Coulter’s long legs devoured the ground while his eyes darted around the perimeter searching for hostiles. When he reached Marena, his gun was drawn. She froze.
“What’s wrong?” he said, jumping in front of her. He moved in a circle with Marena behind him as he scoped out the yard.
“Nothing,” she quickly assured him. She placed her hands on his shoulders. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. We’ve got a lab, Colt. It’s in Sedona, completely remote, and has everything we need. We just need to finish packing up and call to request the jet.”
Coulter was still on alert. “You’re sure nothing’s wrong?”
“Yes, positive.” Marena’s cheeks flushed red. “I was just excited by the news, that’s all. You can stand down, Coulter—we’re safe.”
Though he harnessed his weapon, he still kept her behind him as they picked up the pace back to the house. With his assistance, Marena could load the truck in record time. Next, she did a final cleanup and walk-through of the house before locking up. Then, with the key tucked safely back in its hiding place, they toted the last of their gear back to the car.
“Do you want me to drive?” he asked.
“No, I’m good.” Marena turned to him. “It’s been so long since I’ve driven anywhere. I didn’t know how much I missed it. Besides, I want you to rest.”
“I feel fine. I haven’t had any symptoms in a while.”
“Yes, but we have no idea what’s next. So you shouldn’t be behind a wheel when it happens.”
He gave her a mock salute. “Fair enough, doc.”
Marena waited until they were back out on the main road before she spoke again.
“What did you do, sleep out there?”
“Not exactly, but I figured I’d do us both a favor and give you some space. Besides, I needed to think. I haven’t done much of that lately. Most of the time, I’ve been in reaction mode.”
Marena glimpsed over at him. “And now?”
“I’ve come to grips with not calling the shots this go-round.”
“That can’t be easy for you.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Coulter, I’m sorry about earlier. After you left, I realized that having to rely on someone else this heavily goes against your training.”
“In the field, we aren’t just responsible for ourselves. We must watch each other’s backs, too. We have to operate as a unit, so the concept isn’t exactly foreign to me.”
“Still, it can’t be easy when your life is on the line.”
“I’m in danger all the time, Marena. But that wasn’t it.”
She gripped the steering wheel in frustration. “You mentioned giving me some space. It hadn’t occurred to you that I’ve had three years of it already?”
The long sigh that reluctantly left his mouth floated around the truck’s cabin, leaving the air drenched in tension. It was almost a full minute before he spoke again.
“I could always count on how good it felt to be with you. It was easy, you know—like breathing. I didn’t have to think about it or censor myself. We just were. And now, that’s gone. And I’m left trying to figure out how to orbit around you again without hurting you more or causing painful memories to resurface. I know it was because of me that we’re in this jacked-up predicament, Marena, but if you think that makes it any easier, you’d be wrong.”
“Coulter—” Marena began but stopped. Finally, she said, “Thank you for that. Because I did think it was easier.”
“We’ve got less than three days left, Rena.” Coulter ran a hand over his face. His fingers grazed the stubble on his jaw. “I don’t want us to spend the time being at odds with each other or trying to avoid land mines.”
The analogy made her smirk. “Nor do I,” she admitted and placed her hand on his face.
Marena’s fingers moved lightly over his skin. When she slid them down the side of his neck, Coulter’s right hand came up and stilled her fingers.
“Are you trying to take my vitals?”
Unable to help herself, Marena burst out laughing. She returned her hand to the steering wheel. “Not too subtle, huh?”
“About as much as a kid shaking gifts under the tree at Christmas.”
They shared a chuckle at that. Eventually, both got quiet. Finally, the strain between them evaporated.
After getting everything loaded on the jet of her client, Alejandro “Dro” Reyes, Marena took a moment to close her eyes, exhale and relax. The flight to the Sedona airport would be four and a half hours, during which she planned on taking a much-needed nap.
“You should try and get some sleep,” she called out to Coulter. “I’ll wake you when we get there.”
Her hand snaked out to rest on his left thigh protectively. His muscled leg felt as pliable as granite.
“Woo. There’s no doubt that you still work out,” she joked.
When she spared a glance, it was to find that Coulter was already sound asleep. Suddenly, her mind produced snapshots of their time together. Her stomach fluttered and a lump lodged in her throat at recalling some of the memories. His truthful declarations earlier had done crazy things to her equilibrium. Stop it. You have to stay focused, she warned. Any misstep could prove fatal for Coulter. “And my heart,” Marena whispered aloud.
Her borrowed research lab turned out to be a large state-of-the-art facility in Cottonwood, Arizona. Thanks to Alejandro’s team, a driver was waiting to take them to her new workspace. Sedona had always appealed to Marena. The red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls, and plentiful pine forests in the desert town enticed tourists worldwide, as did the lore behind it being the home to four of the earth’s energy vortexes and spiritual enlightenment.
Marena left Coulter sleeping while she and the driver lugged in as much stuff as she could carry. She was startled to see Coulter closing the back door and toting the last of their supplies on the third trip back.
“Thanks,” she told him. “I was trying not to wake you until it was done.”
“I see that,” he replied, following her into the building. “Wow, this place isn’t what I expected. It looks more like someone’s gigantic mansion in the mountains than a biocontainment laboratory.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” she agreed. “But it’s got everything we need.” She grabbed his hand. “There’s a lab and workrooms, three bedrooms, a kitchen, and an exercise room. Outside, there’s a pool and a greenhouse, too.”
Coulter walked around, taking it all in. The space was bright and inviting, and it did its best to bring the outdoors inside. The back of the building was mostly glass to afford a vantage view of the mountains from each room. Everything was neat and orderly. He watched Marena move around with the same delight that a child has in the candy aisle at the grocery store. Her enthusiasm was infectious. “It appears you have everything you need.”
