Windhandler Read online

  Before Grady could respond, there was a knock at the conference room door. Both men turned as their team's medic walked into the room holding a handful of papers.

  Hodge, one of the team's new members, had a military background. Although the quiet, self-sufficient Hodge wasn't generally a person to socialize, he and Dustin had found a common interest in woodworking, and the two men had become friends.

  "What have you got?” Dustin asked even though he wasn't certain he wanted to know.

  Hodge looked over at Dustin then turned to Grady to hand him the papers. “When Ms. Corbitt came in, Sanchez took a palm scan and started the general background check on her."

  Dustin stood and moved to stand beside Grady so he could see the pages. He was sure he wouldn't like what he was about to learn. “And?"

  "Lexi Corbitt isn't her real name. We don't know what it is, but her identity was bought. She paid good money for it, I will say that."

  Dustin scanned the pages as Grady flipped through the stack. His stomach tightened as each page was turned. “What gave her away?"

  "Her identity held together well through her college days and high school, which is about as far back as most people ever check. We don't stop there, though, and it's the holes in her childhood that flagged us. Lexi Corbitt never attended any of the elementary or middle schools listed. There are also no doctor records for a child named Lexi Corbitt in or around the areas of those schools when she would have been attending them."

  Grady flipped over the last piece of paper and turned to Dustin. “You still think she's an innocent victim?"

  Dustin didn't respond to Grady's question but watched as the other two men walked out of the conference room, closing the door behind them. He pulled a chair next to the prone woman and took a seat. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of her face, resisting the urge to brush his fingers along the smooth skin of her check. Lexi stirred as he leaned back in his chair and waited for her to wake up. As he sat there, he wondered why he felt like he'd been kicked in the gut by an angry mule.

  Lexi tried to open her eyes, but it felt like they were going to pop out of her head. Finally, after several attempts, she managed to get them open. The dark brown eyes of Mr. Martinez stared back at her.

  "What did you do to me?” she demanded.

  "I created a small wind vortex around you and removed the air. Once you passed out, I carried you here."

  Her stomach rolled as her head continued to pound. “Why didn't you let me leave?"

  Any warmth she might have imagined in his eyes vanished as he leaned back in his chair and nailed her with a hard cold glare. “Maybe because in less than twenty-four hours of talking with you, you bring an army to our front door and try to destroy us."

  She narrowed her eyes. “I didn't bring anyone here. You weren't even outside when they started shooting at me. Maybe it's you who set a trap for me."

  He studied her for several seconds “Who are you?"

  Panic rushed through her body, but she held his gaze without blinking. “Lexi Corbitt."

  Picking up a stack of papers, he tossed them on the couch beside her. She pushed herself to a seated position and forced herself to not give into the pounding in her head. She scanned the pages then looked up at him. “I don't understand."

  "Damn, you are good. Guess you've practiced this innocent routine enough that by now, it's second nature.” His words were as icy and hard as his eyes.

  She decided to change the subject. She glanced down at her watch, wondering how long she'd been out of it. “Where's my jewelry?"

  "You mean your weapons, don't you?"

  Lexi raised an eyebrow. He didn't have a clue how strong her powers were. “No, I meant my jewelry. I don't need anything close to make a weapon."

  There was a commotion in the large open office area, and Dustin turned to see what was happening. “Your powers are impressive."

  The floating metal items in the office fell as she broke concentration. “That was nothing more than a parlor trick."

  Dustin turned back to her, and once again she was amazed at how this man seemed to see into her, past all the barriers she'd created over the years. His square jaw was pronounced, and the lines around his chocolate brown eyes gave the impression of inner strength that went deeper than most would ever see.

  "Could you have picked up the transporter and moved it to solid ground yesterday?"

  There was enough seriousness to his voice that let her know he wasn't playing games, but at the same time, there was unmistakable admiration. The sternness she could handle easily; the esteem left her feeling unsure. “Not without doing serious bodily injury to the children. I'd really like a lawyer now."

  "You don't need a lawyer. You're not under arrest."

  "I don't believe you. I've heard the rumors about a secret government agency that snatches people away in the middle of the night."

  Dustin ran a hand down in face. “I work for a little known government agency. Like I told you yesterday, we are charged with apprehending people with above normal powers who have stepped outside the law. There are more people like us out there than you think, Lexi, and most live normal, boring lives. But some let the power go to their heads. Those are the people we go after, not the law-abiding citizens."

  Lexi liked the sound of her name coming from him. Deep inside, the feelings she'd suppressed years ago threatened to unravel. She took a deep breath and wondered if any of what he said could be true as old bitterness bubbled up. “Wonderful. The police protect us all against general crimes, and SPD rids the world of Super Powers gone mad. Who protects us against those wanting to purify the world of our kind?"

  She stood, not giving him a chance to speak. “I'll tell you—no one. In the real world, it's survival of the fittest or the smartest or the strongest. That's how it is, Mr. Martinez. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have people in our lives who accept us as we are. Now, since I'm apparently not under arrest, I'll be leaving."

