Since they were in hiding and he had only a borrowed genetics book in his reach and his legs weren’t cooperating, he couldn’t change his circumstances if he wanted to. Forced vacation. Unless someone handed him a computer, he was totally at their mercy.
His work ethic had grown out of necessity. He’d used work to deal with his introverted personality. Work had allowed him to shut himself off from the world around him without having to awkwardly stumble through social interactions. It was comfortable.
Dating was not comfortable.
Admitting or acting on feelings for a woman was not comfortable.
The idea of putting himself out there to Kate had been the ultimate in discomfort for three years.
He’d noticed Kate. He’d always noticed her. Every time she entered a room he knew it. In fact, he probably overcompensated for his attraction by intentionally ignoring her even more than anyone else. He’d been too mortified for her to find out the quiet, introverted geek across the room would give anything to ask her out.
Two days ago, he’d woken up with no responsibilities and the object of his affection leaning over him with her lavender-scented hair, big blue eyes, and a smile that lit up a room. The prospect that she might also be interested in him had emboldened him and turned him into a man he’d never met. He kinda liked the guy, though, so he thought perhaps he’d let him squeeze in and share the space.
Inside, he was well aware of his shy personality, but maybe, just maybe, he could tamp that Graham down a bit, knowing that Kate liked him. It was no longer such a gamble to share his returned feelings.
For once in his life, perhaps he could give his full attention to something, or someone rather, that wasn’t part of some bigger objective. Kate wasn’t a stat or a list of data or a combination of chemicals. She was a woman. Where his work had always been precise, comforting in its specificity, relationships were assuredly not.
If nothing else, his newly found assertive personality left Kate flustered, and he totally enjoyed watching her squirm under not just his intensity but the fact that he had her constantly guessing.
She’d worked her ass off to ensure his safety for the last month, even going so far as to sleep in his room, and that meant everything. It meant he could and would lure her in, figure out what made her hesitate, and overcome it.
He just needed legs.
When Graham woke up next, the sun was streaming into the room and he was alone again. A part of him clenched to find Kate not in the room. It was day three, and he had to admit he preferred her close to him. Not just because he needed her help, but also because he liked having her aura in the room. She was vibrant and alive, things he wanted to feel too.
By the time he had himself propped up, the genetics book open in his lap, she returned. Her smile was golden. She had a tray of food, and she looked rested and rejuvenated. She’d showered. Her hair was almost dry. It was wavy this morning.
“How do you feel?” she asked as she set the tray on the table and spun it around so he could reach things. She yanked the book from him and set it out of reach.
For a moment, he felt that old sense of panic, and then he shifted his attention to Kate and took a deep breath. “Better every time I wake up. Today I’m going to shower.”
She chuckled. “Today you’re still going to lie here and work on your leg strength.”
He narrowed his gaze as he took a drink of orange juice. “I’m beginning to think either you like keeping me under your thumb or you don’t want me to see outside this clinic because the truth is there was an apocalypse and we got left behind.”
She laughed.
“I’m imagining the world is actually destitute. Nothing is left but crumbling buildings.”
“And chickens.” She pointed at the eggs. “And pigs.” She’d also added bacon today. “And fruit trees.” Her eyes were twinkling as she teased him.
He tapped his lips with his fingers. “I also have no way of knowing if you’re telling me the truth about how long I was preserved. Was it really ten years? Or has it been ten days or two hundred years?”
She laughed again.
Damn, he liked that sound.
“Hmmm. I guess you’ll find out when you see Temple, or even your parents.”
“I guess.” The mention of his parents changed the tone to something more serious. “Are they still in Oklahoma?” he asked, referring to his parents.
She turned around and picked up a file from a stack he hadn’t noticed sitting on the counter. This was an exam room, not a hospital room. It had a sink and counter for doctor visits. No bathroom. She handed him the file. “Latest info. Yes, they’re still in Oklahoma.”
He pushed the food aside and opened the file with shaky fingers. Susan and Richard Wentz. His dad was retired now. His mom had always been a stay-at-home mom. His two older brothers had families that had grown in number since the last time he’d walked the earth. Six kids between the two of them. One divorce.
He set the file down and looked at her. “It’s so weird. This makes it seem so real.”
“I know. It was very strange reconnecting with my parents. They came to Falling Rock for a few days, but I’ve had to rely on video calls since then. I keep putting them off until the insanity is over, but it never ends.” She leaned her hip against the bed, her shoulders dropping. “I have a sister too. We were close when we were little.”
He tentatively set his hand on her other hip. “You’re from Atlanta, right? Is your sister still there?”
“Yes. She has a daughter too. I can’t believe it. I’ve only seen pictures.”
He tugged on her hip to encourage her to come closer. When she finally let herself sway his direction, he slid his hand up her back and pulled her down against his chest.
She nestled her face against his neck while he held her close. It felt so good. So right.
He really needed to get out of this bed. Playing the invalid wasn’t working for him.
Suddenly, the door to the room opened and enough of a shadow fell across the room to indicate the person entering wasn’t Marcie.
