“Yes.”
“You’re psychotic. What about the kill chip?” Maybe it wasn’t real.
Madison giggled. “I wondered if they were getting worried. The chip will slice their spines in three months or so, right?” She shook her head. “They really had better make up with us, don’t you think?”
Rage, fear, shock all cascaded through Josie. “You’re a monster.”
The doctor shook her head. “Don’t be silly. You might as well know that since you’re not pregnant, keeping you alive isn’t high on my priority list.” She crossed the room toward the counter.
Josie sat up, settling her tennis shoes on the tile. She hadn’t had the chance to search the drawers for a weapon. “You’re evil.” If she could distract the doctor, maybe she could make a break for it.
Madison’s blue eyes sparkled. “Don’t be so dramatic.” Her smile revealed perfectly straight teeth.
Josie eyed the door. “Rumor has it Audrey set Nathan up, Doc.”
Madison pursed her lips. “Is that what they think? Hmm. Interesting.” Her gaze narrowed. “Apparently my Shane confided in you. I taught him better than that.”
“You know Shane?” Sadness for her husband filtered through Josie. To be raised by a crazy scientist who didn’t even care about her own daughter must’ve been terrible. No wonder Shane had trouble dealing with women.
“Don’t be coy, dear. It doesn’t suit you.” Madison’s gaze lashed over Josie. “I have to say, you’re not what I expected.”
“Why’s that?” She needed to find some sort of weapon. While she figured she could take the doctor in a heartbeat, stupid Tom had to be around somewhere. Or Daniel. Maybe Josie could get Daniel to help her.
The smile turned malicious. “Shane’s training. The darkness in my Shane surprised even me.” Her voice lowered to a throaty purr. “I really wonder what in the world my boy sees in somebody as weak as you.”
“You jealous?” Josie allowed her voice to lower. “From what I’ve heard, you were a desperate dog in heat. Always watching, always wanting.” It was a calculation and a stab in the dark. But something in the doctor’s tone hinted. Josie lifted her gaze to meet the doctor’s. “But they never returned your desire now, did they?”
Fire raced through the doctor’s eyes before she cleared them. “That’s what you think.”
“No.” Satisfaction lifted Josie’s chin at the direct hit. “They wanted your pretty daughter. Your innocent, sweet, and young daughter.”
The smirk on Madison’s face twisted. “Yes, well. Young Nathan wanted Audrey. And he got her for a short time—though she wasn’t quite as innocent as he’d hoped.” Madison crossed the room and placed the file on the counter. “But that didn’t end well now, did it?”
“They’re going to kill you.”
“I doubt it. Believe me, I’ve meant way too much to a couple of them.” Satisfaction lifted Madison’s red lips.
Josie fought down nausea. There was no way Shane had slept with this evil bitch of a doctor. She hoped none of the brothers had been caught in her trap, either.
“Besides”—Madison’s nostrils flared as she sucked in air—“I’m the closest thing to a mother those boys have ever known. They might want to kill me, but it would destroy them to do so.”
But they’d do it. For each other, if one of them got the chance, they’d kill the doctor. Whoever did it would never recover. Josie settled her shoulders. “You’re right. So I guess I’ll be the one to kill you.” She kept her gaze on the closest thing to a real monster she’d ever seen. To protect Shane, to protect his brothers, she’d kill. She’d already shot a drug dealer, in fact.
Madison smiled again. “You know, I’m starting to like you.” Heavy footsteps echoed outside the door. “I think I will give Tom a chance to knock you up—or maybe Danny would like a shot at you. He seems rather irritated that Tom hit you. I wonder if I could get some ultra-soldiers out of the deal.”
Nausea and fear ripped through Josie’s stomach, but she kept her face bland. “You’re an idiot.”
The doctor shook her head, clicking her tongue. “Name-calling, are we?” She glanced at Josie’s unblemished arm. “While I haven’t injected you with anything, I certainly may do so if you don’t cooperate with me. Which of the brothers have you met?”
Josie rolled her eyes. “There are no brothers. Shane told me about you, about your daughter, but that’s it.”
The doctor clicked her tongue. “For a civilian, you’re not a bad liar.”
“Thanks. For a doctor with degrees in clinical neuropsychology and psychoneuroimmunology, you’re stupid if you think you’ll live through hurting me.”
Madison’s girlish laughter wound around the room. “I see what Shane likes about you.”
“You must be really smart to have the degrees you do.” Josie tilted her head, studying the other woman.