Enigma:What Lies Beneath (Enigma Series Book 1) (4 page)

Chapter Four

Hauke watched as Henry proceeded to withdraw his small weapon from the bottle he held and lay it aside before rummaging through the drawer once more.

Hauke realized the older man intended to inject him with something foreign that would render him unconscious. He had to agree with Abbie
. How had she said that? Oh, yes. Not gonna happen.

“I’ll get the samples. I’m not afraid of him.” She extended her hand, palm up.

“Not in a million years. Now stand back.” Henry snapped on some strange-looking hand coverings and began to rip open a package that held a small wooden stick with cotton encircling the tip.

“What are you giving him and how much?” Her voice grew in volume.

Henry rattled off the medication’s name. “And just enough to put him out until the crew gets here.”

Hauke felt a shift in Abbie only seconds before she snatched up the small silver blade on the table and pierced her father’s upper arm.

“Abbie?” Henry stared at the place she’d impaled him, and then lifted his gaze to his daughter. Hauke could practically taste the man’s confusion and disbelief.

“Forgive me.” The whispered words seemed torn from her soul. Tears swam in her eyes but didn’t spill over.

Henry staggered back several feet before dropping to his knees. His eyes rolled up in his head. and he toppled over.

Aware she’d felled her own father for him, Hauke watched Abbie in disbelief and no small amount of pride. He said the first word that came to mind. “Angel.”

“I’m no angel. I’m an ass. One that just ruined the relationship with the only family I have left.”

“Why would you assist me?”

“You saved me once, long ago. And I repay my debts.”

It stung Hauke to be referred to as a debt. “You owe me nothing.”

“I couldn’t let them take you to Area 51. It had to be done this way.” She looked everywhere but at him.

Understanding dawned. Her father couldn’t be held responsible for Hauke’s escape if he was incapacitated. And it would appear Hauke had felled Henry and took Abbie as a hostage. More pride settled inside his chest. She had intelligence also.

A door opened across the room before Hauke could respond. The guard wearing the blue clothing came into view, his strange black shoes clicking on the floor as he stomped his way toward them.

He slowed his steps when he noticed the unconscious doctor lying at Abbie’s feet. “What the hell?”

“He’s hypoglycemic, Donald. I just gave him a glucose tablet under his tongue.”

Hauke could hear the nervousness in her voice. Apparently the one known as Donald could as well. He studied her for a moment; seeming to gauge her words.

The guard broke eye contact and peered down at Henry. “He’s never mentioned being a diabetic. I’m calling for help.” He unhooked a small black device from his belt and pressed something on its side.

“Wait.” Abbie threw up a hand and took a step in Donald’s direction. “Don’t do that.” She’d obviously forgotten she still held the pointed-tipped evidence.

Warning bells went off inside Hauke.

The guard’s energy changed to something dangerous. “What did you do, Doctor Sutherland?” He shifted the communication device to his left hand and unsnapped the holster that housed a weapon with his right.

With a flex of his taut muscles, the straps across Hauke’s body snapped like paper.  The glands surrounding his fangs swelled on cue, and the normally soft as silk barbs on his wrists and ankles grew erect to razor-sharp intensity. His protective lenses slid back to reveal brilliant green eyes that burned with rage.

He had one thing on the brain as he shot from the bed and slammed into the guard.
Protect Abbie.

* * * *

Abbie’s gasp was drowned out by the deafening explosion of a gunshot. She stared in shock as a very naked Hauke straddled the guard with one of his huge hands wrapped around the man’s throat. The implications of that were shocking.

Hauke had broken through his bonds and attacked Donald before her mind could register he’d left the bed. If he killed everyone in the building, it would be her fault.

Blood from Hauke’s infusion line dripped onto the tile to pool near Henry’s shoes.

What have I done
? Abbie was suddenly terrified. She thought of her father lying defenseless on the floor, and Willie with his laughing eyes sitting at the front door probably humming while eating a snack his wife had packed for him. She had to do something.

Donald’s gun lay a few feet away where it had landed after he’d been tackled, and Abbie made a dive for it.

She snatched it up and pointed it at Hauke’s massive chest. Her hands trembled so hard she had trouble holding the gun steady. “Let him go.”

Hauke lifted his head and pinned her with a glittering green stare. “He dies.”

“I can’t let you do that.” She was surprised at the strength in her voice.

“He meant you harm.” His fangs peeked out from under his top lip as he spoke, and Abbie realized how inhuman he really was.

“It doesn’t matter. Now please, back off. I don’t want to shoot you.”

Hauke held her gaze for what seemed like an eternity while the guard’s face continued turning purple.

Without breaking eye contact with her, Hauke drew back a fist and slammed it into the guy’s chin, snapping his head to the side. Donald went limp.

