Winter Warriors

by Denise A. Agnew

  Chapter Eleven

  Destiny grunted as she pulled herself through the long tunnel. The slick surface of the vent often made things harder, but she kept at it. All she could hear was the thunk of their arms and legs against the vent and their harsh breathing.

  She kept a tight grip on her flashlight and gun while she struggled to crawl. Heat rippled over her in continuous waves, but she didn’t confess the news to Mac.

  Mac was pissed, and Destiny knew it.

  Okay, what did she expect? She’d mucked up royally. In her effort to keep some professional distance, she’d gone overboard and disregarded his feelings. The idea he might have feelings so deep scared her at the same time it gratified.

  Trepidation created new worries inside, and she tried to identify what troubled her the most. Did she fear losing her heart to him entirely and in the process, her independence? She knew loving a man meant sacrifices and compromises and maybe she didn’t intend to do either.

  Did she think if she rejected him first there would be no pain for her?

  Welcome to the party, girl. Surprise, surprise. She’d endured the pain when he’d looked away from her with icy apathy she wouldn’t have thought him capable of earlier. Never mind they’d experienced a connection so strong, it felt like love. Never mind he’d confessed feelings for her.

  She’d stabbed those dreams with a saber.

  Destiny consoled herself by thinking their emotions for each other could be an illusion. Maybe their bout of roof-raising sex couldn’t happen if she wasn’t under the influence of this hormone. The idea hurt deeply. She wanted more, damn it, but she couldn’t give in to false hope yet.

  First things first, Destiny.

  She must survive the drug before she could make plans of any kind.

  With Mac following close behind, she struggled onward. They came to a curve in the vent and it ventured upward at a slight angle. She found the gradual ascent easy to maintain.

  She saw the end of the vent and crawled faster. “I see the end. There’s light up there.”

  “Check through the vent and make sure one of those monsters isn’t out there.”

  She peered through the slits in the metal grate. Nothing moved in the hallway. “I’m not sure if we’re still in the basement, but the hallway is lit up like a Christmas tree.” She worked on the grate but couldn’t remove the screen. “It’s screwed in tight.”

  He crawled past her, barely able to squeeze through as he mashed her against one wall of the vent. Once there, he used his feet to kick through the grating with a powerful punch. The vent clanged onto the floor of the hallway. He checked the hallway and gave the all clear. Once he dropped onto the floor, she followed, accepting his hands on her hips and waist.

  They surveyed the area with caution, weapons draw and prepared. Light filtered into the area from emergency beacons near the ceiling. “This is strange. If the power is out in the rest of the building, why is this lit up?”

  He started down the hall. “No time to question now.”

  They proceeded down the hall, and at one open doorway, she saw a window and the continuing blizzard.

  “Hallelujah,” she said. “We’re on the first floor.”

  A shudder rippled through her frame along with aggression and a raging need for sex. Without so much as a by-your-leave, her labia engorged and her clit tingled. Moisture gathered, warming her slit and making her ache. Destiny pressed her back against the wall. Again and again her clit throbbed, begging for something to assuage the nagging craving between her legs.

  She resisted the urge to rub her fingers against her mons. She managed to ignore the instincts telling her to throw Mac against the wall and beg him to make her come.

  “What is it?” Concern sharpened his features.

  “I think whatever is happening to me is getting worse. I…I know you’re not going to believe this, but I want to fuck you right here and now.” She didn’t care if she sounded like the biggest slut-puppy in the universe.

  His mouth popped open, amazement, confusion, and definite concern running the gambit over his features. “Destiny—”

  “I know. No time. Let’s just find the lab and get the antidote.”

  Her legs felt weak, but she pushed onward, allowing him to tug her along like a recalcitrant child whenever her step slowed.

  More than ten minutes later they found their way back to the labs, and when they arrived and hesitated at the door, Destiny recognized a petrifying fact.

  “I’m scared, Mac.”

