Run to Me (21 page)

For days, he lay on his stomach, his arms chained to the floor. The doctors treated his injuries with unfeeling but deliberate care. Though the hands touching him were rarely gentle, he somehow knew they were doing all they could to help him recover. Their words terse and detached, they never harmed him and seemingly tried to alleviate the immensity of the pain.

At some point, when he was unconscious, he was turned over. He woke to being able to see something other than the cold, ceramic floor. A face appeared before him … the doctor who’d been caring for him. A middle-aged man with a cold and humorless expression. Even in his fractured thinking, he knew this man didn’t care what happened to him but was going to make sure he lived.

Injections of his daily drug had continued, but for some reason, they didn’t block thought as they had before. Though he still felt dim and slow, often blank, an occasional coherent thought would interrupt or long seconds of clarity would burst through. Scary but also reassuring. He was able to realize that he was actually a real person … cognitive thought and reasoning were possible. Though these moments were rare, he treasured each one. Anything was better than blank nothingness.

In the middle of one of these drifting moments of cognitive awareness he heard the voice. The voice of evil. The one he had called master. He kept his eyes closed, intent on learning as much as he could before another black void claimed him once again.

“How’s he doing?” the evil voice asked.

“Improving. His vital signs are stable. He should be able to be up and around in a week, maybe two.”

“He’ll be ready that soon?”

“Ready to walk … not ready for training or any kind of mission.”

An exasperated sigh. “Then when will he be ready for a mission?”

“A month … maybe less. He’s extraordinarily strong and healthy, so he’s healing better than I thought he would. Once he’s able to train again, it’ll take him a couple of weeks or more to regain his strength.”

“Does his back still pain him?”

“Yes. But the drugs have dulled the worst of it.”

“Is there …” An audible swallow. “Do you still think there will be scarring?”

“Yes … I told you. There’s nothing I can do about that. If you had wanted to keep him flawless, you should have told your men.”

“Don’t you dare reprimand me, you imbecile.”

A long sigh. “I’m merely saying that it’s too late with this one. Any future ones you want to keep, you’ll need to tell your men to take care. These kinds of injuries aren’t mere bruises. He’ll be scarred for life.”

“Doesn’t matter. Once he performs one last duty, he’ll be destroyed.”

A grunt.

“What?” the evil voice asked.

“Well, if you’re not going to need him, I thought perhaps we could use him in the lab.”

“How so?”

“I’ve been working on a few other things I thought might be useful to you. Not only mind control, but heightened sexual arousal and increased intelligence. Also, my research has led me to some interesting ways to enhance the five senses, making them more animal-like than the average human’s. It’d be helpful to have a few human guinea pigs to test the new stuff.”

“Hmm. That does sound intriguing.” A long pause. “If he stays alive, you’ll have to keep him out of my way. I don’t want him even in the regular cages, where I might see him. I can’t abide being near him anymore.”

The doctor’s voice warmed with enthusiasm and friendliness. “We’ll set up a cage in the lab, cover it with drapery unless we’re using him. After he helps get your woman back, you’ll never have to see him again.”

“Mmmm. It would be nice to be able to sell some of your new creations on the market.”

“Then let me keep him. It’d be a shame to destroy such a valuable creature.”

His body wanted to leap at them, tear them to pieces. His teeth gritted against the fury unfurling inside. Damn them. He wasn’t a fucking lab rat!

“I’ll give it some thought.”

The sound of footsteps told him the evil man had left. He expelled breath he hadn’t been aware he was holding.

“You can open your eyes now. I know you’re awake.”

He opened his eyes and looked up at the demon doctor. There was no compassion, no feeling. This man might have a different agenda for keeping him alive, but it was all for his benefit.

He opened his mouth, but nothing but a garbled groan emerged.

The doctor nodded. “Your tongue’s swollen. The drugs do that.” He moved away for a moment. When he returned, he held a cup filled with ice chips. “Here. This’ll help.”

Not caring why the doctor was helping, he opened his mouth like a baby bird and allowed the doctor to spoon small chips onto his tongue. The relief was instantaneous and gratifying.

