Mayhem's Betrayal: Operation Mayhem Book 5

by Lindsay Cross

  Quantum was at his side, cup in hand. Dawson lifted at his head enough to sip and fell back, dizzy. “Everything’s groggy.”

  “The morphine.”

  “What happened?”

  Quantum placed the cup on the table nearby and resume to his seat. “You got shot.”

  The memories from the lab flooded in. The last thing he remembered was charging into the crowd of soldiers. He wasn’t supposed to be alive.

  You damn fool. You tried to sacrifice yourself.

  Dawson glanced over to see Quantum’s narrowed black gaze focused on him.

  It was the only way to give the team a chance to escape.

  And what about you?

  Dawson swallowed. They didn’t need me.

  I need you. She needs you.

  Dawson tried to laugh but all he managed was a weak cough. She doesn’t need me anymore. She got what she wanted.

  His connection with Quantum abruptly cut off. Dawson opened his eyes to see his friend standing over him, his expression incredulous. “You really believe that bullshit?”

  “It makes sense.”

  “Only to a fool. That woman loves you. She hasn’t left your side. Hell, she saved your life. More than once. You really think someone like that could be as conniving and backstabbing as to use you?”

  Talking hurt. His whole body hurt. But thinking that Melissa could have betrayed him hurt worse.

  He pictured her in his mind, recalling their sweet, torturous time together. Her beyond soft lips, the way she smiled when she looked at him. He’d felt her – all of her. They’d connected on a level beyond soul deep. And the whole time she’d been using him…His thoughts grew fuzzy. Dawson shook his head.

  “She told me saving the team was her reason for living. She’d do anything they needed.”

  “You’re insane.” Quantum collapsed into his chair.

  “Think about it, she finally figured out how to make the DNA changes permanent. She test drove it on me – not part of the team – “Dawson held up a hand when Quantum tried to interrupt. “She didn’t know if it would kill any of us or not. It didn’t – great. But she still had to worry about Rainier finding us after that. Her research could have been used just like before, you all would have always had the treat of him hanging over your heads.”

  “So she had to finish it – to ultimately save the team.” Quantum rested his hands on his knees, steepling his hands together under his chin.

  “Exactly.” Dawson stared up at the ceiling.

  “You are a moron.”

  “What?” Dawson stared at him.

  “You heard me. She didn’t know anything. She thought everyone trusted you like she did. You should’ve heard her when you left the mansion, yelling at the team. I’ve never seen a woman so pissed. And the way she looked at you, when they brought you back all bloody, she was dying.”

  He wanted to believe him so badly. Even now, through the pain he wanted her here. But what if she had betrayed him for the team? He couldn’t think straight.

  Quantum slowly shook his head. “Get some rest. You’re obviously not thinking clearly.”

  Chapter 35

  The next day

  "John?”

  Even though John’s eyes had been closed, he’d known the moment she entered the room. Her sweet smell invaded his every sense. The aching loneliness in his chest eased. Hell, just her presence made him relax.

  He opened his eyes. She was standing right beside him. He could reach out and touch her by turning over his hand, instead he balled his fingers into a fist at his sides. “What day is it?”

  “Your three days out.” She leaned over, fingers gently stroking across his forehead, her touch like satin.

  He fought to keep from sighing. He needed a clear head and there was no way he could think clearly with her touching him. His body still responded to her even though his mind doubted her. He pulled away from her.

  Her hand dropped to her side. “What’s wrong?”

  He attempted to distract her. “I was shot, remember?”

  Her hand drifted towards his and instinctively flinched. Her beautiful eyes darkened and her lips parted. Fuck, he’d hurt her.

  “You still think I betrayed you?” She whispered, her voice breaking.

  Dammit, he didn’t know what to think. He wanted to believe her, with all his heart he wanted to believe her, but what if she had lied to him? Could he live with that?

  Dammit. His mind felt foggy, he couldn’t think straight. Especially with her close by. “I need some space.”

  She drew in a sharp, audible breath. “I need to check your wounds.”

  Dawson nodded and stared up at the ceiling, his chest burning as he fought to pretend like her touch meant nothing to him. She made quick work of checking him and left without another word.

  The burning in his chest turned to a wildfire of pain – and not from the gun shots, but from hurting her. He was hurting her and that was killing him. He had felt her pain when he’d pushed her away. He’d felt everything about her from the moment he’d met her.

  Not one time had he felt that she’d lied to him or even held herself back from him.

  Shit. He’s screwed up.

  “Melissa!” Dawson yelled, fighting to sit up.

  Quantum rushed into the room. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Stop her, dammit. I need her.” Dawson got up on an elbow, his head swimming.

