by J. L. Beck
“Good, because I have something else for you to do when you bring the papers in.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me as he leaned over my desk and into my personal space. Remember why you’re doing this, Maggie. Remember. I had to repeat this to myself every day, at least three times daily. It was the only thing that stopped me from running for the hills, from running out of this place and never turning the fuck around.
“Great,” I whispered to myself, turning on my computer as he walked away. I watched the screen light up as my thoughts drifted to my family and everything they had done for me. My parents had paid for my college tuition. I was more than grateful since they didn’t have much. My father held a good job, but the way the world was nowadays made going to college almost impossible. Only the richest or smartest people were accepted into schools. The fact I was wasting a degree in Pharmaceutical Studies by working for someone like Roger didn’t sit well with them. They wanted to see me do something with my life. Working a desk job wasn’t bettering the community or my own life.
As my computer booted up, I watched Kandace a couple of desks down from me flirting with one of the new hires. I smiled sincerely at her ballsy attitude. She had balls—hell, I think she had bigger balls than most of the men who worked in this place.
Her eyes met mine as I watched her work her moves. She was a natural flirt, a social butterfly most would say. She batted her eyelashes and flashed him a smile before stepping away from his desk and sashaying her way over to me.
“You’re still taking orders from that asshat in a suit…” Kandace giggled softly, leaning her ass against my desk.
“If you mean the asshat who’s my boss, then yes, of course, I’m listening to him.” I typed my password into the computer and waited for my email to load.
“A couple of people from the office and I are headed into the city tonight. We’re going to hit up one of those new clubs on the strip,” she added innocently. I knew where she was going with this. She had been bitching more than usual about my lack of being a wing woman. The thing was—I just wasn’t feeling it. Dating wasn’t my thing and sitting at a bar drinking away my sorrows wasn’t either.
I would much rather be at home in my sweats, reading a book, and drinking a glass of wine… “I know what you’re getting at, Kandace, and the answer is the same as it was last week.” She frowned, a pout showing on her face.
“You always say that. You always say you would rather have your nose stuck in a book, but since you never go out, how would you know what is fun and what isn’t?” She was questioning me, attempting to find a flaw in my excuse. Anything to get me to leave the confines of my home.
“Very funny, Kandace, but I know your methods of persuasion, and since I don’t swing that way, it’s not going to work...” Her pout turned into a cheesy smile.
“Well, I tried. Doesn’t matter anyway. You’re coming out tonight even if I have to come to your house and get you myself.” She glared at me, and it was in that glare I knew she was serious.
Fuck. She wasn’t kidding. She would come and get me. I pondered on the actual thought of going out for a moment as I skimmed the emails in my inbox.
“We’ll see, Kandace. There isn’t any guarantee though.”
“There is always a guarantee with Kandace. I’ll see you at eight, whore.” Then she was up and walking back to her own desk, and I was staring at an email that had just popped into my inbox from Roger.
I printed off the documents he wanted ASAP and headed to the printer to pick them up before swinging by his office. On my walk to the printer, my mind drifted to Roger and the company I was working for. It was obvious Roger would turn into his father one day. Roger’s father was a filthy rich man, hell-bent on owning everyone and everything in this town. I knew the kind of person Roger was, and honestly, I couldn’t see such a mean and evil person running a company that went out of their way to find cures for cancer. It was a complete and utter contradiction. His family, running and owning a company that cared for others loved ones was just against everything I knew of Roger.
I pushed all the horrible thoughts to the back of my mind as I focused in on Roger’s door. I stared at it blankly for a moment before knocking on it softly and waiting for him to say come in.
You never walked into Roger’s office unannounced. I remember the last assistant he had ended up being fired and escorted out on the spot. He was very secretive about his work. Whatever went on in his office was his business and his business alone.
“Come in.” His voice was deep, and as I pushed the door open and walked into the room, I could see the entire city before me. He had the best view in the building. One that looked out into the robust city. I focused on the view, knowing very well that his eyes were glued to my every movement. I could feel his gaze penetrating every orifice of my body.
“I see you’re doing much better at following orders today.” He smiled, but it wasn’t genuine. It was as fake as Tammy’s tits in Office C. Who was Tammy, you ask? Oh, his most recent fuck. The newest intern in the building, and the most open about her friends with benefits relationship with Roger.
“Here’s your paperwork you asked for.” I dismissed his comment, not wanting to engage in a ridiculous conversation about something I could care less about. Instead, I turned on my heels to leave, only to be stopped when I heard his throat clear behind me. I wanted to turn around and lash out, to make him understand what he said to me meant nothing.
“Maggie…” Every time he said my name, it caused my stomach to revolt. He was just as sinister now as he was in high school.
“Yes,” I said between clenched teeth, my face turned away from him. I hadn’t ever truly hated anyone in my entire life, but Roger was the exception. If he were dying in a burning building, I would sit and watch. Maybe even bring stuff to make s’mores.
“We all know why you took a job here. It’s not as if you actually care for the company, but more so what it can do for you.” I took a deep breath, the room seemingly growing smaller as air filled my lungs only to be released like a deflated balloon a moment later. Breathe. Deep breaths.
