Chasing Victory (The Winters Sisters) (23 page)

“Our extraction is seven minutes out. They are coming in dark,” Logan reported. “What’s the plan?”

“We need to locate Collin and Victory as soon as possible. He already has a substantial head start on us.” Tristan looked at Morgan. “Tell me he didn’t remove his tracker chip.”

“Not as far as I know. I don’t even think he knows that he has one in him. We need to confiscate a receiver,” Morgan replied.

“Okay. Logan, contact the pilot to stand ready, but outside of the island’s airspace. Noah and I will head back and find one of those receivers.”

“Hold on,” Noah broke in. He started searching his pockets. “Here it is. I thought this might come in handy.” He pulled a small black box from his pants pocket. “I took everything the dead guy was carrying, even his half empty pack of gum.” He shook the box and tapped against his other palm. “Shit,” he said as he continued to play with the box. “I must have damaged it in all the commotion.”

In the near distance they heard the sound of a helicopter approaching. Tristan spun around looking at Logan. “Logan, I thought you said the chopper was seven minutes out?”

“I just finished talking to him. He’s five minutes out waiting for instructions,” Logan snapped back.

“Then who the hell is that approaching?”

“Shit.” Morgan popped up. “It’s got to be the island’s other helicopter. It didn’t even cross my mind, last time I saw it, it was at the maintenance shack, with parts scattered about.”

“And exactly when was that?” Logan asked.

“A couple days ago,” Morgan answered.

“It looks like someone got it up and running and its heading this way,” Tristan said.

“We need to scatter and stay down,” Logan remarked. He was keeping a look out with his night goggles, and down at the bottom of the path he saw two tiny flashes of light and two men heading towards them. “Two men, ten minutes out, heading our way. I can’t tell for sure but it looks like one of them might be Max.” All four of the men melted back into the trees, waiting for the enemy to approach.

The glow of the helicopter came into view, its lights getting brighter and brighter as it advanced toward the landing pad. There were three men all armed with submachine guns sitting on the edge of the chopper, feet on the skids, ready to pounce on anything that moved. Max and the other man were passing Tristan’s team, scant yards between them.

Max with a receiver in his hand was looking at the screen. “Son of a bitch, I’ve lost Collin’s signal, how far did Braxton say the range of this thing was?” he asked the guy beside him as they kept moving toward the chopper.

“Twenty five miles,” the man responded. “Don’t worry sir, that helicopter Collin stole is equipped with a homing beacon. All our helicopters have sonic tags on them. As long as he’s in that helicopter we can track him, no problem.”

“You had better pray that’s the case or you’re all dead.” Max barked.

“Should we take them down?” Logan whispered through his ear bud to the team.

“Negative,” Tristan whispered back. “We call in our own bird and follow them. There’s too much firepower showing, it’s not worth the risk. Seems Max has the only working receiver, so for now we follow them.”

“Yeah, and from what I’ve read Max could track down Collin with his nose alone,” Noah snorted quietly. “Oh, sorry Tristan, I didn’t mean anything by that.” Noah chuckled.

“Right, you wait till this is over wise guy. Stop wasting time and slither up there and tag that bird,” Tristan responded.

“Yes sir Commander,” Noah said.

“Any problems?” They could hear Max yelling to his team over the sound of the blades.

“No sir,” one of the men responded as loud. “No sighting of Grant either.”

“We’ll worry about him later. He’s here on the island somewhere, and after we leave there’s no other birds left on this rock. Let’s go.” He jumped into the passengers’ seat and tapped the pilot on the shoulder. Seconds later the helicopter was airborne.

“Mission accomplished,” Noah rejoined the group. “They won’t be getting away from us.”

As soon as Max’s chopper was out of range the four men stood up. “I contacted our ride, the chopper will be here in six minutes,” Logan informed the group. “Let’s go get our stuff,” he said turning toward Noah.

Tristan and Morgan headed for the tarmac to wait for their ride. “Do you have any idea where Collin might be heading?” Tristan asked as they walked.

“Not really. I do know that he is from Washington State. That’s why he volunteered for this assignment with Biotec. He was hoping to get some weekends off and take a trip home. Fat chance that was.”

“Really. Do you happen to know where in Washington?” Tristan asked.

