9781936653027BorntobeWildArsuaga

by Cynthia Arsuaga

  Alex sat down at her station and picked up the next tray of specimens to place under the microscope to examine.

  “Aly, you missed all the excitement,” the perky young Haley said.

  “I guess. I was stuck out in the hall. Two big, burly vamp guards wouldn’t let me in. They said because of security reasons. What was going on in here?”

  “The owner, Mister Dragomir himself, dropped by. Can you imagine? I’ve worked here for three years and I’ve never seen him before tonight. It was amazing. He is so handsome for an older man. And the younger man with him, oh my god, he is so hot. I couldn’t concentrate on my work. He is so dreamy. When he walked by my station, I swear I smelled orange blossoms and coconuts. It was like a tropical breeze swept through the lab.”

  Alex’s eyes widened, her head snapped around, “What did you say?”

  “Shh, not so loud. I said he was like a tropical breeze.”

  “What did this guy look like?”

  “Mmm, uh, dark and dreamy, tall and…and, he had dark hair and dark eyes. I think he was wearing jeans, maybe slacks.”

  “That’s a really great description Haley. It describes practically every male vampire guard in this building.” Alex wished she could have been in the room. The man Haley described could have been Stefan, or any other male vampire putting up a veiled illusion to a female human. Why would Stefan be in Miami? Except to track me down. But, why here?

  “Yeah, you’re right. Weird. All I really remember is he smelled yummy and he was gorgeous. Funny, huh?”

  “You better get back to your station before Viktor sees you.”

  “I’ll talk to you later.”

  Later came around ten-thirty, but until then Alex could not focus on her work. Between the headache which did ease up, the thoughts of Stefan, and trying to figure out what the mystery Blue was, completing her work was near to impossible. Johnson was right, this case needed to get wound up quick. Alex was a bounty hunter, not a lab tech having made a slight slip with the bodyguard tonight. Fortunately, he didn’t read her mind, but next time it could spell disaster.

  “Aly,” Haley whispered, “can you do me a favor?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’ve got a date and want to leave a bit early, can you cover for me and take care of storing my samples in the vault?”

  “Has Viktor cleared it? You are cleared for different strains than I am?”

  “Don’t worry about it. Viktor won’t know. He knows I’m leaving early and he’ll think I already put the trays away. Here are the instructions where the trays go in the vault. Thanks Aly, I owe you one.” Handing Alex a folded note, she turned, and left quietly. Upon reaching the exit door, Haley looked back, gave a small wave, and mouthed thank you.

  Thank you indeed. What were the chances of Haley leaving early and the project she worked on that very night included the Blue serum? On top of everything else, she entrusted it to Alex’s care to put it away in the vault.

  Alex looked up at the Longines wall clock, 10:43, almost quitting time. No more shifts for the night. The lab would be shut down until the early morning arrivals, around six. Would anyone notice if she worked late? Did the guards make rounds in this lab? Probably, this lab was a top secret one, a higher level than the one Johnson worked in.

  Damn, only fifteen minutes. Think Alex.

  Chapter 17

  SGM Pharmaceuticals, 11:12 p.m.

  “So, where would you like to go tonight? I was thinking maybe picking up a bottle of wine and taking it back to my apartment and chilling out and maybe watch a movie, your choice. What do you think?” Johnson suggested to Alex as they left the elevator leading to the employee parking garage.

  “I have a better idea. I’d like to see the inside of the Bureau’s lab. I have something you’ve been waiting six months for.” She smiled. “Let’s get out of here, quick.”

  His eyes widened. “Walk fast and don’t say another word.”

  He fumbled for his car keys in his pants pocket, pulled them out and pressed the key pad. The car door alert echoed in the concrete building, the car lights flashed. Johnson and Alex quickly climbed into the Black Chevy Tahoe. Buckled in and the engine starting allowed Alex to let out a deep sigh.

  “We’re not home free yet Aly. We have to get passed the security gate. Act normal. We’re almost there, another five.”