Then the impossible happened. One minute she had a gun trained on Hauke, and the next, he stood behind her with an arm around her neck.

Abbie went completely still, afraid to move. It wasn’t that she would have actually shot him, but he didn’t know that. She only knew she couldn’t stand by and watch him take the life of another human being. Not even one as horrible as Donald.

“I will not harm you.” His deep voice rumbled in her ear.

“How did you— ”

The high-pitched sound of an alarm unexpectedly blasted through the building, and Abbie felt Hauke stiffen against her.

A pained sound wrenched from him, and he released his hold on her instantly. She spun around in time to watch him stumble back with his hands covering his ears. The look of agony on his face couldn’t be mistaken.

“What wrong?” she shouted, taking a step toward him.

He jerked his head toward the red flashing light in a corner of the room, and realization dawned. The high-pitched sound coming from the alarm affected him somehow.

“They’re coming. We have to hurry!” she yelled over the screaming siren echoing throughout the room.

She had to get him out of here before security arrived. They would shoot him where he stood if they saw her father and Donald unconscious on the floor. She knew exactly how it appeared.

Abbie realized she still held the guard’s gun and quickly stuffed it into the waistband of her jeans before grabbing Hauke’s arm and giving him a tug.

She led him over to a locker that stood against the wall and jerked one of the doors open.

There were several different size scrubs stacked inside, and she grabbed a pair of bottoms from the extra-large pile. “Put these on. We have to get out of here.”

Hauke accepted the pants and had them on in record time, but not before she caught a glimpse of him below the waist.

He seemed to have the same equipment as any other man, but bigger. Much bigger. Heat crept up her neck and into her face. Yeah, that image would stay with her for a long time to come.

Averting her gaze from Hauke’s masculine form, Abbie took one last look at her father before jogging toward the exit with Hauke tight on her heels.

Seconds before they reached the door, the screaming siren abruptly stopped. Abbie glanced over her shoulder and noticed the instant relief on Hauke’s face. She spoke in a hushed tone. “Stay close.”

Pulling the door handle down, Abbie gave it a little tug and peeked into the hall. The sound of shouting followed by footsteps could be heard coming up the corridor, forcing her to quickly abandon the idea of making a run for the stairs.

“They have keys. We have less than a minute before they reach us.” She eased the door closed and reengaged the locks.

If her heart beat any faster, she be in tachycardia in a matter of seconds, she acknowledged with a shuddering breath.

Hauke glanced around the room, his glittering gaze touching on every object visible. “Stand back.”

Abbie watched in wonder as he sped over to one of the sterilizing machines and lifted it from the floor. She knew it weighed over four hundred pounds.

Muscles strained and bulged under the heavy burden as Hauke carried it over and deposited it in front of the door. It would only be a temporary block from the guards, but maybe it would buy them enough time to escape.

“This way.” Abbie ran over to a window as a loud
click
sounded and shouting ensued from the other side of the door.

She easily sprang the locks and slid the glass up to peek over the ledge. “Son of a bitch,” she growled, taking in the scene below. It was a long drop from the second floor to the ground.

Hauke was immediately at her side. “We go down from here. Do not think, Abbie. Follow my lead.” He threw a long leg over the windowsill and disappeared from sight.

Abbie’s breath caught. She couldn’t believe he’d just dropped from at least twenty feet up.

She peered over the ledge to see Hauke standing with his feet planted apart and his arms extended out. She could barely hear over the cluster of people attempting to fight their way into the room.

“Trust in me, Abbie. I will intercept you.” The surety in his voice swayed her, and she brought her knee up to the windowsill.

Intercept me? Jesus, I’ve hooked up with Spock.

The heavy incubator scraped over the tile as something crashed into the door. A male voice began barking orders. “Hit it again.”

Abbie held Hauke’s gaze while her stomach rapidly tied itself in knots. She had no choice but to trust him or stay behind and face the consequences of her actions.

“Tripudio.” Hauke’s demand was almost as powerful as the impact on the door.

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Jump.”

Another violent sound reverberated from behind her, and Abbie threw her foot over the ledge. She gripped the windowsill and quickly lowered herself until her body hung suspended above him.

“Let go.”

Tucking her chin against her chest, she stared down at Hauke in horror. He might as well have been a football field away as far as she was concerned. She wasn’t about to loosen her hold.

The splintering of the door giving way made the decision for her. She squeezed her eyes shut and forced her trembling fingers to relax.

The feeling of free-falling damn near stopped her heart. Her arms flailed at her sides, and her stomach shot up into her throat. Every muscle in her body tightened as she braced herself for impact.

The breath
whooshed
from her lungs as she landed without a modicum of grace in Hauke’s waiting arms.

