Heroes Lost and Found (27 page)

“What happened to your jacket?” I stood up, muscles still protesting. “The one you gave me in Vegas?”

“Found it in a dumpster two miles outside of Kensington Grove. Along with the rest of your clothing.” His jaw tensed, the humorous sparkle gone from his eyes. “We lost track of you before we’d even landed.” The bitterness in his voice almost broke me.

“I’m fine.” I took a step forward, and then hobbled back two. I caught sight of my face in a small mirror on the night table. A come-hither beauty I was not on my best days, but the reflected image made me shudder. “Okay, maybe not totally. Send in Rachael. I think I’m going to need some girl time before we go out.”

“Ooh.” He grinned as he tossed me my T-shirt and sweatpants, retrieving his underwear from the mess of clothing at the foot of the bed. “Can I watch?”

“If you want, but it’s all going to be about makeup.” I struggled a bit with the clothing. “I’ll get the leather on soon enough.”

Hunter pulled on a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans before heading to the door. “Not as much kink as I’d like, but I can live with it.” He blew me a kiss before leaving. “For now.”

I returned to inspecting my face in the mirror, touching the light yellow bruise on my chin. The swelling over my left eye had gone down a lot, enough that it looked almost normal. The worst of the bruising would be hidden under my clothing, including Kit’s scratches.

Rachael walked in, carrying a small purse and a paper plate stacked with three pieces of pizza. “Hunter told me to gussy you up.” She giggled. “I’m to give you this as a distraction while I’m working on you.”

“Ooh. Gimme.” I snatched the plate before she sat down. The thin cheese-covered triangles oozed grease with every pepperoni slice. “Sorry to bother you, but I’m in need of a little touch-up before we go out. Can’t look like I got into a brawl with a bear before we go on camera.”

She studied my face with a knowledgeable eye, forming an O with her lips. “Oh yeah. We can do something about that.”

The purse tipped over, disgorging an obscene amount of makeup from eyeliner to mascara to nail polish.

“How did you fit all this into that tiny purse?” I goggled at the amount of tubes and cylinders, eyebrow pencils and small bottles.

“It’s an art.” She sorted through the pile, lining them up in neat, efficient stacks.

“I’m next.” Hunter strolled in carrying a computer tablet tucked under one arm. He struck a pose, hands on his hips and chin held high. “Got to look good for my close-up, get my fans screaming for more.”

Rachael laughed as she tapped my chin with some liquid foundation. “Didn’t know you liked to play dress-up. I could set you up with Peter if you’d like, he can show you a few moves.”

I smirked.

He didn’t flinch, my brave boy. Instead he watched as Rachael laid down enough makeup to hide the bruise on my chin and a few on my exposed neck and shoulders, clucking her tongue like an old woman as she dabbed at various spots.

“Are you going to be okay to face him?” she asked as she worked on my chin.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

She sighed. Fear flashed through her eyes, mirrored in my own. “Guess he did a number on both of us.” Her fingers trembled on my cheek.

I shook my head. “He had me for a day. He had you for weeks.” I patted her shoulder. “You’re a hell of a lot tougher than I gave you credit for. Don’t know if I’d have been so strong in your place.”

Rachael blushed as she returned to dabbing the flesh-colored liquid on my bruise. “He was tougher on you ’cause he knew you’d be harder to break.”

“Maybe.” I caught her eye. “But if you want to back out at any time during the fight, you let me or Hunter know. No one will say anything.”

“Not if they want to keep their teeth.” This came from Hunter, leaning on the door.

“Thank you.” She smiled. “I think I’ll be okay, but I’ll keep it in mind.” She returned to the gigantic chore of trying to make me look human again.

Ten minutes later Rachael stepped back, pursing her lips. “Well, that’s all I can do.”

“More than enough.” I checked myself in the mirror. “Damned cameras.”

“Tell me about it.” Hunter plopped himself down on the bed, bouncing Rachael up and off the luxurious mattress. She gave me a wave as she headed out of the room.

