When Evil Came to Stay Read online

  “They’ll be presenting to the medical facility in the morning. Meet with them and gauge how well you think they’ll cope with special needs children, which is how we’re currently viewing them. Clarissa will be there to assist you and to explain the finer points of their immediate physical and maturational needs. I will need you to match the children to the families you think can cope, and it has to be quick. We don’t have a lot of time right now, David. We’re in the middle of a war, and caring for them in the infirmary isn’t going to work if there’s an incursion on the base.”

  Her words didn’t fill him with any form of confidence as he left the office and headed for the medical facility with the sheaf of papers tucked under his arm.

  I’m an agent, not a bloody child welfare services officer. “What the hell would I know about kids?” But for all that, he understood why Daniella and Jonah needed someone capable of sizing people up quickly.

  The sound of an approaching vehicle captured his attention, and he looked up in time to see the white van containing Franklin and Agent Erin McNally pull up to the facility. He strode up to the vehicle and scanned her face as the two agents climbed from the car.

  Inside his belly, the jitter that had taken up residence there since she’d been injured raised up and smacked him hard. “Agent McNally? Everything all right?”

  It took every ounce of willpower to control the outburst that really wanted to erupt. Are you injured?

  McNally stared at him, her eyes wide, the dark chocolate of them beckoning, just as they always did. “I’m, uhhh… Everything’s good. When did you get back?”

  A ruddy glow washed over her cheeks, entrancing him, then disappeared as her hand moved to her waist.

  “You’re sure you’re well enough to be on active duty?” he asked.

  “Oh yeah. They cleared me for light duties. Nothing too strenuous. I’ve been surveilling…”

  Franklin hovered at her side then sighed, shook his head, and broke the uncomfortable air surrounding them. He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like ‘get it together’ before wandering off.

  “What are you doing?” she asked David.

  He held up the folder, waving it. “Placing children.” He couldn’t quite control the disgust in his voice, and she chuckled.

  “Never thought I’d see the day. Come on. I wanted to check in on them, I’ve got a vested interest these days.”

  He turned and pinned her with his gaze. “What do you mean?”

  “I was in on the mission when they were found. The facility? It was huge, and it had this air of… I don’t know, it sounds silly, but it was cold and evil, and I’m being fanciful.” She shrugged. “Come on, I know where they are. Besides, it gives me an opportunity to update you on what I saw today.”

  David trailed behind her, ignoring the sway of her hips and the scent of her that wound around and stole the oxygen from his lungs. He’d already made too many mistakes with this woman, and he was fairly sure she’d refuse anything more to do with him on any kind of emotional level.

  “And what did you see today?” he asked.

  “Massing kids. At the abandoned school. Not doing much and no sense of urgency at this point. They did try tracking our vehicle, but I found the chip and destroyed it.”

  That gave him a moment of disquiet, but right now, it was better to know where they were and that they weren’t actively preparing for an attack. Small mercies.

  The door to the infirmary swung open with a squeak, and the faint antiseptic tinge filled the air, tickling his nose, while the sound of his feet on the white tiles squeaked. Without stopping, she moved to the left-hand side corridor and strode along, clearly confident in her direction.

  At the far door, she stopped and signaled to the sanitizer dispenser. “Important to sanitize. The babies haven’t received any form of vaccinations, and we’re still not sure how susceptible they’ll be to illnesses.”

  He nodded, amazed at how much she already knew about the babies.

  Once she was satisfied they were adequately prepared, Erin opened the door and they stepped into a room featuring twelve white cots. Babies cooed, arms waving, and he watched McNally advance to the first, bend over, and touch the cheek of one of the two babies resting within.

  “They’re due for a feed, so grab one each and head over here.” His sister-in-law, Clarissa, lounged in an armchair, cradling one of the babies, directing the nipple of a bottle filled with white liquid—milk, his brain told him—to the mouth of the rooting baby.

