Special Forces Rendezvous

chapter 16



Shock pummeled into Julia’s body. When she touched her nostrils, the blood dripping from them seemed to flow faster. Horrified, she launched herself out of bed, then halted when a wave of dizziness overtook her. Her legs felt like they were made of lead, and her torso suddenly weighed three hundred pounds, making it difficult to support her own weight.

Sebastian was at her side in a flash, steadying her with his strong arms.

“Hey, you need to sit down.” His voice held an unambiguous note of terror.

He was scared.

Oh, God. She was scared.

Why wouldn’t her nose stop bleeding, damn it?

She allowed Sebastian to lead her back to the bed. He forced her to sit down, then hurried into the bathroom and returned a moment later with a box of tissues. He ripped out a handful and brought them to her nose, staunching the blood flow. With his other hand, he touched her forehead, then her cheeks and then her neck. “You’re burning up,” he said hoarsely. “You’re on fire, Doc.”

Julia didn’t doubt it. She felt like she’d been dropped in a vat of boiling water. And that sluggish wave of exhaustion continued to slither through her veins.

“In the first hour, it’s a fever, lethargy and bleeding from the ears, nose and eyes,” she said weakly.

“Don’t.” Sebastian’s voice was as sharp as a razor blade. “We don’t know if this is...if you’ve been...”

“Infected by the virus? Let’s not kid ourselves, Sebastian. I was perfectly healthy when we went to sleep, and now I’m exhibiting all of the initial symptoms Frank described.” Swallowing a lump of panic, she forced her brain not to shut down on her, no matter how tired she was. “If humans react to the virus the same way as the mice, then symptoms start after twenty-five hours. That means I ingested the virus...” It became impossible to do basic math, so she simply gave up and quit talking.

“Six-thirty yesterday morning,” Sebastian supplied.

“Right, six-thirty. We were...at the Pentagon. Brent’s office.”

The tissues were almost completely soaked from her bloody nose. Sebastian tossed them on the floor and replaced them with a new batch.

“You were drinking a bottle of water,” he reminded her. “Remember? You gave me the rest.”

“Not the rest, the whole thing. I never opened that bottle.” She struggled to search her memories. “I had a cup of coffee when we first got there, around three in the morning. I didn’t have anything else to drink after that.” She frowned. “Maybe my symptoms are showing up later for some reason? I guess the mice had a more accelerated reaction to—”

“The coffee wasn’t the last thing you drank,” Sebastian cut in. His face had gone white, and his hands trembled as he pressed the tissues beneath her nose. “I gave you my water bottle after I drank yours.”

“Right. Right, I remember.”

“And that was around six-thirty, so the timing of the symptoms fits.” An anguished curse flew out of his mouth and then he started mumbling. “Brent got me that water bottle, Julia. It was my freaking water. It was meant for me.”

His low mutterings made her head spin. Battling a rush of disorientation, she staggered off the bed. Sebastian shot up without delay and put his arm around her.

“Hospital,” she wheezed out. “We have to get to the hospital. Seizures will start...in an hour or two.”

Oh, God, and the paralysis soon after.

Terror seized every muscle in her body. She was going to die.

Holy mother of God, she was actually going to die.

The next ten minutes were a total whirlwind. She didn’t remember getting dressed, but somehow she was wearing jeans and a tank top when they stumbled out of the hotel. She didn’t remember getting into the car, but somehow she was in the passenger seat while Sebastian murmured soothing words in her ear and kept a firm hand on her thigh.

Her skin was on fire. Her nosebleed refused to ebb; she could taste the coppery blood in the back of her throat and she almost gagged.

In the driver’s seat, Sebastian wasn’t saying a single word.

“Maybe...maybe the CDC developed an antidote already,” she said feebly.

He sucked in a breath. “An antidote.”

“Maybe,” she murmured again. “Sometimes they can develop one fairly fast.”

