Inferno (40 page)

“Shut up and do your damn job.”

Bradley reached for her and she recoiled, trying to elude the hands that had battered and violated her more times than she could count. Hands that had held her down while Marx had painstakingly branded a skull and crossbones ensign into her flesh one agonizing inch at a time. If she could have, she would’ve spit in his face for all the pain and suffering he had caused.

Her fighting to get away this time was enough. Grabbing her shoulders, he forced her onto her back and held her submerged. Water and air bubbles filtered up her nose. The position put an unbearable amount of strain on her shoulders and shredded wrists. Darkness swam before her eyes, its presence full of the menacing promise of death before he finally hauled her back up. She dropped forward, pulling her knees to her chest, coughing and gasping in violent heaves. Without warning, Bradley shoved her face forward and, again, held her down. This time, Taylor didn’t move, but he kept her pinned until her lungs started to burn and as badly as her skin.

He ripped her head up above the surface just as she started to slip away. She dropped against the side of the tub when he released her, her head smacking against the wall. Unable to sit up on her own, she hung there weakly while choking in as much air as she could.

“Fight me again. I dare you,” he growled.

“Jesus, Brad…”

“You know what? I’m finished putting up with her bullshit, Reevers. Come get me when you’re done.”

Silence hung over the room. Taylor didn’t try to speak, she just sat there, waiting for something to happen. Josh stared after his teammate for several seconds before turning his attention back to the tub with a frustrated shake of his head. Sighing, he reached for the faucet and turned the temperature down. It was still hot, but not nearly as unbearable. Her eyes drifted to his front pocket where she’d seen him drop the key before lifting back up to his face. Without a word, he grabbed the bottle of shampoo and squeezed a generous amount onto his hand. It didn’t have a label, but it spelled strongly of mint and rosemary.

She sat still, wincing on occasion when his fingers scrubbed over a knot or cut left by Marx and his men. He never offered an apology, but there were occasional flashes of regret in his eyes. When he caught her trying to lick the small drops of water off her shoulder despite the soap clinging to her, he rocked back on his heels with yet another shake of his head. Tension rippled through his wiry muscles as he grabbed a small cup and filled it. Taylor eyed him wearily when he lifted the rim to her lips, remembering all too well what had happened the last time Marx had given her a drink.

“Come on, sunshine. Drink up.”

She gulped it down greedily, thankful for the small concession he was showing. She wanted to cry when Josh pulled the cup away. It wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough. Setting it aside, he offered no apologies. He just tipped her head back and started rinsing the soap from her hair.

“You have a nasty infection going on there,” he said, glancing at her wrists. He seemed to avoid looking at the festering burn between her pubic bone and navel at all costs.

Shrugging, Taylor looked away. There was a kindness in his actions so far, but he was still one of them and, after the way he’d turned his back on Sebastian, there was no way she could trust him. Her heart ached so much when she thought of him. So much that she couldn’t stop herself from asking the one thing she really needed to know.

“How is he?” Her voice came in a whispered croak, but it was the best she could manage.

Avoiding her eyes, Josh hesitated then grabbed the tattered rag draped over the side of the tub. “I don’t know, Taylor. I really don’t.”

“Why?”

The single word lingered heavily between them. He shot her a scathing look before he lathered some soap on a dingy sponge and started to wash her. He didn’t make it far before they both realized the dilemma. Leaning back, he scratched his neck, and looked to the doorway. Cursing, he pulled the plug, allowing some of the water to drain.

“You broke his heart,” she whispered.

His dark indigo eyes locked with hers. “Yeah, well, so did you.”

The accusation hit her hard. It was far worse than the beatings and torture she’d suffered so far. She couldn’t stand the thought of hurting Sebastian. Ever. Forcing her attention to the wall, she choked back a miserable sob.

“Will you tell him?” she begged. “Just please tell him that I love him. Tell him I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put him through this…I didn’t mean…”

Words failed her. Her throat closed off and she sat in miserable silence as he continued scrubbing. When he got to her abdomen, his fingertips accidentally grazed her. She held her breath when he froze. His eyes darted to hers and a numbing fear swept through her when she realized that he knew.

