The Protectors Series Bundle (A superhero romance anthology) (31 page)

“Let me go, Jansen.”

“I’ll let you go when you get fucking sense. You fucked the enemy. Who the hell are you? The Symone I know wouldn’t betray us like that.”

Garrett was losing strength. He knew it, but he had to do something. Remembering the way she’d curved into him for those brief moments, seeking heat and solace, he had to do something. Screw what Cassie Reeser and her merry band of super soldiers would do to him after. He threw himself in the general direction of the tense pair, but he didn’t make if far before Jansen turned on him, landing a punch on Garrett’s temple that had him seeing grey around the edges. He stayed conscious just long enough to hear Symone scream, “No!” Then something bright and hot flashed in the room, and the soldier flew back, landing on his ass.

Chapter Thirteen

Symone positioned herself between her friends and Garrett. She would not let them get their hands on him.

A sharp whistle brought everyone to a halt. “Everybody cool it.” At first the words were muffled, but then Cassie popped her head out from under Seth’s arm and shouted again. “I said, everybody cool it. Stay right where you are. If you don’t listen, I’ll have to do things the hard way, and no one wants that.” She shoved Seth. He didn’t budge. “Let me go, you big oaf, I’m perfectly safe.”

Symone’s eyes stayed on Jansen. He still twitched on the floor, but he was conscious. What had she done? That touch should have only made him drop to his knees. She’d never been powerful enough to throw anybody with a mere touch.

Reaching into her back pocket, she pulled out her gloves. She slipped them on one by one and folded her arms across her chest. “Jansen, shit, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—that never should have—Fuck. I’m sorry.”

Lisa approached Jansen’s downed form and glanced at Cassie. “You mind if I treat him?”

Cassie finally wiggled herself out from Seth’s grip. “No. Of course not. The rest of you, chill.”

A couple of the guys didn’t look like they felt inclined to comply, but they backed off and found wall space to lean against. Tension still swirled around them, but the angry, pissed off energy dissipated. Symone found her way back to the fireplace and kept her trap shut.

Cassie’s voice was calm. “Symone, I realize you have a connection to Garrett and that touching him doesn’t affect him quite the same way it does everyone else.” She slid Garrett a glance. “I assume you read him, have some of his memories?”

Symone nodded. “He’s telling the truth about all of it. Symcore started a program with your brother after you started showing signs of progress with a small group of soldiers. Garrett was part of the pilot program. But most of Peter’s soldiers were past the prime age group so he needs a sample group. Peter wants us back.” She indicated the rest of the room. “I don’t know what for. But we can probably bet I’m not the only one they’re after.” She leveled a gaze at Cassie. “Now would probably be a good time to call Jared home.”

Symone let out a sigh of relief as Garrettbegan to stir. Cassie chewed on her bottom lip as she turned her attention to the still hovering Garrett. His body was closer to the floor now, but he still looked awkward suspended in mid-air. “So what’s the play now? Are they expecting to hear from you? When do you have to report in?”

As Garrett spoke, he didn’t take his eyes off Symone. “I normally report in every two days. Last communication was last night. When I didn’t rendezvous, they sent others after me. I have to go back though. He has my brother.”

Cassie blew her bangs out of her face. “Fantastic.”

Another pang ripped through Symone as she was reminded that he’d chosen her life over flesh and blood. “We need to shut Peter down, Cass. He’ll just keep coming. And not just after me, but the others too. Alex, Morgan.” Symone shook her head. “We’re not safe while he’s out there. I don’t know how he found me, but it won’t be long before they find Jared for sure if he’s out on his own.” She glanced at Garrett, whose deep set eyes bored through her to her soul. “He saved my life. I owe him one. We should help him get his brother back. It’s a good shot at taking Peter out for good.”

Cassie glanced up at Garrett. “So, what do you suggest we do with him?”

Symone frowned. “He can be an asset. You can tell better than I can that he’s telling the truth. The only thing I worry about is if Peter’s manipulating him some way.”

