from above. Using hand signals, Marcus directed them toward their exit point.

It was quiet and calm in the dark water of the river. As Shaw kicked, propelling himself through the water, he could barely make out anything around him.

But he knew that out of the river, just meters away, it wasn’t quiet or calm.

Marcus eventually stopped and gestured upward. They all rose, stealthily, until only their eyes peeked out above the waterline.

Shaw swallowed a curse. Raptor soldiers were everywhere. Then his gaze shifted and landed on the rexes.

Holy hell. He’d forgotten just how massive those things truly were. Seeing one on the drone feed was one thing. Seeing them in real life was something else. Hell Squad had, unfortunately, had the pleasure of a few close encounters with rexes in the past. One of those encounters had involved Elle, and Marcus had almost lost his mind when the woman he loved had been caught in the claws of one of those massive beasts.

One lumbered nearby, with giant clawed feet and large jaws. As they stomped past, the water around Shaw rippled. There were four more rexes moving together, each one saddled with a raptor rider.

“We wait for Squad Nine,” Marcus murmured in Shaw’s earpiece. “See the beige building to the right? That’s our target.”

Shaw looked and spotted the building. It looked like it had been some sort of car garage and gas station that had long gone out of business.

Suddenly, an explosion ripped through the morning air.

Shaw sank a little lower in the water, and watched a giant fireball rise into the air.

Fuck. The Squad Nine soldiers did not mess around. He already knew you pissed the squad’s ladies off at your own expense. Another explosion boomed, and a blue ball of smoke and flame rose into the air. Holy hell. The center of the ball turned a brilliant red, and then a massive secondary explosion hit.

“Backfire explosive.” Shaw glanced at Reed, their explosives expert. “You show them how to use that?”

Reed grinned. “They took to it like amphibious vehicles to water.”

“Let’s go.” Marcus kicked toward the bank closest to the garage building.

As the explosions continued, the rexes panicked. They charged around, letting out enraged roars and trampling raptor soldiers. Then Shaw heard the distinctive whine of carbine laser fire and knew that Squad Nine had boots on the ground and were kicking alien butt.

Hell Squad exited the water and moved in a line, running toward their target. Shaw kept his rifle up, eye pressed to his scope. While the others would be looking for targets in close range, he always searched for targets farther out. He saw three raptors heading in their direction. His finger tightened on the trigger, but didn’t pull it as he made his lightning-fast calculations. Some of it was conscious, but most of it came from gut instinct and experience. He targeted the first raptor and fired.

One down. As the raptor jerked, Shaw swiveled a few degrees to the left, and pulled the trigger. Two down. As he tracked the third, the alien was already moving to avoid him. Shaw adjusted, fired.

Three down.

“Target ahead,” Marcus said through their earpieces. “Prepare to go in hot. Gabe, get that door open.”

Shaw saw the door was chained shut. He turned to watch for anyone sneaking up on them as Gabe yanked the chain off. It wasn’t just his exoskeleton that gave the soldier extra power. Gabe had superhuman strength from his time in a secret super-soldier project.

As Marcus ordered them to move inside, something caught Shaw’s eye.

There was a large, dilapidated shed ten meters away. The old roller door was sitting half way up.

Something made him hesitate. The grass around it was overgrown, the metal on the walls rusted. It hadn’t been used for a long time.

“Shaw? Move it,” Marcus said, his tone abrupt.

“Coming.”

But as the rest of his squad moved inside, Shaw spotted a red glow from inside the shed.

He frowned, and saw that red glow move.

It was a hellion. More than one hellion. The alien hunting dogs were similar to the canids but even more vicious, and filled with a toxic poison that made their bellies glow red.

Shaw’s muscles tensed. The damn things were there for a reason, and not racing out to attack Hell Squad.

They were protecting something.

The rest of his team had slipped inside. Shaw touched his ear. “Marcus, hellions are protecting something in a shed out back. I think that’s where she is.”

“Stick to the plan…shit.”

Carbine fire and growls erupted inside.

“Take them down,” Marcus roared. “There aren’t many.”

Shaw took a step to enter and help his team…and then stopped. He could hear they had the situation under control.

And out near the shed, he saw the hellions had disappeared. To warn someone? Dammit. Following his gut, he changed directions and headed for the shed.

As he stepped into the gloom, he couldn’t see the hellions anywhere. He saw the shed was divided into bays, each with a roller door down. The floor was dirty but large boots had recently left footprints in the dust.

Then he heard a growl.

It didn’t matter how many times he’d heard it, the sound still lifted the hairs on his arms. He swung his rifle around.

A hellion slunk out of the gloom.

Then another.

And another.

As Shaw watched, the rabid hellions advanced, all staring at him with glowing red eyes, drool dripping from their sharp fangs.

***

Claudia heard the hellions growling and snarling outside.

Someone was coming.

She moved and pain shot through her. She stifled a groan.

“They’re coming,” Selena whispered. Desperation and fear coated her words.

As usual, the two of them were chained up back to back. At least they’d been allowed to sit, even if their arms were still chained up above their heads. Claudia was just thankful she could stretch her injured leg out.

Selena started to cry quietly. “I…I cannot survive much more of this.”

“Yes, you can.” Claudia made her voice as tough as she could. Hell, she understood. She was ashamed to admit that there was a part of her that felt nothing but despair. If she let it loose, she’d curl up in a ball and give up. Fuck that. “My squad is coming.”

That was Claudia’s mantra. Hell Squad is coming. Hell Squad is coming.

“Claudia…” Selena voice held sympathy.

“They. Are. Coming.” The woman didn’t know them like she did. They would never give up. Ever.

Shaw wouldn’t give up. Ever.

Claudia moved again, and the pain that shot through her leg rolled over her like a black wave, outrageous in its strength. It caused the can of beans she’d eaten earlier, all the aliens had provided her with in two days, to feel like it was going to come back up.

Dammit. The pain was the worst it had been yet, and she felt like her head wasn’t right. She was drifting a bit, fuzzy…and that would get her killed, if the Huntsman came back for more entertainment.

She squeezed her eyes closed, and imagined she was hanging with her squad at one of the Friday night gatherings at the base. Drinking homebrewed beer, listening to Cruz make love to his guitar. She’d be trading barbs with Shaw. Shaw. She could picture his face so easily. Green eyes, the small lines at the corners of them, tanned skin and tawny hair that glinted gold in the sun. His smile. He had a damn good smile.

Outside the door, she heard a scuffle. Probably the hellions fighting each other again. They did that on a regular basis.

Then the noise stopped. Claudia felt Selena go stiff.

The sound of the roller door rising with a loud, rusty rumble echoed in the small space, and Claudia tasted bile in her mouth. She was facing away from the door—not that it mattered, because one of her eyes was swollen shut and the other was swollen enough that she could barely see, anyway.

The sound of footsteps, slow and deliberate, made her stomach clench. The Huntsman walked like that, but these steps didn’t sound heavy enough.

They stopped in front of Claudia and she forced her good eye open.

She froze. Okay, now she was hallucinating with her eyes open. Shaw was crouched in front of her, staring at her, struggling with the heavy emotions crossing his face. She blinked. But he didn’t disappear like every other time she’d conjured his image to get through this hell. He was wearing his armor and it was splattered with blood.

He reached out and touched the side of her face. “You took a wrong fucking turn and got yourself lost, Frost.”

Emotion slammed into her, making her throat go tight and her nose tingle. “You took your time.” Her voice was a husky whisper.

Now he cupped both her cheeks with a gentleness she rarely saw from him. “I’ve never stopped searching for you. Hell Squad never leaves anyone behind. I’d never leave you behind.”

Hell, tears welled, and she wanted to cry. She never cried. She’d given it up a long time ago.

Sounds of movement came from outside and Shaw swiveled, his rifle coming up in a blink.

“A simple order, Baird.” Marcus stomped into view. “Don’t go fucking rogue, and stick together.” Then his tough face gentled slightly and he touched Claudia’s shoulder. “Nice to see you, Claudia.”

“I am damned glad you’re here,” Claudia managed through her tight throat. “Can you unchain me? And help Selena too.” Claudia could hear her fellow prisoner’s fast breaths. “She’s been a prisoner with me all this time.”

“Hello, querida.” Cruz appeared and tapped Claudia’s nose. In his other hand, he was holding a set of laser cutters. Shaw slipped an arm around her, and nodded at Cruz.

Reed appeared and winked at Claudia. “I’ll help your friend.” He circled around them.

Cruz made short work of the chains, and when Claudia’s arms dropped down, the pain was astounding. “Ow, ow, ow.”

“Pins and needles. Sore joints.” Shaw started rubbing her arms and shoulders. “It’ll start to feel a bit better in a minute, and when we get you somewhere safe, a dose of nanomeds will take care of the rest.”

She nodded and pressed into his touch. She hadn’t realized just how starved she’d been to feel someone who cared beside her.

“Uh, guys…?” Reed said.

Claudia frowned. Reed never sounded so…flustered.

Shaw shifted and helped Claudia turn a little. For the first time since their captivity, Claudia got a look at Selena.

Claudia gasped, her mouth opening and closing as she looked at her friend. “You…aren’t human.”

Chapter Four

Shaw kept his arms around Claudia and studied the other woman.

Selena had her arms wrapped around her middle. She looked up, blinking. She was humanoid and wasn’t hugely different to them, but her skin was as pale as the moon and it glowed a little. Her body was extremely slender and her green eyes were larger than the average human’s. Her hair was the same silver-white shade as her skin.

Another alien. Shaw tightened his hold on Claudia. The solid strength of her settled the awful raging that had been pounding at him all week.

“I… No, I am not of your world,” Selena said quietly.

“But you speak perfect English,” Claudia said.

Selena waved a slim hand at her head. “I have technology, it allows me to pick up a new language after hearing a sample of it.”

“Jesus,” Shaw uttered.

Selena straightened and swallowed. “I am an enemy of the Gizzida. Please…don’t leave me here.”

“No one is leaving you here,” Claudia said firmly.

Shaw glanced at Marcus, who was staring at the alien woman. At that moment, a massive explosion outside rocked the building, causing a shower of dust to fall down around them. The men all cursed.

“We need to go,” Marcus said. “Selena, we’ll have questions for you. Later.”

The woman nodded. “Of course.”

“Let’s go, Frost.” Shaw helped her up. He reluctantly let go of her and she nearly toppled over.

He grabbed her again and she winced. “My left leg’s broken.”

Shaw felt a savage rage pour through him. He gritted his teeth. Damn, he hated seeing what the bastard raptors had done to her.

“They have broken her leg, healed it, then broken it again. Repeatedly,” Selena added.

Shaw cursed. Then did it again, really wanting to hit something. When he looked back at Claudia, she was grinning.

“How can you be smiling?” he snapped.

“Hearing your creative cursing…it’s so normal.” Her smile slipped. “Wasn’t sure I’d get the chance to hear it again.”

He just stared at her, pulling in every detail. She was alive. That was all that mattered for now. He dipped and scooped her into his arms.

“Shaw!”

“I know, I know. You don’t like being carried. But since you’ve been held captive, have a broken leg, can barely see out of your swollen face, and have no exoskeleton armor on, can we please skip the argument?”

Claudia sniffed and slid her arm along his shoulders. “Fine. But just this once. This doesn’t mean you get to schlep me around like a fucking damsel after we get back.”

“Noted.”

“All right,” Marcus said. “Reed, you carry Selena. We’re going to head back to the river and cross to the other side. Finn’ll pick us up there, while Squad Nine provides cover fire if required. Let’s move.”

Shaw jogged out of the shed. Cruz and Gabe were ahead, checking their way was clear. As they exited the building, they entered chaos.

Raptors were running in every direction. Rexes were still rampaging. In the sky, he saw two sleek, black shadows whizz past, spraying laser fire.

Darkswifts. Squad Nine loved the small, two-seater, powered gliders.

“Move,” Marcus growled.

They followed the line of the trees, heading toward the river. Shaw and Reed stuck to the middle of the group. If any raptors got too close, the others fired and took them down.

With every jolt and jump, he heard Claudia’s stifled groans. She was in a hell of a lot of pain. He gritted his teeth. As soon as they were on the Hawk, he could give her something to help.

As Shaw skidded down the riverbank, he handed Claudia a breather. “Just in case we have to dive underwater.”

“Thanks.”

He set her down gently, still taking most of her weight. “Almost home.”

She watched as the rest of the squad waded into the river, then looked back at him. “I already am.”

Fuck. Emotion made his chest tight. He cupped her face and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. It was fast, barely a brush, but when he pulled back, she was staring at him, wide-eyed.

Suddenly, there was a huge boom.

The ground beneath them heaved, and he grabbed Claudia before she fell.

Above them, the arch of the metal bridge had been blown to smithereens.

Huge, fiery pieces of metal splashed into the river.

“Come on.” He dragged her into the water and, with his arms around her, he pushed off the bank.

A few powerful kicks had them following in the wake of the others. He felt her shiver.

“Shit. Sorry, the water’s cold and you have no protection.”

“Shaw, I haven’t bathed for a week. The water is fine.”

His lips twitched. They were a third of the way across the river when something started hitting the water around them.

He heard guttural shouts echo from the bank behind them, and heard the sound of the raptor weapons. As raptor poison splashed into the water around them, it sizzled.

Dammit. Claudia had no armor. If it touched her skin…he kicked harder.

Then he felt Claudia’s hand slide down his side, tug at his waistband. What the hell?

She yanked his laser pistol out and aimed over his shoulder. “Keep swimming, Shaw.”

He nodded. The laser pistol fired. She had that same look on her face she always did on a mission—tough, grim determination.

The raptor fire fizzled away and soon they were nearing the other bank. The rest of the squad was already out. As he got closer, Marcus waded in knee deep and pulled Claudia out.

Shaw checked his rifle was secure on his shoulder, then held his arms out. “I’ve got her.”

Marcus nodded and handed her back.

Shaw thought he heard her mumble something about a sack of potatoes.

They jogged up the bank and, as they crested the rise, he saw the quadcopter ahead, hovering a few meters off the ground.

Shaw kept his head down, covering Claudia. At the Hawk, he planted a boot on the side step and jumped inside. Claudia made another pained sound. The rest of the team leaped in, and Marcus slammed the door closed.

“Go. Go!”

Shaw swiveled, and through the side window, saw three raptor power boats racing across the river. They were low crafts, made of black metal, with sharp, pointed bows.

Shaw settled in a chair, Claudia in his lap. “Time to strap in.” He barely got the harness around them when the Hawk shot skyward. Nearby, Cruz cursed. Across from him, Reed sat with Selena beside him. She was wet, bedraggled, and her teeth were chattering. Cold and tired, she looked less alien for some reason.

“Selena? You okay?” Claudia asked.

“I’m fine.” Selena managed a wan smile. “Thank you.”

Shaw looked down and froze. A single tear was tracking down Claudia’s cheek.

Claudia Frost didn’t cry. Ever.

“Hey.” He shifted her a little. “What’s—”

“Nothing.” She swiped at her face. “Damn leg is killing me.”

Shaw knew what it was like to be injured on a mission. Sometimes you didn’t even feel your injuries until you got somewhere safe.

“Cruz, Claudia needs something for the pain.” Shaw studied her pallor. “And some fluids.”

“I can wait—”

“Shut it, Frost. We know you’re tough, you don’t have to prove it to us.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she glared at him. “And to think I missed you.”

Her words had warmth filling him. He slid a hand into her dark hair. It was matted and dirty, and he didn’t give a shit. “I missed you.”

Her gray eyes drooped half closed, and she picked at her trousers. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

Her words were barely more than a whisper.

His hands flexed on her. “I was always coming for you.”

She pressed her face into his chest. Nearby, Cruz pulled open the first aid kit. He pressed an injector to her neck.

“That’ll take the edge off, querida. Doc Emerson has the good stuff back at camp. I think she’ll spare some for you.”

“Thanks,” Claudia mumbled. “Shaw?”

“Yeah.”

“Hold me.”

Shaw’s throat tightened. He wrapped his arms around her more securely, his gaze meeting Cruz’s. He couldn’t read the exact expression on the other man’s face. Then Cruz bent over Claudia’s arm and slid a needle in, before hooking her up to a bag of fluids.

Shaw stroked her hair.

“Don’t let go,” she murmured.

He pressed his chin to her hair. “I’ve got you.”

But Shaw knew he couldn’t hold on to her for long. He just wasn’t good at the love and caring thing. The one person he’d loved…he’d abandoned and failed. His kind of love and caring was poison.

But for now, he was holding onto this woman…until she didn’t need him anymore.

***

It was quiet in the medical bus, except for the occasional beep of some machine. Shaw sat on an uncomfortable stool, his upper armor stacked beside his boots. He watched Claudia sleep.

“How is she?” a deep voice asked.

Shaw looked up at Marcus. The man had showered and his dark hair was still damp. “She’s okay. Doc Emerson sedated her, checked her over for any raptor surprises, and did some work on her leg.”

Marcus nodded and looked to the end of the bus, where Emerson sat in her white lab coat talking with Selena. “And our guest?”

“Seems okay. Weak, dehydrated, shaken, but hanging in there. General was in to see her.”

Marcus grunted. “He’ll be a bit upset to have an unknown alien in our midst.” The leader of Hell Squad frowned, staring at the woman. “We can’t afford to take risks right now. The raptors find us, we all die.”

“You think Selena is an enemy?” She looked as though a light breeze would knock her over.

“I hope not. But we’ll keep an eye on her. The Gizzida have sent sleeper agents in before. That didn’t work out. Maybe they’re trying something new.”

Damn. Shaw hadn’t thought of it like that. “She let the doc take a few samples for testing. She’s cooperating.”

Marcus nodded. “Let’s hope it stays that way. I don’t want to further traumatize someone who’s been a prisoner of the raptors.”

Doc Emerson appeared. “Hi, Marcus.” She shot Shaw an exasperated look. “I told you to get some rest.”

Shaw crossed his arms. “I’m resting here.”

The doc shook her head, her blonde hair brushing her jaw. “You alpha males are all hopeless. You’d think living with Gabe would have taught me a few tricks for getting around you guys.” She let out a gusty sigh. “When he gets that same stubborn look you have, Shaw, I know it’s best just to give in.”

“Sounds like he has taught you a few things.”

She shot him a mock scowl. “Careful. I have injectors filled with powerful drugs. And women are sneakier than men. We just convince you what we want was your idea in the first place.”

Shaw blinked. Really?

“How’s Selena?” Marcus asked.

Emerson nodded. “Resting. She doesn’t appear to be as strong as us, but she’s hanging in there. I think with some rest, food, and light exercise, she’ll improve.” The doctor’s eyes flashed. “I’m eager to study her biology. Did you know her blood is green? It’s fascinating…” She petered off, her gaze moving between the two of them. “Right, I’m losing you.”

“Claudia?” Marcus asked.

All the excitement leaked from the doc’s face and she sighed.

Shaw reached out and touched Claudia’s hand. It was warm and his tight chest eased.

“They repeatedly broke her leg. It appears they did some minor repair work to it, only to break it again. I’ve given her a dose of nanos, and they are working to heal it…”

“I hear a but in there,” Shaw said, dread growing.

“It’s too early to tell—”

“Doc, just tell us,” Shaw said sharply.

“She might never have full movement in that leg again.”

Shaw’s mouth went dry. “But she’ll walk.”

“Yes.” Emerson looked at Marcus, then Shaw. “But she might not be able to fight.”

Marcus’ face was scary blank. “You’re saying she won’t be fit for the squad?”

Shaw shook his head. “The squad’s her life, Doc. She needs to fight.” He studied Claudia now. Even while sleeping, she didn’t look soft or sweet. Nope, even now, she looked as intense and tough as always.

“Like I said, it’s too early to tell. I’ll know more once she can do some rehab therapy on it. All we can do is wait and see.” She patted Shaw’s shoulder, and walked to her desk at the other end of the bus.

“Damn.” Shaw raked a hand through his hair. If Claudia couldn’t fight…

“She’ll overcome this,” Marcus said. “Same way she does everything else.”

God, Shaw hoped that was true.

She was alive. It was really all that mattered. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest under the white blanket. Whatever happened, he was here for her.

Chapter Five

Claudia hobbled around the bunk and grabbed the crutch Doc Emerson had given her. She jammed it under her left arm.

She wasn’t in agony, and she was clean, fed, and dressed—thanks to one of Emerson’s competent and bossy nurses. She shifted again and she felt a dull twinge in her left leg. The doc had done everything she could, but the situation with Claudia’s leg was complicated.

Damn raptors had done a number on her. Emerson had been upfront with the facts—there was a small chance her leg might never be strong enough for combat duty. A chorus of blinking lights appeared beneath the fabric of her cargo pants. The doc had found a regen patch that was doing some extra work on her leg. Only downside was that it was a little painful.

Still, nothing compared to what she’d survived this last week. Her hand drifted to her left hipbone, rubbing the ragged scar there. She’d often pass out and wake up with her injuries healed. The frightening thing was, some of them she didn’t remember getting. She hated not knowing exactly what the bastards had done to her.

Screw the raptors. She’d do whatever the hell she had to do in order to be back with her squad, carbine in hand.

Claudia hobbled down the line of bunks. Many were occupied—by people injured in the raptor attack on Blue Mountain Base. She still couldn’t believe the base was gone.

It had been their home, their sanctuary. These people had been living with the reality of that, and life on the run, for over a week. Claudia still needed a bit more time to accept it and adjust.

And right now, she wanted off this bus. She might still need to work on the leg, but she wasn’t staying here. She wanted to be with her squad and she knew there was a debrief scheduled.

At the med bus door, she contemplated the step down to the ground.

Suddenly two strong hands appeared and circled her waist. In one quick lift, she was off the bus and on the ground.

“I could have made it.” She scowled and got comfortable on her crutch.

Shaw raised a brow. “I know. I’m just helping.”

“I’m fine.”

He rolled his eyes. “I see you have a regen patch on. Glad the doc could find one. I know we don’t have many left.”

“Like I said, I’m fine.” Claudia took in the sight of the Swift Wind Convoy and her eyes widened.

They were in some small mountain town, abandoned since the aliens had invaded. Now, vehicles were parked in two long rows, ready to go at short notice. Defenses had been raised, including small, portable autocannons, and she saw Z6-Hunter armored vehicles strategically placed as well.

The convoy vehicles were a mishmash of SUVs, buses, cars, vans and trucks. All converted and retrofitted, so people could live in them as comfortably as possible.

But as strange as the convoy looked, Claudia felt a small sense of pride. The ingenuity and can-do spirit of the Blue Mountain survivors shone through. They never gave up, they just kept adapting, fighting back, and moving forward.

Just then, a small group of kids rushed past, almost crashing into them. They were kicking a soccer ball around, all of them laughing and running into each other.

“Command tent is this way.” Shaw pointed to what looked like a small patch of park. She spotted a canvas tent set up there.

With a nod, she hobbled off. Her crutch caught in a crack on the road, and she nearly fell. Shaw’s hand circled her elbow, holding her upright.

God, she felt like such an invalid. She’d been injured before, but with nanomeds, she’d usually bounced right back. Those little medical machines were miraculous, and could heal just about anything. But this knee, and her injury before this—courteous of a giant Gizzida snake-alien—took longer to heal. Maybe she was just getting old.

“I’m okay.” She tried to jerk her arm out of his hold.

He held fast. “Just lean a little, Frost.”

She didn’t lean. On anybody. She trusted her squad a hundred times over, but she didn’t lean if she was still standing upright. Once, a lifetime ago, she had not just leaned on someone, she’d thrown herself in his arms completely. And as a result, he’d almost destroyed her, body and soul. Lesson learned.

She huffed out a breath. “This injury is temporary.” Maybe if she said that enough, she might start to believe it. Fear was a small acid burn in her chest.

Shaw nodded. “Hell yeah. Nothing will keep you down for long. I know you, Claudia, whenever something is bothering you, you just smash it over the head and show it how badass you are.”

She fought back a smile, and glared at his hand around her arm. “That doesn’t seem to work with you.” She felt the tensile strength of him. He was far stronger than his lean frame suggested.

“I’m helping you over to the damn tent. I already know you’re badass.” He ran his tongue along his teeth, and shot her a sideways glance. “I also know your bark is far worse than your bite.”

Claudia lifted her crutch and whacked it down on his foot.

“Ouch!”

“I’ll make you feel my bite,” she growled.

The air changed. Suddenly, their gazes clashed, clung. A Technicolor image of her biting into his bare skin—his hard chest, his muscled stomach, his… She stared at him, felt heat flare all over, including her damn cheeks.

In his green eyes, she saw it. He was thinking the exact same thing.

God. She took a step back, and her injured leg almost went out from under her. She grabbed at her crutch. She was far too afraid to close the inches between them. This was Shaw. He loved all women, was never without some sweet little thing chasing after him. He was her squad mate, pain in her ass, and her friend. That was it.

“Hey, you two coming or what?”

Cruz’s smooth accent broke through the tension. She turned her head and saw him standing at the open flap of a large khaki tent.

“Coming.” With a sense of determination she usually saved for a mission, she headed in that direction, her crutch making a soft plod each time it touched the ground.

Awkwardly, she ducked inside.

Shaw was there in a second, his arm circling around her elbow again. She opened her mouth to blast him—

“Claudia, great to see you up and around.” This came from Reed.

“Hey, looking good, Frost.” Roth from Squad Nine nodded at her.

Gabe just gave her a slow once-over, then a thoughtful nod.

“Claudia.” Slim arms wrapped around her waist and she smelled Elle’s sweet floral perfume.

Her throat suddenly tight, Claudia hugged Elle clumsily, gripping the crutch in one hand.

Elle pulled back, tears in her eyes. “The guys never stopped looking.” Her words caught. “I knew you’d make it.” She patted Claudia’s arm and moved back to her makeshift desk and comp.

Her own eyes prickling a bit, Claudia searched around for a place to stand. Her leg was throbbing now.

Shaw pushed a chair in behind her.

She waved it off. “I said I’m fine.”

“Sit.”

“Didn’t you hear what I said—”

“I said sit.”

She rounded on him.

He bent down, his head close to hers, and his voice lowered to a lethal tone. “You want that leg to get better, don’t you?”

She felt a muscle tick in her cheek. Damned cocky sniper was right.

He pressed his hands to her shoulders and pushed her into the chair. As she got comfortable, Shaw took her crutch and held it.

“You just need a cute little nurse’s outfit,” she muttered.

He didn’t look at her, but raised a brow. “I’d prefer to see you wear it.” His voice lowered to a near-silent whisper. “Just for me.”

