Connor stood. “And if Hugh is a problem?”
“Shoot him,” Deke said absently.
Hugh coughed. Wonderful. He was going to work with these people?
Connor moved for the door. “Everyone needs to be properly suited up. Satellite phone, weapons, and protective gear. I have everything ready in the armory.”
Hugh kept his face blank. Protective gear? Something told him that didn’t mean condoms.
Just what the hell had he gotten involved in?
Chapter Four
I have a job to do. Now isn’t the time for romance. No matter how wide his chest or tight his butt.
—Dr. Eleanor Smithers, Brigade Notes that nobody will ever see
The nuclear power plant in Arizona consisted of multiple buildings, parking areas, and round structures releasing tons of what looked like steam into the very blue sky.
Ellie kept her gaze off Hugh as they waited for the security guard to finish checking their credentials. Okay. One peek.
Yeah. He looked like a badass with a gun strapped to his thigh and a Homeland Security jacket covering a bulletproof vest which spanned a very broad chest. Even more intriguing, he appeared perfectly comfortable with both.
The plane ride had been silent, with all three of them working away on laptops, trying to find credible threats. When they’d arrived, Connor had tossed gloves at them both. The bacteria survived on surfaces, at least for now, so gloves were needed any time they left a secure facility.
Then the ride in had showed so much devastation already. She swallowed. The streets were empty and several stores already boarded up. The world was hiding from Scorpius.
The guard, an older man with a handlebar mustache, finally allowed them through the door.
Connor lifted his phone to his ear and paused, his face revealing nothing. “Got it. Thanks.” He clicked off. “Denver has been quarantined.”
“Denver?” Hugh coughed. “The entire city?”
“Yes. Scorpius is taking it out quickly,” Connor said, turning away. “All right, experts. Where do we go from here?”
“I’m going to the control room,” Ellie said, hefting her laptop over her shoulder.
Hugh nodded. “I want to see the pools, and Connor, how about you check security? Look for problems.”
Connor nodded. “Good enough. Remember you’re armed for a reason. Scorpius survivors, some of them anyway, go crazy. Really crazy. Something about the bacteria localizing in the brain and stripping empathy. They might try to bite and infect you.” He paused, looking them both over. “I didn’t even ask. Know how to shoot?”
Hugh rolled his eyes. “I work for Homeland, buddy. And I grew up in the hills of Kentucky, hunting with my brothers. I can shoot.” He swallowed and looked at Ellie, his gaze darkening. “But one of us should stay with her.”
How sweet. She shook her head. “I’ve worked for the government for ten years, Hugh. I can outshoot you.” Sure, she’d never actually shot a person, but she’d bet her bottom dollar that neither had he. “Let’s get to work.”
The security guard led her to the main computer room, and she kept an eye out the entire way, kind of wishing Hugh had stayed with her. Her body was warmer in his presence. Always had been. Man, she had to get over this childhood crush she’d had on him. College crush. Whatever. Same thing.
The room held several computer consoles on a metal desk. Beyond the desk was a wide window that looked out on a bunch of equipment. The place smelled of cleanser and metal, and quiet permeated the day.
One lone guy looked up from a computer, his eyes bloodshot, his blond hair slicked back. “Thank God. Reinforcements.” His smile lifted pale skin.
“You have a lot of people out sick?” she asked, setting her bag down at a console.
He nodded. “Yeah. About fifty plant-wide. We’ve disinfected the place like crazy, but you’re smart to wear gloves. My name is Lew Jordan.”
“Ellie Smithers.” She reached for cords to plug in. “I’m a security specialist.”
“Sounds good.” He turned back to his monitors. “I’m on break in an hour, but if you need anything until then, you just let me know.”