  Dustin stood and blocked her path to the room's only exit. Emotions rolled through him like waves preceding a storm, and he didn't begin to understand why he felt this way. The entire time they were talking, he was torn between pulling Lexi Corbitt into his arms to comfort her or grabbing her by the arms and shaking her until her teeth rattled. Both fantasies ended with her telling him this was all some misunderstanding that could easily be cleared up. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her senseless.

  He sighed, because there was nothing simple about the woman glaring at him. He was equally certain the reason for her false identity wasn't straightforward.

  "You aren't leaving.” The words came out calmly despite the emotions churning inside of him.

  "You just told me I wasn't under arrest."

  "True, but I didn't say you were free to leave. We're holding you for the next seventy-two hours."

  Her face turned twenty shades of red as anger filled her. “You—"

  "Can do it, and we are. Now, why don't you have a seat and tell me who you really are?"

  Lexi glared at him, and he swore he felt the air heat between them. She turned, pulled out a chair from the conference table, and lowered herself to it. She stared straight ahead and didn't acknowledge him in any way, shape, form, or fashion.

  "It's going to be a very long seventy-two hours if you don't talk.” His tone carried all the frustration he felt.

  She continued to ignore him like a pro.

  He ground his teeth before speaking. “Fine, if you need anything or decide you want to talk, open the door. I'll be at my desk."

  He would prefer she did anything other than give him the silent treatment. He took a deep, steadying breath as he turned and opened the door.

  "If you keep me here that long, they'll be waiting for me when I leave."

  He turned and for the first time saw a hint of fear in her eyes. “What makes you think they aren't already waiting?"

  "True, but the more time they have, the better organiz
ed they'll get."

  She wasn't dumb, and he was certain she'd been at this a while.

  "Agreed, but maybe if you told us who they are, we could help you."

  "If I told you, you wouldn't believe me. Even if you did, you'd soon realize there's nothing you could do."

  "Give us a chance, Lexi."

  "No."

  He wanted to scream at her, but he knew that approach would do no good. “Then, give me one."

  "You don't get it.” She said as her eyes filled with years of sadness. “No one can save me, Dustin, not even you."

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  Chapter Five

  Dustin stepped out of his Personal Flash Unit, dropped his briefcase, kicked off his shoes, and released the breath he'd been holding. One day travel by PFU would no doubt be as common as travel by solar-gliders, but the technology was still too new for his comfort, and he avoided it when he could.

  He was mentally fried, beyond the ability to make the simplest of decisions. He was ninety-percent sure his mental state was the reason he couldn't come up with a good argument against having Lexi Corbitt stay the night at his place or against using the damn PFU.

  He rubbed his eyes as he waited for her to come through the unit. Grady was on the other end programming the location, so there was no fear of the very stubborn lady flashing to some unknown location. The unit in his living room powered up, and two seconds later, Lexi appeared. She grabbed the edge of the PFU to steady herself then stepped into the room.

  She didn't say a word as she walked around the area. Hours ago, she removed the pins holding her tousled hair. Now, the thick mass of auburn curls cascaded down her back, enhancing the curves of her body. The way she carried herself spoke of the sensuality buried deep inside her. She was the type of woman a man would consider himself lucky to wake up next to in the morning. And God help him, he wanted to be lucky.

  She turned and smiled. “Your house is magnificent."

  He'd swear his heart stopped when she looked at him. “Thanks. I bought it two years ago and immediately gutted the place. The inside remodeling was finished a couple of months ago. I decided to take six months off before tackling the outside."

  "You did all of this yourself?"

  He closed the distance between them until he was close enough to pick up the scent that was hers alone. “I'm really good with my hands."

  He watched as color flooded her face, and she narrowed her eyes at him. He could tell she was trying to figure out how to respond when the Household Computer beeped to indicate an incoming call. Retrieving the communication panel from the end table, he answered. “Hey, Alora."

  "Hey there, stud muffin. I picked up the bags Ms. Corbitt requested from her glider, and I'm about to flash them to you."

  "Go ahead and send them.” He heard the flash unit in his kitchen activate. Lexi turned and headed in that direction.

  "We also moved her vehicle to the downtown warehouse, so it should be safe. Is there anything else you need?"

  "No, we'll be fine."

  Alora gave a very unladylike snort. “I doubt that, but beep me if you need me, stud."

  Dustin looked up as Alora signed off. Lexi stood there holding her case and watching him. She held herself straight, her expression unreadable. He wondered what she was thinking.

  "I'd like a shower, if you wouldn't mind."

  "Top of the stairs, first room on the right is the guest room. There's a connecting bath. If you don't find everything you need, let me know. Don't try going out a window or door, the alarm system is on."

  She gave him a cold look before turning and disappearing up the stairs without uttering a word. He put the communication panel back in its charger before heading into the kitchen. He wanted a drink, something strong and stiff that would knock him on his ass and dull his thought process. Instead, he got Lexi's lingering scent, a raging hard-on, and a glass of tea.

  * * * *

  Lexi woke with a start. For several moments, she couldn't remember where she was. Pushing up, she looked around the room and assured herself she was safe. She was in Dustin's house, and if she knew anything, it was that she was safe here. She should know, considering she'd waited until he was in the shower to open the back door. Sure enough, the alarm system blared, and it had only taken him ten seconds to descend the stairs holding a gun in one hand and a towel around his hips with the other.

