Page 17 of Alpha Infected
Ortiz activated her comm link while Jax took a small can of white spray paint from his pack and sprayed a whiteXon the door.
“Major Ortiz to Gibbs. How copy?”
“Good copy, Major. How’s the mission?”
“We’re progressing. Came across a group of approximately twenty-five survivors. They’re locked in a bathroom on the thirty-third floor. Need an extraction team to get them out. Location is marked with a whiteX.”
“Copy that. We’ll send in a rescue unit as soon as possible.”
General Stone’s voice suddenly came over the line.
“You’re close to the lab. Any trouble with the team?”
Hazard’s eyes flew to Ortiz’s. The major was looking directly at Ice.
“Negative, sir. Team is all good.”
“Excellent. Go get that cure.”
“Rog. Out here.”
Hazard grinned at Ortiz’s bold-faced lie. It was a relief to know that in the field, their major had her squad’s back.
“Move your asses, boys.” She checked her watch. “Eight minutes have passed since Ice was bit and we’ve got three more floors until we reach the target.”
Moving with renewed urgency, they went up the steps to floor thirty-four. Unfortunately, it was another level thick with infected. They crouched down to strategize.
“Hazard, you eliminate the ones on the left,” Ortiz ordered. “Jax take the -.”
Ice cut her off. “Save your ammo. I’ve got this.”
“Ice-.” Hazard started to protest. But Ice held up a hand to stop him.
“Watch,” he said with a cocky grin.
Ice tightened his grip on his service pistol and pulled a knife with his other hand. Then he strode forward, heading directly for the pack of infected.
Hazard did as ordered and watched. Ordinarily Ice wasn’t just fast for a big man, he was fastperiod. But today he moved so quick that Hazard could barely keep up with his movements. While the infected flailed with wild rage, Ice cut through them with methodical swiftness. He fired his Colt one-handed while slashing the blade of his knife across the throat of any infected that got within range.
Hazard was in awe of his mate. He’d never seen anyone move like that.
“Gibbs was right,” Jax said from where he was crouched down next to Hazard. “That enhancer really could be used to create super soldiers. Look how fucking fast andaccuratethe captain is right now.”
Accurate was right. Every infected Ice encountered dropped dead from either a single bullet to the skull or a severed carotid artery.
Ice stopped moving only when the infected were no more than a swath of corpses carpeting the floor. He stood with his back to the 448, shoulders heaving from exertion. Then, he cracked his neck, a quick, sharp pop on each side before he turned to face them.
“Clear,” he drawled out rough and low.
Hazard’s usually comfortable uniform pants were suddenly too tight in the groin.
Ortiz rose and started for Ice as did Jax. Hazard hung back for a heartbeat, too stunned to move. Thankfully, he was too well-trained to remain still for long. When he caught up to Jax, he whispered in his ear. “Jax, tell me I’m not crazy and that was hot.”
Jax looked down at him, an eyebrow raised and laughter dancing in his brown eyes.
“Please don’t ask me to validate whatever freaky shit gets you going.”
Hazard huffed a laugh. But when he reached his mate, his humor instantly dried up. His fingers spasmed and clenched on his weapon as he noted the changes in Ice’s appearance. The alpha’s hair was falling out. And on his throat, pale skin was marred by a single black vein. Hazard’s heart squeezed painfully tight at the signs that the infection was progressing. They were running out of time.
