Tempting the Fire Read online

  “Just something to calm you down, to take the edge off,” the doctor explained, looking up from where he was starting work on Logan’s arm. Fuck it all, those meds hit him too hard most of the time. He hated the fuzzy feeling around the edges of the still human half of his brain. If it weren’t for the bioware portion, he’d be a drooling mess on the table.

  A hand—his father’s—came down on Logan’s good arm.

  “Logan, you’re going to be just fine.”

  “Is Chance?”

  His father didn’t answer at first, and then, “I wanted to help out. Itor’s been putting pressure on the company to get the chupacabra recaptured quickly.”

  “And what? You’d give them Chance instead to appease them?” he asked, and his father didn’t deny it. “Chance is a SEAL. Just like I was. How could you do that to him? He’s still a man.”

  “Logan, you don’t understand.”

  “Damned straight I don’t. What, I’m not enough of an experiment for you?” Logan saw his father wince, and he hated the satisfaction that settled in his own gut.

  Not your fault—it’s the wound.

  Indeed, his arm was twisted at an awkward angle, wires exposed as the surgeon worked. They’d pumped him full of the familiar black sludge, but with opened skin, he was bleeding it out faster than they could give it to him. “Why are you really here?” Logan demanded.

  His father looked pained. “It’s about Caroline.”

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “I don’t want to … I thought I could take care of it before you had to know.”

  It was only sheer will that kept Logan flat on his back on the table. “Tell. Me.”

  “Itor has her.”

  Suddenly, it all made sense. His father might have questionable values and standards, but he couldn’t imagine he would’ve morphed into such a monster that he would perform horrifying experiments on an innocent man.

  But for his daughter … “When? How?”

  “They took her from college on Friday—they told her they were from GWC. They said you were hurt.”

  Of course Caroline would go without question. Shit. “What are their terms?”

  “If they don’t have the chupacabra within a week, they’ll—”

  “Don’t say it.” Logan rubbed his forehead with his free hand. Contracted by Itor, GWC had been studying the chupacabra’s weapons potential, but when Itor changed the game and insisted on being given the animal, GWC’s shareholders panicked. The weapons potential the creature represented could bring billions of dollars into the company. Its loss was not an option. Logan’s father had figured if GWC could find another chupacabra and start a breeding program, they’d be able to give Itor one of the creatures, and problem solved. Richard had taken a gamble by sending a team back to the Amazon with the animal, hoping the creature would attract another, but when the chupacabra had escaped two weeks into the mission, clearly Itor’s patience had run out.

  Fuck. “How much longer do I fucking have to lie here?”

  “Another few hours, at least.” The doctor barely looked up from the delicate repair, and Logan sighed in frustration. He tried not to let the bitterness overwhelm him, but then he thought about Caroline … and Sela, who was pissed at him, no doubt.

  Logan’s father rubbed the back of his neck. “When they took her—threatened her—I thought about Chance. A trade. I ordered the tests to make sure he possessed the qualities of the original animal, so Itor would be satisfied. You have to understand,” he pleaded, and Logan tried to forget the way Chance had looked, lying on that floor, holding Marlena.

  Because, unfortunately, Logan did understand. “That’s still no reason to torture an innocent man. We’ll get Caroline away from Itor.”

  “How? You’re no closer to recapturing the chupacabra than you were a month ago. And now you’ve got two women here who could be spies from a competitor or the government—and one of them knows about you, what you are.”

  “What the hell am I, Dad?” he asked, his voice low, and dangerous enough that the doctor froze.

  His father had once been SAS—the British Secret Service. He understood what Logan had been through in the military. When Logan was younger, he’d wanted nothing more than to follow in his father’s footsteps.

  Now he was sickened that he almost had. Logan didn’t wait for his father to respond to a question no one knew the answer to. “What does Itor know about Chance?”

  His father’s hesitation told Logan all he needed to know. Itor knew all about Chance, that he could change into a chupacabra. Which made him very valuable to Itor.