“I can’t recall. Seems like he told me at one time, but I was probably only half listening. Why, are you familiar with Washington?”

“That’s where our team is stationed. We’re on the peninsula across the sound from Seattle. So yeah, I know it pretty well. I’ve spent most of my off time traveling throughout the state,” Tristan said.

Noah and Logan came strolling up to the helipad, loaded with backpacks. “Man am I looking forward to taking a shower and sleeping in a real bed,” Logan uttered.

“What a pussy boy, what are you getting soft on us,” Noah bantered. “Here comes our ride, they’re right on time.”

TWENTY-THREE

Victory woke with a throbbing headache. She put her hand up to the back of her head and felt a golf-ball sized lump. “Ouch,” she hissed as her fingers hit an especially tender spot.

“Sorry about that. I needed to make sure you came with me and I didn’t have the time to discuss the matter,” Collin said.

“Here, this will help with the lump.” Collin handed her an ice pack. “And this is for your headache,” he said offering her a glass of water and some aspirin.

She took the items he offered, not wanting to upset him. “So, may I ask where we are? I’m not familiar with this part of the island,” she said.

“That’s because we aren’t on the island. I brought you out to my cabin. I know the place needs a little work,” he said as he looked around the tiny interior. “I haven’t been able to get out here much the past couple of years, but it’s got good bones.”

The room they were in consisted of a small kitchen and living area containing an overstuffed chair and small sofa. It also served as a makeshift bedroom. She sat on the edge of a bed across the room from the kitchen and put the glass and bottle down on the nightstand next to her. She saw one interior door leading to what she assumed must be the bathroom.

“Why did you kidnap me?” Victory pressed. She was beginning to get a feel of uneasiness; she didn’t hear any other people outside, only birds, realizing that they could be completely isolated with nothing and no one around for miles.

“Kidnap is such an ugly word. I didn’t kidnap you; I am in need of your undivided attention and your expertise,” Collin said.

“Is this how you treat someone whose help you need?” she protested. “If it is, then I should think you don’t get much cooperation. You’re no better than Braxton,” Victory said.

“No, it’s not. For argument’s sake, let’s say that I haven’t been myself lately,” he sneered. “I figured you did this to me so who better to fix me.”

“As I told you before Collin, I was not the one that did this to you. If it had been my decision, I would have never let them inject you or Morgan. There’s simply too much research left to do before jumping in with human subjects.”

“Braxton obviously did not agree with you,” he fired back. “Why didn’t you stop him?”

“I tried to tell him, but it was too late. He’s a mad man and is only out to make money. I have been researching the genetics of genus canis for over ten years. I’m considered the leading expert in the field, and still I would not have introduced the serum into anyone’s system.”

“I guess that’s why Braxton decided to solicit your help, because of your extensive research. That is why I took you from the island, and why I brought you with me. You are probably the only person that can cure me,” Collin said.

“I can’t cure you. The best I can do, with time and research, is to find a way to get both your DNA and the foreign DNA to co-habitat together. As far as Braxton soliciting my expertise, that depends on your definition. If you call threatening my family and kidnapping me soliciting, then I guess so,” she snapped back at him.

He glanced at her, complete surprise on his face. “What do you mean? You and Tristan weren’t employed by him?”

“No. Morgan said that he told you about us,” she hesitated, perplexed that he didn’t already know about their situation.

“He didn’t. At least I don’t think so. I can’t remember,” he replied jamming his palms up to his temples.

“What’s the matter?” Victory asked with sincere worry in her voice.

“It’s this damn throbbing in my temples. I’ve been trying to fight it back, but sometimes no matter what I try I can’t stop it,” he said as he paced the entire cabin.

“How often does the pain persist and for how long?

“No, not the pain, I can deal with the pain,” he nearly screamed at her. “It’s this damn feeling of overwhelming rage. It’s wild and fierce, and at times it completely overpowers me. When I lose control and the rage takes over, I black out and lose time. I have to get out of here.” Collin continued to pace the floor. “Lock the door and stay inside. Don’t try to leave, we’re miles away from anyone else and the woods are dangerous, believe me.” Collin walked towards the door. “Victory, lock this after I leave, I mean it.”