  His brow creased as he frowned, then he sighed and slipped his arms around her. She snuggled into his embrace, a momentary respite from the fear charging through her and smothering her ability to soldier onward.

  “It’ll be all right,” he said softly, his deep voice rumbling into her ear. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Despite the way she’d treated him, his arms held Destiny as if he never wanted to release her.

  She buried her face in his shoulder and slid her arms around his waist. “I’m sorry for what I said earlier about the formula…about making love.”

  “Don’t. Not now. After this is all over we’ll talk.”

  The door to the lab opened abruptly and they sprang apart. Mikhail’s grim expression eased into a cautious smile. “There you are. I thought I heard voices out here. Is everything all right?”

  She took a deep breath and let it out. “Let’s go inside and we can tell you all about it.”

  After introductions were made, Anthony asked, “Did you find Jordan?”

  Mac answered, his face a mask of anger. “Yeah, we found her.”

  Mac then explained that Destiny might be infected. “We need to get that antidote for her.”

  Mikhail’s expression turned worried and compassionate. “Good God.”

  Anthony ran his hand through his hair and started toward the lab area. “We’ve got to work on the antidote faster. Her life may depend on it.”

  Destiny’s emotions flip-flopped. Again she fought her feelings, determined she would retain her ability to remain calm and collected under fire.

  “If Jordan is now this genetic mutation, who is the second monster?” Mac asked.

  Mikhail stopped at the doorway to the lab, his hand on the latch. “It might be Catronia. We’ve not heard from her. And she was, I confess, displaying amazing sexual prowess right before she disappeared.”

  Destiny peered at Mikhail, suspicious. “I’m surprised you haven’t taken time to look for her.”

  He shook his head. “I fear it may be too late. Before she disappeared I hoped we could come up with a clue to the antidote before she…before she turned into something beyond imagining. We had just broken up before all this happened. She was going to move into new quarters.”

  His confession silenced everyone until Mac spoke again. “You may be right about her. There aren’t any other women other than Jordan, Destiny and Catronia that are infected. Arlinda obviously wasn’t.”

  Mikhail nodded. “Then we will work harder on the antidote.”

  Anthony threw Destiny a curious glance. “What do we do with her?”

  Without hesitation Mac’s arm went around her and she leaned into his warmth. “You aren’t doing a damned thing. She’s staying right by my side.”

  For a full minute silence invaded the room, and everyone seemed loathed to break the quiet. If she did become like Jordan, no one here would be safe.

  She turned to Mac. “Anthony is right. You’ve got to do something with me.”

  Incredulity entered Mac’s eyes. “What?”

  “Lock me in a room under guard. That’s the only way you can be sure I won’t harm anyone if I turn into a creature like Jordan.”

  “We’re not one hundred percent sure you’re infected,” Mac said.

  Mikhail gestured toward the lab door. “We can do a test. It will take but a few moments to determine if she has the formula inside her.”

  Mac’s face displayed tortured emotion
s from refusal to grave acceptance. His arm tightened around her, his palm rubbing over her arm in a gesture designed perhaps to comfort him as much as it did her.

  “I’ll do it.” Destiny shifted out from under his sheltering arm. “We have to be sure.”

  Later, after Anthony took blood from her and she’d returned to the reception area, she glanced through one of the many wide, tall glass windows surrounding the main lab. Anthony and Mikhail were suited up and working inside the lab.

  Mac sat behind the desk clacking away on the computer.

  “Everything all right?” Mac asked.

  “Yes.”

  Mac kept typing, fingers rapidly traversing the keys. Then he stopped. “Anthony said Arlinda used to type correspondence for LaCroix. I’m looking through the files for clues and I think I’ve found one.” He shifted back from the computer and waved her closer. “Read this. LaCroix was making a report on the hormone.”

  What she read made her blood run cold.

  Over the centuries men have plundered, pillaged and destroyed the supremacy of woman by means of sheer brute force. I believe that woman is the seat of all humanity and her inherent ability to carry and create life should guarantee her sanctity and safety from all harm. Yet men in general refuse to see this and have taken her far superior spirituality and tried to suppress it, to make her seem less than holy.