  Alex’s heart didn’t stop racing until they were on Second Avenue and halfway to the Bureau offices. Continuously looking through the side mirror to check if they were being followed, she didn’t speak a single word.

  “So tell me, are you going to keep me in suspense? How the hell did you get Blue through security? They check our belongings and pat us down every night. You didn’t, like stick it up, you know…”

  “Oh god no! Are you kidding? I don’t know what this stuff does. Why would I risk sticking it in my body? Oh that is gross. I can’t believe you said that.”

  “Well, it has been known to be done. I had to ask.”

  “Well, not me.”

  “Well? How’d you do it?”

  “I used the SIM card on my cell phone.”

  He glanced over at her and smiled. “There’s enough of an actual sample?”

  “Yep and I copied the written formula. If my phone doesn’t work anymore, the Bureau owes me a new one, by the way.”

  “If this pans out, I think that can be arranged.” He turned into the parking lot of the FBI building.

  Johnson made several phone calls on their way to the second floor of the office building. They went to his office space first, waiting for the lab tech to arrive along with Martin and Palmer. All but Palmer arrived within thirty minutes.

  “So what do you have Johnson? And it better be damn good to get me out this late,” Martin scowled. He was the first to arrive. His disheveled suit appeared as if he’d slept in it.

  “We may have the Blue serum, sir. We need it tested.”

  “It is the Blue. I smuggled it out of the lab and I have paperwork, too.”

  “Well, let’s see it.”

  “When the lab tech gets here. I don’t want it tainted. This lady risked a lot to get it. This may be our one and only chance. He should be here any time.”

  “What Johnson, you don’t trust me?”

  “I don’t think that’s it. I’m still shaky from doing it. I’ll turn everything over once and be done,” Alex said. The adrenaline high and the euphoria waned, replaced by the earlier dread she felt. What if she had been caught? Martin’s words the first day ran through her mind. No one would come to help and the FBI would have disavowed her. Jeez! What did I just do?

  “You all right Alex?” Martin asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “Yeah, I’m tired. Long day and a headache that won’t go away.”

  Johnson’s cell phone rang.

  “Yeah, Johnson.” Pause. “Okay. We’ll meet you in the lab.”

  “Matsui?” Martin asked.

  “Yeah, let’s go. He’s meeting us in the lab.”

  After a long wait while the lab tech carefully removed the sample, Alex paced the floor with Johnson and Martin. The nervousness about being caught had long faded.

  “Well, Matsui, what do you think? Is the sample good?” Martin asked.

  “I think there’s enough to sample. I’ll know better once the results are analyzed. Hopefully no unknowns will pop up.” He glanced at Alex. “I must say, clever idea using the SIM card in your phone.”

  “Thanks. I didn’t know what else to use with only a fifteen minute window to figure it out. I’ve never seen the security guards check the phones when we leave the building, so I took a chance.”

  “Well, it paid off little lady. I’m impressed. Your parents will be too.” Martin added.

  “It’s going to take an hour or two to get any results, you guys may want to find something else to do besides hang around here,” Matsui said, leaning back in his chair. “The computer is analyzing the components of the serum as fast
as it can. I can tell you right now, some of the combinations are complex and unusual. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “Well is it vamp blood or something else entirely?” Johnson asked. “I’ve seen something similar in the lab I work in.”

  “It’s like blood serum, and has characteristics of human and vamp and other components which the computer is figuring out,” Matsui said.

  “What do you think they are using it for?” Martin asked.

  “Hell if I know. Once we figure out what’s in it, maybe we can understand its purpose,” Matsui said.

  Alex chuckled. Turning up her chin, she affected a British accent, saying, “Hmm, blue blood. The vamps think they are royalty now, true blue bloods.”

  The three men stared at her.

  “What? You don’t like my warped sense of humor?”

  “Actually she isn’t that far off guys. The major components appear to be the same; lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, thrombocytes, carbs, proteins, oxygen…,” Matsui rambled on.

  “Whoa, boy, in layman’s terms. I thought we had red and white blood cells and I’ve heard of platelets, but all those other limpos and monos don’t mean jack to me,” Martin said.