“Are you injured?” he rasped, staring intently into her eyes.

Was she? She wriggled her fingers and toes. “I don’t think so.”

He set her gently on her feet and turned in the direction of the tree line. “We must make haste.”

“No. This way.” Abbie shook off the nausea from her near-death experience, took hold of his hand, and sprinted toward the front of the building, digging her keys out of her jeans pocket as she ran. She slowed as they reached the last corner before the parking area would be visible.

Chapter Five

The night seemed deceptively calm and peaceful as Abbie scanned the darkness, straining her ears for evidence of movement.

The sound of crickets chirping in the distance became deafening in the otherwise tranquil night.

“Something’s wrong.” The hair stood up on the back of her neck.

A gun was suddenly aimed at her head, and she was jerked back hard against a wall of unforgiving muscle. “What— ”

“Do not move.” A dangerous undertone lined Hauke’s voice.

He'd somehow taken Donald's revolver from the waistband of her pants and had it trained on her before she could blink.

The arm wrapped around her chest tightened, and she was abruptly lifted off her feet an instant before two guards rounded the building with weapons drawn.

“Freeze!” The simultaneous shout from the security officers ricocheted off the stucco walls of the lab, startling Abbie’s already hammering heart. She wasn’t sure how much the organ was expected to take before it finally gave up and stopped beating altogether.

Between the cold steel of a gun touching her temple and the two pistols trained on her from the front, she’d definitely become a prime candidate for cardiac arrest.

“Desist.” The finality in Hauke’s voice sent chills through her blood.

She watched the guards with wide-eyed trepidation. No matter what happened next, it could only end badly.

“Let her go.” The taller of the two pulled the hammer back on his revolver.

Hauke mimicked his movement, cocking the gun he held as well.

Abbie nearly swallowed her tongue.

What happened after that would forever be burned into her brain. One minute she was held suspended off the ground in front of Hauke, and the next she was being thrown through the air as deafening explosions shattered the night.

Pain splintered through her body as she made contact with the unforgiving wall of the lab and crumpled in a heap on her hands and knees. Security had opened fire on Hauke without regard to her safety.
What the hell
?

The gunfire suddenly stopped as swiftly as it had begun. Abbie raised her head in time to watch Hauke pick up one of the guard’s weapons. Blood stained Hauke’s scrubs near his hip.

“You’ve been shot.” She struggled to her feet and limped toward him. Her leg ached, but she was fairly sure it wasn’t broken.

“We must leave this place.”

“Are they dead?” Her throat closed with emotion, but she couldn’t bring herself to assist them.

“Yes.”

Tears burned her eyes. She and Hauke had killed two people. There would be no turning back now.

“Do not grieve for them, Abbie. It is better than they deserved.”

Abbie searched the area for her keys, finding them not far from where she stood. “They were human beings, Hauke. Regardless of their crime.”

“You prefer I let them take your life?”

“Of course not. It’s just that we cannot turn back now. I can never go home.”

“I am sorry.”

“We will figure all this out later. We need to move. Can you walk?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s hurry.” Pain traveled up her leg with every step she took. She glanced at Hauke limping his way across the parking lot beside her. Abbie’s entire world had changed in less than an hour. How was she going to get out of this mess?

* * * *

Fire burned through Hauke’s stomach. The hole in his hip was agonizing and slow to close. A flesh wound would have healed by now, but he was bleeding from the inside. What little blood he had left was oozing from his body at a rapid rate. If he didn’t replenish soon, he’d be of no good to either of them, and Abbie would be on her own.
Unacceptable.

They arrived at a vehicle. Hauke was familiar with its purpose, but he’d never seen one up close. He had heard them referred to as cars.

He stopped next to the contraption while Abbie stumbled around and entered from the opposite side.

She leaned across the seat and opened his door. “Get in.”

He lowered his big body into the cramped space, and she pulled the door shut behind him.

Hauke watched her insert a small metal object into an equally small groove, and the seat instantly vibrated underneath him.

She gripped a protruding lever situated between them, and the vehicle lurched back before shooting forward with a shrieking sound.

“Put on your seatbelt.”

He knew what a seat was. And a belt. It shouldn’t be too difficult to figure out. After a moment of struggling with it, he gave up.

The speed with which the vehicle traveled felt exhilarating to Hauke. His eyes could barely track the lights as they flew by. At any other time, he would have loved to explore the possibilities of human transportation. Not tonight.

He noticed how Abbie held the steering device in a white-knuckled grip while she glanced in a mirror attached to a piece of glass that made up the front of the vehicle.

Lights from oncoming cars reflected off the tears swimming in her eyes.

“Are you injured?” Anger boiled up inside him at the thought of her being harmed.

