Chapter Eleven
Hemi leaned against the wall in the Command Center. The place was filled with squad leaders and soldiers, and the low rumble of conversation.
Niko and Holmes stood at the front of the room, flanking Elle.
The general rapped his knuckles on the table. The room grew quiet.
“Noah and Elle have decoded the data cube the mission team recovered,” Niko announced.
Elle cleared her throat. “Most of the data on the cube references the creepers.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Roth called out.
Elle nodded. “What we’ve learned is that there is a creeper breeding ground.”
Grumbles passed through the room. Hemi glanced at Cam. She was standing beside him, but she’d been stiff and distant since they’d left the games room.
“Do we know where it is?” Marcus asked.
“Not yet,” Holmes answered. “It describes a vast underground warren.”
“We are trying to find a location from the cube data.”
“A warren?” Cam murmured.
“You’ve thought of something?” Hemi asked.
“Sir?” Cam called out. “My squad saw a strange area on a previous mission.”
“Yes.” Roth shouldered forward. “The ground was pockmarked, like entrances to tunnels.”
Elle rushed over to a nearby comp. “I did consider that.”
Everybody in the room went quiet. Watching and waiting. Images of the bumpy ground glowing orange filled the room’s display screens.
Elle nodded. “At first glance, some elements of the images match the descriptions on the cube.” She scanned the crowd, her pretty face tense. “But I can’t be a hundred-percent certain that the area that Squad Nine discovered is the creeper breeding ground.”
“If the creepers are breeding here,” Holmes said, “then we need to stop them.”
“We need to confirm it first.” Niko shoved his hands in his pockets. “I suggest we find out everything we can about this place, and then decide how to best destroy it.”
“Can we send a drone inside it?” Tane asked.
“Risky,” Elle said. “It would be noticed easily, in a confined space like this.”
A tall, dark-haired man stepped forward. Noah Kim from the tech team. “I have several mini-drones we’ve been trialing. We could send one in to map this place.”
Holmes glanced over their way, his gaze moving to Tane. “Tane, I’m tasking this intel mission to Squad Three.”
Hemi watched his brother nod.
Holmes tilted his head. “Get there, take a look around, and deploy the mini-drone.” The general’s tone turned dry. “And I’d prefer if you didn’t engage. Intel-gathering only.”
Tane’s face stayed noticeably blank. “We’ll do our best.”
Holmes looked like he wanted to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Be ready to leave at dawn.”
When Hemi turned around to talk to Cam, he saw that she’d already left the Command Center.
What the hell? Something was wrong.
As the squads gathered into small groups, talking, Hemi strode out. Stepping into the corridor, he caught a glimpse of her turning a corner at the end of the hall. He broke into a jog and followed.
“Cam?”
She sped up.
“Cam!” He grabbed her arm. “Where’s the fire?”
“I have things to do.” Her gaze skated to look over his shoulder.
“Me, too. I wanted to talk you into a pre-mission quickie.”
He expected a laugh or a joke. Instead, he got a blank face.
“Is that your usual MO? Find a quick fuck?” She tried to pull away. “Find someone else.”
What the hell? “Camryn.” He gripped her arms and pushed her against the wall. When she shoved at him, he moved closer, pinning her there with his body.
She fought harder. “Get off.”
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
“Screw you.”
They scuffled, and finally he grabbed her wrists and slammed them above her head. “Care to explain what the hell is going on in that head of yours?”
She angled her chin. “One of your fuck buddies stopped by for a chat.”
Hemi went still. “I wasn’t a monk before I met you.”
“She told me to enjoy the ride. Apparently, you get bored fast, prefer curves, and the ride won’t last very long.”
He blinked. She honestly thought that the heat they generated was going to fade. He wanted to laugh, but he saw something in her eyes. “Cam, right now my dick is hard for you and you alone.”
“Sure.” She pushed against his hold. “I remember my dad telling my mom the same thing loads of times. That she was mistaken, and the other women were all just a misunderstanding.”
