Dak strode into the Ops Center, barely sparing a glance at all the freestanding, clear comp screens, and the people working at them.
He’d been to check on his dead security officer. A bitter taste filled his mouth. O’Brien had been a good man, with a young wife who was now devastated.
The major general stood beside a light table and lifted her head. She nodded, her mouth pressed into a firm line.
Major General Michaela Marshall was an impressive woman. In her early fifties, she had a curvy body, dark skin, and black hair that she always ruthlessly styled into a bob around her strong face. She’d had a successful military career before taking control of Groom Lake Base in the confusion of the alien invasion, and relentlessly protected every human survivor she’d found.
Dak respected the hell out of her. Michaela’s kids were impressive too. Her son was in charge of Medical, and her daughter was an officer with the Intelligence Team.
“What have you got?” he asked.
“I’m sorry about the loss of your patrol officer, Dak.”
He dragged in a breath and managed a nod.
Dark eyes studied him. “How’s your injury?”
“It’s fine.”
The major general sighed. “It’s okay to have a reaction.”
“This base and its people don’t want to see us down and weak,” he said.
“Emotion isn’t a weakness, Dak. You care, and it’s okay to show it.”
“What have you got?” he repeated.
With a sigh, she turned. “Show us the images, please.”
The freestanding screen closest to them flashed and images appeared. Dak stepped closer. They were blurry, taken from a high altitude, but he saw water. A lake. He also saw a road with a rusted, overturned car on it. Some human had no doubt been chased by the aliens at some point.
Then he saw the Gizzida vehicles.
Big and rugged, the vehicles had spikes along them, making them look like dinosaurs. One was towing a long, black trailer.
He tensed. “Is that—?”
“Zoom in,” Michaela ordered.
The image zoomed in and Dak’s gut hardened. It wasn’t the best resolution, but he could make out the black octagon shape on the trailer.
“The bomb.” He looked at Michaela. “Where is this?”
“Near Lake Mead.”
“And the location of the device now?”
“We aren’t exactly sure. The drone team only found these images well after the aliens traveled through this point. This convoy was headed along this old road—”
“Where do you think they took it?”
The major general eyed him. “I think they took it to Hoover Dam. It looks like there’s a large contingent of aliens holed up in the dam.”
New drone footage flickered up on the screen.
The main dam wall was still intact. Dak knew that it had been engineered to last centuries, even without humans maintaining it. He suspected the turbines inside were no longer working, and in the images, he saw that the arch bridge across the Colorado River had been blown up. It was now just a broken ruin.
Lots of alien vehicles and equipment were parked by the dam buildings and at the old Visitor Center, and also across on top of the dam wall.
It burned him that the aliens were there, in that piece of iconic human engineering.
“We have some additional intel,” a man at the next comp screen said.
Dak turned to the older man. He had a solemn face, and his long, black hair pulled back in a ponytail at the base of his neck. Will Spears, part of the Paiute tribe, was a key member of the Intel team.
“We have numbers and movements of the raptors at the dam,” Will said. “They’ve increased raptor patrols in that area.”
“Then that’s likely where they took the bomb.” Dak crossed his arms over his chest. “We have to confirm that it’s there.”
Will frowned. “It’s impossible to get in there.”
“Have you got schematics? Anyone who’s been inside?”
Michaela shook her head. “We haven’t been able to find any recent schematics. There were extensive renovations to the structure about five years before the invasion. A few base residents have done the public tours there.”
Dak cursed. “We need someone who’s been behind the scenes, not just in the public areas.”
“Records show that we have someone in base who worked there,” Will said. “A newcomer who was a police officer in Las Vegas. She did a stint at the dam as part of her training.”
Dak’s gut curdled. There was only one person he could think of who fit that description. He could still taste her on his tongue.
Guilt was like a rusty knife. Guilt about O’Brien, guilt for rushing out on Naomi.
“I asked her to join us,” Michaela said.
The doors to the Ops Center opened and Naomi walked in. She was dressed in jeans, her dark hair braided.
She glanced at him, then looked away. “Major General.”
Dak wanted her to look at him, but she kept her gaze firmly on Michaela.
“Thanks for coming, Ms. Silver.”
“Naomi, please.”
Michaela nodded. “We need your help. What we’re about to tell you is top secret.”
Naomi nodded.
The major general launched into an explanation about the octagon bombs, and Dak watched horror bloom on Naomi’s face.
“There are three of them?” she asked.
Michaela nodded. “Our allies in Australia have located one. And one had been spotted in the desert around here. We have finally spotted it again, and we believe the Gizzida are keeping it at Hoover Dam.”
Understanding flared in Naomi’s eyes. “I was stationed there. I know it inside and out.”
“Miss Silver is still in training,” Dak said. “Sending her out on a mission is risky.”
Michaela frowned. “But she’s a former police officer—”
“She’d only just graduated before the invasion.”
Naomi glared at him. “I can get into Hoover Dam and confirm that the bomb is there.”
No. Dak’s hands curled into fists. He didn’t want her out there, in danger.
“Good,” Michaela said. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
“She’s not going in alone,” Dak said, between gritted teeth.