She whipped her head to look at the screen at the front of the tent.

There was a flap of canvas and General Adam Holmes entered. Spying her, he came straight over and grabbed her hand.

“I can’t tell you how good it is to see you,” he said.

Even without his uniform and his usual pressed look, he still carried the bearing of a man in charge. Authority was more than just clothes and posture.

“You too, sir,” she said with a nod. She thought he’d lost weight, and there were deep lines bracketing his mouth. She felt a rush of sympathy. This man had so many people depending on him, looking to him for their survival.

The general nodded, then spun and strode to the front of the tent. “Okay, let’s get this debrief done.” His gaze came back to her. “Claudia, you spent a week with the aliens. If there is anything you saw or learned during that time, however big or small, we need to know. It could help.”

“Yes, sir.”

Then his face changed a little. “We also need to discuss Selena.”

Claudia pulled in a breath. “I know.” She shifted her leg to get it more comfortable. “She was with me the entire time. God, if it wasn’t for her, I may have gone crazy in there. She might be an alien, but she says she is an enemy of the Gizzida, and I believe her.”

The general pressed a hand to his chin. “From what she’s told me, she’s from a planet very far away from here. It’s called Florum. Her people have battled the Gizzida before, but for the most part, the Gizzida leave her planet alone. She says she was snatched off a moon where she was working. She is some sort of biologist.”

“They taunted her a lot, smacked her around a bit, but the Gizzida weren’t really that focused on her,” Claudia said.

“She’s a wildcard, Claudia. I can’t give her free access around the convoy until we understand better who she is, and why the Gizzida went to the trouble of capturing her and bringing her here.”

Claudia nodded, but she wondered how the hell delicate Selena would make it in the middle of this battle for survival on a planet so far from her own.

“Now, what intel do you have on the raptor bases?” Holmes asked.

“I didn’t get to see a base, because the raptors moved me every few days.”

“Because we were breathing down their scaly necks,” Shaw muttered.

She’d figured as much. Hoped as much. “They wanted information on the convoy. What it consisted of, how many people.” Memories of the beatings, the torture, the pain, it all tried to crowd back in. She ruthlessly stomped them out. “They tried to be…persuasive, but I wouldn’t say their interrogation techniques were particularly creative.” A hand on her shoulder again. Shaw squeezed gently. She wasn’t sure if he was comforting her or himself. Maybe both. “I would say for the most part, the Gizzida are very straightforward. They are intelligent, no doubt, but they aren’t cunning, or they don’t see the need for clever strategy.” She shrugged. “They don’t need guerrilla tactics and shrewd plans. They have the numbers, the brute strength, and the tech to just overrun any planet they attempt to assimilate.”

The general nodded. “We can use that to our advantage.”

“But some individual Gizzida are certainly capable of…more.” She remembered the soulless eyes of the Huntsman. “There was one specific raptor—” Her voice cracked a little, and she sensed Shaw go still. Get it together, Frost. “From what I can tell, this raptor is in charge of finding our convoy.” A bad taste filled her mouth. “And he won’t give up until he finds us.”

A taut hush filled the tent.

The general shifted. “Tell me.”

“I called him the Huntsman.” She could hear those slow, steady boot steps getting closer. She clenched her hands in her lap. “He looks like any other raptor, but he wears a red leather bandolier on his chest, not a standard brown one like the others. He’s calm, he’s…patient…and he wants to capture our convoy.”

“Shit,” Shaw murmured, followed by a few mutters from the others.

Holmes ran a hand through his hair. “You believe he’s a threat?”

“Yes, sir. Because I believe he is capable of taking risks, of trying something out of the box—at least, for a raptor’s way of thinking. He saw that I was protective of Selena, and threatened her as a way to get to me. He forced me to fight his soldiers, I believe as a way to assess my strengths and weaknesses. He’s trying to understand us. The other raptors, they just hit as hard as they can.”

She heard Shaw’s loud expulsion of breath. This time, she moved a hand back and touched his thigh. The muscles were bunched up hard.

“The Huntsman is coming, General,” she added, “and he won’t give up.”

Holmes’ face hardened. “Nor will we. I am getting this convoy to the Enclave.” There was sheer force behind his words. Resolute firmness. “I’ve lost enough people, and I won’t lose any more. Tomorrow, we’ll move to the next location. Our amended route is a little longer, but will hopefully avoid the raptors.”

“And if this Huntsman gets too close…?” Marcus said.

“We’ll adjust. And I will need Hell Squad to keep him off our backs.”

Marcus gave a grim nod.

Claudia felt a lump in the center of her chest. Her squad would be going out there, to face the Huntsman. They needed her with them.

***

“Come on. Again,” Shaw said.

“Fuck you, Shaw.” Claudia’s voice held its usual edge, but also the slight wobble of exhaustion.

Shaw was torn. A part of him was just thankful to hear that cranky voice nipping at him again, but another part wanted to scoop her up, hold her, and take the pain for her.

She was doing her therapy, as ordered by Doc Emerson. They were under the shade of a large tree, not far from the med bus. Claudia had been in to spend some time talking with Selena. Then the doc had given Claudia a therapy brace, and told her to get moving. It wrapped around her leg and held her upright, but put progressively more and more weight on her leg. She was drenched with sweat, and even shaking a little.

Instead of telling her she could stop, he focused on her leg, and that damned blinking regen patch. The more therapy she did, the better the patch would work, and the quicker she’d be back to her usual self.

“You’re enjoying my suffering,” she snapped.

He winked at her. Hell no, he wasn’t, but he wanted her better. “Didn’t know you were so soft. Might have to start calling you Princess.” It was the nickname she’d tormented Elle with when she’d first become Hell Squad’s comms officer.

“Soft?” Claudia spluttered. “You’re a sniper. And we all know snipers don’t like getting their pretty hands dirty by getting up close and personal with the enemy.”

“What?” He shoved his hands on his hips. “That’s bullshit.”

She grinned at him. “A soft, pretty-boy sniper.”

Even as righteous anger filled him, he was damned glad to see the flare in her metal-gray eyes and watch the misery melt off her face. “I am not soft. Look here.” He tugged the neckline of his T-shirt aside to bare his shoulder. “Look at this scar. Took a laser because I was up close and personal with a terrorist intent on blowing up a school.”

She made a scoffing noise. “That’s nothing.” She let her brace take her weight and tugged the hem of her shirt up. “This was a knife wound from an elite combat soldier I tangled with in the Middle East.”

She bared a flat, toned belly marred by a ragged scar. It had been worked on, flattened, and dulled by time. But it was still a hell of a scar.

“How about this?” He flicked open his trousers and shoved them down over one hip bone. “I have a bigger knife scar than that.”

The scar wove over his left hipbone. It had hurt like hell at the time.

“Oh, yeah?” She turned and gave him her back. Then she reached down and pulled her shirt up. “Help me. You’ll see it on my back, on my right shoulder blade. I got way too close to these rebel soldiers in a certain South American jungle.”

He tugged the T-shirt up and stilled. All he saw was smooth skin. She was a soldier, one who was tough as nails. Her skin shouldn’t be this smooth.

“See it?” she prompted.

He swallowed. “Yeah.” He traced a finger over the thick ridge of skin. “Someone got you. Deep.”

“Yep. He had this experimental laser knife and he was determined to take me down.” She looked back over her shoulder grinning. “I had other plans.”

Shaw traced the scar again, and then, because he couldn’t help himself, he smoothed his hand down her back. “Your skin is so soft.”

She went still.

He walked his fingers along the knobs of her spine. Even here, she was firm, with light ridges of muscle. But the tautness was tempered by that smooth skin that reminded him that, for all her toughness and skills in the field, she was a woman as well.

She shivered and that made his belly knot.

“Don’t,” she whispered.

Chapter Six

Shaw knew Claudia well enough to know she hadn’t used her “back off or I’ll break your fingers” tone. He brushed his fingers across her surprisingly delicate shoulder blades.

“At night, I couldn’t sleep,” he murmured. “I worried I’d never see you again. In the day, it was easier, I never gave up, but at night…”

“The doubts creep in,” she said quietly. “In the day, you believe, but at night, all your worst fears come to life.”

The thought of her alone in the dark, in pain, afraid, almost drove him to his knees. He cupped her waist. “But then the dawn breaks, and you believe again.”

She nodded.

He slid a hand around and spread his palm over her bare belly. Jesus, desire was like a flaming torch to his gut.

“We can’t do this,” she said.

“Why?” He leaned down and nipped her ear. This felt so good, was so tempting. He wasn’t sure he’d ever been so curious to know what a woman tasted like, what she would feel like in all her secret places, or what it would feel like to slide himself inside her.

“We’re squad mates—”

As he dipped a finger in her belly button, her breath hitched. “Mm-hmm.”

“We’re friends,” she continued.

“We both know this is more.” And there was the truth he’d tried to deny for over a year. He pressed his lips to the back of her neck. Hell, the skin here was even softer. “You smell so good. Like Claudia.”

“I smell like sweat, Baird.” She drew in a shuddering breath. “Sex ruins stuff. Always.”

Hearing her call this connection between them just sex left an acidic feeling in him. “It doesn’t have to, but we both know this is more than sex.”

She made a scoffing noise. “More than sex? When have you ever had more than sex, Shaw?”

He stiffened. “Okay, never, but I damn well know the difference.”

She half turned. “You’ve made it your mission to have as much sex as possible with whoever was willing. And that’s fine. There are a lot of people I know who are wired that way. There are a lot of men who prefer the buffet to the a la carte menu.”

“Claudia—”

She shook her head. “You know sex can make things awkward. I’ve seen the more…persistent soldier bunnies break into your room or track you down and make fools of themselves when you’re no longer interested.” She pushed away from him. “I won’t risk our squad for a quick roll in the hay.”

Shaw battled for some control. “So, this is all about the squad?”

“Yes.”

He ground his teeth together. “Bullshit. You want me. I want you. And this—” he grabbed her hand and made her watch as he tangled his fingers with hers “—we both feel this, and it is not just sex.”

She shook her head. “You like the ladies. That’s fine. But I won’t be just one on a long list.”

“I have never lied to anyone I’ve shared a bunk with.” Anger tickled through his veins. “I never promise more than a good time.”

“Then don’t lie to me.”

She was so stubborn. He saw it in the tilt of her chin. “I’m not, dammit.”

She pulled her hand from his, then touched his cheek. “You’re a bad bet, Shaw.”

It was like a solid blow to his sternum. In his head, he heard his father’s drunken roar, telling him the same thing. Useless, boy. A bad fucking bet.

He stepped back. “Have I ever lied to you?”

“No. But that doesn’t make you any less risky.” She pressed her lips together. “Go find a soldier bunny to fuck, Shaw.”

He swallowed a curse, the hurt worse than anything he’d felt in years. He didn’t need this. “You know what, maybe I will.”

Her cheeks went a little pale, but that stubborn chin lifted another inch. “Fine.”

“Fine.” He turned and stalked away.

He hadn’t fucked anyone in a couple of weeks. Maybe it was just the thing to take the goddamned edge off.

He truly didn’t need Claudia Frost busting his balls and making him feel like shit. He’d learned the hard way that letting anyone too close just messed with your head.

And when you cared too much and you messed up, those you loved ended up dead. He dragged in air.

Yep, a hot, sweaty fuck was just what the doctor ordered. With someone fun, easy, and uncomplicated.

***

Claudia walked a few more meters, working through the ache in her leg. A trickle of sweat ran down her face, but she ignored it. She stopped, turned, and started walking again.

The sooner she got this leg healed, the sooner she could be back out doing what she did best…shooting raptors.

Besides, this kept her mind busy and off the man who’d stormed away several hours ago. She really didn’t want to think about him, or what he was doing, right now.

At the end of her self-imposed walking track, she stopped. Her leg throbbed, but it was a good ache, a healthy ache, like after a hard workout in the gym. Nothing like the rabid pain she’d endured the last week.

After a sip of water and a deep breath, she got started on her next walk.

“Hey, you aren’t supposed to be doing this by yourself.” Emerson bustled over, followed by a pregnant Santha Kade.

The doc looked her usual harried self, but Cruz’s partner, Santha, was glowing. Her copper-brown skin was luminous and her long, black hair lustrous. Pregnancy clearly agreed with her. Small round belly aside, Claudia recognized another warrior when she saw one. A former SWAT officer, Santha could hold her own in a fight, and she ran the intelligence team.

“Cute bump.”

Santha pressed a hand to her small belly and smiled. “Thanks.”

Emerson grabbed Claudia’s arm. “I thought Shaw was with you.”

Ignoring the clench of her heart, Claudia raised a brow. “He had other things to do. Probably with that blonde schoolteacher or that redhead from supplies. Hell, maybe both.”

The two women went silent, and it made Claudia want to twitch. The images her words conjured made her sick, mad, and sad all together.

“Sit.” Emerson helped her into the camp chair under the tree. Then the doc crouched, her lab coat dragging on the grass, and checked Claudia’s leg. “Well, the good news is, your leg is already getting better. It’s going to be fine.”

Claudia let out a breath. “Good.” She pressed her hands together to stop them from shaking. She hadn’t realized how afraid she’d been. “Good.”

“The bad news is that you and Shaw are idiots.”

Claudia blinked. “Come again?”

“That man has been hanging on by a thread since you were taken. He barely slept or ate, unless he was bullied into it. He spent every minute out searching for you, or back here poring over drone feed for the slightest hint of your location.”

Claudia swallowed the massive lump in her throat.

“What do you think that means?” Emerson continued.

“He’s a friend,” Claudia managed. “A good squad mate.”

Santha made a sound. When Claudia lifted her head, the woman was staring at her.

“What?” Claudia snapped. “Don’t stand there looking all calm and Madonna-ish.”

“You just watched Marcus, Cruz, Gabe, and Reed blunder through taking the fall,” Santha said. “Don’t you recognize the signs?”

Claudia’s heart did that stupid clench again. She pressed her lips together. She so did not want to talk about this.

Emerson shook her head. “You are so stubborn.”

“Love is for suckers,” Claudia said. “Present company excluded, of course.”

“Of course.” Santha smiled. “Come on, Frost. You have more balls than this. Regardless of your gender.”

Claudia pushed awkwardly to her feet. “He’s a ladies’ man, and that’s okay. He’s not a one-woman man.”

“And that’s what you want?” Emerson asked.

“Yes. No. Ugh, stop confusing me.” Claudia couldn’t make an easy escape with the damn brace on her leg, so she dropped back into the chair and crossed her arms. “I don’t really go for the girly chit-chat. So how about we talk about something else? Or the two of you can just head off and bask in your loved-up happiness together and leave me out of it.”

They just stayed there. Silent, patient, and so damned annoying.

“Fine.” Claudia looked out over the town, her gaze falling on the empty houses not far away. One had a dilapidated swing set in the front yard, one seat dangling listlessly, its chain broken on one side. “I was married once.”

She glanced back at Emerson and Santha to see they both looked like she’d butted them in the face with her carbine.

A rueful smile curled her lips. “Yes, I was married. I was young, barely out of my teens. Broke my wrist playing college volleyball. At the hospital, a young doctor patched me up.” God, it all seemed so long ago. Like a dream. She saw the two women watching, waiting for the rest. “He rocked the lab coat better than you, Emerson. He was Prince Charming. Handsome, cultured, and interested in a tomboy like me.”

“A pretty normal story for a teenage girl.”

“Yeah. Except he swept me off my feet, and six months later, I was married and living in a huge house in the suburbs.” She let out a caustic laugh. “Or trying to. I was a terrible housewife.”

It seemed stupid now, to give up your sense of self for a man. She thought about telling Emerson and Santha the entire tale, but her gut clenched solid. She just couldn’t bring herself to expose the horrible, painful details.

Annoyed she’d even dredged up this much, she waved a hand. “Anyway, to cut a long, miserable, and predictable story short, he wasn’t a prince. He cheated on me. Not once, but loads of times. Nurses, female doctors, even some of the wives I was lunching with. Guy couldn’t keep it zipped.”

“Shit,” Santha muttered.

“I don’t expect anyone to be anything but what they are. I learned that lesson. I sure as hell wasn’t happy pretending to be some domestic goddess. I don’t expect Shaw to be anyone but himself.”

Emerson’s face had turned serious. “Do you trust Shaw?”

“With my life,” Claudia answered instantly.

The doc nodded. “Just not with your heart.”

Claudia sighed and rubbed her forehead. “It doesn’t matter now. He’s off having his fun.” And her damn heart was getting another scar. “It’s for the best.”

An alarm rang out across the town. Emerson and Santha stiffened and turned.

Claudia pushed to her feet. “What the hell is that?”

“It’s the emergency evac alarm,” Santha said grimly.

Controlled chaos exploded around them. Claudia watched as people started rushing around, gathering up things, packing, wrenching open the doors to vehicles, urging people inside. Somewhere a child started crying.

Emerson turned to Claudia. “It means the Gizzida are getting close. We have to leave. Now!”

Chapter Seven

Shaw jogged across the main street, slapping his armor on as he went. He headed toward the Z6-Hunter armored vehicles. They were armor-plated, military SUVs, with an autocannon mounted on top.

He spied Marcus striding toward him. “What’s happening?”

Marcus’ scarred face was grim. “Drones picked up the Huntsman. He’s heading in this direction.”

Shit. “Does he know our exact location?”

“No. But they are systematically searching, trying to sniff us out, and they’re getting closer.”

Shaw tugged open the door of the Hunter. “What’s the plan?”

“Along with Squad Nine and Squad Three, we intercept the Huntsman. We keep him busy while the convoy gets away.”

Shaw nodded. “Got it.”

He rounded the vehicle. He wanted to check the autocannon. He’d had some of the mechanics make a few mods to it— Shaw ran smack into somebody and grunted. Claudia grimaced and clutched her leg.

Shaw grabbed her shoulders to steady her. “Shit. Sorry.”

She pulled her arm away from his touch, and he felt something inside him twinge. He hated that.

“What are you doing here?” Damn, he didn’t mean for his voice to sound so sharp.

She scowled at him. “I’m a part of this squad, remember?” She stomped over to the door and wrenched it open. She set her carbine inside.

“You’re still injured.” They’d literally just rescued her. He wasn’t going to watch her rush back into danger before she was ready.

“The doc said the therapy today helped. My leg is getting better.”

“You should rest it more. You could do more damage.”

Her look was sour. “I’ll take that under advisement, doctor.”

“You’re not—”

She slapped her palms against the vehicle. “I need to fight, Shaw.” Her words were like bullets. “They kept me chained up, tortured me, tried to break me to get to all these people. I need some payback, but more than that, I need my normal back. I need this.” She tapped the side of the Hunter.

Shaw raked a hand through his hair. Dammit all to hell. He could see it in her face—the pain, the rage. He wanted to drag her into his arms, but he knew she’d deck him.

Marcus shouldered between them. “Get in.” His voice was a growl. “We need to go.”

Shaw and Claudia glared at each other for a second, before she ducked her head and climbed into the Hunter.

Shaw looked up at the blue sky and muttered a few mental curses that didn’t make him feel any better before he climbed in. He brushed past Claudia, and climbed into the cannon seat. God, he might be pissed she wasn’t at a hundred percent and heading out, but it felt right to have her back.

As the others all got into the vehicle, he checked the cannon controls.

“All right,” Marcus called back. “Let’s go.”

Cruz put the Hunter in gear and they rolled out.

The convoy and the small town disappeared behind them. Ahead was an empty, curving road.

“Where are Squads Nine and Three?” Reed called out.

“Nine’s coming in on the Darkswifts. The berserkers…well, they’ll be there.”

“Hell Squad, are you reading me?” Elle’s voice came across the comms.

“Loud and clear, Elle,” Marcus replied.

“Five kilometers ahead, you’ll come to Cedar Pass, which is a narrow gap through the mountains. The aliens are gathered there.”

The ride was quiet, tense, but Shaw recognized the silence. Extreme focus.

They rounded a curve in the road and ahead, through the trees, he saw the pass. And the activity near it.

Then the mountainside above the pass exploded.

Rocks tumbled down, blocking the road. Claudia had said this Huntsman was more cunning, and Shaw agreed. The alien was blowing up every damn road out of the mountains.

“Fucking aliens,” Marcus bit out. He turned. “Ready to go to hell?”

“Hell yeah.” Shaw raised his voice with his squad. “The devil needs an ass-kicking.”

Shaw looked through the cannon’s laser scope. He saw groups of raptor soldiers, and he saw their versions of Hunters—ugly, squat vehicles with spikes on them. It made them look like a bunch of triceratops. Once the raptors spotted Hell Squad’s Hunter, they dived for their vehicles. A moment later, three alien vehicles raced in their direction.

“Incoming!” Shaw yelled.

He aimed and fired.

More laser fire appeared, hitting the other raptor vehicles. Shaw caught a shimmer in the sky, and knew Squad Nine had arrived.

One of the raptor vehicles exploded and flipped onto its roof. It crashed into a second one, and they ran off the road, hitting the trees.

The other vehicle charged at them, but Cruz swerved, and it sped past.

“Holy shit, look,” Claudia was pointing ahead.

Shaw saw them. Huge vehicles with giant chainsaws mounted on the front. They were tearing paths through the trees.

“Yeah, they used them when they attacked the base.” Raptors didn’t like forests. They stuck to the cities and roads. The geek squad still hadn’t worked out what the aliens didn’t like about the trees, but the theory was they came from a rocky, treeless world…and the trees gave off something they didn’t like.

Another raptor vehicle came out of nowhere, ramming straight into them.

Cruz cursed, frantically grappling with the Hunter’s controls. Around them, small explosives erupted, smoke filling the air. Laser fire lit up the smoke.

The Hunter screeched to a stop. Cruz jerked the gearstick and they moved forward again. Out of the smoke, he saw an entire row of raptor vehicles lined up, pointed in their direction.

Shaw opened fire, but he already knew there were too many.

Then he heard a rumble. A vibration in the air.

Smaller vehicles whizzed past their Hunter. What the hell?

“The berserkers,” Marcus said with a faint smile. “Crazy bastards.”

They were riding motorcycles and heading into the pack of oncoming raptors. Shaw’s eyes widened. Crazy was right.

He zoomed in with the cannon scope and saw Tane, his face blank and calm, riding a heavily modified bike. It had extra armor plating and… Suddenly, something shot out of the front of Tane’s bike.

It rammed into the lead raptor vehicle and the vehicle exploded.

Shaw choked on a laugh. The man had a missile launcher attached to the bike.

The rest of the berserkers rode in a dizzying display, lasers, grenades, and missiles launching from their bikes.

“They are brilliant,” Claudia said. “Insane, but brilliant.”

Shaw started firing, targeting the other raptor vehicles. Squad Nine had circled back, their Darkswifts black blurs in the sky.

Shaw spied a flash of red in the smoke. An alien with red on his chest was standing atop a vehicle, calmly watching the fight like it was a mildly inferior movie. “Claudia. Ten o’clock. That the bastard?”

She climbed back, squeezing between him and his seat to look in the cannon scope. Shaw had a fleeting second to savor the feel of her pressed up against him before she nodded.

“That’s him. The Huntsman.”

Because Shaw was so close, he felt her slight shudder. This alien had hurt her. It took a hell of a lot to scare a woman, a soldier, like Claudia Frost.

Shaw looked back through the scope. The Huntsman was going down.

Like he sensed Shaw’s thoughts, the alien’s gaze swung toward Hell Squad’s Hunter, and then he climbed inside his vehicle. It lunged forward, heading in their direction.

“Huntsman inbound.” Shaw swung his laser around. He fired, but the Huntsman’s vehicle fell in behind two others, and he lost sight of it.

Shaw kept firing. He saw Darkswift lasers hit the ground nearby, heard his team shouting.

Suddenly, out of the smoke, a raptor vehicle charged at them like a damn dinosaur. It rammed into them. Hard.

Cruz and Marcus were yelling, the noise a wordless jumble, and then the Hunter tipped over on its wheels.

“Hang on!” Marcus shouted.

There was a crunch of metal, and their Hunter rolled.

***

Claudia came to, her head aching. She touched her forehead and felt a lump, but everything else seemed to be functional. She was trapped in her chair, held there by her harness. Below her, Gabe was slowly regaining consciousness.

She heard Marcus talking to Cruz.

“Everyone okay?” Claudia asked.

A chorus of pissed off yeses answered her.

All except for Shaw.

She spun and her heart knocked against her ribs. The autocannon had been torn off the vehicle, leaving a gaping hole in the roof. The entire thing was gone.

“Shaw!” She unclipped her harness and climbed up, pulling herself to the door. Her leg protested, but she ignored it.

Now she had to get the damn door open.

Before she did anything, it was ripped open. Above, she saw Tane standing, feet spread, on the side of the overturned Hunter. Without a word, he held a hand down to her.

She slapped her gloved palm against his, and he pulled her up with one lithe move. Damn, the guy was strong.

“Hemi will help you down,” he said, his voice deep.

She nodded and saw Tane’s brother, a slightly older and bulkier version of Tane—minus the dreadlocks—standing by the tipped-over Hunter.

“Come on, darlin’, let me be your hero.”

She snorted but jumped off and let him catch her. With his beard and long hair, she wasn’t sure Hemi Rahia was hero material, but the guy had rough and sexy down.

“Thanks.” She looked around. “I need to find Shaw.”

“We have him,” Hemi said. “Ash is looking after him over there.”

She stepped through the smoke and spotted Shaw sitting beside a tree, holding his head in his hands. Ash Connors was standing near him, carbine raised. She didn’t know much about Connors, except that he was covered in serious tats and had led a biker gang before the invasion.

“Shaw!” She ran over.

He turned and she gasped. His entire face was covered in blood.

“Just a scratch.” He pointed to his scalp. “Small but its bleeding like crazy.”

She knelt beside him and pressed the wadded up cloth in his hand back to his head. “Keep the pressure on.”

Marcus and the others appeared. “Tane, we need the Hunter back on its wheels. Roth’s going to keep them off us as long as he can. But we won’t have long.”

Tane nodded. “Boys, let’s get this Hunter upright.”

Claudia watched as the rest of the berserkers appeared through the smoke. Their carbines were all modified, and most wore extra bandoliers filled with grenades and other ammunition. They were all big, broad, and covered in tattoos. Guardian angels had never looked this dangerous.

Along with Gabe, Reed, Marcus and Cruz, the men all got beside the lopsided vehicle.

“Heave,” Tane yelled.

