Page 12 of Too Guarded to Love (Project VIPER #3)
N ic slammed his locker shut. The flight to headquarters had been uneventful and quick, thank God, but his debrief with Admiral Edgar had taken over an hour. At least he felt more in control now that he’d showered and changed into cargo pants and a T-shirt.
Linc rounded the corner and sat on the long wooden bench between the lockers. Stretching both steel legs VIPER outfitted him with to replace the ones he’d lost when his fighter jet crashed, he pointed to Nic’s face. “Which hit did you take for screwing with Kane’s sister?”
Nic rubbed the freshest bruise on his jaw. “I had no idea who she was, I swear.”
Chris appeared at the end of the short aisle and leaned against the wall. He scratched his chin with his steel hand. “Is that the story you’re sticking to?”
Nic looked up at the Navy SEAL and VIPER’s first recruit. “Yeah, man. I swear I had no clue who she was.”
“Doesn’t matter if you knew it or not. You still got naked with her.”
“We weren’t…”
All the way naked.
He dropped his head as his cock twitched at the thought of what he and Olivia had done, and only half of his clothes had been off.
Imagining what would have happened if they’d been fully nude was a landmine he needed to avoid at all costs.
Jeopardizing his relationship with Kane, hell, with all his VIPER teammates, was a consequence he couldn’t risk.
Any animosity, distrust, or any other negativity that compromised their dynamic could get them killed.
He suppressed a shiver that had nothing to do with the chilly air blowing from the vent above him. “When are Scarlett and Beth, and Hudson, Tessa and the baby due to arrive from New Jersey?”
“Who the hell knows. The sun barely just came up for fuck’s sake and the turnpike should be clear, but a tractor trailer jackknifed and blocked all the lanes.” Chris reached across his chest with his steel and rubbed the back of his shoulder.
Nic’s neck buzzed as if it recognized a fellow nervous tic.
When Chris was uneasy, he rubbed his tattoo honoring his father, who died while rescuing people from the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Kane’s steel leg jittered when he was agitated.
Based on tonight’s events, their nervous tics would be working overtime.
Chris pulled his steel hand from his back and rubbed it over his cropped brown hair. “I told Scarlett this trip was a bad idea. Kane told Beth the same thing, but they convinced us it would be safe.”
“It is safe.” Hudson and Tessa’s beachfront mansion, where Kane and Beth were getting married in a few months, had been tricked out with the highest level of security.
And Dr. Hudson Langley, trauma surgeon and VIPER’s medical support, had saved their asses more than once on a mission, and not just with his medical skills.
Like Gage, who was VIPER support, Hudson had all the limbs he’d been born with. And also like Gage, Hudson was a fierce fighter, even without enhanced strength and V-Strike capabilities. He wouldn’t let his guard down for a second, especially since his baby boy was with them.
“I don’t know why they couldn’t meet with the wedding planner virtually.
But no, they had to meet in person.” Chris rubbed his tattoo again.
“Scarlett thinks it’s overkill that we woke them up in the middle of the night to bring them back here, but I don’t give a fuck, especially with her stepfather still at large after his prison escape.
Or rescue. Or however the hell he managed to free himself. ”
“I’m with you.” Richardson wasn’t just a terrible stepfather; he’d tried to sell Scarlett to terrorists who wanted the knowledge in her genius brain.
Even though it had been almost a year and a half ago, Chris was still recovering from almost losing her.
Kane was still in hyper-protective mode too, after Beth’s abduction by a Mexican drug cartel.
With Scarlett’s stepfather, who had his dirty hands in both situations, still at large, Chris and Kane didn’t want to let their women out of their sight.
Hell, he’d just met Olivia and felt uneasy about not having her close.
“And that’s why I’m never putting a ring on a woman’s finger. Ever.” Linc sliced his hand across his throat like a blade. “Worrying about them is a liability.”
Nic shook off the ominous feeling Linc’s comment stirred and grabbed him from behind in a headlock. With a twist of his wrist, he ground his knuckles into the pilot’s ice-blond spiky hair. “Then you have one less thing to stress about because no sane woman would even date you.”
“Good thing I don’t like them sane.” Linc pushed from Nic and sprang from the bench.
“Since the girls’ planning got cut short, maybe they can start to plan Nic’s wedding when they get back.
” He slapped his hands on his steel thighs.
