She'd failed miserably.
“Ricardo?” a voice called through the intercom. Ken Williams, his new chief of security. The rogue had a sadistic penchant for blood that Ricardo appreciated.
“Yes, Ken?”
“We've lost another Circ. He's mutated. Should I cage him with the others or put him down?”
Ricardo frowned. The control drug didn't seem to be working as well as it should, unless this batch of rogue Circs was tainted. Considering his boss had paired him with this group, he couldn't be sure. “Kill him. I need functioning muscle, not a mindless killer.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Patch me through to Dr. Silva.”
“Hold on, sir.”
Ricardo waited until he heard Manoel's tired voice. “Yes?”
“Any luck with Hawkins's blood?”
Manoel sighed. “No. I need more. I was so close to perfecting the invisibility formula, but then a few rogues lost control in the lab. They fought and destroyed my last test. I need another forty milliliters of blood, as well as a fresh skin sample.”
“I have men on-site, but I can't move yet.” I can’t chance them hurting the future mother of my sons. Not until she’s conceived and bred my children, at least.
“So have you found her?”
“Yes. As we thought, she eventually showed up in North Carolina. Business unfinished with Hawkins, I take it.” Ricardo didn't like that at all. He'd replayed her interactions with the bastard so many times, he could see their meetings replay in his mind's eye. Hell, he could almost feel her small hands pumping Hawkins's cock, could taste the warm spice of her breath, the way he had just a couple months ago.
His arousal stirred, the recollection of those full breasts under his own palms exciting him. He couldn't deny how stimulating it had been to finally show Sheridan how it would be between them. And having her watch as he fucked Elena had been so good.
Manoel called his name, and he forced himself to pay attention. Ricardo sighed. “What now?”
“I want to run tests on Sheridan as well. When do you think you'll have her again?”
“Soon, Manoel. But first we'll scare them, show Dawn Endeavor they're not as safe and secure as they think they are. There's nowhere they can run that I can't reach.” Ricardo smiled, grateful to that DC asshole he was forced to call el jefe—the boss—well, at least for now. “I'm keeping a team on them while we run this next shipment of the drug. But we need to see progress, amigo.”
“No hay problema. I got word that one of London's psychics convulsed and died just moments ago after trying to use his gift. And it was all thanks to us and our 'wonder drug.'”
Ricardo hoped el jefe would be happy enough with this latest test result. The asshole always wanted more, and he knew the risks they took to smuggle the drug onto US soil. Admiral London's psychics had just moved from Washington DC to Quantico, Virginia, home of not only the US Marine Corps but the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well. Despite the security in the area, Manoel had managed to infect one of London's men. Ricardo wanted to crow his victory to one and all.
“The man was a telekinetic. Word has it the secret project no one's supposed to know about might die before it begins,” Manoel said in a smug voice.
“Good. One less problem to deal with.” Now I just have those fucking Dawn Endeavor Circs to take care of. Well, them and el jefe.
“I'll keep you informed. I sent you a video of the test, so when the boss calls, you'll be able to give him details.”
And that's why Ricardo treasured Manoel. He didn't complain, he could be trusted, and he stayed one step ahead of everyone else.
Ricardo smiled. “Good work. I'll get back to you as we know more. And I'll try to get you the samples you need soon. Give me a few days, sí?”
“Okay.” Manoel hung up, and Ricardo decided to reward himself for a job well done.
He punched in a few buttons and waited to hear Ken's voice again.
“Sir?”
“I need a woman. Send her up, pronto.”
“Sure thing.” Ken hung up.
Ricardo didn't have to wait long. He pushed back from his chair and dragged a whip off his wall. Caressing the braided leather gave him a hard-on, and he imagined using it on Sheridan before he fucked her until she screamed.
A knock came on the door. “Come in.” The petite redhead who awaited him, dressed in nothing but pale pink panties, resembled Sheridan, except for the brown eyes. Not bad. Not bad at all. He cracked the whip and the redhead jumped, fear flashing over her innocent face.
Ken Williams deserved a raise.
“Come here, you little whore. And do what Master tells you to.” The tears in her eyes made everything that much sweeter, and Ricardo unleashed the whip with a fire in his belly and a burn in his soul.
Chapter Nine
“I don't know what happened.” Jack Keiser swore as Sheridan laid her hands on his arm. They occupied the couch in the family room off the kitchen. He flinched, then sighed as his bones knit together and the bruising in his muscles faded. “One minute Melissa and I were getting ready for bed. The next three big guys jumped me. I looked over, and Melissa was gone.”
He grimaced and glanced at his wife, who wept in Mrs. Sharpe's arms. She kept taking small glances at Jules in his changed form. The team didn't often change in front of Melissa or Jack.
Jules regretted alarming her more, but he'd be damned if he'd be less than prepared if the bastards returned.
“I don't know why the alarm didn't go off.” Olivia shrugged at her husband, a perplexed frown on her face. “It's state of the art, and there's no way anyone should have been able to get through without alerting us. I checked it, and the system is still working. It had to have been disabled for the intruders to come onto the property, but I don't see how they did it. Only Jack, Melissa, and I know the codes.
If they'd been broken by outside means, they'd have tripped a small alarm only I knew about.”
“So how the fuck did they get on the grounds?” Tersch asked, breathing hard.
Jules and Hayashi exchanged a glance. Hayashi and Morgan had taken over the task of keeping an eye on Tersch, and Jules now saw firsthand Tersch's burning anger to hunt down the assholes responsible and tear them apart. Stepping closer to Tersch, Jules put a hand on his shoulder and gripped tight, trying to reassure Tersch all would be well. “We'll get them. Jack, step me through it.” He watched Sheridan circle to the other side of the couch to reach Jack's right leg, which also showed signs of trauma.
“Another break,” Sheridan muttered and shook her head. “Animals did this.”
“No kidding.” Jack's face went white when she touched him.
Jules looked with his inner eye and saw Sheridan's energy flare hot and strong. Jack's was a pale green, signifying his injuries. But a light rose subtly threaded through the green, Sheridan's healing energy restoring Jack to a healthy red while he watched. She was amazing. Even though Jules still didn't fully know what to make of the story she'd told him, he had to admit she had helped more than she'd harmed while she'd been with them.
“Thanks, Sheridan,” Jack said on a breath before answering Jules. “The guys were on me before I knew it. A few of them grabbed Melissa and vanished, while the others beat the shit out of me, then tied me up and gagged me. I have a better than average response time, but I was no match for them. They had to be Circ.” Morgan frowned. “Circs? Has to be Montaña behind it. But now he's coming right at us? Why now?” He cast a suspicious glance at Sheridan, and though Jules didn't like it, he couldn't blame him.