The Ortega Project

by Linnea Alexis

  Following a long, uncomfortable silence, Alex strode to the opposite side of the room and started cleaning up Gabriel’s damage, picking up and dropping broken glass into a trash can.

  Roman collapsed on his recliner and ran his hand over his face. How could he tell Grace he was dying?

  * * *

  Doc

  * * *

  Doc was about to leave the lounge, until he noticed the miserable expression on Roman’s face. Suspecting more than the failed formula was responsible for his gloom, Doc hoped to get his friend to open up about what truly weighed so heavy on his mind.

  He retrieved a stool from the lab, rolled it into the lounge and sat next to Roman’s recliner. “Want to talk?”

  Without verbally acknowledging him, Romance shot him a sideways glance.

  “It’s Grace, isn’t it?” he asked compassionately.

  Roman jerked his head at Doc. “How’d you—?”

  “The fairer sex is usually the cause of our misery. They mess with a man’s mind…and, although I hate to admit it…I’m not immune to their charms.” He grinned.

  Roman closed his eyes.

  Clearly, he was hurting and Doc hated twisting the knife in deeper. But he had no choice. Roman needed to hear the truth. “In the past, you’ve said how long you’ve waited for someone as special as Grace. For her sake as well as yours it’s best to end your relationship. And the sooner, the better. To pursue a relationship is unwise…considering problems with the formula.”

  Roman’s eyes snapped open.

  He threw Doc a stare that chilled his blood. His heart flew to his throat and choked off the courage to continue.

  “Hey, Rome.” Alex had finished cleaning up the mess Gabriel had created during his tirade. He crouched next to his cousin. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  He clapped Roman on the shoulder. “Think I’d better go see what Gabe’s up to. You never know what chaos he and Seth will drum up. Call if you need me.”

  “I will,” Roman said.

  “Good. Catch you later.” Alex rose to his feet, wound strands of his long hair behind his ears on his way to the coat rack. He retrieved his leather jacket, pushed open the door, and disappeared into the hallway.

  Doc envied the close friendship between Roman and his cousin. He was lucky to have someone as supportive and level-headed Alex in his corner.

  When they were alone, Doc hoped Roman would open up to him, share his pain. “Tell me about her,” Doc said. “About Grace.”

  Roman’s body heaved as he ran his hands over his face. “I don’t want to talk about her. And right now, I’d prefer to be alone.”

  Doc got the message. It wasn’t his nature to force himself on anyone. He patted Roman’s arm. “In that case, I’ll leave you to your thoughts. Remember, my door is always open.”

  13

  Roman

  For nearly four weeks, Roman put off seeing Grace. Not only were he and his warriors confined to the institute, he couldn’t bring himself to tell her about his dilemma. He’d called her several times, telling her he was out of town on a special project, but never spoke to her in person.

  While there were no outward signs of the team’s deteriorating bodies, they were losing strength and endurance. The scientists’ attempts to reverse the process were unsuccessful.

  Frustrated and feeling trapped, Roman pocketed his wallet, cell phone, and the keys to his truck. He cornered Crawford in the lab. “This is bullshit. We’ve been stuck inside this prison for close to a month. I need to get out of here.” Roman bolted out of the lab, grabbed his jacket from the coat rack.

  Crawford blocked his exit. “You can’t leave. Physically, you’re too vulnerable to attack—of which you may not survive. And you must admit, you have enemies.”

  He knew Crawford told the truth, but Roman didn’t care. Right now, he missed Grace and the pull on his heart to see her was stronger than any well-founded argument the scientist gave. “I’ll be careful,” he said and elbowed his way past Crawford.

  “You’re making a mistake.”

  “Like hell I am,” he said and stormed out of the institute. The only mistake he made was staying away from the woman he loved, and he planned to rectify the error right now.