Graham lifted his gaze and jerked upright so fast he nearly knocked Kate on the floor. “Dade?”
Chapter 7
The first thing Graham noticed was the mixed look on Dade’s face—both elation and concern. He was smiling as he rushed forward to give Graham a hug, but his eyes were frowning.
A blond woman hung back a few feet. She had to be Blair.
Kate’s eyes were wide as she grabbed Dade next and hugged him just as fiercely. When she was finished, she held him at arm’s length and looked him up and down. “You look fantastic. What’s all this shit about you having aplastic anemia?”
Graham had to agree. Dade looked better than ever for a guy who was presumably dying. “What are you doing here?”
Dade reached behind him and pulled Blair up to his side. “Long story. This is Blair.” He kissed her on the forehead and turned back to face Graham and Kate with the biggest smile Graham had ever seen on any human. It was obvious Dade was very much in love, and the way Blair was looking back at him told Graham she felt the same.
Graham sensed their connection filling the room as if it were palpable. He wanted that. He wanted it with Kate.
“Nice to meet you both,” Blair said.
Dade nodded toward Graham. “Meet Graham Wentz and Kate Bauer.” He glanced back and forth between them. “Two members of my team who are unexpectedly standing very close together and touching each other. Interesting development, but we don’t have time to dissect that right now.” He released Blair and pulled a backpack off his opposite shoulder to set it on the bed.
“What’s going on?” Kate asked.
“We’re getting you out of here first. When we get somewhere safe, I’ll explain.” He opened the backpack and produced track pants which he tossed at Graham. “Kate, grab whatever you want to take. You ladies wait for us in the hall. I’ll help Graham, and then we’re out of here.”
He was both talking fast and moving fast. In fact, he took Blair and Kate by the shoulders and nearly shoved them from the room.
Graham pushed himself to sit up taller. “I have zero strength and no ability to walk. But you know that, so while you help me get dressed, start talking. My brain is a hundred percent.” Graham tossed the sheet off his body.
“Good. I knew I could count on your mind. You’ve probably read two medical journals and developed a better way to organize the app store already. But, I’m also fully aware of your physical state on day three. I’ve got you. You’re going to have to trust me. I don’t want you here in this clinic another minute. It’s not safe. When we get to a safer location, I’ll explain further.”
Graham’s heart was racing. He wasn’t sorry to be leaving the clinic, but he was concerned about the state of the team. His mind was also working hard to keep up. “App store?”
Dade shook his head and chuckled, but he didn’t answer Graham’s question. He worked efficiently and fast, helping Graham into the pants and then pulling a pair of tennis shoes out of the backpack. “I’ll get you to the SUV in a wheelchair and then lift you inside.”
“Who knows you’re here?”
“Blair. You.” He grinned. “Oh, and Kate. You two seem awfully chummy.”
Graham groaned.
Dade continued talking while he kneeled to tie Graham’s shoes. “Serious shit has hit the fan. I know it’s a lot to take in, and I’ll explain everything, but you need to understand that I don’t trust very many people.”
“Maybe it would help if you informed me exactly who you trust.”
“Ryan. Emily. Kate. Ryan’s parents. Zeke. Michelle.”
“Temple?”
“Nope.”
Graham flinched. “Please tell me you’re kidding.” They’d worked for Temple for years. She was the general over the entire operation. She was a genuinely good person.
Dade stood. He set a hand on Graham’s shoulder and met his gaze. “I’m not saying she’s dirty. I don’t know for sure. But everyone is guilty until proven innocent these days, and she’s in the middle of the shit storm.”
Graham stared at his friend. “You do realize I woke up three days ago. I haven’t even seen outside directly yet. It’s a serious stretch for me to believe Temple would ever do anything to harm anyone on our team.”
“I know. And I’m sorry to spring this on you so fast, but there’s nothing I can do to change the facts. It’s possible someone higher up is either controlling Temple or using whatever information she reports to her superiors to sabotage us.”
“Someone above Temple?” Graham said sarcastically. “You can’t be serious.”
Dade shrugged. “It’s all we have to go on right now. Someone is getting information. Either they’re passing it on directly or an innocent source is. We know they’re getting a lot of it from hacking into the computers. But who’s running this operation?”
Graham took a deep breath and ran a shaky hand through his hair while Dade spun around and then returned ten seconds later with Kate and Blair and a wheelchair.
“We have to go.” He lifted Graham into the chair without a word and pushed him out of the room.
Marcie held the back door open. Obviously Dade had spoken to her before he entered Graham’s room.
Kate had a backpack and a suitcase with her. She must have rushed upstairs and packed everything she could grab quickly.
Blair held several things also, probably whatever she had helped Kate gather.
The sun was bright, and it felt amazing on Graham’s face. He squinted up at the sky as Dade wheeled him a few yards to an SUV that was not even in a spot. It was just haphazardly pulled up to the back door.
Blair opened the rear passenger door and then rushed around to the hatch to deposit Kate’s things.
Dade lifted Graham easily and set him in the back seat. When he reached for the seat belt, Graham swatted him away. “I’ve got it. I’m not that helpless.”
Dade nodded, his brows drawn together.
