“Sure you are. I saw you at the restaurant, and you two are definitely connected.”
He thought he’d been discreet. “You and Darian?”
“Yes. I trusted him, and not only with my body.” Lilith’s hand slipped down Nate’s neck. “We believe the same things—and he joined us. But he turned against us.”
“Leave Senator Nash and Audrey Madison alone,” Nate ground out, his eyelids fluttering shut.
“Not a chance. Nash believes as I do and is valuable to me. Audrey, though, according to Darian, is connected to people who create evil, and she’s going to tell me all about it. Tonight.”
“Darian told you?” Nate gasped out.
“Yes. Darian told me all about Audrey, the senator, and somebody named the commander who’s doing all sorts of terrible things,” Lilith said.
Nate reached for Lilith’s neck, and she slipped easily out of his way. What had she given him? How had this happened? His last thought as he fell forward was that he had to protect Audrey… and that he was a complete dumbass for making such a rookie mistake.
Chapter 27
Audrey followed Matt’s directions and untangled herself from the wires along her back, putting those and the earrings into her briefcase. Relief washed through her as she kicked back in her office and sipped herbal tea. She’d successfully captured the entire facility on camera while acting normal—maybe she had more of her mother in her than she’d thought.
Her mother. Dr. Isobel Madison, a woman soon to be a grandmother.
Audrey blew on the tea and sipped some more. She and her mother had gotten to know each other better during the last five years, but it had all been in pursuit of the commander’s goals.
Her mother had done terrible things—unforgivable, really—and Audrey probably didn’t know the half of it.
Yet the young girl trapped deep inside Audrey still craved the approval of her only parent. Intellectually, she knew better. But sometimes emotions and thoughts didn’t connect. At some point, Audrey would have to let go. The idea of giving up hope with her only blood relative hurt worse than the beam dropping on her leg five years ago.
Ernie walked by the office door and backed up, poking his head in. “Why are you still here?”
She shrugged. “I’m having some tea before heading out.”
Ernie nodded. “The senator said the trip to the facility went well and that you saw all of the labs, but the commander wouldn’t admit he has another compound somewhere. Do you think the senator is wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Audrey lied. “The commander seemed quite open today, and he showed us everything.”
Ernie shook his head. “If the commander is experimenting on people, we have to stop him. Especially if his victims are unwilling.”
“I agree.”
“Go home, Audrey. I’ll see you after my vacation.”
She’d forgotten. “Oh yeah. Italy with the wife and kids. Should be fun.”
He smiled and rolled his eyes. “You haven’t traveled with teenagers before. It will be memorable. Now go home and relax.” Whistling a roaring-twenties tune, Ernie sauntered back down the hallway.
Good advice. Audrey slid her cup onto her desk and drew on her coat. Man, she was exhausted. Acting like a spy and forming another human being took up a lot of energy.
She hummed softly to herself while riding the elevator down and walking to her car. Nate had said he’d try to pop by and escort her home, otherwise they would meet at his cabin. If she arrived first, she’d love to cook him dinner this time.
Sliding into her car, she headed out of the parking area and into the street. Minutes later, DC traffic slowed. Ugh. She wondered if Nate had already arrived at the cabin.
The previous night had been amazing. At the thought, her thighs softened. Nate Dean was sex personified, and that was fine with her. She was ready to see him again. To figure things out. Every block she drove took her closer to the warmth that would be waiting for her at the end of this long day. She exhaled to keep calm as the traffic slowed to a crawl.
Finally the gridlock released and she ended up heading into Virginia. She stopped at a light, humming along with the radio.
Suddenly her door burst open, a knife flashed to cut her seat belt, and unrelenting arms forced her from her car. Fear accosted her until breathing became impossible. She screamed, hitting and kicking, and found herself tossed into the back of a van. A hood slammed over her head, and something scratchy wound around her wrists, binding her. The door slammed shut, tires screeched, and they started to move.
She huddled against the metal side, her mind whirling, her body shuddering. They’d taken her so quickly.