  Chance’s life was now in danger in more ways than one. Most of all, he’d become a prisoner in his own body. And, as Logan glanced at his arm, he felt the pressure of that knowledge settle over him like a lead weight.

  “THAT BASTARD.” SELA PACED THE LENGTH OF LOGAN’S PERSONAL tent while Marlena stood near the entrance, arms crossed over her chest and just as pissed. Fortunately, she hadn’t fought being taken away from Chance. She’d been smart enough to realize that if she caused a scene, Chance would freak and Logan’s men would be forced to sedate him. Or worse.

  As Sela passed by, Marlena grabbed her arm and spun her around. “What the hell is going on? What happened while you two were in the jungle? Didn’t you—?” She cut herself off before she said it and risked the men waiting outside overhearing.

  Didn’t you seduce him?

  “Of course I did,” Sela snapped. “Don’t fucking blame me for this. I know what I’m doing, and I’ve been doing it for a hell of a lot longer than you have.”

  Marlena’s chin came up so she was looking down her perfect nose at Sela. “Then why are we locked up and under guard?”

  “Because Logan is an asshole. He betrayed me.” Sela almost laughed. Here she was, all indignant because he’d betrayed her, when she was the one who had been deceitful all along.

  Instead of letting out the bitter laugh condensing in her chest, she jerked away from the other woman and took a deep, calming breath. Fighting with her partner was counterproductive, especially when there was an element of truth to what Marlena had said.

  Sela had failed. She’d gotten very little usable intel from Logan, and she apparently hadn’t gotten close enough to him to make him trust her. Either that, or he suspected she wasn’t who she said she was. Maybe both. In any case, she’d fucked up.

  Guilt tore through her, a big, knotted jumble of it. She’d let herself get too close to Logan, which had compromised her mission and failed ACRO. And she’d been lying to Logan, which hadn’t been a problem at first, but she’d stopped seeing him as a bad guy at some point, and now … well, she actually felt bad about deceiving him.

  Except that she was also furious at him for locking her up.

  “I’m sorry,” Marlena said quietly. “I realize this isn’t your fault. I’m just worried about Chance.”

  “I know.” She knew, because despite her fury, Sela was just as worried about Logan. He hadn’t looked good for a couple of hours, and then, right before he’d given the order to have her and Marlena put under house arrest, he’d gone as white as a sheet and started swaying. And as she and Marlena were escorted away, he’d collapsed.

  Sela had tried to run back to him, but she’d been restrained and he’d been surrounded by doctors, and there had been nothing for her to do but bitch and curse as she was herded to the tent.

  Marlena sank down on Logan’s cot and looked longingly at the bottle of Scotch on the table. “Did you learn anything?”

  Sighing, Sela sat next to her so they could speak in a whisper. “Logan is half machine. His company developed the hardware for soldiers or something, and he’s the prototype.”

  “Oh.” Marlena looked taken aback. The woman whose boyfriend was a fucking chupacabra.

  “It isn’t like he’s the Terminator or anything. But I can’t read him, and I think that’s why. Part of his brain is a hard drive.”

  Marlena looked e
ven more surprised—not terrified, but now Sela understood why Logan was so defensive about his condition, if this was what he was used to dealing with. Shame washed over her; had he seen the same expression on her face when he told her the truth?

  Shit. She didn’t want to talk about this. “Did you get anything from Chance, or the staff?”

  “Not much,” Marlena admitted. “They took him. Experimented on him or something.” Her voice hitched, and Sela decided she didn’t want the gory details. “I don’t think they were doing it to help him.”

  Sela nodded. “Logan wouldn’t tell me what the company plans to do with the chupacabra once they catch it, but given what GWC does, they’ll probably want to use it as a weapon, and I’ll bet Itor’s involved. He said it would be dangerous for me to know too much.”

  “Bastards,” Marlena spat.

  “GWC or Itor?” Sela dug the scales and blood-covered leaf from her pocket and set them on the table. They might not have gotten the chupacabra, but these were still amazing samples and would be worth their weight in gold at the Crypto lab. She also needed to get hold of all of GWC’s research on the chupacabra they’d had in captivity, as well as all medical records pertaining to Chance.