Yeah, right. It would take weeks, months, years even. She knew that, yet she refused to give up hope. After everything she’d been through, this couldn’t be the way it ended.

Lissa. Simone. Marcus.

Kevin. Marie-Thérèse. Kendra. Nadir.

Me.

“No,” she mumbled. “I don’t want to die, Seb.”

His fingers curled over her denim-clad thigh. “You’re not going to die, Doc. I won’t let you.”

Julia started to laugh. Of course he’d say that. Her warrior, always coming to the rescue, always looking out for her.

“There’s a team of medical professionals waiting for you at the hospital,” he went on. “Doctors and CDC folks and federal agents and researchers. You’ll be in good hands.”

She squinted, as if that would somehow help her make sense of what he’d said. “What are you talking about?”

“I arranged everything before we left the hotel. You’ll be taken care of, baby.”

She didn’t remember him making any phone calls. Then again, she was so out of it she couldn’t be sure.

But she certainly hadn’t missed his continued use of the word you’ll.

“You’re coming with me, aren’t you?” she whispered.

“Not yet, baby. I just have one little thing to do first, and then I’ll come right back to you.”

Her pulse sped up. “No, don’t leave me.”

The world started to spin again, and suddenly she wasn’t sitting anymore. She was lying down on a hard surface and loud voices were floating all around her. Panic squeezed her chest, then eased when Sebastian’s face hovered over hers.

“You’re going to be just fine, Doc. Just fine.” His gray eyes glittered with determination. “So now close your eyes and get some rest, okay? I’ll be right back. I’ll come right back to you, I promise.”

And then he was gone.

* * *

It was meant for him.

The water was meant for him.

The virus was meant for him.

Those three simple truths were all Sebastian was capable of concentrating on as he drove like a madman in the direction of the Pentagon. He’d already called Brent and told him he was on his way, and if that son of a bitch wasn’t waiting for him outside like he’d promised, Sebastian might actually consider shooting his freaking way into the freaking building.

Julia couldn’t die. It had ripped his heart in two, leaving her back there at the hospital. Alone, scared, dying. But what other choice did he have? He wouldn’t let her die. He couldn’t lose her. He’d already lost everyone else.

It was meant for him.

The water was meant for him.

The virus was meant for him.

He’d been the target. Not Julia.

The sedan’s tires screeched as he executed a hard right into the parking lot. He was ready to tear his own hair out as the guards in the security booth forced him to follow protocol. Checking the name and picture on his fake ID, which Brent had added to the visitor’s list. Asking him pointless questions. Confiscating his Beretta and his knife.

By the time the lot barrier swung up, Sebastian was seeing red and prepared to dropkick the next person who got in his way.

Brent met him at the building’s entrance, his expression creased with concern. “What’s going on? How did Dr. Davenport get infected?”

White-hot fury spiraled through him. So that was how they were going to play it, huh? Well, fine. Let the son of a bitch play dumb. At the moment, Sebastian didn’t have time to deal with Brent Davidson. He’d rip the man’s throat out later. No, he’d do a helluva lot more than that. He’d torture the bastard, bring him within an inch of death only to yank him away from the light and begin the torment all over again.

If Julia died, Brent would meet that same fate.

Only his road to death would be a lot longer, and a lot more painful.

Clenching his teeth, Sebastian ignored the other man’s inquiry. “Have you gotten anything more from Stephen Langley about that antidote he claims to have?”

“No, but—”

“I want to see him.” He marched toward the front entrance.

Brent raced into the building after him, his voice tinged with disbelief. “You can’t. Langley is being detained. Only authorized federal employees are allowed anywhere near him.”

Sebastian halted in the middle of the lobby. “Are you authorized to talk to him?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then take me to him,” he snapped.

“Sebas—”

Before Davidson could get out that third syllable, Sebastian had slammed the older man into the wall and was gripping him by the collar of his white shirt.

The armed guards posted all over the lobby immediately stormed the elevator bank, weapons drawn.