Kate spoke for a few more seconds to Marcie, and then she ran to catch up with them. She rounded the SUV and climbed into the other side next to Graham.
The entire thing took less than ten minutes from the moment Dade stepped into the clinic.
Dade twisted to face the back seat. He looked toward Kate. “Do you have a phone?”
She reached into the bag she’d set at her feet and pulled it out. “Yes.”
“Turn it off.”
Graham watched her fumble with the device with unsteady hands.
Dade nodded. “Good. Don’t turn it back on. We can’t take the risk that someone might track it.”
“You don’t have a GPS tracker, right?” Blair asked.
Kate shook her head. “Zeke took it out before we left the bunker.”
“What about Graham?” Dade asked.
Kate shook her head. “Ryan didn’t put one in him.”
“Good.” Dade turned back around and started the car.
The second Dade pulled out of the parking lot, Graham cleared his throat. “Start talking.”
Chapter 8
It was Blair who spun partially around so she could see the two of them while she spoke.
Kate was shaking next to Graham. She looked as unsteady as he felt. His adrenaline was pumping so hard he felt like he could surely jump out and push the car. Who needed gasoline?
Graham let his gaze roam to Dade, but he was concentrating on driving. So, Graham spoke again. “Start with Dade. You don’t seem like a man on his death bed.”
“He’s not,” Blair conceded. “He had an autologous stem cell transplant. The chances of success were about forty percent, but it worked.”
“And yet?” Graham asked.
Blair nodded. “It seemed safest to let everyone believe he wouldn’t make it. Ryan was seriously concerned about the fact that someone has been selling information about all of you to anyone willing to buy it.”
“Rightfully so,” Kate added, “but how does it help that Dade pretended to be dying?”
“Because we’ve been working from the outside to track the mole, hoping no one would suspect us. We’ve inadvertently hooked up with a computer hacker. Name’s Spencer. He’s just a kid really. Twenty-two. Technological whiz. He showed up at our apartment to warn us.
“He works for an organization called Blue Cell—the group responsible for everything happening to you. He’s capable of giving us a heads-up every time Blue Cell is about to act.”
“Why would he do that?” Graham asked.
Blair sighed. “Apparently he grew a conscience. And he wants protection in return.”
“Jesus.” Graham set his hand on the seat next to him, but it was going to be impossible for him to remain upright for very long with Dade whipping around corners and changing lanes. He had enough strength to sit up in bed, but trying to hold his balance was pushing his limits.
Kate must have realized his predicament because she suddenly unbuckled her seat belt and moved to the center. As soon as she was fastened once again, she subtly leaned into him.
He could have kissed her. No one commented or even looked askance. Graham leaned against her and looked back at Blair. “Go on.”
“The other three members of your team who were reanimated at the same time were sent to other locations for the last month. Someone found Josiah before he even woke up, and Khloe was located yesterday.”
“Located by whom?” Kate asked.
Blair shrugged. “Whoever isn’t happy you all exist. We don’t know the answer to that yet. We don’t even know if there’s truly a connection between these incidents and the people who found Tushar and Trish or even Emily, though Spencer said Blue Cell was behind it all.”
“Is everyone okay? Who else woke up three days ago at the same time as me?” Graham asked.
Blair nodded. “Besides Khloe and Josiah, Bianca. Colton was with Josiah. They were at a clinic about an hour from here. Colton noticed two
men lurking around outside about a week ago. We put surveillance on them. They must have been waiting for someone to leave the clinic. Dade and I swept in and grabbed Colton and Josiah yesterday. They’re safe.”
“My God.” Graham couldn’t believe how complicated this was.
“I know.” Blair sighed. “Dalton Haines—a security guard—was with Khloe. He was diligent and overheard someone speaking in the hallway outside Khloe’s room about her.”
Graham’s heart was racing. This was so insane.
Blair continued. “Long story short, Dalton grabbed Khloe right out of her bed, borrowed the doctor’s car, and fled. They contacted Temple who called Ryan for assistance. Ryan, of course, called us, and we picked them up last night. They’re safe.”
Graham sighed. “It sounds like Temple is working as hard as anyone to keep the team safe.”
Blair nodded. “Yeah. I agree, but Ryan doesn’t want to widen our circle of trust, even to Temple in case she’s unknowingly reporting to the enemy.”
Kate grabbed the back of the seat in front of her and leaned forward. “You’re running around picking all of us up and not telling Temple?”
“Exactly.” Blair’s face was stoic.
“My God,” Kate whispered.
Dade inhaled sharply. “You have to understand, until yesterday, few people knew I was healthy or even alive. Temple is still not one of them. We can’t take the risk that her knowing about me would cause dozens of other people to know, and compromise everyone’s safety. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. The less information Temple has, the safer we all are. Telling her the details of our locations puts her in a position to have to report that information.”
Graham nodded slowly. He understood. He just didn’t like it. In fact, he hated it. The thought that Temple could be involved in anything that would harm a single hair on any member of his team made his stomach roil.
At the same time, he was itching to be helpful. He hated that his body was slowing him down when his team needed him.
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