He walked out the door and left her there. The question was, where was there? She walked to the door and contemplated making a break for it, but all she could see was forest. Not knowing how far the nearest neighbor or town might be, or even what country she was in, she figured for now her best bet was to stay put. She closed the door and threw the deadbolt. She turned and leaned back against the door, listening to the sounds around her. She caught the sounds of birds, squirrels, and a couple of cougar way off in the distance. Then she heard the blood-chilling guttural growl of a wolf. For a split second the forest fell silent.

“Tristan, can you hear me?”
Victory attempted to make contact with him. She wasn’t sure how strong their connection was, or what distance they could cover, but she was giving it her best shot.
“Tristan,”
she yelled in her mind. Nothing. There was only silence.

* * * 

The SOCOM helicopter was tracking Max’s helicopter up the west coast. “I think Morgan is right,” Noah commented. “Looks like we’re heading straight up to Washington, now the only question is, where in Washington. I would prefer not bringing up the rear throughout this entire mission.”

“What are the updates from Jack?” Tristan asked.

“Nothing new yet, but he should be getting back to us soon. You know Jack, he’s a wiz master on the computer,” Noah said.

Tristan leaned his head against the headrest. Closing his eyes he replayed the events of his last encounter with Victory. Silently he cursed himself for his mistake; he should never have let her go to the lab by herself.

“Tristan.”

His eyes flew open as he lurched upright.

“You okay?” Logan asked.

“I think I heard Victory,” he said.

He closed his eyes and focused on Victory.
“Victory, can you hear me?”

Victory thought she felt an ever so subtle buzzing in her temples. Was it Tristan? Could he really hear her, or was it pure desperate hope? Whatever it was, she would try her all to contact him.
“Tristan, Collin knocked me out from behind when I walked into the lab. I’m sorry, I didn’t see him and I was so distracted I didn’t even hear him come up from behind me,”
she babbled on in her mind.

There it was again. He couldn’t understand everything she was saying, but he did get bits and pieces.

“Well,” Logan prompted. “Are you getting anything?”

“I’m not getting all of it, but I can pick up pieces. She said that Collin came up from behind her in the lab. Which in itself is surprising, that woman has ears on her like no one I have ever known.”

“Does she know where she is?” Noah asked.

“She hasn’t said, at least I haven’t been able to pick that up. I’m going to try and contact her.” Tristan settled back and propped his head back against the seat. Filling his body with a few deep breaths he focused all his energy on reaching Victory.

There it was again. This time Victory felt a very distinct push in her mind. That has to be him.
“I’m not sure where I am. Collin said something about a cabin. He wants me to help him. He seems to think that I can reverse what has happened to him, I’ve tried to explain that all I can do is help him adapt to it.”

Tristan blew out his breath, relief flooding his body. He knew she was safe and that Collin needed her, so for now that would keep her safe, he hoped. “She’s okay. I feel a pain in the back of her head, probably where Collin hit her. All I could get was that he wants her help and something about a cabin.” He looked at Morgan. “You know anything about a cabin?”

“He went out into the forest.”
Victory continued on. She didn’t know what if anything Tristan could hear, but she relayed everything
. “He warned me not to leave, that the area was not safe. He even told me to lock the door after he left. Tristan, I think he is having trouble staying in control, but he knew that so he left me. He left because he could feel that he was losing control, he didn’t want to be near me for fear he might hurt me. This is a good thing. He is beginning to adapt, or at least acknowledge when the change is coming over him. Yet he is trying to stay in control. Maybe this will buy me more time to help him.”

Victory’s head was beginning to pound, between all the thoughts running through it and the large bump. She laid down on the bed and put the ice pack on her head.

“Shit,” Tristan spit, “I think Victory might still be in danger with Collin. She said something about him losing control. What about that cabin Morgan?”

Morgan remained silent. At first Tristan didn’t think he was going to respond. “Nope, I don’t remember anything about a--wait a minute.” Morgan bolted straight up and looked at the other three men staring at him. “His grandfather, I remember last summer we barely got back from a mission. Collin was really upset. His grandfather had passed away while we were deep under cover. He was dead and buried before Collin even knew about it. The two of them were really close. His grandfather raised him since he was ten. Anyway, he got a letter from an attorney telling him that his grandfather left everything to him. This included the main house in Seattle, all his investments, and a small hunting cabin. What was really surprising to Collin was that everything was already placed in his name, over one year before.”