“Jesus Christ…”

“Please…”

He rocked back, the sudden movement cutting her off as much as his curt question. “How far?”

“I don’t…”

“How far, Taylor?”

“I don’t know!” she exclaimed. “I don’t even know how long I’ve been here.”

“Almost three weeks. Now answer the damn question,” he growled.

The anger darkening his angular features was terrifying. It was a far cry from the Josh she’d come to know and love. Clamping her eyes shut, she scrambled to do the math, but it was too hard to think. “Five months?”

He threw the washcloth across the tub hard enough to make water and small drops of soap splatter through the air. She flinched, curling in on herself as best as she could in an effort to shield her belly.

“Don’t tell them. Please don’t tell them.”

“
Shut. Up.
”

He seemed beyond furious as he snatched up the cup. His entire body quaked with rage that matched the reddened fury contorting his face as he rinsed her as quickly as he could.

“Oh good. She’s finished.”

Her head snapped up at the sound of Marx’s voice. Her heart turned to a block of ice in her chest. Unable to help it, her eyes darted back to Josh’s pleading with him not to rip away the only thing she had left. He didn’t look at her. He wouldn’t even glance her way. Trembling, she let her attention drift back to his front pocket, knowing the key still sat hidden inside.

It took everything she had not to scramble away or beg when Marx crossed the room, approaching her in quick, even strides. He moved with surprising agility and speed for a man of his size. Steely gaze darting between them, Josh quickly backed out of his way.

“I’m going to miss our playtime, Taylor. Especially since my pet is no longer with us. Shame given how much I’m sure the two of you wanted to see each other again, but it’s almost time to take you to your new home.” the commander informed her, his tone almost sing-song in its amusement. “But before you go, I’m going to let the boys say their goodbyes.”

~*~*~*~

His chances of finding her again were growing smaller by the day, but he refused to give up. He refused to believe their story was over before it ever had the chance to begin. There were too many chapters left unwritten. The pain hadn’t lessened any. It was still a raw, festering wound that kept him up at night. He tried to keep himself distracted during the few hours when he was home by clearing out the guestroom and preparing the nursery. Most of his time was spent with the likes of Vincent and Jackson, scouring every inch of Arizona in search of Marx or his men. He outlined and plotted, focusing on what he would do when he finally had revenge.

That much was inevitable. Marx knew the war was coming. That was why the coward had chosen to hide.

Blowing out a deep breath, Sebastian straightened the cemetery wreath and stood to leave when a man’s voice stopped him in his tracks. Turning, he paused to peer over his shoulder. Gavin Bradshaw stood a few feet away, that odd combination of sorrow and fear he’d witnessed at the funeral still ravaging the man’s face.

Sebastian snarled beneath his breath. The guy truly did have some nerve. He was fortunate, very fortunate, that he had bigger scores to settle. At least for now.

“If I were you, I would get the hell away from me,” Sebastian warned, his voice coming in a menacing growl.

“Excuse me?”

His hand shifted to the gun holstered against his thigh. “I won’t repeat myself again.”

“Easy,” the man coaxed, raising his hands. “It’s been a rough few weeks for all of us.”

His eyes widened as he stared back at Gavin in utter disbelief. “Us? I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but there is no
us
. I just put my fiancée in the ground. You were a mere breath away from causing that yourself when you sabotaged her car. Consider yourself fortunate this is her resting place. It’s the only thing keeping me from shooting you on sight.”

“I just…”

“You have five seconds. Start walking or I will blow a goddamn tunnel through your face.”

“Taylor was my daughter, Sebastian.”

He tried to hold himself together, but the last few weeks had been too much. Unable to help it, a crazed laugh escaped him as Sebastian dropped his chin to his chest. His shoulders quaking, he shook his head. “Why does that not surprise me?” All traces of humor evaporated from his face as he lifted his piercing stare, trapping the other man. “What is it with you people, anyway? It’s not enough to abandon her or repeatedly stick a knife in her back? You had to try and kill her too?”

