“Mike Shields? You mean, General Mike Shields?”
He nodded.
“I thought Shields hated everything my father tried to do with Project Dawn. He tried to shut down the project.”
“He did shut down the project, with Senator Kuntz's help. That, and Sabrina Torrence's cagey sabotage.” Robbie smiled. “The woman was a mess. You have no idea how many times I covered for her sloppy detective work.”
“But she did it. She stopped them once.” Paige held out hope that Robbie and she could finish the job. Petty Officer Sabrina Torrence had at first been like all the rest—
oblivious to the reality of what Elliot Pearl was doing to the servicemen who'd volunteered for Project Dawn. He'd cared less about saving lives and helping the country than he had about starting a new evolution of man. He'd known about the problems with his serum, but he hadn't stopped the project. Only a third of his original test subjects had remained clear of mind, while the others turned into raging maniacs.
In the course of exterminating the rampaging monsters, only five of Circe's Recruits persevered. And her dream man was one of them.
“You said before that Torrence is now mated to one of my uncle's men?”
“She hooked up with Derrick Packard. He's huge, arrogant, and wears his anger for the world to see. But he's less dangerous than Rogers.” Robbie scowled. “Rogers is different. He's faster than the others. And I think he might have some mental mojo.” Robbie tapped his forehead. “It took a lot of energy it shouldn't have to put him down before.”
“Really?” Paige found any talk about Hale fascinating. He'd been a part of her for so long that she felt as if they were already friends. When she'd struck him with that tranquilizer in the house, she'd felt as if she were betraying him. But her timely intervention had saved him from being ripped apart by the rogue dragging him into her kitchen.
“I don't like the look on your face,” Robbie growled. “Rogers is no good. You keep away from him. We don't need his kind of trouble.”
Surprised, she considered her friend. She nodded to make him happy, but inside she wondered why Robbie felt so threatened by Hale Rogers. She could see the tension in his frame, the worry in his eyes. Robbie never showed his emotions unless dealing with her. Was he perhaps jealous? He'd never shown signs of it before, not even when necessity demanded she find men for sex, to ease the desires that consumed her every month. He hadn't reacted to those meaningless occasions at all. Yet Hale Rogers had done the impossible. He'd made Robbie nervous.
Paige wanted more than ever to meet Hale in the flesh. But not right now. “Oh my God. He's here.”
He appeared, much like Robbie had, from the shadows of the nearest building.
“Paige Masters.” His low voice sent shivers down her spine, but it was the danger he projected when he glanced at Robbie that quickened her womb and shot her libido into overdrive. “And McKinley. I fucking knew it.” Hale thanked his enhanced vision to see anything through the pitch-black night.
He couldn't stop himself from studying the blonde. Same long, straight hair, same whiskey brown eyes, same kick-ass body he'd seen in his dreams. And there, dwarfing her, stood McKinley. A giant with muscles on top of muscles. He looked like he could break the woman in half, yet the protective way he positioned himself in front of her spoke volumes.
Jealousy reared, and then the wind changed direction, literally. The mingled scent of cherries and evergreen hit him hard. Hale glared at McKinley, wondering what the hell the male thought he was doing by releasing his scent. Because damned if it wasn't provocative—an adjective Hale had never in his life thought to apply to McKinley.
“Robbie?” Paige stared at the man with wide eyes. “What are you doing?”
“Robbie?” Hale smirked. “Robbie McKinley? A boy's name for a grown thug.
Funny.”
McKinley tore his glasses from his face, treating Hale to a fiery glare. Yellow eyes burned through the darkness, glowing under the night sky. “Don't start a fight you won't win, Rogers. You little prick Circs think you know best when all you manage to do is screw things up.” McKinley took a step in his direction.
Interestingly, Paige moved with him.
When he'd seen the pair talking in the park, he'd questioned his sanity. What were the odds he'd taken an alternate route to her house tonight, only to run right by his quarry? Astronomically high. This had to be some of McKinley's psychic bullshit.
Hale glared. “Look, asshole. You wanted me here, I'm here. Tone down the perfume, and we'll talk.” To Hale's shock, McKinley flushed, with anger or embarrassment, he couldn't tell.
McKinley bared his teeth. “I should have taken you apart the last time we met.
Instead, out of pity, I let you live.”
“Yeah? Well, now's the time to correct your mistake.” Hale snarled at him, his fangs and claws automatically pushing forth, breaking skin. He welcomed the pain, welcomed the beast wanting to…play? He stopped in his tracks, confused at the idea that this felt more like a strange dance than a prelude to battle.
McKinley froze the minute he did, studying Hale with befuddlement. “What—
How the hell did you find us here?” He glanced at Paige, who shrugged.
“I didn't tell him. The last time I saw him, he was passed out on my kitchen floor.”
“I thought you were there.” Pleased he hadn't been dreaming that cherry scent, Hale grinned at the sense of vindication. Strange, but he was beginning to enjoy this bizarre encounter. His beast thrilled at being near Paige and McKinley—Robbie. He glared at the male, aware of McKinley's uncertainty. “Is Robbie your real name?” McKinley stepped back, the spell broken. “It's McKinley. Now turn around and go home.”
“I'm not going without Paige. Doc, your uncle,” he directed at her, “wants to meet you.”
She paled, and a surge of protectiveness for the female overwhelmed him.
“I told you—” McKinley growled.
Hale interrupted, wanting to wipe the grief from Paige's bright eyes. “Evan Dennis is your uncle, Elliot Pearl's half brother. They worked together, until Doc—
that's what we call him—found out what Pearl was really up to.” Realizing he probably shouldn't say half of what he wanted to say about her father, Hale continued carefully.
“Doc tried to get your father to stop the project, but he wouldn't. So Doc left with us and has been helping us ever since. He's an expert in all things Circ.” He gave a wry grin, pleased when she returned it.
“He's dying to meet you, Paige. He never knew you existed, had been told you died at birth with your mother.” By that asshole, Pearl. “Doc's had a hard time of it, lately. He took the news of your father's death hard. And then to find out he has a niece he's never met? He's worried sick and anxious to meet you.” Hale turned on the charm, gratified by McKinley's continued silence. “I promise I'll take you to him myself. He just wants a chance to get to know you. He'll help you in any way he can. Doc's a great guy.” He’s nothing like your father.
Paige looked from him to McKinley and clutched her boyfriend's sleeve. “I…I don't know. There are things I have to do.”
“So do them. You won't be under house arrest. Doc just wants to meet you.”
“No.” She shook her head, her hair sweeping her face as the wind increased. “I can't. Not now.”
“Yes, now.” McKinley shocked the hell out of him by agreeing. “This is the perfect time. You can't keep hiding, Paige,” he said softly.
The look on his face was tender. These two had a relationship, of what kind, Hale wasn't certain. Not sure he liked the thought of McKinley and Paige together, he tried to emotionally distance himself from the couple and focused on his reason for this visit.