“I’ll be out here if you need me again.” She waggled a finger at Hunter. “Don’t mess her up.”

He nodded as he stared down at his tablet, the different windows opening and closing as he played out a tune on the small screen.

“‘You look lovely, Jo’. ‘Why, thank you Hunter,’” I murmured.

“You always look lovely to me.” He snapped a fast kiss before holding up the tablet for me to look at. “Got some last-minute things I want to talk over.”

I stretched my hand out under the bed and tugged on the first drawer. “Tell me there’s underwear for me in here.”

“Of course,” he announced with a smug expression. “I know how to take care of my woman.”

“Good boy. Now keep talking while I get dressed.”

One of Hunter’s eyebrows rose as I tossed the track pants on the floor. “Breaking down my self-control, Jo.”

“Work before play.” I reached for the clothing, trying not to wince. “Keep talking.”

“Tease.” He turned his attention back to the tablet. “Dykovski’s flamethrower is powered by natural gas, not napalm. If you poke a hole in the tank, it’ll just whoosh out, like an aerosol can. Could knock him around when it ruptures, push him forward or something like that, but it’s not going to explode unless there’s a spark nearby. Keep it in mind, but remember the danger.” His fingers danced over the screen, calling up image after image in a new window. His attention kept darting over to me as I shrugged into the uniform, tugging the white T-shirt on and wrestling with the running shoes.

The leather pants were loose, riding down on my hips. I tried not to make it obvious, otherwise I’d have Hunter demanding I eat a quart of ice cream before stepping off the bus.

I pulled on the jacket, feeling the armored plates snug against my spine with a reassuring stiffness. “I’d just like to put this mad dog down and go home and sleep for a week.” I winked. “With you, if that wasn’t clear.”

The tablet flew into the middle of the bed, the various windows closing en masse. “You know I’m always game for that.” Hunter stared at me, suddenly serious. “If I had my way, you wouldn’t be going out at all. Tuck you right back into bed and wake you up only after this entire thing is over.”

“Tempting offer.” I studied my gloved fist, relishing the surge of power. “But I owe this bastard. And so does Rachael, Harris and everyone else he’s hurt. And for Kit.”

He retrieved the tablet, nodding his approval. “Then get your ass out there and do some sort of pep talk while I get dressed. And eat more food. I don’t want you running on empty.”

I moved to the doorway, pouting. “Can’t I stay and watch?”

“You know what my mother would call that sort of teasing.” He waved me off. “Go. Eat.”

“I never have any fun.”

“Beat Dykovski within fifteen minutes and I’ll give you all the fun you want,” he shot back, sitting on the bed and tugging off his jeans. “Out. Before I consider another quickie.”

“You’d smear my makeup.” I leaned back against the doorway, going all glamour girl on him.

“Not if I do it right.” He winked, sending a rush of heat up my spine and banishing the ache in most of my muscles.

“I’ll get the stopwatch. Fifteen minutes.” I shut the door behind me, fighting the blush as I strode forward in the bus.

Rachael and Peter were lying in the bunk beds, whispering to each other as I passed by. Rachael gave me a thumbs-up.

“Smart and sassy, boss lady,” Peter said as he swung his feet around. “But we got to start putting more color on these uniforms.” He gestured at his own black jacket and pants, same as mine. “I mean, maybe we could get sponsors.”

“Bet the pizza place down the street’ll go for it. Get a giant pepperoni slice right here, over our hearts.” Steve laughed. He sat at the table with Harris, who appeared a little befuddled in his oversized uniform. Jessie glanced up from his laptop.

“Looking good, Harris. Where did you steal that from?” I went to the counter and picked up another slice of pizza from the near-empty platter. The case of cola sat nearby, allowing me to grab one and chug some caffeine.

“Got another set for everyone, just in case something got scratched up or torn,” Steve explained. “Gave him mine.” One thick hand reached over to pat Harris’s chest. “Loose up top but fills out ’round the belly.” He roared at his own joke.

