“Can you bring Collin to the lab tomorrow morning please?” Victory asked. “I have more tests I need to run.”
“Yep, will do; see you both in the morning,” Max said.
“Do you really need to work with him tomorrow, or do you want to make sure he is okay?” Tristan asked her after they had walked for awhile.”
“Why Mr. Grant, you know me so well; both,” she said smiling. It was the first sign of relief she had felt since they heard the news of Collin over two hours ago.
* * *
Logan strolled into the cave; he was still in his cammies and they were covered in foliage and dirt. “Honey, I’m home. What’s for dinner?”
Noah rolled over in his sleeping bag scowling at Logan. “Dinner, I ate hours ago, what have you been up to? It must have been something exciting since you haven’t deloused,” he grumbled.
“It sure was. Sorry to bring the outdoors in,” he said with a smile. “But I didn’t want anyone sneaking up on me while I was out bathing. It’s quieted down out there now, so I’ll grab a cup of coffee and head out to the spring.” They had lucked out this trip; usually they had to bath in ice cold water. This time however, Noah had found a warm spring on one of his first trips out, it was almost like home.
“Don’t keep me in suspense, tell me what happened,” Noah said as he got out of his sleeping bag and cut Logan off. “Back up dirt boy, I’ll make the coffee.”
“Thanks mom. Collin broke out again tonight. Tell ya he’s one sneaky bastard. Don’t know what he was like before he got fused with a wolf, but he’s damn good now. I saw him clear a ten foot rock formation in a single leap. He ran through the forest doing at least fifteen miles an hour,” Logan said.
“No shit.”
“It took Max’s team over two hours to track him down, and that’s with that damn tracker in his leg. He had better be thankful to Tristan and Victory. Max and his team were so pissed they were going to take him down. Tristan and Victory showed up at the same time they cornered Collin and saved his hide. It took some talking, but they convinced Max into tranquilizing him. Speaking of Tristan, shit he is the best tracker that I have ever known, but damn with Victory working with him those two are unstoppable. I pity the poor bastard trying to hide from them,” he said. “It took them only fifteen minutes to track Collin down.”
“Shit, I’m glad he’s on our team. I love ya Logan, but if I ever need to be found send Tristan and Victory, you stay back and make the coffee,” Noah said with a laugh. “Tell me about Max’s team,” he said becoming serious again.
“Six man team including Max. He’s the only one we have to worry about. Obviously got tracker in him, the other five can’t find their dicks. Max treats them like a bunch of teenagers, not a military background among the bunch.”
“Bet that pisses him off,” Noah said with a smile a mile wide.
* * *
“Good morning, Collin. How are you feeling after your little run in the forest last night?” Victory came into the exam room, clipboard and vials in hand. She crossed the room and put her items down on the table. “Do you have any idea how close you came to getting yourself killed?” She turned back and glowered at him.
“My jailers won’t give me any PT time, so I decided to take some anyway,” he replied with a grim look etched in his face. “Why do you care? Oh, that’s right, one less guinea pig to study,” he threw back at her.
Victory studied him intently, wondering what Collin was like before the wolf DNA got injected into his body. She would never know. This forced change in his personality, was permanent. Now it was her job to see that he might have the chance to adapt to it. Maybe that wasn’t such a great thing for him. Sadness flooded her mind. This was the first time she ever allowed herself think that way.
Tristan felt the ripple of anguish flow through Victory. He looked up from his computer and stared into the exam room focusing on her back. He pushed thoughts of comfort into her mind.
She turned back toward the table in the exam room, her stare rising to meet Tristan’s. “Thank you.” He felt the words burn into his brain. “I’m fine, really. I didn’t mean to interrupt your work.” She felt him withdraw. For the first time she was left with an emptiness on his withdrawal. Had Tristan become so important to her that she relied on his mental connection? Were the feelings she was having real, or the only thing she could grab on to with all this chaos around her? Only four weeks had passed since this man walked into her life, but she couldn’t imagine her life without him now. No one, except for her family had ever been this essential to her. Goose bumps ran down her arms, oh my god, she thought, did she love this man? The thought chilled her to her bones. Tristan was not the type of man that could love her. He would break her heart if she let him in.
“You sure you’re alright, Victory?” Tristan asked as he stuck his head through the doorway of the exam room.
With a quick shake of her head, in an attempt to push her last thought away, she smiled back up at him. “Yes, I’m working out a problem is all.”
“So, really Collin, how are you feeling today?” She turned back toward him and refocused her full attention on her task at hand.
“Like something is trying to tear me apart from the inside out,” he hissed back at her. “I lose time.”
“How do you mean?” Victory was ecstatic that the man was actually communicating with her.
“I’m doing something, or I’m in one place, then I wake up and I’m somewhere else, doing something I don’t remember starting. So tell me doc, is that normal for a person that has been injected with god knows what?” Collin asked.
“What’s normal? Unfortunately I don’t have anything to compare to, since you and Morgan are the first two humans that I am aware of that have been injected with canine DNA.”
“Great, I’m blazing trails. Canine huh, guess that explains my constant panting and craving of steak,” he snickered.