  McNally reached down and picked one up then surprised David by placing it in his arms. “I’m not…”

  “Well, now you are. Clarissa will have the bottles already made up. Take a seat next to her while I grab this little one.”

  He stared at her. “Really, I wouldn’t know where to start.”

  “We all started that way. Come on, David. Given Daniella contacted me and informed me of how we’re going to spend the next week, it won’t hurt you to get up close and personal with these bundles of cuteness.” Clarissa hugged the wriggling baby closer and nudged a bottle toward him. David watched Clarissa, startled at the way she just seemed to sink into the seat and handle the baby.

  McNally, cradling the other baby from the crib, nudged him, and he gave a defeated sigh and headed in the direction of his sister-in-law.

  The night drew in, and Erin slumped to the bed, exhausted as she usually was at the end of her day. Her side ached, and she knew pushing herself wasn’t the best choice, but what other was there?

  “I refuse to not do my best to sort this mess out.” Except this mess was greater than anyone had expected when they’d first met Clarissa. She’d known about Michael, having been in the same professional circles as David. She shied away from thinking about him. That led only to more misery, and even worse, the blooming of need.

  She’d had enough of that in her life already. Emotion free. If only it were so simple to ignore the burning hunger inside her.

  When the senator—Daniella, as she’d be told to call her—had created the team at President Yin’s command, it hadn’t seemed so totally overwhelming at the beginning. All they’d been required to do was find out who was undertaking illegal Cyborg therapy. It was only once they’d started digging more and more that the evil plan had surfaced.

  Erin rose, tugging off the wrinkled shirt, and smelled it, her nose crinkling at the stink. One of the little darlings had done rather more than just burp on her. Erin balled it up and threw it into the corner with all the other camouflage print clothing. “I’d better attend to them tonight.”

  Reaching the bathroom and turning on the water, she exhaled and looked down. The scar was still angry-looking, puckered and raised. Maybe she should go see Michael and let him take a look. He’d be able to tell her if this was normal a couple of weeks after the wounding.

  Stepping into the shower, she released a sigh, letting the water sluice over her skin. Erin cleared her mind so all that remained was the pleasure as her muscles relaxed under the tingling spray of the water. She stayed there for several minutes, calm and relaxed, before turning it off and stepping back into the steam-filled room, reaching blindly for a towel.

  The knocking on the door to her room began, and she wrapped the large cotton bath sheet around herself, tucking in the edges before calling out, “I’m coming.”

  She hurried to open the door a crack to see David standing there, his eyes shadowed.

  “Can I come in?” he asked.

  She stared at him, her mind mush.

  “May I?”

  “Oh. Just a moment, I need to…” Her hands fluttered as she groped for control of the situation, overwhelmed with his proximity and her lack of clothing. He followed her in.

  She slammed the door shut, narrowed her eyes, and shook her head. Standing here foggy-brained won’t deal with whatever he wants to see you about. Now Erin scurried, tugging open the single door wardrobe and peering within. One last uniform.

  Erin retreated to the bathroom, clothes in hand. “Just a moment,” she called breathlessly. With quick moves, she dropped her towel into a wet pile on the floor, then grabbed the underwear she’d found in the bottom of the cupboard and tugged them on. She grabbed the shirt and shoved it over her head before reaching for the pants and stepping into them.

  “Everything all right?” David’s voice filtered through the door.

  She forced herself to inhale deeply before heading back to the room’s door. She carefully opened it, and his gaze narrowed.

  “I didn’t mean to intrude.” His gaze wandered past her to the pile of clothing on her floor.

  “I was just showering. So, what can I do for you, sir?” Tagging on the last word she hoped would be enough to make him realize there was no connection between them, nothing more than a mistake in the heat of emotion.

  “I wanted to talk to you about that night, Erin. I…” He reached out, and she flinched back.

  “I don’t think so. Everything that needed to be said was. I had a nightmare, you woke me, and things happened that shouldn’t have. Is that all?” She raised an eyebrow, well aware that would goad him into action. She needed David gone so she could find her center once more.

