license, money.” She scrolled
searching for her bank contact. Her mind compiled a list of things she needed
to do. She’d have to call her boss as well and apprise him of the situation.
The poor man was at a beach in Florida taking advantage of the first vacation
in years, thanks to his wife’s brow beating.
Vincent’s hand
reached out and snagged her phone before she could complete the call. He
powered it down and shoved it into the busy looking utility belt at his waist.
Shock gave way to anger, snapping her out of her daze. “I need my phone,
Vincent.” She emphasized his name, knowing he hated it. “I don’t have anything except
the clothes on my back.”
A scary thought
among many. Its only temporary, she soothed. As soon as he dropped her home
she’d deactivate all her credit cards online and stop first thing in the
morning to replace her ID.
“I’ll give it back
later.”
His authoritative
tone brooked no argument. Which in turn made her want to argue. She was a grown
woman capable of making sound decisions as evident by the volume of
responsibility her company entrusted in her. Still, she tried to temper her
tone. “Vincent.”
“Not now,
hellcat.” Something about the shadows lurking in his blue gray gaze as he
repeated his earlier words stilled her protest. Studying him closely, she
realized he was as burned out as his team, he just covered it better. But there
were telltale giveaways now that she searched for them. A tightness to his
mouth. The small crease between his brow and the taut muscles beneath her
hands.
Helen clamped
down on the words she wanted to spew. Now probably wasn’t the best time. His
full lips smiled in appreciation and the slant of his shoulders relaxed further
at her continued silence. As if by mutual agreement, they both eased back in
their seats. Helen lowered her head to rest in the crook of his neck.
Soon, she found
herself nodding, occasionally jerking her head upright when visions of aliens
assaulted her dreams. Fatigue beat at her senses. Long nights at the office
finally caught up.
“You okay?”
Vin’s question
probed at the ragged edges of her nerves.
Since there was no
easy answer she settled for the generic. “I’m fine.” Licking her dry lips, she
glanced around the interior of the darkened vehicle. She needed to tell him
before she drifted off fully. “Vin?”
He grunted above
her and his chin pressed down on the top of her head.
“Thank you.” He
might not want her any longer but he’d saved her life.
“Anytime, hellcat.
Anytime.”
She moved her
right hand slightly and pinched the tight flesh of his abdomen in retaliation.
It was all she could muster up the energy for. He chuckled above her and Helen
let sleep take her under.
Chapter 6
As the sky
darkened with the start of the evening, the truck pulled up in front of the
main building behind the security gate. Clearance was never an issue for Alpha
Squad and today proved no different. The guards at the gate waved them through
without looking at the extra passenger in the backseat.
“She holding up?”
Vin shifted his
hold. He’d pulled Helen across his lap completely when her body went limp.
Securing his arms around her waist as she snuggled into his chest, he answered
Harkum. “She’s solid.”
The most solid
woman he knew. Instead of screaming and crying, she held it together. Instead
of arguing over her cell phone, she gave in. He’d witnessed her internal
struggle. Her need to prove she was strong and independent battled with the
other emotions careening through her.
Helen’s
acquiescence pleased him. When he thought she’d crash, his hellcat drew on a
hidden well of strength.
Curtis blinked his
eyes open though he didn’t move his head. “Didn’t know you kept such high company,
Vin.”
Quiet laughter
drifted around.
“How’d you score a
chick like her anyway?” Bransen asked. Devilment danced in his gaze and even
the twins smirked.
Vin extended his
booted
searching for her bank contact. Her mind compiled a list of things she needed
to do. She’d have to call her boss as well and apprise him of the situation.
The poor man was at a beach in Florida taking advantage of the first vacation
in years, thanks to his wife’s brow beating.
Vincent’s hand
reached out and snagged her phone before she could complete the call. He
powered it down and shoved it into the busy looking utility belt at his waist.
Shock gave way to anger, snapping her out of her daze. “I need my phone,
Vincent.” She emphasized his name, knowing he hated it. “I don’t have anything except
the clothes on my back.”
A scary thought
among many. Its only temporary, she soothed. As soon as he dropped her home
she’d deactivate all her credit cards online and stop first thing in the
morning to replace her ID.
“I’ll give it back
later.”
His authoritative
tone brooked no argument. Which in turn made her want to argue. She was a grown
woman capable of making sound decisions as evident by the volume of
responsibility her company entrusted in her. Still, she tried to temper her
tone. “Vincent.”
“Not now,
hellcat.” Something about the shadows lurking in his blue gray gaze as he
repeated his earlier words stilled her protest. Studying him closely, she
realized he was as burned out as his team, he just covered it better. But there
were telltale giveaways now that she searched for them. A tightness to his
mouth. The small crease between his brow and the taut muscles beneath her
hands.
Helen clamped
down on the words she wanted to spew. Now probably wasn’t the best time. His
full lips smiled in appreciation and the slant of his shoulders relaxed further
at her continued silence. As if by mutual agreement, they both eased back in
their seats. Helen lowered her head to rest in the crook of his neck.
Soon, she found
herself nodding, occasionally jerking her head upright when visions of aliens
assaulted her dreams. Fatigue beat at her senses. Long nights at the office
finally caught up.
“You okay?”
Vin’s question
probed at the ragged edges of her nerves.
Since there was no
easy answer she settled for the generic. “I’m fine.” Licking her dry lips, she
glanced around the interior of the darkened vehicle. She needed to tell him
before she drifted off fully. “Vin?”
He grunted above
her and his chin pressed down on the top of her head.
“Thank you.” He
might not want her any longer but he’d saved her life.
“Anytime, hellcat.
Anytime.”
She moved her
right hand slightly and pinched the tight flesh of his abdomen in retaliation.
It was all she could muster up the energy for. He chuckled above her and Helen
let sleep take her under.
Chapter 6
As the sky
darkened with the start of the evening, the truck pulled up in front of the
main building behind the security gate. Clearance was never an issue for Alpha
Squad and today proved no different. The guards at the gate waved them through
without looking at the extra passenger in the backseat.
“She holding up?”
Vin shifted his
hold. He’d pulled Helen across his lap completely when her body went limp.
Securing his arms around her waist as she snuggled into his chest, he answered
Harkum. “She’s solid.”
The most solid
woman he knew. Instead of screaming and crying, she held it together. Instead
of arguing over her cell phone, she gave in. He’d witnessed her internal
struggle. Her need to prove she was strong and independent battled with the
other emotions careening through her.
Helen’s
acquiescence pleased him. When he thought she’d crash, his hellcat drew on a
hidden well of strength.
Curtis blinked his
eyes open though he didn’t move his head. “Didn’t know you kept such high company,
Vin.”
Quiet laughter
drifted around.
“How’d you score a
chick like her anyway?” Bransen asked. Devilment danced in his gaze and even
the twins smirked.
Vin extended his
booted
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