But who?
* * *
After reaching a parking garage and walking down several stairs, Audrey’s hood had been removed, and she’d been shoved into a passageway far underground. Her hands shook and her throat clogged. What in the world?
Rough and uneven stones hindered her movements through the underground passageway reminiscent of a catacomb in a movie. But this wasn’t a movie. She stepped around a jagged edge, careful of her damaged leg.
She had to be ready to run. Her knees trembled so much her teeth chattered. Calm. She needed to calm herself.
Two men guided the way with flashlights, while a third prodded her in the back every once in a while with the barrel of a Ruger 358. The deadly thing would cause quite a hole in her center if it went off.
He stood close enough for her to try for the weapon, but the two guys ahead of her also held weapons. Plus, any fight would risk the baby. Fear buzzed confusion into her brain, and she gulped several times to regain control.
The drip of water on stone echoed around them, and the scent of mildew tickled her nose. She coughed and sneezed into her elbow.
“Bless you,” said the guy from behind her.
“Thank you,” she automatically replied before her brain kicked in. Bless you?
A rock caught her toe, and she stumbled, reaching for the mossy wall for balance. Wet slime covered her hand, and she grimaced before wiping it off on her skirt. Ewww.
Twists and turns through the pathway kept her head spinning until she wasn’t sure how to find the way back out. Finally, they reached a large metal door set into the rock. How had they gotten such a heavy door down so far under the building?
The first man rapped several times on the door, and it slowly and rather majestically opened. Then the two men flanked the door, while the third pushed her between the shoulder blades and then shut it, remaining on the outside.
Bracing herself, she walked into a circular room cut smoothly into rock. A massive table sat in the middle, surrounded by hand-carved wooden chairs. Old and magnificent. At least twenty people could comfortably sit around and plot whatever it was they plotted there so deeply hidden.
Right now Lilith Mayes sat at the head of the table wearing a white robe with a blade insignia over her left breast. Senator Nash sat to her right with two men wearing black robes sitting next to him. Two other men, also robed in black, sat to Lilith’s left after one empty seat.
Shock filled Audrey at recognizing both Lilith and the senator. Hurt came next. Her hands shook and her knees wobbled.
Heat of betrayal attacked her, followed by an icy knife of reality. She’d trusted him—genuinely liked him. He was the closest she’d ever had to a father figure who cared. He’d wanted to carve her a crib.
Her throat clogged. Why did she keep choosing the wrong people to trust? Her breath caught and she searched for an escape.
Lights, probably powered from a generator, lined the walls in intricate sconces. Silver and glinting, a sword hung from the ceiling a little way from the table. At least seven feet long, the sharp blade held the insignia PROTECT down its graceful edge.
Beautiful and deadly.
Audrey cleared her throat. “Where’s the sacrificial altar?” Her gaze landed on the senator.
Lilith laughed, the sound tinkling oddly through th
e room. “No altar. Sorry.” She gestured toward a seat next to her. “You’re going to want to sit down.”
A barrel between Audrey’s shoulder blades propelled her toward the seat, where she couldn’t help sending the senator a hurt look. He’d gone pale, his expressive eyes full of sorrow. His hands shook as he rested them on the table. “Why is Audrey here?”
Lilith smoothed a curl off her forehead. “She’s here because we need access to the commander’s data, and she’s our way in. We have to purify what that man and his people have done.”
Audrey blinked. “Purify? What does that mean?”
Lilith gestured behind her to the iconic sword. “Life and humans need to be pure. For decades, our group has shut down all experiments to change DNA of humans. No cloning, no testing, no aberrations.”
Audrey gulped down bile. She really needed to throw up. “I don’t understand. You worked with George Fairbanks for almost a decade, and he wore the sword brand.”
Lilith sighed. “Yes, George and I were the best of friends, and he was the one who initially inducted me into this marvelous society. But he let his scientific curiosity get the better of him. For years, we worked on computer technology together that assisted us in our fight, but then George discovered nanobytes, and he changed.”
