He swallowed. Unfortunately, his ability to discern the truth told him she was being honest. His parents, such that they were, no longer lived.
A part of him wished he could’ve saved his teenaged mother. Not his failure, but he still hurt for her. His chest ached, but not as badly as he would’ve expected. His brothers were his family, and that would never change, no matter how many new members they added. “Did my mother have other children?”
“Yes,” Madison said. “I also harvested many of her eggs to use with other surrogates. You probably have half-brothers out there.”
Zara pressed both her hands against his lower back in a gesture of pure comfort.
“Why are you telling me this?” he asked, his body flushing.
Madison shrugged. “Think about coming with me. I’m rebuilding my business, and you have a lot to offer. I can train you. Think of the advances we could make.”
The woman was colder than ice and more calculating than the serial killer they were chasing. “You need to be put down,” he muttered. “Your business?”
“Yes. More soldiers, more test tubes, more advances in science. In fact, I’ll have a new lab ready in a matter of weeks, and I could use additional genetic material. What do you say?”
“Additional?” he coughed.
She smiled. “I still have some, young man. It’s just been stored safely away, and soon I’ll have the proper facility.”
He shook his head. They’d have to take her out before she created anybody else. For now, he owed his brothers a chance to know their pasts. “What about Heath’s and Denver’s parents? What’s the deal?”
She shook her head and glanced at her wristwatch. “They’ll have to come in if they want answers. I’ve told you enough.” She backed away, stepping outside into the snow.
He stepped toward her, and she lifted the barrel of the gun to his face. “Why? After the test tubes, why did you leave me at an orphanage?” he asked. She’d kept the Gray brothers, but she’d set him free. Why? He couldn’t ask the entire question, because she didn’t know he’d met up with Matt and Jory. “I’d think you’d want to keep your creations close.”
She nodded. “All part of the experiment, I’m afraid. I had to see how you three boys—totally unrelated but created with superior genes—would interact and survive. You were my project. Just mine. You still are.”
A roar of a motor echoed through the trees. Ryker tensed. He needed the bitch off balance and fast. “I killed Todd.”
She nodded. “I know, but that’s all right. He’d served his purpose, and frankly, his ideals were getting in my way. You did me a favor.”
The woman had the heart of a snake. Ryker fought the urge to throw up. “I’m bringing you down, lady. Get ready.”
“I’ll be in touch, Ryker. This is by no means the end.” She took another step back, keeping her aim steady and true.
The roar increased in pitch. Snow sprayed. A snowmobile rushed into sight with Sheriff Cobb on the back.
Hatred, raw and pure, poured through Ryker. He ran forward without thought, wanting to kill more than he wanted his next breath.
Madison fired, and he ducked as bullets pinged over his head. She jumped on the machine, swinging her arm around and continuing to fire.
Cobb gave him a hard look and mouthed the word “Soon” before twisting the throttle. The snowmobile jumped forward, and he drove it through a path between two large pine trees, heading away from the lodge.
Ryker launched into motion. “Stay here,” he bellowed at Zara, lowering his head and running behind the snowmobile as fast as the thick snow would allow. He ran hard, branches slapping him, desperation spurring him on. The roar of rotors caught his attention. Sucking in air, he could hear several people behind him, also running fast.
He charged into a clearing just in time to see the door close on a black helicopter. It slowly rose into the air. Madison looked out a back window and gave him a little wave.
Matt burst through trees next to him and halted, breathing heavily.
Madison’s eyes widened, and her lips formed the word “Matt.” She smiled broadly.
“Fuck,” Matt hissed. “Is Greg in there?”
Madison slowly nodded. “I have Greg,” she mouthed very clearly. “See you soon.” Then she held up a black box.
Ryker squinted. “Is that—”
The world exploded behind them as the lodge blew up with a devastating roar.
Jory ran through trees to the east with Heath and Denver on his heels, all crashing to the ground and rolling. “They got our helicopter, and the lodge just blew. I hot-wired an SUV. We have to go. Now.”
Ryker turned just as Zara stumbled through the snow in bare feet toward him. He caught her.
“Greg?” she asked through purple lips.
Rage rushed through him so quickly he swayed. “No.”