Chrissy’s heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears.

She dragged in air through the breather, staring ahead through the pitch-black water. Levi flicked on a light on the propulsion unit and it cut through the darkness. She felt his hands touch something on the unit. It vibrated, and they powered up through the water with a wash of bubbles.

As they moved, fish darted out of their way, and ahead, she saw the shadows of Griff and Dom, and Tane, not too far above them.

But damn, it was so black and suffocating.

Already, she felt a tickle in her lungs. She wanted to wrench the breather from her mouth and take a huge breath. Instead, she focused on Levi. His protective arms were tight around her, and she moved one hand to grip his wrist.

A flash of movement to her left made her turn her head. She saw nothing but black. When she turned back, she bumped against Levi and the breather fell from her mouth.

No! She almost lifted a hand off the propulsion unit, but fought the urge. Levi hadn’t noticed and she didn’t want to worry him. She focused on holding her breath.

But it wasn’t long before her lungs started to burn.

Don’t open your mouth. Don’t open your mouth. God, she couldn’t hold her breath much longer.

How much farther? She looked up, but couldn’t tell if the surface was getting closer.

Then, something sliced through the water to her right, and she turned her head. Without any goggles, her vision was blurry, but in the gloomy light from the unit, she caught a clear glimpse of a giant shadow cutting through the water.

It was bigger than any shark she’d ever seen.

Oh, God. Primal fear clamped down at the base of her neck. She felt Levi tense, and knew he’d seen it, too.

Chrissy kept searching the water. Where the hell was it? She prayed the damn thing wasn’t behind them. She caught another glimpse of it to their left, huge flippers carving through the water. This time, it was close enough that she saw a giant mouth filled with rows of sharp, wicked teeth. It disappeared with a flick of a solid, forked tail.

She felt sick. Jeez, one damn killer alien after another.

She kept turning her head, fighting the need to open her mouth. Her chest was in agony, and her head felt like it was stuck in a clamp. Her lungs were at the breaking point. She couldn’t keep her mouth closed any longer…

They broke the surface. Chrissy gasped, heaving in air.

“You okay?” Levi’s hand was on her back, rubbing. “We made it.”

She nodded, wiping water off her face. “Did you see it?” She turned her head, scanning the surface.

It was dark and choppy, and they bobbed up and down with the waves. They were right at the entrance to the bay and she could see the lights from the airport in the distance. Moonlight gleamed from overhead.

Levi’s face hardened. “I saw it.”

“What do we do?” She looked back toward the shore. It looked so far away. God, that thing could be right under them. She tried not to hear that threatening da-dum, da-dum tune in her head, but it started, mocking her.

“Well, let’s hope it isn’t hungry,” Levi said dryly.

Chrissy splashed water at him. “Be serious.”

Seconds later, the other berserkers moved over to join them, and Ash and Hemi broke the surface.

“We have a problem,” Ash said.

“A big one,” Hemi added. “A fucking big, killer aquatic monster. It knows we’re here, and it’s interested.”

Just as Hemi finished talking, the creature broke surface. They all spun, treading water, and watched the gray hump of the alien creature’s back breach the surface. All the men moved, raising their carbines.

The aquatic alien dived and disappeared back below the waves.

Suddenly, a boom, followed by another, shattered the quiet. Chrissy turned again and looked toward the airport. Smoke was rising into the air. Another explosion blasted into the night sky in a ball of flames and smoke.

“What’s going on?” Griff said.

“Must be our guys,” Tane said. “We have no comms, so I don’t know for sure.”

“Keeping the alien reinforcements off us, maybe?” Hemi suggested.

The aquatic alien surfaced again, circling closer. This time, Ash and Levi opened fire. The creature thrashed, setting them all bobbing in the wild waves.

Chrissy gripped Levi’s arm. She kicked her legs faster to keep her head above the surface.

“Head to the shore,” Tane ordered. “The southern side of the bay, away from the airport.”

Chrissy’s gut cramped and Levi aimed the propulsion unit toward land. She tightened her hold and they zoomed forward. But she was pretty sure that they’d never make it. It was too far, and the creature in the water could move faster. It would take them all down before they even got close to land.

“Chrissy, you go ahead.” Levi moved to let go of the unit.

She shook her head, grabbing his hand. “And leave you to get eaten alive to save me? No!” She tightened her hold

“Stubborn woman. I said go.”

“When have I ever followed your orders, biker man?”

“When I’ve had you naked.”

She hissed out a frustrated breath. “Well, I’m not naked now.”

His jaw clenched. “I won’t let you die.”

“Guys,” Ash snapped.

Chrissy saw the ripple in the distance and her chest tightened. The aquatic alien was powering through the water, coming straight at them.

They were out of time.

“Go!” Tane yelled.

Levi kept a tight hold on Chrissy’s hand as he jerked the unit around and set them off again. Water hit her face as they raced toward the shore.

“By the way, I love you,” she yelled.

Levi looked over at her, shocked. “What?”

“I thought you should know.”

“Fuck,” Levi shouted back. “I love you too, Spitfire.”