  He raced to his truck and climbed in behind the wheel. After a quick call to Grace letting her know he was on his way, he cranked over the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. He drove to her apartment, parked on the street in front of her building, and turned off the engine. As he worked on building up the nerve to climb the stairs to Grace’s apartment, he gripped the steering wheel with both hands and stared at the lacy curtains that marked her window. He wiped moisture from his eyes with the heels of his hands. What the hell am I going to tell her?

  He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Deciding he’d stalled long enough, he exited his truck, and made his way to her building. With his hand on the railing, he hesitated before climbing the steps to her second story apartment. Halfway up the stairs, he stopped and leaned against the wall, fighting the urge to flee. Deep down, he knew everyone was right advising him to quit seeing her, but he found it impossible to stay away. They’d become a couple only recently, but he couldn’t imagine his life without her. My sweet, beautiful Grace. He didn’t want to leave her or their relationship without offering some sort of explanation. But what would he say? Sucking in a lungful of nerve, he climbed the rest of the stairs and stopped outside her apartment, trying to muster up the courage to knock on the door. Here goes nothing. He pushed out a deep breath and rapped his knuckles lightly on her door.

  Grace threw open the door. “I missed you so much while you were away,” she said as tears filled her eyes. Beautiful in black jeans and a blue, angora sweater that matched her eyes, she gave him a warm smile made him weak in the knees. Unable to force any words past the lump in his throat, he kissed her deeply. He wrapped his arms around the woman whose heart he would soon crush and held her for a long time. How could he tell her goodbye?

  He couldn’t.

  He wouldn’t.

  Grace pulled herself up slightly and he lifted her until she wrapped her legs around his waist. She nibbled on his ear lobe. “You’re quiet tonight. Is something wrong?”

  “Let’s just say I’ve had a rough patch at work.”

  Her fingers grazed his cheek. “I’m sorry, babe.”

  “So am I.” His voice caught.

  She slid down his body. When her feet touched the floor, she held his hand, and led him to the daybed.

  Lowering himself slowly on the edge of the bed, he pulled her onto his lap.

  On the coffee table, a bottle of champagne chilled in an ice bucket, and fragrant spice-scented candles burned in cut glass votives. A piano CD played in the background.

  She cradled his face in her hands. “What happened?”

  “Our project hit a snag.”

  “Does it involve you?”

  He let out a weak chuckle. “You have no idea.” Maybe he shouldn’t have come here tonight. He hated himself for what he needed to do. To avoid her soulful gaze, he closed his eyes.

  “Please look at me. You’re scaring me.”

  He opened his eyes and whispered, “It’s nothing you need to worry about. It’s my problem.”

  “Then it’s our problem. Anything involving you, involves me, too. I truly believe what we have is strong enough to get us through any problem life throws our way…as long as we’re together.”

  Her soft kisses made their way from his cheek and down his neck. Feeling her warm breath against his skin excited him.

  “Sorry, but right now, there is no we.” How could he tell her that ending their affair would be in her best interest and free her heart to find someone else more deserving?

  She pulled away, a wounded expression spread across her face. “Are you breaking up with me?”

  “I don’t want to because you’re the only bright spot in my dark, miserable life.”

  “
When you were gone, did you find someone else?”

  “No way.”

  “Then why? I thought we had something special.” She lowered her head. “Tonight’s our anniversary. I thought you were different from other guys.”

  “I’m most definitely different.”

  Grace jumped from his lap.

  He pulled her back and tried kissing her.

  “Please stop.” She pushed him away. “I’ll make it easy and I’ll break up with you. Just leave me alone.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Roman reached for a tissue on the end table, and wiped away her tears. He held her face in his hands and stared into her blue eyes. “I’m sorry I made you cry, babe, but I can’t talk about it right now. The only thing you need to know is that I love you and always will. You’ve got to trust me on this.”

  “Then you don’t want to break up?” Her chin quivered.

