Adrenaline Heat
Copyright © 2018 by Carolyn Reilly
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, organizations, events, or locales is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved.
Except for short quotes used in reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the author.
Editing by Hot Tree Editing
Cover Art by Deranged Doctor Design
Formatting by Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs
ISBN:
9783981894554 (Kindle)
9783981894561 (eBook)
9783981894578 (Paperback)
Imprint / Impressum
Carolyn Reilly
c/o Autoren Services
Zerrespfad 9
53332 Bornheim / Germany
[email protected]
www.carolynreillybooks.com
Protecting her sister means destroying the only man she’s ever loved.
Birthed to fight and kill, Oliver Shaw is a genetically engineered superior soldier. Finding solace in the arms of his new wife, Luna, finally gives him a sense of peace. But when he discovers that Luna not only betrayed him but also the Committee team they both work for, Oliver’s world is shattered.
Saving her teenage sister from certain death means Luna Faris must deceive the man she loves. When she fails, the girl is at GovCorp’s mercy. And Oliver, who wants nothing to do with Luna anymore, is her only chance at getting her sister back alive.
Now, Luna must find a way to convince him to play a dangerous game dictated by the same corporation that created and abused him as a human killing machine. With the odds stacked against her, will she be able to save her sister—and her future with Oliver?
If you enjoy steamy, action-packed romantic suspense with a dash of sci-fi, you’ll love Adrenaline Heat! Get your copy today!
*It is highly recommended to read this series in order due to a continuing story thread that began in Adrenaline Secrets, Book 1.
This book contains strong language, violence, and sexual situations. No cheating. No cliffhanger.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Thank You!
About The Author
Also by Carolyn Reilly
Watching her husband, Luna’s stomach twisted with guilt. She’d almost gotten used to the feeling by now. Almost.
Soft snowflakes illuminated the early morning gloom outside their bedroom window as Oliver pulled on his favorite pair of track pants and a black long-sleeve shirt, getting ready for his morning run. His abs rippled before the fabric hid them along with the soft round indent his stomach featured instead of a belly button. Along with the V-shaped scars on his wrists, it was the only giveaway that he wasn't a natural-born human but a GV, a Genetic InVitro. Running a big, strong hand through his rumpled sandy-brown hair, he tossed her a wicked grin.
Pulling in a labored breath, she bent down to zip her boots. She loved this man so much. And there shouldn’t be anything wrong with newlyweds being in love. But in their case… It was complicated was the understatement of the decade. Her chest tightened, and she started wheezing. Not again.
Oliver's gorgeous smile made way for a frown, and his worried dark eyes roamed their little bedroom. “Where's your inhaler?”
She tried to suck in another breath but failed miserably. “Nightstand,” was all she managed to press through her lips.
He launched himself across their king-size bed that took almost all the space in the room. Then he grabbed the inhaler and had her in his arms in a flash, holding the hated gadget to her lips.
She touched the starter icon with shaky fingers and tried to breathe evenly. Getting asthma served her right. It was probably karma.
Oliver ran his hands up and down her back. “Better?”
She sucked in as much air as her lungs would take. “As long as you hold me like this, everything’s okay.” Breathing in his warm, familiar scent was almost more vital to her than the oxygen in her respiratory system.
He caressed her cheek with his scarred knuckles, which were a testament to the violence that sometimes ruled his body, and kept one arm wrapped around her.
She lowered her head and murmured into his massive chest. “I'm so sorry for putting you through all this bull.”
“What did you say?”
She was the worst thing that could have happened to Oliver. He just didn’t know yet.
“I love you.” Blinking away the urge to cry, she could hardly take his tender touch. In moments like these, it was hard to believe he stemmed from GovCorp’s most aggressive GV batch. Incubated and bred in a gestation pod courtesy of the research corporation’s former military program.
He kissed the top of her head and gently squeezed her tighter against his body. “Love you more, baby. But you need to do something about this. Each time you start wheezing, you're giving me a heart attack.”
“I will.” She pushed off his chest. Constantly having to lie to him was slowly killing her inside. But GovCorp's new head scientist, Dr. Fry, had made sure Oliver didn't remember what really happened before he was turned rogue by Fry’s predecessor. Or during the time he’d been at GovCorp’s lab to clear him from the rogue addiction. Still, she did. She remembered everything.
Oliver entwined his fingers with hers. “Okay, let’s roll.”
Following him out into the hallway, she snatched her purse from the dresser and commanded the Christmas lights to shut off. She usually took down the decorations right after the holidays. But this had been the first Christmas Oliver actively celebrated, and he’d been so happy she’d decided to keep them up a little longer.
Oliver helped her into her favorite red coat, and they stepped outside into the peaceful winter scenery. As many of their neighbors were on holiday leave, the liberal residential development still seemed sound asleep.