Audrey straightened her shoulders. “So you killed him.”
“Of course,” Lilith said.
“Why leave him in my apartment?” Audrey asked.
“Why not?” Lilith lifted a shoulder. “Since we also killed Darian, and you easily connected the two, why not use you to deflect the attention a little bit?”
Audrey’s head spun, while her instincts hummed. “Bullshit. There’s more.”
Lilith’s upper lip curled. “This is business.”
“No. This is personal.” Audrey leaned forward, her hands fisting. “You and Darian had a thing, right? Did he dump you?”
Lilith’s nostrils flared. “I’m going to kill you.”
“Maybe.” Maybe not. “Why did you kill Darian?”
Lilith sighed. “I just went through all of this. Darian was on our side, and he was inducted, but when he discovered our plan to take you, he turned rogue and tried to warn you. So he had to die.” She brushed lint off her robe. “Plus, the bastard did dump me.”
“Yet you went out with, uh, Jason.” Crap. Audrey had almost forgotten Nate’s undercover name. “I saw you making a move.”
Lilith’s eyes glittered. “Jason watched you all night, even on a date with me. With me. I don’t know what your draw is, but I’m going to end it. You have been such a complete pain to me. Torturing you will be a pleasure, so please don’t give me all the info I need up front.”
What a nutjob.
Audrey swallowed. “I don’t know anything.”
“Exactly.” The senator leaned forward. “Let her go, and I’ll do whatever you want.”
Audrey frowned. It was a little late for him to help, wasn’t it? “You have no idea who I am or the connections I have. Let me go, or I promise you’ll die and fast.”
“I can’t wait to cut into you.” Lilith drew out an intimidating knife—the exact replica of the one suspended from the ceiling.
“You can’t cut her—she’s pregnant,” the senator said, his eyes widening.
Oh God. Oh no. Audrey shot him a black look.
Lilith frowned, studying Audrey. “Really? Well, you started dating Darian, and he’s dead. I know you spend a lot of time with the commander, and I know all about the madman from my sweet Darian.” A wild gleam entered her eyes. “Are you part of the commander’s experiments?”
“No. One-night stand,” Audrey said, trying to sound calm.
Delight lifted Lilith’s eyebrows. “You’re lying. Wonderful. Just wonderful. You have an aberration inside you.”
Terror nearly lifted Audrey from the chair. “You’re crazy.” She donned a bored expression and focused back on the senator. “I know you have strong religious beliefs, but I can’t believe you aligned with this crazed bitch.”
In a surprisingly smooth movement, the senator lunged for the knife, snatching it from Lilith’s hand. He stood, jerking her back to his chest, the blade at her throat. “I haven’t aligned with this lunatic,” he said.
All four men flanking the table shoved away and stood, two of them drawing Glocks, the other two pointing Sigs.
Audrey pushed back from the table. “Um—”
Faded blue eyes shot sparks over Lilith’s head. “You thought I had something to do with this?” Long and lean, the senator loomed over the deadly blonde.
“Um, no?” Audrey stood, her gaze on the man she’d trusted. “Okay. I’m confused.”
The senator nodded. “I get that. This witch drugged me, and I ended up here in this bizarre chamber. Kidnapping a United States senator is a federal crime, you know.”
Relief almost dropped Audrey back down. The senator was one of the good guys. Thank goodness.
Lilith rolled her eyes. “Senator, I’ve been trying to make you understand. You believe in life, and not in experimentation. We’re on the same side.”
“The hell we are,” the senator boomed. “You’re crazy.”
Audrey shook her head. She was right to have trusted him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to him.
He grinned. “That’s okay. I feel like James Bond.”
An explosion ripped by Audrey’s ear. Red bloomed across the senator’s upper right chest, and his jaw dropped open in shock. He released Lilith and backed away, falling to his knees.
The guy to Audrey’s right chuckled, his gun steaming. “The robes aren’t for show, asshole.”
Audrey cried out and ran around the table, sliding onto her knees. Pain radiated up her bad leg, but she didn’t care. “Senator?” she asked, lifting his head to her knees.