  Matsui chuckled. “Okay. All we need to be interested in are these protein and hormone differences showing up. Look here,” he pointed to the computer monitor screen, “these are unusual components I’ve never seen before. The levels are off the scale and…”

  “And what Matsui?”

  “Jesus, this can’t be right.” He keyed in several strokes on the computer keyboard. He shook his head.

  “Matsui, what’s in this shit?” Martin asked again.

  “Diacetylmorphine or something sure as hell similar along with other components not yet identified.”

  “All right, you did it again. I heard morphine and that’s enough for me to know it’s probably an illegal drug, right?”

  “It’s heroin, sir. They are manufacturing heroin and synthesizing it into blood, Blue blood,” Johnson said. His voice trailed off.

  “Oh my god! This goes beyond the addiction to vamp blood. They’ll be drug addicts too,” Alex said, pacing the floor. “I’ve got to get out of here. I’m going to be sick.”

  “The ladies’ room is down the hall on the right,” Matsui said.

  Running out the door and down the hallway, her stomach did flip-flops, the nausea taking over her body, the bile working up to into her throat. The headache she could control, but what the SGM Corporation created with the Blue Blood sent her over the edge.

  Staring into the mirror, the whole scene seemed a replay of the first night she met Stefan. Oh God I miss him.

  “Am I crazy?”

  She washed her face and rinsed her mouth. Maintaining a mind block for the entire week because of the presence of the vamps created a hellish migraine that still endured. The training sessions with Johnson helped, but only serious meds did anything to relieve the tension and throbbing. The pain was beyond her body fighting the blood exchange with Stefan, who must be probing her mind. But, then again maybe the psycho bitch tried to penetrate her mind.

  “The vamp in the hallway? That was her.”

  She ran out of the restroom.

  “Hold on little one, where are you off to?” the sandy blonde haired man said as he grabbed her by the shoulders. “And who might we be? You’re too cute for the cleaning lady.” He smiled.

  Oh, isn’t he being the charming one. A player for sure. “I’m Alyson Lansing, I mean Alex Carlton.”

  “A bit confused are we?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “I’m Alex Carlton. I’ve been using Alyson Lansing the past week on a job with Agent Scott Johnson and got used to saying my cover name.”

  “Well, you’re the girl he’s been talking about.”

  “Johnson has talked about me? Good things I hope.”

  “Yeah, nothing but. You’re a hunter working undercover at SGM tracking the vamp with the virus. Johnson and I’ve been working a murder case connected with the same virus. He didn’t mention me?”

  “If I knew your name…maybe I’d know.”

  “Oh, sorry, I’m Jared Palmer.” His lips curled and two dimples appeared on his cheeks.

  Oh yeah he’s a player and way out of my league.

  “Agent Jared Palmer, hmm, no, Johnson hasn’t mentioned you. Sorry.” Turning on her heel, she quickly walked back to the lab.

  “Hey, wait up Miss Carlton. Johnson called me. Do you know what it’s about?”

  “Yeah, the vamp secret is blood infused with a drug.”

  “What kind of drug, do we know yet?”

  They reached the lab and she opened the door. “Johnson said heroin.”

  Johnson looked up from the computer screen. “I said what? Palmer you’re finally here, good. We’ve got a lot to discuss.”

  Palmer nodded, acknowledging Matsui and addressed Chief Martin, “Evening sir.”

  “I take it you’ve already met Alex?”

  “Yeah, we kind of ran into each other in the hallway.” He winked and grinned at Alex.

  “What did I miss? Have you identified any more of the components from the sample?” Alex asked.

  “Yes, turns out the narcotic isn’t exactly heroin, but something similar, along with another unidentified enzyme. You explain it Matsui,” Johnson said.

  “In layman’s terms, we have a new type of classified blood with a synthetic drug laced in the mix which potentially could be highly addictive. The unknown enzyme, I have no idea what purpose it serves. Possibly binds everything together, activates the components, or produces the color, I don’t know without further study. I sure wish I could get more of a sample. It would help in the analysis.”