The men strained. A second later, the vehicle tipped and ended up back on its wheels, bouncing slightly.

Marcus turned. “Everyone—”

There was a barrage of whistling sounds. Small projectiles peppered the air around them, driving into the dirt. Everyone dived and ducked for cover.

“Down.” She bumped into Shaw to knock him down.

Then she felt a sharp sting in her left arm. She heard Shaw curse.

Claudia looked down and saw a sharp, long bone-like projectile lodged in the fleshy part of her bicep. She tried to move, but it was pinning her to the tree.

She heard the rest of the men returning fire.

“Dammit.” Shaw scrambled to his knees and yanked the projectile out. He used the wadded up cloth from his wound and wrapped it around hers. “Bloody alien bastards.”

“It’s a flesh wound, Shaw.” She stared at the savage intensity on his face. Shaw was usually the easygoing, smart-mouthed one of their squad.

This man didn’t look easygoing. He looked pissed, deadly, and ready for revenge.

He tied a knot in the cloth. “They took you, tortured you, and now this. I’ve had enough.”

He’d had enough? She raised a brow, but decided now was not the time to say anything.

Shaw turned and through a narrow-eyed gaze watched another wave of projectiles come in and hammer the side of their Hunter. It left a macabre display of bone sticking out of the metal.

“Their snipers are over there.” Shaw was staring off into the distance.

How he saw anything in the smoke was beyond her.

“I can’t do anything from here.” He pointed in a different direction. “I need to get over there. To a higher vantage point.”

Claudia could feel the sting of her wound now, but she ignored it. Thankfully her leg was holding up. The rest of Hell Squad and the berserkers were pinned down by the Hunter, returning fire.

Then she spotted a berserker bike parked right near them.

“Come on,” she said.

She jumped on the bike and flicked it on. She gunned the motor, and felt Shaw’s weight as he jumped on behind her. Revving the bike some more, she shouted to the others, “Give us cover fire!”

Someone must have heard her, because a barrage of laser fire filled the air. She grinned. That was her squad. For the first time in over a week, she really felt steady and back on her feet.

She accelerated, dodging obstacles and leaning into turns. Behind her, gripping her waist, Shaw did the same.

“That tree,” he yelled in her ear.

She nodded. She saw the tree rising ahead, a little higher than the others. She’d barely pulled the bike to a stop when Shaw slid off the seat.

“Take them down,” she said.

He was already checking his sniper rifle. He nodded, but she could see he was focused on his task. She’d always liked that about him, his enviable focus. One second he could be charming and relaxed, the next, a single-minded, lethal sniper.

She watched him climb the tree, then turned, gunned the bike, and started back.

Shaw needed the raptor snipers firing in order to target them. And to fire, they needed a target.

As she put the bike through its paces, dodging overturned and burning raptor vehicles, she heard the whizz of projectiles around her. Heard them slamming into the ground.

She also saw the distinctive green fire of Shaw’s laser rifle.

She turned and did another loop.

Then Shaw’s voice came through her earpiece. “Get into cover, Frost!”

“They’ll stop firing.” She put a foot down and executed a quick turn, sliding the bike around.

Shaw’s vehement curse made her shake her head. She saw him fire again.

He was picking them off one by one. The number of projectiles flying through the air dwindled, then stopped. She pulled to a stop near the Hunter and saw the men coming out of cover. She grinned and touched her ear. “Nice shooting, Baird.”

He made a noise. “Keep your head down next time.”

Through the dissipating smoke, she saw the remaining raptor soldiers running away. They were headed down one of the long paths their chainsaws had cut through the forest.

“Hold on, Shaw, I’ll come and get you,” she said.

Then another voice cut across their earpieces. “Squad Six, Squad Three, we have a problem.”

Roth Masters’ voice carried an urgent edge. She spun and looked up, saw the others doing the same.

A second later, she saw a Darkswift whizz past overhead. Then another and another.

Then something else flew through the smoke.

At first, she thought it was a ptero, one of the aliens’ small ships they used to get around. But then she saw that the wings on this thing were flapping up and down—not fixed, like a ptero.

It came closer and she heard everyone suck in sharp breaths.

It was a large flying animal, like a damned pterodactyl, and it was saddled with a raptor soldier riding it. She blinked, then watched as the soldier grabbed something and pointed it over the side.

Flames spewed everywhere.

Chapter Eight

“Flamethrower!”

It only took a second for Claudia to see there was an entire fleet of these aliens filling the sky, covering the area with flames.

“In the Hunter!” Marcus shouted.

Around her, she heard the berserkers taking off on their bikes. She saw Marcus waving her to the Hunter.

“Shaw!” She shook her head. “I need to get him.”

“Get in, Frost.”

A wave of deadly flames flashed nearby and, out of options, she sprinted the last steps to the Hunter and dived inside.

She saw the others were already in. She turned, as Marcus jumped in and slammed the door behind him.

“We need to get to Shaw,” she said urgently.

A muscle ticked in Marcus’ jaw. He pointed out the small window.

She saw the tall tree Shaw had been using was now entirely engulfed in flames.

“No.” She pressed a hand to the glass. She couldn’t breathe.

The thought of him had sustained her during her captivity. Every fist, every slap, every bit of blood had been endurable because she’d held the image and memories of him in her mind.

She swallowed, her heart feeling as though it were about to rip out of her chest.

“Shaw? Come in, Shaw?” Marcus was touching his ear. “Elle? You get anything from Shaw?”

“No, Marcus,” came Elle’s soft, solemn reply.

“Dammit, Baird,” Marcus muttered.

Claudia stared at the burning branches. He couldn’t be gone. God, she’d pushed him away, using her past as an excuse to hold him off…because she knew he had the power to wound her in a way no one ever could.

Now…

She pressed a closed fist to her mouth, watching the dancing flames outside.

Then she saw something move.

Someone was running through the hellish flames, arms pumping, a black silhouette against the orange. A long-range sniper rifle was slung over the figure’s shoulder.

“Shaw!” As the others swiveled to look, Claudia yelled at Cruz. “Go! Get closer.”

Cruz sped off, and a second later skidded to a halt. Claudia yanked open the door and Shaw appeared. She grabbed his armor and yanked him in.

Marcus slammed the door closed, and Claudia stifled a cry and snatched her hands back. Shaw’s armor was boiling hot and smoking.

He collapsed in the seat across from her. The protective visor on his combat helmet was down, and he fumbled at the side of his neck to retract it. His tawny-gold hair was stuck to his head with sweat and soot, and he still had dried blood on his face. He looked terrible.

She’d never seen anything so good.

He grinned. “That was a bit close.” He winked at Claudia. “All in a day’s work.”

She couldn’t get any words past her tight throat. He yanked at his armor, pulling it off.

“Damn, I just about cooked like a sausage in this armor.”

Claudia blinked and didn’t let herself think. He was alive.

She crawled into his lap, heard his shocked gasp. She clamped her thighs around his lean hips, cupped his stained face, and pressed her mouth to his.

He made an inarticulate sound, his arms closing tight around her. Then he growled into her mouth and kissed her back.

God, he tasted good. She had a hard edge riding her, and the kiss wasn’t soft or gentle or pretty. It was hard and wild, lips and teeth clashing.

She wished she didn’t have her armor on so she could feel his hands digging into her skin. She gripped his damp, smoky hair, tugging his head back. He groaned, his hands sliding up her back until he grasped the base of her neck.

Finally, before she completely lost herself, she yanked her head away. They were both breathing hard. Green eyes stared at her.

She swallowed and moved off him. He gripped her hips, held onto her for a second, then he let her go.

She sank into her seat, ignoring the thick silence around them.

“About fucking time,” Marcus grumbled under his breath.

Claudia dragged in air and watched Shaw tip his head back, a smile flirting on his lips.

One part of her wanted to climb all over him again. The other part of her, the one that had survived a horrible betrayal, was telling her not to be a moron. That part of her told her to not waste her time on a man who could not just break her heart, but shatter it.

But as she stared at the blood on his face, she felt something inside her shift. She was Claudia Frost, and she sure as hell wasn’t a coward.

So, now she had to dredge up some of that courage and decide what the hell she was going to do about Shaw Baird.

But first, he was injured, and that was the priority. She reached for the first aid kit.

***

Shaw sat quietly, still sprawled on the floor of the Hunter, back against one of the seats. The vehicle’s gentle rocking as they drove was almost calming.

Claudia knelt beside him, cleaning the wound on his scalp. Every time she reached up, he stared at her chest. She was in her armor, so he couldn’t see anything, but he knew she was rather generous in that department.

Now he knew what she tasted like. Hell, that kiss had almost blown his head off.

Man, he wanted more. He wanted the rest of her too.

She finished and sat back. “Best I can do for now. Have the doc check it out when we get back.”

“Thanks.”

She nodded and sighed. “I need a beer.”

“That can be arranged.” He touched her hand. “How about you and me grab a few beers together back at camp?”

She ran her tongue along her teeth. “Sure. We’ll all have a few beers, like we always do.” She pulled back and sat in the empty seat beside Gabe.

Dammit. Shaw closed his eyes and stayed where he was. Even after that heat-of-the-moment kiss, she was still keeping her distance, throwing up barriers.

She didn’t trust him. God, that thought dug in and hurt. They’d fought alongside each other for months, saved each other too many times to count, and she didn’t trust him.

Well, screw that.

Now he really did need a beer.

Not long later, Cruz turned off the road onto a dirt track. “Convoy’s ahead. Found another remote campground.”

Soon, they pulled to a stop, and Shaw climbed out behind the others, ignoring the little twinges from his battered body.

Outside, in the light of the dying day, he saw the convoy members moving around in a slow dance of activity. Some were setting up tents, or unloading equipment, others preparing to cook, but some were just sitting, huddled together, looking more than a little shell-shocked. He watched some kids sitting under a tree. None of them were smiling.

Being on the run, being hunted, was taking its toll.

“Cruz,” he called out.

Cruz turned. “Si, mi amigo.”

“Grab your guitar. I think we need to cheer the place up a bit.”

The other man glanced around and his face tightened. He nodded. “Let me clean up and grab Santha and Bryony.”

“Let’s all meet under that big tree.” Shaw pointed at a large eucalyptus. “I’ll track down some beers.”

Marcus gave a single nod. “I’ll debrief the general.”

“I’m going to check on Selena, then I’ll be back,” Claudia said.

Shaw watched her stride away. She didn’t saunter or swing her hips. She had this economical way of moving, but there was power there…and he also knew there was passion.

He wanted her.

His hands clenched into fists. He’d almost lost her. Hell, he’d almost died today. Hell Squad was made up of some awesome soldiers, the best he’d worked with. But in this world of survival, they had to take risks, they had to keep fighting.

They could lose their lives in the blink of an eye.

So every minute where you could hold onto what really mattered was important.

Shaw hurried off to check in with Doc Emerson. After she’d pronounced that his hard head had saved him from far worse injury, it didn’t take him long to round up some of the residents, including the other squads, and nab some beers and ice from the well-stocked kitchen truck.

The roar of motorcycle engines filled the air, and all the residents stopped to watch the berserkers ride in, with Tane at the head of his squad. The group circled around and pulled to a stop. Tane retracted his combat helmet and caught Shaw’s eye. Tane lifted his chin.

Shaw returned the gesture. “Homebrew?” He waved at the buckets filled with ice and beer.

“Hell yeah.” Tane waved his squad over.

“Just what the doctor ordered.” Tane’s brother, Hemi, grabbed a bottle. He cracked it open and took a long sip.

The rest of the tattooed, bearded berserkers grabbed drinks and started pulling their armor off.

“Nine back yet?” Hemi asked, swiping his arm across his mouth. He’d pulled off his upper armor and his arms were covered in dark tattoos.

Shaw nodded. “Storing the Darkswifts.” There was a specially designed truck used to transport the craft.

“That means we have about ten minutes of peace before the fireworks start,” Tane said.

Shaw raised his brows. “Fireworks?”

“My thick-skulled brother decided to mess with the combat helmet of a certain tall, beautiful Squad Nine soldier. He painted it and hid it in her stuff.” Tane’s lips twitched. “She had to go on the mission with a pink helmet.”

Shaw’s eyes widened and he turned to Hemi. “Cam? You painted Cam’s helmet pink?” He shook his head. “You are a brave man, Rahia.”

“More like insane,” Tane said with a grunt.

Hemi took another swig of beer. “I can handle one cranky female soldier.”

Shaw snorted. “My money’s on Cam.”

Everyone settled in, finding seats, still wearing half their armor, looking like they’d been to war. Which, Shaw guessed, they had. There would be time later to wash in the portable showers, or in the nearby river, for those willing to brave the cold water.

Soon, a large group was gathered around a small fire, with Cruz playing his guitar. Damn, the man was good. Santha sat nearby, one hand on her belly, and the other holding the hand of the young girl they’d rescued from one of the alien labs. Bryony was swinging her legs to the music.

Shaw let the beer relax him a bit, hoping it would take the edge off the driving need running through his veins. He saw Claudia arrive. She was still in her lower armor, with just a tank top on. It showed off her strong arms. She sat down by Reed and his fiancée, Natalya.

The squad soldiers were all laughing and telling bawdy jokes. Other residents were smiling and chatting. Shaw was pleased to see some of the kids running around, playing a game of tag. Hell, even Marcus and the general appeared, Marcus forcing a beer into Holmes’ hand.

This. This was important, too. This was key to them surviving this fight, and this perilous road trip to the Enclave. They had to lean on each other, find something that made them feel good, something to smile about.

He caught Claudia’s eye, and they stared at each other through the flames. She lifted her beer and he lifted his own in return.

“You are a Neanderthal, Hemi Rahia!”

Camryn McNab stormed up. She was still in her armor, and at close to six feet, with the face of a goddess, she was a sight to behold. Behind her, the rest of Squad Nine appeared. Roth, with his arm around his woman, Avery, and beside them, Nine’s second-in-command, Mac “Don’t mess with me or I’ll beat you up” Carides. Bringing up the rear were Sienna, Taylor, and big, silent Theron.

Beside Shaw, Hemi leaned back in his camp chair, like he didn’t have a care in the world. But his eyes were fastened on the woman striding toward him.

Cam marched past Shaw and kicked out at Hemi. Her boot landed, hard, between his legs. Lucky for him, she’d aimed for the chair and not his tender parts.

Shaw had to give it to the guy; he didn’t even flinch.

“Now, sweetheart—”

“Don’t give me that sweetheart crap. That stunt you pulled, messing with my combat gear, is ridiculous.”

“But I just thought you’d look so pretty in pink.”

“Idiot,” she snarled. Then she pushed out with her leg.

Hemi’s chair tipped backward, taking him with it. He landed flat on his back, and his squad roared with laughter.

Hemi, meanwhile, was holding his beer bottle up. “Look at that. Didn’t even spill a drop.”

Cam shook her head and stomped over to grab herself a drink.

Shaw swallowed a laugh and took a sip of his own beer. Everyone blew off steam in their own way. Cam was pissed, and that meant she wasn’t thinking of the dirty little battle they’d waged today, or the fact they were on the run. And Hemi was looking mighty pleased with himself.

When the berserker was once again upright, Shaw shook his head. “She might look like a goddess, but she knows a hundred different ways to kill you.”

“Yep.” Hemi’s gaze was glued to Cam, who’d given the man her back. “But I’ve got her attention. And if she does kill me, it’ll be worth it.” He glanced sideways at Shaw. “You have a taste for deadly women too.”

Involuntarily, Shaw’s gaze slid to Claudia. She was laughing at something Reed was saying. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hemi laughed. “Yes, you fucking do.”

Shaw sighed. “Unfortunately, she thinks I have a taste for all women.”

Hemi snorted. “Wonder what gave her that impression.”

“She thinks I’m all about the good time, or something.” His hands curled around his beer. “She doesn’t trust me.”

“She trusts you. She picks up a goddamn carbine every day, and wades out in the muck with you. Trusts you to watch her back.” Hemi’s face turned serious. “Something tells me she doesn’t trust herself.”

Shaw shook his head. “She’s the most self-assured woman I’ve ever met.”

“Then talk to her about it, mate.”

“Like you’re talking to Cam?”

“Fuck you, Baird.” Hemi lifted his beer again. “Here’s to gorgeous, deadly women. Can’t live with them, can’t survive without them.”

Shaw watched the way the firelight danced over Claudia’s face. It softened her a little. He knew that under the armor, there was a warm, caring woman. A woman who wanted him with a passion that left him hard.

Someone stepped in front of him, blocking his view.

“Hey, Shaw. Heard you had a rough day.”

Shaw looked up at Angela. The pretty schoolteacher was funny, easygoing and enjoyed a good time—no strings attached. All things Shaw had always appreciated. “Hi, Angie.”

“Wondered if you wanted to take off and have some fun?” She smiled, and fiddled with the hem of her shirt.

Funny how not that long ago, he’d have jumped at the offer and enjoyed the heck out of it. Now, he sat back, trying to find a way to let her down gently. His gaze caught Claudia’s again, and she deliberately turned away.

“Sorry, not tonight.”

Angie frowned. “Are you okay?”

“Got tossed from a moving vehicle, and nearly got shot by alien snipers and burned to a crisp by raptor flamethrowers.”

Her eyes went wide. “That’s horrible.”

And he didn’t need to drag this nice woman into the muck with him. What he needed was the woman he wanted, the woman who understood. “I’m fine. Look, go have a good time, okay?”

She touched his shoulder and left.

When Shaw looked up, Claudia was gone. His heart gave one solid thump. He scanned the area, but she wasn’t by the campfire.

Chapter Nine

Shaw stared into the darkness, one hand pressed to the trunk of a tree, the other dangling a fresh brew between his fingers. Behind him, the party continued. But since Claudia had left, he wasn’t in a party mood anymore.

He hadn’t heard a thing, but suddenly Gabe was standing beside him. Shaw controlled his instinctive start. He should be used to how quietly the big guy could move by now.

“Having fun?” Shaw asked.

Gabe grunted. He wasn’t much for people or parties.

“The doc’s having a good time.” Emerson, Elle, and Natalya had started dancing to Cruz’s music and were all laughing.

“She’s been working too hard,” Gabe said.

“She’s lucky to have you to take care of her.”

Gabe looked into the darkness. “Are you going after her?”

Shaw frowned in confusion. “Emerson?”

Gabe’s stormy gray eyes turned Shaw’s way. “Claudia.”

Shaw huffed out a breath. “Hell, don’t tell me you’re going to try and give me relationship advice, Gabe. You screwed up with the doc so many times I’m amazed you got it right.”

“She got it right. She didn’t give up on me,” Gabe said. “Claudia…she’s too afraid to try.”

“Claudia isn’t afraid of anything.”

“Stubborn, then. You know she was married?”

“What?” Shaw jerked, spilling his beer. Claudia Frost…married? Who the hell had she loved enough to marry?

“She told Emerson and Santha. She was young, he was a lawyer or a doctor or something.”

An ugly burn carved through Shaw’s stomach. She’d been married to some suit?

“He cheated on her. A lot.”

It was a blow to his body. Hell. Shaw closed his eyes.

“She divorced his ass and joined the Army,” Gabe said.

Shaw slapped his palm against the tree. “Shit.”

“Yeah. Guess she has a low tolerance for cheaters.”

Shaw rounded on his friend. “I do not cheat.”

Gabe held his gaze. “Because you don’t commit in the first place.”

“I…fuck.” Now Shaw slammed his fist into the tree, the rough bark scraping his knuckles.

“You’re good with people, with women, and you like talking.” Gabe’s tone left no doubt what he thought about people and talking. “Would think dealing with this would be…easy for you.”

Shaw released a long breath. “It’s easier when it doesn’t matter.”

Gabe nodded. “So she matters?”

“Of course she matters.” Shaw looked back to the darkness. “Gabe, the one girl I cared about… Well, I fucked it up. Badly.”

“We’ve all fucked up.”

“No. I mean my screw-up left her dead.”

Gabe went very still. “You’re talking about your sister.”

One drunken night, not long after Gabe had lost his twin brother Zeke in a fight against the raptors, Shaw had spilled about Krista.

“Her death is on your drunken piece-of-shit father, not you.”

“I escaped that house, joined the Army.” Shaw lost his taste for his beer and set it down at the base of the tree. “I promised her I’d be back to get her out.” Instead, he’d joined the SAS and he’d fucking loved it. “I was away from him, his fists, his words, his poison. And dammit, I was good at something. Every time I held my rifle, put my eye on the scope, I felt useful, successful. By the time I finally planned to go back for Krista…” Even after all these years, the memories were like daggers to the skin.

“Not your fault.”

“He beat her to death, Gabe. She was fifteen.” He’d screwed up, hadn’t protected her.

“Still not your fault. I know how it feels to second-guess yourself. Your decisions, your actions. Maybe if I was faster, smarter…Zeke would still be alive.”

“Jesus, Gabe, there was nothing you could have done.”

“I know that now. You need to know it, too. Pretty sure your sister didn’t want you to hold yourself back from someone you cared about because of her death.” The silence lay between them for a second. Then Gabe thumped a hand against Shaw’s back. “We could all be gone tomorrow. I’m gonna fight to survive, to hold on to my woman. You should do the same.”

“What if I screw up?” Shaw murmured. The true crux of what was eating at him.

“You going to cheat on her?”

“No!”

“Then make your decision and man up, Baird.” Gabe melted back into the shadows.

Shaw stood there a moment longer. He wanted Claudia, and she wanted him. For two tough soldiers they were sure letting their individual fears screw things up for them.

Hell, even Gabe Jackson was giving him relationship advice. Apparently, the apocalypse really had hit.

Shaw took a deep breath.

Time to claim his woman.

***

Claudia waded out into the cold water of the river. Against her naked skin, it was brisk, but invigorating. The weather was getting warmer as summer approached, but the mountain rivers always stayed cool.

A rash of goosebumps prickled her skin, but she liked that the cold water washed away the grime of fighting, and the chilly temperature kept her thoughts at bay.

She wouldn’t, couldn’t, think about Shaw right now. Not his kisses, not the taste and feel of him, his laugh, or the cheeky glint in his eyes. She ducked her head under. If he was going to worm into her thoughts, she should think of him back at the campfire smiling at all the up-for-a-good-time young things flitting around him.

She brushed her wet hair back. She rarely left her hair loose. It was too damn long and thick. Now it covered her shoulders and she worked through the strands. It wasn’t Shaw’s fault the ladies loved him. He was easy on the eyes, funny, charming. And a hell of a soldier. He made people feel safe.

Claudia sank down in the water. She could still hear the chatter from the party, and the odd burst of laughter. Dark thoughts crept in. Who was he laughing with right now? Who had he had fun with earlier, while she was sweating through her therapy? Claudia made a frustrated sound and dived under the water.

All those horrible thoughts were replaced by one thing—the desolate feeling she’d felt when she’d thought he’d been taken by the raptor flames.

During the entire time she’d hung in the Huntsman’s chains, she’d wished she’d kissed Shaw, touched him, taken him. God. She stared up at the full moon, visible overhead. She was being a coward, she knew it. But if Shaw crushed her the way Brad had, she might never recover.

A sound made her spin, treading water to stay afloat. She saw a tall shadow of a man on the riverbank, pulling his shirt over his head. Even in the dark, she recognized his tall, lanky form. When his hands went to the waistband of his trousers, it spurred her into action.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She swam toward the edge.

“Something I should have done a long time ago.”

His fierce tone made her pause. Shaw was all about the jokes and an easy laugh, not this dark intensity. When he strode into the water, she froze. Dammit, sometimes he destroyed her equilibrium. If another man pissed her off, she wouldn’t hesitate to blast him for it. This one…he could twist her up in knots without even trying.

“And what the hell is that?” she demanded.

“Show the woman I want so much that it is driving me insane just how much I need her. And get her to admit she wants me, too.” He strode into the water. “Hell, this is colder than a polar bear’s balls.”

“If you can’t handle it, I’m sure there are plenty of soldier bunnies back at the campfire who’ll be happy to warm you up.”

“Yep,” he agreed. “Nice, uncomplicated women who know how to enjoy themselves.”

His words stung. “So go.”

“No.”

“I thought you’d have had enough fun this afternoon with whoever kept you company.” Ugh, the acid was there for him to hear.

He lunged through the water so fast, she gasped. Claudia managed to turn, to kick once, but strong arms wrapped around her and she was dragged back against a naked body.

Hot breath brushed her ear. “All I did today was think of you.”

“Whatever.”

“I bloody well sat in a tree and watched you finish your therapy.”

She closed her eyes. He’d watched over her. Why couldn’t he just be the easygoing, carefree guy he showed the world? And why could she see beneath to the real man?

His lips brushed the side of her neck. “I knew within days of meeting you that you’d crawl under my skin. I subconsciously did everything I could to keep that from happening.” His hands clamped on her hips, then one palm slid across her belly.

Claudia fought to find her voice. His naked body pressed against hers was a hell of a distraction. “It doesn’t change anything. You’re still you. You’ll get tired, want some different flavor. I’m not soft, or easy. I don’t primp. I—”

He spun her. There was just enough light to make out his face, his eyes. “I am not your fucking ex.”

Claudia went stiff as a board. “Emerson shouldn’t—”

“Gabe told me. Not the details. Just that you married a dirtbag and he cheated on you.”

“He was a doctor. A young, handsome, charming man who loved women.”

“I am not him, Claudia. It isn’t fair to judge me based on some asshole—”

“Shaw, he almost broke me.” She kept her voice matter-of-fact. “I let him try and turn me into some suburban housewife, who baked and did lunch. Who cared about clothes and makeup.” A harsh laugh. “There are women who are like that, who are good at it. I wasn’t one of them. But for him, I tried to change.”

Shaw’s hands slid up to cup her jaw. “I like you as you are, Claudia. Badass angles and sharp edges included.”

God, she could see he meant it…and it weakened her resolve. “For now,” she whispered hoarsely. “Brad liked them too…at first.”

“Do not fucking say his name.”

But everything came rushing out of her. “I came home early one day, and found him with an eighteen-year-old student nurse. They were doing it doggy style in our kitchen.”

Shaw made a dangerous noise. “That sucks.”

“She wasn’t the first.” Claudia felt the hot ball of pain she kept hidden swelling.

“It’s in the past. I’m asking you to take a chance on something that…shit, I just feel like we have something, something important.”

“It wasn’t just me he hurt. I was eight weeks pregnant.” She heard him draw a sharp breath. “I lost the baby.”

