Safe (The Shielded Series Book 1)

by Christine DePetrillo

  Whenever that would be.

  Foster had been so frustrated last night when he’d spoken of working on the cure. The man had dozens of other projects waiting for his brilliance, but this cure was sucking up all his time and energy. Darina wished she could help. Too bad she didn’t know shit about mixing up medicines.

  “You almost done in there, Mom?” Zeke knocked on the bathroom door.

  “Almost.” Though she wanted to stay in there forever. And have Foster join her. Now that was an image to get a girl through the day.

  “Good. Hurry up. I’m starving and something smells tasty out there,” Zeke said.

  Darina finished in the bathroom, and by the time she emerged into the guest bedroom, Zeke was dressed in a pair of black cargo pants and a yellow T-shirt that gave his skin a healthy glow. She hadn’t seen her boy look that well ever. When she’d found him, huddled under that pier, he’d been pale with gray circles around his bloodshot eyes. He’d had a seizure five minutes after she’d picked him up in the back seat of her squad car. Once his body stopped convulsing, he certainly didn’t look better.

  But now?

  Now he looked like a vigorous teenager, ready to conquer the world. Or at least do some serious eating.

  “C’mon,” he said, tugging on her hand. “I don’t want to miss whatever food is out there.”

  She let him drag her out of the guest room. The two morning guards, Vero and Tonner, still stood at Foster’s bedroom door so she paused.

  “Is he still in there?” she asked.

  Vero nodded. “But I heard him moving around.”

  She was tempted to relieve them of their duty and start her day the way she wanted to, but Zeke was waiting for her in the hallway.

  “Any problems during your shift?” she asked instead, deciding sticking to official business was best.

  “Not one,” Tonner said. “Do you think we’re overdoing this protection thing?”

  “Dr. Ashby almost got killed twice in one day in Boston,” she said. “So no, I don’t think we’re overdoing anything.”

  “Of course,” Vero said, throwing a glare at Tonner. “Besides, we’re happy to do anything for Foster.”

  Tonner nodded, a penitent expression on his face. “That’s true. He’s given us so much.”

  The man was a giver. What he’d given her last night was one of the best gifts she’d ever received.

  “Any news from the perimeter team?” she asked.

  “No. Everything’s been quiet all around,” Tonner said.

  “Good.” Darina hoped things stayed quiet all around. “Let’s keep up the designated schedules unless you hear from me.”

  “Got it.” Vero gave her a little salute.

  Working with genetically engineered humans who had been designed to be soldiers definitely had its advantages. The government may not want them, but the police department could certainly make use of them. Everyone she’d met on Foster’s property had something to contribute. What right did the government have to create these people then decide they weren’t good enough? She’d always been pissed at the treatment GECs received, but now, after meeting so many of them, it was even more ridiculous.

  She caught up to Zeke, and they followed his nose until they got to the kitchen. Estoria stood by the stove, mixing something in a large glass bowl.

  “Good morning.” She didn’t look as if she’d given birth only yesterday. Her stomach was flat, and she appeared well-rested.

  “How are you feeling?” Darina asked.

  “Empty.” Estoria gave her sad eyes, but then collected herself with a big inhale. “Thought I’d try to fill the void with pancakes. You interested?” She glanced at Zeke.

  “Yes, yes, a million times yes,” Zeke said, clasping his hands together in a plea.

  Estoria laughed. “If you want to eat them, you have to help.”

  “No problem.” Zeke looked over the ingredients she had on the counter. “Tell me what to do.”

  Darina wandered to the big windows in the dining room while Estoria directed Zeke. Looking out, she surveyed the team surrounding the main house. No one was getting through that line of defense. Not with each one of them outfitted with weapons, genetic advantages—even if the government didn’t think so—and the desire to pay Foster back for what he’d done for them. It was a damn fine team.

  “Tell me you dreamed of me all night.”

  She turned to see Foster leaning against the doorframe to the dining room. Glancing to the kitchen, she said in a low voice, “Maybe, but the dreams didn’t top the real thing.”