“Make that a shotgun wedding, with Kane holding the rifle because you compromised his sister’s good name. ”
Nic flinched as if he’d taken a bullet. Flipping Linc the finger, he strode to the exit. “Fuck you, tu hijo de puta. ”
Linc followed. “You’re right. I am the son of a bitch on the team, but you’re the bigger one right about now. Thanks for giving me the night off.”
Chris chuckled behind them as they entered the hallway. The harsh glare from the overhead lights stung Nic’s tired eyes. Why did everything at headquarters have to be so bright and shiny?
Kane strode toward them. He pointed an energy drink at Nic. “Face hurt?”
“Yes. How’s Gran?”
“Stable. She’s getting another brain scan now.” His leg jittered underneath him. He clamped his hand on his thigh. “I know we have the best neurologist in the world here, but…”
VIPER did have the best of every kind of doctor at MedLab.
The medical facility housed within VIPER’s headquarters operated like a hospital.
Their steel limbs had been attached in the surgical suite.
Not even a half hour ago, Dr. Patience Fairbanks, the surgeon who performed the groundbreaking surgeries, had removed the bullet embedded in the steel part of his shoulder and cursed the sniper who dared damage her handiwork.
But neither Gran nor Olivia belonged in MedLab. They shouldn’t even be in VIPER headquarters, but here they were, in the underbelly of the nation’s deadliest fighting force. Apparently, exceptions were made for family, and thank God for that.
“What the hell happened tonight?” Admiral Edgar, VIPER’s director, strode out of his office. The president of the United States followed.
Nic snapped to attention. His brothers did the same. “Mr. President.”
Even though the nation’s leader looked like a grandfather in his jeans, Naval Academy sweatshirt, and full head of wavy silver hair, he exuded a quiet confidence that didn’t come from just being the most powerful man in the world.
Unlike the president, who looked like he was on his way to a football game, Admiral Edgar appeared ready for a showdown at high noon in a Western flannel shirt and jeans, cowboy boots, and a handlebar mustache. Like the president, he didn’t need a suit or a uniform to command respect.
President Bradley nodded to each of them. “We were in the middle of a game of pool when we got a call about what happened.” He glanced at Edgar. “I was ahead.”
“We haven’t been able to finish a game since you got elected, so don’t declare yourself the winner yet.” Edgar backed into his office. “I need caffeine before we tackle this clusterfuck.”
“Ignore him. He’s always been a sore loser.” President Bradley stepped to Nic and shook his hand. “I understand you’ve had quite a night. Good work keeping Olivia safe.”
“Thank you, Mr. President.” Nic grit his teeth. He liked and admired Bradley but talking to the team about his suspicions surrounding Stella’s murder, and how Olivia may or may not fit into it, had him apprehensive enough. Now the leader of the free world would be listening.
The president moved on to Kane. “Son, I’m so sorry. Gran and your sister are in our prayers.” He clasped Kane on the shoulder. “We’ll get to the bottom of this and find the bastards.”
Kane set his jaw. “Yes, Mr. President. We will. Thank you for your support.”
The president stepped back. “And thanks to all of you for the daring rescue the other day, and I don’t just mean for the boost in my approval ratings since the hostages were ‘released.’” He held up his hands and air-quoted the last word.
Nic accepted the praise with a nod. Only a handful of people in the Department of Defense knew the group of aid workers being held as concubines had been extracted by force.
The president looked at Linc. “I heard that was some superior flying you did to get everyone out safely. Want to ditch these guys and fly Marine One?”
Linc chuckled. “Not on your life, Mr. President.”
“Had to give it a shot.”
Admiral Edgar emerged from his office. He tipped a cup of coffee at the president with one hand and smoothed his shirt with the other. “Stop trying to steal my men, you buffoon.” He strode ahead of the group toward the elevator.
As if on cue, Ryan Bradley, the president’s nephew and VIPER’s chief information security officer, loped out of his office across the hall.
Even though Ryan didn’t have any voodoo-magic-imbued steel, Nic gave him superhero props for his hacking skills.
The former cybersecurity professor, who had served time in the military, looked like he should be leading peace rallies instead of working for the world’s deadliest fighting force.
He was also damn good in the sparring ring and with a gun.
Ryan fell into step next to Edgar and passed around folders with the VIPER logo embossed at the top.
Nic opened the file. His stomach flipped as a photo of Olivia met his gaze.