  “Impossible. Alex risked a lot to get what we have. To get more would most surely draw suspicion,” Johnson adamantly said.

  “Hey, I can speak for myself. It was scary, but I know what to do. I can work on obtaining more. Honestly, why do we need extra? Isn’t this enough proof to bust SGM, sir?”

  “Alex, SGM is a pharmaceutical company in the business of manufacturing drugs. They can produce narcotics provided they have the proper licenses. The next step is to verify their paperwork with the FDA. If they are unlicensed, we might have a case, until then, well…”

  “By the way,” she said, “the rogue is at SGM, I caught a glimpse of her earlier tonight. There is still a bounty on her because of the virus. Maybe we can link the drug to the virus.”

  “Alex, this is the same one you and your brother came to me about originally, right?” Martin asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You’re definitely in need of our help. I agree the rogue is the way to go. It’s within our jurisdiction. I’ll get the proper releases and set up a way to bring this vamp in.”

  “She’s not going to come easy. That bitch attacked and almost killed me. I want to be on the team to bring her in.”

  “I’ve bent the rules enough allowing you to go undercover. I don’t know how far I can take you on this operation.”

  Alex drew closer to Martin, eyes dilated. “I know what Ecaterina looks like, and you don’t, except probably from old newspaper clippings. I’m already on the inside. If you don’t let me stay, try starting over figuring this out after another six months playing undercover secret agent man.”

  “Okay, it’s late. Alex, I’m not going to argue my position with you anymore tonight. Why don’t we call it a night and reconvene in the morning at ten. By then I should have approval from Washington.” Chief Martin strode toward the door, his fingers curled around the doorknob. “In the meantime, everyone go home and get some sleep. We’ll start fresh tomorrow.”

  “Yes sir,” answered Johnson and Palmer.

  Grumbling under her breath, Alex knew Chief Martin would oppose her continued presence on the case. Ecaterina Tomescu was her bounty and she’d be damned if anyone, the Feds, whether a family friend or not, stood in the way of bringing the psycho bitch to justice
.

  Chapter 18

  SGM Pharmaceuticals, 2:30 a.m.

  Stefan lay upon the plush bed in a new room at SGM staring up at the ceiling. After touring the facilities, he agreed to Dragos’ terms, assisting with the plan to take out the FBI agent. The other steps of the plan, he still had reservations about. What other choice did he have? Trapped in a game of chess with his sire, he resolved to bide his time gaining knowledge before the next tactical move.

  He hated his dark side most of all, especially when the beast within won out. His actions earlier with Ecaterina still pissed him off and he felt remorse for killing the young woman. He desperately needed Alexandra. Locked in the silver encased room for days, it was impossible to reach out to her. Tonight, he would try to touch her mind.

  Desire surged through his blood. Hunger for her consumed his thoughts. Each breath he took filled his lungs with the memory of her scent. A flood of sensations swirled through his being, making him ache for her touch, her flesh against his, her blood passing his lips. He cried out a low growl.

  He sat upright, closed his eyes, concentrated on her image, and called to her by name.

  Alexandra. Can you hear me? Let me into your thoughts. I need to be with you tonight. He opened his mind to hers, and held his breath, waiting.

  Stefan, is this a dream again? Is it you calling to me?

  Her voice made music in his ears, soft and sexy. Fire rushed through his veins. Yes prinţesa mea it is me, not a dream. I am with you in your mind. Where are you?

  I’m sorry Stefan, I can’t tell you. I’m afraid this connection we have is unsecure.

  I will not harm you prinţesa. I need to know you are safe.

  Yes, I’m okay. Jordy and I left to track Ecaterina. I’m sorry I left abruptly. I was scared.

  Surely not of me? I promised I wouldn’t hurt you, only bring you pleasure. Have I not done so?

  She laughed. Oh, yeah, in ways I’ve never imagined. I guess that’s what scares me. He loved the sound of her laughter. It made his heart fill with joy.

  Stefan, everything has happened so fast. This week I have thought of nothing else in between working. She paused. I’ve missed you.