“And then some. The house operates on solar power. It’s off the city grid and purely clean energy. I’m not sure if you remember that solar farm we passed on the way in, but that belongs to this place,” she said with excitement as she read through the notebook in her hands. “There are motion sensors and high-tech security measures. I’m eager to get started,” she gushed.
“It sounds like it’s a well-designed, environment-friendly house.”
“Oh, it is. Also, I’ve downloaded the formula Frank provided. Now, the only thing missing is the emylanoroc. Let’s hope we can get it soon.”
Coulter arched an eyebrow. “The what?”
“Let’s just say it’s the star in this cast of characters. I call it emmy for short.”
He shook his head. “You are such a geek,” he teased.
“You’d better count your blessings over that fact,” Marena countered. “Granted, when I first discovered we’d need a biosafety lab, I was worried about calling too much attention to ourselves.”
“Why?”
“Because if I started asking around for a biosafety level three lab, authorization would be required to reserve it. That might raise some questions as to what I was working on and for which organization. I didn’t want to get attention from the wrong crowd.”
“Brinkley.” Coulter sneered. “I know he’s out there searching for us.”
“Well, good luck finding us here,” she said confidently.
Just then, Marena’s cell phone rang. She retrieved it from her purse.
She glanced nervously at Coulter. “It’s my old one.”
“Don’t answer it.”
She stared down at the phone. “I have to, she called over her shoulder. “It’s Dad.”
“Rena, someone could track our location.”
“You know my father, Colt. If he doesn’t get a hold of me, he’ll be on the first plane to Beaufort. I have to answer.”
“Fine, but you need to be off that call in thirty seconds, or I’m hanging up.”
Marena nodded and hit the talk button. “Hi, Dad.”
“Hey there, sweetheart. How are you?”
“Just fine, and you?”
Coulter pointed to his watch.
“Great. I haven’t spoken to you in a while and wanted to see how you were.”
“Dad, I called you last week.”
“I know, but is calling your old man too much to ask?”
“Of course not,” she replied.
“So, how’s Beaufort?”
“Great.” Marena grimaced at having to lie.
“So, what have you been you up to lately? I’m not disturbing you, am I?”
Coulter gave her a look.
“Actually, Dad, I’m on my way to the store. Some problem with inventory.”
“At this hour?”
Marena could’ve kicked herself. She’d forgotten about the time. “Yeah, well, I want to get it straightened out before I open up tomorrow. I hate to cut this short, but you know how I hate driving and talking on the phone.”
“Since when did you start back driving?”
Marena frowned. “I haven’t been at it long. Just short distances. I thought it was time.”
“Good for you, honey. Just call me later, okay?”
“Sure thing. I love you.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
She pressed the end button and placed the phone back in her bag.
“That was over a minute,” Coulter accused.
“You were here and heard the whole thing. So you tell me what I was supposed to do—hang up on him? You know my father.”
“Yeah, I do. And, if memory serves, the general’s last words to me were, ‘If you ever come within one klick of my daughter again, I’ll blow your face off.’”
“You deserved it,” she countered. “All the more reason not to give Dad any excuse to worry.”
“Trust me. I’d just as soon give General Dash as wide a berth as possible. Besides, I can’t begin to imagine what he’s going to say if he finds out you’re trying to save my life instead of ending it.”
“Don’t be silly,” Marena said, suddenly serious. “My father never wanted to harm you, and he certainly wouldn’t want to see you die.”
Coulter closed the distance between them. He took her hand in his and held it to his chest. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that. I’ve caused his only daughter a great deal of heartache—and I’m still doing it.”
She slipped her hand out and touched his jaw. “Don’t say that.”
“It’s true, isn’t it?”
“The only heartache I’m feeling is at you talking like your life doesn’t mean anything when you know it does—especially to me.”
“Why? Marena, I left you. And the only reason I came back is that someone I don’t know and can’t get to is trying to kill me. That’s about as selfish a motive as I can think, yet you’ve placed your life on hold and put yourself in danger to help me.” Unshed tears caused his eyes to sparkle like emeralds. “And that’s eating me up inside, Rena. How can I ever repay you for the kindness that I don’t deserve?”
Marena stared at him in absolute shock. “Do you honestly think I would’ve said no? That I would’ve turned you away and let you die?”
He couldn’t look her in the eyes.
“Coulter, answer me.”
“I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had.”
She leaned in and placed her hands on either side of his face. She didn’t budge when he tried to step away.
“I would never, ever have done that—I couldn’t. Regardless of what you did or what you said, if the situation was reversed, would you have let me die?”
“You know the answer to that.”
Marena stared him in the eyes. “I need to hear you say it.”
“You need to hear me say what? That I would give my life to save you until the end of time? No matter what happened between us? I would—without hesitation.”
“As I would give my life trying to save you.”
“That’s just it. I wouldn’t want you to because I don’t deserve it.”
“So you’re saying that I’m a terrible judge of character?”
“What?” Coulter stared at her in confusion. “I never said that.”
“You implied it when you said that you don’t deserve me trying to save you. I will never agree with that statement. You deserve every chance to live, just like anyone else. And I’m going to see that you get it.”
Another layer of wall between them crumbled as Coulter grabbed Marena and hugged her like the lifeline that she was.
“I’m scared, Rena. Not of dying, but of losing you.”
“You will never lose me, Coulter,” she vowed, crying right along and hugging him just as tight. “There will never be an outcome of this I will accept if it means your death. Never.”