  Destiny’s sense of humor kicked in. “Well, he’s got a point.”

  Mac glared.

  “Well, okay, he does go overboard,” Destiny said with a wry smile. “I wonder if Jordan knew about this?”

  Mac shrugged. “Dr. LaCroix presented himself as a competent scientist with high ideals but with a product that wasn’t appreciated. People bought into the idea of a female aphrodisiac easily. They probably never imagined in a million years his so-called Black Widow Formula could create a total anomaly in a short amount of time. In any amount of time.”

  She started reading again.

  The serum I created is for the benefit of mankind, or more specifically womankind. I watched men overtake this planet in a way that is sickening to me. By creating this hormone I am taking back the world for women. They will procreate by means of extreme sexuality, their physical and emotional dominance assured, and if they so choose, they will be like the Black Widow. They will mate, then kill their partner. They become a maneater.

  The short note was dated a couple of days ago.

  “My God,” Mac said, repugnance in his tone. “The guy is a psycho.” Mac rubbed his hand over his stubble-darkened chin. “I think Charlie Brown has a saying for this. Oh, brother.”

  “Or was that Linus?” Destiny asked dryly.

  Mac smiled, and she enjoyed their small moment of levity.

  A few moments later Mac tried his satellite phone. He reported in to Quinton and updated the controller on recent events.

  Destiny heard him say, “I think she’s all right for now. Yeah, I’m worried, too. Yes, sir. Yes.”

  After he hung up, he turned back to her.

  “Quinton is sending more firepower, but he doesn’t think they’ll get here for several hours. Roads are a bitch. They already have an all points bulletin out on LaCroix based on my earlier report. Quinton’s very worried about you, Destiny. I’ve never heard the man sound so shaken.” He grinned. “Told me I’d better take care of you or my ass is grass and he’s the lawn mower.”

  Destiny couldn’t help grinning. “That doesn’t sound like Quinton.”

  Mac cleared his throat and switched to a poor imitation of an English upper-crust accent. “‘If you don’t bring her back in one piece, Tudor, I will personally shave a slice off your buttocks and feed it to you.’“ Mac cleared his throat again. “Those were his exact words.” Mac advanced toward her. “I will bring you back safe, you know that, don’t you?”

  His gaze heated, lightning quick, with a shimmer of the passion they’d shared earlier. Heat sluiced into her belly, and she allowed herself to enjoy it for a tiny instant. Everything she’d said to him earlier in the medical supply closet came back to haunt her. She wanted desperately, seeing the look in his eyes, to recant all rejection.

  God, Destiny, you’ve been such a fool.

  “Yes,” she said softly. “I believe you will bring me back safe.”

  Mac continued on another vein. “I think I can explain a little of how Dr. LaCroix came to be so insane. While you were in the basement, Mikhail and Anthony explained that LaCroix’s father beat his mother regularly in front of the children. His mother, though, is what some would call a flaming feminist and not in the good sense. She hated men and thought they were totally useless. She warped his mind as much as his father did.”

  Destiny ached for the child LaCroix must have been, an innocent spoiled by the insanity of adults. “So he essentially hates his own sex and wanted to empower women to destroy men.”

  “Yes.”

  Reality intruded, and Destiny felt her temperature climbing again. Angry at her situation, Destiny stood slowly. “I need to be locked up. Now.”

  “We’ll wait until we get results back from the blood test.”

  “You know what’s happening. When this fever comes up I feel like I want to—” She couldn’t say it, her gaze darting to Mac. His face revealed nothing. “I don’t know how long it’s going to be before this transformation takes place. I can’t take the chance I’ll hurt anyone.” She put her heart and soul into her words. “Especially you.”

  Turmoil rolled through his face. “Destiny, you’re not going to turn into a monster. I won’t let you.”

