Rebecca Zanetti - Forgotten Sins

Yes. His love and the scientist who’d created them. “How are you sure he hasn’t found them?”

Matt cut his eyes to Shane. “Because they’d be dead.”

“So you want him still on the ranch?”

“No. He’s chomping to get back in the field. If you take Josie to Montana, then you can take over the intel during the final three months.” Matt signaled and changed lanes.

Nate deserved a time in the field since he’d been cooped up so long. Shane cleared his throat as his brother focused back on the road. “There’s something I’ve never asked.”

“Then don’t.”

His brother certainly knew how to cut to the chase. Yet it was time for answers. “Do you really think Audrey set Nathan and the blue team up? She seemed so kind to have engineered so many deaths.”

“I think so.” Matt’s hands tightened on the steering wheel.

“Why? Why would they do that?”

Matt shrugged. “Because they could? To get Nate back in line? To get us all back in line? Maybe to show us that there would never be a normal life, we’d never be truly free.”

“They had to know it would backfire.”

Buildings flew by as Matt accelerated. “I assume they thought Nate would attack the commander or try to escape—anything that would give them the excuse to kill him.”

Which was why they all were located at the base camp at the same time. “To motivate the rest of us. To show us the consequences.” As twisted as it sounded, the interpretation made sense. “They miscalculated.”

“Damn straight.”

Shane shifted his bruised body on the seat. “Nate is living to find Audrey. What happens when we finally catch up to her and the commander?”

“I don’t want to think about that.” Matt pulled around the corner and parked next to a deli. “Something to worry about on another day. Go get your wife. I’ll wait here.”

Shane nodded and jumped out of the Jeep.

* * *

Josie clutched her hands together, her gaze on the side mirror of Tom’s truck. “They’re still behind us.”

Tom tightened his jaw. “Okay. Let’s slow down and get a look at them.”

Panic caught Josie’s breath in her throat. The two men in the truck weren’t trained. An accountant and a construction worker… they couldn’t deal with the people Shane dealt with. She was about to get her friends killed. “No. Just get off the highway—hurry.” Had the commander found her?

Daniel shook his head. “We need to see who it is.”

Tom nodded. “Trust me.” He pulled into the right lane and slowed down.

The van wavered, and then sped up, coming abreast of their vehicle.

Josie cringed back into the seat, her eyes wide. A teenager drove the van, his cell phone to his ear. He sped up, and the logo for a local bread company shone on the side.

“You have got to be kidding me.” Josie huffed out a laugh, settling back into the seat. “I feel foolish.”

“See what Dean is doing to you?” Tom shook his head.

“Yes.” Though there was nothing wrong with being a little bit paranoid. That way nobody could sneak up on her. She doubted either man in the truck would appreciate that logic. “Please take me to the hospital.”

“You have to rethink your dependence on Shane.” Tom sighed. “Is there any chance you’d let me buy you lunch before you spend the entire day at the hospital?”

“No.” She turned a rueful smile on him. He was such a great guy… she needed to find someone for him. “I know you don’t understand, but I really need to be with Shane right now.”

“I do understand, Josie.” Tom reached beneath his seat.

Silver flashed.

Pain lanced across her skin as he slapped a cuff around her wrist, hooking it to a bar set between their seats.

“What the hell?” Fire ripped through Josie as she tried to yank free. “Are you kidding me?” First he had Shane arrested, now the man cuffed her? “Listen, moron. I am staying with my husband.” She yanked back, slamming her feet against the floor. Pain ripped through her shoulder. “Let me go.”

“I can’t.” Tom’s jaw hardened.

“Whoa. What the hell, man?” Daniel reached over her lap and tugged on the cuff, his eyes wide. “Let her the fuck go.”

Josie started. Hearing the mild accountant swear was almost as surprising as the handcuffs. Almost. She took a deep breath. Okay. “I appreciate you’re trying to save me from myself here.” Searching for reason, she calmed her voice. “But I’m not in danger, and I know what I’m doing.”

Tom’s teeth flashed in a parody of a smile. “You stupid bitch.”

Josie’s heartbeat sped up. Adrenaline ripped through her veins. “Excuse me?”

“Hey, wait a minute now. Knock it off,” Daniel hissed. “Let her go.”

“No.” Tom reached down alongside his door, grabbed a gun, and pointed it at Daniel. “Shut the hell up, Danny Boy. I don’t need your crap right now.”

Daniel exhaled. “Come on. We agreed we wouldn’t hurt her. Now let her go.”

They’d agreed? She swung her gaze to Daniel. “What’s going on?”

He shrugged, turning to look out the window.

She shifted her attention to Tom. Maybe she’d misread him. Could Tom be crazy? “Get out of here and run before the police catch you. And let me go.”

He chuckled. “No.”

Okay. She could reason with him. “I thought we were friends.”

The look he gave her chilled the blood in her veins. “No. We’ve never been friends. Don’t get me wrong.” He switched lanes, glancing in the rearview mirror before focusing on the road ahead. “I wouldn’t have minded fucking you.” He shrugged. “Though I guess I still might.”

Daniel gave a low groan. “Not this again. Leave her the hell alone.”

Yeah. She’d have to take him out. Josie levered back and kicked her feet toward his face.

“Stop it.” Tom slapped her feet back down without missing a beat. “I’ll knock you out. Don’t think for a second I won’t.”

She bit her lip. Confusing swirled through her brain. “I don’t understand. What do you think is going to happen between us?”

He blew out a breath. “You know, when I first saw you, I figured you for a dumb blonde. Turns out I was right.” The truck accelerated up the ramp to the interstate. “Do you really think I’ve been lusting after you this entire time? That I’m a guy who’d take ‘no’ from you and keep coming back for more?”