  “Your gonna rip open your wounds.” Quantum tried to push him back to the bed.

  “No!” Dawson shoved his hand away. “Melissa!”

  “Would you stop? She’s gone, man. She’s already left the lab.”

  “I don’t care. I’m going after her.” He straightened his elbow, locking his arm out beneath him. The entire room swayed.

  Quantum put his hand on his non-injured shoulder and Dawson tensed, ready to fight him off.

  “You are a fool. And I’m a bigger one.” Quantum helped him ease to a fully upright position. “You – stay put. I’ll go get her.”

  Dawson leaned forward, fully intending to follow him out, but Quantum shoved him back down. “Dammit, Q, I have to tell her myself- “

  “What on earth is going on in here?”

  Both of them froze. Dawson listed to the side, to see around Quantum. Melissa stood in the door, her eyes swimming with tears. His heart constricted at the sight of her.

  “Q – get out,” Dawson said under his breath.

  “Fine.:” Quantum threw up his hands and stormed out, but Dawson saw the smile on his face.

  When he was gone, Melissa crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door, silent.

  “Melissa, babe, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

  He needed to go to her, take her in his arms, but just like when he’d been locked in that glass cage he couldn’t reach her.

  A tear escaped the corner of her eye.

  Fuck it. He wasn’t enhanced for nothing. John staggered to his feet.

  “John, don’t.” She cried out, racing to him, just like he’d hoped she would.

  He held on to her and fell back to the bed, cringing when he hit the mattress, but he managed to stay upright.

  She tried to rise but he didn’t dare release his grip on her hand. “Stay. Please. Let me explain.”

  “I’m not listening to anything until you lay down.”

  “I’m not laying down and letting you escape.”

  “You’re bleeding,” she said.

  “I don’t care if I bleed to death if you don’t love me.” He lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to her satiny palm.

  “John,” she leaned in to him.

  He threaded his fingers through hers, locking her to him. I love you.

  “I’m a fool. I was so confused and hurt and – “

  “And you lashed out at anyone who could hurt you,” she finished for him.

  He nodded. “I was stupid.”

  She shook her head. “You were sc
ared.”

  He kissed her palm again, tilting his cheek into her hand. “Yes.” He kissed her wrist, her arm. “I was scared and hurt.” He moved up to her chin, and kissed her there. “I was stupid.” He kissed her nose, her cheeks. “And I’m so sorry I ever hurt you, baby.” He kissed her head. “I swear I’ll do everything in my power from here on out to never hurt you again. I love you more than anything.”

  “John.” She tilted her face up to his.

  He took her waiting lips with a groan, slanting his mouth over hers with a hunger that threatened to consume him. Her fingers threaded in his hair as her mouth melded with his. He wanted to devour her. He couldn’t get enough of her. He’d never get enough of her.

  “Can you forgive me?”

  “There’s nothing to forgive.”

  Her simple response floored him.

  “I love you,” he whispered against her lips.

  “I love you, too.”

  A week later…

  Dawson gestured for Melissa to sit beside him on his bed. She leaned back and melted into his arms, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her back.

  “Knock, knock,” Laura said from the doorway of the lab. Melissa sat up quickly to see that Laura was standing there with Faith, who held Princess Kitty in one hand and took Laura’s hand with the other. “I hope it’s okay we came down. King didn’t want us to come down until you were better.”

  “Of course. Hi Faith,” Melissa said sweetly. She glanced behind her at Dawson. “Your dad isn’t feeling so well right now but I bet you’ll cheer him up.” She smiled until Faith smiled back at her.

  “You have a cold, Daddy?” Faith said, leaving Laura to walk toward his bed. She was more and more comfortable around him lately.

  “How about I leave you guys alone for a little bit?” Laura asked, and then looked at Melissa like she was making sure it was okay to let John be alone with Faith.

  Melissa nodded, still smiling. Laura headed out of the room.

  “I’ll let you have some time together, too.” Melissa turned to face John and Faith, who was now sitting in the bed beside John. She had her tiny hand pressed to his forehead like she was taking his temperature. The bright smile on John’s face looked like it would be enough to cure him one hundred times over.

  “Wait,” John said, looking at Melissa now, who was already gathering equipment to bring to the study with her. “You should get to know Faith. She’s probably going to be a doctor, too, after all. Right, Faith?”

  Faith giggled. “No way, Daddy, I’m going to be a dancer!” She hopped off his bed and started wiggling her hips and shoulders, doing a silly dance without any music.

  Melissa took a hesitant step back toward John’s bed, laughing as Faith danced like crazy.

