Chapter Forty-One

Jenna watched as his tall figure strode from the room and the door closed behind him.

Luke had said the attack wasn’t dangerous, but she’d known he didn’t want to worry her. How could it not be dangerous?

She wished she were going with him. A horrible feeling of doubt nagged at her mind. Something was going to go terribly wrong; she knew it but felt helpless to prevent it.

Crossing over to the window, she drew back the curtains to peer down onto the curved gravel driveway below. A minute later, a black van drove up and parked directly beneath her. Luke and Callum stepped out onto the wide stairway, both dressed in black combat pants, boots, and Kevlar vests. They wore weapons belts with pistols, and a shiver of unease ran through her. She’d led such a sheltered life with her father, and she found it hard to believe the man who cared for her for all those years could have been part of this world. Why had he never told her, never prepared her… Unless he’d done things he was ashamed to tell her.

Luke glanced up at her window as if he could sense her presence, but she stayed still and a second later, Callum spoke to him, and he turned away. They climbed into the back of the van, the double doors slammed, and the van pulled away.

After waiting until it had disappeared around a curve in the long drive, she sank down onto the bed. She sat for a long time, her mind blank, then gave herself a small shake. Reaching for the bags Luke had brought her, she tipped them onto the mattress next to her, finding underwear, jeans, T-shirts, and a pair of sneakers. She dressed quickly then paced the room.

Restlessness gnawed at her. She recognized the feeling—it was a familiar companion. In the past, she had always run it off, and perhaps that’s what she needed to do now. Go run off some of her excess energy. Run until she was so exhausted she couldn’t think of anything else.

She went back to stand beside the window and peered down. Only one floor up; she could jump from here, go running and be back before anyone knew she was gone. She fiddled with the catch. They were old-fashioned sash windows that slid up smoothly when she pushed. The night air was cool against her skin, freedom beckoned, and without thinking any further, she slipped a leg over and sat perched on the ledge.

The harsh shrill of the phone rang on the bedside table as she was about to push herself off. A light flashed on the handset—an internal call, presumably one of Luke’s men. She swung her legs back into the room and crossed to the phone, picked it up.

“Lock your door. We may have a problem. I’ll call when we have the all clear.”

After placing the phone gently on the table, she stood for a few seconds, slowing her breathing. She reached out and switched off the light, leaving the room bathed in moonlight, then crossed to the door and cracked it open an inch. From somewhere below her, she caught the muffled pop of a silenced pistol and the sound of footsteps running down the hall. She closed the door and turned the key in the lock.

Luke should be at the laboratory facility by now. Soon he would blow the place and end the threat of the bioweapon being used in London. After that, it was only really her life involved. She just needed to stay free for a little while longer. And warn Luke.

She picked up the phone again and started to enter the number he’d left her before she realized the line was dead. Nothing but an ominous silence. She tried the internal line, but no one picked up.

She was on her own.

They’d cut her off. Just like the night at her father’s house. A cold lump settled in her stomach, and panic rolled over her in waves, threatening to suck her under, fogging her thoughts.

She tightened her fists until her nails cut into her palms, and the sharp sting brought her back.

No way.

She had to get out of there.

Keeping close to the walls, she edged around and peered out of the open window. Nothing moved.

Should she go find a weapon? Why hadn’t she asked for one?

But she didn’t want to be cornered inside the house. At least outside she could make a run for it. Without giving herself any more time, she swung herself out over the ledge and hung down by her fingertips, dangling for a moment before releasing her grip and dropping to the driveway below. Shock ran through her ankles as she landed. She rolled, came up onto her feet, and stood for a moment, testing that everything was fine; there was no damage.

As she turned to run, a jolt punched her in the back and pain erupted inside her, driving all coherent thoughts from her head. Agony radiated outward, contracting her muscles to solid steel. Her knees gave out, and she collapsed to the ground.

Then the pain vanished.

She pushed herself up onto her hands as it came again. Her body snapped rigid, and her cheek hit the gravel.

This time when the pain stopped, she lay still.

“Well, she’s a fast learner, anyway,” a woman said from somewhere behind her. “Don’t move.” A toe nudged her in the side as hands grasped her wrists, pulling them behind her. Cold metal snapped around them, and she was caught. Jenna dragged her gaze upward. A woman stood before her, tall and blond, her elegant appearance at odds with the weapon in her hand. “Taser,” she said, aiming it at Jenna. “Very effective.”

“Who are you?”

The woman pursed her lips. “Let’s just say I was a friend of your father’s.”

“My father is dead.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. As I said, we were friends.”

Jenna’s mind raced. “Were you also friends with Professor Merrick?”

“A long time ago.”

“He’s dead, as well.”

“I know. A tragic loss.”

Was there a faint thread of amusement in the voice now? A flash of humor in her eyes?

“Who are you?” Jenna asked again.

“My name is Lauren; that’s all you need to know.”

“And what do you want, Lauren?”

“Why, to help you, of course.”

“Do I need help?”

She gave a soft chuckle. “Oh, yes. I imagine you’re feeling a little strange right now. You feel like you’re changing. Would you like to know why you are changing? And even what you are changing into?”

“Do you know?”

“Yes, I know.”

“So tell me.”

“Later. But I will tell you that if you stay out here, you will eventually kill every person you come in contact with. So you could say I’m doing the world a service.” Lauren was silent for a moment before continuing. “By the way, how is the handsome Mr. Hockley? Is he showing any symptoms yet?”

The voice held such certainty. An image flashed through her mind of Luke dead, blood oozing from open sores that blossomed across his skin. Nausea roiled in her stomach. “Do you have a cure?”

“Yes, and maybe I’ll give it to you. If you cooperate.” She turned to the man who stood behind her. “Is Hockley here?”

“No. We’ve cleared the place.”

“Shit. Then we have to assume he could already be at the storage facility. Damn. Time to call in that backup.”

“I’ll get on it.”

Hard hands dragged Jenna to her feet, and she stood swaying in their grip.

Lauren gave a rueful smile. “I’m sorry, but I’ve seen you in action, so…”

Something struck her from behind, and the world went black.