The major general smiled, as though they’d all done exactly what she wanted. “I agree. You’ll both go in, infiltrate the dam, and find that bomb.”
Naomi stomped into the Groom Lake Armory. The place was super high-tech, and she usually loved being in there. Nearby, several soldiers were firing various weapons at laser targets.
But today, she was annoyed.
Dak Vaughn had her twisted up like a pretzel.
First, he’d worried her by getting injured. Then he’d kissed her and given her the best orgasms of her life. Then he’d hurt her, and now he was doubting her, and trying to get her off this mission.
She slapped a hand against the desk, trying to clear her head. The old guy in charge of the armory shuffled out of a doorway. He eyed her and sniffed.
“I have a mission,” she said. “I’ve been approved for new weapons.”
“Approved by who?” he demanded.
“The major general.”
The man sucked on a tooth and eyed her, then he tapped on the screen beside him on the desk.
“Silver? You from Vegas?”
“Yeah.” She suppressed a sigh. “And yes, I’m one of those Silvers.”
“Do you know Clyde Silver?”
A sour taste filled her mouth. “He was my grandfather.”
“Broke my father’s kneecaps once.”
Nice. “Sounds like him. He was an asshole of epic proportions.”
The old guy barked out a laugh. “You anything like him?” He set some weapons down on the desk.
“I have my moments. I haven’t broken any kneecaps today, though.” She paused and Dak’s rugged face drifted through her head. “Truth be told, I might have wanted to.”
The old man laughed again. Then he picked up a brand-new XF carbine, made of shiny silver metal.
Naomi gasped. “God, this wasn’t even released before the invasion.”
“Beauty, isn’t she?” He looked at the screen. “We don’t have many of them, but Captain Vaughn requested it for you.”
Her pulse jumped and she swallowed. “When?”
“About ten minutes ago.”
She slung the beautiful weapon over her shoulder. “Thanks.”
“If you bust any kneecaps today, make them alien ones.”
She lifted her chin and headed out of the armory. As she did, she stroked the metal of the carbine. This felt like a gift or an apology.
She sniffed. She wasn’t that easy. She rounded a corner and her steps faltered. Dak leaned against the curved tunnel wall.
“I’m pissed at you,” she snapped.
“Everything I said in the Ops Center was true.”
“You made me sound incompetent.”
“That wasn’t my intention. I just…”
When he trailed off, she glared at him, putting one hand on her hip. “You what?”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I was…”
“Spit it out, Captain.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
Naomi blinked. No one had protected her. Ever. Even when she’d even needed protection from her own family.
She swallowed. “Don’t make decisions for me. Ask me first.”
He nodded.
“I’ve survived the entire thirty years of my life all on my own.”
“I know you can take care of yourself. That doesn’t make me stop wanting to see you safe.”
She ignored the flare of warmth under her chest. “You made it clear earlier that you don’t have time for me.”
“Naomi—”
No, she wasn’t going there. Couldn’t. “I can get us into Hoover Dam, Dak.”
A muscle ticked in his strong jaw. “I know. I never doubted that. I just don’t like the idea of you in alien territory.”
“You can’t wrap everyone in bubble wrap.” She straightened. “I want to do this. These bombs…they have to be stopped.”
He grunted. “We’d better prep for the mission.”
Together, they headed to the squad ready rooms. There were lockers lining the walls, all full of gear for missions.
Dak opened a locker and pulled out some black backpacks.
“Is your armor in good repair?” he asked.
She nodded. “Thanks for the new carbine.”
“Let’s hope you don’t need it.” He zipped his backpack closed. “Pack light. The plan is for us to get in and out without engaging the aliens.”
It would be sad not to use the new carbine, but she knew they couldn’t be spotted. If the raptors caught them… Yeah, not good.
She looked around and realized the squad rooms were empty. Everyone was gone for the day, and it suddenly occurred to her that it was later than she’d realized.
It was just the two of them. Their gazes met.
In a few hours, they’d board a Viper and get dropped into the center of alien territory. Her heart knocked against her ribs.
Naomi was well aware that they might not return.
Dak Vaughn was the first man in, well ever, to stir up every single one of her emotions. He made her feel angry, proud, happy, desired, annoyed, hopeful, and a few other things too.
She closed the distance between them and fisted her hands in his T-shirt. It was soft from so many washes. Then she pulled him closer.
“Naomi, we have a mission to prep for—”
“You get to live, Dak. You aren’t just the captain. You aren’t just the head of security. You’re a man as well.”
Heat flared in his eyes, but he looked conflicted. “Whenever I look away, people die.”
“You have broad shoulders, but they aren’t broad enough to carry the responsibility for every single life of every human survivor.”
Their bodies brushed.
“Turn off the captain for a bit. Just for a little while. Just feel.” She pressed her mouth to his.
He groaned and dragged her closer. They went up in flames, and a second later, he was bending her back over his arm as he plundered her mouth. She slid her hands into his thick, dark hair.
Then he swept her off her feet and set her on a counter running between the lockers. He pushed between her legs.
“I’ve craved you since I saw you,” he growled.
Her belly spasmed. “So take me.”