From nearby, Ash laughed. “You owe me two month’s clothing credits, Rahia.”

Hemi chuckled. “Thought he’d hold out a bit longer.”

Behind them, the creature reared out of the water, cutting off the banter.

“Faster!” Tane roared.

But there was no way they’d be fast enough. Despair choking her, Chrissy looked back and watched the huge jaws open. It was almost on them.

She gripped Levi’s hand hard. “Levi.”

“Look at me, Spitfire. Only me.”

She looked into those whiskey eyes…and suddenly laser fire erupted behind them.

Chrissy choked on a scream. The water churned as the alien creature’s huge body jerked and lurched, shuddering under the impact of the weapons fire.

A dark, metallic smell filled the air as the alien’s blood spilled into the water, and she looked up to see two Hawks materialize above them.

One quadcopter swung around, still firing on the beast, green laser lighting up the night. The creature was no longer moving, and it slowly sank beneath the waves.

Shocked at the suddenness of the attack, Chrissy just stared. The other Hawk lowered down directly above them, its skids only a meter off the water. The side door slid open.

Claudia and Marcus from Hell Squad were there, holding out hands to them.

“Need a ride?” Claudia asked.

Elation burst inside Chrissy and all she could do was nod. The rest of Hell Squad stood behind the pair in the Hawk, carbines in hand.

“Hell yeah, we need a ride.” Levi boosted Chrissy upward.

Claudia gripped her hand and pulled her inside the Hawk.

“Hey, that’s our saying,” Shaw called out from his spot on the cannon nearby. He had the weapon aimed at the water.

Marcus leaned down and helped Levi aboard. As her man hugged her tightly to him, Chrissy watched Hell Squad help the rest of the berserkers into the quadcopter.

“Let’s roll, Finn,” Marcus ordered, slamming the door closed.

The Hawk turned on the spot and then flew south-west.

“What’s happening at the airport?” Tane asked, shaking the water out of his hair.

“We heard the alien chatter go haywire, and knew you guys were in trouble,” Marcus said. “We knew we’d need some firepower to help you, especially since you were right under the noses of the largest concentration of fucking aliens in the area.”

Tane tilted his head. “But you couldn’t bring all the squads and risk leaving the Enclave defenseless.”

Marcus nodded. “Squad Nine’s on the other Hawk, and the general couldn’t authorize sending another squad. But, we also needed to keep the fuckload of aliens at the airport busy.”

“Who?” Tane asked.

“Manu demanded Holmes send him and a team of volunteers in.”

Chrissy watched Tane’s face change. It was microscopic, but she thought she saw both worry and pride.

Hemi dropped into a seat, leaning back. “If anyone can make a mess and keep the aliens scrambling, it’s Manu.”

Levi sat in a seat and tugged Chrissy onto his uninjured thigh.

“Your wound?” She tried to get up.

“Hold still. Need to hold you.”

She stilled instantly. “Will Manu be okay?” She knew the former soldier had a prosthetic leg.

Levi nodded. “Toughest man I know. When he lost his leg…it was brutal, but the tough bastard kept fighting all the way back to the Hawk. He’ll be more than okay. He’ll make the Gizzida wish they’d picked a different fucking planet to invade.”

Chrissy relaxed against Levi, her taut body finally realizing they were safe. She sent up a little prayer for Manu, and whoever was with him. Then she breathed in the scent of the man she was in love with, and who was in love with her.

They were alive and safe, and for now, that was enough for her.

* * *

Manu finished setting the last batch of charges under some stacked crates. Swiveling, he jogged back toward the pickup point, trusting his armor’s illusion system and the darkness to keep him hidden from the nearby raptors.

He pushed for more speed. He was almost as fast as he’d been before his prosthetic leg. It was state-of-the-art, stolen by Hemi and Tane when they’d snuck into the city to find it for him. They’d been more upset when he’d lost his leg than he had.

Manu had trained hard on the treadmill to adjust to his different balance, and it had paid off. He lengthened his stride, enjoying being outside.

He lifted his head and saw the Gizzida mothership looming above.

Okay, maybe he wasn’t enjoying being outside as much as he could. Anger—sharp and visceral—cut through his gut.

These motherfuckers had come here to take and destroy. Manu had no idea if his family—his beloved mother—in New Zealand had made it. The Rahia clan had been sprawling and close, and he knew in his heart that not all of them would have made it.

And the bastards had taken his leg. He might have adjusted to life without it, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t lay the blame where it was deserved.

The Gizzida had thought Earth was going to be an easy target. Manu smiled grimly. They’d been wrong.

Ahead, he saw a sagging wire fence and a row of warehouses beyond it.

“Incoming,” he murmured.

“We see you,” the cool female voice in his earpiece replied.

He wondered if that voice ever heated. Did she get angry? Did that voice turn husky when she was turned on?

Not now, Manu.

He quickly scaled the fence, cursing when his prosthetic foot slipped. He paused, adjusted, and kept moving. He dropped down on the other side and ran.

