Agent E2: Aidan (Superhero Romance) (The D.I.R.E. Agency) (19 page)

Separating the time machine from the office area were four large chalkboards on wheels. The wall of chalkboards prevented him from seeing what sat on the other side.

Moving to the dark side of the room, he made his way along the brick wall. Reaching the edge of the closest chalkboard, he peered around the corner. Work tables and desks scattered to the far end of the warehouse. A model of the time machine sat on one table, with papers, drawings and books littering several tables around it.

A tall man with salt and pepper hair sat across a desk from the blonde, her back to Aidan. He wore dark-rimmed glasses, a tie and trousers.

He had to be Chalmers.

The blond sailor from the alley and one other uniformed man lounged in chairs at a table, reading newspapers.

Okay, now you know what you’re dealing with. Get out of there before the babe gets back or they see you.

The woman threw back her head and laughed, the high-pitched sound flooding Aidan’s mind with thoughts of Cass. He really needed to get back.

He just had to get some video.

Turning on his recorder, Aidan held up his armband and videotaped the contents of the room and their movements. Mitchell and Tristan would have a cow when they saw this.

Freaking Einstein.

A horn honked at the back doors.
Shit
.

“Jocelyn’s back with lunch.” The blonde looked around. “Where’s Nichols?”

Looking up from their papers, the two sailors frowned as they stood and looked around. Setting down the papers on their chairs, they went out the front door.

Aidan cursed mentally. He couldn’t go to the back doors. To follow them out the front door would expose him to Chalmers, Einstein and the woman.

So much for not engaging. Mitchell would be pissed.

Backtracking, he grabbed a wrench from a worktable by the machine. Going back to his position by the chalkboard, he tossed the wrench across the warehouse. It hit the far wall with a ping and clattered to the floor, the ring echoing throughout the building.

All three whipped around, following the sound. Chalmers jumped up, pulling a gun from his blazer on the back of the chair. The woman pulled a gun from a desk drawer and stood.

Chalmers motioned for Einstein to get under the desk. Making his way to the far side of the room, Chalmers motioned for the blonde to head Aidan’s way.

Oh shit.

Ducking behind the chalkboard, he watched the woman come around the corner, gun out in front of her.

He held his breath, his heart beating riotously in his chest.

Don’t engage, don’t engage…

As soon as she traveled a few feet past him, he slipped around the corner and headed for the front door. Running on his toes, he got within fifteen feet of the door when it flew open.

The two sailors ran inside.

Aidan skidded to a stop. Aw, hell.

Drawing their guns, they fired at him. He dove under one of the work tables and scrambled out the other side. They fired again. He ducked behind a desk.

Footsteps came from the back room. “Come out and we won’t hurt you,” the woman said.

Dammit. He couldn’t shoot his way out, or risk taking a

hit to his suit. He definitely couldn’t die in nineteen forty-four.

He really didn’t have a choice anymore.

Aidan jumped up from behind the desk, arms out in front of him. Lightning bolts shot from his diodes like machine gun fire, sending the others flying for cover.

“
Oh my gosh
,” he heard the woman cry. “Professor Einstein, can you see this?”

“Who are you?” Chalmers shouted, his voice deep, loud over the crackling electricity.

Making his way to the front door, Aidan focused his energy on the room. If he could just get outside, he could lose them.

At the threshold, he cursed when the door opened from the outside.

The brunette held a gun to his head. “
You
.”

Grabbing the gun with his hand, electrical current shot through her, sending her flying back onto the concrete landing. Letting the door slam shut behind him, he rushed to her side.

He extended a hand to help her up.

She shook her head violently, her eyes wide with fear.

He heard the others coming. “They’re traitors.”

Her chest heaved but she said nothing.

The door opened. He had to get out of there.

“Stay safe.”

He ran the length of the landing and jumped off the end. He headed south, toward the tower.

A bullet shot past his head. Ducking low, he ran to the edge of the next warehouse and down the alley. He’d have to get there the long way.

Making his way through a maze of alleys and warehouses, he knew he’d lost them but he didn’t know for how long. They had cars at their disposal. 

The forest appeared before him. Flying through the woodland, he ducked through bushes and swatted at branches. He knew the open area that ran the length of Alexander Street to Route 1 would leave him exposed. Reaching the edge of the forest, he went for it.

Running for the tower, Aidan saw the maroon Pontiac Deluxe come into view from his left.

Shit. At this rate, he’d run right into her.

Mustering power to his diodes, he felt electricity crackle and zap around him, ready for release.

She saw him coming. He veered off to the right, away from her. Pulling over to the side of the road, she got out of the car and stood by her open door.

“Stop. Please.”

Aidan kept running.
Don’t engage. Don’t engage. You’ve already done too much.

Crossing Route One, he ran for the fence that housed the radio tower. She followed him to the gate and skidded to a stop. He hit the fence running and hopped over.

“Wait. Take me with you.”

Stopping in his tracks, Aidan turned around.

Terror marred her beautiful face. Dammit.

“
Please
.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. Get back to the future and we’ll help you. You have my word.”

He turned back around and ran to the tower. Climbing up, he saw that she watched him, her hand shading her eyes.

Storm clouds rolled in as he focused his energy on the massive structure. Lowering her hand, she looked around as thunderheads built and rain fell in sheets from the sky. Wind whipped at her dark hair, lightning streaking with evil abandon.

