Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Greer
W ith my hands on my hips, I stood on the dam wall, watching my team work.
Sunshine filled the morning, as if the storm had never happened. My chest squeezed. But we all knew that Travis and Sam were gone. A pall hung over the worksite.
I let out a breath and my gaze moved to the water. Today, it was as smooth as glass. Not a single ripple.
There had been no sign of the monster so far, and I hoped it stayed that way.
My gaze shifted. North and Zeke stood nearby, carbines resting in their arms. They were watching the water with a scary intensity while they murmured to each other. Keeping my team safe.
Jameson was inside with Marc and Kai. They were planning how to take down the monster.
Jameson . That kiss.
It was all I could think about. I’d slept like crap. Yes, a part of it was because of grief and worry, and a part of it because of that kiss. It had been more than I’d imagined. Hot, fierce, passionate. And I’d imagined a lot when it came to Jameson. I touched my lips.
The kiss had been incredible.
Then he’d backed away like I was a monster.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead. Focus on your job, Greer.
I’d been to see Frankie in the infirmary. She was doing better. Too busy flirting with North to apparently be concerned about her health. I smiled. Frankie loved to flirt.
She’d teased me about Jameson, since she was well-versed on my crush. But today, I wasn’t in the mood.
He’d rejected me.
And it hurt.
Hell, it hurt more than breaking up with Toby. He’d never understood me, or my need to work.
Jameson did, but he clearly didn’t want me the same way I wanted him.
“Greer?”
The female voice made me turn. I spotted a short, slim redhead heading my way. She wore dark cargo pants and an olive-green T-shirt, and walked with a brisk stride, like she was in a rush. She’d walked like that when she’d been a little girl too.
I grinned. “Hey, Colbie.”
We hugged. The light shone off her brilliant-red hair. She was tiny, compared to me. I always thought she looked like a sweet, delicate fairy, but she could drink most of the guys under the table. She also had a big laugh and a strong personality. No one got the better of Colbie Erickson.
“Were you okay last night?” I asked. “Sleeping in the quadcopter?”
“Yep. The Talon and I bedded down in town.”
I’d been into the old town of Warragamba. There wasn’t much left. “The ruins are kinda spooky.”
Both of us glanced toward the wreckage of Warragamba. I knew that it had once been a bustling little place before the invasion.
“Thanks to Maxim, the Talon has a wicked security system,” Colbie said. “If a fly even touches it, bam , it gets zapped with a gazillion volts.”
I laughed. “Deadly.”
“Yeah, I love my Talon. Sleek, sexy, dangerous. Better than a guy. And less annoying.”
“How are you doing, hanging with Hunter Squad?”
“Great. I keep them in line.” Then Colbie’s face turned serious. “We do important work. Doing our bit to keep the world safe.”
I nodded. I understood that and I’d gotten a firsthand look at it yesterday.
Colbie bounced a little, turning to look at the dam wall. “And you’re going to keep us in clean drinking water.”
“That’s the plan. If we can solve our monster problem.”
“Oh, Jameson will sort out the monster.” Colbie waved a hand. “That’s what he’s good at.”
“Yeah.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, once again thinking of that kiss.
Colbie’s gaze narrowed. “Are you blushing?”
“I don’t blush. Have you met my mom? Claudia Baird does not blush, nor does her daughter.”
Colbie stroked her chin. “I’m sensing something. Reminds me of that time we stole those cupcakes from your mom’s kitchen, snuck into the backyard, and ate them all.”
“We were six.”
“Your mom busted us, and you had the same look on your face.”
I bit my lip. “I…”
“Don’t lie to me, girlfriend.”
“Jameson and I kissed.” The words rushed out of me.
“ Oh .” Colbie’s eyes went wide. “ Finally .”
I frowned. “What do you mean finally?”
The pilot waved a hand. “Go on. Tell me everything.”
“We kissed. He pinned me to the wall.”
“Oh, boy.” Colbie fanned herself. “Keep going. I haven’t had sex in so long, and this is as close as I’ve come.”
“It was amazing.”
“I figured it would be. Jameson’s just got this focus, you know? And all those muscles.”
I frowned. I wasn’t sure I liked Colbie noticing Jameson’s muscles.
“Don’t leave me hanging, Greer.”
“He kissed me, then… He pulled away like I was toxic, and he apologized.”
Colbie winced. “Not the ending I was hoping for.”
I sighed. “Me neither.”
She touched my arm. “Girl, he’s a leader. So, he’s big into responsibility. He sacrifices his own needs for the good of others every day. Both his squad and the people he saves. Plus, you two grew up together. He feels a family obligation. And, he’s probably worried your father will get out his sniper rifle.”