“Call them off,” Sebastian ordered.

Gasping for breath, Davidson held up a hand, making a signal to fall back. The guards immediately went still.

“Now, listen, I don’t have the time to argue with you,” Sebastian hissed out. “You’re going to give me five minutes with Langley. Call it a reward for finding that ULF nest yesterday. Call it my pat on the back for being part of that op. I don’t care how you explain it to your superiors—just get it done, you understand?”

“Why?” The word came out on a wheeze.

He loosened his grip on the man’s collar. “Why do I want to see him?” When Brent nodded, he set his jaw. “Because if that bastard is telling the truth and has an antidote stashed somewhere, then I’m going to get it out of him. And if there is an antidote, it goes directly to Julia. You understand me?”

“Stone, you need to calm down. Langley has been undergoing interrogation for a day and a half. He refuses to talk unless we give him immunity.”

“He’ll talk to me,” Sebastian said in a deadly tone.

He abruptly let go of Davidson, and the man nearly fell over before managing to steady himself.

With a wave of his hand, Brent dismissed the guards who were warily monitoring the entire exchange. “Resume your posts, men. Everything is fine here.” He glanced at Sebastian. “You know I could have you arrested for this, right?”

“Five minutes, Brent. I need only five minutes.”

Indecision flashed across the other man’s face. “I know you’re worried about Dr. Davenport. Hell, I’m worried, too. I don’t know how she got infected, but I promise you, the last thing I want is for that woman to die.”

Sebastian fought the urge to grab a gun from the hip holster of one of those guards and empty an entire clip into Brent Davidson’s chest. Son of a bitch had given him that water, and now here he was, acting like he had no idea how Julia had gotten infected? Acting like he actually cared about her well-being?

“Take me to Langley,” Sebastian muttered. “Now.”

There was a long moment of silence before Brent finally nodded. “Follow me.”

Sebastian’s hands were uncharacteristically shaky as the two men stepped into the elevator. He was so wired he felt like he might black out, but he forced himself to breathe, to find his center and keep his cool. The need to confront Brent, to strangle Brent, was so strong his mouth watered from the temptation, but he restrained himself.

Right now, he couldn’t afford to focus on anything but saving the woman he loved.

Stephen Langley was being held in a small interrogation room in the lower levels of the building. Armed guards lined the fluorescent corridor, remaining expressionless as Sebastian and Brent stalked past.

They reached a heavy steel door with an electric keypad mounted to the wall beside it. Brent swiped his key card and the door buzzed open.

Sebastian followed the DoD agent into a room with a wall of security cameras and dozens of beeping machines that provided readings on the subject’s heartbeat, blood pressure, facial expression and whatever else was deemed relevant to catching a subject in a lie. Two federal agents manned the large desk, monitoring the various screens in front of them. Four of the screens revealed a hunched figure sitting on a metal chair in a small, windowless room. The four different angles allowed Sebastian to easily identify Langley, whose head was bent low, hands resting on the tabletop.

“Has he said anything?” Brent asked the agents.

“Nothing. Haskell and Rhodes just left,” one replied. “They’re going to give it another go in an hour or so.”

Brent nodded. “Sergeant Stone has requested five minutes with him. I’m allowing it. Will you buzz him in, please?”

The second agent leaned forward and clicked a button on the electronic panel on the desktop. The door leading into the interrogation room clicked loudly.

“And turn off the cameras,” Sebastian said in a low voice.

The agents immediately turned to Davidson, who quickly turned to Sebastian with visible wariness. “Wasn’t part of the agreement,” Brent said tersely.

“Don’t care. Cameras off.”

He and Brent eyed each other for several tense seconds. Finally the older man cursed under his breath and said, “Cameras off.”

Sebastian arched a brow. “Sound, too.”

The agent at the desk clicked another button and the monitors went black.

“Thank you, boys.” With a pleasant smile, he marched over to the door and pushed on the handle.

