Matt’s expression dropped to serious as he set down his coffee cup. “Kenny’s been drugging Sandy for a long time. Plus, he has some kind of truth serum he uses on his, um, parts. Sandy answers whatever question he asks.”
Luke made a gagging noise and slapped his brother on the back. “You deserve an award for however you found that out.”
“No, dude, I need a new set of eyes and some bleach for my brain.” He shuddered. “Anyway. It doesn’t appear Sandy sold you out on purpose, but it also seems Kenny might be the reason Sandy left you in the first place.”
Olivia swallowed, not wanting to think about life with Sandy after the incredible experience she was having with Luke. “What else? I can tell there’s more.”
Luke grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Stop dragging it out. She’s a big girl, she can handle it.”
Olivia wasn’t so sure about that, but she nodded anyway.
“He suggested Sandy pump you for information on your association with the network. Kenny gives that information to someone, only I haven’t been able to find out who. Someone out there knows way too much about you and your family.” Matt met her eyes.
“There’s more.” Luke leaned back in the chair with a sigh.
Olivia’s stomach turned. She didn’t think she was strong enough to handle more. The betrayals were too much, and now the total revelation of her life to someone who ultimately had the power to hurt her? The big information was about to be dumped on her lap though, and she didn’t think she was ready.
“Your parents and brother were taken.”
Her stomach heaved. “What? When? Why?”
“Yesterday,” Matt said. “Probably after you escaped Jenner’s compound. I think we all know why.”
She tears and guilt choked her airway as she turned away. What could she have done differently so this wouldn’t have happened? This was her fault.
“What am I supposed to do now?” She looked at Matt first, then at Luke.
“We’re going to find your parents.” Luke’s determined expression softened the rough edges of her dismay, but the tender emotion under the surface was what finished her off.
She nodded, not trusting she wouldn’t break into tears. Luke rubbed his hand over her back, filling her with his resolve.
“I think your family’s disappearance is related to Kenneth’s information gathering.” Matt drained his coffee cup before standing and stretching.
“But if someone thought they could get to me through my parents . . .” Olivia sat down hard in the chair Matt had vacated. “And if we find them, we’ll know who Kenny’s reporting the information to.”
“Right. That’s where I’m starting. I’m meeting a contact tonight. I’ll probably be gone for a few days.” He rinsed his cup and stuck it in the dishwasher.
“Who’s the contact?” Luke asked, absently stroking her palm with his thumb.
“Dunno. Got her through Martineo.” Matt rubbed his stomach, revealing skin and the low-slung jeans that exposed the line of hair running from his navel to below. “Jillian Derrick.”
“Good luck with that.” Luke chuckled.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Matt opened the fridge.
“From what I understand, she can’t be charmed, and she’s tough as hell. She used to be a weapons specialist for the department of defense. No one knows exactly what happened, but it was bad. She’s a hellcat. You’ll be lucky if she even talks to you.” Luke accepted one of the three bottles Matt held. Matt used his pocketknife to remove the metal cap and held out the bottle to her.
“Beer before breakfast,” Olivia said, but took it anyway.
“Beer anytime, baby.” Matt popped the top of his and took a long swallow. “Can’t be charmed, huh?”
“Can’t be charmed.” Luke laughed. “Let me know how you make out.”
Matt chuckled. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
~ ~ ~
Olivia stretched out on the couch and thought about going to bed without Luke. Matt was leaving in a few minutes. He and Luke were in the kitchen, their voices a soothing murmur. They hadn’t asked her to join them, and she figured whatever they discussed had nothing to do with her. She couldn’t think anymore today. All she wanted was to fall into Luke’s arms and forget about finding out her parents and brother were gone. They didn’t deserve to pay for any mistakes she might have made.
She wondered though, what would happen after Sandy’s system was purged of the drugs Kenny had pumped him full of? Was the man she’d vowed to spend the rest of her life with really gay? Or had Kenny taken advantage of him? Would Sandy want to resume their marriage where they’d left off?
Those were questions she didn’t even want to think about having to answer. Not now. Maybe not ever.
Matt bent down to kiss her cheek, giving her a brief hug. “Take care of the bozo for me. I think you’re probably the only one who can.” He whispered that last part, and she smiled up at him. “We’re going to find your family. I promise.”
The brothers hugged before Luke closed and locked the door. He came to her, holding out his hand with one of those smiles she didn’t think she’d ever be able to say no to.
“Let’s go to bed.”
Chapter 6
Jillian Derrick paced the open corridor. A foul odor came from the men’s room. Not public-restroom foul, but something-dead foul. She had no intentions of going in to see who, or what, was decomposing inside. Why had she insisted on meeting Matt Jamison in this godforsaken place?
She checked her watch. He was late, but he’d be here. She knew Matt could be trusted, even if he was more rebel than brains, at least in her mind. She’d do this little information exchange and get right back to the bar—the sooner the better.
The low rumble of an engine echoed off the trees surrounding the long-deserted rest stop. Jillian wondered how he managed to remain undetected driving that beast. No one was even supposed to drive after dark, let alone break the noise ordinances with such a loud exhaust system.