Cassie stared at Garrett, and by the look on her friend’s face, Symone got the impression something was supposed to be happening. After a moment or two, Cassie shook her head. “I can’t let you just walk out of here.” She slid a glance in Symone’s direction. “Supposed ally or not, you’re still one of his men. They’ll come looking for you eventually. If not to rescue you, then to kill you. And you can be sure he’ll get our location out of you before he does.”

Garrett finally drifted to the bed and shut his eyes as he exhaled. Symone hoped the pain was abating. His voice still sounded hoarse when he spoke though. “So what? You’re going to keep me tied up in the basement forever?”

“I can try and wipe the memory of Symone and this place from your mind. But I’ll need your permission to do so. Otherwise it’ll be too unpleasant for both of us.”

His memories? Symone darted a glance at him before studiously fixing her gaze on the frayed corner of the rug. She set her jaw and slumped her shoulders. She knew the despair was futile, but she couldn’t help the rush of it.

“And by wipe my memory, you mean, I won’t remember coming here. Won’t remember Symone?”

Cassie nodded. “I can try and erase your past with the Trackers if you want, but they’ll come for you one day, and I don’t want you caught unawares. It’ll be a death sentence. And you need to go back for your brother. You’re telling the truth from what I can see, but I cannot risk my team to help you.”

“And what if neither of those options sounds good to me? You going to force my hand?”

Cassie stopped leaning against the desk and rose to her full height of five feet. “I can’t force you, but you know that every minute you’re here puts Symone in danger, puts us all in danger. Would you rather have her killed?”

Garrett set his jaw. “Fuck no. But she had a point. I know the location of the compound where the team last was. You could strike. We could strike. Neutralize the threat. I’m not running. But I don’t want Symone in danger. The rest of you…” He smirked down at Jansen. “Are not my concern. But I need help getting my brother out.” He exhaled. “He’s just a kid. Not much older than some of you when you were taken. I can’t just leave him there with that nut job.”

Jansen used his still trembling hands to push himself into a sitting position. “Cass, it’s a trap. You know he can’t be trusted. He’s trying to get us all killed.”

Cassie and Seth stared at each other for a full minute. Symone knew them well enough to know they were having a full-fledged conversation.

When Cassie spoke again, she addressed Garrett. “Can you get us close enough to Peter to neutralize him?”

Garrett nodded, still holding his head. “I can do you one better. I can give you the tool he’s using to find you.”

Chapter Fourteen

Symone joined the rest of the team on the expansive lawn of the house. When she saw Garrett’s cat-like stride making his way up the hill, she narrowed her gaze. “Just where the hell do you think you’re going Mr. I-believe-I-can-fly? New powers mean you’re a liability. We’ll handle it.”

He grinned. “Over my dead body you’re going in, and I’m not.” He shrugged. “Besides, it’s not your call.” He moved around her, and she hurried to catch up. She wasn’t small, but his legs had several inches on hers. The swagger in his step had her gnashing her teeth. Overgrown brute really did think he was superman. Though, given the new wings, he was pretty darn close.

The moment Symone caught sight of Cassie, she tried to talk her out of her decision. She didn’t need any emotional entanglements following her around. She needed time to process everything that had happened in the last day and a half, but she couldn’t process with Garrett always watching her, his eyes tracking her every move. How the hell hadn’t she realized she was being followed?

“Cassie, you can’t let him come. He’ll only get in the way.”

“You are so sweet to worry about me, darling,” he drawled. “But I’m a big boy.”

When they met up with the others, Jansen handed out weapons of choice. Cassie never took one. She usually didn’t need one with the telekinesis. Seth selected a Glock. Morgan grabbed a nasty looking hunting knife and several throwing knifes. Alex shook his head and snickered. “What’s the line from that Tarantino film?. ‘You know what happens to people who carry knives?’”

Morgan smirked. “Yeah, they got their opponents.”

Alex shook his head. “Nope. I’m pretty sure it’s like that saying about bringing a knife to a gun fight. When are you going to graduate to the big leagues?” He picked up another gun and shoved them both in the holsters.