Chapter Ten

Claudia couldn’t believe she’d told him. She battled back the pain. Shaw cursed, his arms closing around her. She sank into him, her face against the lean strength of his chest.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“I wanted the baby, but that flicker of life was gone in a flash. I divorced him, and two weeks later, joined the Army.”

“Hell, Claudia. If the bastard was still alive, I’d beat him up for you.”

“Know why I joined the Army?”

He shook his head.

“So I could legally plant a bullet between the eyes of asshole scum.”

Shaw winced. “Well, you’re damn good at it.” There was silence, except for the quiet babble of the water. “I’m sorry that he hurt you…but I am not him.”

“I know…but I’m in charge of my life and I never want to feel that way again.”

She saw something snap in Shaw’s face. “Dammit, you are not a coward, Claudia.”

Her own anger welled. “No, I’m not. But I’m not stupid, either.”

“God, you are so stubborn.”

She pushed against his chest. “And you are so damned arrogant.” She fought against his hold.

He muttered under his breath and started pulling her toward the shore.

“I knew this would happen,” he muttered. “You’d claw in under my skin, get in my goddamned blood. I was right. You’re like a bad itch.”

Out of the water now, the cool air making her skin cold but her anger keeping her hot inside, she spun to face him, not giving a damn that she was naked. “So go.” She flung out her arm. “For the love of God, go.”

“I will.” He stomped over to his clothes and yanked on his trousers.

Claudia pulled her T-shirt over her head. She’d had her quota of annoying men for the day.

“I should never have bothered with this,” he said. “Easy, light, fun, that’s what I like.”

She sneered. “Yes, we all know that’s what you’re best at.”

He snapped his belt closed. “Yeah. I learned that the hard way. Because if I care more than that, I fuck up.”

Claudia froze with her hands on her trousers. The raw pain in his voice dug into her like bullets. She told herself to stay quiet, let him walk away and let this spark between them die.

But this was Shaw.

She turned slowly. “What are you talking about?” Who was he talking about?

“Nothing.” He turned his back to her, snatching up his shirt.

Claudia stared at that smooth expanse of back and wanted to touch him.

She couldn’t let him walk away without finding out what put that desolate heartache in his voice. “Shaw, talk to me.”

He turned and shoved a hand through his shaggy hair. “It’s nothing. It’s in the past. I’m taking a page out of your book. The past taught you to avoid—” he spread his arms wide “—guys like me. Mine taught me not to care too deeply. You know what, you’re right to steer clear of me. I’m not really great at keeping my promises. That’s why I usually avoid making them.”

He turned and walked away.

Claudia stood there, frozen. “Who? Who did you lose?”

Shaw stopped, was quiet for a moment.

“My sister. My drunken loser of a father beat her to death while I was in SAS training.”

Claudia closed her eyes.

“I promised her I’d come back for her. I can still remember the tears in her eyes when I left. Then I got so busy enjoying life away from the asshole who yelled at us, beat us, treated us like shit…and I left her there. So you’re probably right not to take a chance on me.”

Claudia didn’t think, she acted on instinct. She rushed in front of him and pressed her hands to his chest. “I’m so sorry, Shaw.”

He lifted his chin but avoided meeting her gaze.

“What was her name?”

“Krista.”

“Pretty. But you didn’t hurt her. Your father did.”

“I failed her.” Shaw hissed in a breath. “She was waiting for me…and I knew better than anyone what he was like. Hell, he’d given me enough black eyes, broken ribs and bruises in my lifetime. I left her there.”

“She was a minor. No one was going to let a teen in the Army take custody of a child.” Claudia laid her palm flat over the rapid thump of his beating heart. “Where was your mother?”

“Dead. Died when Krista was a baby.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Shaw,” Claudia said.

His face went hard and he grabbed her wrists. “You can’t have it both fucking ways, Claudia. You want to be close, to be my friend, but you won’t let me touch you. I…look, I need some space.” He pushed her away.

Claudia felt like she was standing on a very high edge. She had the same feeling she got when she was at the open door of a Hawk, about to leap out on a new mission.

“You can’t claim the blame for her death,” Claudia said.

“But I can for what your ex did?”

She sucked in a breath. Was that what she was doing? Taking her pain out on Shaw? Letting Brad still rule her life today?

God, she was an idiot. “You’re right.”

His gaze narrowed on her.

She nodded. “I was wrong not to trust you completely. I know you show the world the easy, charming Shaw, but I see the real you every time we go on a mission. You make promises to those people—” she stabbed a finger toward the camp “—every day when you go out there to fight for them, protect them. You make a promise to all of us on your squad. And you’ve never let us down. Not once.”

Something flared in his eyes. “And where does that leave us, Frost?”

Something quivered in her belly. “I…God, I don’t know.” It wasn’t easy to shed years of resentment and fear in a moment, even when you knew it was wrong to hold onto it.

His gaze changed, turned predatory. “How about we solve this the way we know best?”

Claudia felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. “I’m listening.”

“We fight it out.”

“What?”

Shaw rubbed his hands together. “We have a little battle. You win, I’ll go. I’ll be your friend and nothing else. I’ll never bring this up again and you don’t have to risk that heart you’ve locked up so tight.”

That heart knocked against her ribs. “And if you win?”

A slow smile spread across his handsome face. “I get you. All of you. Any way I want.”

It was a challenge, pure and simple. And hell, Claudia had always had a competitive spirit. “Rules?” God, she couldn’t really be contemplating this?

“No weapons. Other than that…there are none. I’ll give you a three-minute head start. The forest is our battlefield. Whoever takes the other one down first, wins.”

Her blood charged and she stood there watching him. “You’re on, Baird.”

“Run,” he said.

Claudia turned and sprinted into the forest.

The scary thing was…she didn’t know if she wanted to win…or lose.

***

Shaw jogged through the shadow-soaked forest. His blood was pumping, adrenaline spiking. He felt like he was headed out on a mission…but this one was the most important one of all.

This was his chance. To claim Claudia and make her face what was between them once and for all…or he could lose her completely.

Damn, he wished he had his night vision lens. In the moonlight, he could barely make out the signs of her passing through here. He crouched and touched a broken twig and torn leaves. She was running straight and fast. Not subtle, his girl.

He kept moving and a moment later the trail…stopped.

His hindbrain flared. Trap. Fuck.

He was already turning, but a weight slammed into his back driving him to the ground.

Instantly, he rolled.

She sprang off him and sprinted away.

Shaw was up and moving, too. A second later, he ducked down behind a tree with a large trunk and thick bushes at its base.

Dammit, she was trickier than he’d given her credit for. He paused, listening for any sound that might give her away. Yeah, his badass girl had cunning. He knew that. He’d fought beside her a thousand times before, and seen her in action.

He was tempted to move, but Shaw let himself fall into sniper mode. He slowed his breathing, opened his senses and stayed still. He waited for movement, for any tell of where she might be. He’d been an edgy, troubled kid, always on the move, so it had come as a hell of a surprise to discover that he had a deep well of patience. It had taken his Army instructors to find it. And using that skill, they’d honed him into a hell of a sniper.

He sensed movement off to the left. Hunched over, he sprinted to the spot, only to find…nothing. He squinted at the ground, and spotted a small trap. A shallow hole covered in sticks and leaves. Not deep enough to injure him, just enough to send him falling.

Making him an easy target.

Sneaky.

Well, he could be sneaky, too. He took a slow, deep breath, then took a few more steps closer to the trap.

He pretended to trip, windmilling his arms and cursing.

Claudia attacked.

She came out of the darkness like a damned lioness. But Shaw was ready.

He grabbed her, and the momentum sent them skidding across the ground. Twigs and leaves bit into his bare back but he was already rolling. When a larger rock jammed hard into his shoulder blade, he cursed.

Claudia muttered a few curses of her own.

She exploded into action in his arms, and he felt a hard fist jab into his side. After a minute of struggling, feeling the flex of her muscles against his, he finally succeeded in getting her under him.

He pressed his knees into her sides and slammed her arms above her head. It took most of his strength to keep her down.

“If I had my armor…” she muttered with venom.

Yeah, the exoskeleton would make them equal strength, and she’d probably take him. Shaw loved his long-range rifle and Claudia was meaner and better in hand-to-hand combat.

But this was a battle just between them—no rifles, no carbines, no armor.

“I win,” he said.

She made an angry noise in her throat and bucked her hips up.

She almost unseated him, but he held on. The press of her long, toned body beneath his had the blood charging through his veins. His cock went as hard as rock.

He kept his hold on her wrists loose but firm. “I win,” he repeated.

She turned her head and her face landed in a perfect shaft of moonlight. He saw so many battling emotions crashing together in her eyes…but he was experienced enough to see desire burning hot and insistent at the forefront.

“You win,” she whispered.

Yeah, he had, but a part of him still needed to hear this. “You want this?”

Her eyes flashed, and her hips lifted again, a slower, more teasing move. “You said if you won, I’d be yours.” Her voice was husky as hell, and it rasped over his nerve endings. “Take me, dammit.”

Those fierce words slammed into him, snapping his control.

Chapter Eleven

Shaw pulled Claudia closer and she reared up, her mouth slamming against his. God, he’d wanted her for so long. The taste of her made him groan. The kiss was wild, wicked and brutal.

She made a hungry sound, and then sank her teeth into his lip. He growled.

Then they were tearing at each other’s clothes. Shaw grabbed the neckline of her T-shirt and ripped it down the middle. She was tugging at the waistband of his trousers. It took him two seconds to help her shuck them off him, and then he made short work of her pants.

Naked, Shaw knelt beside her and ran his hands down her long body. “Jesus.” He leaned over her, pressing his mouth to her throat, then drifting downward. “Fucking gorgeous.”

Her hand tangled in his hair and she made that sound again—a hungry woman in need.

He cupped her breasts. “Too bad these beauties are mostly hidden under your armor.”

She arched her back. “Put your mouth on them.”

He smiled and lapped at the hard point of one nipple. He sucked it into his mouth.

“Yes,” she hissed.

He lavished it with attention, learning the full curves with his hands before switching to the other side. He nipped at the dusky nipple, letting her feel his teeth. When she jerked against him, he learned his Claudia liked a little edge, liked it a little rough.

Shaw moved lower, dragging his mouth over her strong stomach. Her entire body was toned and strong, and he damned the darkness for hiding most of it from him.

He vowed that soon they’d get some time, just the two of them, and they’d have a goddamned light on. He wanted to explore every part of her. He wanted no secrets with this woman.

She made another small sound. “You like your women small and curvy. I’m not that.”

His hands stilled on her hips. He dragged one hand down her long thigh, pulling her closer. With his other hand he grabbed her fingers and dragged her hand down to his cock. He wrapped her fingers around him. “Does that feel like I don’t like what I’m touching, tasting?”

He was hot, harder than he’d ever been, and on the verge of spilling in her hand.

There was enough moonlight to see her lick her lips. “Guess not.” She stroked her fingers over him and he swallowed a groan.

Suddenly she moved, rolling them until she was on top. Both her hands were on his cock now. She stroked him, one finger rubbing the swollen head, smearing the fluid leaking from him.

“Damn…Claudia…”

“Heard the rumors of what you had down here,” she said.

“You shouldn’t listen to rumors.”

She pumped him again. “Guess the rumors were right.”

“Come here.” He pulled her head down and kissed her again. Damn, he needed her lips on his. Now.

Then he rolled until she was under him. He ran his hands all over her, before finally slipping between her thighs. She arched into his touch with a moan.

Here, she was soft and wet for him. He stroked through her folds before sinking a finger inside her.

She made a husky cry.

“You like that?” He kept stroking inside her, stretching her, before working a second finger in. “You like having my fingers inside you?”

“Yes.” Her voice was hoarse.

She was tight around his fingers, her muscles flexing on him.

She angled her hips, lifting them to his touch. “But I want something else.”

“Always impatient.”

“So are you, from what I hear.”

Her and that damn joke about him only being up for quickies. “You shouldn’t listen to everything people say.” He pulled out of her, liking the annoyed protest she made, and cupped her bottom. Gripping the firm globes of her ass, he yanked her up and lowered his head. “For that, I’ll show you just how long I can take.”

He pressed his mouth to her.

“Shaw.” It was a strangled cry swallowed by the forest around them.

God. Her taste hit him. He lapped at her, feasting on her. Every move, every sound she made enflamed him.

He’d found his own little piece of heaven right here.

She tossed her head back, her eyes glittering. “For a sniper, your aim sucks. You haven’t hit the right spot…”

Yeah, he was purposely avoiding that swollen little nub. “I think I’m doing okay.” He liked watching the way her breasts wobbled as she panted in fast breaths. “You want my mouth somewhere else?”

He licked her again, circling that tiny bundle of nerves, but not touching it.

“Yes, damn you.”

He smiled against her sweet skin. Only Claudia cursing him during sex could make him harder. “You want my mouth here?” He gently bit her inner thigh.

“Shaw!”

“Or here?” He dragged his tongue along the crease where her thigh met her body.

“Damn you, put your mouth on me or I’ll touch myself and get my own orgasm.”

Her cranky tone made him smile, but the image of her spread out, a hand working between her thighs, almost made him come.

He licked her. “You want my tongue on your clit, my badass girl?”

“Yes.”

He did just that, lapping at her clit. She jerked and he needed all his strength to hold her. He felt the tightening of her muscles and he sucked the slick nub into his mouth.

“Too much,” she cried out.

“Not enough,” he countered.

He sucked and lapped, reading her body, learning what she liked best. With another cry, she came, imploding in his arms.

Shaw pulled back, licking her taste off his lips and watching the intense pleasure on her face.

He couldn’t wait any longer. He covered her, pulling her legs around his waist. He fisted his cock, rubbed it once between her slick legs, then he lifted his gaze. “I have a still-functioning contraceptive implant.”

Her gray eyes were on him. “Me too.”

Watching her, never looking away, he pushed inside her.

Her lips parted and her eyelids fluttered, but she kept her gaze on him. It was raw and sexy as hell. He couldn’t remember if he’d ever looked a woman in the eye as he slid inside her.

He wanted to make sure the next time he did this with Claudia he watched every damn flicker of emotion that crossed her face.

She clamped her legs around his hips and her arms around his shoulders. He felt the sharp bite of her nails in his back.

“Move,” she said.

Shaw did. He pulled out and thrust back in. He found a hard, fast pace that had her throwing her head back. He leaned down and latched onto that slim neck—kissing, nipping, licking.

Shaw and Claudia. Claudia and Shaw. Right here, in this moment, there was no divider, no way to separate them.

He felt his orgasm coming, growing like an impending cyclone. Fuck.

Claudia Frost wasn’t just under his skin, she was deep, deep in his very cells.

***

Claudia raked her nails down Shaw’s back, trying to find something to hold on to. To keep her grounded when she felt like she was flying apart.

Pleasure was a raw flood through her veins. His thick cock was powering inside her and she felt the pleasure-pain stretch of it.

“I want you to come first,” he said against her neck.

“I already did.”

“Again.”

“Shaw—”

He pulled back, his weight lifting off her and his cock slipped free, and she made a growl of protest. But once he was on his knees, he yanked her legs back around him and ruthlessly fit his swollen cock back to her slick entrance and slid back in.

She moaned. Damn, he filled her up.

Then she felt his thumb brush where they were joined, where he split her apart. He moved up, brushing against her clit.

Oh. The sensations were outrageous. He kept rubbing in tight, firm circles, his gaze on her.

The man was reading her like a book. She’d always accused him of rushing sex, but he seemed incredibly focused on it and taking his damn time.

She felt her release coming. He kept up the pressure and the steady strokes of his cock. She saw the savage control on his face and knew he was holding back his own release.

“Come for me, Claudia. Come all over my cock.”

One final circle of his clever thumb and she splintered apart. She screamed and heard it echo through the night.

Shaw shoved deep inside her and then he lost it. His thrusts gained power, but were wilder, less controlled. A moment later, he groaned his release. He held himself deep, emptying himself inside her.

He dropped down beside her on the ground. They were both panting and Claudia was trying to get her brain to start firing. Pleasure was still causing little aftermath spasms in her muscles and she felt too damn good to move or think.

Shaw moved his head and pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder. “Damn.”

“Yeah, damn.”

She was cooling down now, the night air drying the perspiration on her skin. Now what? It had been a hell of a long time since she’d let a man get past just a quick fuck. And she hadn’t been with anyone lately. For her, fighting the aliens absorbed most of her time.

Besides, what she and Shaw had just done didn’t really qualify as “just sex.” It was so far past sex she didn’t know how to describe it.

She heard the faint punch of laughter from back at camp, and now the cold was really seeping in. Shaw was only an inch away, but somehow it felt like a mile. She’d never felt awkward with him, even when she’d finally admitted she was attracted to him. She’d felt annoyed plenty of times. Amused, angry…but not awkward.

She shivered.

With a sudden burst of movement, he scooped her up. She gasped. “What are you doing?”

“Being a gentleman.” He bent down to snag their discarded clothes, then strode through the trees.

“You? A gentleman?”

He squeezed her butt. “No need to be rude, or I might drop you.”

The trees were thicker here, and it was darker, but he seemed to know where he was going. She knew he had damn good eyesight.

A second later, the trees opened up and she saw the river again. He dropped their clothes on the bank and waded in.

“I owe you a T-shirt,” he murmured.

She remembered the way he’d torn her shirt off her. “Yeah. I don’t have many.” But damn, it had been worth it.

The water hit her and she shivered. He pulled her close to his chest and ducked them both down to neck-deep.

“Thought we should clean up,” he said.

He was being…thoughtful? She looked at his face in the moonlight. He looked relaxed. In a way he hadn’t looked…well, ever.

Shaw grabbed her arms and pulled them off his shoulders. He pushed her back so she floated in the water, just her legs around his hips to anchor her. She felt her hair float out and she looked up. Overhead, stars glittered in the night sky, but many were drowned out by the bright moonlight.

A strong hand touched her throat, and her gaze flew back to Shaw. He was staring at her, like he couldn’t take his gaze off her skin.

He thumbed the pulse at her throat—which was starting to spike—and then dragged his hand down. He traveled between her breasts, pausing to tweak one nipple, the action forcing her to bite her lip so she could stifle a whimper. His hand moved down, stroking over her toned belly.

“You’re damned beautiful.”

She snorted. “Hardly.”

“You are. Strength, determination, courage. Damn, sometimes you intimidate me.”

She blinked at him. “But you’re all those things as well. Added to that, you’re nice, and charming, and people like you.”

“People like you, too. You’re just more selective who you’re nice to.”

She shrugged, conscious that his finger was dipping into her belly button and sending sensations arrowing downward. “I don’t have time for bullshit.”

“Ah, classic Claudia. I like that, too.”

He pulled her in and she wrapped her arms around his wide shoulders. His mouth was on her breast, sucking at her nipple.

“God, that mouth of yours is clever,” she said on a moan.

His hand gripped her jaw, holding her as he took her mouth. “I’ll show you what other clever things I can do.”

He lifted her and she felt the hot prod of his cock between her legs. He pulled her downward and she sank down, taking his thick length inside her.

He moved her hips and Claudia enjoyed the lap of the water as she rode him. Again, his fierce gaze was on her eyes, capturing her, both of them caught together in the moment.

“It feels like I’ve wanted you to be mine for so long,” he said. “Say my name.”

Her fingers tightened on his shoulders. “Shaw.”

“Again.” He thrust up hard.

She made a choked noise. “Shaw.”

“That’s it. Claudia. My badass girl.” He kissed her again, this time a slow, steady devour.

They kept moving together, desire building slowly and steadily. She held onto him as she came, biting down on his shoulder to muffle her cry.

Shaw groaned deeply as he came inside her.

Chapter Twelve

Shaw woke wrapped in Claudia.

God, it felt so good.

The morning sun filtered through the trees above. After they’d finally dragged themselves out of the river, he’d collected some sleeping bags and blankets and made a private little nest for them not far from the camp. Even now, he could hear people up and moving around.

He tightened his hold on her, pressed his face to her hair and breathed deep. He felt…calm. Whole for the first time in forever.

His sister would have loved Claudia. Krista would have called her a proper badass and been impressed. Even as a little girl, Krista had never been one for dresses and tiaras. Nope, she’d worn combat boots with everything, and had a single tube of black lipstick she’d hid from their father.

For the first time in years, Shaw let himself think of his sister and didn’t let his guilt and regret cloud his memories of her.

Claudia stirred, making a small sound that brought all his attention back to her. She shifted, the blanket baring her breasts, and his cock twitched. Hell, he’d gorged himself on her last night. He shouldn’t be able to get hard to save his life.

He cupped her breast, again marveling at this soft, plump part of her. She kept all her tender parts well hidden under attitude, competence, and her armor. He really, really liked getting under the tough parts to find the soft.

She turned, her lips hitting his jaw. “Breakfast,” she mumbled. “Coffee.” She buried her head back into the covers.

Well, there was one thing he hadn’t known about her. Apparently Claudia Frost was not a morning person.

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and got up and pulled his clothes on. He strolled into camp, calling out greetings to people who spotted him.

He was grabbing a cup of coffee for Claudia and a black tea for himself plus a couple of sweet rolls from the kitchen truck when he turned and ran into Gabe.

The big man looked at him for a second, then nodded. He moved past Shaw to get himself a coffee.

Shaking his head, Shaw headed back toward the trees.

Suddenly, a whooshing noise filled the sky. He was already glancing up when he saw the raptor ptero zoom past.

Shit. He spun and saw people running, some screaming.

“Stay calm,” he called out. “Stay close together, under the illusion.” He sprinted toward where he’d left Claudia. She met him at the tree line, just finishing fastening her cargo trousers.

“Raptors.” Her face was grim.

He shoved the coffee at her, pissed their little interlude was over faster than he’d wanted.

“Thanks.” She took a quick sip. “We need to keep the people from panicking. If anyone gets outside the illusion…”

Then they were all screwed.

With a nod, they parted ways. Shaw calmed a group of kids, sending them back to their families. He glanced over and saw all the squads were out, rounding up panicked people, talking with groups who were seated, glancing fearfully overhead.

Shaw’s jaw tightened and he looked up. He caught a ptero in the distance. It was time they got rid of these alien invaders once and for all.

So far, they were just taking little pot shots at them. Humanity needed a grander plan, a final solution, if they were going to take back their home.

“Stay under the illusion.” General Holmes was striding through the crowds. He was wearing his uniform, the sun glinting off his rows of medals. “They don’t know we’re here, and I need everyone’s help to make sure it stays that way.”

The solid presence of the general instantly calmed people.

Shaw saw Marcus, Cruz, and Reed ushering some people back from the trees. Then he sensed a presence, and knew Claudia was at his side.

“The aliens are getting too close.”

He nodded. “Yeah, they are.”

“We need to get to the Enclave.”

He heard the hard edge in her voice, but he knew that under it she was worried. “We will.”

“You don’t know the Huntsman like I do.” Her gaze turned inward, creating stark lines on her face. “He’ll never stop coming. Never.”

“Hey.” Shaw grabbed her hand, but his gut clenched. He’d never seen Claudia worried about anything or anyone before. “Hell Squad will stop him. Together with Squad Nine, Squad Three, the others. If he gets too close, we’ll take him down.”

She nodded, but he could still see the doubt in her eyes. And that worried him more than anything.

Suddenly, Holmes appeared. “Everyone, pack up and in your vehicles. Emergency evac procedures.”

Almost on auto-pilot, people started hurrying to their assigned vehicles, scooping up items as they went. There was an almost mechanical feel to it, edged with an air of urgency.

“What’s the situation?” Shaw asked.

Holmes ran a hand through his hair—hair that had gotten far past regulation length lately, and had a few more strands of grey at the temples. “Drones picked up alien ground troops heading this way. It’s almost like they’re tracking us.” He shook his head. “We need to move.”

They’d have to move in tight formation and all stay under the illusion.

Shaw nudged Claudia. “Let’s go.”

There was a frenzied air in the makeshift camp, as people tossed belongings in vehicles. Shaw and Claudia armored up and grabbed their weapons. Soon, they were sliding into the Hunter with the rest of Hell Squad.

Shaw leaned forward. “Everyone okay?”

From the front seat, Marcus nodded. “Everyone knows the evac procedure better than their own damn names now.” He glanced over as Cruz slid into the driver’s seat. “Let’s get moving and help the other vehicles hit the road.”

They took off. Shaw gave Claudia a quick squeeze on the shoulder before sliding into the autocannon seat. Well, the leisurely morning he’d planned with Claudia hadn’t happened.

Memories of their night together fired his blood. He shifted in his chair and forced the images of smooth skin and husky cries from his head. He so did not need a hard on right now.

Focus, Baird. Cruz did a few laps of the camp, getting others moving into the evac line and rolling out.

Finally, everyone was on the road.

Hell Squad was assigned to bring up the rear and fell in behind the last group of vehicles.

“Where are we headed?” Reed called out.

Marcus half turned, his rugged face serious. “We’re working toward getting out of the mountains and closer to the Enclave. For now, our next stop is a mountain resort not too far from here.”

If they made it. The raptors were circling around like vultures, just waiting for them to do something that gave the convoy away.

A light blinked red on the autocannon screen. Shaw focused on the controls and saw a perfect image of the rear of the Hunter and the empty road behind them.

But a second later, he spotted the ugly raptor vehicles tearing toward them.

His heart thumped hard, but he reminded himself they were under the illusion. The raptors didn’t know they were here.

Yet.

“Marcus. Company incoming.”

Marcus swore and opened the comms. “General, there are raptor vehicles directly behind us.”

A moment of silence. “Roger that.” Holmes’ voice was tense. “Let’s keep everyone inside the illusion and keep moving forward.”

As the general passed the message along the convoy, Shaw watched the convoy vehicles ahead pick up speed. No one wanted to gain the aliens’ attention. He kept one eye on the monitor, ensuring the raptor vehicles remained as dark shadows far behind them.

Then Marcus swore and slammed a fist into the Hunter’s dash. “A convoy vehicle’s broken down ahead.”

Shit. Shaw looked forward and saw the vehicle off to the side, still moving, but too slow to keep up with the convoy.

“We could tow it,” Claudia suggested.

Marcus stared ahead. “It’ll still take time to connect it up.”

“Move them into another vehicle,” Cruz said. “We can load them in here.”

It’d be tight, but doable. Only problem was, they’d leave a still-warm vehicle as a damn calling card for the aliens.

“Pull up.” Marcus’ voice was a rumble. “Let’s get ’em in here. Be quick. If the convoy moves too far ahead, we won’t be covered by the illusion.”

