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Simon’s immunity but it’ll be really helpful to pick your brain about how this all started and what you’ve already tried to neutralize it.”
    â€œYeah, I’m looking forward to working with you, too, Mariana.”
    â€œGee, I’m sorry. I’ve kept you talking when you’re tuckered out from your trip. Tomorrow will be soon enough to start. I’m quartered with Simon in the same building you’re in. There’s a cafeteria two buildings down on the right. How about we meet you there tomorrow morning for breakfast and then we’ll head down to the lab together?”
    â€œSounds perfect.” Sandra scrambled for her pocket and the slip of paper Matt had given her. “I’m supposed to call this number Commander Sykes gave me to get a ride back to my building.”
    â€œOh, don’t worry. Simon’s down the hall having blood drawn. I make him give me a sample every week so I can note any changes that might occur. He’ll take you back.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œNo problem.” She made a shooing gesture with one hand. “He can give you the lay of the land, too. This base is confusing until you get your bearings. He’ll be glad to help you out.”
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    Sandra was impressed by Simon Blackwell. She would have been scared of him had she not seen him in the company of Mariana. He was different with Mariana around. His steely gaze softened with obvious love and caring for his fiancée.
    He was quite helpful showing her around the base. He left her with polite courtesy at the building Matt had taken her to earlier in the day. She could tell he was skeptical about her—or maybe that was just his usual demeanor. She’d seen a similar hardness in many of the soldiers she had treated at Quantico, though she hadn’t had much interaction with the Marines. Simon though, he took that toughness to a whole new level.
    Of course, he was a retired Navy SEAL. Those Special Forces guys were rumored to be a cut above the regular soldier, and after meeting Simon and Matt, she was inclined to believe it. Sandra speculated on the various people she’d met today as she unpacked her belongings and settled into the rooms she’d been given. It was a small apartment, but clean and nice enough.
    She’d had a hell of a day. First the drive, being run off the road and threatened by that slimeball, then her encounter with Matt Sykes and the men on his team. Yeah, all in all, it had been a banner day.
    With any luck, tomorrow would be a lot simpler, not to mention calmer. She liked Mariana, as she’d expected. They’d worked together by phone for a little while now and seemed to have developed a good rapport. Sandra actually looked forward to working with her in the lab the next day, which was something new. She hadn’t liked any of her coworkers since joining the original quasi-military team all those months ago.
    Finishing her unpacking, Sandra was too tired to go looking for the cafeteria. She had a few snacks left over from her drive that made a makeshift dinner. She consumed the half sandwich, bag of chips, and can of pop, then headed straight to bed. It was early, but she was completely worn out from the excitement of the day.
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    Sandra felt a hundred percent better the next morning. She met Mariana and Simon for breakfast, surprised to find some of the other members of the team already there. Apparently the men woke up at zero-dark-thirty to do what they called PT. She soon learned that acronym translated to physical training. Judging by the rippling muscles all around, every last one of these guys was a fitness nut.
    But good Lord, what a view.
    Never one to attract hunks like these, Sandra sat quietly next to Mariana, enjoying watching the men interact, kidding each other and comparing prior duty stations. It was a varied group that seemed to have a wealth of experience. Sandra was more than a little intimidated just