Sweet Revenge

Chapter 22

Laney held Matt tight as he slept, her chest aching. She wasn’t sure she could forgive herself for working for the commander. There was no way Matt could forgive her.

Sure, the medical advancements had been impressive with the experiments and drug regimens. But she’d realized the dangers, and she’d pressed on. There was no undoing that fact. Life never really was black-and-white, now, was it?

She’d learned the hard way, as an adult, how evil ruled the commander. But being raised by the monster? How the hell had the Dean boys survived?

Laney struggled to keep her eyes open. After making love with Matt, she was raw and vulnerable… and the nightmare waited to claim her. So she allowed her mind to wander back to the best days of her life, when she’d started college.

She’d arrived early to her assigned dorm room with her neatly packed bag to find pure chaos. Music blasting, haphazard posters on the wall, and crazy mismatched rugs on the floor. A wild, unruly mass of red hair had popped up from behind a desk before sparkling blue eyes came into focus.

The girl hustled over the desk, hand out. “I’m Nancy, and I’m you’re roommate, and I’m rebelling.”

They’d been instant friends. The best of friends. They’d both majored in premed. While Laney had earned top grades, Nancy had struggled. Laney had helped her along the way as much as she could.

When Laney attended medical school, Nancy had decided to attend nursing school. They’d found an adorable apartment off both campuses to share. Life had been fantastic. When Laney had been offered the job with the military group, she’d agreed only if she could bring her own surgical nurse.

So Nancy had headed east with Laney. When Laney made a mistake, it was colossal. She’d killed her best friend.

At the sobering thought, Laney allowed Matt’s heat to lull her into sleep. Usually if she acknowledged the truth before falling asleep, the nightmare left her alone.

Not tonight.

The nightmare hit close to dawn.

Over five years in the past, Laney glanced over at Nancy in the triage hospital waiting area. This was their first month in the new location, and she missed the routine of Colorado. “I’m not sure we should’ve agreed to come to Tennessee.”

In adulthood, Nancy had tamed her crazy hair into a manageable bundle. She smoothed down blue scrubs. “Is that a gut feeling?”

“Yes.”

“The same gut feeling you’ve been having about the recent drug regimens?”

“Yes.” Laney drew in a deep breath. She was young, but she was smart. “Some of the side effects have concerned me.”

“Me, too,” Nancy said softly.

“Sorry about Adam,” Laney said. The young soldier had reacted very poorly to a regimen and had been taken to another base somewhere.

Nancy shrugged. “We’d only been dating a month. It probably wouldn’t have worked out anyway.” She glanced at the blackened windows. “Maybe we should take some time off and go visit my granny. She’d love to see us.”

The elderly woman had pretty much welcomed Laney into their family with apple-scented arms. She was the only family either woman had. Laney nodded. “Let’s put in for vacation time tonight. We should rethink our plans here.”

A nurse poked her head out of the surgical hallway. “Please scrub up—surgery in ten.”

Laney led the way into the prep room, where they both scrubbed up. “Don’t you think it’s weird they won’t tell us what the surgery is today?”

Nancy pursed her lips. “Yeah. Really weird.”

Laney steeled her shoulders and headed into the operation room. She’d gotten her best friend into this mess, and she’d get her out. Dr. Rodriquez was waiting for them, wearing a cast on his right hand. She gasped. “What happened?”

His black eyes had seemed beadier than usual as he’d frowned over a bushy beard. “Risks of the trade.” Then he’d stepped back as a patient had been rolled into the freezing room.

The patient was about six and a half feet tall, and weighed perhaps about two fifty. Short blond hair had been buzz-cut close to his head. He was out cold and stripped to the waist.

Laney frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Dr. Rodriquez wheeled a cart toward the patient’s shoulders. Surgical implements and a rectangular silver disc were on the cart. “I need you to implant the disc as near to the C4 vertebra as possible.”

Chills had slammed through her skin. “Wh-why?”

The door opened again. “That’s irrelevant,” said a hulking man with dead brown eyes. “Do your job.”

