Free Project Genesis by Michelle Howard Page B

good at this shit. Wasn’t good at
dealing with things out of his control. “Let me make sure it’s safe before I
arrange to take you home.” At least that he knew he was good at.
    “I want my cell,
too. I have to find out about work. Call my boss.”
    When Vin faced her
again, he blanked his expression. Everything about her body language screamed
keep the hell away. No way would he reveal how much he wanted to pull her into
his arms again, drown in her scent and pretend the last six months never
happened. “If I give you back your phone there are things you can’t discuss.”
    Her lip curled and
he knew she was about to let her sarcastic tongue fly. His raised hand
forestalled her words. “I can’t compromise, Helen. Bringing you here was the
worst mistake.”
    Her face paled as
she stepped back. Anguish and disbelief washed across her features. Vin
replayed his words and let loose a barrage of profanity. That wasn’t how he
meant it but as Vin reached to touch her elbow in apology, she pulled away.
“Take me home, Vin, please.”
    Her pain filled
words stabbed at him. Seeing Helen hurt killed him. “A mistake because it’s our
Command Central and we’re not supposed to bring outsiders here.” The correction
had no effect. Her pain radiated in the air and Vin called himself ten types of
fool.
    “I didn’t ask you
to bring me here. I wanted to go home. None of this was my idea.” Helen waved
her hand wildly and her frantic glances verged on hysteria. Butterfly trembles
shook her hands. When she saw he noticed, Helen shoved them in the pockets of
her sexy athletic pants.
    Vin moved quickly
and grasped her by the shoulders. “Calm down, hellcat.” Her eyes narrowed but
she pursed her lips and bit back an angry retort. Confirming that she wouldn’t
move, Vin dug into his pocket and withdrew her slim phone. Anything to soothe
the worry and fear shimmering from her pores.
    Her hand closed
around the device instantly but he kept his grip firm. She needed to understand
the importance of his next words. “Helen, you can’t talk about anything you saw
today. I need your promise.”
    If she gave her
promise, Vin knew he could trust her word. Helen’s honor was never something
Vin questioned.
    Her eyes bugged
wide. “You have to be kidding. The Rekabians destroyed my corporate office.
People were injured and…and may have died.”
    She choked as if
the thought just hit her about the deaths. Vin was glad she hadn’t witnessed
the dead bodies in the stair way or the lobby. Holding it together was one
thing but facing the lifeless bodies of coworkers would have been altogether
different.
    “I think you know
I’m not talking about that. What you saw with my team can never be discussed
with outsiders.” Vin released the phone and she snatched her hand back.
    “What was it
anyway? You and your men have secret…powers?” Her voice bordered on
incredulous. She’d seen it but still didn’t quite understand or believe.
    Vin fought the
urge to tell her everything. To finally put an end to the secrecy he’d been
forced to maintain for months. Instead, Vin did something he knew he’d always
regret. Something he promised himself she’d never feel in his presence. He
wouldn’t drag Helen down. Nothing else mattered but protecting Helen.
    With inhuman
speed, Vin wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck, feeling the soft skin
and bones he could crush with one determined squeeze. He forced himself to meet
her frightened gaze and ignored how the look bubbled nausea in his stomach.
“It’s nothing you need to know about, Helen. Just remember when I take you home
to keep your mouth shut about the things you saw on that street with the
Rekabians and Alpha Squad. If you say anything, anything at all, you’ll see
first hand the other side of me and it won’t be pretty.”
    The threat did the
trick. Her breath caught, eyes wide. Hurt. Fear. Sadness. It was all there. If
Vin ever wondered what a terrorized Helen