Cruz pulled up beside the disabled vehicle, the Hunter’s tires screeching a little on the road.

Gabe, Reed, and Claudia leaped out. Through the small window in the Hunter, Shaw saw the frightened faces of three kids pressed against the car’s windows.

His squad mates got to work. Gabe stayed as a guard, carbine up and aimed at the trees. Claudia herded two older kids inside—they were looking wide-eyed around the military vehicle—while Reed helped the parents grab what belongings they could take.

“Reed, speed it up,” Marcus called out. “Convoy’s moving fast.”

“Coming.”

“We fall out of the illusion, we’re all screwed.”

Claudia went back to the car and pulled a smaller child up into her arms. Shaw was no expert on kids, but this one looked not far past the baby stage. Claudia held the child securely to her chest and swiveled, calling out to the rushing parents.

“Fuck.” Marcus turned in his seat. “We just dropped out of the illusion!”

Shaw’s gaze flew back to his rear camera. He saw the alien vehicles speeding up, zooming straight toward them.

“Aliens have spotted us!”

***

Claudia clutched the little girl tighter in her arms. Through her earpiece, she heard her team swearing. She saw Gabe and Reed racing back toward the Hunter. She glanced back over her shoulder and saw three alien vehicles accelerating toward them.

Fuck.

“We have to go,” she yelled. “Now! Leave the things.”

The couple who were frantically pulling belongings from the vehicle looked back and blanched.

“Claudia, we’ll hold them off.” Marcus’ voice was like gravel through the comms line. “We can’t let these vehicles get past us and find the convoy.”

“Roger that.” The little girl had started sniffling, and Claudia hitched her higher.

“Bunker down with the civvies and we’ll be back for you.”

“Got it.”

Claudia turned to the civilians as the Hunter tore off with a squeal.

“Where are they going?” the woman asked, her voice high-pitched.

“They’ll hold the raptor vehicles off. We need to hide for now.”

The woman swiped a hand across her mouth. “They left us.”

“No…they’re protecting us, and the rest of the convoy. Come on.” Claudia walked along the verge. “We can’t stay near the car. It’s the first thing the raptors would check out.”

The man nodded, putting an arm around his frightened wife. Claudia assumed they were husband and wife. So many people had lost partners, children, loved ones. Now, many family units were cobbled together by people who weren’t even related by blood. People had taken in parentless kids, others had managed to fall in love again, even in the middle of hell.

She had.

God. Her heart kicked in her chest. She couldn’t go there right now. Not with Shaw and the rest of her squad racing right toward the aliens.

A boom sounded. She turned, and down the road, saw a giant ball of flames and smoke rising. Her throat went tight.

“Woo-hoo, take that you alien-sucking scaly bastards.”

Shaw’s jubilant shout came across her comms. She smiled and shook her head. “I think Hell Squad has taken out one of the vehicles.”

“They’ll take out the rest.” The man smiled. “They’re invincible.”

Claudia smiled back, but inside she felt cold. They weren’t invincible. They were men…men with feelings, needs, wants. Men who risked their lives every day for others.

Damn, she loved all of them.

The woman sniffled and wiped her tear-stained face. “I can take Amy.” She held her arms out for the little girl.

Amy clung to Claudia, tucking her head into Claudia’s neck. Something inside Claudia went soft and gooey. “She’s fine. Let’s get hidden.” They trekked up the road and Claudia studied the tree line. “Over there. See that large tree, with the thicker bushes around it?”

The couple nodded and they climbed the small slope up to the tree.

Claudia tickled the little girl, delighted when she giggled. “Come on, sweetie. We’re going to play hide and seek.”

“Claudia!”

Shaw’s urgent voice came over the line.

She touched her ear, tensing. “I’m here.”

“Raptor vehicle got past us. Pretty sure he’ll head for the convoy, but make sure you guys are out of sight. We’re in pursuit.”

Shit. “Got it, Shaw.”

A pause. “Stay safe.”

She felt a glow inside. “Always. You too.” She looked at the couple. “Quick, alien vehicle heading in this direction. Hide.”

The couple ducked into the thick bush. Claudia wriggled in, felt branches sticking to her armor. She curled around the little girl to protect her skin.

She’d just sat down, the girl in her lap, the heavy breathing of the couple just behind her, when she heard the roar of the alien vehicle.

She held up a finger to her lips. “They’ll go past, but everyone be quiet.”

The raptor vehicle tore past, its engine making a low, throaty growl.

Claudia’s shoulders relaxed a fraction.

Then she heard a screech. She slowly moved a small branch to peek through. The squat black vehicle had pulled to a halt. As she watched, it executed a tight U-turn.

Her eyes widened. Dammit to hell. “Quiet.”

It pulled to a stop just a few meters past their hiding spot. How the hell could they possibly know they were here?

Claudia stared at the ugly vehicle with its dull-black metal body and spikes on the front. She willed them to start up and leave.

The side door opened. A raptor got out and straightened.

Sunlight caught the red leather across his chest, glowing like the color of blood.

Her mouth went dry. Claudia hated that fear coursed through her. She squashed it as best she could.

The Huntsman slowly looked around, his red gaze scanning the trees, moving right over where she crouched.

The little girl whimpered and Claudia pulled her closer to her chest.

The Huntsman opened the door of the vehicle wider. Claudia saw a flash of movement, but couldn’t quite see what the bastard was doing.

Then she saw them…his two large alien canids.

The Huntsman barked something in his guttural language, and the alien hunting dogs moved forward, sniffing the ground, the spines along their back quivering.

Shit, shit, shit. Claudia shoved the girl at the woman. “I need you guys to move back, very quietly, and then climb a tree. Get up there and stay very quiet. Understand?”

Fear was alive in their faces, but the couple nodded.

Claudia swung her carbine around, checking it. “I’ll hold them off until Hell Squad arrives.”

The man nodded jerkily. “Come on, Julia.”

Claudia turned back to the incoming canids. They’d stopped sniffing, and had started yipping.

They’d gotten the scent.

She lifted her carbine, and aimed through the bush. She knew she could take one down with a headshot.

But it would give away her location and the other would be on her in a flash.

She breathed deeply, watching the creatures move in her direction, then she took the shot.

Chapter Thirteen

Claudia ran through the trees, branches snagging and slapping at her.

She had to put as much distance between her and the family as possible. The little girl’s face swam through her mind, and Claudia pushed for more speed.

Behind her, she heard the canid yipping and crashing through the undergrowth.

The first alien dog had gone down under her laser fire, but now this one was out for her blood.

Worse than that, though, she heard the solid footsteps of the Huntsman and his guttural commands as he followed behind the canid.

Well, she wasn’t chained up and subject to his little mind games anymore.

Claudia splashed through a small creek. She hoped it might make the canid lose her scent. She waded through the stream for a short distance, then climbed up the bank and ducked behind some rocks.

A second later, she saw the canid step into view. She lifted her carbine, staring down the scope. Her finger rested on the trigger.

Then the Huntsman appeared.

Claudia screwed up her nose. The bastard was relentless, she’d give him that. Through the sights, she studied his reptilian face, his red eyes and thick, gray skin. There was something remote about him, like he was completely disconnected from everything except the hunt.

Everything except finding his prey.

He wanted the convoy, she knew that. But deep in her gut, she also knew that he wanted her, as well. Like she was some damn collectible he couldn’t let get away.

The raptor slowly studied his surroundings, absently patting the agitated canid on the back.

Then she saw a grimace cross the Huntsman’s face. She squinted slightly, trying to see more clearly, and saw a small trickle of red coming from his nose. He sniffed and swiped a hand at his face.

After a week of studying him in detail, Claudia realized he was uncomfortable.

His nose was bleeding. She looked closer. His eyes were leaking blood as well.

He glanced at a nearby tree and his grimace deepened.

The trees.

They knew the raptors usually avoided them. Her pulse raced. Something in the trees did not agree with the Huntsman.

His head turned slowly, his gaze brushing over her hiding place. Then, his eyes moved back to where she hunched behind the rock. That red gaze stayed there for a second, for what felt like a damn week to Claudia, then moved on.

He couldn’t know she was here.

He murmured something to the canid, and it launched into the water.

In her direction.

Fuck.

Claudia turned and bolted.

She sprinted, running as fast as she could. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but she blocked it out. Like she did on every mission when her emotion rose up, threatening to destroy her focus, she shoved it in a little mental box. She’d taught herself to compartmentalize when she had to, and just focus on her main objective. Like she had when Zeke had been killed, or when Shaw had been in the jaws of a damned giant water alien.

The lives of her teammates, of the human survivors, depended on her and she would never, ever let them down.

She heard the canid growling, heard the heavy steps of her alien tormentor.

He wasn’t going to give up.

Something washed over her. He might catch her again, but she was damn well going to make sure she led him as far away from that family, from the convoy, and her squad as she could.

And far, far away from Shaw.

She leaped over a fallen log, heard some animal scamper away through the bush. She surged through some trees…and landed right at the edge of a cliff.

Claudia skidded to a stop, windmilling her arms. Her boots skated very close to the edge. Heart in her throat, she looked down.

It was a rocky, tree-covered drop into a deep ravine.

She had nowhere to go.

For a brief second, she closed her eyes. She was trapped.

She heard the canid go silent, and then it emitted another growl. Louder this time.

She opened her eyes, and looked back over her shoulder. The ugly alien dog was just meters away. Its rabid red gaze was on her, its chest heaving.

Then, the Huntsman appeared.

Hell. She did not want to go back. She moved a little, her boot balanced precariously on the edge. She felt so damned helpless again, like she had when this creature had locked her up in chains.

She raised her chin, staring at him defiantly.

Those red eyes burned into her. “Nowhere to run, Claudia Frost.”

“There are always options, you bastard.”

He tilted his head. “You’d jump?”

“I’ll always try something, do the unexpected. That’s what you scaly aliens keep misjudging about humans. We can get very creative when pushed into a corner.”

“I’ll remember that.” He started forward. “Now, you are coming with me.”

She heard a shout. Something crashed out of the trees.

“She is not yours, you fucker.” Shaw lifted his weapon and fired at the Huntsman.

As the laser hit, the raptor jerked. He ducked back into the trees with a growl. The canid leaped forward.

Claudia fired. Her laser joined Shaw’s.

Together, they advanced on the canid, and under the hail of fire, it finally fell. Its body twitching in the dirt.

Shaw reached out and grabbed the back of Claudia’s neck. He yanked her in for a quick, rough kiss. When he pulled back, a muscle ticked in his jaw and his gloved hand slid up and cupped her cheek.

Claudia let herself close her eyes and press her face into his touch. She wished she could feel his skin.

“Let’s get that bastard,” Shaw said, a growl in his voice.

She nodded. Now that she wasn’t alone, strength flooded her.

Together, they headed into the trees at a run.

Shaw tapped his ear. “Marcus, I found her. And the Huntsman. He’s headed west.”

“Got it,” Marcus answered back. “Elle, you got a bead on them?”

“Yes, Marcus. I’ll lead you in.”

Claudia concentrated on staying by Shaw’s side. Ahead, she could hear the Huntsman crashing through the trees.

“Come on, you coward,” Shaw yelled. “You’re fucking brave when you have people chained up, or a big, ugly dog in front of you.”

They broke out of the trees again, and Claudia spotted the Huntsman on an open ledge. He was running fast, pumping his arms…straight toward the cliff.

Her eyes widened. Was he going to jump?

It wouldn’t be as satisfying as killing him herself, but there was no way he’d survive the fall.

Before he reached the edge, he glanced back, his gaze crashing into hers. She saw something cold and lethal in them, and she barely suppressed a shiver.

Then the Huntsman leaped off the edge, and into the air.

Shaw cursed. He stopped at the edge, aiming and shooting at the falling alien.

Then, small wings snapped out of the small pack on the Huntsman’s back. Claudia swallowed a curse. It looked like a raptor version of a wingsuit.

The Huntsman turned, arrowed downward, and disappeared from view.

“Fucking hell.” Shaw kicked the ground, stirring up dust. Then he spun, angry green eyes spearing into her. “So, you thought you’d take off and make yourself bait for that bastard?”

She narrowed her gaze. “You’re angry at me?”

“He was after you, Claudia.” Shaw swung his rifle over his shoulder. “The guy has a damn big hard on for you.”

“Yeah, well, I am in no mood to get fucked. By anyone.” She heard the rest of the squad coming now, moving through the trees.

Shaw grabbed the front of her armor and tugged her close. “I will be fucking you, as soon as I get you somewhere halfway private.” His mouth slammed down on hers.

The kiss was angry, rough, but it was fueled by a passion that took her breath away, and tasted like the man she couldn’t get enough of.

She thrust her hands into his hair, tugging, holding on tight.

They both pulled back.

Something raw flashed across his face. “I thought I was going to be too late.”

“I’m okay,” she murmured, running her gloved hand over his jaw.

He nodded.

Then the rest of their squad raced out of the trees.

“The gang’s all here.” Claudia knew Shaw would always come for her, her squad would always come for her.

She hadn’t had anyone like that in her life before the alien invasion.

Maybe for her, in some twisted, strange way, the damned alien apocalypse was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

***

As Hell Squad drove up the mountain road, Shaw stayed alert in the autocannon, watching for any sign that the raptors were onto them.

But the road remained empty.

His thoughts turned to the woman seated not far away. She was quiet, brooding, and Shaw didn’t like it.

He also really didn’t like this obsession the Huntsman had with her.

“Coming up on the convoy,” Cruz called from the driver’s seat.

Shaw looked back through his scope. Ahead, lay a really small dot of a town. It didn’t look like there was much to it. The trucks and cars of the convoy had all pulled over along the main street, parked in their standard rapid-escape rows.

The Hunter slowed and stopped.

As Hell Squad got out, Shaw watched Claudia lift the little girl they’d rescued into her arms. The kid’s parents were thanking them all, relief stark on their faces. As the parents ushered their older kids out of the Hunter, Shaw watched the little girl giggle and press her nose to Claudia’s.

Shaw froze. The two of them looked…so right. He’d never once thought of Claudia in terms of kids or being maternal. She was hardcore, a hell of a soldier, someone who could run into a fight without a second glance.

But now knowing what she’d been through before, having held her in his arms, he’d glimpsed another side of her he’d been blind to before.

What would she look like holding their child?

As that thought slapped him in the head, she set the girl down, patted her hair and urged her back toward her parents. They headed off to be assigned to another vehicle.

The general appeared. “Hell Squad, well done.”

Marcus lifted his chin. “It was close. This Huntsman is turning into a real pain.”

“He wants Claudia.”

As Shaw spoke, all eyes swung toward him.

Marcus cocked his head. “Say again?”

“Bastard wants Claudia,” Shaw said again. “I saw the way he watched her. It’s not a sexual thing, it’s, I don’t know. Like he wants to own her.”

Claudia cleared her throat. “Those canids he had, they were vicious, and he treated them like pets. Loved to watch them fight.”

“Like he loved to watch you fight,” Shaw added.

She lifted her chin. “I don’t give a shit about what he likes. I’m not a damned pet. We get the chance, I’m taking him down.”

Holmes cleared his throat. “Our priority is getting out of the mountains and to the Enclave, not killing the Huntsman.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Marcus asked.

“It’ll be dark in another few hours, and most people have been running on adrenaline for the day,” Holmes said. “We make camp for the night, then tomorrow, we make for our route out of the mountains as fast as we can.”

“And once we’re out of the mountains?” Claudia moved closer, her shoulder brushing Shaw’s. “It’s going to be tougher, right? Less places to hide, fewer trees, open roads—”

“And more raptors patrolling the area.” Holmes nodded. “But we don’t have any other choices. We make it or we keep running until they pick us off.”

Shaw felt a faint tremor beneath his feet. He frowned, wondering if he’d imagined it. He looked around, but the others hadn’t seemed to sense anything. He shook his head. Not enough sleep last night—not that he regretted that for a second.

The others kept talking and Shaw scanned the convoy. People were getting out now, checking their vehicles, breathing in some fresh air.

Another tremor, stronger this time. He stilled, and noticed his squad mates and the general do the same thing.

“I take it you all felt that one?” Shaw said.

“Yeah.” Marcus turned slowly, scanning around.

The next tremor was larger still.

“Get everyone back in the vehicles,” Marcus said urgently. “I’ll contact Elle and tell her to spread the word.”

The general, jaw tight, nodded. He strode closer to the vehicles. “Everyone, we can’t stay here. Please, get back in your vehicles and fire them up. Hurry.”

Shaw listened to Marcus talk to Elle. Then the comms officer’s voice came through all their earpieces.

“Hell Squad, the drone operators have picked up rexes with riders heading this way. An entire pack of rexes.”

Shaw swung his rifle off his shoulder, his gaze hitting Claudia’s. Her face was tight.

“How do they know where we are?” Claudia asked.

“Maybe the illusion is malfunctioning?” Shaw asked.

“I’ve checked with Noah,” Elle said. “He said the illusion is working perfectly.”

A few of the civilians had gathered around, scared and panicked. They’d been on the run for over a week, and under attack for over a year and a half. They were running on fumes.

“What’s going on?” a man asked.

“Raptors headed this way,” Cruz said, his voice low and calm. “You need to get ready to go.”

“How are they following us?” one woman said.

“Yeah.” The man frowned. “How do they keep finding us?”

It was a hell of a question and one that needed an answer.

The man’s gaze turned inward. “Maybe that woman. The alien one. They’re tracking her or something.”

“Yeah,” a woman mumbled, wringing her hands together. “That could be it.”

Then the man’s eyes drifted to Claudia. “Or maybe her. She was with them for over a week. Maybe she’s helping them now.”

Shaw felt Claudia stiffen, but it was nothing compared to the way his spine snapped straight.

“She mightn’t even know she’s doing it,” someone else called out. “Maybe they’re brainwashed or something.”

“Back off,” Shaw said, his tone lethal.

The crowd all shifted nervously.

“She’s spent a fucking year and a half fighting to keep you safe.” The words spat out of him like laser fire. “She’s bled for you, broken bones for you—”

“Shaw.” Marcus’ low voice.

“No, dammit, Marcus. They are trying to turn a damn hero into the bad guy here…all because they’re scared.” He rounded on the people, aware of Claudia’s charged silence behind him. “She was bloody tortured by those animals for you, to keep your location safe.”

The lead man swallowed. “But what if she did give us away?”

“She didn’t!” Shaw part shouted, part growled the words. “I know her. I’ve fought beside her.” Loved her. “She never fucking gives up, all to keep idiots like you safe.”

A hand touched his shoulder. “Shaw. Enough.”

Claudia’s voice sounded normal, steady, but he knew her better than most, heard the slight tremor under her words.

“Everyone, get back to your vehicles,” Marcus said. “We need to go. Now.”

The people left, grumbling and casting unsure glances at Claudia.

“Hell Squad. Hunter. Now.” Marcus spun and stomped toward the vehicle.

They climbed in and instantly, Shaw saw Claudia’s tough mask slip.

He pushed in beside her. “Ignore them.”

“Check me.”

“What?” He frowned.

“Check me for tracking devices.”

He felt the others in the vehicle watching and listening.

Shaw shook his head. “The doc gave you the all-clear—”

“There must be something,” Claudia’s words came out fast. She started tearing her armor off.

“Shit.” This came from Reed.

Watching her tear at her gear made Shaw’s damn heart clench like a fist. “Claudia—”

“I’m endangering everyone. The Huntsman…he cut me sometimes. Then I’d pass out. When I’d wake up, they’d have healed me again.” Large gray eyes looked up. “They could have put something in me without me knowing. Something the doc couldn’t detect.”

Shaw squeezed the back of the chair, the tough fabric compressing under the force of his fingers. He hated seeing her like this.

She had her armor off now, and she yanked her shirt from the waistband of her trousers. She lifted the hem, running her hands over the bare skin of her stomach.

Shaw wasn’t letting her do this alone. “Reed, take the autocannon.”

“Sure thing.”

Shaw shoved Claudia’s hands aside and pressed his palm to her belly.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He ran his hand up to under her breasts, then back down. He reached behind her, touching muscles strung taut with strain.

“There’s nothing, Claudia. This is crap.”

“He came right to me.” Her words were harsh. “We were hiding in the trees, but his vehicle stopped right by us. Then he chased me through the woods.”

“He had canids.”

She shook her head. “That doesn’t explain it all.” She swallowed, her gaze drifting past him. “There’s a small scar on my hipbone,” she said. “I woke up with it after one of the Huntsman’s sessions.”

Dammit, Shaw really, really wanted to kill that damn raptor. The bastard had tortured Shaw’s woman, taken the strongest soldier Shaw had ever known, and was making her doubt herself.

He brushed his finger over her hipbone…and felt the thick ridge of the scar on her left side.

“It could be just a scar,” he said.

Claudia reached down and yanked her Gladius combat knife out of its sheath. “Cut it open.”

Chapter Fourteen

Claudia gritted her teeth. At first, Shaw was hesitant with the knife, barely nicking her skin.

She grabbed his wrist. “Quit with the fucking butterfly moves, just do it.”

Green eyes flashed at her. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Oh, he could. Emotionally, but not physically. And she was starting to believe that she might even be able to trust him with her heart.

“Shaw…help me.” She used her strength to force the knife into her skin.

She hissed out a breath and Shaw cursed, but as blood flowed down her side, he dug deeper.

God, it hurt. Claudia rolled her eyes to the roof of the Hunter. She didn’t want to let him see how much it hurt. She bit down on her tongue, and as he slipped a finger into the wound, she tried to hide her moan.

He paused.

“Don’t stop,” she muttered.

Grimly, he nodded. His jaw looked so tight it might crack. “There’s something there.”

Dammit. Claudia sucked in a few shallow breaths, fighting through the pain. Thankfully, it was nothing like what she’d suffered under the Huntsman.

“Come on, you little piece of shit.” Shaw muttered under his breath, trying to grab something and pull it out of her skin. His fingers were slippery with blood.

Then his hand came free.

“Got it.” He held something up.

“Here.” Gabe appeared with a wad of gauze. He pressed it over Claudia’s hip.

But everyone’s attention was fixed on the tiny device Shaw was holding.

Claudia swallowed…that had been inside her. It looked like it was made of bone and scale, but it had a blinking red light, and was certainly a piece of the raptors’ organic technology.

“Some sort of tracking device?” Marcus said.

A sense of violation shivered through Claudia. It had been there all along, put there without her knowledge. She shouldn’t feel so icked out—some of the other survivors had endured far worse atrocities at the hands of the raptor scientists. Hell, Reed’s fiancée Natalya had a raptor heart implanted in her.

Shaw dropped the tracker on the floor and brought his boot down on it.

The crunch was loud in the confines of the vehicle.

Claudia let out a breath. “It was there all along.” She swiped a hand over her hair. “I was endangering everyone.”

“It’s gone now,” Shaw said.

“What if there are others?” She thrust her hands on her hips. “Maybe I should leave—”

“No.” Shaw’s voice was unyielding. “No.”

She was so used to his lazy, joking tone that the firm authority made her blink.

“We’ll get the doc to check you out again,” he said. “But it’s gone now.”

Marcus turned in his seat. “Doc’ll need to check out Selena, too.”

“Will the resort be safe?” Claudia asked. God, had the damn tracker let the aliens get too close?

“It’s still a fair distance from here,” Cruz answered. “We should be fine.”

When the Hunter finally turned off the road onto a smaller side road, Claudia sagged in her seat, at once realizing how tired she felt. The tension of being on the run, the fight with the raptors and the confrontation with the Huntsman, not to mention that Shaw hadn’t let her get much sleep the night before, meant she felt like she was running on the barest of fumes.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Old mountain resort,” Cruz called back from the front seat. “General figured it would make a good rest stop.”

Reed leaned forward, looking at the buildings in the afternoon sun. “Looks like it was pretty swanky.”

“Yep,” Cruz said. “Five star. Let’s hope the wildlife hasn’t reclaimed it.”

They pulled to a stop beside the other Hunters. As she climbed out, Claudia didn’t see any other squads and figured they were all on patrol, checking the perimeter or helping the survivors unpack.

Elle appeared out of the growing shadows. She ran straight for Marcus, and he swept her into his brawny arms without hesitation.

Damn, sometimes watching them made Claudia want to roll her eyes, but she couldn’t deny that beauty and the beast fit together like two perfect pieces of a puzzle. Elle had made Marcus so happy, soothed the former Marine’s crusty edges.

She glanced up and saw Shaw was watching her. He grabbed her hand, and after a brief tug of war, she huffed out a breath and looked down. She saw her dried blood on his fingers as he twined his hand with her own bloodstained one.

Here was a man willing to hold on to her, no matter what. It left her equal parts breathless and afraid.

Finally, Marcus set Elle down. The brunette looked over at Claudia. “Claudia, you’re okay?”

“Sure thing, Elle.”

“Good. Look, I’ve arranged rooms for the squad. Actually, everyone has a cabin.” She smiled. “And I don’t mean the rustic, wooden kind. This resort only offered the best.”

The way she said it made Claudia guess that Elle, in her previous life as a wealthy Sydney socialite, had spent some time here.

“They might be dusty,” Elle continued, “and you should probably check for snakes and spiders first, but everyone will have a bed. Oh, and Noah said the water is still running here as well.”

“A shower and a bed,” Cruz groaned. “I’m going to find Santha.”

Elle’s gaze fell on Claudia before flicking to Shaw. “I only got you guys one cabin.”

Shaw winked. “You are a goddess, Ellie. Thanks to you, maybe I’ll get lucky.”

Claudia elbowed him. “You just have to stride through camp and you’d get lucky.”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “No, my badass girl, I wouldn’t. I’d get laid but lucky is when you finally agreed to be mine.”

Claudia tried to find a comeback, but her heart was in her throat.

“Oh, and I arranged for the doc to come around and check on you, Claudia. She’s checking a few other patients, as well as Selena, then she’ll be there. She’s rigged some extra scanning device to check for the raptor tech.”

Claudia nodded. “Thanks.”

Shaw kept hold of her hand as they passed through what had once been the grand lobby of the main building. Lots of people were wandering around, many no doubt staying in rooms in the main hotel.

She tried, discreetly, to pull her hand out of his. With so many people around, she didn’t want gawkers to see them holding hands. But her stubborn sniper held firm.

Sure enough, she saw people, especially women, eyeing their joined hands. There were looks of surprise and disappointment, and even a couple of smiles.

The lobby had a huge, A-frame roof with dark wooden beams. It had probably once been furnished beautifully, but over time, the contents had been looted. All that was left was a large, dusty, rustic-looking chandelier hanging overhead, and the long check-in desk decorated with river stones.