This was wrong. On so many levels, Laney knew the chip would only hurt the patient. “Who are you?”

“I’m the commander. You could say I’m in charge here,” he said.

Dr. Rodriquez laughed. “So true.”

Laney backed away from the surgical implements. “What medical need does this serve?”

The commander narrowed his gaze. “It fills my need, which is all you should care about.”

Fear trickled down her back. “What does the chip do?”

“It explodes and severs the spine if the soldier disobeys an order. All it takes is a code from my computer… or a lack of update every five years.” No emotion filtered on the commander’s words.

Laney squinted for a better look at the device. It was way too small to inflict the damage he claimed, yet she knew he was telling the truth. Whomever had designed it was a true genius. She swallowed. “So if somebody escapes you, they die?”

“Of course.” Pure evil glimmered in his eyes. “You do understand that there’s a nobler purpose here, right? We need these safeguards.”

This wasn’t a safeguard, it was slavery. She was too smart to fall for his line, and she’d followed blindly for too long, counting on patriotism. Counting on honesty. “No.” She shook her head. While she had been a part of military experiments that appeared noble but could still be harmful, there was no nobility in the kill chip. “I won’t do this.”

The commander nodded. Quick as a whip, he grabbed Nancy and sliced the scalpel across her jugular. Blood sprayed in a graceful arc.

Laney screamed and rushed toward her friend.

Nancy slid to the floor, her eyes wide in death.

The commander kicked her out of the way and yanked Laney up with one strong hand. “Do the surgery, or I’ll kill everyone you care about.”

She shoved him, fury heating her breath. “You just did.”

A small moan awoke Matt around dawn. The scent of woman and sex filtered around him, instantly hardening his cock. Laney snuggled into his side, her heart beating loud enough for him to time each pump.

Thunder rolled outside, and she jerked awake with a small scream.

He ran a hand down her arm. “Bad dream. You’re okay.”

She sucked in air, her entire back moving with the effort.

He turned her to hold close. “Tell me about your dream.”

“No.” She sniffled into his neck.

He couldn’t help the smile. “Just tell me.”

She drew in a shaky breath and told him the nightmare that kept her from resting peacefully.

He kept his face bland and ran a hand down her arm several times. The fact that the commander had killed the nurse without a second thought didn’t surprise him one bit.

Finally, Laney wound down with a hiccup. “You were raised by that monster?”

He exhaled. “Yes. They put us into groups by family—my brothers and I all had the same sperm donor.” He had always wondered what woman had carried him for nine months and then let him go so easily. Probably a surrogate. They’d never found any identities of the egg donors. “I think some serious genetic splicing went on. My brother Shane always thought we had some animal genes added.” Matt smiled, hoping it was a joke.

He could lie to himself that he was sharing with Laney so she’d share with him as an investigative approach. But he’d be full of shit. He wanted to somehow explain who he was to her. However, he had to ask the question whirling through his brain. “The man on the table, the one you refused to harm. Was it me?”

“No.” She ran her palm along the side of his face.

It was all he could do not to turn into her warmth. “How do you know?”

She shrugged. “He wasn’t as big as you, and he had blond hair.”

It shouldn’t matter, but Matt was glad it wasn’t him or his brothers. “When you refused to help, what did the commander do?” Rage all but wanted to eat Matt’s skin off his body, yet he kept his voice low and soothing.

She bit her lip. “I ran out of the room, and next thing I knew, I was locked in a cell. The commander told me I would rot in there until I agreed to perform surgeries again, although he found somebody else to do those implants, as you know.” She gagged and covered her mouth, sucking in several deep breaths. “I knew I couldn’t ever return to surgery. Every time I see blood, I think of Nancy. And faint. I can’t ever be a doctor again. I just can’t.”

“It’s okay,” Matt said softly. “You’re safe.” But she wasn’t, not really. She wouldn’t be any safer than he was until the commander was dead. “I’ll take care of it.”

She nodded, dark circles slashing under her pretty eyes. “I was there for a month… and then the world blew up.”