  Foster put his hand to his chest. “Wow. I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received.” He stepped into the room. “I know you probably want to keep a lid on what happened between us last night. I’ll respect that.”

  “Thank you.” A part of her, however, wanted to climb the tallest tree on the property and shout about how she’d been completely and totally satisfied by this man. That wouldn’t do anything for the leadership she was trying to establish among the security team, though.

  Foster came closer, his movements slow and graceful. He wore black cargo pants with a hunter green T-shirt that showcased his superior body and highlighted his eyes.

  “The clothes Zeke has on?” She gestured to Foster’s outfit. “Are they yours?”

  He nodded as he came closer, his gaze zeroing in on her. “What’s mine is yours.”

  “How hospitable.” She raised an eyebrow when Foster came to stand right in front of her. She desperately wanted a good morning kiss, but with Zeke and Estoria right in the next room, she was afraid of getting caught.

  “Are they making pancakes in there?” Foster asked.

  “Yes.” She loved how she had to look up a little to see his beautiful eyes.

  “Estoria puts all her focus into her pancakes, so if she’s teaching Zeke, all his attention is on the task as well.” He reached out a hand and let his finger trail down the fat braid she’d wrangled her hair into today.

  “So anything we might be doing in here would be totally undetected by them?” She ran her own finger along his bottom lip. “Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Exactly.”

  Before she could think about it too much, Foster’s lips were pressed to hers. Heat instantly flooded her veins when he clamped his hands onto her shoulders and brought her body against his. She slid her arms around his waist and held on as if she planned to never let go.

  Stupid. She’d have to let go eventually. Foster would find the cure. The world would be saved. Maybe she could catch Warres, settle the score, and end all future threats.

  And that would be that.

  Foster would have no need for around the clock security if Warres was caught. She’d have no reason to stay at his lovely Vermont oasis. She and Zeke would go back to the city, back to their little apartment. At least the plague would no longer be a threat to her or Ghared. Maybe, with the cure in place, the world could get its shit together. Maybe she could have a better life.

  Lonely, but better.

  Because she would be lonely. She realized that now as she kissed Foster. Something had surfaced with his sweet lovemaking, something that had made her understand she’d been craving companionship only a man like Foster could provide. But she couldn’t actually have a man like Foster. They were too different. He was a brilliant scientist, and he’d be a hero once he found the cure. The whole world would know who he was. Know him and love him. She, on the other hand, was just an average cop. Only criminals would know her, and they certainly wouldn’t love her once she caught them.

  A low rumble sounded in Foster’s throat now as he ended the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “You make my knees weak. Even the one I built.” He tapped his right thigh. Sighing, he said, “Let’s have some breakfast… unless I can convince you to let me carry you back to my bedroom?”

  “Breakfast, Doc. We need breakfast.” She took a step back, but he caught her arm.

  “W
ill you come to me again tonight?” His green eyes lasered into her. “Please.”

  A man who didn’t hide what he wanted. Interesting. She couldn’t say she knew too many men like that. It was refreshing to have Foster be so direct with her, but a voice in her head told her to keep her distance. Falling for him would be dumb. Super dumb.

  “We’ll see,” she said, laughing at his pout. Damn, his lips were gorgeous.

  His shoulders slumped as he let go of her arm. “You say that a lot.”

  “Yeah, and didn’t you get what you wanted last night?” She arched an eyebrow at him.

  A slow grin worked its way across his face. “Actually, yes, I did.” He crossed his fingers. “Here’s to hoping we’ll see works in my favor again.” He tugged her into the kitchen, dropping her hand as they crossed the threshold.

  Darina paused, taking a moment to compose herself. If Zeke looked directly at her right now, he’d totally know she’d been kissing Foster… and loving every second of it. She didn’t need her teenage son knowing that about her. She was Officer Darina Lazitter. Logical, practical, focused. She didn’t do daydreaming or kissing or whatever she should call what she’d done last night with Foster, because it couldn’t happen again.

  But she wanted it to.