“Through here.” Shaw tugged her out through a set of glass doors and down a set of steps.

They paused, and when she got a look at the view, her breath caught. “God, it’s beautiful.”

Below the main building was a small, man-made lake. Around it, the rest of the resort spread out—cabins, conference buildings, a golf-course—now all overgrown.

But that wasn’t what was beautiful. It was the magnificent view.

The sun was setting and the resort was situated perfectly to look over a deep valley. On either side, mountains rose up, covered in trees. The valley had a deep-blue tinge in the distance, which she knew had given the Blue Mountains their name.

“Come on.” Shaw led her along a winding path, parts of it overgrown by bushes. He stopped at one of the separate cabins. The cabin was wood, with the same A-frame design as the lobby. The entire resort had a low-key mountain design, but it was obvious to see it had never been rustic. She guessed it had been a place for the wealthy to spend their weekends.

They entered the cabin, and when she eyed the king-sized bed, she smiled. A real bed. God, it had been so long since she could spread out in a bed. Her bunk at the base had been tiny, and now none of them had real beds.

“Hello,” a feminine voice called out from behind them. “Did someone order a home visit from their friendly neighborhood doctor?”

Shaw and Claudia turned and watched Doc Emerson jog up the steps. Selena followed behind her.

“You’re chirpy,” Claudia said.

“Have you seen the size of the beds in this place?” Emerson waggled her eyebrows. “Once I’ve finished my doctoring, I’m planning to tear Gabe’s clothes off and play in our bed all night long.”

Shaw made a gagging sound. “Okay, my cue to leave.” He caught Claudia’s gaze. “I’ll be back soon.”

She nodded, watched him leave, then looked at her new friend. “How are you doing?”

Selena nodded, her silver-white hair brushing her shoulders. “Fine.” She smiled. “Actually, great. It’s nice to be off the med bus. The sun on your planet…” She closed her eyes, and a look of pleasure crossed her face.

If Claudia had to guess, it was the look she had on her own face when she had Shaw naked in front of her.

Selena’s large eyes opened. “Our sun is much farther from our planet.”

Claudia looked more closely at the other woman and saw she really was…glowing. And her skin was taking on a more tanned tint.

“Selena’s been allowing me to run a few tests on her,” Emerson said. “It’s fascinating. Her species can actually absorb energy from sunlight.”

Claudia’s eyebrows rose. “So the sun here is like…”

“Like she’s plugging into a battery,” Emerson finished with a grin.

Selena smiled. “I’m feeling very good.” Then her smile dimmed. “But I am very, very far from my home.”

Claudia’s gut clenched. And they had no capability to get her back there. Claudia didn’t think hitching a ride on a raptor ship was an option. She touched Selena’s slender arm. “You have friends here.”

A small nod. “Thank you, Claudia. Without you, the Gizzida would have killed me by now.”

“Any idea why they kidnapped you?”

“Your general has asked me the same question.” She pulled a face. “Many times. I have no idea. I am no one special or important on my world.”

“Come on.” The doc nudged Claudia toward a dust-covered armchair. “I need to check you out. I’ve already run some extra scans on Selena, but haven’t found any evidence of a tracker.” Emerson pulled out a scanner. “So, I hear you had one embedded under the skin?”

Claudia nodded. “Shaw cut it out. How come you didn’t find it?”

“Raptor tech is tricky. Most of it is organic in nature, so it doesn’t always show up on our scans.” The scanner beeped and Emerson studied the results before resetting it again and running it down Claudia’s legs. “So…you did the dirty with our sexy, charming sniper.”

Claudia ran her tongue over her teeth. “Yep.”

The doc grabbed some things from her bag and started wiping the dried blood off Claudia’s hip. “And you’ve fallen in love with him.”

Claudia went still. She eyed Selena, who was watching her with interest.

“From the way you spoke about him, I’d guessed you felt something for him,” Selena said quietly.

Emerson patted Claudia on the shoulder. “Funny, you know, that you’ve always been the one giving the men, and us, little snippets of relationship advice…but you look like I just whacked you over the head with a bat.” The doctor squeezed some sort of med glue into the cut on Claudia’s hip.

“I…God, Emerson…he’s never committed to a woman. He likes women, all women.”

“He did. He’s always been honest about that. But the way he looks at you…you must know it’s different.”

“I want it to be.” She closed her eyes. “Hell.”

Emerson pressed a clean adhesive over the cut. “Not so easy being the one receiving the advice, is it?”

“Are you finished yet?”

“Yes.” Emerson’s scanner let out another small beep. “I’ve run the deepest scans I can. I cannot pick up any other foreign devices or anomalies, but…”

“That doesn’t mean there aren’t any.”

The doc packed her things away. “I’m pretty sure there aren’t.”

“I could be putting everyone in the convoy in danger.”

“We’re already in danger, Claudia. The raptors know our general location. All we can do is focus on getting to the Enclave.”

Claudia nodded, but she wasn’t convinced.

Claudia walked Emerson and Selena out. She stood in the doorway and watched the alien woman walking with the human doctor. At first glance, Selena passed for human. But Claudia worried about her…how would it feel to be so far from home in the middle of a warzone?

As she watched, two flashes of color flew through the air. Two rainbow lorikeets fluttered in the air, one coming to land on Selena’s arm.

The woman laughed, clearly delighted by the pretty birds. Claudia frowned. She’d never seen wild birds do that before. Maybe these had been pets here at the resort?

As Selena stroked the bird’s feathers, Claudia closed the door and hit the shower. She had to wash the tiles off first as the shower was coated in dust and dirt, but soon the water—blessed hot water—was pounding over her head. She washed the muck of the day away and enjoyed the quiet spray of the shower.

She found a towel in the cupboard in the bathroom, a little dusty but mostly clean, and dried off. Her thoughts turned to the Huntsman.

He wasn’t going to stop.

He was relentless. Driven.

He wanted the convoy, yes, but most of all, she knew he wanted her.

She stared at her reflection in the steam-misted mirror. Her dark hair was loose, falling around her shoulders. Why the hell did the alien want her so badly?

But she knew there was no way she’d let him get the people in this convoy. The men in her squad. Shaw.

Claudia headed out into the bedroom. The front door opened at the same moment, and Shaw stepped inside.

They both froze, staring at each other.

He’d showered somewhere, his hair damp so the gold glints looked darker. A well-worn T-shirt clung to his muscled chest, and she could just see the ink of his tattoo on his left shoulder peeking out under the sleeve. Jeans hung low on his hips.

“I brought you some clothes.” He held up the cargo trousers and shirt he held in his hand. Then he tossed them onto a chair. “I’m really hoping you won’t put them on.”

“Oh.” She felt heat fire in her blood. She gripped the edges of the towel, pulling them open a little. “But all I have to wear is this.”

Shaw’s gaze was instantly glued to the small patch of skin she’d bared. “I guess you can’t wear that, either.”

“I guess not.” This was kind of fun. Claudia couldn’t remember the last time she’d had fun with a man. She dropped the towel.

Shaw groaned deep in his throat, then he was striding across the room.

She watched him come, wanted him to come. She wanted the heat and life of him surrounding her, inside her. Shaw Baird made her feel alive in a way she’d never felt before.

He lifted her and then slammed her back against the wall. She made her own needy sound, sliding her hands into his hair and clamping her legs around his waist.

When their mouths clashed, it was all heat, tongue against tongue, and the sharp nip of teeth.

God, she’d never get enough of him. She drank in his taste, her tongue sliding along his.

“You should be naked all the time.” His mouth traveled along her jaw, down the side of her neck. When he bit her, she arched into him, his hard, denim-covered cock pressed firmly against the juncture of her thighs.

She moaned. “Might not be a good idea on a mission.”

Shaw nipped her again. “No one else gets to see you naked, Frost. They do, I’ll take them down.”

“Bossy.” She shoved at him and he staggered back a few steps, his hands sliding under her ass. “We aren’t doing it against the wall when we have that glorious bed to make use of.”

“Your wish—” he fell back on the mattress “—is my command.”

She snorted. “You never follow orders that easily.” She settled on top of him, straddling his hips. She reached down and yanked his T-shirt up. He rose up a little, his abs flexing, to help her pull it over his head.

“I do when the payoff for me is worth it.” He grinned.

For a second, she was caught by the playful smile. It lit up his handsome face, made him look almost boyish.

But he wasn’t a boy. He was a man hardened by war and by the alien invasion, and a hell of a sniper. She knew it took courage and conviction to stare down the scope at the face of the person you were about to kill. To absolutely understand the reasons you were doing it and know that a death meant protecting the lives of so many others.

He was also a man who’d maintained his ability to smile, to have fun, to make others laugh. Even in the face of an alien apocalypse. Hell, she’d lost that ability long before the aliens had come. Hardening herself against letting people get too close. She’d worked damn hard to piece her heart and her life back together after her failed marriage and the miscarriage. But dammit, she knew she still focused on those scars too much.

But the man lying beneath her, all smooth skin over hard muscle, that playful but hungry glint in his eyes…he was teaching her to just let go and enjoy.

In this moment, she wasn’t going to worry about aliens and the Huntsman, or even all the people outside who depended on them.

Right now, it was only the two of them, locked together in their own private space, and she sure as hell was going to enjoy him.

Claudia scooted back, tugging open his jeans. “You have a mighty fine body, Baird.”

He reached up and cupped one of her breasts. “Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you.”

Together, they shoved his jeans down and he kicked them off. Then he was laid out beneath her, naked, aroused and all hers.

She leaned down, running her hands along his sides, her mouth pressing to his pec. “Mmm.” She nipped at his tanned skin, then licked his nipple.

He made a sound, shifting beneath her.

She moved up to his shoulder, tracing his sexy tattoo with her tongue. It consisted of bold, black lines weaving in a pattern. “I’ve always liked this.”

He groaned. “I got it after my first mission as team sniper.”

She paused. The first time he’d killed with his sniper rifle. Other women probably saw it and thought how sexy it was. But she understood what it stood for. She pressed a slow kiss to the center of it.

His hand reached up and tangled in her hair.

She traveled down his long, lean body, taking her time. She scraped her teeth over the hard ridges of his flat stomach. He jerked under her touch.

She dragged her tongue around his navel, along the hard ridge of muscle near his hip bone.

“You’re a mean tease,” he said on a groan.

Then she moved back a little more, resting on his hard thighs. “You aren’t going to think that in a minute.”

She took his hard, long cock in her hand. As she pumped her hand along it, his groan was deep and loud. She loved the strong and soft feel of him.

Now she wanted to taste him.

She dropped down and sucked him into her mouth.

He made a strangled sound and thrust his hips up. His large cock bumped against the back of her throat, but she gripped his hips, and sucked harder. She spent all her days with men—rough, hard men. She knew however hard you were with them, they could always take more.

Claudia sucked and swallowed, loving the feel and taste of him. Even more, she loved the small curses he made and the way his hand kept touching her hair. She knew he wanted to grab her, direct her, but he just rested his palm on the back of her head.

Suddenly, he growled and reared up. He grabbed her hips and pulled her lower body around toward him. He swung her around until she was above him on all fours.

“Keep going.” His voice was so deep and harsh, she could barely make out his words.

His fingers ran between her legs, brushing her clit and her slick lips. She cried out.

“Yeah, I’m going to have a little fun, too.” His hands circled her thighs, pulling them wider, then his mouth was on her.

Oh…God. As he licked and sucked on her, pleasure was like a backfire explosion through her body. He was being as hard and rough as she was.

She ducked back down and sucked the wide head of his cock back into her mouth.

It was almost like their sparring in the gym, attacking each other, fighting for supremacy—but this time the attack was sensual and the end result would be pleasure for both of them.

Claudia fought to keep herself from coming. The man had a very talented tongue, but she refused to give up. She wanted to hear him shout her name as he came. She felt his cock throbbing, his thighs tensing. He was close.

“Enough.” He moved again and the world spun as he grabbed her.

Claudia found herself tossed on her back, and before she could move, Shaw’s big body was covering hers.

He gripped one of her thighs, pushing it high, knee to her chest. She was wide open for him, and he grabbed his cock. He rubbed it between her legs, making her squirm.

“Like that, my badass girl?”

“Yes,” she hissed.

“You’ll like this more.” He pushed inside her with one firm thrust.

Claudia let her head fall back against the soft bed. Oh, she was so full.

“No, keep looking at me.” His chest pressed to hers, his face close. He pushed one hand down on the bed beside her head.

His eyes blazed, his face taut with need. Then he started moving, his thrusts gathering pace.

“That all you’ve got, Shaw?” she breathed. “Harder. More.”

He did as she asked. They held onto each other, and soon, she felt her orgasm coming closer. Shaw’s thrusts lost their rhythm as he hammered into her.

Then they both came together, crying out each other’s names.

Chapter Fifteen

Shaw lazily dragged his fingers over Claudia’s naked body. He’d barely gotten his breath back, but he wanted—who was he kidding?—he needed to keep touching her.

She wasn’t soft, but she still had curves; they were just toned, filled with a strength he found irresistible. He liked knowing she gave as good as she got—on the battlefield, in the gym, and in bed. Hell, he was pretty sure his back was covered in scratches, and maybe a few bruises. He smiled. Life was good.

“What are you smiling about?” she murmured. She was lying there like some harem slave girl, without a hint of self-consciousness.

“I finally have you in a bed,” he answered.

Her smile was lazy. “Do you even know what to do in a bed?”

He pulled a mock scary face. “Didn’t I just prove that? You aren’t going to make a quickie joke, are you? If you do, I’ll make you pay.”

She stretched her arms above her head. “I’d be a little hypocritical to be questioning your stamina now.” She stretched a bit more. “But I do like how you take your payback.”

He walked his fingers along her lean thigh. “And there are lots and lots of things I’d like to do to you.” His fingers delved between her legs. He liked the sound she made. “And in this big, comfy bed, I could really, really take my time.”

She gripped his wrist. “We both know we only have tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll be back on the road.”

He saw the crease of worry appear on her brow. He moved his hands, cupping her shoulders. “We’ll get to the Enclave.”

She nodded. “What if I have another tracker? Shaw, I can’t put everyone at risk—”

“The tracker is gone.” He sat up, scowling at her. “I’ve already told you, you aren’t going anywhere.”

“He won’t stop. He’ll keep coming.”

The fucking Huntsman. Shaw was going to enjoy taking the alien down. “And we don’t stop, either. Hell Squad never gives up.”

“The rest of the squad, they all have women to protect now. Hell, Cruz has kids, too—Bryony and the baby coming. I couldn’t stand to know they got hurt because of me.”

Shaw pulled her into his arms, her back pressed to his chest. He held on tight. “Not going to happen.”

“I couldn’t live with it if he hurt you.”

Shaw pressed his face to her hair. “Frost, you know I’m tougher than that. One crazy alien is not going to best me. And he certainly isn’t going to take my woman.”

She tilted her head up, a brow arched. “Your woman?”

Shaw tightened his hold. “Yes. You got a problem with that?”

She was quiet for so long, he felt his muscles tensing up.

“No. I guess I don’t. But you go caveman on me, Shaw, and I’ll hit you over the head with a rock. Or beat you up myself.”

He grinned. God, she was something. “Didn’t doubt it for a second.” He pushed her down on the bed, scooting them up close to the metal headboard. “Now, why don’t I show my woman why I’m a good man to keep around?”

She made a humming noise. “You can cook?”

“Nope.” He reached up and urged her to grip the rungs of the headboard with one hand.

“You can clean?”

He shuddered. “Definitely not.” He made her curl the fingers of her other hand around the headboard. She stretched out, her chest lifted toward him.

“So, apart from being a good shot, why else should I keep you around?” she asked, her voice husky.

He cupped her breasts, flicking at her nipples. “Well, I’m good with my hands.”

“Okay,” she said breathlessly. “What else?”

“I’m also good with my mouth.” He leaned down and peppered kisses over her stomach.

“Hmm, that’s not bad, I guess.”

“Not bad?” He slid lower, his hand slipping between her legs. She was already slick and warm for him. He moved up, covering her body with his. “And contrary to popular belief, I have very good stamina.” He thrust inside her.

Her eyelids fluttered but her gaze stayed on his. “Well, it’s all sounding quite promising.”

“Still not convinced.” He thrust again, his hands covering hers on the headboard. “Well, you’ll have to keep me around, because I’m not letting you go.”

“Arrogant,” she muttered, her hips lifting to meet his.

“And if you try to leave, Claudia, I’ll follow you.” He thrust harder, wanting her to feel his claim. “You try and leave me in some misguided attempt to protect me, it won’t matter, because I’ll be right by your side.”

Her eyes were wide, and as Shaw lost himself to the roaring desire, he went to work showing his woman just what she meant to him.

***

The gazebo overlooking the pool had probably once been a nice spot to lounge in a bikini, reading a book or sipping some frothy drink with a little umbrella in it.

Now, it was the location of their latest planning meeting to escape the encroaching aliens.

“They know our general location. They know we’re still in the mountains.” Holmes paced back and forth.

Claudia sipped her coffee. The man was on the edge. He was going to break under the pressure if he didn’t find a way to diffuse it. Guilt wormed through her. Part of that was her fault. Unwittingly, she’d led the aliens closer.

Holmes stopped and stared at everyone gathered. All the squad leaders, comms officers, a few of the squad soldiers, Noah from the tech team, Lia from the drone team, and Finn, the unofficial head of the Hawk pilots. All of Hell Squad stood at the back. Shaw was beside her, sipping his tea. They gave him hell that he preferred to drink tea, like some elegant lady. He didn’t seem to care.

“We need to get out of the mountains,” Holmes said. “The longer we stay here, the greater the chance they’ll find us. They are hounding us, running us down.”

“They are tearing up trees all around the place,” Lia said. “Every drone is picking up huge alien activity. Those giant saws of theirs won’t leave a tree standing.”

Claudia stirred. “When the Huntsman chased me through the trees, something was clearly affecting him. He was bleeding from the nose and eyes, in pain.”

The general nodded. “It’s the only thing stopping them from just overrunning us.”

“So, follow our plan.” This came from Tane. “We follow the route out of the mountains, and if we come across any aliens, we kick their butts.” Behind him, Squad Three gave a bloodthirsty cheer.

Damn, the berserkers were scary. Claudia was bloody glad they were on their side.

“It isn’t quite that easy, Tane.” The general shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded at Elle. A screen projected up on the blank wall behind what had once been an outdoor bar. “Here is our original way out of the mountains. It wasn’t the main road out, but a secondary one.”

“They’ve chased us too far south,” Claudia said.

The general nodded. “There are too many aliens between us and this route. We’d never make it.”

“So we go south,” Marcus said.

“There’s a problem.” Elle swiveled around. “At the edge of the mountains to the south is the Warragamba Dam, which in turn creates Lake Burragorang.” She tapped the keyboard, and the map zoomed in. “It was a major water reservoir for Sydney.”

Claudia stared at the image of the lake—it was long and narrow, starting in a mountain valley, before spreading out to the north and the south along the edge of the mountains. It formed a barrier between the mountains, and the location of the Enclave closer to the coast.

“There are no bridges or access to it,” Elle said, her face tense. “It had an exclusion zone around it to ensure the water quality. There is very little infrastructure around it.”

Marcus frowned. “So you’re saying we can’t go over it.”

Elle nodded. “We’d planned to go north of it…”

“But now we’ll have to go a long way south to go around it,” Holmes finished. “And routes through there are limited.” He waved a hand at the heavily forested area southwest of the lake.

Everyone was silent for a moment. Claudia knew the longer they stayed playing this cat and mouse game in the mountains, the higher the chance the raptors would catch them.

Then Shaw stirred. “Sir, if that’s what we have to do, that’s what we have to do.”

The other soldiers all nodded and murmured.

Claudia smiled. That was Shaw—straight to the point, no avoiding what had to be done.

“Okay,” Holmes said decisively. “We do this. So now, we just need to come up with a workable route that keeps us away from the raptors. Elle, show us the options, please.”

The map changed, lines and points glowing. Claudia frowned. There weren’t many main roads, not without going a long way south which took them farther away from the Enclave.

And made the chances the raptors would finally catch them a whole lot more likely.

There was a lot of forest and not much to break it up. She saw a spot marked on the map—the Jenolan Caves. She stilled. One time, when she’d been about twelve, her mother had forced her to take a trip away, just the two of them. They’d come up here to the Blue Mountains. Claudia had been pissed—she was a city girl. She’d liked buildings, shops and cars. She’d wanted to stay and hang out with the local boys, and traipsing around trees and caves hadn’t been her idea of fun.

But despite her grumpiness, that trip with her mother had been great. The Jenolan Caves were sandstone caves filled with amazing formations and old fossils. After the caves, they’d visited an old mining ghost town. She still remembered the bumpy ride along an old dirt road to get there.

She froze.

“Wait. Elle, can you pull up the location of an old mining town? It was called…crap, Yerra-something. Yerradown or Yerraderrie.”

Elle tapped on the computer. “Yerranderie?”

“That’s it!”

Shaw bumped Claudia with his shoulder. “Why do we care about an old town?”

“I visited there with my mother years ago. It had once been a thriving town built around a silver mine back in the early 1900s. Then the mining industry collapsed, and the dam blocked the town off from Sydney. Several decades later, it had been turned into a tourist destination. I don’t remember all the details, but I remember there was a road in, an old dirt one.”

“She’s right.” Elle swiveled in her seat. “It isn’t well-marked, as they closed Yerranderie as a tourist spot a long time ago.”

The small location of Yerranderie was like a little beacon in the middle of the forest. It was close to the southern end of the lake.

“Here’s the track,” Elle said, pointing to a faint line.

Holmes frowned. “It’ll be rough. Slow going.”

“But the aliens would never expect us to head off-road. We’ve been sticking to the roads, and in turn, so have they,” Claudia said. “And let’s hope they won’t venture far into the forest without cutting down a lot of trees.”

Shaw shifted. “If we can make it far enough into the forest, along this track, them having to cut the trees down to get to us would really slow them down.”

“It won’t stop the Huntsman,” Claudia said. She’d seen him bleed to try and catch her. He’d risk anything.

“Then we’ll take the bastard out,” Shaw muttered.

“All right,” Holmes said, glancing at his watch. “We take the track to Yerranderie.”

“And once we get out of the mountains?” This from Marcus. Hell Squad’s leader was frowning at the map, his muscular arms crossed over his broad chest. “Once we’re in the open, how do we plan to make the last part of the journey to the Enclave?”

Holmes sighed. “I don’t know. All I know is that the longer we stay in the mountains, the surer it is the aliens will kill us all. We just have to take this one step at a time. I’m also ordering the Darkswifts and Hawks to go ahead, so we won’t have them for back up. We’ll need them more than ever once we get out of the mountains, so we can’t risk them.” Holmes spread his hands. “That’s the best plan we’ve got.”

Marcus nodded. “Fair enough. Must not be easy for you, not having everything planned out in rigid detail.”

Claudia swallowed a laugh, and beside her, Shaw coughed. They both knew the general and Marcus had butted heads numerous times. But the last year and a half had certainly taken some of the starch out of Holmes. He now had a leaner, meaner edge to him.

Holmes raised a brow. “I wish I had all the answers, Steele. I really do. Then I could guarantee no one else will die or end up in some alien lab.”

“You’re doing a hell of a job, General.” Marcus gave one small nod, then turned. “I’ll get started prepping everyone to leave.”

“That’s high praise coming from Marcus.” Cruz smiled at Holmes, then followed their squad leader out of the gazebo.

Holmes looked shocked for a second, before he covered his reaction. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, everyone, let’s get ready to move.”

Shaw touched Claudia’s arm. “I’m going with Reed to sort out some of the weapons and explosives.”

She nodded. “I’ll check in with Tane. See if Squad Three needs some help prepping the Hunters.”

He leaned down, so close she thought he was going to kiss her. His lips brushed her ear. “See you later, my badass girl.”

“Quit calling me that.” She’d never tell him, but she kind of liked the nickname.

He winked at her and sauntered out.

The next hour was busy. Claudia helped Tane’s guys clean the Hunters and check them over with the maintenance team. They’d had to abandon a hell of a lot of spare parts and tools for the vehicles at Blue Mountain Base, but a few of the maintenance guys were geniuses. They seemed to be able to fashion anything from duct tape and rubber bands.

As she headed back to the main part of the resort, she watched civilians busily packing up and herding kids into vehicles. Others were using the last few minutes to take in the view and enjoy the last stolen moments of peace.

She breathed deep. Maybe one day, if they succeeded in driving the Gizzida off the planet, and if she and Shaw survived the battle, they could come back here. Maybe camp for a few weeks and snuggle up together in sleeping bags, enjoy the view and each other. She wrinkled her nose. Although after being on the run from the aliens, she might never want to camp ever again.

Claudia rounded a corner, then came to an abrupt stop.

Ahead, Shaw was standing with a short, curvy blonde. Claudia couldn’t remember the woman’s name, but she thought she was maybe a schoolteacher or something like that. They were standing close, Shaw talking and smiling, the woman repeatedly reaching out and touching his arm.

The emotions that flooded Claudia were raw and ugly. She vibrated with the need to launch herself at the woman and punch the blonde in the nose. She wanted to cut Shaw down with some scathing words, and a part of her wanted to turn and run.

She forced herself not to do any of those things. She stayed where she was, and controlled the emotions. She was not letting her ex direct her feelings and actions now. He’d stopped meaning anything to her a long, long time ago. Hell, he’d probably died in the alien attacks. He was gone.

And she was alive. Despite everything, she had a chance at something she really wanted to make work, despite her fears.

Shaw looked up and saw her. His smile slipped. He said something to the woman, and gently moved her hand off him. A resigned look crossed the woman’s face, then she nodded and slipped away.

Shaw slowly walked toward Claudia, stopping a meter away from her. “You okay?”

“Yes, I am.” She tilted her head. “Unless you tell me you and the perky blonde made plans to meet later and you’re done with me.”

He grabbed her and hauled her close, his lips a whisper from hers. “I’ll never be done with you.”

Oh, she wanted to believe that. “You can’t guarantee that.”

“I can.” He nipped her lips. “I always mean what I say.” He deepened the kiss, and her hands slid around his neck. “I’m prepared to spend a very long time, preferably naked, proving it to you.”

The evac siren filled the air.

They jerked apart. Nearby, people shouted and started running toward the vehicles.

“Shit. When will this ever stop?” Shaw tugged her toward the Hunters. “They can’t have found us already.”