Though it was New Year’s Eve, it was a regular workday at GovCorp to compensate for the annual company retreat in four weeks’ time. It was mandatory to participate, but the corporation paid for all expenses, and she was almost relieved, not having to lie to Oliver for a couple of days. Maybe she could use the interlude to clear her head, wherever GovCorp’s surprise destination would take her.
Cocking his head, Oliver regarded her silently for a moment.
She tossed him the best smile she could manage. “I’m really okay. Now go on. I’ll see you at the station.”
“See you soon.” After fusing his lips with hers for a sweet goodbye kiss, he jogged off to the air train station.
Shivering, she climbed into their new gunmetal SUV. Of course, she’d again forgotten to program the heating. She touched the respective icon until it hit the highest setting and held her hands into the slowly warming air stream. It had been unusually cold this December, even for the Adirondacks, but every step she’d been taking the last two months had felt as if she were tiptoeing on top of an active volcano bound to erupt and ready to drown her world in scorching lava. If this illusion of a happy marriage shattered, a billion jagged shards would embed deep into both
Oliver and her hearts. And slice open her sister’s throat. Her eyes stung at the thought, and she wiped at them carefully to avoid smearing her mascara. She couldn’t go on like this. She had to find a way to tell him the truth without destroying what they had and putting Lexi's life on the line.
Racing down the sidewalk, Oliver could already make out the air train station in the distance. Seeing some residents had already left their discarded trees by the curb for garbage day, he couldn’t believe this year had gone by so fast. He'd say it was his worst year, considering he’d been turned into a mindless rogue out for blood. But then it was also the year he met Luna and his brother Jake, which made it the most important year of his life. Now that he was finally back to normal, if you wanted to call a GV with excess adrenaline syndrome normal, the coming year should be the very best with his fantastic wife by his side and Dr. Bergmann closer to finding a way to keep his rising adrenaline levels in check. Turning the corner, he could already see Luna through the thick glass walls of the station. A yellow shuttle train sped by her and she stamped her black boots. Probably to keep her constantly cold feet from freezing.
The platform was bustling with commuters, as most people in the area worked for GovCorp. A few miles east, the glowing silhouette of the corporation’s headquarters illuminated the gray sky. Some people called it the Lighthouse because it was brightly lit all through the night. He huffed. In his opinion, hell den would be a far better fit.
Luna ran her fingers through her long dark curls, and her twinkling brown irises flashed as he came to a halt next to her. Reaching for his hand, she instantly prevented dark rehab memories from popping up and haunting him. He pulled up his sleeve to entwine his fingers with hers as the next flock of passengers ready to board the incoming train passed them.
Her soft fingertips caressed his cheek and coaxed a grin from his lips. Even though they’d agreed to avoid touching in public, she couldn’t seem to resist. “Won’t take long and you’ll beat the SUV here running.”
Probably. If he had to, he could run flat out for a couple of miles without breaking a sweat.
An old, scowling man stopped and pointed a gnarly finger at the exposed V-scar on Oliver’s wrist before he faced Luna. “Running around with one of those.” He puffed and shook his head in indignation. “You will go to hell for this. Cavorting with one of these abominations.”
Oliver's heart rate shot up, but Luna only pressed herself closer to him and batted her long, inky lashes at the old man. “He's more human than you will ever be. I'd rather go to hell with him than to heaven if Fronters like you go there.” Not waiting for the old guy’s reaction, she pulled Oliver along with her and threw him a pleading look to let it go.
Seething inside, he released a frustrated breath and tagged along. Getting into an argument with a frail old geezer wouldn't have helped their situation.
The events of the last two months had pushed the growing hatred between GVs and naturals into overdrive, making GVs a target of the Front, the rapidly growing, ultrareligious Anti-GV movement. Oliver had never had any illusions that life would become easier after GovCorp’s military program was shut down and he became a free man. Before, people were only pissed that GVs would no longer catch the bullets for natural-born soldiers. But since the rogue attacks, they considered GVs more dangerous than ever, and it played right into the hands of the Front.
He clutched his hands together to keep them from shaking. The damn adrenaline was already starting to flood his system again. He really needed to hit the fight club tonight. He tried to keep this part of him away from Luna as much as possible. But running and spending hours at the gym didn’t cut it. He needed the fight club to blow off steam and keep the adrenaline in check. She knew about the club, but he'd never let her watch him. He didn’t want her to see him transforming into a violent savage in the cage. He’d never taint her like that. She’d been the one who tore the shadows from his soul and kept them at bay. He’d do anything to protect her. Even from himself.
Luna laid a hand on his and squeezed for a second. “It doesn’t matter what they say about us. Not to me.” Her shuttle train breezed into the station, and her reassuring smile faltered.