He entered the airless room, wrinkling his nose when the scent of urine, sweat and fear met his nostrils. “Those a-holes didn’t even bring you a bathroom bucket?” he said in surprise. He glanced around the room, which was barren save for the table and three chairs.

Langley’s head snapped up, and then red-hot rage exploded in his eyes. “You! You goddamn bastard!”

“Nice to see you, too, Doctor.”

Unbothered by the cold reception, Sebastian sat in the chair across from the scientist and casually folded his hands on the tabletop. When his gaze snagged on the clock hanging on the wall behind Langley, panic seized his insides. Nearly thirty minutes had passed since he’d left Julia at the hospital.

Seizures. The seizures would start soon.

Then paralysis.

Then death.

His heart burned with agony. No. No. He was not going to let her die.

“Let me just cut to the chase, Langley.” Sebastian met the scientist’s eyes. “You’re going to tell me where the antidote is.”

Langley smirked, then crossed his arms over his chest. “Who says there’s an antidote?”

“Oh, there is. That’s why you’re sitting there looking so damn chipper. This is your leverage. Your ticket to freedom.”

“If that’s true, then do you really think I’m going to tell you where it is?” Langley laughed loudly. “You think I’ll throw away my ticket to freedom by confiding in a lying son of a bitch like you? An unimportant foot soldier who has no authority to get me what I desire? Sorry, Agent Swanson, or whatever the hell your name is. I’m not telling you a damn thing.”

“Yes, you are,” Sebastian said softly.

Another laugh. “Uh-huh. Sure.”

“Scoff all you want, but you’re still going to tell me where the antidote is.” Slowly, he rose from his chair and rounded the table, stopping when he was standing over the other man.

Langley snorted with genuine amusement. “Gonna torture me now? Go ahead. Do your worst. We both know they—” he gestured to the cameras positioned in every corner of the ceiling “—won’t let it go on for too long. They’ll stop you before you rough me up too bad.”

Now Sebastian was the one laughing. “Sorry to disappoint you, but the cameras are off. See how those little red lights aren’t blinking anymore?”

Langley’s face turned a shade paler as he glanced at the cameras again and saw that Sebastian was telling the truth.

“Oh, but don’t worry, I don’t plan on torturing you,” Sebastian added with a feral smile. “You’re going to tell me where the antidote is, Langley. Because if you don’t, I’m going to kill you.”

Silence crashed over the room. Langley’s expression was a cross between suspicion and amazement. He stared at Sebastian for a moment, then released an unsteady breath and shook his head half a dozen times.

“No, you won’t,” Langley finally said. “You won’t kill me.” More head shaking. “You won’t.”

“You can see it in my eyes, can’t you, Doctor? You know I’m speaking the truth right now.” He inched closer to Langley, and the man flinched.

“You won’t,” Langley repeated, but the conviction was slowly draining from his eyes. “If you kill me, you’ll never get away with it. They’ll either throw you in prison or put a bullet in your head.”

“And do you honestly think I care?” He squatted down so they were at eye level. “Look at my face, Doctor. Look into my eyes as I tell you that I will absolutely kill you if you don’t tell me where the antidote is. You know why? Because without that antidote, the woman I love is going to die. And if she dies, then I’ve got nothing left to live for, now, do I?”

The scientist’s pulse throbbed in his throat.

“If you don’t talk, I’m going to snap your neck, Doctor, and if I go to prison for the rest of my life because of that, then so be it. If the people behind that door burst in and riddle me with bullets, then so be it. Frankly, I don’t give a damn what happens to me. As long as I snap your greedy little neck first, I’ll die a happy man.”

Langley gulped.

Rising to his full height, Sebastian cracked his knuckles. The sickly sound bounced off the concrete walls, bringing a glimmer of fear to Stephen Langley’s brown eyes.

“So what’s it going to be, Langley?” he asked quietly. “Are you going to tell me where the antidote is, or am I going to have to kill you?”