“That was us.” He forced a grin. “We blew the place up—computers and everything. That’s when we fled.”

Her cell phone buzzed from the nightstand, and he handed it over to her.

“Hello?” she asked quietly.

Even though she kept the device to her ear, Matt’s enhanced hearing allowed him to hear the entire conversation. Apparently the FBI profiler was in town and wanted to speak with Laney. In fact, according to the sheriff, he was on the way.

She hung up and tossed off the blankets. “We need to get dressed.”

A knock sounded at the apartment door. Matt exhaled. “The guy is in a hurry.” He slipped from the bed and yanked on his jeans. “Get dressed and take your time. I’ll handle him.” He padded barefoot through the apartment to open the door and stopped cold. “What the hell?”

Nate’s hand shot out to shake. “Mr. Dean? I’m Leo McGovern from the FBI. Can we talk?”

Matt took the offered hand and squeezed. Hard. “Now isn’t a good time… Leo.”

Nate’s gaze dropped to his bare chest as his grip tightened in reaction. “I can see that.” Even through the brown colored contacts, his eyes glinted with equal parts concern and irritation. “However, I’m here now.”

Matt leaned in. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he whispered.

“I’m the profiler.” Nate’s lips quirked in his signature smart-assed grin as he yanked his hand free. “Apparently, you need a shrink, moron.” The banter was light; Nate’s demeanor anything but. The guy was pissed.

“I’m undercover here,” Matt drawled. Sure, he’d slept with Laney, and he even liked her. But this was a job. Even as he tried to convince himself, he knew there was no fooling the human lie detector standing in front of him.

“Bullshit.” Nate shoved him back into the room. “Shane and I agree you’re in over your head, and this ends. Now.”

Temper exploded in Matt’s chest. “I’m in charge, and you two will follow every order I give. Right now, you’re splitting town.”

“That’s proof you’re not thinking,” Nathan said. “I’m on the inside already. Any particular reason you don’t want me here?”

“Matt?” Laney hesitated in the living room. “What’s going on?”

“Ah,” Nate said softly, a muscle twitch in his forearm broadcasting inevitable movement to the left.

So Matt edged to the side to keep Nate trapped.

His brother’s eyes narrowed behind the dark contacts. “Does she know your special skill?” he asked softly… too softly for Laney to hear.

“No.” Matt glanced over his shoulder. “This is Leo McGovern from the FBI, and he’s leaving now.”

“No, I’m not.” Nate feinted left and then moved right so he could view Laney. “I need to interview you, Miss Jacobs.”

Laney had donned faded jeans and a green T-shirt that brought out the different hues in her intriguing eyes. With her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked fresh and feminine. Delicate, even. “All right. Can I get you some coffee?”

Nate showed his teeth. “That’s kind, but no thank you.”

She gestured toward the chair angling the couch, her concerned gaze flitting from Nate to Matt and back again. “Would you like to sit, Agent?”

“I truly would.” He shoved past Matt and took a seat. “No need for the title. I’m just an FBI consultant—not an agent. Their regular profiler had some sort of hunting accident, and they called me in yesterday.”

Matt cut his brother a look. “The regular guy isn’t dead, is he?”

“Oh no, of course not. Just laid up for a bit.” Nate tilted his head toward the sofa and smiled. “Shall we get started?”

Nathan Dean shoved down anger and concern until the emotions no longer existed inside him. Focus was the key to getting Matt out of the mess he’d created. As the oldest, Matt was usually the cautious one. Not this time. Nate just couldn’t understand it… until the woman had walked into the living room.

Laney Jacobs was beautiful. Not in a fancy, kick-your-ass way, but in a sweet, feminine, intelligent way. No wonder Matt was lost.

Time to get his brother back to earth. “So, you’re a bartender?” Nate asked.

“Yes. I own J’s Bar, which is downstairs,” she said, settling closer to Matt on the sofa.

So far, true statement. Nate nodded. “Why own a bar?” he asked.