  “Both.” Marlena clenched her fists at her sides, her gaze sharp and fierce. “I want Logan and his damned company to pay for what they’ve done to Chance.”

  A protective instinct reared up in Sela from out of nowhere. “Logan isn’t responsible for Chance being attacked or experimented on.” Not directly, anyway. Sela was sure of it.

  “Oh, my God,” Marlena whispered. “You’ve fallen for him.”

  Sela’s heart clenched as Marlena’s words sank in. Because yes, she’d fallen for him, and that could only lead to disaster.

  CHAPTER

  Seventeen

  The gynecologist appointment was a disaster. Dr. Davies had confirmed Annika’s pregnancy, and had also shared her concerns about Annika losing her power.

  “I can’t predict exactly what will happen if you go through with this pregnancy,” Davies said. “Almost every woman with special abilities experiences changes. Some lose their abilities completely and never get them back, others see a slight increase in power that lasts even after the birth.”

  The idea that Annika could lose her powers forever made her break out in a cold sweat. “When?” she rasped. “When will these changes happen?”

  The doctor shifted her stethoscope as if she was nervous. “Again, it varies. Some start seeing changes at conception. With others, it happens in the second or third trimester. And it can be gradual or sudden.”

  “That is not a helpful answer,” Annika snapped.

  And then she’d made sure Davies understood that she’d learn the meaning of hell if she spoke a word about her pregnancy to anyone, including Dev.

  She’d left the office, only to get a call from the director of the Training division with details about her new duties.

  Despite being thoroughly pissed off, she was heading to Dev’s office to apologize to him. Probably not the best idea, given her mood, but she couldn’t wait another minute. She hated fighting with him, and their argument kept playing over and over in her head, hijacking her appetite, her sleep, her mind.

  Annika stormed into the outer office, where Christine was sitting at the desk, her puffy eyes and sullen expression saying she’d had a recent cry. Maybe she was pregnant too.

  “Is Dev in?”

  “Yes, but he’s busy with someone.”

  “Who?”

  “I’m not at liberty to say.”

  Annika slammed her palms on the desktop. “Tell me or I’ll shock you into next week.”

  Christine swallowed. “Creed.”

  “Thank you.” Annika smiled. “Now, in the future, when someone asks you what I asked you, tell them, ‘I’m not at liberty to say, but you’re free to have a seat and see who leaves.’ And if they threaten you like I did, push that little button under the desk. Dev will come out and kick their ass.”

  Christine returned the smile. “Thank you.”

  “No problem.” Annika turned away just as Dev’s door opened and Creed walked out.

  “Hey, babe,” he said, and pulled her into his arms. “If you’re here to apologize, it might not be the best time.”

  “I know. But I have to do it.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Just don’t get yourself worked up.”

  She snorted. “As if I would do that.”

  “Yeah, it’s crazy talk.”

  “Smart-ass.” She socked him in the shoulder and went into Dev’s office, closing the door behind her.

  Dev looked up from where he was sitting at his desk, his hair a spiky wreck, his eyes bloodshot and framed by dark crescents from lack of sleep. “I’m not changing my mind about your training assignment or your mission status.”

  “That’s not why I’m here.” She looked around his office, which was as wrecked as he was. “I’m here to apologize.”

  His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “It’s not necessary.”

  “Yes it is.”

  “Annika—”

  “I’m not good at this,” she broke in, “but I need to do it. And you need to hear it.” She inhaled raggedly. “I’m really sorry, Dev. I haven’t been myself lately, but that’s no excuse. I crossed a line and was more than a little disrespectful. You didn’t deserve that. Not as a friend, and certainly not as my boss.”

  For a long moment, he just stared at her. “Thank you. I know that wasn’t easy.”

  “And about Gabe—”

  He held up his hand. “We’re not discussing him.”