“That…” Was that true? I had never admitted to such a thing. Sweat formed on my palms. I hated feeling as if I were trapped without an escape route.
“Don’t even say it’s not true when we both know it is. You took this job for that fucking crippled kid.”
Crippled kid… Don’t make him eat his words. Kill him with kindness.
“He had a name.” I forced the words from my mouth. I didn’t want to talk about him. His death wasn’t fair to anyone, not his family, not to me, or to him.
“Whatever, his name doesn’t matter. Not anymore at least. What does is the fact you took a job working for me, yet it seems as if you would much rather not be here most days.” I could hear his footsteps across the marble flooring, my heart beat rising with every step.
“I love my job…” I lied, trying not to stutter over my words. I hated my job, but I hated Roger and what he reminded me of more. Hurt. Pain.
A deep robust laugh filled the room. “That is the biggest fucking lie I have ever heard.” His hot breath was on the back of my neck. I should’ve turned around. I should’ve told him to leave me alone.
“Fine. I’m here for him, and one day, I will be on the team that helps find a cure for the cancer he had. He wasn’t just crippled, Roger. He was sick. He was dying.” I smarted off, openly admitting my faults as I turned around to face him not realizing how close he truly was to me. I took a wobbly step back wanting to separate us, my legs feeling like jelly.
Roger’s hand reached out and gripped my chin hard, pulling my face into his. There was a sick fire in his eyes, one that said he would hurt me if he had to. Men like him weren’t afraid of someone like me getting in their way.
“You think you have everyone fooled, that no one will discover you for what you really are.” He was seething.
What was he talking about? I hadn’t ever tried to dissect what Roger had to say o
nly because he was wrong most, if not all, of the time. His motives were always to protect his empire or to make others suffer. He was out to benefit no one but himself.
“I have no one fooled,” I gritted out, the hold he had on my jaw growing tighter. I winced as his fingers dug deeper into my skin. His face leaned into mine as his eyes lingered on my lips before rising to my own. He wanted to kiss me. I knew it. I felt it in his stare and in his touch. He wanted me, but he knew he could never have me. No one could because I was taken. Even with him no longer here, he still lived and breathed in me… in my heart, and I would not betray him with his enemy.
“You’re right… You have no one fooled simply because they can see through your ulterior motives. Watch your back, Maggie. You might find more than just a knife in it.”
He released me, shoving me away from him. His threat lingering in my mind long after I had got my footing and walked out of his office. Rubbing at my jaw, I attempted not to draw attention to myself. That would only make it worse.
Instead, I went to my desk and kept myself busy, looking at various articles about Diesel’s cancer. He had a rare brain tumor, stage four at the time of his death. It was inoperable, meaning there was nothing they could do to save him. They had given him months to live, which turned into years. Many said it was a miracle he had held on for as long as he did. I felt there was always something else lingering under the surface. A hidden reasoning or an answer.
My fingers pounded on the keys for hours, doing my research as I did every day. This wasn’t my job, though. I was to shuffle papers in and out of Roger’s office. I was basically his assistant without the title or pay raise. My plan was to get into the labs and out of the office. There was nothing here for me and having been here for six months, I hadn’t discovered much of anything. PGI’s database was locked down tighter than Fort Knox. Codes were needed for just about everything, and I wasn’t so desperate for answers that I would sleep with someone or lie and cheat to get them. I had to do this the right way.
“Maggie,” Kandace said in a motherly tone. I looked up from my keyboard and gave her a look that said I was working and to go away.
“Kandace.”
“I saw you come out of Roger’s office earlier. Is everything okay?” Kandace had always been concerned with my relationship with Roger. He bullied me in school, and just when I thought I would be able to get away from him, here I was working under him.
“Yeah, just the typical shit that he puts me through. I can never just go into his office and give him his daily spreadsheets.” I kept my voice hushed. There were office rats all around us. People who would turn around and tell him anything and everything that took place out on the floor. They thought it would gain them more money or freedom. Some did it just because they could.
“You were rubbing at your face when you came out. Don’t lie to me and tell me it’s nothing, Maggie. If he’s fucking with you again, then I will find out and do something about it.”
I smiled to myself. God, how I had been blessed with such a great friend. Someone who would kick any and everyone’s ass if I asked her to do it.
“It’s nothing. At least nothing different from the norm. You know why I’m here, Kandace. I want to get into the labs and see what kind of cures and drugs they’re coming up with,” I whispered to her, my eyes scanning the room. One would think moving up in the company would be something relatively normal, something that could easily be talked about in the workplace. Except it wasn’t. At least not here. Moving up to a new position was never something openly discussed. If you moved up, you just quietly disappeared.
Any promotion in the company was top secret. If you ever made it out of this sector of the building, then you knew something no one else did. I had to make it happen. I had to find out what was going on. If not for the families who were suffering from death, grief, and loss, then for Diesel.
“It’s been seven years. Seven years, Maggie. It’s time to move on. It’s time to let it go. He died. He’s not coming back, and if you keep thinking like you are, it’s going to get you killed.”
