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Mac groaned, and opened his eyes. He blinked, surprised that he was still breathing. His side burned like someone stuck a hot poker in it, but he didn’t feel any other injuries.
“You’re awake.”
He tensed at Colette’s voice. She was the reason for his injury. He opened his eyes, found her leaning over him. “Get—the hell away from me.” His throat was raw, his whisper scraping out of it, every word painful.
“I’m sorry, Mac. I’m so sorry. They wanted me to get you out of the way, but I couldn’t do it.” She straightened and moved away from him, arms wrapped around her as she stared at the wall behind him. “I’ll get you into Medical as soon as I can. They’re monitoring everything, and I’ll have to sneak you into one of the healing rooms.”
“Why—” Mac cut himself off, his throat screaming at him.
“I had no choice.” Colette pulled over a chair and sat next to the bed. Mac figured they were in her quarters. It was rumored that Security got the cushier assignments when rooms were passed out. Looked like the rumor was true. Her bedroom was twice the size of his, and even had a long, narrow window, set high up, near the ceiling. So, no escaping that way. She started talking again, pulling his attention back to her. “I got dragged in three months ago, when Harper found out about my brother.”
“You have a brother?”
“He’s in prison, for robbing several museums. He believed they were doing it for the people, giving back the artifacts to the countries who originally owned them. He was stupid, and now he’s paying for it.”
She lowered her head, blonde hair swinging over her shoulders. Mac didn’t think he’d ever seen her hair down before. It was thick, and beautiful—
What the hell? She just tried to kill him, and he was thinking about her hair. He must have been seriously drugged. His eyes closed, and he let his mind just shut down. He couldn’t think about it. About her.
“Mac?”
“Here.” He flinched, and opened his eyes. He really needed to stop talking.
“I have some water. Take a sip. Slowly—you haven’t had anything since last night.”
He sipped the lukewarm water. It slid down his throat, liquid heaven. “How—long?”
“Twelve hours. I should be able to get you into Medical in a little while. With all the healthy agents offsite, any activity is suspicious.”
“Harper threatened your brother.”
“On the nose.” She let out a sigh. “A man working for Harper contacted me. He told me if I did this, got the information Harper needed to take over TimeSearch, I’d be able to see my brother again in six months instead of six years. If I didn’t—I wouldn’t see him ever again. I never expected killing people to be part of the deal.”
“You didn’t do it.” He was still surprised by that. Even more so now, knowing the stakes.
“I couldn’t.” Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, Mac—what am I going to do?”
“Where is your brother?”
“Here in London.”
His eyes widened as he made the connection. “Your brother was part of the Retrievers gang?” She nodded. “I do have some sources. I might be able to help. He’s safe as long as Harper thinks I’m—dead?”
“Missing.” She studied him. “Why would you do this for me?”
“Since you didn’t kill me, I figured I could have you owe me. I still need a place to work. I’m not giving up on Kane and Elizabeth.” He swallowed, his throat working overtime on the conversation. Colette gave him another sip of water. “Thanks. There’s an old lab, the first generation console. It was used back when TimeSearch started. I can take it off the main grid. I doubt Harper has a hacker as talented as me working for him. All the hackers I know would shove their middle finger up his—”
“Got it.” She stood, checking her utility belt. “If you can be alone for a while, I’ve got some arrangements to make. If you trust me to make them.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Actually, no.” She flashed a smile, her first since Mac discovered that MI-6 had their dirty hands in the project. “I already reported your unfortunate escape to my contact. I told him you knocked me out and got away. I am to report you as missing to the head of Security. So, no body has to show up.”
“That would be tough, since I’m still using it.”
“I wish I didn’t like you, Mac. It would have made killing you so much easier.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. What kind of like was she talking about? “Get some rest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She paused in the doorway. “And don’t call if you need me.”
“Right.”
She disappeared, and Mac could indulge in some totally unmanly groaning and bitching.
At least he was alive, and there was a bonus to the near death experience, and the soon-to-be reports of him missing. He could work without Dr. K, or worse, that rat bastard snake Harper looking over his shoulder.
He didn’t care how long it took. He was getting Kane and Elizabeth home.