“Well, you can start by calling off your men,” she answered conversationally. Her tone was calm and together. “It never seems to end well for them.”
Bitch. “I’ll see what I can do,” he countered, holding his anger in check. It wouldn’t do any good to piss her off.
“Besides,” she went on, “I can’t see what good it would do, given that I have original serum in me. My powers are stronger. I’ll always win.”
He could just picture the smug look on her face. She obviously knew more than she was letting on. And she’d overheard him talking to the idiot Dr. Blake.
“So, what exactly do you want?” Jeff decided to stop playing games before he chose to just kill her himself. His project was too valuable to waste on one wretched woman.
“Why don’t we get together?” she asked civilly, as if they were discussing getting together for tea.
“What did you have in mind?” She was obviously setting him up for something. This whole thing reeked of Rome. Having the skilled agent as an advocate was definitely a point in her favor. Several points, in fact.
“How about we meet back at the lab?” Harper suggested. Yes, she was undeniably setting him up. But why? She had to know he’d see through this.
“Ms. Kane,” Jeff said, figuring he better fish around for some clues as to what she was planning, “as much as I’d love to see you again, I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. After all, you left so hastily last time we met. Didn’t you enjoy my hospitality?” There, that ought to throw her off a bit. Make her see that he wasn’t to be trifled with.
Her silence was good enough for him. He didn’t expect an actual answer.
“Not really,” she rallied. The bitch had guts; he’d give her that. “But I think maybe this time I can be of some help. I have something you need. Something I’d like to give you in exchange for leaving me alone.”
“Really?” Jeff was getting tired of this cat-and-mouse game. “And just what is it you think I need?”
“The formula,” Harper answered simply.
It was Jeff’s turn to be silent. She was lying. She had to be. The formula had been lost when Dr. Kane set fire to his lab, destroying every remnant of his precious creation. How in the world could she possibly have it?
“I take it you don’t believe me,” her complacent voice filtered through the connection.
“I find it hard to believe, yes,” he managed. Damn her. If she really had it, a meeting was worth the risk.
“Well, I saw that you found your men from the train tracks.” Her tone was confident. Not only had she overheard his conversation, but she’d dug around the lab as well. “I take it you saw what I left there. An empty syringe and a broken flash drive.” Yes, he had seen those. What was she getting at? “I bet you know what happened to the serum in the syringe.”
“Yes, I’m quite aware of it,” he answered, an unusual sense of foreboding washing over him.
“I’m sure you are.” She laughed, the arrogance grating on his stinging nerves. “But the flash drive wasn’t quite destroyed. I kept the memory chip.” The foreboding turned into dread. “And I have all of my brother’s data. I know what he did. And I have tangible proof. Of everything.”
Fear sank into his stomach like an anchor, latching onto the bottom. She wasn’t bluffing. He could hear it in her voice. It was his job to filter out the lies and mine for the truth. And through his many years of experience, he knew she was telling the truth. She could ruin everything he’d worked for.
But she hadn’t. Because she wanted to be left alone. Well, he could do that. For a short time. Time enough to get the formula out of her. And then he’d see to it that she was left alone. Alone to die.
“So, can we get together?” she asked once again.
“I’d like that,” Jeff answered flatly. Let her think she had him where she wanted him. Yes, she had Rome, but she was a novice at the games he could play. He just needed her unaccompanied for a few moments. “The lab, you said?”
“The courtyard outside the lab, actually,” she amended. “I’d like to stay outside, just in case. If you know what I mean.”
“I’m sure you would,” he snarked, unable to help himself. The woman needed the natural daylight to use her power. That much he knew. “Okay, I’ll agree to that. But I’d like you to come alone, just in case. If you know what I mean.” And he was sure she did.
“Of course,” she stated evenly. “One o’clock. Tomorrow.”
“One o’clock, tomorrow,” he repeated.
“Bye, then.” Her gravelly tone lifted a tad, and then the connection was severed.
He didn’t even try to trace the call. He had no need for it. Besides, he knew Rome had her use something undetectable.
Harper had accepted his terms. Though he didn’t believe her for one moment. He knew for a fact that she’d have Rome close by. For some unknown reason, the agent had decided to stand with her. Fine. Rome had clearly picked a side and would suffer dearly for it.
Once she stepped foot into the courtyard, Jeff would have her taken down. Yes, her power was superior, but he had superior numbers. And though not as strong, that many enhanced men would be able to, at the very least, subdue Harper and Rome.
And then he’d make them both suffer for choosing the wrong side.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Twelve o’clock.
Harper’s digital watch displayed the time in bold black numbers. A raindrop splattered on the small face and she brushed it off before she turned her attention back to the veiled position she’d staked out. The facility was just beyond the dense trees and thick brush that kept her well hidden.
In precisely one hour, Rome would show up with reinforcements. To bring Jeff Donovan and the Five Watch faction to justice.
But in a few minutes, she would face Jeff and the faction on her own. To bring vengeance.
She knew full well what her and Rome’s plan was. The intricate timing Rome had established and every move she was supposed to make.
But this morning, as she lay awake in Rome’s secure arms, rehashing the plan over and over in her mind, she knew she couldn’t do it.
She couldn’t do it and be whole with herself.
Rome had drawn a line and she was about to cross it. She refused to wait. Waiting meant justice, not vengeance. And the only justice she could understand was to avenge her brother’s death by wiping out Jeff and his faction. That way, there was no chance they could exploit and murder anyone else. They deserved as much and more for all the lives they’d ruined.
Bowing her head, she closed her eyes and looked inside herself for a long moment. Was she doing the right thing?
Sharp visions of Rome flowed unbidden into her thoughts. Confident and honorable. Strong yet vulnerable. He’d allowed her to see his weaknesses just as she had shown hers to him. They’d seen each other at their best and worst. They’d shared triumphs and setbacks.
And they’d loved.
She’d never loved anyone as she loved Rome. Never thought herself capable of that depth of emotion. Of wanting to give everything she had been and everything she ever hoped to be to someone. She’d always kept her heart locked down somewhere deep inside herself.
But Rome had somehow unlocked it. Without her knowing. Or maybe she had known. Because from the moment she’d awakened tied to his couch, she’d known he was someone who could change her life. And not just because of her horrible situation, but because of the amazing man he was.
He’d told her he loved her. And he meant it. Of that she had no doubt. She just had to look at what he’d given to her and given up for her.