Chapter 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

Ripping out the earpiece, I give in to a moment of weakness, my head pressed to the sniper rifle. I know my position, and I know what I should do, but it wars with my need to see my girl and protect her. She’s hurting beyond the wounds she has suffered since we have been apart. I heard it in her voice. The others might not have, too focused on their own joy, but I did. I heard the truth in her words.

She’s struggling, and part of her wants to die there, but I will not ever let that happen.

If she dies, then I die. It’s that simple.

I quickly come up with a different plan, putting the earpiece in once more.

“Fuck this, I’m going in,” I snap, not as collected as I wish, but it’s too late to take it back.

“What?” Dimitri demands. “What about the plan?”

“No, he’s right.” I bet Isaac knew it the moment he spoke to her. “She needs him. She needs someone with her right now even if she won’t admit it. I think she had a plan that we interrupted, one we wouldn’t have liked very much, and I think, given the chance, she will still follow through.”

“What do you mean?” Jonas snarls.

“No,” Dimitri mutters, “she wouldn’t. She knows how much that would . . . after Bas.”

“She felt like she had no choice. She’s grieving and not thinking properly. Coupled with whatever they are doing to her, she was doing what she thought was best with no way out. I will not allow that to happen, but someone needs to be there to remind her. Nico can’t be compromised; we need him. Dimitri needs to stay here to get us in. Jonas wouldn’t control himself, and Isaac would be taken away for his brain. It has to be me. It makes sense.”

“He’s right. So what’s the plan?” Jonas sounds calm, which worries me, but I have no choice but to roll with it. I can only worry about so much.

“I’ll get myself captured and make it look like I’m poking around for her. They might keep us together if they want information and for us to behave. I won’t give them a choice. This will also mean that there are two working from the inside. Nico, I want you to check out that opening she mentioned. Jonas, when he relays where, I want you inside the perimeter and making us an exit. Dimitri, I want in that system now and I want complete control. Isaac, research every fucking option for our girl and what she mentioned about her choice. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” they reply instantly.

“And I want safe spaces for the kids when they are out. You know your jobs, so do them.” I rip out my earpiece, stowing it with my gun and other weapons, knowing they won’t be allowed inside. I do keep a few knives and a small gun, just to make it look real.

I’m coming, my love, I tell her, even though she can’t hear me.

I will not lose her, not like I lost Bas, Ana, and Sam. Fuck the mission. She comes first.

* * *

It doesn’t take me long to get into position. I don’t dare do it too close to their base in case they start to look around for the others. I can’t draw attention to the guys. Instead, I head into the nearest town and begin to ask questions like I’m a forward scout, knowing it will get back to them. Nico already mentioned some guards live and work from here, so it’s only a matter of time.

Four hours later, they take the bait. “I know the place you’re looking for,” a stern-faced man in jeans and a big coat says. “Follow me.”

Dumb move, but it’s exactly what I want, so I finish my drink at the bar and hurry outside after him. “Where is it?” I demand, trying to play the part, scanning the area. I can’t go too easily or they will know it’s a trap.

“This way. We can’t be too careful. You never know who’s listening,” he mutters with a smirk. It’s blatant, but I let it slide as he leads me around the back of the tiny pub. There’s a black Escalade idling there, and five men jump out, their guns aimed at me.

Snarling, I quickly pull mine and grab the man leading me, pulling his back to my front as I press my gun to his head. After all, I have to give them a good show. “Where is she?” I demand.

“Come with us and you’ll see,” one says, his gun still aimed at me. “You’re an idiot for coming alone.”

Good, they fell for it.

“Don’t move,” I snap as they inch forward, “or he’s dead.” I start to back away. I hear the crunch of the gravel behind me as another approaches, but I pretend not to notice. Fuck, I’m a good actor. “You’ll bring her to me.”

“Now, let’s talk about this,” the leader says, holding his gun out in surrender, glancing behind me just for a second. The barrel of a gun presses to the back of my head. I could duck and shoot, I could win this easily, but I freeze instead. “You want to see her, correct?”

