Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(81)

Zara kissed his chin. “I’m so sorry, and I’m so glad you were strong enough to survive.”

At her acceptance, something tight in his chest eased and loosened. He calmed and told her all about Dr. Madison and Greg’s connection to her. To them.

“That’s unbelievable,” Zara said, anger in her voice. “She experimented on all of you?”

“Yes.” Warmth surrounded him as he shared with Zara—as he gave her everything. “She said once that Heath, Denver, and I were her special projects—just hers—like some type of secret. Like her main job was at the facilities where Greg and other kids were raised, and we were just a detour or something she did for fun. Our lives were her fun.” Bewilderment filled him, and he didn’t bother to battle it back.

“Damn, that’s f*cked up,” Zara said.

He barked out a surprised laugh. “You’ve summed it up perfectly.” God, he adored her.

“Thank you for trusting me.” She settled against him, and they lay that way, just the two of them, for a brief moment in time.

Finally, he tuned into the apartment. It was still dark outside, so it must’ve been early morning. Ice cracked outside while silence ruled inside. Greg breathed quietly in the living room, and Grams shuffled around her room.

“Your granny is up,” Ryker said.

Zara nodded. “I wish we could stay here forever.”

“Me too.” He sighed. “But we can’t.”

“I know. Today I want to go to the office and fetch my belongings before anybody gets there.”

He paused. “You’re not fired. Just on leave.”

“I know, but it’s embarrassing. Chances are I’ll be fired, no matter what. So I’d like to get my things without facing everyone.” She sighed. “I’m a coward.”

“No, you’re not.” He ran his fingertips across her waist and over her butt. “I’ll take you first thing, and then we need to make escape plans.”

“Okay.” She licked along his jawline. Her phone buzzed, and she stopped to roll over and read the screen. “My neighbor has my mail for me. Let’s stop by there after the office.” She rolled back and nipped beneath his chin. “Then maybe we can go back to bed.” Barely evading his quick kiss, she shoved from the bed and stood, stretching.

“Sounds good.” He followed her into the shower, where he proceeded to make sure she was very clean. Several times. Being with her felt like he’d always imagined home would feel. Until now, the idea of a home had been just a farfetched dream.

But Zara was home to him.

After the shower, he quickly dressed in clean jeans and a T-shirt while she messed with her already perfect face. “Meet you downstairs.” Pressing closer for a kiss, he breathed her in. Woman, spice, and sweetness.

Then, to prevent himself from taking her back to bed, he hustled through the apartment and jogged down the stairs to the offices, whistling a Christmas tune. It was the only happy tune he knew.

Tension hit him the second he opened the door from the stairwell.

“God f*cking damn it,” Heath bellowed.

Ryker stiffened and then hurried to Heath’s office, his body going on alert. Heath had thrown a paperweight across the room, and it hung drunkenly from the windowsill. “What?” Ryker asked, just as Denver caught up from his office.

Heath vibrated in place. “The Copper Killer got Agent Jackson. He got through the FBI to Jackson.”

Ryker rocked back on his heels. Shock stilled him. He’d been focused on Zara’s problems and hadn’t figured Jackson was really in danger. How could this happen? “When?”

Denver pivoted and ran back toward the better computer system in his office.

“Late last night,” Heath snarled, primal fury in his eyes. “I just intercepted an FBI e-mail about it—they’re keeping it quiet for now.”

“That’s good.” Ryker glanced at the window. God, Heath would lose his f*cking mind. The guy had made a connection with Jackson and seemed to really like the agent.

Lightning zigzagged outside, and snow pelted down along with freezing rain. “The case just became our number one priority.” He’d have to get Zara out of town for now and then go chase the killer and cover his brother’s back. “Special Agent Jackson lived in Snowville?” There was an FBI satellite office in the large Washington State town.

“Yes.” Heath ripped open a desk drawer and rummaged, yanking out a wad of cash.

Ryker held up a hand, trying to calm him when all he wanted to do was grab a gun and go hunting. “The guy won’t be in Snowville any longer.”

“Don’t care. It’s a place to start.” Heath strode around the desk, his brown hair ruffled and his eyes pissed.

Denver caught him at the doorway. “Airport and interstate are closed. Storm’s a bastard.”

Heath paused. “Then we get on computers and the phone.” He turned back. “The second something is open, I’m going.”

“We’re going,” Ryker corrected. He glanced at his watch. “Right now I’ll take Zara to get her stuff, and then I need a safe house for her and Grams while we go after this guy. We’ll put Greg with them.”

“I’ll get on it,” Denver said, his voice and hands steady for the first time in too long.