  She was safe from physical harm, but she wasn't so sure plain old-fashioned lust wouldn't do her in.

  Stretching, she looked around the dark room. Apparently, her bad dreams followed her no matter where she went. Night terrors weren't unfamiliar to her; she'd been plagued by them for the last fifteen years. Tonight's dream took a new twist, though. For the first time in one of her many nightmares, she died.

  Sleep wasn't about to return anytime soon. Plus, she was starving since she'd skipped supper. Of course, that was her own fault, because after the shower she had hidden in her room. If she wasn't such a stubborn person and had eaten when Dustin offered, she wouldn't be sneaking around at midnight looking for food.

  Opening the door, she stepped out into the dark hallway and made her way to the kitchen. The first floor was as quiet and dim as the second. Dustin obviously didn't have problems sleeping, even after fending off gunfire. She opened the refrigerator and looked in.

  The shock of what had happened today at the SPD office was still enough to make her shake. The urge to bolt and run was ingrained deep in her, but God, she was so tired of looking over her shoulder. Not to mention, she didn't want the pain of recreating her life in another colony. She was certain neither Dustin nor any of his team had looked at the information she'd given him yesterday.

  Grabbing an apple, she closed the door and bit into the crunchy fruit while she considered what options were available to her.

  "Having problems sleeping?"

  Lexi screamed, and the apple flew from her hand as she spun around. Putting a hand over her heart, she gulped in air. “You scared the hell out of me. I thought you were asleep."

  He didn't say a word as he retrieved the apple from the ground, rinsed it off, and handed it to her. She took the offering, and as she did, his fingers came into contact with hers. For a moment, she thought she witnessed sparks flying. The sexual pull must be a one-way thing, though. He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms over his bare chest, looking completely unfazed. Lexi blinked a couple of times to clear the outrageous thoughts running through her mind. Lack of sleep was rattling her brain.

  "I was, but you made enough noise to wake the dead."

  "Sorry, I tried to be quiet, but the floor squeaked with every step I took."

  "That's one of the drawbacks to this old house. It moans and groans all the time. I stripped layers of varnish and wax from the flooring and refinished it all myself. It was a bitch, but it was worth it."

  She glanced down at the floor, which reflected the moonlight like a mirror. As she looked back up, she couldn't help but notice the way Dustin's pajama bottoms rode low on his hips or the killer six-pack that defined his stomach.

  "The floors are remarkable.” She only needed to take a step forward, and she'd be close enough to run a hand over his chest, down his flat stomach to the edge of his bottoms. Her body heated, and she made a fist with her empty hand, hoping the urge would pass. If not, she needed to make a hasty retreat.

  "I'd better get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a long day of driving.” She started forward but stopped when Dustin moved to block her path.

  "Who said you could leave tomorrow?” All friendliness disappeared from his voice and body language. The hardcore government agent was back.

  She arched an eyebrow at him. “I did. It's crazy keeping me here. I'm not going to talk."

  She saw the surprise in his eyes at her equally hard tone, but really, did he think she was a pushover? The man had no idea how much she hated being ordered around. She tilted her head up and met his cold gaze.

 
"Damn it, Lexi. You need to stay under wraps for a while."

  "I appreciate your concern, but I'm never going to let anyone direct my life again except me."

  He moved close enough to block the moonlight. “Is that so?"

  "Yes,” her breath caught in her throat and she wondered how his lips would feel.

  "Never is a long time, Sugar."

  His body heat and scent wrapped around her, drawing her to him like a bee to sweet honey. She knew the moment he leaned toward her, because his body tightened in anticipation of his lips touching hers.

  Raising the apple, she took a bite and chewed. “Yes, it is a long time. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to bed."

  Dustin didn't breathe until he heard the top stair squeak and her door close. Slowly, he let out his breath and wondered what he'd done so wrong in life to have been thrown into this hell pit. After grabbing a beer from the refrigerator, he made his way to the living room. Turning on the plasma-screen, he settled on the couch for a long night of boring shows and torturous thoughts.

  * * * *

  Footsteps running across the upstairs floor followed by the slamming of a door pulled Dustin from the restless sleep he'd fallen into. He picked up his gun and stood at the same time. A quick visual of the room reassured him he was alone. Another check of the HC monitor verified his home's security had not been breached. Even knowing this, he released the safety on his weapon as he crept up the stairs.

  He stopped outside the guestroom door and listened. No sounds reached him, but that didn't mean there weren't a dozen people in there waiting for him to walk in. Not bothering to knock, he turned the handle. To his surprise, it was unlocked.

  Slowly, he opened the door until it was flat against the wall, ensuring no one was behind it. Early morning light drifted in around the shades, giving him enough illumination to see that the bed was empty. Half the contents of an open suitcase spilled across the floor. Crossing the room, he stepped over two pairs of shoes and moved another pair out of the way so he could open the closet. Flipping on the light, he verified what he already thought—no one was hiding in it.