“I didn’t know that was her car. If I had, I swear to Christ, I never would have touched the damn thing. I didn’t know you were together.”

His smile was cold and terse. “If you had been any sort of a father to her at all, you would have. I’m finished having this conversation.”

“Wait. I need to explain.”

“No, you don’t. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Just looking at you is making me sick.”

“I’ve spent the last decade of my life protecting Patrick James and assuring Blue didn’t fall into the wrong hands. You know how vital that program is. You’ve seen the damage, the madness and the greed it’s caused. When my contractors told me someone was trying to locate him, I didn’t ask for reasons. I didn’t ask for names. My only objective was to prevent that from happening. I had to eliminate the threat.”

“Your daughter wasn’t a part of that equation!”

Gavin winced, flinching from the ferocity in his yell. “She wasn’t in it at all, he agreed. They wanted your death to look like an accident. I had plates, vehicle makes, and a list of places you liked to frequent. I had a job to do and I never once imagined any of it would tie back to my daughter. I didn’t even know about your relationship until a few weeks later.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face, his eyes still wide and bewildered. He was too damn exhausted to care about the man’s explanations or excuses. “Is this confession supposed to make me feel
better
somehow? Am I supposed to be grateful that you were only trying to kill me?”

“Elaine…her mother…”

“I know who she is,” Sebastian snapped, his patience gone.

“She told me Taylor was expecting and how happy the two of you seemed. She also told me you were the one who was searching for Patrick and why it was so vital that you find him. I’ve been friends with him my entire life. Yes, I walked out on my family, but I had my reasons. I’ve always tried to protect them, Sebastian. I severed all forms of communication with them years ago, praying that would keep them from getting pulled into this. I knew where this mess was heading way back when the entire concept of Blue was nothing more than a dream your boss had conjured. I was a shitty husband and a shitty father. I can admit that. I chose safeguarding my friend and my country over my family, but I did my best to keep my loved ones out of this. I tried my damnedest, but I still failed miserably.”

Something in the man’s voice forced Sebastian to lower his gaze as well as his gun. Maybe it was shame. He knew the feeling of failure all too well. “What do you want from me?” he asked quietly. “Is it money, an apology, what?”

“No. God no. These blackouts and bombings, the communities of people going missing…this is Blue at work, isn’t it?”

“Not so much Blue as it is Marx. He’s utilizing the program and blackmailing his men. I’m sure my life has served as a prime example of what will happen if they turn on him.”

“Is my daughter really dead? Is that really her in the ground? I need to know.”

The man’s voice thickened and broke. Sebastian closed himself off from the pain. His jaw tensed as he deliberated his next words carefully. “I have no way of knowing for certain. The remains were already cremated and the heat process destroys all viable DNA.”

“But?” her father asked, a tinge of hope affecting his voice.

“My heart tells me a different story. There is a chance Taylor is still alive. I believe Marx has her hidden somewhere. I’ve been searching. Unfortunately, I don’t have any leverage to use against him, and if I kill him, I lose the only thing I have leading me to her location.”

Gavin nodded. His Adam’s apple bobbed with his swallow. “I understand you were planning a trip to Hawaii.”

“It’s been postponed.”

“I’ll save you the trouble,” Gavin said, stepping forward to press a small scrap of paper into Sebastian’s hand. “These are the codes and specs you’ll need. If you can find a way to access the system, you’ll be able to shut most of Blue down. There’s your leverage. I’ll find Patrick. He’s the only one who can destroy the rest. If you cooperate, the government will give you all the help you need. You have my word. I want justice, Agent Baas. Find my daughter and make that sick fuck that has her pay.”

~*~*~*~

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but when Taylor woke up, the agony branching through her body had lessened. A faint smile curved her lips as she saw Sebastian’s face looming above her in the shadows. There was such love and relief in his pale green eyes, and he reached for her, brushing the sweaty clumps of hair away from her face.

“Sebby,” she whispered, trying to muster the strength to lift her arm. She needed to touch him, to feel his skin beneath her fingertips once again. She ached to run her fingers through his curls or trace the deep, chasm-like dimples framing his face.