“Feel better?”

He nodded.

“Want to ask a question?”

Swallowing, he opened his mouth again and huffed out a word. “Who?”

“Dr. Richard Kline.” The man stuck out his hand as if to shake his and then pulled it back. “Sorry, forgot you were a bit tied up.” He laughed at his own joke.

Holding back his fury wasn’t easy, but he wanted answers. After he got them he’d figure out a way to make this man pay. “Wh … why?”

“Why am I doing this?”

He moved his head in a small nod.

The doctor looked away and pulled up a chair to sit beside the bed. “Because I’ve worked my entire life for this.” The man’s expression of barely contained excitement churned his guts, but if answers were revealed, the discomfort would be well worth the price.

“A few years after I graduated from MIT, I got caught doing some unauthorized experiments for a pharmaceutical company I was working for. Nothing severe, mind you, but the damned board of ethics fired me and then tried to bring me up on criminal charges. I had to leave the country. Donald found me and offered to fund all of my research. I’ve been working for him for almost ten years now. I’m just now getting to the point where my hard work is paying off.”

The doctor leaned forward as he warmed to his subject. “See, the mind’s a fascinating organ. Endless avenues to explore—controlling it, manipulating it, expanding knowledge and then removing that knowledge. I’ve dedicated my life to its study.”

Evil eyes gleamed with cold amusement. “I know what you would say if you could. It’s wrong. Unethical. But who’s to say that in a few years, the drugs I’m creating won’t save thousands of lives.” He chuckled. “Though I have to admit that’s not really my goal, it might well be a side benefit.”

The effort to speak brought tears to his eyes, but he forced the words out: “How … many … here?”

“What? You mean how many people do we have working here?” Another grin. “You think you’re going to be able to escape, don’t you? You think if I tell you all this, you’ll be able to come up with a plan.” He slapped his thigh in delight. “See, that’s one of the reasons I want to keep you. That incredible strength you have isn’t only physical. You’ve got some sort of innate optimism in you. I saw it when we first brought you in. I find that very intriguing.”

When the creature didn’t say anything to his statement, the doctor shrugged. “I might as well tell you. Keeping your hope alive will be an excellent test for one of my new drugs.”

Chin in hand, his eyes were distant as he thought about the question. “There are five scientists and four assistants. Donald has about thirty soldiers. Some are drugged on a daily basis, trained to do what Donald tells them to do. Not drugged like you. They’re given just enough to keep them obedient, but they do have some cognitive thought. Others aren’t drugged at all. They just like the money and excitement.”

A glimpse of brilliant auburn hair and emerald eyes glinting with humor flashed into his mind. Who was she? “Woman?”

“You’re wondering about Donald’s female companion, huh?”

Pain sliced through his head. Was that who he saw in his mind?

The doctor shook his head. “She hasn’t been found yet. That’s something Donald will need your help with. We’ll get you healthy and strong again so you can help get her.”

His eyes stinging from the strain of keeping them open, he closed them briefly, trying his best to hang on to his sanity. He wasn’t to be killed yet … or to be given new drugs until he obtained the woman. That meant he had time. Time for what, he didn’t know. He couldn’t hold a thought for longer than a few seconds, but in those seconds, he saw hope. He had to hang on to that.

The doctor stood. “I need to get back to work, so we’ll have to delay any further chatting for another day.”

His eyes flipped open in time to see a needle inserted into his IV drip. Anger roared though him. No, he couldn’t let go … he couldn’t.

“Now, now. Don’t fight it. Won’t do any good. I’m only giving you enough to keep you semisedated. You’ll still have an occasional independent thought … not that it’ll do you any good.”

A thick film of darkness began to cover his thoughts. His mind screamed as memories and reason vanished … and then, once again, there was nothing.

Ethan stuck his head out the door. “Feel like a picnic?”

Shea pulled herself to her feet, relieved by the interruption from her thoughts. “Absolutely.” She’d been sitting on the deck all morning, morose and blue. Nightmares from the last few nights had cloaked her in a shroud of numbness. Hazy images of grief, horror, and pain without any substantive reality continued to swamp her. What more had she gone through and what had she seen?