Victory couldn’t help herself, she was gawking at him. It finally dawned on her that she was actually conversing with the true Collin.
“What’s the matter? Am I growing two heads,” he let out a little snort.
“What. No. Sorry. Collin I need to take more blood, is that okay?” she asked.
“Human pin cushion at your service,” he held his arm out.
Victory took the blood, smiled at him briefly and left the lab. “Where’s Max?” she asked as she went back into the lab.
“He mumbled something about coffee. I think he’s getting soft, last night wupped his butt,” Tristan chuckled. “What did you say to Collin, he was like a pussycat?”
She held the samples up shaking them in front of him. “Hopefully these little guys are going to tell me,” she answered her face beaming.
“I don’t get it, but whatever you said to him put our buddy to sleep,” Tristan said jerking his head in the direction of the exam room.
She looked back into the exam room. Sure enough Collin’s head lulled back and he was sleeping, or blacked out. “Tristan quick, start the video in the exam room,” she said running over to help him.
He did what she asked, no questions. Only after everything was up and running did he ask, “so, are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“I had my first conversation with Collin.” He looked at her in confusion. “The real Collin, not the DNA induced Collin, and believe it or not, he’s funny.”
“That I find extremely difficult to believe. So, what does that mean?” Tristan asked enjoying her childlike mood.
“It means that he is fighting to stay in control, not always winning, but at least he’s still trying. That gives me hope that I might be able to help him,” she said.
“Okay doc, then let’s get to work.”
Collin woke up two hours later, spewing obscenities. Tristan was surprised that Victory was pleased. “Tristan can you go in and get three more blood samples from him please. Max you can take Collin back to his room after Tristan gets that blood.”
> “Great, he’s in one of his bad ass moods,” Max groaned.
If he only knew, Victory thought to herself. At last she might have found a breakthrough, but she would be damned if Braxton would hear about it.
TWENTY
Victory was leaning against the headboard, knees bent typing furiously on her laptop. She was so engrossed in her work, Tristan thought he could leave and be back before she would even notice. But if not he wouldn’t want her to worry. He couldn’t believe he thought that, when had he ever given a second thought regarding anyone’s feelings – except maybe his brother. Wow, this assignment was taking its toll, or could it actually be Victory? No, it couldn’t be. Could it? Did he actually have deep feelings for this amazing woman? “Not the time Farraday, there’s work to be done.” He grumbled as he bent down and began to lace up his boots. “Victory?”
“Hmmm?” she mumbled.
“I need to go out for awhile.”
“Again tonight? You’ve gone out every night in the last week.”
“You’ll be fine, besides you’re wrapped up in your work,” he said nonchalantly.
“That’s not the point. I worry about you getting caught or hurt every time you go out at night,” she explained.
Wow, he was floored. No one ever worried about him. “Really? Don’t worry about me. I’m one of the best at what I do for a living.” He rose from the chair and walked over to the bed. He leaned down towards her and placing his right index finger under her chin, he tilted her head up and bent down to kiss her. He could get use to this. Focus, he needed to focus, or he would get caught. “See ya soon,” he said and slipped out the bedroom window.
Victory continued working for what seemed like hours. She was edgy and needed a break. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand she realized that it was only midnight, Tristan only left an hour ago. She put the laptop down beside her on the bed and got up. Leaving the bedroom she walked into the living area, where she grabbed a magazine and dropped down into an overstuffed chair. Flipping through the magazine she found nothing that caught her attention. She needed to do something.
She got up from the chair, returned to the bedroom and threw on a light jacket over her tee shirt and shorts. Searching the floor for her sneakers she found one under the bed and one clear across the room. She grabbed her room card and headed out the door.
The night was beautiful; she took in a deep breath filling her lungs with the alluring fragrances of plumeria, orchids and tuberoses. The sky was crystal clear and sparkled with millions of tiny stars. The moon was so bright that the lit tiki lamps seemed to be overshadowed by its glow. Victory passed a few people strolling through the paths as she headed towards the canteen. The island’s canteen was located near the edge of the compound. As she walked in she was surprised to find the place filled to capacity. Most of the small tables were full, along with the shuffle board and darts area. She looked over to the far side of the building and noticed four pool tables, each buzzing with players. Victory walked up to the bar and was met by Andy, the boy who had welcomed Tristan and her to the island.
“Ms. Winters, nice to see you, have you and Mr. Grant settled in? Make sure to call me if you are in need of anything.” He nearly yelled at her to be heard over the crowd, his voice blasting in her ears.
“Thank you Andy. You seem to keep yourself quite busy,” Victory replied.
“Oh yes. I only work here two nights a week, but I do enjoy this job,” he said. “What can I get you?”
“I would like a glass of Merlot. Is there anywhere quieter that I might be able to enjoy my wine?” With her acute hearing and Andy’s unnecessary yelling, she was feeling a headache coming on, a common side effect of these types of situations.
Andy grabbed a wine glass and uncorked a bottle of Merlot. “Sure, you can go out to the veranda,” he said pointing to the door at the backside of the building.