A Dodge sedan pulled up beside her. The sailors shoved open their doors against the gale force winds. They fired at him, a bullet pinging off the tower above his head.

Dammit, he had to get out of there.

With a roar of fierce, unbridled energy, he felt the radio tower disappear from his grasp – just as a bullet hit him.

Cass stared at the barren landscape outside the lab window, the sun shining bright in the noon sky. Since Aidan left, she’d tried to keep herself away from windows, particularly at night. She couldn’t look at the stars without thinking of making love with him on the roof.

During the day, she watched the weather, hoping, wishing,
praying
a storm would build suddenly, bringing him home. Admonishing herself, she’d walk away only to find herself back in front of the glass minutes later.

It had been five days since Aidan left.
Five days
. The mission should’ve taken two at max. She knew Mitchell and Robinson thought he hadn’t made it. They hadn’t told her such, but she could see it in their faces.

Hopelessness weighed on them all.

Dreams had come to her in varying degrees. Some with Aidan flashing on the scene with his cocky, arrogant grin, others where Mitchell tells her they’re tearing down the equipment. He wasn’t coming back.

The fear had returned – in abundance.

“Sis, you need to eat something.” Dar touched her elbow, a banana in his hand.

Shaking her head, Cass looked at Rachel, who looked as sad as she felt. Her sister sat with her head on Tristan’s shoulder while he studied Robinson’s time travel documentation, looking for clues on how to reach Aidan. He hadn’t slept in two days.

“Give it to Rachel. She hasn’t eaten.”

“I tried.”

Slumping her shoulders, Cass gave her brother a weak smile. He’d been so obedient, sticking by her side in case her father or one of his goons came near. Thank God Robert had left them alone.

She knew the feeling. After her father had threatened her in his room, she teetered on the edge of madness.

Disbelief still clouded her mind. Did she and Dar really mean so little to him?

“Jacobs...” Aidan’s faint whisper came over Tristan’s armband.

Tristan jumped in his chair. He shot out of it, his gaze shooting to the cloudless sky outside the window.

Everyone rushed to Tristan’s side.

He was alive.

“Monroe,” Tristan said. “Tell me where you are. I’ll come get you.”

Loud static echoed in the solemn lab.

“
Monroe
.” He looked at Mitchell, then Robinson. “Where are you?”

Static crackled for several seconds. “Can’t… too much… blood.”

No
. Her gaze shot to Mitchell, Robinson, Tristan. Do something, her mind cried.
Help him
.

They all stood there, listening to the love of her life ask for help, knowing he wouldn’t ask unless he’d fallen into serious trouble.

Knowing they were helpless.

Grabbing Tristan’s armband, Cass called to him. “Aidan, come home.” Tears clogged her throat. “I need you.”

Rachel rubbed her back as she held her hand to her mouth.

“Cass...” Static crackled again, fainter this time. “…love you.”

Shaking her head, she swallowed down a sob. “Where are you, Aidan? Tell me.”

His voice cut in and out, like a bad internet connection. “Nowhere.”

She looked at Robinson.

He shook his head, his mouth turned down at the corners. “His heart must be too weak to pump his blood. He needs to get the compound in his blood flowing.”

Dar tapped her on the arm. “Piss him off, Sis.” Dar’s voice sounded anxious to her ears.

Mitchell said, “Good idea, Naylor.”

“Aidan.” She added a touch of anger to her tone.

The line remained quiet.

“
Aidan
. You promised you’d come home.”

“Sorry… baby.” His voice weakened with each word. “No… strength.”

“So, you’re going to leave me here alone, with Mitchell?”

She glanced at Tristan’s father, who gave her a deep scowl.

Sorry
, she mouthed.

“What?” Aidan’s voice held a hint of anger.

“He’s been hitting on me since you left. Are you really going to leave me here alone with him and my fantasies of you?”

She felt her face heat.
Not even looking up. No way
.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Her gaze shot to the window. The sky grew dark, lightning streaking and flashing across the sky.

She grinned at Rachel who hugged her.

“I’ll head out to the roof.” Dar ran from the room, Mitchell and Robinson on his tail.

“Cass…” Static filled the airway before the line went deathly silent.

“Aidan?”

No response.

Her heart stopped in her chest. “Did we lose him?”

Tristan grabbed Rachel’s hand and ushered Cass to the door. “Let’s go find out.”

A bright light flashed in front of them before Aidan dropped to the roof in a lifeless heap. The six of them rushed to his side, Cass kneeling by his head.

“He’s been shot.” Mitchell pointed at the hole in Aidan’s side before he hit the button to retract his helmet.

Aidan rolled to his side and vomited profusely. He groaned in agony.

Cass kissed his forehead. “You made it, baby.”

Robinson and Mitchell started removing the suit from Aidan’s body. Lifting the chest plate with care, Robinson examined his wound.

“We’ll have to get him into surgery right away. He’s lost a lot of blood. This nausea is making things worse.”

“Jacobs…” Aidan’s voice came out as a whisper.

Tristan bent over him, his face a mask of concern. “I’m here.”

“Help me.” Turning his head to the side, he retched again.

Tristan clutched Aidan’s hand in a tight grip. “Help’s on the way, man.”

Swallowing hard, Aidan shook his head. “No. Help me… kill… Mitchell.”

#####

Aidan smelled his mom.

The scent of gardenias brought back memories of her walking into his bedroom two and three times each morning, trying to get him out of bed for school.