Ethan’s steps were preternaturally loud in the gloom as they approached the control panel, his gun raised as he scanned every shadow. He glanced at his watch. How long have I been here? Too long.

“System’s been manually disabled. Definitely not a fault.” Becca chewed at her lip and flipped switches, keying in the life support access codes on the control panel. Emergency lighting flickered on above and green digits scrolled on a narrow screen in front of her.

A scraping noise behind them made them both spin, and Ethan aimed his flashlight at the ground. Legs and military boots protruded from behind the control unit.

“Shit.” Ethan darted forward.

Nik was out cold on the floor. Blood smeared his forehead and a nasty bruise was already discoloring his cheek. Ethan dropped to his knees, checking for a pulse and was rewarded by a robust gallop.

“Thank fuck.” Ethan exhaled, his shoulders sagging. “He’s still breathing,” he said as Becca joined him.

Becca nodded as she ran her hands over Nik in practiced, easy movements. Her fingers brushed Ethan’s and she snatched her hand back. Her gaze skittered to the side, unreadable and Ethan pretended not to notice as she rocked back on her heels and blew a loose lock of hair from her forehead.

“He’s okay for now but we need to get him up to the infirmary.” She probed with cautious fingers around the welt of blood on Nik’s forehead. “He may have a concussion and he’ll need stitches for the cut.” She glanced around and pointed. “Ethan.”

Luca was slumped at an awkward angle several feet behind, but the soft rise and fall of his chest was evident. Becca scooted over on her hands and knees and Ethan helped her to heft Luca onto his side. The back of Luca’s neck was wet and Ethan’s hands came away bloody. “Damn idiot,” Ethan muttered. He wiped his fingers on his thigh and flicked the safety off on his weapon, his skin tingling all over.

Becca spotted the bloodstain on his fingers. She licked her lips and surveyed the room with her eyebrows drawn together. “So where the hell is Em?”

“I’ll find her.” Ethan pressed her shoulder as he straightened and surveyed the room around them. So many places to hide.

Becca rose and snatched his hand. “Redd’s dangerous.”

Ethan rubbed his thumb over the inside of her wrist, barely aware of her statement. He’d forgotten how soft her skin was. “You okay?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what I think about anything anymore.” Her beautiful head drooped in tired resignation, but she didn’t pull her hand back.

There was a tone to her voice that made him want to ask more. Was she talking about what was happening in the habitat or did she mean their failed relationship? He had a crazy urge to tell her that since the Lady had docked at the Ceto habitat, he hadn’t stopped thinking about her. His entire career was based on protection and care, and yet he’d been unable to protect the one person who meant more to him than anything.

Becca stared at her hand in his grip. “Just be careful.”

“I will,” he muttered, his voice choked. He squeezed her fingers, then released her. “Stay here with Luca and Nik. You don’t move till I tell you it’s safe.”

He skirted the edges of the room efficiently and made a quick inspection of the ground floor. Emergency lighting gave the space a bloody glow and deepened shadows large enough to conceal a man but there was no one there. No crazy scientist and no pretty engineer. Just hot oppressive air that weighed down on him and made his throat itch.

Ethan halted at the foot of the access ladder that led to a dim mezzanine level that circled the room above.

Are you up there, you crazy fuck?

He holstered his handgun as he climbed the access ladder. Higher up, the air was even more suffocating, and he worked a finger into the collar of his protective vest, trying ineffectually to loosen the thick fabric around his neck. Waste of time. With his weapon back in his hands, he began his search.

He walked slowly, each step controlled and measured, grateful for the silence provided by his thick rubber soles. The mezzanine was composed of four banks of computer databases, each separated by a gap of around a foot. Four segments. Each gap was small but dark and plenty big enough to hide a crouching maniac. Methodically, Ethan approached each space, the nose of his weapon confirming the area was clear before he placed himself in the firing line, but the mezzanine was empty and it wasn’t long before he found himself back with Becca.

Nik was sitting up, looking dazed, but Luca was snoring and emitting soft grunts propped on his side.

Ethan kneeled and gripped Nik’s shoulder. “Nik?”

“Didn’t see him coming. Lights went off. He must’ve been right behind me. So damned fast.” He groaned. “Head hurts like hell.”

“Any sign of Em?” Becca asked.

“No.” Ethan glanced over his shoulder. “Room’s clear.”

“Let’s get them up to the infirmary. Aimee—”

A figure barreled through the entrance from the corridor, hospital gown streaming, his teeth drawn back in a snarl, chunky wrench raised high above his head.

Ethan reacted instantly, shoving Becca to the side in a hard sprawl. There was no time to raise his weapon, Redd was too fast and too close in the restricted space of the room. Ethan charged forward, dodging the swing of the wrench, driving his shoulders hard into Redd’s belly. The wrench clattered to the floor. Redd wasn’t an athlete, his torso had the undeveloped tone of a sedentary scientist, but his muscles were fueled by insanity. He took the blow, contracting his arms and legs around Ethan like pointed talons, dragging them both to the ground in a bone-juddering tangle of limbs. Ethan grunted, the impact driving the air from his lungs. He struggled to break Redd’s grip, his muscles burning from the effort, but the man clung on, his arms locked and unmoving. Ethan kicked and levered his thighs, wrestling himself on top of his assailant.

Becca screamed from across the room. “Redd! Stop, for God’s sake.”

Ethan reared back from Redd’s wide mouth. “What the—”

Redd’s teeth snapped too close to Ethan’s neck, connecting with the thick fabric of his protective vest. His teeth sank into the fabric as he clamped his jaw tight like a rabid dog, his breath hot and wet against Ethan’s throat. Ethan yelled, hammering outward with his elbows in an effort to knock Redd free, but his arms were too close to his body, making it almost impossible for him to get any leverage. Shit.

“Ethan!”

Ethan jerked his head.

Becca was up on hands and knees. She staggered to her feet, her eyes wild.

Ethan couldn’t speak, didn’t dare open his mouth for fear of lowering his jaw closer to Redd’s spit-daubed lips. Sour breath washed across Ethan’s face. Redd’s eyes were wide and staring, his pupils dilated.

Becca screamed, “Ethan, move!”

Easier said than done.

She hurtled forward, clutching a red fire extinguisher.

Ethan ducked as best he could as Becca launched the extinguisher into the back of Redd’s head with a solid thump that transmitted into Ethan’s body. Redd jerked, but his grip didn’t relax. His eyes rolled upward, irises disappearing, revealing green-tinged sclera.

“Again,” Ethan grunted as Redd swung his head with a violence that threatened to rip Ethan’s throat.

Becca rushed again, this time striking Redd’s shoulder with her Taser.

Redd wheezed, his teeth springing free from Ethan’s collar, his body recoiling in a violent snap. He dropped heavily, his mouth lax, his crushing arms finally releasing Ethan’s ribcage.

Ethan coughed and rolled, his hand reflexively rubbing his skin, which was slick with Red’s saliva. His skin crawled. He wanted a scalding bath right now. And a ton of soap.

Becca squatted down next to him. Her hands ran over his chest, his arms. “My God, Ethan. I was so worried.”

Ethan coughed, his throat raw. “Still alive.” He pitched forward onto the cold metal, sucking in air. “But you need new colleagues.”