Run To Me (Lazarus Rising #4)(45)

Yeah, Jay had gotten that particular bit of news from Elizabeth. It was the reason he was there and not with Willow.

Wyman’s eyelids fluttered.

“Been drifting in and out of sleep,” Sawyer added as he ran a tired hand over the back of his neck. “Elizabeth said she decreased the guy’s pain meds so he should be coming around any moment.”

Sure enough, he was. Jay paced closer to the bed. He crossed his arms over his chest, and he waited. He’d been waiting a very long time for his chance to question this guy.

“Any chance he’s going to trigger you?” Jay asked quietly. Need to be on the safe side.

Sawyer grunted. “I’m guessing that’s why you’ve got a gun under your jacket?”

So he’d noticed that. “Only a tranq,” Jay replied easily as Wyman let out a groan. “Just in case.”

“Don’t get trigger happy on my ass,” Sawyer tossed back at him.

Then don’t attack me.

Wyman let out another groan. His head turned. His eyes focused on Sawyer. “N…no…” His head rolled on the pillow, now moving toward—

“Hello, sunshine,” Jay said to the bastard, feeling a grin stretch his face. “Isn’t it a great day to be alive?”

“Screw…off…” The words rasped from Wyman.

Jay just laughed. “Glad to see you’re feeling good enough to be pissy.”

Another ragged groan from Wyman was his answer.

Jay headed around the bed. Then he leaned over, making sure he was right in front of Wyman’s face. “You’re a liar.” And it gave him such pleasure to say those words.

Wyman coughed. “Where…where is…Willow?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. You aren’t going to use her again. She won’t be your weapon.”

“None of us will be,” Sawyer snarled. He’d stepped up to Jay’s side.

For a moment, Jay simply stared down at the man in the bed. Wyman Wright was pale, sickly. His body seemed fragile. His eyes were weak, bleary. This wasn’t the monster of D.C. The guy who’d once made the whole world tremble. This was a guy who was, “Done,” Jay said flatly. “There isn’t going to be some grand ending for you. I don’t care how many people owe you. You’ll give us the answers we need. You’ll tell us how many more test subjects are out there. Where they are, why—

“Wil…low…”

Jay stiffened. “She isn’t yours.”

Wyman coughed. Shuddered. “You lied, Wyman.” A cold smile stretched his face. “Willow isn’t your daughter. I had Elizabeth check your story. You’re no biological relative to Willow, and you—”

“Dumb…ass…” Wyman groused. “You…of all… people…should know…” The machines beeped louder, faster. “More to f-family…than b-blood…”

Jay’s phone rang, vibrating in his pocket. He ignored the vibration. “Don’t you dare bring my brother into this, you understand me? You ever threaten him again, and I’ll end you. I’ll—”

The machines were louder. His phone had stopped vibrating. “He’s…not blood…” Wyman gasped out. “But…f-family…like s-she’s…m-mine…”

His phone was ringing again. Since it was his private line, Jay yanked it out. West. Shit. He shoved the phone to his ear. “Not now, man,” he said. “Not—”

“Thought you’d want to know,” West growled right back. “Your girl just left. Flynn and Cecelia let her run.”

“What?”

“She jumped through the upstairs window. Jumped. I’m following her but that woman is fast on foot. I’m on my motorcycle…” And Jay could hear the groan of the engine. “Didn’t think you’d want to let her go.”

No, he never did. “Don’t lose her.”

“Yeah, well, damn. I think your lady just stole some dude’s truck, so this is gonna get tricky—”

“West?”

The call went dead, but he knew he could count on West, just as his brother could always count on him. He shoved the phone into his pocket.

“Wil…low?” Wyman had forced out her name again.

Jay leaned over the bed. “You say there’s a threat to her.”

“Y-you…”

“I’d die to keep her safe. I’m not the threat. If someone is out there, gunning for her, you tell me who that is. You tell me right now.”

The machines were going crazy. The door flew open as Elizabeth rushed inside. “What are you doing? I told you mild questioning, mild! He can’t handle this! Are you trying to kill him?”

“Who. Is. It?” Jay demanded.

“L-lover…” Wyman wheezed. “Willow’s lover…”

Jay jerked back.

“Oh, shit,” Sawyer muttered. “That is not what you wanted to hear, huh, man?”

***

She didn’t know where she was running to. She’d stolen a truck, she felt guilty as all hell about that, and Willow drove through the streets of D.C. like a woman possessed. Her body was operating on pure instinct, and her instincts were screaming for her to run.