Free Roth(Hell Squad 5) by Anna Hackett

get out of hand.”
    Avery nodded and Emerson went back to organizing her equipment. The doctor shoved a portable light closer, the glare spearing into Avery’s eyes, and a pain gripped her head.
    A memory, harsh and hungry, hit her. She tensed. She heard raptors, was being dragged across the floor, and she was yelling. Raptor grunts echoed in the darkness…along with human screams. Orange light filtered through the room, giving the place a scary feel and ahead she saw the empty tank waiting for her.
    She heard a female voice calling her name, a hand shaking her shoulder. Avery ignored it. She wanted to remember, but now her heart was beating like a giant drum, reverberating in her head and she…was afraid.
    “Avery.”
    Roth’s deep, steady voice made her blink.
    She realized he was kneeling in front of her, his big hands covering hers on the armrests. The memory of the alien lab shrank in a flash, like he’d frightened it away. “Roth?”
    “I’m here, sweetheart.” One of his hands slid up her arm, rubbing. “What did you remember?”
    She shuddered and pressed her head against the plump armchair. “Being dragged toward that tank.” She shook her head. “Keep going, Doc.”
    Emerson looked like she wanted to argue, but with a sigh, she pressed an injector to Avery’s neck. “The first lot of drugs.”
    Avery focused on Roth. He stayed kneeling, but she could see he was wearing his armor on the lower half of his body, and just a T-shirt on the top. His hair was a little mussed, no doubt thanks to his combat helmet. “You had a mission.”
    “Just base patrol. Got waylaid in the handover to the next team, that’s why I was a bit late.”
    She wasn’t going to tell him she was glad he was here. But she wanted to.
    Her gaze zeroed in on a dark shadow on his neck. A bruise. Oh, God. “Is that a hickey?”
    His hand went to his neck and he grinned. “Yeah, a hot little wildcat marked me.”
    Avery’s mouth dropped open. She’d done that. Left that mark on him. She was equal parts embarrassed and pleased.
    “Caught hell for it at my debriefing.” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t get me started on my squad. Don’t think they’ll ever let me live it down.”
    “I can heal that for you, Roth,” Emerson said with a wide smile.
    He thumbed the mark again. “No, thanks. I kind of like it.”
    Emerson snorted and turned back to Avery. When the doctor winked, Avery had to fight the urge to laugh.
    “Okay, second lot of drugs, Avery.” Emerson hesitated with the injector. “I won’t lie, these drugs are going to hurt.”
    “Do it.” Avery felt the dual sensations, the cool press of the injector on her neck and the warm press of Roth’s fingers on her arms.
    The drugs went in, and it felt like fire in her veins. She arched against the chair, wincing.
    “Shit, Doc, should it hurt that much?” Roth demanded.
    “It’ll wear off shortly,” Emerson answered.
    “It’s okay, Avery.” Roth patted her hands. “You’re tough enough to handle it.”
    “I’m tough enough to take you on, so yeah, I guess you’re right.”
    A crooked smile appeared on his rugged face. “You’d only take me down if you got lucky.”
    She snorted. “You’re dreaming, Masters. You’re all brute strength, I’m skill.”
    “Sounds like a challenge to me.” His fingers brushing her arm gentled. “Well, you certainly aren’t brute anything, although there is plenty of strength under your prickly persona.”
    “I’m not prickly.”
    He made a masculine sound that she translated to a skeptical “yeah, right.”
    Emerson interrupted. “Avery, I’m going to ask you some standard questions, just answer truthfully. Then we’ll ask the questions referencing the aliens.”
    “Got it.”
    “What’s your full name?” Emerson asked.
    “Avery Lauren Stillman.”
    “Lauren,” Roth murmured. “Pretty.”
    “Occupation.”
    A feeling of lassitude was starting to flow through her, the pain receding. She snuggled back