  As she sat on his lap, he caressed her and brushed his lips against hers. “Happy Anniversary,” he whispered and kissed her again—deeply and completely. He should go now. But being with Grace a few minutes longer was more important than rushing back to the institute. God, how he missed her. Missed being with her…inside her.

  Overcome with desire, he slipped his hands under the back of her sweater and unhooked her bra. He pulled her sweater over her head and dropped it on the floor. After undressing each other, they fell on the daybed and made sweet love.

  14

  Grace

  Grace fidgeted with the zipper on her navy sweatshirt and paced the narrow hallway outside Deanna’s chemistry class. It was obvious by Roman’s visit last night that something was going on in his life. Something he didn’t want her to know. If he wasn’t going to tell her, she’d find out on her own.

  A generic wall clock above the cluttered, wood-framed bulletin board showed straight-up three o’clock. The classroom door finally opened and students filed out. Grace spotted a new “do” on her friend and did a double take.

  “Love the hair!” Grace reached over and tousled the burgundy spikes

  “So Gracie, to what do I owe the honor of your presence?”

  Distracted by the dramatic hair-color change, Grace nearly forgot the reason she’d stopped by her class. “How would you like to help me with a little detective work tonight? Neither of us is on the club’s schedule. How about it?”

  Deanna narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Why? What’s going on?”

  Realizing her friend might need more convincing, Grace pressed on. She glanced from side to side to make sure no one was paying attention to their conversation, and leaned in closer to explain. “Roman’s involved in something and he won’t talk about it. Tonight I want to nose around the institute to find out exactly what’s going on.”

  “Are you high? That place is locked up tighter than Fort Knox.”

  “No, it’s not. I’ve been watching the institute for the last couple nights—the comings and goings. There’s a pattern.” Her voice rose with excitement. “And if we time it just right—”

  Deanna shook her head. “It’s too dangerous. What if we…you get caught?”

  Desperate and wary of acting solo, she pleaded her case. “We won’t. But even if we do, what’s the worst that can happen? They chase us away?” Actually, worse would be Roman finding out.

  “Or arrest us for trespassing, that’s what. Come on, Grace, we’ll never get away with it.”

  Not liking the direction the conversation was heading; Grace dropped the subject and continued walking toward the door.

  Deanna stopped. “You’re going to do this with or without me, right?”

  “How’d you guess? In case we can’t get inside the fence, bring your binoculars.”

  “I won’t say I’ll help you, but let me think about it, okay?”

  Invigorated by her friend’s renewed interest, she hugged Deanna. “Now tell me everything you’ve ever heard about the Ortega Research Institute. And I mean everything.”

  * * *

  Grace

  * * *

  Grace’s tired, old Sentra lacked engine power, and after a little arm twisting, Deanna reluctantly agreed to drive her newer, faster car—a midnight blue Jetta. At ten o’clock that night, dressed in black sweatshirts and jeans, they drove to the institute. “There it is.” Grace pointed at a gray building looming behind a barrier of steel picket fencing capped with triple pointed spikes. Deanna hit the brakes. “It looks like a prison.”

  “No kidding.” Hair on the back of Grace’s neck tingled. The menacing-looking three-story concrete building made her skin crawl. Randomly lit windows dotted the otherwise cold, bleak structure. Overhead lamps illuminated each doorway and a six-foot high fence surrounded the grounds, including the empty parking lot.

  She signaled Deanna to drive to the gate. A security guard stood inside the all-glass guard shack, pouring a cup of coffee. And he didn’t seem in any hurry to leave.

  “Keep driving.”

  Deanna drove past the guard shack. “I thought you said the security guard would be gone by now.”

  Grace’s heart pounded. “Every time I did a drive-by at this time of night, he was gone. I was hoping we’d either tailgate or climb the fence.” She narrowed her eyes at the security guard. “What’s he still doing here? He’s supposed to be gone by now.”

  “Well, he’s not. I told you this wouldn’t work. What now, Sherlock?” Sarcasm oozed from Deanna.