  She made a little scoffing noise. “How are you going to stop it?”

  He came toward her again, and this time when he gripped her shoulders, she saw strong resolve in his gaze. “You’re going to be all right. You have to believe that.”

  Holding back an upwelling of emotion, she didn’t waver. “You’ve got to put me somewhere secure. Please, Mac. Do this for me.”

  When Destiny looked into his eyes, she thought maybe they shimmered with tears, and then he swallowed hard. “All right.”

  His words gave her a measure of comfort. “Good. Is there a room I can be locked in?”

  Mac led her to a small office near the reception area that featured a connecting door to a bathroom. He gave her several bottles of water and dried food such as nuts.

  “It’s not much,” Mac said as he handed a packet of cheese and crackers to Destiny. “But you won’t starve.”

  Destiny wiped her hot forehead with her sleeve. “Thanks.” Tears burned her eyes again, and she touched Mac’s shoulder. “Mac, what I said earlier about the sex between us—”

  “I know. It’s all right. Let’s not worry about it right now.”

  He picked up her hand and kissed the back and a thrill went straight to her loins.

  “I can’t help it.” She leaned into him, and when his arms came around her, she rejoiced in feeling those hard muscles against her. She gave him a cheeky grin. “I want you to know that whatever happens, I’ve enjoyed being your partner.”

  His returning smile filled with appreciation. “Could have fooled me in the beginning.”

  “I was hiding from what I felt.”

  He nodded, the grin ebbing until it was replaced with a frown. “Fight this serum. Fight it with everything you’ve got. We’re going to get through this.”

  “I promise. And be careful out there. Jordan’s still wandering around, and so is the other creature.”

  His lips brushed hers, overflowing with tender promises he couldn’t yet fulfill. He kissed her, a tender movement of mouth against mouth. She returned the kiss, tempted to wrap her body around him and request more. His mouth seemed to savor hers, as if he may never see her again. Bittersweet feeling soared through her.

  With that sweet embrace he released Destiny. “You’ve still got your weapon. If anything happens to me and the others, you’ll have defense against the creatures.”

  Her throat tight, she said, “No
thing will happen to you, Mac. You’re too tough for that.”

  He smiled and saluted her as he opened the door. “Damn straight, Tremayne.”

  With a last, searing look in his eyes, he turned smartly and closed the door.

  She heard the lock engage.

  Mac closed the door on Destiny and the finality of it echoed in his mind. His gut clenched with a soul-deep agony he’d never suffered before.

  Face it, Tudor. You love her.

  He hung his head and allowed the pain to wash through him in great waves, fighting back tears.

  He was deeply, forever in love with her, and if he lost Destiny, he didn’t think his heart could take it. Scenarios ran through his mind. He wished a thousand times over he’d said something to her long ago, after that Christmas party when he’d felt the lust transform into potent emotional longing.

  But maybe he hadn’t recognized his feelings then.

  “Damn it, Tremayne, don’t do this to me.”

  He reached for the latch, ready to open the door and declare his love, when Anthony returned from the lab area with a grave expression foremost in his eyes. “It’s official. Destiny is infected.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Destiny considered screaming. She sat on the small, hard vinyl couch in one corner of the room and wished for a window. At least she could see the snow coming down if she had a window. At least she could distract her thoughts away from a desire to string LaCroix up by his thumbnails and the desire to make love to Mac non-stop.

  Now the end of her career, her life, and her love might come within minutes. She supposed the best defense was an offense, but how could she fight her own body? What could she do if the strange fever transformed her into a beast?

  She held her arms out and looked at them. Pushing her right sleeve upward, she stared at her skin. Nothing signaled, other than the odd fever, that she suffered from a genetic change threatening to turn her into Bigfoot or some other mythological-looking creature.

  She closed her eyes and thought about Jordan. Where was she now? For the first time in her career, Destiny didn’t know if she could kill the enemy given the chance. After all, Jordan couldn’t help what happened to her, right?