Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(98)
“Fine.” He shoved the gun into the back of his trousers.
Ryker tensed, prepared to lunge.
“Wait.” The guy held out a hand and slowly reached up to rip off his mask while the other guy did the same.
Similar bone structure, angled faces, deep gray eyes. They looked alike. “Who are you?” he snapped.
The armed guy studied him, his gaze intense. “If I had to guess, I’d say we’re family. This is Jory, and I’m Matt. Now, who the hell are you?”
*
Zara jumped from her seat. “You will not harm this boy.”
Dr. Madison waved her back down. “Oh, he’s going to die, but just relax yourself. Right now we need him as bait.” She flashed extremely white teeth in a parody of a smile.
Greg snarled.
Madison drummed perfect nails on the desk. Her hands were small, dainty even, with a light bandage resting on her left one, below the knuckles. “I can have Todd here torture Miss Zara until you tell me what I want to know.” She narrowed her gaze on Zara’s face. “Actually, I would like to know how much you can take. My Ryker wouldn’t fall for just any woman, and the way you jumped out a window to stay with this kid? Tough. Definitely tough.”
Her Ryker? “Lady, you’re batshit crazy,” Zara muttered.
Madison’s smile widened. “That settles the matter, then. I believe I know just the person you should spend time with.”
Todd pushed away from the door. “I don’t want that sheriff around any of us. He’s not right in the head, and he needs to go back home.”
Madison looked up and nodded. “I agree, but right now we don’t have a choice. He owns this land, and we need it for training.” Her gaze lightened. “Plus, he has certain proclivities, and I think he’d enjoy demonstrating those to Zara before he leaves town.” She lowered her voice to a husky whisper. “Do you think Ryker will accept you damaged?”
Greg coughed. “Ryker will cut off your head, reach in, and discover firsthand that you don’t have a heart if you even think of harming Zara. You think I’m bad? Or my brothers? Ryker is f*ckin’ crazy, lady.”
Madison clapped her hands together once. “How wonderful. You’ve bonded with Ryker.” She frowned. “Let’s see. Ryker, Heath, and Denver were thick as could be. I’d wondered. I really did.” Her lips twisted. “Very similar to your brothers. Remember them?”
“Yes. Are Chance, Kyle, and Wade still alive?” Greg spoke quickly as if he couldn’t stop himself, his voice cracking and his entire body going stiff. He held his breath at the last.
Zara reached out and grabbed his hand to give him support and then held her breath, too.
“Of course.” Triumph glittered in Madison’s eyes.
Zara breathed out. Good. Joy nearly filled her to compete with the fear.
Greg didn’t even twitch. “Where are they?”
Oh, you’ll see them soon enough,” Madison said quietly. “I promise.”
Greg sucked in air, and his chin went down. His head tilted to the side, and he stared intently at the doctor. A chill wafted through the room.
“What?” Madison snapped.
“You…you’ve lost them.” Wonder filled Greg’s voice. “They got away.” He glanced frantically around, his gaze landing on Todd. “Oh shit. This guy wouldn’t be here if…if… The commander is gone? You left him?”
Madison paled. “Yes, he’s gone.”
Greg swallowed and suddenly looked his young age again. “Dead?” His voice quivered.
Madison nodded, sorrow in her eyes. “Yes.”
Greg shook his head, his mouth dropping open. “I-I didn’t think he could die.”
Zara shifted her weight in the chair. She needed to get the upper hand somehow. “Where are Greg’s brothers?”
Madison arched one perfectly plucked eyebrow. “I don’t know, but they’ll come back for Greg here. Like I said: bait.”
Greg chuckled, the sound full of joy. “No, they won’t. They’re gone, really gone.” He turned to Zara, his eyes alive fully. “They’re free, Zara. Can you believe it? They actually got away.”
Madison slammed her hand down on the desk. “You’re about to be beaten, young man.”
Zara caught her breath. She had to turn the focus away from the boy. “Are you with Todd here or with the sheriff? I mean, we know you and the sheriff bumped uglies years ago, so it has to be still going on, right? Are you seeing them both at the same time?” She kept her voice at a stage whisper.
Madison drew back. “Of course not. Todd and I are together, and we share a glorious vision for the future. Don’t we, sweetheart?”
Todd waited a moment to speak. “We better, woman.”
Sparks flew from Madison’s eyes, but she kept her face in serene lines.
Oh, that bitch had both men fooled, now, didn’t she? Zara lowered her chin, keeping her gaze on the scientist. “It doesn’t smell right to me. You wouldn’t be seeing both men and hiding it, now, would you?” The sharp rap to the back of her head had her crying out. Her skull ached, and her eyes bugged.
“Thank you, Todd,” Madison said, sending him a beaming smile.
Greg jumped up and turned to face Todd. “You ever think of touching her again, and I’ll take out your still-beating heart and eat it. Believe it or not, it wouldn’t be my first heart.”