I simply grind my teeth as if debating my options, my instincts screaming at me to kill them, but I ignore it.

“I thought so. We can take you to her. Just stay nice and calm, drop the gun, and you’ll be with her soon.”

I hesitate, looking them over as if debating taking them on, and then the gun prods harder into my head. “Now!” the voice behind me snaps.

Releasing the man in my hold, I drop the gun, and they quickly bind my wrists and shove a black bag over my head before tossing me into the SUV, and then we are on our way. Even disoriented with the bag, I keep track of the turns we make to ensure they are, in fact, taking me to the base and not somewhere else. I’d have to kill them and try this again, which would waste precious time.

The general is getting itchy for updates, and Nova needs to be out of there. So much is riding on this plan. I have to trust the guys to do their part as well. It’s up to Jonas, Dimitri, and Isaac now to find us a way in and out and to bring their systems down. Keeping Nova alive and okay is my job. Nico has infiltrated the inside.

Hopefully, this will work because one way or another, this ends now.

* * *

After thirty minutes, we turn up at the base. This time, I’m inside the SUV and driven straight to the front door. I overhear them talk about how glad the boss will be. Idiots. After a few stops and starts to check security, we come to a complete stop. Doors slam, and then I’m yanked from the vehicle. I stumble before righting myself. My eyes strain, so I shut them and focus on my other senses. I feel a burning sensation on my neck that lets me know my men are still out there watching.

Good.

My boots hit hard concrete which suddenly changes as we pass into a warmer area inside. There’s some muttering as I’m groped, and then a few minutes later, we are moving again. When a woosh sounds and we start to descend, I realise I’m in an elevator.

The same one Nico went in?

I guess only time will tell. Hopefully, it means they are bringing me where I want to be. These idiots are so excited to bring me to the boss, thinking it’s all their idea, that they haven’t got a clue they are playing right into my hands. The elevator jerks to a stop, and they yank my arm. The air is cooler here, and it has a clinical scent, one I’m familiar with from my childhood. It’s almost stuffy under the hood, and the bindings dig into my wrists, but I don’t speak as their boots echo with mine down what I assume is a corridor. Another door opens, and I’m led inside what seems to be a room. It feels closed in, the air almost stale, as if it’s not used much. I’m pushed into a chair, and my hands are rebound behind me, then the boot steps fade away as I’m left here.

Time passes oddly under the hood, and instead of trying to figure it out, I run through my list and plan. Convincing them to pair me with Nova should be hard but doable. Then, I’ll ensure she is okay and check in with Nico—again, hard but doable. After that, we just need to find the research, destroy it, kill her father, and get out of here.

Easy, right?

I run through the pros and cons of my options since I have nothing else to do, and that’s when I hear the door click, followed by soft footsteps. Not boots, more like soft-soled shoes. A scientist? A worker? A chair screeches in front of me, but I don’t move, focusing on the sound to pinpoint the person. The breathing is soft, slow, and calm, and the scent is familiar.

Like pine needles and bleach.

“Hello, Dr. Davis,” I murmur.

He chuckles, and the hood is pulled away. He’s sitting before me, wearing a lab coat and looking exactly the same as he did when we saw him in the house, except now he has no blood on him. “Louis, I would say it’s nice to see you, but . . .” He shrugs.

I roll my shoulders as I watch him, glancing around the room, noting the camera, the one exit and entrance, and the two guards behind me with guns and batons before I focus back on him. “The feeling is mutual.”

“I’m sure. But then again, you were looking for me, not the other way around.” His eyes narrow slightly as he works through my motivations. He could never believe it’s just because I love his daughter since love eludes him. It makes him blind to how far people are willing to go.

It’s something I can use against them.

“I wasn’t looking for you, but for Nova.”

He snorts, clearly not believing me. “Leave us. Keep the door open but stand outside.” He waits for the guards to do just that, and he doesn’t even spare them a look because he believes they are so beneath him. It gives me some hope that Nico will slip through without detection if he plays it smart.