Ah. The bitterness in her voice was ugly, but Hemi heard the pain under it. He finally felt like he was getting a glimpse under Cam’s armor.
“I’m telling you the truth. I don’t cheat and I’m sure as hell not your father.”
Her lips firmed. “I don’t share, Rahia.”
He got his face in close to hers. “I don’t, either.”
“Yeah, right.”
Damn, she was stubborn. He opened his mouth to ask more questions when she suddenly moved. A fist was jammed into his side. He grunted, and as he loosened his grip, she spun, trying to escape.
Hell, no. He spun her around, her back pressed to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, trapping her arms by her sides.
She wriggled and fought, but he waited her out. He didn’t want to risk hurting her. Of course, with all her movement, she could hardly miss his hard cock pressed against the curve of her ass.
“Feel that?” He leaned down and nipped the shell of her ear. She tried to jerk her head away. “You did that. No one else.”
“So what? You share it around when it suits you.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Cam?”
“Tanya said she had her hands on it a few days ago.”
Hemi stilled, anger punching through him. But he felt a flash of something else, as well—satisfaction. Cam was jealous.
“That’s bullshit. I’m not sure who Tanya is, and I haven’t been with anyone since we reached the Enclave.”
Cam jerked. “Why would she lie?”
He frowned. “I don’t know.”
Cam moved, trying to slam her head back into his face.
“Goddammit, Cam!” He tightened his hold. “Why would you believe her over me? You need to talk to me.”
“My father always had pretty answers.”
It sounded like Cam’s parents had done well fucking up her view of relationships. “Some woman came on to me the other night after dinner. Apparently being a berserker, and having ink and a beard, made her feel like she had the right to try and shove her hand down my pants.”
Cam’s breaths were coming in sharp pants, but she was listening.
He leaned forward, nuzzling her neck. “The only person I can think of, dream of, and fantasize about is you.”
She trembled. “No. We’re done. This is done.”
His blood ran cold. “Cam—”
“We scratched our itch, Hemi. Let’s quit while we’re ahead.”
He heard the panic in her voice and he snorted. “This is not just fucking, Cam. I told you it’s more than that.” How long was it going to take him to get that through her thick head?
“No.”
He gave a short laugh. “You’re jealous. That says it’s more.”
Cam turned her head, her eyes wide. “I don’t get jealous.”
He spun her around to face him. “Trust me. Trust us. This is the real deal, baby.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Trust me,” he murmured.
“I…can’t.” Her voice cracked.
Hemi felt a hot lick of panic and hurt. “You can.”
She lifted her chin, and he saw resolve solidify in her eyes. “No. Fucking only, Hemi. You want to fuck, let’s fuck.”
Her hands went to his belt buckle, yanking him forward. Her lips hit his, hard and angry.
He pulled his head back, his emotions morphing solidly into anger. “God, it’s one step forward, ten steps back with you, isn’t it?”
She stiffened. “If you—”
He kissed her again, just trying to keep her quiet. “Lucky you’re sweet under the fucking toughness, because you’d be a pain in my ass otherwise.” He tried to keep the kiss soft, gentle, but like anything with Cam, it turned white-hot.
Hemi knew that he couldn’t do this. He couldn’t touch her while she thought it was just meaningless sex.
He pulled back. His cock throbbed, begging him to touch her. “I’m not going to do this.”
“Fine. You go your way, I’ll go mine.”
His anger exploded. He grabbed her shoulders and gave her a sharp shake. “Damn you, Cam. I’m done.”
Color leached from her face.
“With this conversation.” God, she really thought so little of him, felt so little for him. “Fucking hell, Cam, I’m in love with you.”
She looked like he’d hit her with a carbine. “No. Don’t—”
“I know you don’t want to hear it.” And fuck, that hurt. “And I know you won’t admit that you love me, too. You’re afraid. You’re letting your past have too much fucking control. You won’t trust me and you won’t let yourself be vulnerable. I always thought you were the most courageous woman in the world—”
She flinched.