Kandace’s concern was cute but entirely unnecessary. I had it all under control. Maybe if I kept telling myself that, it would start to feel that way.
“He might be dead, but I made him a promise. I told him that I would try to help find a cure for his cancer. I wasn’t lying to him seven years ago, and I’m not going back on my word now. I understand your concerns, but I’m not doing anything wrong.”
The look of shock on her face astounded me. Did she really feel as if what I was doing was wrong? That wanting to stand by my word was wrong?
“Davis.” Roger’s angry voice met our ears. Everyone turned to see what the issue was, including myself.
“Sir…” Davis stumbled over his words as he got into a standing position pushing from his desk as if he had just been told to jump. What the fuck is going on?
“Why don’t you tell the rest of the staff what happens when you try to make a fool of this company? Of the company my father spent years building from the ground up.” There was a glint of something I had never seen in Roger’s eyes. A need for blood—for death.
“Sir… Can we talk about—” Davis tried adding, but it did no good. Roger waved in security as his hand landed on Davis’s shoulder.
“No, we cannot talk about this. Once it’s found out you’re here for yourself and not the company, then it becomes a problem. You made us believe you had the company’s best interest at heart, but you didn’t. So, that means you lied, and I don’t do well with liars. We’re a team, Davis, but you aren’t a team player. If we all did whatever we wanted, for whatever reason, this company wouldn’t be what it is. Let alone exist.”
“I promise it won’t happen again…” Davis pleaded, sweat beading on his forehead as he clasped his hands together.
“I know it won’t, Davis, and neither will any of these people make the same mistake as you. Listen up. This is what happens to you when you disobey this company. When you think you can use it for your own benefits.” Every word that came out of Roger’s mouth was spat directly at me. His eyes drilled into mine as the guards came in, pulling Davis from the room as if he never meant a damn thing to them.
With a smile, Roger walked away… His eyes bore into mine, and his threat still rang in my ears. For once, it was starting to hit me. The good of doing this might not outweigh the bad.
Kandace was right.
I could very well be signing my own death certificate.
three
KILLER—THE PRESENT
“WHEN YOU THINK about dying what do you think it will be like?” Her question rang in my ears. Her soft, delicate voice wrapped me in warmth like I had never felt before.
To say I wasn’t human would be true. I wasn’t. At least, not since they pumped me full of drugs. They morphed me into this killing machine, but now I was free. Free of the chains, the bars, and the people. Never again would I find myself in confinement.
My thoughts drifted back to the things that they made us do. The killing, the fights they caused between us. They wanted to control us, to make us into their own little lab rats. None of us truly understood the need they had for us. Some of us were injected with drugs to alter the human DNA while others were trained to fight.
“You were talking in your sleep again,” Jaxon, my right-hand man, said from his bunk. We were in hiding having just escaped the facility where they were holding us. They thought we were weak. They thought wrong. I remember wrapping my hands around the doctor’s throat as he tried to shoot me up with a tranquilizer. It almost made me laugh.
The memories of bones crunching, the gurgling of blood in his throat, his eyes popping out of his head from the pressure of my hand squeezing, and the way his face turned purplish blue from lack of oxygen as bruises formed from underneath my fingers—it all fed me. Fed me to find vengeance. The people that had created this drug and administered it to us would die. I would make sure their blood stained my hands
one way or another.
“Sorry,” I offered stretching in my bed. Our beds were small, but they were beds. We had never been given anything as soft… let alone a pillow or mattress. Those things were lavish and unknown to even us.
“Don’t be. I know what you’re going through.” Jaxon offered his sympathy, even when he knew I wouldn’t take it. He knew what I wanted him to know, which wasn’t very much. Most of us had no recollection of who we were, what we were doing, or where we had come from. Except me. I had memories. I could feel the pain and hurt in those memories, which told me once I had been sick. Once I had been dying and there was no hope. Yet, here I was, breathing and living. How I had come to live and thrive was unknown. Something told me PGI knew more than they were ever letting on.
I grunted in return as I pulled my long brown hair into a ponytail. I had plans to get my hands bloody today. That wasn’t changing. I had one desire, one reason my heart was still beating, and it was to take out anyone I could who would have answers.
After all they had done to us, they deserved death. Fuck, it would be their last dying wish by the time I got done with them.
“My body’s itching for a kill, Jaxon.” I rolled my shoulders and cracked my knuckles. We had been at the secret compound for months now. The building was a brick structure built into the ground five floors deep. To the naked eye, it would be seen as a newer apartment building. If they entered it, they would have another thing coming. Behind its walls lay killers, genetically mutated males capable of far more than just death. One look could strike fear so deep some had lost their minds.
“Mine, too. It feels like it’s been days since I ripped that nurse’s fucking throat out as she screamed. My cock was hard the entire time I did it, too.” He smiled like a sick fuck. Society was made to think what he had just described was bad, and it was. What they were doing to us was just as bad, though. We had learned that an eye for an eye was how justice would be served. Do to us only what you wish to be done to you.