“Why are you here?” Dr. Davis asks me, eyeing me warily.

“I was looking for Nova when your goons found me,” I snap, repeating myself as I tug on the bindings. “Where is she? Is she okay? Is she alive?” I demand, pretending to panic when I know full well she is. Still, there’s a moment of hesitation inside of me. What if he hurt her between the time I took the earpiece out and now?

“She’s alive. I need her, after all, but I never needed you.” He opens a folder. “You did show great promise though, and she clearly cares for you and you for her, so maybe we can still use you and get her to do what we need by hurting you. She’s been somewhat . . . uncooperative.”

That’s my girl.

“But then again, you were always problematic. You had issues following orders.” He shuts the folder with a dramatic sigh once more as if I’ve displeased him. “Sad really, you showed great promise. I was almost reluctant to end your experiment and label you a failure, but . . .”

“You did.” I shrug. “What a shame. I want to see Nova.”

“Yes, well, I need to decide if I’m going to kill you or use you. It has to be a thought-out decision, you see.”

Shit, we have no time to waste. I lean back, projecting calm and mirroring him—a tried and true psychological movement.

“I did, but I never had anything on the line. We both know I am clearly willing to risk everything for her. She would do the same for me. You want us both to cooperate? Put us together.” I shrug like it’s easy.

“And why would I give you what you want? Neither of you have any options.”

“You think we have no options truly? I thought you were smarter than that, Dr. Davis,” I mock. “You created us, after all. What was it you used to say? To expand the human potential? You think the reason that you explored and widened to new possibilities truly could not outthink you? Either you are dumber than I imagined or simply not very imaginative. I could kill you right now and be gone before your guards even get here.” Leaning forward, I watch him lean back. Fear flashes in his eyes for the first time as he understands the truth of his creation. “You created it, so don’t doubt us. Put us together if you wish for us to cooperate. Otherwise, life will get very, very hard for you.”

He doesn’t like to be outplayed. He will find a way to take it out on us, but for now, he has no choice. He can’t be sure I don’t have something up my sleeve, and he’s already admitted that he needs my help with Nova.

Standing, he glares down at me. “You’re a means to an end. I’ll make her aware of that. Soon, I won’t need either of you. Remember that, Louis.”

Stiffening at his clear threat, I incline my head as he storms out the door. If he doesn’t need us anymore, then that means he got what he wants, or he’s close to replicating the process without years of mental and physical torture and stimulation.

Not good, not good at all.

“Take him to her cell. Make them both aware of the consequences if they are to misbehave.”

“But, sir,” one of the guards begins, “I think—”

“I don’t employ you to think! Do as you are ordered or you will be gone in a blink.”

I watch the guards enter, ready to unbind my hands. I simply stand, yanking my hands apart and snapping the bindings. I take great joy in watching them pale in fear and reach for their guns. “Shall we?” I mock.

They share a look, and one pulls out his baton and presses it to my chest. “Try something, I dare you,” he mutters. “I’d love to beat the shit out of you like we did that girl of yours.”

I stiffen, my eyes narrowing. “You touched her?” I ask.

“Touched her? Oh, I would do so much more—”

Before he can speak his next words, I take the baton and slam it against his windpipe. He crumples to the ground, choking as he dies. Dropping the baton, I look at the guard pulling his gun. He glances from me to the guard and sighs, putting it away. “I haven’t touched her. I don’t get paid enough for this. Come on.” He jerks his head.

He’s smart. He can live for now.

Needing to check on her myself, I follow him. No one even mentioned the dying guard, so I guess they don’t really care. It makes me wonder how much I can push it but first, I need to see her.

I’m led through a maze, but I memorise it, and then we stop before a closed door. After leaning in to open it, the guard lowers his voice, his mouth turned away from the camera. “If you love this woman, find a way to get her out. He’s not going to stop until she’s dead. It’s been bad.” With that, he opens the door, stopping any questions I might have, but I’ll remember his face. He can live.

Stepping in, I almost drop to my knees right then and there at the sight before me.

“Nova.”