I gave her a sad smile. “If he really wanted me, if he really felt something, nothing would stop him.” I straightened my shoulders. “Anyway, enough of this. I want a guy who is crazy about me. Who’ll jump through fire for me, no compromising.”
Colbie’s lips quirked and she nodded. “Hell, yeah. We all deserve that.”
“Now, I’m going to check in and see what plans they have for this monster.”
“I’ll join you.”
We headed inside. I felt better after our little chat. Focused. Work was all I needed to care about right now.
The air was cooler in the base and goosebumps pimpled my skin. We turned a corner, and my gaze instantly snapped to Jameson. He was leaning over a table, and wearing a black shirt that clung to his muscled chest.
My insides felt like they’d been hit by a blowtorch. His short sleeves displayed his huge biceps in all their glory. My belly fluttered.
Oh, man.
Beside me, Colbie giggled. “Girl, you are in trouble.”
“Shut up.” I raised my voice. “How’s it coming?”
Jameson’s head jerked up and his hazel gaze locked on me. I kept my face friendly and professional.
Or at least, I hoped I did.
“We have some ideas.” Marc’s gaze locked on Colbie. “Hey, sparrow.”
She pulled a face. “Don’t call me that.”
“But you’re as cute as a sparrow and you like to fly.”
I hid my laugh at Colbie’s disgruntled face. “So, you have a plan?” I wanted to change the subject before Colbie committed an act of violence.
“Our best idea is to kill it,” Marc said.
“Brilliant,” Colbie said. “How long did it take you to come up with that plan?”
“Shut it, little sparrow.” He winked at her. “I suggested we blow it up.”
“No,” I said. “That will contaminate the water.”
“That’s what the boss man said, too.”
I looked at Jameson. “You have a better idea?”
He nodded. “Electrocute it.”
Colbie nodded slowly. “Nice.”
“We need Maxim,” Jameson said.
Maxim Ivanov had a genius IQ, and kept Hunter Squad in gadgets and tech. I knew he also helped out our engineers here and there on different projects, when we needed his expertise.
If anyone could come up with something to electrocute a giant monster, it was him.
“Sasha, did you get all of that?” Jameson said. “Can you tell Maxim to have his gear ready?”
I couldn’t hear the comms officer’s response, but then Jameson nodded and looked at his pilot.
“Colbie, can you go and get him?”
She tossed him a salute. “Yes, boss.”
Jameson
I walked along the dam wall, my gaze on the water.
A few birds arrowed down, diving for fish, before flying back into the sky. Nothing was concerning them, but I knew the monster wouldn’t be far away. It was intent on attacking the dam wall and eating the workers.
Greer’s team was working on the wall, but staying as far from the water as possible. Several of them were wearing exo-suits, lifting blocks into place to reinforce the wall, but I found her instantly. The sunlight gleamed off her hair. She was talking to one of her guys. Then she smiled and laughed.
My gut clenched.
She’d been ignoring me today. Giving me polite looks, or sometimes looking right through me.
It’s your own damn fault.
I’d kissed her. Devoured her.
I should never have touched her. If Uncle Shaw found out… Worse, if Aunt Claudia found out…
My hand flexed. I walked to the far end of the wall, my carbine slung over my shoulder, ready if I needed it.
I had to keep my hands off Greer.
But I couldn’t stop reliving that damn kiss. The feel of her pinned between me and the wall, her sweet body rubbing against mine.
“You’re deep in thought.”
Kai’s voice made me jerk. Damn, the man could be quiet when he wanted to be. “Thinking about the monster.”
He made a sound. “Thinking about monsters makes you hard?”
I glanced down at the tented front of my cargo pants. I growled. “Why are you checking out my junk?”
“I wasn’t. I’m just observant.” Kai ran his tongue over his teeth. “My guess is you’re thinking about Greer.”
I speared my friend with a look.
“If you think how you feel about her is a secret, you’re sorely mistaken, my friend.”
Heaving out a breath, I shoved a hand through my hair. “It’ll pass.”
Kai snorted. “You’ve been pining for her for years.”
“I have not.”
“Jameson, Greer is awesome. Smart, attractive…ask her out.”
I looked back at the water. “We kissed.”
“Finally.”
I shook my head. “No. She’s family. I’m older than her and I’m not smart enough for her. She deserves?—”
“That’s bullshit, Jameson. Some of those things you need to navigate, but it doesn’t make anything impossible. And you’re plenty smart. Best squad leader I’ve ever served with.”
“He’s right.”
When Sasha’s voice joined in via my earpiece, I rolled my eyes to the sky. “This is not up for discussion.”
“If you like her, show her,” Sasha said. “Show her that she’s worth it.”
“I kissed her, then I apologized. It’s not happening again.”