Muscles bunched in his forearms as he clutched the wheel. Why hadn’t she noticed how strong he was? How big? “No. I figured we were friends. That you were a nice guy in my building who enjoyed my company.” What the hell was he getting at?

“Damn, Josie.” He glanced at the side mirror and switched into the fast lane. “I’m not a nice guy—nor am I your friend.”

Her entire body stilled. As if frozen into an alert state. “What are you?”

Tom turned toward her, his brown eyes narrowing, and a smirk twisting his lips. “I’m a soldier, sweetheart. One who’s been looking for your husband for a very long time.”

She gasped, leaning closer to Daniel.

Tom laughed, the sound grating in the cab. “So is he. Good old Danny boy is one of my brothers, sweetheart. You think the Gray brothers are the only ones who can go undercover?”

Slowly, she turned her gaze toward Dan.

He grimaced and gave a short nod. “Sorry.”

She shook her head. They’d trapped her between them in the truck. “You’ve both been watching me? I mean, waiting for Shane to show up?”

Daniel slowly nodded. “We found you about five months ago. Our people put Tom and me in place as soon as possible. At some point, we figured Shane would come for you. At least we hoped he would.”

“Why?” she whispered.

“So he can come back home,” Daniel said quietly. “We have work to do.”

“Or so he can die.” Tom snarled. His hand shot out, his fist connecting with her jaw.

Stars exploded behind her eyes. Then darkness.

An ache filled Josie’s entire head. She groaned, blinking her eyes open. Light lanced her pupils, and she winced, turning her head to the side and closing her eyes. Deep breaths. The sharp scent of bleach stabbed her nostrils. She opened her eyes again.

She reclined in a leather chaise in some sort of examination room. A long peach-colored counter held a stainless steel sink along with cotton balls, tongue depressors, and a blood pressure cuff.

Her arm ached. Glancing down, she gasped at the cotton ball taped to the inside of her elbow. Had they injected her with something?

The door opened. A woman stepped inside, her three-inch heels clicking on the sparkling white tiles. She tapped a manila file in her hands. “You’re awake.”

Josie struggled for reason. It was the bitch who’d insulted her intelligence in the conference room after the break-in at her office. What was her name—“Dr. Madison?”

Sharp blue eyes appraised her. Today the doctor wore a white lab coat and had pulled her hair back in a fierce bun. “Yes.”

“What did you inject me with?” Josie asked, her voice coming out hoarse.

Madison frowned perfectly arched brows. “Nothing. I took blood to see if my young Shane had finally procreated.”

The possessive tone set Josie’s stomach rolling. “I’m not pregnant.”

Madison shut the door. “No, unfortunately, you are not.” She shrugged. “We have had absolutely no luck continuing their line.”

“How unfortunate.” Josie’s vision wavered, and her jaw pounded. “So let me go.”

“No. You’re one of many sacrifices for science.”

“Like you’ve ever sacrificed.” Josie swallowed, tasting blood.

“Not true.” Madison sniffed. “I gave over my only child to them—for Nathan to use temporarily. My poor Audrey.”

“Audrey?” Facts ticked through Josie’s mind. The woman who Nathan had loved? “Wait a minute—the head researcher was Audrey’s mother—is that you?”

“Yes.”

“You’re psychotic. What about the kill chip?” Maybe it wasn’t real.

Madison giggled. “I wondered if they were getting worried. The chip will slice their spines in three months or so, right?” She shook her head. “They really had better make up with us, don’t you think?”

Rage, fear, shock all cascaded through Josie. “You’re a monster.”

The doctor shook her head. “Don’t be silly. You might as well know that since you’re not pregnant, keeping you alive isn’t high on my priority list.” She crossed the room toward the counter.

Josie sat up, settling her tennis shoes on the tile. She hadn’t had the chance to search the drawers for a weapon. “You’re evil.” If she could distract the doctor, maybe she could make a break for it.

Madison’s blue eyes sparkled. “Don’t be so dramatic.” Her smile revealed perfectly straight teeth.

Josie eyed the door. “Rumor has it Audrey set Nathan up, Doc.”

Madison pursed her lips. “Is that what they think? Hmm. Interesting.” Her gaze narrowed. “Apparently my Shane confided in you. I taught him better than that.”

“You know Shane?” Sadness for her husband filtered through Josie. To be raised by a crazy scientist who didn’t even care about her own daughter must’ve been terrible. No wonder Shane had trouble dealing with women.

“Don’t be coy, dear. It doesn’t suit you.” Madison’s gaze lashed over Josie. “I have to say, you’re not what I expected.”

“Why’s that?” She needed to find some sort of weapon. While she figured she could take the doctor in a heartbeat, stupid Tom had to be around somewhere. Or Daniel. Maybe Josie could get Daniel to help her.

The smile turned malicious. “Shane’s training. The darkness in my Shane surprised even me.” Her voice lowered to a throaty purr. “I really wonder what in the world my boy sees in somebody as weak as you.”

“You jealous?” Josie allowed her voice to lower. “From what I’ve heard, you were a desperate dog in heat. Always watching, always wanting.” It was a calculation and a stab in the dark. But something in the doctor’s tone hinted. Josie lifted her gaze to meet the doctor’s. “But they never returned your desire now, did they?”

Fire raced through the doctor’s eyes before she cleared them. “That’s what you think.”

“No.” Satisfaction lifted Josie’s chin at the direct hit. “They wanted your pretty daughter. Your innocent, sweet, and young daughter.”

The smirk on Madison’s face twisted. “Yes, well. Young Nathan wanted Audrey. And he got her for a short time—though she wasn’t quite as innocent as he’d hoped.” Madison crossed the room and placed the file on the counter. “But that didn’t end well now, did it?”