“I don’t need guns if they can’t see me coming.”

While the two of them bickered, Jansen kept handing out weapons to the rest of the crew. The young ones were staying behind with Lisa.

Symone pulled Cassie aside. “You can’t let him fight. His powers can be unstable. You remember how Seth was. This is suicide if he goes.”

Cassie’s expression was gentle. “I’m glad to see you giving a damn, Symone. It looks good on you.”

Symone sneered in response.

“But Garrett’s not one of mine. I can’t tell him what to do. And as he reminded me, he’s a grown man. Not to mention, he’s not like Seth. Seth was a normal human. It took some time adjusting to the new powers. Garrett’s already a Tracker. He burned, but only for a short time. Already he looks more agile than when you brought him in.”

“You know what? Let’s take Jeremy. His telekinesis and pyrotechnics will more than make up numbers.”

Cassie shook her head. “There’s no way I’m potentially handing Peter a nice young victim. Anything goes south, the youngest ones will be protected. I’m not taking chances with their freedom.”

Cassie had a point, but it didn’t make Symone any happier. She glared at Garrett over Cassie’s shoulder.

Cassie then turned her attention to Garrett. “We have the map. Is there anything else you can tell us about Peter’s enhancer?”

Garrett shook his head. “Just what I’ve told you already. It’s kept in the safe of his office. Upstairs, north corner of the house. Last I was there, it’s not guarded, but has three industrial deadbolts on the door. The safe will also give you problems.”

“Not me.” Morgan piped up and grinned. “If Peter ever did anything good, he turned me into an excellent thief. Trained me himself. It’ll be nice to pay him back for the favor.”

Garrett nodded at Morgan, then smiled at Symone. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, sweetheart.” He sauntered over with knives in their sheaths and a gun on in his holster.

“I though Jansen didn’t have a weapon for you.”

“Lucky for me, he’s not calling the shots. Otherwise, I’d have been target practice for your guys.” He slid a glance over the group. Garrett lowered his voice to a pitch only Symone could hear. “You know, we should probably talk about what happened.”

A chill ran up her spine, followed by the slow melt of her insides. That was not a conversation she wanted to have. “Nothing to talk about.” She shook her head. “I was out of order with Jansen, but he had a point. I never should have—”

“Fuck Jansen and what he thinks. I was talking about what happened between us. I can smell you—you want me. Shit, everyone else can smell it too. When are you going to admit it to yourself?”

She might want him, but there would come that inevitable time when he didn’t want her. She hoped she wouldn’t be around for that.

Chapter Fifteen

Symone held on tight to Garrett’s hand as the seven of them landed on the other side of Alex’s wormhole. The transport holes Alex could open were somewhat unstable, and the landings were almost always rocky. Not to mention, if they all held on to each other, it made it easier for Morgan to cloak them all.

The warmth of his hand reassured her, even though they were in the enemy’s camp. As if he alone could protect her from Peter.

Garrett indicated the guard shacks next to the house. He muttered under his breath, so soft a normal human would have thought it was the breeze. “There are two guards per each shack. In the main house, there will be ten soldiers and five training underground. Remember what you want is actually in the first guard shack—at least it was there two weeks ago. Reaper moves it around usually about once a month. If the enhancer isn’t there, then it’ll be in the main house, and that will be a little trickier.”

“Good thing my specialty is tricky,” Morgan said, letting go of Symone’s other hand.

As they made it to the tree line for cover, Cassie’s voice was full of steel. “Remember, don’t kill anyone unless you have to. Better to let me try and wipe them than to kill them.”

Seth’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing. Instead, he tapped Morgan on the shoulder. “You’re up. Try and keep it clean.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right, right, don’t kill anybody.” She grinned. You didn’t say anything about maiming.”

Morgan and her pale blonde hair and sassy grin slipped into the darkness and became invisible to their eyes. When she reached her position, their ear coms all went off. “War bird in position. Proceeding to mark.”