Rebel. Rebel with information, she reminded herself.
He shut off the engine, staying in the old Chevy for a few minutes, probably assessing her. She took the time to lay an illusion around the old rest stop, just in case this place was on the list for tonight’s patrol. When the truck door finally opened, she couldn’t help but watch. Long legs appeared first, clad in jeans with worn brown leather cowboy boots. He shut the door and stepped closer. It was all Jillian could do to maintain her scowl. From his faded jeans to the rolled-up shirtsleeves that showed off his bulky forearms, he was fantasy come to life.
He stepped up to her and held out his hand. “Matt Jamison. Have we met?”
Jillian shook his hand, finding her tough voice. “I don’t think so.”
She definitely would have remembered. Hopefully, she didn’t appear as flustered as she felt. The last thing she wanted was for that one thing to mess up the reputation she’d spent so much time building. No one bothered her because of it, and probably because they thought she was more than a little bit crazy.
Hell, she wasn’t so sure it wasn’t true.
“Do you know where James and Violet are?” He circled her, checking for weapons or whatever, she supposed.
“I might. What’s in it for me?” She stood still.
Since she’d gone to him for the information exchange, he had to make sure she wasn’t going to double-cross him. She wasn’t exactly sure how he did that, especially since he didn’t speak or touch her, but his eyes unsettled her.
“We’ve already discussed and agreed upon your price. A case of antidote. It’s in the truck.” He stopped in front of her, glancing at the concrete building behind her with disgust. “What in the hell is that smell?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.” She thought she might be permanently damaged since she couldn’t smell it anymore.
“You didn’t check?” He shook his head as he stepped around her toward the men’s room, a flashlight in hand.
“Why in hell would I do that?” She turned to follow him anyway, though it was the last thing she wanted to do.
He shined the light around the dilapidated space, skimming the beam across several dead animals until it reached the back stall. Two sets of human legs stuck out from under the side, the open door covered with the dark stain of old blood.
“Don’t. There’s no point.” She touched Matt’s back, swearing a blue arc jumped from the touch.
“Lots of people are missing. Good people with families that don’t know what happened to them. I have to.” He went to the stall.
She followed, peering under his arm when he shined the light on the bodies. Revulsion clenched her stomach as she studied the nearly obliterated faces. Matt scanned the first body with the flashlight. When he got to the lower arm of the person nearest the door, she gasped. It couldn’t be, could it? She grabbed his hand, when he would have moved on with the light, and studied the dragon tattoo on the pale flesh.
“No fucking way.”
“You know him?” He skimmed the light back up to his face, revealing the damaged skin and bones of the decomposing corpse.
“I do. Last I heard he’d crossed into Midland,” she said.
“How long ago?” Matt shined the light on the face again.
“Eight months. Maybe.” She put her hand on Matt’s arm and forced the flashlight beam to the ground.
“No one’s crossed into Midland for at least a year. And we’re not even near the route to get there. It’s impossible to get across Midland’s border. Hell, it’s practically impossible to get over any of the borders anymore.” He took a step toward the bodies.
Jillian didn’t want to hear that. She had no choice but to try.
“Can you tell how he died?” She stepped away, hoping he wouldn’t know how much this scene bothered her.
Matt shined the light over the body again. “If I touch him, I’ll know. I will if you want me to.”
“No. It’s not that important. This whole situation is pretty unsanitary.” She almost laughed at the ridiculousness of what she’d said. Everything about their lives was unsanitary.
“Do you know this guy? Or girl?” The second body was bigger-built.
“I don’t think so.” She wrinkled her nose at the flesh that had fallen from the body to pile on the floor.
Matt grabbed her arm as they left the bathroom. “I’ll run a check on him if you’ll give me his name. Hopefully we can figure out who she was. Let’s get out of here. There’s danger in the trees.”
Normally, she would have scoffed at his nature-danger talk. It was one of those abilities she couldn’t quite convince herself to believe, not that she believed half the weird-assed skills some people claimed. Though, she hadn’t hesitated to believe Matt could determine the cause of death by touching the body.
“Get in,” he said as he stepped off the crumbling sidewalk.
“This wasn’t part of the deal.” She didn’t have a choice, but she wouldn’t go easy. This place was creepy as hell, and she’d rather not have to haul the box of antidote through the underbrush if she didn’t have to. It had been safer to cut through the woods to get here than the risk of driving.
“It is now. No trade unless we get out of here. We’re not safe.” He scanned the trees flanking the building.
“Fine. Let’s go.” She got in, slamming the door with more force than necessary and regretting the resulting echo.
He rolled his eyes as he closed his door much more quietly. “Where?”
“Mill Road. There’s an old bar near the crossroads.”
He started the truck and backed out, not speaking until he turned at the crossroads.
“James and Violet Randolf?” he prodded with a smile.
She took a deep breath and stared into the night. “Jenner has them. Rumor says their daughter escaped the compound. Last we heard, Olivia died in the explosion that leveled her house.” She was fishing for information that was really none of her business, but she could probably trade it for food or untainted liquor somewhere down the line.