She met his gaze briefly before turning back to watch the road. “Not as bad as you.”

It enraged him that she’d been hurt at all. She was in this predicament because of him.

“Me Paenitet.” And he meant it.

“If it’s not English or Spanish, I’m lost.”

“I am sorry, Abbie.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Why do you cry?”

She swiped at her cheeks with a jerky motion. “I’ve never killed anyone before.”

“You did not take a life. The humans fired their weapons upon you. I could not allow you to die.”

“How did you know how to use the gun?”

“We do not use such weapons where I am from, but we possess a small number of them that we train with. In case the land walkers decide to invade us.”

“Land walkers?”

“The humans,” he corrected.

They rode along in silence for some time, and Hauke felt his strength fading by the minute.

The scent of saltwater drifted up his nose, and his stomach clenched with a craving strong enough it left him dizzy.

“Voraginem,” he mumbled.

She shot him a questioning look.

“The gulf…” He tried to point but was too weak to lift his arm.

“Yes. We are on front beach road.”

Spots danced before his eyes. The vehicle took a sharp turn, and his head slammed against the window.

“Hauke?” Her voice sounded far away.

He felt her fingers wrap around his hand and squeeze. “Stay with me.”

His world went black.

* * * *

“Shit. Don’t you die on me.” Abbie had noticed Hauke slumping in the seat long before his luminous green eyes rolled back in his head.

She drove as fast as the law would allow. The last thing she needed was to be noticed by the police for speeding.

Abbie eased the car along Highway 98 through Destin without mishap, making a couple of expert turns until a white two-story house came into view.

She pulled into the circle drive, stopped in front of the historical home, and switched off the engine.

There were no lights visible in the home, save for a dim yellow bulb burning above the porch.

Abbie got out and climbed the steps, ringing the doorbell with numb fingers. Nausea rolled, leaving her thankful she hadn’t finished her burger before heading to the lab that night.

Anthony Vaughn, otherwise known as Tony, was Abbie’s only living relative on her mother’s side of the family. Abbie hadn’t seen him since her tenth birthday when he’d gone off the grid and disappeared for years without a word.

Henry had never allowed her to visit Tony, stating he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was considered a loose cannon.

According to Abbie’s father, her uncle Tony had been involved in counterintelligence for the CIA before a group of terrorists slipped into his home one night and murdered his wife and child in front of him.

Tony was found two days later, barely alive and lying in a pool of his own blood, holding his deceased three-year-old son in his arms.

After being hospitalized for weeks and treated for PTSD, Anthony Vaughn went back into the field as a paid assassin.

Still unclear as to what happened in the months that followed his return to work, he was eventually forced to retire with a hefty pension and a destroyed file…as if he’d never existed.

Something pressed against the back of her head, and the sound of a gun being cocked nearly buckled her knees.
Twice in one night?

A raspy voice spoke next to her ear. “What do you want?”

“I-I’m looking for Tony.” The nausea was back with a vengeance.

“Who wants to know?”

“His niece.”

“Put your hands where I can see them, and real easy like, turn around. Try anything, and they’ll be searching for pieces of your brain for months to come.”

Abbie somehow managed to keep the contents of her stomach from emptying on her shoes. “Okay, just please don’t shoot.”

Extending her arms out to her sides, she slowly pivoted on her heel.

Surprise registered on the man’s face, but it was gone so fast she thought she’d imagined it.

“Tony?” He had her uncle’s eyes but nothing else.

Long hair peppered with gray hung past his shoulders. A deep scar ran from his left temple to disappear inside a poorly kept beard that covered most of his jaw. He wore a black T-shirt and faded jeans complete with a pair of combat boots.

His gaze cut to the street beyond. “Were you followed?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Where’s the fugitive?”

“He’s not a fugitive, and how did you know—”

“You both are; in case you haven’t heard.”

Abbie didn’t question his knowledge of the lab incident. He was ex-CIA after all. “He’s in the car.”

Tony lowered his weapon. “Get inside.”

“I have to help Hauke.” She had no idea how unstable Tony was in this moment. Something about his eyes disturbed her. They appeared vacant, void of emotion…lifeless.

“You’ve done enough already. I’ll dispose of him, and then you and I are going to come up with a believable story to get you out of this mess.”

“No.” She grabbed onto his arm when he started to turn away.

He stared down at her fingers a moment before pinning her with a glittering, half-insane look.

Abbie quickly jerked her hand back. “He saved my life. I will assist him any way I can. With or without your help.” She was surprised at the fierceness in her voice.

Tony didn’t move, only continued to peer down at her with those lifeless eyes. “Just like your mother.” He turned and jumped from the porch without another word. Leaving her to follow.