Sasha groaned. “You’re an idiot.”
I scowled. “Just drop it, you two.” I touched my earpiece and cut Sasha’s feed.
Kai held up his hands. “All right. Go back to the pining.”
“Can you go and check on North?” I growled.
“Fine.”
I stayed there, staring blindly at the water and trees. Greer wasn’t for me.
Splash .
I spun, muscles tensing. I saw ripples in the water. Maybe it had just been a fish?
No . My gut was telling me our unwanted friend was back. I scanned across the dam and spotted movement.
“Everyone back from the water,” I bellowed.
Greer and the others jolted, then scrambled away.
A tentacle rose up. I whipped my carbine up. A second later, Zeke was beside me.
The tentacle crept out onto the dam wall, feeling its way along the concrete.
“Jameson?” Zeke murmured.
“Don’t fire yet.” I touched my ear. “Sasha, we have contact with the monster. Tell Kai to get the drone in the air. I want you monitoring the feed.”
“On it, J,” she replied.
A moment later, I heard the whirr of the drone as it whipped by overhead. The creature was swimming along the wall.
“It’s just…looking,” Zeke said.
It was after something.
I got the feeling it was smarter than we gave it credit for. I’d learned never to underestimate the monsters. Some were mindless and ravenous, others… Others were smart and cunning.
“What’s it doing?” Greer’s voice behind me.
“I’m not sure. It’s just looking around.”
“Why?”
“We’re going to find out. Stay behind me.”
“Well, I wasn’t going to take a swim,” she said tartly.
Zeke snorted, and I shot him a look.
More ripples appeared in the water.
“It’s leaving,” Zeke said.
It was swimming away from the dam wall. I walked to the edge of the wall. It was moving fast and picking up speed.
I turned and ran along toward the far end of the wall, heading to the far bank. I leaped off and onto the grass. Zeke was right behind me.
“Let’s see where it goes.”
He nodded and followed.
I touched my ear. “Kai, Zeke and I will see where this thing is going. Keep an eye on the dam.”
“Acknowledged,” Kai said over the comm line.
Then Greer leaped off the wall as well.
I frowned at her and held up a hand. “You stay here.”
She lifted her chin. “No, I’m coming.” She marched forward, and that’s when I saw her hand on the blaster holstered on her belt.
Damn, she was stubborn. I knew there was no point in arguing. “Then stay between Zeke and me. No arguments.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, but finally she nodded.
The three of us set off through the trees, sticking to the edge of the water. I could see the bulk of the monster just beneath the surface. Where was it going? Did it have a lair nearby?
Then it sank down into the water and out of sight
“Dammit.”
“Jameson.” Sasha’s voice in my earpiece. “I still have a visual. It’s continuing along in the water, about three hundred meters ahead of you.”
I nodded at the others and broke into a jog. “Come on.”
The trees were lush, and the birds in the trees were singing. I breathed in, pulling in the fresh scent of eucalyptus. I tried to imagine what the bush had been like before the invasion. When you could go hiking without fear of monsters.
“It stopped,” Sasha said. “I’ve lost sight of it. It’s right near the bank, and the trees are too thick. I think it might have left the water. I’m not sure what it’s doing.”
“Acknowledged.”
We kept running. Zeke moved silently—the guy could move like a ghost. Greer wasn’t silent, but she was managing to keep up.
The trees thinned out and the water came back into view. We were just in time to see tentacles sliding back into the water.
“It’s gone,” Greer said.
On the shore was a large patch of flattened grass and some crushed wildflowers.
“It came out of the water.” Zeke walked forward, frowning.
Suddenly a tentacle speared out of the water, aiming for us.
In an instant, Zeke and I had our carbines up. We fired.
The tentacle went wild, trying to dodge the laser fire, then slid back into the water.
“Jameson, I see it now,” Sasha said. “It’s moving away from your location.”
I blew out a breath, spotting the drone arrowing out across the dam. “Thanks, Sash.” I looked at the others. “It’s gone.” I walked over to where it had been lying.
Why the hell had it come on to land? “I have no idea what it was doing.”
“Maybe it attacked an animal?” Greer suggested.
Zeke crouched, touching the grass. “Jameson.”
I walked over, and what I saw made my gut clench.
“What is it?” Greer’s arm brushed mine.
I had to fight to lock down the sensation. “Footprints.” I pointed.
The footprints were clearly made by monsters with five claws on their toes.
Ones that walked upright.
“Monster prints.” Her brow creased. “I don’t understand.”
A cold feeling seeped into my chest. “The aquatic monster met other monsters here.”
Her mouth dropped open. “No. That can’t be right.”
I glanced at the water. “The monsters were meeting.”