“What the hell does that have to do with the recent murders?” Matt growled.

Laney patted his hand, and he relaxed into the cushions, a muscle ticking in his jaw. Nate allowed enough of a sneer to cross his lips to piss Matt off more. Yeah, the woman had him leashed. “My brother wanted to own a bar, so we went in as partners.”

Lie. Definite lie. “I see,” Nate said. “I’m asking questions to get a feel for you, for the life you live.” In order to understand what the hell Matt is thinking. “I need to get a handle on the guy sending you notes. Knowing you will help me to profile him.”

“Okay.” Laney drew circles across Matt’s knuckles. “I like owning the bar. People come in to celebrate, to commiserate, to just relax. I get to be a part of their day.”

Without being too involved. Interesting. God, Nate would love to understand why she’d become a surgeon. He purposefully moved in an unnatural way, so she wouldn’t draw a comparison between his mannerisms and Matt’s. “Do you think our professions are driven by needs or wants?”

She shrugged. “Both, I guess. Like you being a profiler. You must need to find the truth.”

“I do.” Nate switched his gaze to Matt’s smoldering one. “The truth is often veiled, and once we get emotional, we lose all perception.” He had to get his brother the hell out of town. Matt was spiraling, whether he admitted it or not. “Don’t you agree, Matt?”

“I agree we need to get all important facts together before making snap decisions… and mistakes.” Matt’s tone couldn’t be any more threatening.

Laney paused, her head turning in jerky movements to view Matt’s face. Concern furrowed her brow. “Are you all right?”

“Fine. I don’t like my morning interrupted by people asking stupid questions,” Matt said.

Nate leaned forward, his ears heating. “You don’t seem like you’re in control right now, Mr. Dean. As a profiler, I have to wonder why.”

Laney twitched, her hands fluttering. “Um, maybe we should do this later.”

Nate waited until Matt realized he was scaring the woman next to him, and when Matt held his gaze, the truth hit. Matt didn’t give a shit if Laney caught the undercurrents between them. Nate shook his head. “This is unbelievable.”

Laney swiveled toward him. “What is?”

“A killer murdering people in quaint towns.” Nate slid his most reassuring smile into place.

By the rapid fluttering of Laney’s pulse, she wasn’t appeased. “I agree,” she said.

“Just a few more questions,” Nate said. He ran her through her history with the notes, her thoughts, her feelings about the attack the previous night. While Nate didn’t care about her responses, he cared how Matt reacted to every emotion or thought from the woman. They were in tune… too much so. Way too much so. Finally, Nate wound down. “I appreciate your answering my questions.” He stood. “I’ll be in touch.”

Matt stretched to his feet. “I’ll show you out.”

Nate nodded and headed out the door and down the steps. Then he turned around to take the punch.

But Matt didn’t swing. Instead, he gripped Nate’s shirt and slammed him against the wall. Hard. Pain ricocheted down Nate’s spine, and the roar of breaking wood echoed throughout the empty bar.

Matt leaned in, fury etched into his face. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Saving you,” Nate said simply. He’d kill for his brother, and he planned on dying for him. He’d willingly take the pain of a good beating if it’d help Matt get perspective. “Wanna hit me? Go ahead. But when you’re done, we’re leaving town.”

Matt released him with a hard shove against the damaged wall. “I don’t want to hit you. Much.” He turned and dragged a hand through his hair. “I know she worked for the commander, Nate, but it’s not like our hands are clean. While she repaired soldiers and even helped with the drug regimen, she didn’t mean to hurt anybody—even if the procedures might someday. And she sure as hell didn’t implant any chips in spines. She said no, and the commander is after her.”

“So?” Nate asked.

Matt stilled. “So?”

“Yeah.” Nate straightened his leather jacket. “Who the fuck cares if she’s innocent or guilty? We have six weeks to live. Get the truth from her, get the codes from her, and let’s get back to the mission.” Why in the hell did he have to spell this out? He swallowed. Wait a minute. No. “You’re not thinking—”

“No,” Matt said savagely. “This is temporary.”

