Anita Clenney - Fountain of Secrets

No one could walk through walls. “How the hell did he do that? Is the equipment working?”

“Checks out fine,” Hank said.

“Slow the speed down,” Nathan said.

“That’s regular speed,” Hank said. “I’ve never seen a human move that fast.”

Maybe he wasn’t human. Bloody hell. “The guards didn’t stop him?”

“They fell asleep.”

“Did he drug them?” He could have stolen meds from the medical room.

“No. He went straight to the garage and took the Mercedes. I’m trying to locate the car now.”

Nathan didn’t care about the Mercedes. He was worried about Kendall and Jake. He was almost certain Raphael would go back to Italy, to the treasure. He had to warn Kendall and Jake. There was no doubt Raphael could be dangerous. Whether he actually was or not remained to be seen. Raphael hadn’t revealed anything during his time here, only sleeping or refusing to talk, watching everything with those strange eyes so similar to Nathan’s when he changed. Was he turning into whatever Raphael was? At least Raphael didn’t look like a monster.

“Double security and keep looking for him. I’m going to Italy. I have a feeling that’s where he’s headed.”

“I’ll get the helicopter here and have the other jet waiting at the airport.”

“Keep a watch on the airports and check in with me if anything changes.”

“Yes, sir.”

He walked toward Marco’s room. He needed to talk to him before he left. If necessary, he would wake him. If that nurse tried to keep him out again, he’d fire her. Nathan’s head was pounding so hard he stopped in the bathroom first and splashed cold water on his face. Sometimes a distraction could stop the change. He didn’t want anyone to witness it. His security team was trusting, but there was no way he could explain that.

Only Fergus had seen him change. And Kendall and Jake. They didn’t believe his excuses, but he couldn’t tell them the truth. Hell, he didn’t know what the truth was, but it had to be connected to his recurring dream of two men whispering about a curse and the relics that would cure it. They must have been talking about his curse, since one of the men was holding the journal that included sketches of the relics he’d dreamed of for as long as he could remember.

He’d tried everything, but even hypnosis didn’t help him remember anything. He hoped Marco could tell him where to find this Fountain of Youth. He was running out of time. He could feel whatever was inside him growing stronger. He was afraid he was going to hurt someone. More afraid it was going to be Kendall. It seemed stronger when he was near her, and he couldn’t avoid her forever.

Nathan glanced at the worn silver watch on his arm. Kendall and Jake would arrive a few hours ahead of him. He didn’t like sending Jake with her, but he could keep her safe. He’d have to warn them about Raphael. They were both going to be pissed that he’d kept another secret.

The nurse wasn’t in. Fergus was there, sitting by Marco’s bed. His head was bent over and he was whispering. “I must,” Fergus said.

Marco’s reply was weak. “Not yet. It’s not time.”

Both men looked up as he entered the room. Fergus looked guilty as a whore in church and hurried out. Nathan watched him go and then sat in the chair he had so quickly vacated.

“Marco, I need to find the fountain. Please, can you tell me where it is?”

“Raphael is the only one left who knows. I don’t remember.”

And Raphael was gone. Damn. “I have something to tell you.” He didn’t have time to waste. The helicopter was waiting and that damned nurse could come back anytime. “Raphael isn’t dead.”

“I know.”

Nathan frowned. “Damn Fergus.”

“Fergus didn’t tell me. I saw Raphael.”

“He came here?”

“Yes. He told me to stay here. It would be safer.”

“Where did he go?”

“To move the treasure and to find Kendall.”

Nathan’s pulse quickened dangerously. “Why does he want to find Kendall?”

“She has his cross.”

“It’s in my study.”

“No. She took it. She took mine too. And yours. But it’s not yours, is it?”

The blood rushed through Nathan’s veins. His eyes burned. Kendall wouldn’t stand a chance against Raphael if he thought she’d stolen his cross, and Jake wouldn’t be able to stop him alone. Nathan had to get to them before Raphael did. He tried to steady his breathing. He couldn’t let it happen here.

“Maybe I should come with you,” Marco said. “Raphael isn’t happy with either of us. But I couldn’t tell him the truth. I couldn’t tell any of them. They didn’t understand the things I saw, the things I knew.”

Knew what? “No. You stay here and rest. I’ll find Raphael.”

“I am tired,” he said. “I don’t like getting old. I haven’t had a drink for a long time.”

“Do you need more water?”

“Not that kind.” Marco closed his eyes. “Go to Kendall. She needs you.”

Raphael put his foot on the accelerator and the Mercedes shot around a truck. He knew Nathan was sending Kendall and Jake to Italy to move the treasure. He couldn’t let that happen. He had to get there first. The only way to do that was by finding the gateway. If it was still there. He was furious with Nathan Larraby, and with Marco. If what he had admitted was true, then Marco had lied to the Protettori. He had betrayed them all.

“We shouldn’t have left,” Kendall said for the tenth time since the jet had taken off for Italy two hours before. The threats against Nathan had increased in the past few weeks. One intruder might not pose a threat to all those guards, but something wasn’t right. Even Fergus was acting weird. Not to mention Marco. Why did he keep talking about Adam? “I think Nathan’s in trouble,” she said to Jake.

“You have a short memory. I think Nathan can handle anyone he has locked up in his fancy prison.”

“Locked up? You think he’s holding the intruder?”

“I don’t think he had an intruder,” Jake said.

“Then who was down there?”

Jake tore off a piece of beef jerky he’d produced from his backpack. “I think he’s experimenting down there, creating some kind of superhuman.”

“You really think he’s working on people down there? Like some kind of mad scientist?”

“Normal people don’t roar. Not even intruders. Not without good reason,” he said. “That means one of two things. Torture or sex.”

“Speaking of intruders, I wonder who the woman was in your house?”

“I don’t know. I can’t believe you didn’t mention her.”

“I thought you were hiding her.”

“From you?” He lifted one brow, an expression she was finding far too frustrating and sexy. “She must have been hot.”

“Someone broke into your house and you’re worried about whether she was hot?”

“I’m just surprised.”

“She was… beautiful. Probably sent in to distract you. She was wearing a gown or some kind of robe.”

“Like a nightgown?”

“I don’t know.” Kendall frowned. “And she was dirty, like she’d been digging in the dirt. What did the guy look like?”

“Dark hair, not bad looking.”

She gave him her best coy look. “Was he hot?”

His look was anything but coy as he picked up the phone to call Clint. The call didn’t go well. He slammed the bag of jerky on the table. “Damn it to hell. Someone trashed the place.”

“What could they be after?” Kendall asked. “Do you keep anything valuable at the house?”

“Weapons. Some cash.”

After a lot of speculation about whether it was a random robbery, something from Jake’s past, or this Reaper business, Jake tossed his empty beef jerky bag in the trash and reclined his seat. “I’m going to take a nap. Wake me when the jet lands.” After a minute, he cracked one eyelid. “How hot was she?”