His eyes widened with shock, and he coughed. Fear and pain crossed his face.
Audrey shrugged out of her coat and balled it up to press against the wound. Her gaze darted around for help and landed on Lilith. “He needs medical attention.”
Lilith pursed red lips, regret twisting them. “I’m afraid not.” She shook her head. “I do wish you would’ve joined us in our quest, Senator.”
Blood seeped between Audrey’s fingers and helplessness flooded her. “Please let me get him to a doctor.”
Lilith sighed and focused on the shooter. “Finish him off, and dispose of his body. We can’t be linked to this.” Reaching down, she clung to Audrey’s arm. “We need to get to a medical facility to see what exactly is growing inside our new member here.”
Audrey ripped her arm free. “Screw you.”
“Classy.” Lilith nodded at the two men closest to Audrey. “Please remove her so we can finish off our business here.” Thoughtful contemplation filled the woman’s expression.
She didn’t care one wit about life.
Audrey pressed harder against the senator’s wound, and he groaned. “How can you so easily kill if your mission is to protect life?” She directed her question to the silent men in black and not to their leader. Lilith had killed too many people to care.
The shooter grinned. “We care about pure life, not all life. Some people are collateral damage in our war.”
“You have no idea about war,” the senator hissed, pain filling his face. “No idea at all.”
“It’s okay,” Audrey murmured. The senator had fought in Korea and had the medals to prove it. He was tough, and she could figure out a way to save him. But the warm blood rushing along her fingers promised she didn’t have much time. “Stay still so you don’t bleed as much.”
Lilith glared down at Audrey. “Get away from him, or I’ll make you regret it in ways you can’t even imagine.”
“Think so?” Audrey eyed her immediate area for any type of weapon. Only smooth, stone floor met her gaze.
“Yes.” Lilith nodded at a man covering the far door. “Let me show you what we do with our enemies. Now, Freddie.”
&nbs
p; The man who’d shot the senator opened the door and reached inside to remove a man wearing a black hood. He fell to his knees, his arms bound behind his back. With flourish, Freddie snagged off the hood.
Nate. Audrey blinked, time grinding to a complete halt. Bruised and battered, his clothing ripped and filthy, Nate Dean kneeled on the stone floor, pure fury in his gray eyes.
Chapter 28
Nate eyed Audrey, tuning in to her heartbeat as well as the baby’s. Steady and strong, both. Audrey’s thumped much too quickly, however. He smiled, ignoring the crack in his bottom lip. “Hello, Miss Madison.”
Audrey’s face paled to the color of white chalk. “I don’t understand.”
Lilith giggled and clapped her hands together. “Life is weird, right? Jason has been investigating me, and it turns out, his past is a little hazy. I thought Freddie could get answers from him, but so far, Jason has been tougher than I’d expected.”
Realization flickered in Audrey’s eyes.
Nate gave a short nod. Lilith had no clue about their real connection, nor about his true identity.
Audrey frowned, surprise twisting her lip. “So you, ah, captured Jason?”
If there was a what-the-fuck expression, Audrey wore it right now. Embarrassment flooded through Nate. “It wasn’t as easy as she’s making it sound.” Why was he defending himself? He’d been knocked out by some good drugs, for Pete’s sake. Yeah, it was a rookie move. He sighed.
Lilith sauntered over and ran long fingernails through Nate’s hair.
A small growl emerged from Audrey’s chest, and Nate cut her a hard look to knock it off. If Lilith discovered their connection, she’d turn on Audrey.
Right now, Nate had enough problems. The senator was bleeding out, Audrey was unarmed and pregnant, Lilith was crazy, and several men with guns seemed ready to happily kill him. But he’d spent the last hour trying to get his hands free, and he was almost there.
The first one he’d take out would be Freddie. The guy had enjoyed kicking Nate in the face for information, but Nate hadn’t given him anything interesting. He’d been tortured by the best during some of his missions, and this guy hadn’t come close.