Nate sagged back against the wall, his breath heating. Impossible. “You just lied to me.”

Matt’s jaw snapped shut. “No, I didn’t.”

“Shit, Mattie. You just lied to yourself.” Nate shook his head. “I tried loving somebody from our past… somebody who the commander had gotten to. You know that. It almost killed me.” Nothing could happen to Matt. Not Matt. He was invincible, and he had to stay that way. “You can’t do this. Can’t be lost.”

“I know.” Matt frowned. “I’m fine.”

But he wasn’t. Nate’s gut clenched hard. “Shane is bad enough. I love Josie, I really do. But Shane doesn’t sleep… He barely eats. He’s consumed with the thought of the commander getting to Josie if we die. Shit, even if we don’t die.” Nate needed very little in life, but Matt being strong and whole was a must.

“I know.” Matt’s voice dropped to a tortured tone Nate had never heard before. “My focus is on the chips and on finding out what happened to Jory.” Guilt and so much pain filled Matt’s eyes that Nate’s lungs quit working.

Nate shook his head. “Jory wasn’t your fault—”

“Bullshit,” Matt said savagely, his face contorting. “I promised him he’d never be alone, and he died without us there. Without—”

“We promised him that,” Nate said quietly, his eyes filling. Shame and devastation made his voice hoarse. “I raised him as much as you did. We failed him.”

Matt’s chin dropped, and his eyes closed, the agonizing sound he gave defying description.

Nate reacted the only way he could and stepped into his brother, engulfing him in a hug. Matt reacted instantly, his broad hands clapping across Nate’s back. For a moment in time, two of the deadliest soldiers ever created tried to offer comfort amid a whirlwind of pain.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to grieve him. To help you grieve.” Nate forced the words out, his voice cracking. “I’ve been clinging to the idea that he’s still alive.” Even now, a kernel of hope lived inside him. The second it died, he might, too.

“I know.” Matt released him and levered back. “I try not to hope, but I can’t help it. We need to find him, no matter what.”

Nate inhaled and stepped back while nodding. “I agree.” He took several deep breaths, calming himself. Time was running out. “Now, about Laney.”

Raw emotion crossed Matt’s face.

Reality hit Nate in the center of the head harder than any punch he’d ever taken. Heat filled his lungs, making them ache. “It’s too late, isn’t it.”

Matt blinked. Twice.

Nate sighed, his brain rapidly calculating scenarios. “Even if you leave her, it’s too late.” His big brother had fallen in love, and hard. Completely. He shook his head. “God, Matt—”

“Shut up, Nate.” Matt rolled his shoulders, using an old trick he’d taught them all to relax. From the look of his hard jaw, it wasn’t working. “I’ve known the woman too short of a time.” Desperation filled his eyes.

“So what?” Nate shook his head, pain for his brother washing down his back. “We don’t live in the real world, in picket-fence places. We live the way we live—fast, hard, and bloody. Life is fast, and death is faster.” He took a deep breath of lemon cleanser and gin. Jory was likely dead, Shane was consumed, and now Matt was lost. How the fuck was he going to fix everything? “If you love her, leaving won’t help. Believe me, I know.”

Matt eyed him, his pain palpable. “You still love Audrey?”

“No.” The woman had tricked him and then betrayed him. “But I plan on meeting up with her again, if we survive the next six weeks. Just to settle the score.” Just to prove he didn’t still love her. He couldn’t, right? “Do you love Laney, Mattie?”

Matt drew in air. “Feelings are irrelevant. Let’s get to the plan.”

“Actually, your brother asked you a question, Mattie,” Laney said quietly from the stairwell. “Do you love me?”

Nate pivoted to face the stairwell along with Matt. Shit. They’d been so engrossed with their conversation, they hadn’t heard her coming down the stairs. Instant fury ripped through him. “See why this is a bad idea? If she’d had a gun, we’d both be dead.”

“I do have a gun.” She yanked a nine-millimeter from her waist. “See?”