  Oh, she was in trouble here.

  “Mom?”

  “Yeah.” She snapped her gaze up to Zeke, now standing in front of her.

  “I asked if you wanted blueberries in yours.” He held up a handful of the berries. “They’re from the property.” He popped one into his mouth and dropped a few into her hand.

  The berries actually made a sound when she bit into them. A snap that indicated their freshness, their perfect ripening. Juice shot onto her tongue and filled her mouth.

  “Wow.” She stole a few more out of Zeke’s hand. “These are amazing.”

  “Let’s put them in her pancakes, Estoria.” Zeke walked back over to the stove. “I now know how to make pancakes, Mom.”

  “And he’ll be in charge of making breakfast tomorrow.” Estoria laughed at Zeke’s wide eyes. “What? Did you think I was showing you how to make them for the hell of it?”

  “She’s tricky like that,” Foster said, stealing a few blueberries and winking at Darina when he caught her watching him. “You’re having a good time cooking with her and then bam. You’ve got the spoon in your hand, and you’re doing all the work.”

  Estoria laughed again. “You make me sound like a manipulator.”

  “And?” He held his hands out to his sides.

  She picked up a towel and threw it at him. “Jerk.”

  Zeke chuckled and looked at Darina. “They sound like you and Ghared.” His face grew serious as he turned toward Foster. “You haven’t heard anything from him, have you? About Mareea?”

  Foster dug into his pocket and pulled out his tablet. He swiped his finger across the screen, causing Darina to remember his fingers gliding across her skin. She grabbed more berries and stuffed them in her mouth to focus on something else.

  “No messages from him.” Foster looked up at Zeke. “But that could be good news, right? Like everything’s okay.”

  Zeke nodded, but Darina could tell the boy was still concerned. “If we don’t hear anything by tonight,” she said, “we’ll contact Ghared. It might be good to have some information from the outside too.”

  “Sounds like a solid plan to me,” Foster said. “Now let’s eat so we can get into the lab.”

  He shot Darina a quick glance followed by a grin, which heated her entire body in two seconds flat. Apparently working on the cure was not the only thing on his agenda for the lab today.

  How was she going to resist him?

  Chapter Ten

  “How hard did you hit him, Dugan?” Mikale asked, walking a wide circle around Ghared Timms’s body still prone on the floor of the apartment. The apartment adjacent to Darina’s.

  Lucky bastard. Not that Mikale had any desire whatsoever to live in such squalor, but to be that close to Darina was definitely an attractive option. He’d be that close to her, only in the comfort of his private rooms back at headquarters. She was going to love being able to leave this lifestyle behind and fulfill her destiny with him. Together they’d rise to the top of the new world he built.

  “Socked him in the jaw. No harder than I hit anyone else, sir.” Dugan crouched and poked Ghared in the cheek.

  Ghared moaned and slid his arm up to his head.

  “Ah, it awakens.” Mikale sidled up to Dugan and bent over Ghared’s body as the man tried to wriggle up to all fours. “Nasty headache there, Mr. Timms?”

  Ghared flicked icy blue eyes in his direction. Blood glistened on the man’s bottom lip, and the early shading of a bruise had bloomed on his jaw. “Where’s Mareea?”

  “Oh, she got hysterical when you didn’t wake up right away and started making too much noise. We had to quiet her. Too much noise and the lower class humans who live around here will come out of their holes to investigate. Can’t have that.” Mikale shined his flashlight to a corner of the room where Mareea was tied to a chair and gagged. Tears still streamed from her eyes, and her shoulders shook.

  Ghared struggled to his knees, his eyes squinting in pain. “What do you want from us?”

  “Information.” Mikale swooped the flashlight beam to Ghared’s face, and the man raised his hands to cover his eyes.

  “Get that out of my face. The overhead lighting is enough.”

  “Of course you’ve grown accustomed to this dimness. You no longer remember what it’s like to have things that work on full power.” Mikale shook his head.

  “Are you pitying me?” Ghared got to his feet now and Dugan took a step forward, but Mikale signaled him back.