They ran down a twisting path. Ahead, they heard terrified screams and angry shouts. They rounded the building at a sprint.

Shaw cursed and Claudia pulled her backup laser pistol from her waistband.

Hellions were tearing through a small crowd of people trying to reach their vehicles.

As she watched, Claudia saw a hellion snatch up a running man. Terrified people were running for cover, but the rabid hellions were too fast.

She fired and a second later, Shaw had his own pistol out.

It was like tossing rocks at a rampaging lion.

“Focus on the big one,” she yelled. “It’s the alpha.”

Shaw nodded and together they progressed on the large hellion. Finally, the laser shots were doing some damage and the hellion lifted its head from its prey. Its mouth was coated in blood.

It let out a huge roar, and Claudia kept firing. She saw it flinching from the impact, but she knew there was no way they could take down an entire pack of hellions with laser pistols. They needed their carbines.

With a long yowl, the canid fell, rolling off the man’s body. Its belly exploded, and red poison splattered on the ground, sizzling as it ate into the dirt and grass. Claudia spun and fired at the next animal. It was menacing a woman who was slowly trying to creep away. Shaw went down on one knee, shooting at another.

She turned and saw two more creatures slinking in from behind them. She spotted a couple and child, trapped out in the open. “Over here.” She waved at them and herded them between her and Shaw. “Shaw, you got something in your bag of tricks?”

“Fresh out today.” He kept firing.

Claudia stared at the glowing red eyes of the incoming hellions. Drool dripped from their sharp fangs.

Suddenly, she heard shouts. She looked up and saw Squad Three pouring out of a nearby building.

“Help has arrived,” she said.

The heavily muscled men of the berserkers sprinted full speed at them. Some had carbines, others had bulky shotguns.

The boom of the shotguns was loud and the hellions all snarled and turned to face the new threat.

Tane led his squad. He was a little leaner than the others and a little faster. He raised his carbine, a set expression on his tough face. As he shot at the hellions, Claudia thought he might be almost as good as Shaw.

Suddenly a hellion flew out of nowhere and slammed into the squad leader.

“Keep going,” he roared to his men.

Claudia’s eyes widened. Around her, Squad Three shouted and cheered as they took down the remaining hellions.

But she kept her gaze on Tane.

He rolled to his feet and eyed the hellion. It growled at him, and man and alien circled each other.

“You seeing this?” she asked Shaw.

“Yeah. We all know the berserkers are a little crazy. Tane seems like the most rational of them all, but I think to lead a team like this—” Shaw jerked a thumb at the men who were now laughing as they fought “—you have to be the craziest of all.”

Or at least the most fearless.

As the hellion leaped at Tane, he didn’t bother with his weapon. He waited and at the last second, grabbed the hellion with his bare hands and swung it around. He tossed it and it lost its balance, scrambling to get back on its feet.

Tane pulled a massive combat knife, far bigger than the regulation Gladius knives most of the squads used. Then he and the hellion launched at each other.

As the man battled the alien dog, she noted his brutal movements. He put every ounce of his strength into the fight. But what she noticed most was Tane’s face. There was no fear, no concern, no anger…nothing. It was like he was completely emotionless.

Claudia wondered what the man had seen…or done…to leave him like that.

He jammed the knife into the hellion’s throat, and the fight was over.

Tane rose, his dreadlocks framing his face. “Time to get these people out of here.”

Claudia nodded. “These hellions have to be a scout team.”

Shaw cursed. “Which means somewhere, they have a raptor handler who’s sending our location back to the others.”

There was a roar of engines and Claudia saw three Hunters heading toward them.

“We need to get out of here,” she said. “Fast.”

Chapter Sixteen

They were on the run again.

The Hunter raced down the road, the convoy speeding along behind them. Shaw didn’t take his eyes off the targeting screen. If an alien showed up, he was blowing it to smithereens.

He’d watched those hellions take down those innocent people like they were nothing but food. He ground his teeth together. After the hell the aliens had put Claudia through, after all the death and suffering, he was well and truly done.

Whatever they had to do to drive the Gizzida away, they had to do it.

Marcus was talking with Elle over the comms. Then he slammed his palm into the dash.

Not good.

“We lost three vehicles,” Marcus ground out. “Fifteen people in total. Including two kids.”

Dammit. Shaw felt the hit and it made his focus laser sharp.

“The raptors are on to us. Alien vehicles are swarming in this direction.” Marcus heaved out a breath. “Pretty sure not all the convoy will make it to the track to Yerranderie.”

“And we can’t lead the aliens there. We need to sneak in,” Cruz added.

“We need somewhere to hide,” Gabe said.

Shaw eyed the big man. “How the hell do we hide an entire convoy of vehicles?”

“Maybe the limestone caves near here?” Claudia suggested.

Elle’s voice came through the comms. “They aren’t big enough, and far too rough for vehicles.”

Shit. Shaw tapped his fingers against the autocannon screen. “Another resort? Somewhere with lots of buildings?”

Marcus shook his head. “If it’s on a main road, they’ll come through there and likely find us.”

“What about a mine?” Shaw said. “The Enclave is in an old mine. Anything like that around here?”

Elle made a humming sound. “Good idea. Checking now. Wait, the general thought of something…”

Holmes’ voice came through next. “I just remembered. There’s an old railway tunnel near here. Elle, can you pull up the info, please?”

“On it.”

“From what I remember,” Holmes continued, “It was part of the old railway back in the 1800s. Then it was replaced and fell out of use. I remember it because the Army used it to store chemical weapons during World War II. Mustard gas, I think.”

Shaw screwed up his nose. “We really want everyone packed into an old tunnel that stored chemical weapons?”

“The storage was cleaned up after the war. Besides, I don’t have any better ideas.”

“I’ve got it,” Elle said. “The Stonebrook Tunnel. It’s narrow, but all the vehicles should fit. It’s not long though, about seven hundred meters.”

“Tight squeeze,” Shaw murmured.

“I’m sending coordinates through to all vehicles. The entrance is quite well hidden and overgrown. This could be an excellent place to lose the raptors.”

There was a focused silence as the convoy raced toward the tunnel.

“Spot any raptors?” Claudia asked.

Shaw shook his head. “Nothing.” And he didn’t like it.

They turned off the main road and bumped along a narrow overgrown track. The tunnel entrance—an old-fashioned stone arch—appeared ahead.

“It’s blocked with a steel fence and gate,” Cruz called out.

“Ram it,” Marcus said without hesitation.

Cruz accelerated and the Hunter bashed through the fence. The old metal crumpled under the force. The Hunter skidded to a stop.

The tunnel was round at the top and littered with puddles below. Shaw checked through the cannon scope to ensure there were no signatures of unwelcome visitors. In the darkness, the scope had switched to night vision and the tunnel was displayed in shades of green.

“Clear,” Shaw called.

“Okay, everyone out, set up a few lights,” Marcus said. “And direct traffic.”

As they climbed out, the other vehicles started driving in.

Shaw watched them, and briefly grabbed the back of Claudia’s neck and squeezed. She shot him a faint smile, and they got busy.

Shaw directed vehicles in, helped the others to remove items off the buses and large trucks so they could squeeze into the small tunnel. The old railway tracks had been removed, thankfully, but the tunnel was tight. He could imagine trains of the past chuffing through it.

Soon everyone was in. Squad Nine brought up the rear, hiding any tracks and covering the entrance with some more branches to hide it.

Then there was a hushed silence.

They all waited, muscles tense, taking short breaths.

Shaw heard a baby start crying, someone was trying to calm it. The general was walking the tunnel, speaking quietly to people, exuding his authoritative calm. It seemed to help.

Surprisingly, Shaw also saw Liberty walking among the groups. She flirted with the men, talked with the women and hugged kids. The woman was a natural at working a crowd.

Then he heard a sound outside. He traded a glance with Claudia. They knew that sound.

Pteros.

There were other sounds—the rumble of vehicles, the roar of a rex. Then the explosions started.

Shaw’s muscles stretched to breaking point. Had the bastards found them?

People whimpered and cried. He murmured to those closest, heard others on the squads doing the same, trying to calm people.

“You need to stay quiet,” he said.

Claudia gripped his forearm. He couldn’t feel the full force of her touch through his armor, but he knew she was holding on hard.

“The bombs aren’t falling directly on us,” she said.

He cocked his head. She was right. They sounded close but not right on top of them. Marcus and Cruz appeared from the gloom and a second later, so did Reed and Gabe.

“They’re trying to smoke us out,” Shaw said grimly.

Marcus nodded. “They don’t know where we’ve gone. We wait them out. Keep everyone calm.”

Shaw walked the line of vehicles with Claudia. “Hell of a day, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Suddenly a little body appeared in front of them. Someone knocked politely on the knees of Shaw’s armor. He cocked a brow at Claudia before crouching down.

The little girl was tiny. He guessed she was six or seven, only because he remembered Krista was six when she lost her teeth and had a massive gap in front like this girl. “I can’t find my mummy.”

“Hey, don’t worry,” he said with a smile. “We’ll help you find her.”

Her face was solemn. “Thank you.”

“Come on, sweetheart,” Claudia touched her shoulder. “Let’s head down the line of cars and we’ll soon find your family.”

The girl nodded, then held her arms out to Shaw. “Up.”

With a bewildered smile, he picked her up and set her on his hip.

As they walked, the girl pointed at Claudia. “I want to be a soldier like her one day.”

Claudia made a choking sound.

Shaw smiled. “She’s pretty awesome, isn’t she?”

The girl nodded.

Claudia shook her head. “Baird, don’t encourage her.” She gave him a not-so-light tap on the back of his head. He could always judge how angry she was by the strength of her hits. This was nothing.

The little girl knocked on Shaw’s shoulder.

He swallowed a laugh. “Yes.”

The girl leaned in and in a loud whisper said, “I think she likes you.”

“Yeah, she does. I like her too.” He lowered his voice to a stage whisper. “I’m going to keep her.” Fear, excitement…and something else that was equal parts warm and bright filled his chest.

“And make baby soldiers?”

He choked now and heard Claudia laughing. “Well…we’ll see,” he managed.

“They could be soldiers with me when they get big,” the little girl continued.

It just about broke Shaw’s heart. That this little girl was daydreaming of fighting instead of being a doctor, an artist, or a scientist. He took the girl’s small hand. “You know what? She fights, we all fight, so when you get bigger, you won’t have to.”

The little girl considered this. “If the aliens go away, then maybe I could be a sailor instead. I miss the beach and the sunshine.”

Damn, it felt like a giant fist was squeezing his insides. “Hell, yeah.”

“Mummy says I shouldn’t say hell.”

Claudia laughed again and Shaw cleared his throat.

“Your mum’s right,” Claudia said. “And look, she’s just spotted you.” A harried-looking woman was bearing down on them. “Listen to her, okay?”

The girl nodded, and wriggled for Shaw to set her down. With a final look between him and Claudia, she raced toward her mother.

“Yep,” Shaw said, “Hell of a day.”

“I’ll take this over being a prisoner,” Claudia said.

He stood and looked at her. She was staring at the end of the tunnel. “Hey.” He grabbed her arm. “You are not going back there.”

She nodded. “And we’ll make sure that little girl, and all the other innocent people in here don’t end up prisoners, either.”

“That’s the plan.”

Her direct gaze hit his, serious and stormy. “I can’t go back.”

“You aren’t going back.”

“Shaw…if he takes me again—”

“Not going to happen, dammit.”

“If he does…” Her jaw worked, her hand clamping down on his arm. “You take the shot. Don’t leave me there to suffer.”

All the air left his lungs. “No.”

“You’d let me go back to chains and torture?”

“No, damn you, I’d save you! I’ll never stop coming to get you and you’ll damn well hold on because you are the toughest person I know.”

“Shaw—”

“No.” He grabbed her shoulders, shook her a little, then yanked her into his arms, armor, carbine, and all. “You are the most special person I know. Sexy, tough, badass…and I’m in love with you.”

The last words came out in a rush.

She looked up at him, her gaze running over his face. “You okay? Sounds like you lost your breath on those last words.”

“Are you giving me hell when I’m trying to tell you I love you?” He shook his head, fighting a smile. Only Claudia.

“Well, you know, you were all macho alpha male, then you kind of ended with breathy teenage boy.”

“I love you,” he grumbled. “Although I’m starting to wonder why…”

“Sexy, tough and badass, remember?”

“And a ball buster.” He straightened. “Claudia Evangeline Frost—”

She shifted, her gaze narrowing dangerously. “How the hell do you know my middle name?”

“I know everything about you.” He rubbed a thumb over her cheek and wished he wasn’t wearing gloves. “Claudia, I love you.”

“Jesus, I think you got it right this time.” She pressed into him. “I love you too.”

“I know your dickhead ex and what happened before has made you wary, I get it. I’ll do my best, every damn day, to show you how much I love you.”

“God, Shaw, if you make me cry, I’ll hit you. I trust you. Always.” She cupped his face as best she could with gloves and armor on. “And some day, I will make you see you didn’t fail your sister. You’ve thrown yourself into warzone after warzone to protect others…I understand why. And I’ll be right there beside you, protecting your ass while you do it.”

His throat went tight. Shit, if she made him cry, he’d never live it down. “Claudia—”

Outside, the explosions and noises stopped.

Inside the tunnel, a hushed, frightened silence fell.

“Later.” She gave his cheek one last touch.

“Later.” Together, they rejoined their squad.

Marcus had his arms crossed, an unhappy look on his face. “I’ll be happy when this is over and we’re at the damned Enclave.”

Shaw understood more acutely now how Marcus felt. Marcus no doubt wanted Elle out of the convoy and someplace safe. Shaw understood, because he felt exactly the same way about Claudia.

“Holmes wants us to stay put here until the drones show the aliens have moved on.” Marcus nodded at them all. “We need to keep everyone calm and quiet until then. Got it?”

They all nodded.

“And as soon as we get the all clear, we’re heading for the road to Yerranderie.”

The final leg of this chase out of the mountains.

Shaw grabbed Claudia’s hand and squeezed. They were almost there.

***

Holmes

“Everything is going to be fine.” Adam Holmes patted a young man on the arm, then smiled at a sobbing woman nearby.

“General? Are they going to find us?” a man called out.

Adam marshalled his features into a confident look. “We just need to stay hidden and quiet. Think of the Enclave. Once we get there, we’ll be safe.”

As he stared into the frightened, tired faces of his people, he felt the weight of a heavy stone lodge in his chest.

They’d been through so much, survived the invasion, lost their loved ones, been injured. Now they were on the run, being hunted down like animals.

And he was the one holding their survival in his hands.

Again, he felt the weight of responsibility resting on him, so heavy he was worried it would drive him to his knees. He’d lived with responsibility his entire life, thrived on it and made a successful career in the military from it. Hell, his ex-wife had accused him of being married to the job and loving it more than her.

But this…he turned and looked down the length of the old, dank tunnel and this hardy but worn group of survivors. This was a weight he’d never dreamed he’d have to carry.

Gritting his teeth, he circled around a truck. Suck it up, Adam. These people need you. There wasn’t much room between the truck and the stone wall, but for a minute, he had a blessed moment of peace and privacy.

There was no one needing a decision, or help, or delivering bad news. For a second, he tried to just breathe.

He rested his back against the metal of the truck and let his head fall back and his eyes close. His neck and shoulders were so tight and had been plaguing him for weeks. The headaches weren’t great, either. He should probably try to get more than three or four hours of sleep at night, but there was always so much to do.

There was a sound and he opened his eyes.

The most beautiful woman he’d ever seen stood two meters away.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

Adam didn’t know Liberty Lawler very well. He appreciated, of course, that she was tall, with dangerous curves, and a fall of long, blonde hair. He was also aware she’d had an excellent little underground black market of beauty products at base, and now saw to it that the convoy members got soap, shampoos, and other toiletries. He had no idea how she got her hands on stuff, but he figured she was smart and resourceful.

He’d also heard she enjoyed spending time with the single soldiers.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

He nodded. “Just…needed a minute.”

“Honey, we all need more than that.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m well aware. I’m trying my best to ensure everyone gets that.”

She took a step closer. “That wasn’t a complaint, General. You’re doing a great job of keeping us all alive.”

“We aren’t safe yet.” And he knew they would never really be safe, or have a future, unless they found a way to fight the Gizzida off and get them to leave Earth.

She touched a hand to his chest. “One step at a time. That’s all we can do. One foot in front of the other.”

He nodded. This close he could smell her perfume. She smelled like something lush and spicy, and it made him think of sex.

Sex. There was a foreign concept. Adam couldn’t remember the last time he’d had sex.

Liberty tilted her head. “It must be hard, being in charge, making difficult decisions.”

She had no idea. And he wasn’t going to talk about it. He’d made a promise to himself that everyone was already burdened enough without him dumping more on them. The squads and their leaders went out and fought every day. They were the real heroes.

“Things are difficult for everyone.”

She studied him, and her big blue eyes seemed to delve right past his defenses. “General…if you don’t bend a little, you might break.”

His hands clenched into fists. “I’m fine.”

“Isn’t there someone you can talk with—?”

“No. Like I said, I’m fine.”

“You’re strung pretty tight.” Her fingers flexed on his chest.

“There are always difficult decisions to make, people’s lives on the line.” The words tore out of him before he clamped his mouth closed.

“My grandfather was this crusty old farmer,” she said with a fond smile. “He always used to tell me that it was the darkest right before the dawn. But that if you just held on a little longer, the sun would come up.”

Adam managed a nod. “But he wasn’t in the middle of an alien invasion, was he?”

Her full lips tilted. “No, he wasn’t.” She reached up and touched Adam’s hair.

He hadn’t had time to worry about it. It was now brushing his collar, well past military regulation length, and he knew the brown strands had far more silver in them than they used to have.

“I can cut this for you,” she said.

It was nice to have someone offer something personal. He hadn’t had a personal conversation, or worried about something as trivial as his hair in over eighteen months.

“Thanks. Once we’re somewhere safe—”

“You can’t put everything off until you’re safe.” She stepped back. “You can have food and water and be breathing, but survival doesn’t matter much unless you’re living, too.” Something dark crossed her features, then was gone in a blink. “Don’t forget to live, General.”

And with that, she disappeared around the truck.

It was a nice thought, but Adam was a realist. A leader sacrificed so his people could have the things they deserved. He couldn’t live, couldn’t be friends with the people on the other side of the truck, couldn’t drink and laugh and love with them. Not when he might have to make a decision to leave some behind to save the rest, or send one to their death to save the convoy.

He just didn’t have that luxury.

But he was going to make damn sure his people could live.

He glanced at his watch. The face of his Rolex had cracked sometime during the invasion, but it still worked perfectly.

It was time to get moving again.

Chapter Seventeen

The Hunter bounced as it turned onto the dirt road. Claudia gripped her seat, adjusting to the rough gait. Hell, the Hunter was equipped for off-road. For some of the other convoy vehicles, it was going to be a rough, rough ride.

She looked out the windscreen. Just a narrow dirt track and trees. Her heart thumped. They’d made it safely out of the tunnel, avoided the raptors, and now they had to reach Yerranderie, and not far beyond that, they’d be out of the mountains.

It was agonizingly slow going, but they could make it.

She glanced back, just seeing the lower half of Shaw’s lean body in the autocannon seat. She tapped his leg. “Any sign of raptors?”

He leaned down and shook his head. “Not even a whiff.”

“Good.” She hoped it stayed that way. The thought of the Huntsman rose and she choked it off.

“I like having you sitting at my feet.”

Shaw’s comment, laced with laughter, made her lips twitch. “This is as close as it gets, Baird. Lap it up.”

They hit a bad patch of ground that had Cruz muttering in Spanish, then the Hunter settled back into the ride.

“So,” Cruz called back. “You guys made it official?”

When everyone in the vehicle looked back at Shaw and her, Claudia felt unfamiliar heat in her cheeks.

She cleared her throat. “Don’t know what you’re talking about?”

Cruz laughed and even Reed and Marcus chuckled. Gabe, silent as always, stared at her with a raised brow.

“You coached most of us through being monumental idiots to win over our women, now we’re helping you out the same way,” Reed said.

“I helped you because you all had testosterone clouding your judgment. You needed a woman’s perspective. Shaw is not a woman. He’s as easy to read as a giant book in the middle of the day.”

“Hey,” Shaw nudged her with his boot. “You saying I’m simple?”

She snorted. “Hardly.” But with Shaw what you saw was what you got. A good man, outrunning a hurt in his past.

“So, you’ve put him out of his misery?” Marcus said.

“His misery? The man was working his way through every single female survivor in the base, I don’t think he was miserable.”

“Yeah, he was,” Marcus added quietly.

She looked up and Shaw was watching her.

“I’m in love with Claudia Frost,” he announced boldly.

She rolled her eyes and the others, their friends—hell, their brothers—all cheered. “And for some ungodly reason, I love him back.”

More hoots and hollers.

A faint smile tweaked Marcus’ lips. “You’d better not screw up, Shaw.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Shaw said. “Or you guys will all beat me up.”

“Uh-uh,” Marcus shook his head. “Claudia will, and she is far meaner than any of us.”

Shaw’s eyes glowed and his gaze hit hers again. “That’s one of the reasons why I love her.”

“Idiot.” The word held no bite.

He winked at her, his grin wide. Damn, she wanted him again. She wanted him naked in a bed for several decadent days, not one stolen night here and there.

They kept traveling, all of them alert for anything. After two hours, Claudia was feeling every bump in her aching body. The rough ride was taking its toll.

“Coming up on Yerranderie,” Marcus called out.

Finally. She knew that beyond the ghost town was their last short push to get out of the mountains.

Then they’d be home free.

The eerie abandoned buildings of the old mining town appeared. They were very old, all rusted metal and bleached-gray wood. They sat nestled amongst the trees and small hills. And here and there were a few overgrown dirt paths and some rusted old trucks.

“Marcus?” Elle’s voice. “I’m picking up some patchy heat signatures heading our way. Waiting for a drone to head in that direction…wait! Oh my God, they’re here! They were hiding somewhere.”

There was an explosion. Claudia jerked and looked out the side window. Behind them, she could see a convoy vehicle had been blown to pieces, and was now a burning wreck. Her heart clenched for the people inside.

“Pterodactyl riders,” Reed said. “Three o’clock.”

She turned her head and spotted the fleet of riders coming in over the trees. The lead rider ignited his flame thrower and she saw the trees go up in one large whoosh.

Alien vehicles smashed out of some of the Yerranderie buildings.

They’d been lying in wait.

The convoy vehicles fanned out, some smashing into each other as people panicked. Claudia clutched her carbine and watched the terrified chaos around them.

This was her fault. The Huntsman had been watching her, learning. Hell, she’d practically told him to expect the unexpected.

“Shit.” Marcus was shouting orders at Elle, and ahead of them, a small sedan whizzed past. Cruz slammed on the brakes, and the Hunter skidded to a halt.

The car hit a tree and flipped over on its side.

“We need to help everyone,” Marcus said. “Out. Shaw, you stay on the cannon.”

Shaw’s jaw clenched but he nodded. He looked at Claudia. “Stay safe out there. And kick some alien ass.”

She lifted her weapon. “Always. And Shaw…”

He lifted his chin.

“You stay safe, too, or you’ll answer to me.” She ducked out of the vehicle.

Outside was like stepping into hell.

Flames flickered everywhere. Running people and vehicles tore through the smoke. Gunfire exploded from all directions. Screams.

Claudia, flanked by Gabe and Reed, lifted her carbine and started firing at the raptors spilling out of the alien vehicles.

They took down alien soldier after alien soldier. She saw the green flash and heard the whirr of an autocannon, and knew Shaw was taking down more than his fair share.

Then she saw an alien vehicle tear into the clearing, smashing through an old building, splintering the wood to shreds. It pulled to a stop, engine gunning.

Her heart kicked hard against her ribs and her blood turned to ice.

Even before the hatch on the top of the vehicle opened and the Huntsman pulled himself out, she knew it was him.

He stood there, just staring at the turmoil.

Claudia’s hands clenched on her weapon and time slowed around her. She still heard the shouts and screams. People were hurt and dying.

They’d been so close to escape.

The Huntsman raised his voice and called out in the Gizzida language. All around them, the raptors stopped fighting, their weapons still aimed, red gazes glowing. Overhead, the flames were extinguished.

“Your leader?” the Huntsman called out.

From behind Claudia, she heard murmurs, and a second later, Holmes strode forward. His face was covered in soot and blood, but his blue eyes were piercing.

“I lead these people.” Holmes tone was biting. He was volcanically mad.

The Huntsman studied him for a second. “I will let you and your people go.”

There were gasps and cries. Claudia started and glanced at Reed and Gabe. The men shook their heads. Yeah, she didn’t trust this raptor either.

Then without warning, the Huntsman’s red eyes moved to Claudia. “The woman, Claudia Frost, comes with me, and I let you all leave.”

She’d known it was coming. She closed her eyes, felt the tension pouring off her squad mates. She thought of Shaw. Oh, how she wished she’d had more time with her stubborn sniper. He’d shown her that her heart hadn’t stopped working.

He’d shown her that love was worth everything. Even your life.

“Just like that?” Holmes demanded. “One woman for the lives of a convoy you’re obviously hunting?”

The Huntsman’s mouth moved into a faint smile. “I am a collector of rare and dangerous things. She will be an excellent addition to my collection. Besides, I will give you a head start, but I will also continue to hunt you down. The quicker you leave, the longer that lead.” His red gaze landed on Claudia.

A head start was still a chance. She let her carbine fall to her side and started forward.

“Frost,” Marcus growled from nearby. “Back in line.”

“I can’t, Marcus. I’m not letting anyone else die.”

“Claudia!”

Shaw’s voice on the comm almost made her lose her nerve. She tried to block him out.

“Don’t you fucking do it.”

“I don’t have a choice, Shaw. I’ll do anything to protect these people, to protect you.”

“Damn you,” Shaw said.

“He wants me. He’ll let you go. It’s as simple as that. I’m sorry, I can’t let the kids die, or the others who’ve already been through so much to survive.”

“Damn you for being a hero,” Shaw ground out.

A reluctant smile on her lips. “I love you. Live for me.”

He made a choked noise. “I love you, too, Frost.”

Ahead, the Huntsman watched her coming and bared his teeth in what she guessed was his version of a smile. “Leader of the humans, I will let you leave, give you a…head start. But my superiors want your little band. You’ve proved…problematic. For now, I just want her, but soon, I will hunt you all down.”

