Chapter 23

CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

Kai's lungs felt surprisingly tight as he waited for Tori to move the X-ray machine from overtop him.

Her presence, however, brought him a sense of calm.

It was a strange thing since he'd been through so much—battles, near-death experiences, and even more horrific things he wished he could forget. But being in a doctor's office always gave him a sense of panic.

Kai figured it went back to those experiments done on him.

Most of them he'd blocked from his thoughts. But his subconscious still knew. His body remembered.

Tori took his hand and helped him sit up. She left a hand on his shoulder as she peered at him, a nurturing look on her face. "You feel okay?"

Kai nodded. "I'm fine."

"Good." She dropped her hand.

As soon as it was gone, he instantly wanted it back.

Which was a crazy thought.

He wasn't the type who needed a woman in his life or any form of close relationship. He had his job to keep him busy.

But what if his job wasn't enough? It wasn't the first time he'd asked himself that question. But he usually dismissed it.

If he was smart, he would dismiss it now also.

"How long until we can see the images?" He tried to redirect his thoughts.

"We can view them on the computer now."

He walked with her toward the desk.

Tori punched in a few things before the images appeared on the screen and murmured, "Here we are."

Kai stared at the black-and-white X-rays.

He saw all the normal things. His rib cage, breastbone, collarbone, and part of his spine.

But those things weren't what made him pause.

No, it was the small circle near his heart that caught his attention.

It was just as Tori had suspected—a pacemaker or another device of that sort.

His heart raced faster at the thought.

"Kai . . ." Tori said softly. "I'm sorry, but there's more."

He looked to where she pointed to something on his shoulder. Something he hadn't even noticed because he'd been so distracted by the piece of metal near his heart.

He squinted. "What is that?"

She used the computer to enlarge the image. "It's small, almost like a chip."

"You mean . . . like a tracker?" Lead formed in his stomach at the thought.

She nibbled on her bottom lip as if trying to cover up a frown. "Maybe."

His fears were right. Someone had been tracking his every move.

At the flip of a switch or the push or a button, someone could also kill him.

Kai had a hard time stomaching that thought.

Tori wanted to pull Kai into a hug. Wanted to do something to offer him some comfort.

But she didn't feel like it was her place.

Yet another part of her felt connected to him, like maybe the action wouldn't be weird.

Despite that, she held back and remained professional.

"We should check Gage as well," Kai murmured, still staring at the image. "I can take his place and guard the building."

Tori nodded solemnly. "Okay."

They opened the door, and Kai didn't say anything to Gage. The two gave each other a look as they switched places.

She directed Gage to lie down so she could get started.

"You found something, didn't you?" Gage's voice didn't show any emotion as he lay there and asked the question.

"We did," Tori told him. "But that doesn't mean there's something in you too."

However, they both knew that the chances were if Kai had something then so did Gage.

Several minutes later, the results showed that Gage had the exact same implants as Kai.

"I can't believe this." Gage raked a hand through his hair. "They've been hiding this from us. Certainly, other doctors have seen this, but they haven't said anything."

"It sounds like the people you work for have a lot of others under their thumb." Tori kept her voice gentle, not wanting to stir up any more emotions.

"You can say that again," Gage said the words through gritted teeth. "Next time I talk to Larchmont . . ."

Tori couldn't blame him for the reaction. She would feel the same way in his shoes.

But seeing this, she knew Nathan must have had the same objects inside him.

Whoever had done the autopsy on him had chosen not to report it.

And so had Landon.

Her hands fisted at the thought.

There was a massive cover-up going on here by the military. It was the only thing that made sense.

A new resolve formed in Tori. Nothing would stop her from finding out the truth and exposing the people involved.

A knock sounded on the door, and Gage opened it.

Kai stood there, his earlier confusion gone and replaced by concern. "I saw a shadow move outside the building on the camera feed."

He held up his phone, where he monitored the exterior of the doctor's office.

Tori's pulse quickened. "You think someone followed us here?"

"Knowing what I know now—yes."

More fear ratcheted through her. "What are we going to do?"

"We need to get out of here." Kai squared his shoulders as he shoved his phone back into his pocket. "And we need to do it very carefully."