  “Yes. I do pity you. I pity the life you lead down here.” He opened his arms wide to encompass the dingy apartment. “I pity the fact that it’s only a matter of time before you catch my plague. I pity the fact that you’ll be dead soon.”

  At that sentence, Mareea let out a wail that could be heard over the gag in her mouth. Choking noises emanated from her throat, and she hung her head forward so her hair covered her face.

  “At least someone will mourn your passing before she joins you in death. Such a loyal niece,” Mikale said. “She didn’t want to call you when we asked. She fought us, but Dugan here can be very convincing.”

  Dugan reached to his back pocket and pulled out a wicked looking dagger. “She immediately understood her face wouldn’t look so pretty after I got done with her.”

  Ghared charged toward Dugan, knocking the dagger out of the larger man’s grasp. He pummeled his fists into Dugan’s gut until the man couldn’t stand anymore. With a few kicks to the ribs, Dugan was out cold, and Ghared turned his attention to Mikale.

  “You’re next.” He stepped forward, but Mikale was ready. He had his gun in his hand and pointed at Ghared’s chest.

  “Dugan likes knives and the hand-to-hand stuff. Me?” He shrugged. “I like to have the technological advantage.” He regarded the gun. “This is special issue. Military-grade. Developed for close combat and maximum damage. I developed it myself when I worked at Emerge Tech. Want to see a demo?”

  Ghared put his hands up and shook his head. “Not today.”

  “Good, because I need you to do me a favor.” Mikale had, after all, lured the man here for a reason.

  “A favor?” Ghared smirked. “I’m not doing shit for you, man.”

  “Fine.” Mikale marched over to Mareea and pressed the gun to her temple. The girl’s muffled cry sent a shiver of anticipation over Mikale’s body. “Do it for her then.”

  “If you hurt her…” Ghared’s fists clenched by his sides.

  “There’ll be no need to hurt her if you cooperate.” Mikale took a section of Mareea’s long hair and combed his fingers through it. He remembered a time when women’s hair smelled like fruit and was as soft as silk. This girl’s hair was neither. It was cleanish, but it didn’t shine. It did
n’t slither around his hand with a hushed whisper.

  The time for a new order has come.

  This world wasn’t operating properly anymore. It hadn’t been for a long time. The government and Emerge Tech said they were working on restoring balance, but it wasn’t happening fast enough. The government couldn’t be trusted to do anything right and Emerge Tech wasn’t much better.

  Mikale’s plague was the only thing speeding up the restoration process and what re-grew in the aftermath would be better than anything of the past.

  But he had to have Darina first.

  “What do you want?” Ghared’s voice brought Mikale back to the present.

  “Your neighbor.”

  Ghared’s eyes narrowed then widened as he looked at the wall joining his apartment to Darina’s. “You want her?”

  Mikale nodded once.

  “Why?”

  “She’s destined to help me with my mission.” He’d always known there would be a woman involved in his plans. He didn’t know who until he’d seen Darina’s picture. She’d stirred something inside him, and no other woman would do now. It had to be her.

  “If you think Darina Lazitter will help you with anything, you’re insane.” Ghared laughed. The man actually laughed. He stopped when the split in his bottom lip began oozing fresh blood, but his eyes still held amusement. “You obviously know she’s guarding Dr. Ashby. She’s chosen her side, dude, and it ain’t yours.”

  “It’s your job to get her to switch sides.”

  Ghared shook his head. “Warres, you don’t know a thing about Darina. Once she’s made a decision, there’s no flipping her. Besides, you’re a lunatic. She doesn’t like lunatics.”

  “Then I guess today is the last day on this planet for you and your niece.”

  Mikale flicked the setting on his gun to maximum power and made a show of preparing to pull the trigger. Mareea squealed in her chair, water pouring out of her eyes like a faucet on full blast.

  “Wait!” Ghared put his hands out. “There’s no need to involve Mareea. What does she have to do with any of this? She doesn’t know where Darina is. I’m the only one who does.”