  “Well, maybe you can teach me your dance moves sometime, Faith.” Melissa took a seat on the edge of John’s bed again.

  “Yeah!” Faith exclaimed.

  John laughed hard now. “That I would love to see,” he whispered to Melissa.

  “Maybe I’ll give you a private show later,” she whispered back, with a wink. “If you’re strong enough that is.”

  “I’ll never be strong enough for that.”

  Faith ran over and jumped on the edge of Dawson’s bed, laughing like wild. Her energy and joy was infectious. Dawson reached down and tickled her with one hand, while pulling Melissa to him with the other.

  As Faith continued to squeal and giggle, Dawson whispered into Melissa’s hair, “I love you, Melissa. Thank you for saving me.”

  She turned into his chest so they were face to face. She planted a kiss to his cheek and said, “You saved me. And I will always love you.”

  Chapter 36

  Dawson, Melissa, and Faith sat in the breakfast nook in the kitchen at Faith’s tiny plastic tea table with chairs that barely fit a portion of Dawson’s legs.

  “More tea, Daddy?” Faith asked, picking up the little pink teapot.

  “Oh, yes, definitely. This tea is delicious. Extra sugar too.” Dawson smiled at his daughter as she pretended to pour tea into his cup. Then she scooped the “sugar” in. Dawson shifted in the chair, nearly about to fall out of it, but it didn't seem to phase him as he had the biggest smile in the world on his face.

  “This is great tea, Faith,” Melissa said. “What kind is it?”

  “It’s a secret!” Faith giggled. She took the pink tiara off her head and placed it onto Dawson’s.

  Melissa burst out laughing at the sight of this monstrous man wearing his little girl’s frilly pink tiara, but the sight was melting her heart.

  She hadn’t had a ton to do over the last few days other than monitor the men. The cure had been figured out for the most part, she’d only have to make tweaks depending on the men’s blood types and body composition when she administered the injection. The worry nagged at Melissa, still reliving how many times she had almost lost John, but these tender moments with Dawson and Faith helped.

  He and Melissa had spent every moment together, and Dawson had taken over Faith’s care for the most part when he felt well enough and had the time. She still had her own room, but it was Dawson who read to her and tucked her in at night, and prepared her meals. Meals that Melissa actually joined them in. She had gained back a few pounds since becoming involved with Dawson and she had way more energy now.

  Faith was giving John the life he’d been missing for over a year, filling him with vibrancy that hadn’t been there in a long time.

  Melissa may have cured him from needing serum, but his daughter was his true cure for good health.

  “Do you have a tiara for Miss Melissa, too, Faith?” John asked, shooting a devious grin at Melissa.

  “Yeah!” Faith skipped out of the room, and up to the stairs to go get more dress up supplies from her room.

  “I don't think I’ve ever worn a tiara,” Melissa said, laughing. “My childhood was filled with science kits. Whitney was more the beauty queen in the family.”

  “I disagree,” John said, pulling Melissa’s chair closer to him, nearly causing her to fall out of it.

  They both laughed as she regained her balance. John pressed a quick kiss to the side of her mouth. “You’re my beauty queen, with brains to boot.”

  Melissa blushed. “This is actually my first tea party.”

  “What? You don't know what you’ve been missing out on.” Dawson picked up his little plastic teacup again and took a sip of air, making sure to stick his pinky out with exaggeration. “You haven’t lived until you’ve drank tea in a tiara.”

  Melissa laughed harder. “I love you.”

  “Right back at you.” John winked.

  Melissa leaned in and they locked lips. She’d never tire of kissing him.

  Faith ran around the corner. “Ew! Gross!” she squealed.

  John chuckled as he and Melissa broke apart. “What’ve you got for us, Faith?”

  She held out two tiaras, one in each hand, and stepped closer to Melissa. “Which one do you want, Miss Melissa?”

  “Hmm, I think I’ll take the purple one.” Melissa smiled.

  “It goes pretty with your eyes.” Faith stretched out her little hand with the tiara. When Melissa reached to take it from her, Faith shook her head and said, “Lean down.” She pushed it over Melissa’s hair, and crowned it on her head with her tiny hands.

  Melissa looked up with a smile on her face to see John looking at her with a serious expression.

  “What?” Melissa’s face heated.

  “You’re beautiful.” He glanced at Faith and picked her up, drawing her onto his lap. “I have the two most beautiful women in the world.”

  John pulled Melissa to him with his other hand, draping his arm around her shoulders. The three sat like that in their huddle of smiles and laughter, bursting with love. Whatever happened next, with Juarez and Rainier, at least they’d have this moment.

  ook 5