As Claudia walked past the general, he grabbed her arm. She saw the terrible conflict on his face. He was torn.

She pressed her lips together and nodded.

Finally, he gave one brisk nod and dropped her arm.

“No!”

She heard Shaw’s shout from behind her and it almost broke her. Unable to stop herself, she turned for one last look at him.

Cruz was trying to stop him and Shaw swung out with a fist and caught the shorter man on the jaw. Then Marcus and Gabe—both bigger and bulkier— grabbed him, holding him back.

His gaze caught hers.

Then the Huntsman jerked her closer to his side. He rested a hand on her head. Horrible emotions boiled inside her and she let her gaze drop to the ground.

She’d go with him to save her friends and the man she loved.

But she wouldn’t go down without a fight. If the Huntsman thought she was going to be his docile little guard dog, he was very, very wrong.

***

This was not happening.

Shaw surged against his mates holding him, watching Claudia walk away.

Marcus leaned closer. “Get it under control, Shaw. Remember, we leave no one behind.”

The other man’s fierce whisper penetrated the red haze of Shaw’s fear and anger. He met Marcus’ gaze.

“Got it?” Marcus asked.

Shaw nodded. “Got it.”

“Good.” Marcus released him and Gabe did the same. “Now, pull yourself together, and let’s get everyone, Claudia included, out of here alive.”

Shaw dragged in a deep breath. “You got a plan?”

“No. But why don’t you do what you do best.” Marcus nodded at Shaw’s sniper rifle.

Adrenaline flooded his system. “Hell, yeah.”

“Take the bastard down. Now, go.”

Shaw ducked low and raced away. He quickly scanned the area, searching for a good vantage point. Nearby, slightly up the hill, he spotted an old, two-story, wooden building with a verandah that wrapped around the upper story.

He shimmied up the side of the building and settled into a good spot on the verandah. The wood was rotten and falling through in places, so he had to tread carefully.

Now it was just him and his rifle.

He looked down the scope, breathing deeply to calm himself. It took a second to zero in on Claudia and the Huntsman.

She was standing straight and tall, her face stoic. The Huntsman was listening to Holmes saying something, and then he ran his clawed hand over her hair. Patting her like she was a fucking pet. Shaw’s gut hardened. He understood the fascination; Claudia drew attention because she was so different, so tough, so true to herself.

But she was his. This alien bastard couldn’t have her, and Shaw would do anything to keep her safe.

He moved the scope until he had the Huntsman in his sights. He wanted to shoot. His finger rested on the trigger, and he wanted to pull it. But he had to wait. He had to factor in the wind, the distance. He had to control the violent urge to pull the trigger.

He heard engines start up. Down below, the rest of the squads were urging people into their vehicles. The convoy was moving out.

Shaw slowed his breathing even more. He trusted Marcus. He wouldn’t abandon them. He always came through with a plan.

The Huntsman began urging Claudia into his vehicle.

She turned, her face set, and kicked him. Hard.

The raptor stumbled back a few steps.

Shit. Shaw moved, trying to get a good shot. She was going to get herself hurt if she antagonized him.

The Huntsman calmly readjusted his leather bandolier, seemingly controlled. Then he swung out and backhanded Claudia.

The force of the blow sent her into the side of the raptor vehicle.

Shaw almost fired. But dammit, it wouldn’t be a kill shot. The bastard was moving around too much. As the Huntsman moved closer to Claudia again, Shaw clenched his jaw.

He saw the bulk of the convoy was heading off, disappearing along the dirt track into the trees.

How the hell were they going to rescue Claudia and get the hell out of here?

“I heard you guys needed a hand.”

Roth Masters’ voice came across the comm.

Laser fire peppered the ground ahead, sending raptors scrambling. The Darkswifts swooped down from the sky.

“And we didn’t want to miss out on the fun.”

Shaw glanced up. That was Finn’s voice. Above the tree line, four Hawk quadcopters rose up, dropping the shimmer of their illusions. More laser fire joined the fight.

Somehow, Marcus had gotten these guys to disobey orders.

As the aliens scrambled to fight back, the Huntsman was still fighting with Claudia. He slapped her again and Shaw forced himself to block it out. To block out the fighting around them.

He steadied his grip, calmed his breathing. This was for Claudia. But it was also for Krista, for the sister he’d loved and hadn’t been able to save.

The Huntsman and Claudia were grappling. He couldn’t risk hitting her.

For a fleeting second, the Huntsman’s ugly face was lined up perfectly.

Shaw took the shot.

The rifle jerked in his hands. He saw blood spurt on the Huntsman’s face.

But in that same second, Shaw knew, with the instinct of a sniper, that it wasn’t a kill shot.

He saw the Huntsman dive for cover, but his gaze was still on Claudia.

Shaw leaped up and jumped over the railing. He fell the long drop to the ground, hit, and rolled. He was up and running toward Claudia as fast as he could.

A raptor appeared in front of him, letting out a deafening roar. Shaw spun and shot him, but never slowed down.

Ahead, he saw a Hawk spinning out of control. Shit. His jaw clenched as he kept running, praying the Hawk pilot could pull up.

The Hawk hit the trees and exploded in a huge fireball.

Blocking the loss, Shaw continued on. When he reached the Huntsman’s vehicle, he planted a hand on the hood and leaped over it like a high jumper. He skidded off the other side and paused.

The Huntsman had Claudia down. He had a strong forearm pressed against her neck, restricting her air. She was thrashing her legs, trying to dislodge him.

The raptor looked up, his red gaze hitting Shaw. “Don’t.” The word was a guttural growl. “No closer or I will kill her.”

Shaw froze, his hands tightening on his weapon.

The Huntsman’s eyes narrowed. “Move the weapon and she’ll be dead before you shoot.”

Fuck. Helpless frustration rushed through Shaw. He saw Claudia’s face was turning red.

Suddenly, a swarm of insects appeared from nowhere. Shaw cursed and waved his hands. He felt something sting the side of his face. Bees. They were bees.

Then they were gone. He looked up and saw them swarming around the Huntsman.

The alien snarled. Forced to defend himself, he released Claudia, slapping both hands at the tiny insects attacking him.

Shaw had never seen anything like it. Before he could react, he caught a streak of white out of the corner of his eye.

Selena sprinted past him. She called out something in a musical language, then launched herself at the Huntsman, knocking him off Claudia.

In one stride, Shaw was by Claudia’s side, pulling her to her feet.

Selena rolled off the Huntsman and raised a hand. The bees moved with in sync with her arm. Shaw’s eyes widened. It was like she was controlling them somehow.

She said something else in her pretty language and the bees arrowed back at the raptor. This time he let out an enraged shout. His face was covered in swollen, red spots.

“Selena, get back!” Claudia rushed forward.

Before Shaw could do more than lift his rifle, Claudia had the Huntsman down. Selena scrambled back and raised both her arms. The bees lifted up like a black cloud. Claudia straddled the raptor, pummeling him with her fists.

Shaw walked closer, taking short, measured steps. Her face was set in a determined mask, but she didn’t say a word.

God, she was tough.

Then he saw what she couldn’t…the Huntsman had just pulled a huge, jagged, black knife from his belt.

“Claudia. Knife!” Shaw whipped his rifle up.

Everything happened in a blur. By the time Shaw aimed, Claudia had gripped the Huntsman’s hand. The raptor let out a roar and at the same moment, bees arrowed downward and filled his mouth. When Shaw’s bullet pierced the Huntsman’s brain, Claudia sank the knife deep into his chest.

She sat back, her chest heaving.

Shaw moved to her, touching her shoulder. “You okay?”

She cast the Huntsman one last look before glancing up. “Hell, yeah.” She looked over at Selena. “Selena?”

The woman nodded. “I’m fine.” Her skin was glowing, her hair drifting out behind her on the wind. She murmured something and raised a hand in a graceful move.

The bees circled around her once, then as one orchestrated group, flew away.

“How the hell did you do that?” Shaw asked.

Selena shrugged a slim shoulder. “I saw Claudia needed help and they offered their aid. Your wildlife is most extraordinary.” She threaded her hands together. “I’d better get back to my assigned group. The general would be upset if I was missing.”

Claudia grabbed the woman’s hand. “Thank you, Selena.”

A faint smile tipped the alien woman’s lips. “You are my only friend here. I had to help.” Her face hardened. “Besides, he deserved what he got.” She shot the Huntsman’s body a nasty look.

“You have a place here.” Claudia tightened her grip. “I know you’re far from everything you’ve ever known, but I’m your friend. No matter what.”

Selena’s green eyes glimmered with unshed tears. “Thank you, Claudia.”

“And any friend of my woman is a friend of mine,” Shaw added.

Claudia elbowed him in the side. “My woman?”

“Ow.” He rubbed his hip. “My girlfriend sounds too high school. Would you prefer my love? My badass girl?”

Selena’s quiet laugh was melodious. “You are a brave man, Shaw. Thank you for your friendship. I think I will need it.”

As they watched Selena slip away, Shaw figured there was a lot more to Claudia’s alien friend they had yet to uncover.

Around them, the fighting was winding down. The three remaining Hawks were still airborne, picking off the last of the raptor soldiers. He could hear Marcus on the comm, in pursuit of the last few alien fighters.

“Hell of a day, Frost.” Shaw touched her hair. She was covered in sweat and dirt, and her face was starting to bruise. He’d never seen a woman look more beautiful to him. Strength, fearsome courage, and a solid heart, right in his hands. “You did good work.”

She rose and in a blink, leaped on him.

Shaw staggered back a step before he got a hold of her. She slammed her mouth down on his, and a second later, he forgot they were standing in the middle of a battleground.

Instead, there was only Claudia.

She was alive, in his arms, and everything was right in the world.

When they finally parted, he set her down, but kept his arm across her shoulders. Around them, the aliens were either dead or retreating. Darkswifts were still flying overhead, and the Hawks were coming in to land.

Through the dissipating smoke, Shaw spotted Marcus, Cruz, Gabe, and Reed walking toward them. They had their carbines over their shoulders, walking like they didn’t have a care in the world.

Shaw tightened his hold on Claudia and grinned. Shaw wouldn’t trade a single moment of this, of his squad or his woman, for anything.

***

Claudia leaned back in the seat in the Hunter. Shaw sat beside her, his arm around her shoulders. He hadn’t let her go since he’d grabbed her off the Huntsman’s dead body. He seemed to need the contact.

Surreptitiously, she snuggled a bit deeper into his side. Okay, maybe she needed it, too.

Back at Yerranderie, she’d thought she’d never see him again. Any of them. She pressed her cheek to his shoulder. She was damned glad to have the chance for more.

The Hunter cleared the trees and stopped.

Ahead, the valley spread out below them. There were still trees and rolling green hills, dotted here and there with roads and houses, but it wasn’t the thick forests of the mountains.

Somewhere in the distance was the ocean, and just before that, the safety of the Enclave.

They were so close. A new safe haven where all the survivors could regroup, find their footing again.

It would be a haven and a new home.

She rested her head on Shaw’s shoulder. Although she’d found her home, right here in Shaw’s arms.

“Hey?” He traced a finger down her cheek. “You okay?”

She smiled. “Better than okay.”

He nodded, but there was still worry in his gaze as he looked out the windscreen. “We’re out of the mountains, but the next leg of this road trip from hell is going to be the most dangerous.” He pointed straight ahead. “There’s less cover, more roads, greater chance the raptors could find us.”

Somehow, after what they’d just been through, she didn’t care. “We’ll make it.” She pressed a palm over his chest. “I have something worth surviving for now.”

He made a small sound. “God, I love you. Unfortunately, this part of the journey also means no bed in sight for at least a few days. Endless hours on patrol.”

Claudia walked her fingers down his chest and leaned in closer. “I heard a rumor or two that you were rather good at quickies.”

Her fingers walked lower and he groaned. “You shouldn’t listen to rumors.” He leaned down and nipped her ear. His voice lowered to a whisper. “But I might know a thing or two I can show you.”

She laughed, pure joy and love filling her. “I bet you do, Shaw. I bet you do.” And she looked forward to a lifetime with him so he could show her every little thing.

–

I hope you enjoyed Shaw and Claudia’s story!

Hell Squad continues with HOLMES, the story of the survivors’ dedicated leader, General Adam Holmes. Read on for a preview of the first chapter.

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Preview – Hell Squad: Holmes

The vehicles, buses and trucks were parked around in a large circle, forming a protective wall. Adam thought it looked like a modern version of the wagon forts of the Old West or the laagers of southern Africa.

Only it wasn’t anything as easy as hostile tribes or lions from which they needed protection.

It was aliens.

He scrubbed his face, his eyes gritty from a lack of sleep, and watched his band of survivors waking and starting their day.

Another day on the run.

Their underground base, the one that had been their sanctuary since the alien invasion a year and a half ago, had been raided and blown to pieces. Now, for over a week, they’d been on the run from the dinosaur-like aliens who were intent on taking over the planet.

He remembered the first wave of attacks like it was yesterday. Hell, he still saw it in his dreams. As a general in the United Coalition Army, he’d been in those early planning meetings, as they’d fought to find the best way to defend the Earth’s population and retaliate.

It hadn’t mattered. Their military forces had been decimated by the aliens’ advanced technology, along with the sheer numbers of the raptors, and the various alien creatures they’d brought with them. Soon, Adam had found himself at Blue Mountain Base, a secret underground facility, welcoming the few who had survived… He’d been the highest ranking officer left alive.

He shook off the memories, focusing again on what was left of his survivors—the Swift Wind Convoy. He wished he’d been able to get a coffee, but he hadn’t had time to make his way over to the kitchen truck. He needed to brief the squads on the plan for the day, take a quick walk around camp and reassure any panicked people, and then check in with Doc Emerson and her medical team to see how the injured were faring.

Adam sucked in a deep breath and tugged on his plain white shirt. He really wished he was in his uniform. He wasn’t accustomed to the more informal dress, but at the moment, the only options available were clothes that were clean and hadn’t been torn to shreds or splattered with blood.

“General Holmes, the squads are assembled and ready for you.”

He turned and saw Elle Milton waiting for him. The pretty brunette was one of the squads communications officers—and not just any squad, but Hell Squad. His roughest, toughest, and most efficient group of soldiers.

“Thank you, Elle. On my way.”

The woman nodded, then hesitated. “Can I get you anything? Some breakfast?”

He managed a smile. “No, thanks. Let’s go talk to the soldiers.”

He spotted the squad leaders and a few of their team members leaning against various vehicles. Most were wearing their black, carbon fiber armor on the bottom half, while on top they wore well-worn T-shirts that clung to hard, tattooed muscles.

Adam allowed himself a wry smile. If he’d seen this group of men and women in his ranks in the Army, he’d have been horrified. But the alien invasion had changed everything, including his views on some things.

He’d had to scrape together the members of his squads from remnants of the country’s devastated military and police forces, and—his gaze fell on a few of the Squad Three men, also known as the berserkers—former mercenaries and possibly criminals, but these men formed the most courageous, toughest, and fiercest group of fighters he’d ever known.

It was because of these people that the survivors had even made it this far.

“Good morning.” He nodded and exchanged a few looks with the squad leaders as he moved to the head of the group. Elle was now tucked under the arm of Marcus Steele, the rugged, scarred leader of Hell Squad. Adam had been as shocked as the rest of the base when sweet, pretty Elle had somehow tamed Steele. But Adam was damned pleased to see the two of them so happy together.

“What’s the plan for today, General?”

Roth Masters was leader of Squad Nine. The rest of his squad stood beside him, all—apart from the tall, broad Theron—deadly, capable women.

“We’ve managed to escape the aliens and have survived our first night out of the mountains.” He glanced at the silhouette of the tree-covered peaks to the west. They’d barely survived the week-long dash out of the Blue Mountains, and they still had a significant way to go. “Now, we stay alive and get to the Enclave.” He nodded at Elle, who moved over to a portable comp set up on a folding table.

A map suddenly appeared, the image projected into the air above the table.

“We need to move slowly and cautiously.” Adam felt the tension in his already-tight shoulders grow. “The Enclave isn’t far away, but without the forests for cover, we don’t have as many hiding places. Our illusion system will keep us virtually invisible to the aliens and we have a team assigned to hide any tracks we might leave behind. But if anyone slips out from the illusion, it’ll give us away.”

He let that sink in. The Enclave was a secret human haven, originally built for the former Coalition president. After uncovering the president’s duplicitous dealings with the aliens, the Enclave was under new rule, and they were welcoming the Blue Mountain Base survivors.

“The drones are picking up increased alien activity in the area.” Adam gestured to the electronic map, worried about the patches of red that indicated the aliens’ whereabouts. “They were searching the mountains for us, now they’re moving their troops in this direction. And now they don’t have the trees to hamper them.”

They knew that the raptors didn’t like the trees for some reason, but they hadn’t yet deduced exactly why. The forests had helped keep Blue Mountain Base hidden and safe for a long time.

He glanced east, where gentle, rolling, green hills dominated the view. Things were going to be much more difficult now. They were so close…yet so far away.

“So we go slow and steady,” Roth confirmed. “We can do that.”

Adam nodded. “But we need more than that if we want to get everyone there safely.” They’d already lost people in the wild ride out of the mountains. Too many people. He frowned.

Suddenly, two people ran into the group.

“Sorry we’re late.” Claudia Frost’s tough face was flushed, and she was braiding her long, dark hair.

The tall man beside her grinned. “I’m not.”

The sun glinted off the gold in Shaw Baird’s tawny locks. Hell Squad’s sniper looked like a man who’d woken up in the most pleasurable way possible. Claudia elbowed him hard enough to have the air rush out of him.

Adam’s gut clenched. A bunch of different emotions ran through him, but two were the strongest. One was pure envy. The connection between the two Hell Squad soldiers pulsed hot enough to scorch. But anyone could see it was more than just desire or lust. These two had something far deeper between them, forged in the depths of battle, in fighting for their lives and the lives of others, knowing they could depend on each other.

The other emotion that washed over Adam was guilt.

Claudia had been taken by the aliens in the base attack. He’d allowed Hell Squad to search for her, but only when the convoy could spare them. He was well aware she’d suffered far longer than necessary because he’d had to make a tough call.

Added to that, only a day ago, she’d willingly handed herself back to the alien hunting her in order to save the convoy.

And Adam had let her.

His hands curled into fists. He’d never felt more helpless or conflicted as he’d watched her walk to her death, Shaw’s shouts echoing in the air.

Luckily, thanks to the squads, they’d fought their way out and rescued Claudia. Hell, the woman had mostly rescued herself.

The decision still weighed heavily on him. His shoulders sagged. How many more decisions like that one would he have to make?

He cleared his throat. “Glad you could both join us. We’re discussing our path to the Enclave.”

Shaw tossed his arm around Claudia’s shoulders. “We aren’t far away, right? I’m really looking forward to having a proper bed.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Claudia elbowed him again, but let his arm stay on her shoulders.

“We aren’t far,” Adam said. “But it won’t be easy, and we need to avoid the aliens…”

“You have something else up your sleeve.” Marcus’ voice always sounded like the scrape of gravel.

Adam nodded. “I want the squads to plan some diversions. We need to throw the aliens off the scent of the convoy.”

He watched the soldiers around him straighten and share looks. Most of them grinned.

Marcus nodded. “Won’t be a problem.”

Adam watched the berserkers huddle, pure glee on their tough, bearded faces. He already dreaded whatever it was they were going to come up with, but he was certain it would be effective. “Good. We’ll move out after everyone’s eaten and packed up. Submit your plans to me, and we’ll get the squads out distracting the—”

“You mean making a mess,” Shaw interrupted with a smile.

“—aliens while I lead the convoy toward the Enclave,” Adam finished, ignoring the sniper.

As everyone murmured and nodded, a short, sharp scream pierced the air.

Everyone swiveled.

On the other side of the convoy, he saw a small ball roll into view.

He frowned. It was much larger than a soccer ball and was a deep, dark brown. He stepped closer, felt the soldiers crowd behind him. There were strange striations on the ball. He narrowed his gaze. It was as though it was made of sinewy muscle.

His gut hardened. Most of the alien tech was organic-based. He opened his mouth to shout for people to get back, when the ball erupted apart.

Dozens of large spider-like creatures burst out of it.

The creatures moved fast. A few leaped onto the people nearest to them. Others skittered away, leaping onto and under vehicles.

The soldiers cursed and with Adam in the lead, they charged toward the screaming civilians. Adam pulled out the laser pistol he kept holstered at his hip.

As he ran past one spider perched on the hood of a truck, he saw it was eating through the metal. It seemed to excrete a poison that burned through the steel. Its legs were a strange mix of bone and metal.

He raised his pistol and fired. The spider flew off the truck and disappeared from view.

People were shouting, snatching up children, fleeing. A few people were smacking at the spiders with whatever they could—blankets, knives—one man was using a bat.

Adam saw a spider heading toward a terrified family. He kicked it and sent it flying into the wall of cars. It bounced back onto its legs and Adam fired at it. The first shot of laser only made it twitch. He kept firing and finally the thing collapsed on the ground.

Then he spotted a woman flat on her back, her arms and legs twitching, a spider attached to her face. He heard laser carbines firing, saw the soldiers taking out the creatures. He spotted Doc Emerson running into the mêlée, her white lab coat bright amidst the pandemonium.

“Emerson.” He pointed at the woman.

The blonde doctor nodded, her face grim. Gabe, Hell Squad’s largest and deadliest fighter—who also happened to be Emerson’s protective lover—appeared beside her. He gripped the alien spider while Emerson knelt to help the woman.

Adam turned and spotted two more of the balls bouncing into their camp. Dammit. Then he heard a cry and turned. A young boy, maybe ten, was trying to scramble away from an oncoming spider. Adam sprinted, lifting his pistol and fired. The spider leaped away, flying through the air.

“Here.” Adam grabbed the boy up, holding him tight.

The spider hit the ground on its back, flipped onto its feet and spun. It had a row of small red eyes across its head.

The boy whimpered. Adam set him down and pushed the boy behind him, just as the spider leaped at them.

Adam grabbed it. He held the nightmarish insect just inches from his face, shocked at how damn strong the thing was.

He needed all his strength to keep it off his face. Slowly, he managed to push it down. Then he dropped it to the ground and stomped on it…again and again. He heard it crunch under his boot.

The young boy was making a sobbing noise with each harsh breath.

“Get back up the hill.” Adam shoved the boy in that direction. “Climb on top of a truck.”

With a jerky nod, the boy turned and sprinted, following orders.

Adam heard more screaming. All around him, the soldiers were fighting the mass of creatures. He saw a flash of blonde glinting in the sunlight. He saw a woman slamming a stick down on a spider. Nearby, a terrified little girl screamed, tears running down her face.

Adam sprinted toward them. “Liberty.”

The woman looked up, her beautiful face strained. She slammed the stick down again and the spider skittered backward.

Adam glanced at the tiny girl. She was crawling toward the body of a prone woman lying on the ground. One look and he saw the woman’s neck had been burned by the spider poison. Her eyes were closed and he had no idea if she was dead or alive.

“Mama.” The girl gripped the woman’s shirt.

Dammit. Adam felt his blood run cold then hot.

The spider had only retreated for a second before it jumped forward again. Adam kicked it and it leaped back, but it was watching them with a predatory gaze.

“Take the girl,” he said. “Run.”

Liberty hesitated, then she handed him the stick and snatched up the crying girl. Adam turned, just as the spider leaped at him again.

He swung the stick like a bat. He’d played baseball at the Coalition Military Academy. The stick connected with a satisfying thwack, and the spider sailed through the air.

His shoulders sagged. All around him he heard screams, cries and laser fire. It seeped into him, the weight of it dragging him down like a drowning man in a river.

It looked like the squads were weeding out the last of the spiders. The medical team was working frantically to help the injured…but there would be nothing they could do for the dead.

He turned, trying to pull himself together. He had to be strong for everyone, help rally them and get them out of here.

There was a flash of movement to his left, then something slammed into his face.

As the spider wrapped its legs around his head, Adam staggered backward. It clamped on hard and he felt the sharp bite of the clawed legs digging into his skull. He tried to pry it off and it made a hissing sound. He stumbled over something and fell.

Falling flat on his back, all Adam could hear was his own frenzied breathing. The more he tried to pry the damn thing off, the more it tightened on him, until he was sure it would crush his skull.

But he was well aware that at any moment, the damn thing would spray him with that corrosive poison, and he’d be dead.

Old memories flashed behind his eyes. Of life before the invasion, of his distinguished career, of the wife he’d only had for a few years before she’d left him, telling him he was too driven, too absorbed, a workaholic who’d die alone.

Well, it looked like Diane was right. Even with the band of survivors around him, the ones he’d tried to protect and care for, he was going to die alone.

Hell Squad

Marcus

Cruz

Gabe

Reed

Roth

Noah

Shaw

Holmes

Niko

When astro-archeologist and museum curator Dr. Lexa Carter discovers a secret map to a lost old Earth treasure—a priceless Fabergé egg—she’s excited at the prospect of a treasure hunt to the dangerous desert planet of Zerzura. What she’s not so happy about is being saddled with a bodyguard—the museum’s mysterious new head of security, Damon Malik.

After many dangerous years as a galactic spy, Damon Malik just wanted a quiet job where no one tried to kill him. Instead of easy work in a museum full of artifacts, he finds himself on a backwater planet babysitting the most infuriating woman he’s ever met.

She thinks he’s arrogant. He thinks she’s a trouble-magnet. But among the desert sands and ruins, adventure led by a young, brash treasure hunter named Dathan Phoenix, takes a deadly turn. As it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want them to find the treasure, Lexa and Damon will have to trust each other just to survive.

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

Also by Anna Hackett

Treasure Hunter Security

Undiscovered

Uncharted

Unexplored

Hell Squad

Marcus

Cruz

Gabe

Reed

Roth

Noah

Shaw

Holmes

Niko

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

Perma Series

Winter Fusion

The WindKeepers Series

Wind Kissed, Fire Bound

Taken by the South Wind

Tempting the West Wind

Defying the North Wind

Claiming the East Wind

Standalone Titles

Savage Dragon

Hunter’s Surrender

One Night with the Wolf

Anthologies

A Galactic Holiday

Moonlight (UK only)

Vampire Hunter (UK only)

Awakening the Dragon (UK Only)

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!)

For release dates, action romance info, free books, and other fun stuff, sign up for the latest news here:

Website: AnnaHackettBooks.com

Table of Contents

What readers are saying about Anna’s Science Fiction Romance

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Preview – Hell Squad: Holmes

Also by Anna Hackett

About the Author