His practiced eye spotted the shimmer that he knew was the camouflaged Hawk. They’d taken a huge fucking risk parking themselves practically on top of the alien mothership, but they’d had no choice.

As he approached, the side door slid open. He saw Captain Kate Scott waving him aboard.

Manu took two steps and jumped. He landed inside the Hawk, wincing when he felt a pain flare up his thigh, where his prosthetic was attached.

Kate slammed the door closed. “Let’s go.”

Manu nodded his thanks, and then turned to the rest of his makeshift team. “Jacob, you ready to set those charges off?”

The young man nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Damn, the boy made Manu feel old. With a small lurch, the Hawk lifted off.

“Then do it,” Manu ordered.

The man lifted his small detonator and thumbed the control. The first explosion made the Hawk rock as they rose higher in the air. Manu leaned against the side door, looking out the small window. Below, he saw the explosion had the raptors scrambling.

A second explosion followed, moments later.

“Bring us around,” Manu called out to the pilot.

The Hawk wheeled around to the left.

Below, the ground rumbled and flared with more explosions, but Manu knew there weren’t many left. It wasn’t enough.

He palmed the specially modified grenades clipped to his belt. They were his own creations. Running the firing range at the Enclave kept him busy, but he always had time on his hands to play. Especially with things that made aliens go boom.

He pulled the door open, the wind rushing into his face.

“What are you doing?” Kate called out.

He lifted a grenade. “Making more of a mess.” He activated the explosive and tossed it over the side.

Manu watched it fall until it was out of sight. One. Two. Three. Four.

Boom.

“Wow.” A young female soldier leaned in from behind Manu. “Those things pack a punch.”

“Sure do. Maddy, fly closer to the mothership.”

The female pilot yelled back, “On it, Manu.”

God, he’d missed this. He thought about his brothers, out there risking their lives. He hoped to hell they were okay, and that he could buy them enough time.

“Berserkers are tough.”

Kate’s voice made him glance up. She wasn’t even looking at him, but she’d clearly read his mood. She was sitting on the cannon beside him, her hands light on the controls.

“They’ll make it,” she said, matter-of-factly. “So, let’s keep these aliens busy so your brothers can get away.”

Hell, yeah. Manu yanked more grenades off his belt, handing one to the soldier hovering behind him. The woman’s eyes lit up as she took it.

They dropped several more and were doing another pass, when projectiles peppered the side of the Hawk.

Fuck. Manu ducked back, cursing under his breath. “Shit, can they see us?”

Kate shook her head. “They’re guessing from the trajectory of the bombs. Sniper.”

Manu had one more grenade in his hand. He leaned out again and tossed it.

More bone-like projectiles slammed into the Hawk. Kate swiveled her cannon, her face intent. “I see him.”

She opened fire. Manu watched the laser arc through the sky seconds before a small building below went up in rubble and flames. He saw the body of a raptor get tossed into the air. Smoke billowed upward. Hell, she was good.

“You got him!” Manu turned his head, looking into cool, blue eyes. “Nice shooting.”

She gave one short nod.

“Oh, God, surface-to-air missiles incoming!” Maddy’s panicked shout from the cockpit. “Everyone hold on!”

The young pilot threw the Hawk into evasive maneuvers. Manu grabbed the side of the door, holding tight. He needed to get the door closed. He reached for the latch, but a second later, the Hawk jerked wildly.

“One rotor’s hit!” Kate yelled.

The Hawk shuddered, tilting to the side.

Manu lost his grip, sliding toward the open door.

Shit. He reached out, trying to grab onto something to stop his slide.

Suddenly, a body slammed into him, knocking him in the opposite direction and back into the Hawk. They hit the floor, Manu on the bottom and Kate on top.

The Hawk leveled out.

“Jacob, get that door closed,” Kate ordered.

“Yes, Captain.”

Kate looked down at Manu. “Are you all right?”

“I am. Thanks to you.”

“Don’t mention it.” Her hands flexed on his chest, like she was about to push off him. Her gaze dropped down, skating down his body.

Manu was suddenly aware of the compact, curvy body under her fatigues. Strong legs were straddling his hips. Manu was a big man, and he’d always liked strength in a woman.

Her gaze lifted and met his. For the briefest second, he saw a flash of heat in the blue before she hid it.

She quickly climbed off him. “Maddy, report?”

“We’re okay,” the pilot called back. “We can make it back to base. And I just got an update from the Enclave. Squad Three made it! They’re on their way back.”

Manu sat up, releasing a breath. Thank God.

His gaze drifted back to the oh-so-capable Captain Scott. That small glimpse of heat had intrigued him.

He’d noticed her before. She was about his age, fit and athletic, and spent a lot of time in the firing range. But she was serious, worked a lot, and kept to herself. She was contained. Usually, Manu had always been attracted to outgoing women with a healthy sense of humor.

But something about the composed captain got to him. And he’d always been a man who liked getting to the bottom of things.

“Let’s go home,” he called out. “We’ve all earned the right to get back and celebrate.”

The volunteers cheered, and the captain studiously avoided looking at him.