  “Yes, we are.” She started pacing, careful to avoid stepping on crumpled files, a stapler and the broken shards of a coffee mug. “Look, I’ve been jealous, okay? It’s stupid, I know. But for a long time you were all I had. You were the only family I’ve ever known. I have Creed now too, and I’m still getting used to balancing the both of you. Hell, I’m still learning how to have any kind of relationship. No one ever told me that the problems don’t end with those three little I love you words.” She dragged her hand through her hair. “And it’s all the dumb little things I catch on, because I’ve never had to share with anyone. I mean, the other day I bought toothpaste, and I wondered if couples are supposed to share or get their own. Dumb, huh? I still don’t know the answer to that one.”

  She didn’t give Dev time to respond. She kept going before she lost her nerve. “So I’m learning and stumbling and doing my best to not screw up or lose you or Creed, and then suddenly, there was Gabe, taking up all your time, so you didn’t come over for dinner anymore …” She cut him a meaningful look. “And it didn’t help that Gabe’s an asshole. I don’t know how to add another person into my life. I mean, look how long it took me to let Creed in, and I love him. It takes time for me to adjust, and you know I have a tendency to strike out first and ask questions later.”

  “Annika, you’re handling your relationships very well, considering your past.”

  She almost laughed. “Everyone at ACRO hates me. I wouldn’t say I handle any kind of relationship well.”

  “That’s not true. Everyone wants to work with you.”

  “That’s because I’m good. But no one wants to be in the same room with me outside of work.” No one except Haley, ACRO’s head parameteorologist, with whom Annika had forged a strange friendship over the last couple of years. Which was fine with her, the way she wanted it. She just didn’t know how to deal nicely with most everyone else. She was too awkward when it came to social situations, and she was always making stupid mistakes, which created self-doubt, and if there was one thing she couldn’t handle, it was not being confident in herself.

  Dev leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over his abs. “You’re being too hard on yourself.”

  “Whatever.” She stopped pacing and faced him. “I was wrong to say the things I said about Gabe. He makes you happy, and I’m a shit for being an ass about it.�
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  He sighed. “It’s okay. You actually helped me confront something with him that needed to be handled.”

  Oh, shit. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing that concerns you.”

  She drew in a harsh breath, because she had a feeling Dev and Gabe had fought, maybe even broken up, and if so, it was her fault. “Look, I can talk to him.”

  “Don’t.”

  The tone of his voice said he was done talking about Gabe, so she gave up. For now. She planned to hunt down Gabe and find out what had happened though. “Okay … but … can I go back on active mission status now?”

  “I thought you said that wasn’t why you were here.”

  “I swear I was going to apologize anyway. But … I need it. Please.”

  “I’m sorry,” Dev said firmly, “but the answer is no.”

  “Dev, I’m begging you.” Fear that he’d truly not change his mind made her emotions start swimming in that crazy soup again. “I’m so lost right now. My moods are all over the place, and I can’t control them. Creed doesn’t want kids with me. I’m not training anymore. Miles just called and he’s not even putting me in a classroom. Since I’m not on active mission status, he thinks I should fill in for other instructors when they go on missions. And in the meantime, he wants me to fucking inspect trainee quarters. My life is going to consist of endless hours of making sure beds are made and underwear is folded properly. I’ll die, Dev. Please. You don’t have to actually send me on missions. Just let me have my active status back so I can feel a little normal.”

  Dev pinched the bridge of his nose as though warding off a headache, and then his gaze snapped up at her again. “Wait. Go back to Creed and the kids. You said he doesn’t want any?”

  “No, I said he doesn’t want any with me.”

  Scowling, Dev shoved to his feet. “When did he say this?”

  “Couple of days ago.”

  His expression darkened. “God, Annika. No wonder you’ve been so upset.”

  “It’s no biggie.” She jammed her hands in her pants pockets and looked down at the floor. “I’m sure he thinks I’d be a shitty mom, and he’s right. I mean, a few months ago he thought maybe we should have a pet, so he got me a goldfish, and I managed to kill it within three weeks.”