“Great, thanks.” She paid for her wine, said goodbye to Andy and headed toward the veranda. Opening the door she found a large open area. Small wicker tables topped with glass and oversized wicker chairs sporting huge pillows filled the area. Each of the tables was adorned with a crystal bowl filled with water, floating candles and plumeria. The perfume of scented candles and flowers wafted throughout the veranda. Instantly she thought of Tristan and wondered if this wafting fragrance would overpower him, as sound did her. She spied a chair and small side table at the far side of the veranda. Walking over she sat down looking out at the view of the dark ocean with the lights of the sky reflecting in the breaking waves.
Victory cleared her mind of work and wrapped herself in the wonders of the night. Before she realized what she was doing she began eavesdropping on the conversations going on around her. “Sheesh,” she scolded herself, she really must work harder not to do that. Suddenly she heard the mention of her name somewhere at the far side of the veranda. She refocused and honed in on that single conversation, blocking out all the other voices.
“Haven’t you heard about it?” it was Max’s second in command.
“No, give me the run down,” the other man said.
“Max told me that we would be pulling out the day after tomorrow,” said the first man.
“Are we leaving Winters and Grant here?”
“No stupid. Let me finish what I was saying. We’re taking Winters, Morgan, and Collin.”
“Where are we going?” asked the other man.
“Max didn’t say. It’s all very hush, hush. All I know is it’s another Kaleidoscope property,” the first man said.
“What’s happening with Grant is he being sent home?” asked the other man.
“The boss isn’t happy with Grant. He thinks Grant will just be in the way after we move Winters. It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t finish the trip with the rest of us. Max loves tossing guys from aircraft, I’ve seen it before,” said the first man.
Victory stiffened. Her first instinct was to run, but she needed to stay and hear this out. Besides, if she got up now the two men might spot her.
“Mr. Braxton is coming in late the same afternoon we will be pulling out. He will be taking Winters with him. Max will have a second chopper; we’ll be with him, along with Morgan, Collin, and Grant. Something tells me it’s going to be a very short ride for Grant,” Max’s man said.
“It’s about time something exciting is going to happen. This whole assignment has been pretty boring except for the couple times we got to track Collin,” the second man commented. “Speaking of boring, I’m on watch in half an hour, so I should leave.”
“You mean to tell me you’ve been sitting here drinking beer and you’ve got a shift in thirty minutes?” The first man laughed.
“Yeah, like I said, it’s been really boring, I’ll be fine,” he said as he got up to leave.
“Not if Max finds out. You will find yourself with more excitement than you want.” The two men headed for the door.
Victory started to leave then she thought better of it. The last thing she needed is to run into one of them on her way out of the canteen. She sat patiently sipping on her wine and glancing at her watch. Thirty minutes later she was on her way back to her room.
Victory unlocked her door, went into her bedroom and found Tristan lying on the bed wearing only his jeans. His hair was damp, from his recent shower. She looked at her watch, she had been gone for two hours.
“Hey, where have you been?” He smiled up at her. “I was beginning to worry.”
“Sorry, I lost track of time. Tristan, we’re in real trouble,” she blurted out as she struggled to remove her jacket.
He got up off the bed and went over to help her. “Here let me help, you’re getting yourself all tangled up.” After helping her get out of the jacket he walked her over to the bed and made her sit, and then sat down beside her. “Now, take a deep breath, relax and tell me what happened.”
“I decided to go out for a walk around midnight. I was done with my work for the night and feeling slightly edgy. So
, I thought some fresh air would do me good. I walked to the canteen. I hadn’t been in there yet, and I thought a glass of wine would help me relax. The place was buzzing with activity and the level of noise was more than I could deal with. I took my wine and went out back to sit on the veranda. While I was sitting there I picked up on a conversation across the way. It was two of Max’s men.” She relayed the men’s conversation to Tristan word for word.
“Are you sure they didn’t see you?” he asked, more concerned for her immediate safety.
She shook her head in response. “They didn’t see me. I started to get up right after they left the veranda, then I thought better of it and stayed sipping on my wine for thirty minutes.”
“Good,” he replied with pure relief in his voice.
“What are we going to do Tristan? We have less than two days to get out of here,” she was almost in a panic.
“Don’t worry. I knew the time would come when we would have to get out of here. That’s one of the things that Noah and Logan have been working on since we got here. It sounds like we will have to step up the timetable. Okay, so when we met back at the campground, you said that you work with plants and could make remedies.”
“Yes, I’ve done it for years. They come in handy with my practice and my family uses them on a regular basis, why?” she asked.
“Great. I’ve used them too, but I’m sure you have more experience for what we will need. So, if you can tell me what types of plants you need, I can get them for you,” he said.
“You mean you really are a botanist?” She said with a look of surprise.
“Yes, I never lied to you Victory, I might not have told you the whole truth, but I didn’t lie. We’re getting off the subject, can you tell me what type of plants you need?”
“Yes, depending on what you want to use the remedy for.”
“I want you to prepare an odorless liquid that will cause someone to fall asleep,” he said.
Chasing Victory (The Winters Sisters) Page 17