“Now I’m starting to think that maybe you just don’t feel enough for me. That I’m not worth it for you.”
Her eyes gleamed, a tear sliding down her cheek. “Hemi, I’m sorry.”
Damn, she broke his heart. He pulled her close, until their noses brushed. “Don’t be sorry, Cam. Be brave. I want you to sort out what you really feel and take a risk…on us.”
Then, he let her go and walked away.
***
Cam cut through the water of the Enclave pool.
Stroke, stroke, stroke, breathe. The repetitive moves and the exertion of swimming had always calmed her.
But not today. Today, unruly emotions churned inside her. She’d barely slept. Her damn sheets smelled like Hemi, and, damn the man, she’d missed him. She’d tossed and turned until she couldn’t stand being twisted up in her sheets any longer.
It was early and she had the pool to herself, which suited her mood. She stopped at the edge and glanced at the big clock on the wall. She was acutely aware that Squad Three would be getting ready to climb into a Hawk to check out the creeper breeding ground.
Her altercation with Hemi kept running on repeat through her head. She sagged against the pool edge. She’d accused him of stuff, when she should’ve just asked him first.
He’d been right. She’d been jealous.
She was so fucked up. Her mother’s paranoia and despair, and her parents’ poisonous relationship, were never far from her thoughts. And everything else he’d said was true too. She was a coward who was always guarding her heart.
“Hey.”
Cam looked up and saw Mac, Taylor, and Sienna standing by the pool.
Ambush.
Cam pulled herself out of the pool to sit on the edge. Her friends sat down beside her—Mac and Taylor cross-legged, and Sienna putting her bare feet in the water. Cam pulled at her black one-piece suit and tossed her goggles onto her towel. She had no idea how they had known she needed them, but as she looked at her friends, she was horrified to feel tears in her eyes.
“Oh, Cam.” Sienna threw her arm around Cam’s shoulders.
“I fucked up with Hemi. We fought, I accused him of cheating, I keep pushing him away—” Everything poured out of her in a rush. “I don’t know why he bothers.”
“Because he loves you,” Mac said quietly.
Cam gave a watery laugh. “Why?”
“Because you’re worth it,” Taylor said. “We know you rock and we love you.”
Because she was worth it. Cam squeezed her eyes closed. “He’s too good for me.”
“You guys are perfect for each other,” Sienna insisted. “Too many people just let those berserkers run wild. You stand up to Hemi, challenge him, and rein him in when he needs it.”
“That man has worked very hard to run you down,” Mac said. “Don’t you think it’s time you let him catch you?”
“I’m afraid.”
“We’ve all been there,” Taylor said. “God, Devlin was terrified of our relationship.” The woman smiled. “In a very stoic, British spy way.”
“But you never gave up on him,” Cam said.
“Because I loved him and I knew that we had something worth fighting for.”
“Hemi’s never wavered.” Not once. Cam swiped at her cheeks. “He’s always been there for me, even when I’ve tried to push him away. I’ve let fear run my emotions for a very long time.”
Mac slapped her back. “Time to dig deep and find some courage, McNab.”
Lifting her chin, Cam nodded. Hemi was hers. He deserved to know that he mattered and that… “Oh, God. I’m in love with Hemi.”
Her friends laughed, the sound echoing around the pool.
“You just worked that out?” Taylor asked.
“I’m having an emotional crisis here.” Cam pressed her palms to her eyes. “Some sympathy and support, please.”
“We did that bit,” Taylor said dryly. “Now we’ve moved onto the tough love part.”
“Man up,” Mac said. “Or woman up, and claim your man.”
“And don’t ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to you,” Sienna added with a mock-scowl.
Cam laughed and for the first time in a long time, the chaos inside her eased. She felt threads untangling. She had friends she loved, friends who were the ones who’d shown her the true meaning of family.
She loved Hemi and he loved her. They’d face whatever the future brought together, and kick its butt, just like they did when they fought in a battle.
