Ava Gray - Skin Tight

It hadn’t taken her long to put Thomas Strong under her spell, so not only had she somehow uncovered the truth about Micor, she’d also absconded with their AB negative blood donor. Without her regular infusion, I-53 had died during the night, thus ending that research avenue forever.

Rowan growled. Years of work lost and for what?

Angry strides carried him down to the lift at the end of the hallway. The terminal required his ID, thumbprint, and a retina-scan before the lift doors opened. Rowan stepped inside, and the elevator hummed as it began to move.

He hated being asked to take care of such business personally, but the liaison had made it clear that the board considered cleanup to fall within his purview as lab director, and if he wanted to continue in that position, he would make the mess go away before it splattered further, before the gods-cursed woman shared what she knew with local media. It would be impossible to contain then.

The doors opened to a secret room in what would appear to be a grain silo. Indeed, even if someone came inside, they’d find no evidence there was anything else, unless they knew where to look for the panel and knew the code to get inside. Even if they did, their identity would have to be on file for the lift to open.

Frankly, Rowan didn’t see why these two fugitives required his personal attention.

It wasn’t like they’d stolen any evidence. At this point, they only had speculation, and who would believe the sort of tabloid rag that would print a story without corroboration?

Still, if he wanted to continue his work-and keep his promise to Gillie-he had to toe the corporate line. The time was fast approaching, however, when he would cease being their pawn. Once he perfected T-89’s abilities, he’d take them both from the facility, auction the male to the highest bidder-he’d make some government a formidable weapon-and then use the money to start his own facility. And he wouldn’t force Gillie to treat any patients she didn’t wish to. From that point on, she would be like an elite doctor, picking and choosing her clientele. A surge of warmth flooded him as he imagined their future together.

Rowan hurried from the silo, then paused to ensure there was no one around. In his off-duty hours, he lived in the white farmhouse on the property, and it looked quiet from here. He made his way across the field, careful to take a different path so as not to wear a telltale hint in the native vegetation.

Thanks to the liaison’s lack of forewarning, he was running late. Seven P.M., Janice’s Diner, the message had read. Bring your kit.

The drive passed in heated silence. Radio stations never played anything worth listening to these days, and he was angry at the necessity of this trip. By the time he arrived at the appointed meeting place, it was ten past the hour. He feared his target would have gone. But no. Janice’s was nearly deserted at this hour, and the burly fellow with the gash over his left eye had to be the one. The man sat hunched into the booth, gorilla shoulders nearly as wide as the bench. His hair curled like sheep’s wool, and he looked none too clean. Rowan could only hope he didn’t smell as repugnant as he appeared.

Well, no wonder he had no luck. He’s a brainless lump, and his quarry outsmarted him. To be fair, Rowan suspected a couple lab chimps could do so.

With a faint sigh, he made his way over.

“You’re late,” the man growled.

“And you are an idiot. I fail to see how either is relevant to the task at hand.”

He sat down in the cracked red vinyl booth with a moue of distaste. If only he’d thought to bring his disinfectant. God, how he hated going out poorly prepared.

The thug balled up his fist as if he intended to punch Rowan like some feces-flinging savage. “Try it,” he said quietly, “and I’ll have a needle in you so fast you won’t have time to exhale before you die.”

The other man sat back, knuckles going white on the metal rim of the table. “I want more money. Nobody said anything about a guy who drives like Evel Knievel.”

“I’m authorized to offer you more.” He wrote a number on the napkin and passed it across the table.

“That’s not enough. He totaled my car. I think he’s had training, and it’s going to be a pain in the ass.”

“Yes,” he said. “It’s so inconvenient when people resist the fate you have planned for them.”

“Mr. Smith,” as he preferred to be known, did not register the irony. “I know, right?”

“Regarding your refusal of this offer, the only alternative is for us to hire someone else to complete the job at which you failed. Surely your limited mind can comprehend that we will require repayment of our earnest money? And in ways you won’t enjoy.” He let his mouth curve into a smile.

It took a moment for that to sink in. Just as well, for the waitress arrived with a grubby sheet of typed paper, poorly coated with laminate. “Special’s chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn on the cob. For dessert we have apple pie or peach cobbler. The meal comes with coffee or iced tea.”

“Sounds good,” the killer grunted.

“You want coffee or tea, sugar?”

“Tea.”

The gum-popping, polyster-clad throwback to 1964 turned to Rowan with a Polydent smile. “And for you, darlin’?”

Rowan despised it when people he didn’t know used casual endearments, and he fought the urge to stick her with the needle he’d promised the hired gun. “Coffee. Black.”

As if he’d trust them to cook his food. The coffee was bad enough, and most likely he wouldn’t touch it.

“Watching your girlish figure, eh?”

He raised a brow, wondering if that was supposed to be funny. “Quite.”

“Before,” the guy said, “I think you were threatening me.”

Stifling a sigh, he murmured, “You think. Aren’t you sure?”

What a waste of a perfectly good brain stem.

“No, I’m sure.”

“So you either accept this offer or I fire you. Which is it?” This was, at base, why he’d come: to dispose of the tool should it prove faulty.

The thug finally seemed to realize that a man could be dangerous without possessing wads of muscle. “I’ll take the new deal. Don’t worry. I’ll get them this time.”

“Excellent. I’ve been instructed to tell you that your payment is in a locker at the bus station. You’ll find the key has been left in a manila envelope at the front desk of the motel where you registered as Michael Hunt.”

God, such venal humor.

Slow horror dawned in the other man’s eye. “How did you-”

“We know everything, or near enough that we can find you, wherever you may go. Don’t disappoint me again, Mr. Smith.” With that, Rowan slid out of the booth and retraced his steps through the diner.

The glass doors pushed open, releasing him of obligation. Soon, so soon now, all of this would be over.

I’m coming, Gillie. Be patient. I’ll fix everything, my precious girl.

Gillie had been alone for two days.

That wouldn’t have been a problem, except during the past few weeks, she’d grown accustomed to company. She didn’t know if something had happened to Taye or if she’d scared him with that clumsy kiss. God knew, he hadn’t seemed swept away by it.

She tested the memory of his reaction like a sore spot on the inside of her cheek and found it still tender. For all of ten seconds, he’d kissed her back, his mouth fever hot and hungry, and then he’d shoved her away, as if he were a frightened virgin.

“That’s not a good idea,” he’d said quietly.

She’d hunched her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I just thought-”

“No. We’re getting out of here. Soon I won’t be your only choice, and you’d be sorry if I hadn’t stopped things.” Taye cupped her chin in his hand, eyes searching hers. “You don’t have to dispose of your virginity like this, as a defense from Rowan.”