The Forbidden Trilogy(167)

More IPI Agents surrounded Simmons as she talked. They smiled and said hi to Lucy. Everyone looked relieved to find her.

Lucy didn't want to tell them the truth. She didn't want to be the one to take away their hope, but she had to. "My brother, Luke, is close by. But... we're the only one's who survived. Agent Morrison, and everyone else, is dead. Beleth and his team killed everyone. We barely escaped."

Simmons frowned as Lucy explained what happened and gave them directions to the crash site—to the best of her ability.

Silence hung in the air when she finished her story.

Simmons wiped a stray tear from her eyes. "He was a good man. All the agents on that plane were."

Lucy didn't know what to say to that, so she nodded. "We have a fire going. It's over here." She turned and started walking.

Simmons, Riley and the others followed her back.

Luke looked up from stoking the flames. "Interesting choice for dinner. I was expecting something more edible."

Agents settled around the fire and Lucy gestured to the lead agent. "You remember Agent Simmons."

"Sure, hi. Glad you found us. We've had a hell of a time out here."

Once everyone was settled around the fire, Simmons spoke. "We've been searching for survivors for two days, but it's a big island, as you know. We've run across some interesting finds here—creatures that don't look normal."

"Same with us," said Luke. "We saw a moth that didn't look like a normal moth—giant, with glittery bright wings. There's something unnatural about this place. Makes finding food hard."

Agent Simmons pulled out her pack and handed Luke and Lucy some jerky and dried fruit. "I know it's not much, but it should give you some strength. What have you been living on?"

Lucy nudged her brother. "I tried eating Luke, but he's too chewy. Mostly coconuts." She pointed to their pile by the tree. "Help yourself if you get hungry or thirsty. Just don't smash them against a rock. It's messy."

Agent Riley chuckled and Lucy took that opportunity to get a better look at him. The highlights in his hair were silver and his eyes glowed like a cat's in the firelight. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and it took her a moment to realize that she was attracted to him, which made sense given how handsome he was. At second glance, he looked a few years older than Lucy, but she didn't mind. She thought she'd like a man a bit older than her, someone who knew what he wanted in life.

While Simmons continued to fill them in on reports from IPI, Agent Riley sat quietly. Lucy wondered what he was thinking, and wished she could just dip into his mind like Sam and find out.

"Tomorrow we'll head back to base and reassess the mission," said Agent Simmons as she stood and stretched. "Tonight, let's get some sleep."

As the agents set up their sleeping bags, which Luke and Lucy both eyed with envy, Hunter walked away from the group.

Lucy followed him with her eyes as he found a clearing in the trees and stood staring at the moon. His lean, muscular frame didn't look relaxed against the backdrop of night. He looked poised to fight, and she found that oddly stimulating. She could imagine sparring with him, feeling her legs around his waist as she flipped him, or he flipped her, their bodies pressed together. She blushed at her own thoughts and swatted herself mentally. Must be jungle fever or something, because that was just not like her.

Simmons nudged Lucy with her elbow, startling her. "Go talk to him. He won't bite."

An image of his teeth nipping at her neck made her grateful that the heat from the fire and a sunburn could explain her red face. Biting... didn't sound that bad... but no.... "What? I can't just—"

"Don't worry about it." Simmons shoved Lucy up. "Once you get him talking, he'll do all the work."

Inspired, Lucy tiptoed forward and stood beside the agent. She'd never been shy before—not even close—but she had no experience with men. Boys with crushes, sure, but Agent Riley was not a boy with a crush. He was all man.

She was nervous as hell, but refused to cater to that weakness. "Hi. I'm Lucy."

He offered his hand, warm and soft and strong, and they shook. He towered over her, a bit taller than Luke. "Hunter Riley."

Lucy giggled, then covered her mouth with her hand. Why? Why did I giggle at his name? That's so stupid. She had to admit that his name made her weak in the knees. He could hunt her anytime. Oh my God. What's wrong with me? She had to stop thinking like a cheesy romance novel and focus on work.

"So," asked Hunter, "how do you know Agent Simmons?"

"Agents Simmons and Morrison helped me and my friends out after we escaped from... the place we'd been living. You should know, I'm not like other people."