Mac pushed to her feet. “I’m heading to the Command Center to watch the drone feed of Squad Three’s mission.” Mac eyed her with a small smile. “Want to join me?”
Cam nodded. “Absolutely. Let me dry off and change.” She paused and looked at her friends. “Thank you.”
They all smiled and Sienna shot her a saucy wink.
When Mac and Cam entered the Command Center, it was quieter than usual, but the atmosphere was taut. Niko and the general were there. Everyone was intently watching the screens.
She focused on the main video display that showed a feed from the Hawk, the ground flying past as the quadcopter swept in low over the hills. Another screen showed the feed from a camera on Tane’s helmet. Cam could see the berserkers in the back of the Hawk, all in their armor and checking their weapons. They were quiet, preparing for their mission.
“Almost at target area,” came the disembodied voice of the Hawk pilot. Not Finn today. An older pilot named Robert Kaminski.
Cam spotted Hemi. He was in profile, his face set and serious. For all their wildness, the berserkers didn’t always rush into a mission half-cocked.
“We’ll do a flyover of the area,” the pilot said.
Cam tore her gaze off Hemi and looked at the other screen. Ahead, in the murky morning light, she saw the glow of the breeding ground. She sucked in a breath.
A bad feeling washed over her, causing her skin to itch. She stared at the pockmarked surface and orange glow that made her think of lava. She saw something move, and frowned.
Then, realization struck. The moving shadows were the silhouettes of creepers. They were crawling in and out of the holes. She gasped in a sharp breath.
There were so many of them. Hundreds. Hell. All just waiting to be unleashed on the world. As the Hawk circled, she focused on two creatures fighting each other.
“We need more images,” Holmes said, nodding at Indy. “Tell them to circle around again.”
Indy relayed the order to the pilot, and the Hawk wheeled around in a circle.
“Can you identify the best place to drop us?” Tane’s deep voice.
“On it,” the pilot said.
Cam’s gaze was back on Hemi. She hated that they’d fought, and that he was now out on a mission. Her stomach did a slow roll. Don’t get eaten again, big guy. Her fingers clenched into her palms, and she suddenly itched for a carbine.
“Shit, what’s that?” The pilot’s sharp voice. “Evasive maneuvers!”
Cam pushed away from the wall, her pulse spiking. The Hawk suddenly banked hard to the left. The berserkers stumbled and cursed.
“There’s another one incoming,” the pilot yelled. “What the hell is it?”
“I’m picking up a large heat signature,” Indy cried, her fingers flying across her comp screen. “I can’t tell what it is!”
“It…it looks like a fireball,” the pilot breathed.
Cam saw the mystery object appear on the Hawk’s feed—a giant ball of orange. It did look a lot like a fireball.
No, not a fireball. Her breath hitched. “It’s a ball of poison. Don’t let it—”
“Shit, we’re hit,” the pilot cried.
The Hawk shuddered and alarms blared. Cam heard the crackle of smashing glass, and an ominous, sizzling sound. She heard the men cursing. Then there was a scream and the sound of rushing wind.
The quadcopter jerked again, and started spinning around in a death spiral. Cam pushed forward, closer to the viewscreens, a sickening sense of dread spreading through her. No. Pull up. Pull up.
“Kaminski,” Indy said. “Kaminski?” The woman’s panicked gaze flicked to the general. “He isn’t responding.”
“Tell them to brace for impact.” Holmes’ tone was harsh.
Indy closed her eyes and touched her ear. “Squad Three. Brace for impact.”
It happened fast.
On the other screen, Cam saw the ground racing up to meet the damaged Hawk. Hemi. She looked back at his face.
Then the Hawk hit.
There was a deafening crunch of metal, and the screens all went blank.
“Tane? Squad Three?” Indy’s voice was frantic. “Respond?”
Nothing.
“Tane, please respond.”
Cam stared at the black screens, a horrible emptiness washing through her.
Hemi and his squad had just crashed into the creeper breeding ground.