  “Erin, dammit, we need to talk. Come for a coffee with me. Please.” The word contained so much emotion, and heaven knew Erin wanted to go with him, but it wouldn’t be wise, her rational mind screamed.

  “No, sir. Now, if there’s nothing else?” She strode to the door, opened it, and gripped on like it was a lifeline and willed him to leave.

  Defeat filled his face. “Okay, for now. But we do need to talk about this. About us. We’re not done, Erin. Not by a long shot.” He turned and marched past her.

  Erin watched him go, knowing damn well if he decided to push it, they’d be revisiting this conversation again before long.

  She closed the door and backed up into the room before slumping back on the narrow bed. So, unlike the one… Stop it! Don’t remember!

  If only it were so easy to turn off her memories.

  She woke, arms holding her against a hard chest. The half-light from the bathroom the only illumination.

  “I’ve got you, Erin.” David’s voice betrayed the depth of emotion, rough and dark like liquid chocolate.

  She shivered, her body still frigid from the nightmare. “Please, don’t leave me.” Her fingers dug into his shoulders, clinging to him. Holding him so close and absorbing the reassurance.

  “I won’t. I’ll be right here. Always here for you.” His breath whispered over her hair, ruffling it, while his hand moved in tender circles over her back.

  Her nerves jumped and danced at his proximity. Some of it was left over from the nightmare of the shooting, but the rest was a reaction to the tenderness of the caress.

  Tears burned in her eyes, scalding her cheeks, wetting his bare torso.

  “Erin?” His fingers stilled, dragging her closer.

  Awareness flared and she tugged away.

  “Stay still, Erin. Just there.” He exerted careful pressure, so that once more her face rested against his collarbone. Just a tiny shift and her lips would be in contact with the warm, muscled skin.

  An odd yearning rose.

  Erin moved, her lips opening over the flesh. Tasting the saltiness of his flesh.

  He shuddered in response. “Erin.”

  His hand cupped the back of her head, curling into her hair and guiding her gaze upward so she could read the ardor in his eyes.

  “I want to kiss you, Erin.”

  A long second passed, dragging her into a well of pleasure and hunger. When their lips touched, her whole body ignited, fire licking at her, and their mouths crushed, opened, and the heated cavern of his mouth beckoned.

  The interest between them, long denied, flared into light in a second. His tongue danced against hers, while need bubbled and boiled in her gut and her most secret recesses melted with arousal.

  He groaned, or she did. Her mind unable to grasp who gave voice to the furious sensations battering her mind.

  Her arms wound around his neck as he reached for her breasts, diving under the loose nightshirt.

  She moved and fire streaked, roaring pain searing her mind, and she tugged away on a screech of agony.

  “Oh, Erin! I’m sorry. Let me…”

  Tears soaked her cheeks again as she cautiously cupped her side, and she fought for control of her breathing and stomach. The echoes of pain had her gut threatening to release itself then and there.

  “Please. Get me a pain pill and some water.” Her voice sounded scratchy as she closed her eyes, refusing to watch the real-life, god-like man in the bedroom with her move to the side. Her hand came away damp, and she opened her eyes, glancing down.

  Blood. Great, she’d likely opened the wound. When David returned, he passed her the glass, and without thinking, she reached out with the blood-crusted hand.

  “Damn!” He knelt at the edge of the large bed and reached for her shirt, but she brushed his hand away.

  “It’s not bad. If you’d grab me a washcloth, I’ll sort it out.”

  He growled. “I caused it, I’ll clean it up.” Fury at himself echoed in his words, and she shook her head.

  “No. It’s not a lot, and I can and will clean it up. Seriously. Please, just go.”

  He stilled, frozen, and his eyes snapped to her gaze.

  “Please.”

  He hooded his gaze, the green fire dimming. “I’ll leave you this time.