  “Guess we go with Plan B.”

  “There’s a Plan B?”

  “Of course.” She pointed to the intersection ahead. “Turn right and drive around to the back of the building.”

  Deanna navigated her car around the corner, following the fence to the rear of the premises. “Let’s get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”

  “We can’t give up yet. We just got here. There must be a different way inside the property.”

  Too many unanswered questions about Roman’s life resided inside the lab. He was hiding something, which made her more determined than ever to find out what, if anything, was going on. A small parking lot came into view. “Stop here.”

  Deanna pulled her Jetta to the curb and parked behind three tall maple trees. “This is a heck of a way to spend our night off. How did I ever let you talk me into doing something so stupid? What if we get caught?” she whispered loudly.

  “Don’t worry, we won’t. How good are you at climbing fences?” Grace asked, trying to calculate the best way to accomplish the task.

  “You’ve got to be kidding. Even if we did make it to the top—which we can’t—we’ll never make it over the spikes.”

  Grace opened the car door. “Maybe so, but I’ve got to try. You coming?” She stepped out of the car.

  “Are you insane? Get back here,” Deanna protested in a loud whisper.

  But once Grace’s foot hit the pavement, there was no turning back. She charged across the uneven sidewalk to the fence. Reaching up, she grabbed hold of two rods, and tried scaling the steel barrier. After climbing a couple feet, she realized reaching the top would be impossible. She abandoned her quest, and jumped down.

  A car door slammed. An electronic chirp sounded. Any plans for a fast getaway just went to hell. Tempted to scream insults at Deanna for locking the car doors, she thought better of it and forced herself to keep her big mouth shut and waited for her to catch up.

  With two pair of binoculars in hand, Deanna joined her at the fence. She handed Grace a pair and kept the other for herself. As Deanna peered through the binoculars, she adjusted the setting. “Check out the window with the open blinds,” she said.

  “Where?” Grace asked, trying to find the window.

  “First floor, second window on the left. Right behind the parking lot. Do you see it?”

  As Grace searched, her gaze swept across the small lot. Roman’s truck! Nausea swept over her and she grew lightheaded. Deanna’s concerns about being discovered played over in her mind. Deanna was right. What if they got cau
ght? How could she explain to Roman why she was spying on him? Her hands trembled as she adjusted the focus on the binoculars. “Found it. Now what am I looking at?” she asked, pushing her words past her parched throat.

  “I’m not exactly sure, but I see movement. It might be Roman.” Grace made further adjustments, bringing items into focus. Fearing what she might discover, Grace held her breath and watched. Inside Roman and his friends sat on recliners, holding tall, metal tumblers. The men’s expressions were stoic. Roman jumped up and paced in front of the window.

  Grace grabbed Deanna’s arm and backed up behind a tree to avoid being seen. She should leave now, but she couldn’t move. Mesmerized, she continued to scrutinize what went on inside the room.

  Since spending time with Roman, she’d become familiar with his body language. Anger and tension raged from his broad shoulders and set jaw. With hands on hips, he faced the group. His lips tightened, his eyes grew wide and black. Whatever Roman was telling them caused Gabriel to bolt from his seat and stand nose-to-nose with him. Veins stood out in his neck as he shouted in Gabriel’s face, causing him to recoil. What were they arguing about?

  As she studied what went on in the room, Roman’s head jerked in her direction. His mouth was slightly ajar, revealing what appeared to be fangs. When Gabriel’s face came into view, he also showed fangs. Seth crossed in front of them. He opened the blinds all the way and stared out the window. At them?

  “Oh my, God.” Had they been found out? Grace gasped and jumped back.

  A stifled scream escaped from Deanna. “He’s looking right at us. We have to get out of here.”

  As she and Deanna ran for the car, the sound of an engine approached and a flashlight’s bright beam found them. Curious who was chasing them, Grace glanced over her shoulder.