He knew she hated working for GovCorp. Their true loyalties would always lie with the congressional Committee that was trying to bring GovCorp’s worldwide illegal activities to light. But now that Oliver’s cover as GovCorp’s head of maintenance was blown, she was the Committee’s only remaining asset inside the corporation. A frustrated breath escaped him. He'd have loved to pull her into his arms and kiss her goodbye, but she already had to face a good share of the hatred doled out at GVs just for being with him. So instead, he settled for patting her on the back. “Hey, just think of the New Year’s party at the Committee tonight.”
Boarding the train, she nodded and tossed him a small smile. “Love you.”
“Love you more, baby.” Watching as the train sped through the air, he got ready to run the rest of the distance to the Committee’s headquarters downtown.
An hour later, after showering and changing in the locker room of the Committee’s gym, Oliver was still on edge. Frustration clawed through his skin. He needed an assignment. Badly. Since GovCorp had released him as cured two weeks ago, he’d been hanging around at the Committee compound waiting for something to happen. He wasn’t sure if Derek, their boss, was just trying to ease him back into reality or if he really didn’t have any job for Oliver.
The door slid open, and Max, one of his newly recruited teammates, strode in with a guarded expression on his face. “Hey, Oliver. How’s it going?”
“Okay, man. Would be a lot better if the Committee would find me a new assignment.”
Max nodded as he opened one of the narrow metal lockers and deposited a gym bag inside. He cleared his throat and faced Oliver. “I’m still a bit fuzzy on everybody’s job here, but what exactly is Luna supposed to do inside GovCorp?”
Oliver sank down on one of the wooden benches. “Before GovCorp found out we were both working for the Committee, she was in human resources and had access to all kinds of personnel files. After Derek made a deal for our safety with GovCorp’s Deputy Director Lewis, I got fired, but as part of the deal, Lewis cleared Luna of all allegations, and she could stay. She only has very restricted access now, but that’s the best we can do at the moment.”
Max leaned against the lockers. “Yeah, I heard about that deal. At that time, it probably seemed like a good idea. Too bad it was all in vain, and the damn Fronters still found out GovCorp was responsible for turning GVs rogue.”
Oliver crossed his arms over his chest as his eyes wandered to a discarded candy wrapper on the plain tile floor. “Of all the twisted shit GovCorp has pulled, this is the one incident that I hoped wouldn’t be exposed.” It was exactly the kind of info the Front had been waiting for—GVs turning into mindless, bloodthirsty killers. Their worst predictions coming true. The best thing that could have possibly happened to them. Now they were thriving like never before.
Max took a step closer and raked a hand through his raven-black hair. “And it didn’t strike you as odd that they let Luna stay?”
Picking up the wrapper, Oliver frowned. “I wasn’t too happy about it, but Derek thought it was a good idea if she stayed. Lewis is way too scared of the Committee to touch her.” Something about the way Max’s brow drew down irritated Oliver. He crumbled the wrapper in his fist before tossing it into the trash can at the end of the locker wall. “What’s your point?”
Tugging at his shirt collar, Max straightened. “Man, I don’t know how to say this, but Derek’s had me tailing Lewis since last week.” He raised his eyebrows. “I’ve seen him with Luna repeatedly and was wondering if she was his assistant or something.”
Refocusing on Max, Oliver ground his teeth. “What are you talking about? You’re following my wife?”
“No, I’m only following Lewis. Mainly because the Committee wants to find out if he has any contact with Dr. Fry.”
Though Oliver’s jaw relaxed a fraction, his pulse sped up. After Fry had cured him, the scientist had announced he was going on vacation, and since then nobody seemed to have heard from him. He’d officially been declared missing, and the Committee suspected nothing good if Fry was anything like his predecessor, Anderson, who’d tried to go underground and sell his latest unsanctioned research project outside of the US.
“Luna definitely isn’t Lewis’s assistant or anything. Lewis is the deputy director, and I remember him talking to GovCorp staff a lot. Not to be friendly, but to keep them in line.”
Avoiding eye contact, Max nodded. “Derek already told me she’s somewhere in admin now.” He pulled his phone from the back pocket of his jeans and pressed his lips together. “I was able to record a conversation between her and Lewis yesterday evening. And I thought you should see it before I hand it over to Derek.” After a short pause, he added, “I think she’s not really on our side.”
If anyone else had accused Luna, Oliver would have told him to go screw himself or offered a good beating, but this was Max. Max and Oliver’s genetic brother Jake were best friends and had been teammates at GV Spec Ops before they joined the Committee. Jake trusted Max with his life, so Oliver decided to listen. “What are you saying?”
“Check this out.” Max passed him the phone and took a step back.
Oliver tapped the screen and watched the recording silently. Soon a ringing in his ears rose until it almost drowned out the conversation he was following. With every passing second, his pulse jumped a little higher, and his world tipped a little bit more off center. The video finally shut off, and he passed the phone back to Max. “You think you can do me a favor and let me talk to her before you hand this over to Derek?”
Max shoved the phone back in his pocket. “Yeah. Derek has a congressional hearing in D.C. He won’t be back before 10:00 p.m.
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