Read Finn: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (Hell Squad Book 10) for Free Online Page B

Selena.” She was their resident alien, although she could almost pass for human except for her pearlescent skin and large green eyes. From the planet of Florum, she’d been kidnapped by the Gizzida, held prisoner, and rescued by Hell Squad.
    “I heard you were heading out,” she said. “We wanted to wish you luck.” She nudged the front pocket of her simple green shirt and a small, fluffy head popped out. The black chick looked out and chirped.
    Hell. The thing was too darn cute to ignore. “Hey there, Fluffball.” Finn held a hand out and the gyr chick jumped onto his palm. He’d rescued the chick from the aliens. It was originally from Selena’s world and she was caring for it. Its mother had been experimented on by the raptors and turned into a drone killer before being killed.
    He stroked the chick’s head with a finger and it nudged him for more.
    “He’s been missing you.” Selena gave him a faint smile. “I think he believes you are his mother.”
    “Oh no.” With a final pat, Finn handed the chick back to Selena. “You take care of him. And…well, I’m happy to look after him if, you know, you need a break.”
    Selena’s smile widened. “Thank you. Safe flying.”
    Finn finished his checks and finally, climbed into the cockpit and settled in his seat.
    “Starting engines,” he said, touching the controls.
    “You’re coming through clearly, Finn.” Lia’s voice echoed through the comm line.
    Yes. Harder. More . That same voice had said those things to him, only a couple of hours ago. Finn blew out a breath and gave his head a shake. He needed to focus. His head had to be in the game right now.
    All the lights on his screen went green. “Ready for takeoff.”
    “Cleared.”
    He heard alarms as the overhead hangar doors retracted. He palmed the controls, the moves familiar. He lifted off. His focus narrowed, and his chest lightened. Flying did that to him. He was grateful his parents had supported his passion and nurtured his dream. Now, it was the thing that kept him steady in the chaos.
    He plotted his course north into his comp, making sure he skirted well clear of the airport and the alien ship. Hovering above the Enclave, he checked his that illusion system was functioning correctly. Once that was confirmed, he touched the controls, and the Hawk flew forward, picking up speed.
    As he flew, he took in the view below. He’d seen the abandoned cars and ruined houses so many times before, that he was a little numb to it now.
    But as he headed over the ruins of the Coalition’s capital, he still felt a stab of pain. The burned-out shells of what had once been people’s homes and workplaces, the overgrown parks that kids had once played in, and ahead, the ruined skyscrapers that had housed businesses. All gone.
    He moved a little west of the city, flying over the harbor. He glimpsed the ruined Sydney Harbor Bridge, looking just as it had in the sim he’d flown with Lia.
    “I’m over North Sydney,” he murmured.
    “No alien activity to report,” Lia said.
    Finn peered out of the cockpit. He couldn’t see her tiny drone anywhere, but he kind of liked knowing it was there, that she was with him on the mission.
    A short while later, he reached the northern edge of the city sprawl. “Okay, Central Coast ahead.”
    “Finn, the jamming zone is coming up.”
    He flicked a switch. “Cameras on. Nothing out of the ordinary to report.” He saw trees, former towns, hills, and the twists and turns of the Hawkesbury River. “Once I hit the jamming zone, I’ll do a fifteen-minute run, and then come back in range. If I’m not back before then—”
    “I’ll send a team to find you.”
    “Roger that. Wish me luck.”
    There was a pause. “Be careful, Finn.”
    He opened his mouth to answer, but the comm line went dead.
    He had entered the jamming zone.
    Finn stared ahead at the pretty beach view, the picturesque, popular place where people had come for holidays to escape the city,