  But we’re not done, Erin.”

  She bit her lip as he moved to the bathroom, grabbing what she’d need, then left without a word.

  Erin sighed. “Just one more mistake in a lifetime of them.”

  She carefully shucked her outer clothes and settled into the bed in her underwear.

  Morning would come all too quickly, and she needed to rest.

  CHAPTER TWO

  David cradled the drink in his hands. It wasn’t how he’d intended to spend the evening.

  Michael joined him at the table, his gaze locked on the finger of alcohol in David’s glass. “Everything okay?”

  “No,” David growled. “Erin is refusing to talk to me.” He gulped the fiery liquid down and reached for the glass of water in the center of the table.

  “Ahh.” Michael raised his hand and beckoned to the server who scurried in his direction. “I’ll have an iced tea. No sugar, just mint.”

  “Of course, sir.”

  “It’s funny sitting here with you, and you’re drinking tea instead of scotch.” David snorted and took another sip of his drink, savoring the burn in his throat.

  “By product of this.” He raised his hand, and David caught sight of the crisscrossing of surgical scarring on his brother’s skin.

  “So much has changed. You and Daniella are both married.” He shrugged, unsure how to ask his brother for advice. After all, he’d always been the more capable with women. When had that changed?

  “Want to share what’s on your mind?” Michael murmured.

  David waited as the waiter returned and placed the mint tea in front of Michael and asked David if he’d like another drink.

  “Yeah. Then I’m joining the tea brigade.”

  The waiter glanced at him quizzically then shrugged.

  “I fucked up, Mike. I mean, after the accident, when she was at my house, I made a move. Messed it up big time, and now she refuses to talk anything but work. Before this, she was my friend and colleague. It’s gone.” The emptiness inside him spooked him. What if there was no way to get her back as a friend? Have I really scared her off forever?

  He drained the glass of water in his hand and carefully placed it on the faux-wood tabletop. Waiting for the pearls of wisdom.

  Michael remained silent, and the seconds dragged out. The server returned and replaced David’s empty glass with a filled one, the amber liquid glowing in the muted lighting.

  “Mike?”

  “Look, David, I don’t know your Erin very well. She strikes me as a woman who is focused on her career. One who has a very clear sense of duty. Very contained in her emotions. You’re telling me you’ve messed up, so I think you’re going to have to gain her trust, if indeed you’ve shattered it. But I suck at reading women.”

  Michael didn’t smile at him, and David sighed. No easy answers, he guessed. “You have it together with Clarissa.”

  “She’s different. For some reason, with her I don’t need to second-guess, because what works comes naturally. You need to find that equilibrium with Erin, otherwise, just maybe, she’s not the right woman for you.”

  “Huh, fat lot of sense that makes.” David snorted and took a sip from the glass. “But Clarissa is great. The one that’s kind of odd is Jonah and Daniella. I mean, who would have thought…”

  The two brothers laughed, knowing exactly what hadn’t been said.

  Jonah and Daniella. Two very different people, yet somehow it appeared that they’d found their happily ever after together.

  Their sister was poised and powerful, polished and stepping up to assume command of the government. Jonah, strong also. Powerful too but without the polish, but ready to put his life and future on the line to protect the woman he loved. A career army man, though also one hell of a strategist.

  In silence, both brothers drained their glasses, then Michael made to rise but pinned David with a piercing look. “Heard you were visiting the infants today, which is great. We need to change their names as a priority. They’re maturing quickly, and it’s a first step in giving them a future. We need to rehome them, and the quicker the better for everyone.”

  David grunted. “I’m thinking of telling the adoptive parents, once they’re placed, to use their letters to create names. I begin interviews tomorrow with the prospectives. There’s twenty-four infants so…”

  “Twenty-three.” Michael spoke quietly, and David sighed.

  “I’m sorry.” He genuinely was. Michael had worked hard with the babies in the days since they’d been retrieved from the gestational facility. To have lost one…