Right now, a simple, uncomplicated picnic sounded like heaven.

Though his mouth moved up into a smile, the solemn look in Ethan’s eyes told her of his concern. He’d been with her during the worst nightmares. Soothing and comforting her. What would she have done without him?

“There’s a stream that runs through my land about a half mile down the valley. It’s got some nice shade trees. Great spot for dozing in the sun, too.”

She smiled, delighted at the idea. “Sounds wonderful.”

Birds twittering above and the crunch of loose rock and broken twigs under their feet were the only sounds as they made their way down the grassy hill. Back to their left was a small cleared-out area where Ethan told her he intended to plant a vegetable garden. And to their right was the corral he planned to use when he purchased some horses. When she’d asked him when he would do that, he’d shrugged and said, “When things settle down.” Meaning after Rosemount was caught and she had recovered.

Ethan’s generosity continued to surprise and amaze her. How many people would put their life on hold the way he had? She shot a glance at him. She’d been so preoccupied with her thoughts, she’d just realized that Ethan hadn’t uttered a word since they’d started walking. “Is something wrong?”

“Just thinking about how quickly some of your memories are returning.”

“Amazing, isn’t it? A week or so ago, I was imagining trying to have a life without any kind of past.” She grimaced. “Looks like the bad stuff’s going to come in the form of nightmares … which I guess is totally appropriate.”

“I called Dr. Norton this morning, before you woke up. Told him what was going on. About your memories and your nightmares.”

“Was he surprised?”

“Not really. He’s said all along that if you were in a more relaxed environment, you’d be less likely to try to force your memories. He did have an interesting theory … said that your subconscious is trying to shield you by giving your worst memories back to you in nightmares.”

“How is this shielding me?”

“He seems to think that it’s a way to ease you back into the bad experiences.”

Shea snorted softly. “Doesn’t feel like an easing to me. They’re becoming more and more hideous without giving me any kind of real information.”

Ethan squeezed her hand in sympathy. “I know.”

They halted under a giant oak tree that loomed over and shaded a grassy level area. The gurgling rush of water from the stream below them made the setting perfect for a picnic. “This look okay to you?”

Ethan watched Shea turn in a circle, as if assessing the entire scene. After several seconds of silence, she looked at him with a smile that could rival the sun for brilliance. “Can’t imagine a more ideal spot.”

Doing his best to ignore what Shea’s smiles always did to his heart, Ethan handed her the blanket. With a quick flick of her wrists, it floated and covered the ground.

Toeing her shoes off, as he’d seen her do a thousand times, she kneeled beside the basket and peeked inside. “What’s for lunch?”

Ethan dropped down across from her. He really couldn’t remember what he’d put in there. “A little bit of everything.”

“I’ll say. This basket probably weighs as much as I do. You must’ve been hungry.”

He was, though not for food. Shea’s memories might be returning gradually, but his memories were ever present and crystal clear. When her mouth curved up, he was reminded of how her full, luscious lips tasted under his. When she breathed out a sigh, he thought about the little hitch of breath she would release just as he slid inside her. His gazed lowered and his hands clenched at the memory of her perfect breasts, how the warm, soft mounds felt when he cupped them, and the way her pretty nipples would bead into little ruby-red nubs when he sucked them.

With a stifled groan, Ethan shifted on the blanket. He was doing nothing but torturing himself. Their love-making was in the past. Hot, delicious memories he could relive on cold, lonely days. They didn’t belong here today. Thinking about what they’d once had together would only create more problems. He had more than enough already.

His body twisted away, blocking her view of the erection pressing against his zipper. Thankfully, she seemed preoccupied in unloading the basket. For the first time since rescuing her, he didn’t see any shadows or pain in her face. Her eyes held a sparkle much like the old Shea’s.

An uninhibited giggle jerked him from his thoughts. “Do you want to start with the salad, the veggies and dip, or the cheese and crackers?”

“What’s so funny?”

“Did you bring everything you had in the fridge?”

“Too much stuff?”

Another gurgle of laughter. “Not if we were planning to camp out here for a week … maybe two.”