“Dunno. Haven’t heard that. All I know is Jenner has officially plunged into the deep waters of crazy. I don’t think that’s really news though,” Matt said, shaking his head.
“It’s not. I know for a fact.” She turned away. “You know one of my gifts is the ability to tell if a person is lying.”
She reached her hand out to him, hovering over his arm. She didn’t really have the ability, but claiming she did was often enough to flush out a lie. People thought it would hurt or something. Didn’t matter. It worked out well.
“Knock yourself out, babe. I have a few skills of my own.” He wiggled his eyebrows, and instead of being disgusted by his flirting, her stomach trembled.
She touched him. His skin was hot under her hand. An undercurrent that woke up her girl parts sizzled through her. Pulling away, she turned toward the window to hide her reaction. She still didn’t believe he knew nothing about Olivia Sanders, but didn’t press her luck. Why else would he be asking about her parents? He wouldn’t give her the antidote if he wasn’t satisfied with her information, and she had exactly an hour to get a dose into her brother. Damned people and their inability to properly decode the safe food list.
“Go ahead,” he said with a glance at her feet. There were boxes. She definitely could use more than the one case they agreed upon.
“They were taken from their home by ambulance yesterday afternoon. Jenner’s put out the word that they’re fatally ill. Olivia’s supposed to be with them in their final moments.” Crazy jackass. Jillian didn’t believe Jenner’s claim for a second.
“And they’re at Jenner’s now?”
She nodded. “Jenner will be releasing a statement that claims Olivia’s infected with whatever her parents have. Of course, he’s not saying what they supposedly have.” She shook her head. “Word is, the propaganda will be leaked to the media the day after tomorrow. I’m not sure why it’s taking so long. Normally you would have known before me.”
Matt glanced at her, though how he could maneuver the dirt road without headlights was beyond her. She didn’t ask. Seeing through pitch black was probably cohesive with his nature skills. Whatever.
“What?” she finally asked when his eyes met hers.
“You don’t look crazy.” He shook his head and finally turned his attention to the road.
“Very funny.” She turned to the window, a dozen scathing comments on her tongue.
“I don’t care, as long as you have the information.” He shrugged. Jillian felt it more than saw it.
She glanced at the multiple boxes at her feet. “Whatever. Any chance I could convince you to sweeten the deal?”
He stopped the truck and flipped on the overhead light. Jillian tried not to get sucked in by his dark eyes and boyishly handsome face. She averted her gaze, momentarily sidetracked by the leather band around his wrist and the long fingers wrapped around the steering wheel.
“And what did you have in mind?” He smiled and something unhitched inside of her.
“Deal or no deal?” She waited, hoping he couldn’t penetrate the shield she surrounded herself with.
“What’s the deal?”
“Another case of antidote.” She glanced at the boxes at her feet.
“Then no deal. I don’t have another case.” He followed her gaze and shook his head.
“What’s that then?” She nudged the box with her foot.
“The new drug.” He looked at her, gauging her reaction.
“Why . . .? Hell, never mind. Stop near the old pine on the right.” Jillian turned her head, pissed at herself for making such a rookie error.
He parked behind the tree. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I told you where the Randolfs are. Is that enough to get my case?” She moved away from him on the seat.
“Yeah, but do you have more information to trade?” He leaned toward her, his breath brushing her cheek.
“I m
ight. But you’re not paying what I need.” She swallowed, trying to hide how his closeness affected her.
“I have another half a case and four bottles of vodka. I’d give you all of it if the information was right.” His seductive voice vibrated the part that had loosened earlier.
Jillian took a deep breath, trying to gather her wits. “He’s going to offer a reward for Olivia’s return. A big one. He’s going to say her folks will die if she isn’t there in three days. The Internet is gone. Word is it’s down for maintenance, but the truth is they discovered a fault in their firewall and that it was possible to hack into the system. Jenner’s planning on reclaiming his office by the end of next week. I’m not sure how accurate that tidbit is. Haven’t had time to verify.”
There was no way to tell if the information touched him. He got out of the truck and came around to her side to open her door. Her brother appeared behind him, but Jillian shook her head at Theo.
“Your goon-squad?” Matt asked without turning.
“My brother.” She checked her watch. “He has to have the antidote within the next few minutes.” She scooted to the edge of the seat, hoping Matt would get the hint and let her out of the truck. He didn’t.
“Here,” Matt handed her a vial. “Do you have clean syringes?”
She shook her head. “We sterilize.”
Matt opened the glove box and grabbed a handful of syringes sealed in protective plastic. “On the house. I can get more, but you’ll have to give me a day or two.”
“I probably won’t have anything to trade in two days.” She didn’t want to be in his debt.
“With what you just told me, I owe you.” Matt winked, finally moving so she could get out of the truck.
He took Theo’s arm and studied his face before opening one of the syringes and handing it to her. “Give him his antidote now. He’s in bad shape.”
She hesitated, waiting for his comment on her brother’s distinctive serum baby appearance. All the affected children had black hair, deep blue wide-set eyes, and smaller-than-normal noses and ears. “I have to call for help. I won’t be able to get him back inside by myself.”
Into the Fire Page 8