Harris snickered. “Good living, that’s what it is.” He faced me, a light shade of pink coloring his cheeks. “Sure you want me to come along on this? It’s not like I’m needed, I mean…four of you on Dykovski. Shouldn’t take long.”

“You’re needed.” I spotted Hunter coming out from the bedroom. The leather pants were tight in all the right places. My pulse jumped into double time.

“I want this over as fast as possible. No showing off for the cameras with any cute dances—we go in, put him down and get it finished. I figure ten minutes, tops. Maybe fifteen if we go for the glory shots,” I stated in a firm voice, trying not to look at Hunter.

“Glory shots?” Rachael asked.

“It’s when you stand around and look like winners,” Steve offered. “Not that many of us ever got to do that. Usually it went to the Alphas who got to schmooze it up for the cameras.”

I held up my hand. “Just don’t underestimate Dykovski. He was smart enough to get to this point. I don’t know what he’ll do now that he’s cornered.”

“Fight like a rabid dog,” Harris muttered.

“Then let’s not get bitten.” I turned to Hunter. “You going to be inside the bus or outside?”

He held up the tablet. “I’ll be outside with Outrager in case things develop along the way.”

The computer screen showed images in multiple windows, the visual feeds from our jackets.

“Everyone’s online. Jessie’s going to monitor vital signs from inside the bus here while Outrager watches me watch you.” He tapped the edge of the tablet. “Keep your ears open.”

“So Hunter’s seeing what we all see?” Harris poked at the keyhole camera in the lapel of the jacket. “Spooky.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll turn it off when you go to the bathroom,” Hunter said. “I don’t have a microscope installed.”

A chuckle went around the room.

“Ha, ha.” Harris laughed with the rest, a bit of the tension easing out of his face.

“Any updates from Outrager?” I asked as the bus slowed.

Hunter shook his head. “Be careful. Dykovski’s deadly if he hits you the right way with the weapons mounted on that suit.” He looked at each of the team in turn. “You may outnumber him, but he’s angry and pissed and has nothing to lose. Keep that in mind when the shots start flying.”

I spoke first. “Then let’s just not get hit. Jessie, feel free to jump in with anything you find out. Any tips, any thoughts, anything. Just like being back at the Lair. Minus David’s faboo food.”

Jessie, who was seated at the table with his own tablet and the multiple television screens running a plethora of programs, gave me a thumbs-up. “Got your back, boss.”

I closed my eyes for a second, calling up the remains of my happy-place strength. It was all I had left, and it’d have to be enough for this one last fight.

“Okay.” I walked towards the front of the bus. “Time to be heroes, Protectors.”

Or at least not get killed
, I added silently.

Chapter Fifteen

The bus came to a stop. I stood beside Bill as he turned the engine off.

“I’ll be here when you get back.” He sounded like he was dropping off a bunch of kids for a field trip.

“Help yourself to some food,” I offered. “I think Jessie can get you cable on one of the sets if you ask.”

He nodded in response with a faint smile.

The door swung open, letting in the hot air. It washed over me, making me long for a walk along Lake Shore Boulevard in Toronto while feeling the coolness from Lake Ontario.

I stepped down, withered grass crackling under my feet.

It was like being back in the forest with Harris. Nothing but trees for as far as I could see, the thin dirt road we’d traveled in on barely wide enough to allow the bus through. I made a mental note to give Bill a raise for maneuvering us in. He’d have a heck of a time turning the bus around in the clearing.

“The cache is about a mile to the north.” Hunter walked over to the side of the bus, cradling the tablet. “Still nothing on Dykovski. Outrager said he’s got satellite coverage on the bunker but no movement. Dykovski’s waiting for you to come to him.”

A jet-black Hummer drove up behind the bus. Outrager hopped out, leaving the unseen driver behind. He strode over to us, adjusting his suit jacket.

“Hunter. Jo.” He nodded to the rest of the team as they filed off the bus. “Good luck everyone.”

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I’m here to make sure we get excellent coverage of the fight.” He brought out his own computer tablet from an inside pocket. “Just like last time.”