She bit her lip to keep it from trembling. “I was taken for psychiatric evaluation that didn’t go well.”
“You ended up at Brancrest for a three-month evaluation.” Max rubbed her shoulder.
“Yes. I lasted two months before escaping.” There were too many surfaces to touch. Too many tortured souls had left memories in the objects there. “Several times I wondered if I had imagined what happened, if I was crazy.”
“You’re not,” Max said.
Maybe. The fact that her body flared to life the second he sat next to her spoke of some insanity. They were from different species. “So, what now?”
Conn studied her, somehow looking more dangerous in the plush penthouse than he had hiding knives in his boots earlier. “Now? Well, the plan was to buy your stock. We need the data from the Mercury lab of Pringle Pharmaceuticals.”
“Why?”
Conn glanced up, lifting an eyebrow. “Max?”
“She knows most of it.” Max pivoted her to face him. “The Kurjans have created a genetic virus that attacks our mates and messes with their chromosomal pairs, taking them from a vampire mate down to human form, or lower.”
“Mates?” The word set butterflies alive in her stomach. “So your mates have more chromosomal pairs than a human?”
“Yes. We mate a human, and her pairs rise to twenty-seven.”
How in the hell was that possible? “Do you have a mate?”
“No.”
Hope. It leaped through her veins, followed by true irritation. She didn’t care if Max had a mate. A sigh escaped her. She liked the guy. Vampire or not. “What does this have to do with my company?”
Max stretched his neck. “A catalyst speeds up the virus. Our scientists managed to create a protein that binds to the catalyst and stops it ... just in time to save a pregnant mate. But, well, we used some human scientists to do the work—even though they had no clue what they were working on.”
“So?” What was wrong with humans? Sarah frowned. She was human.
“One of them saw potential in the data regarding the protein and sent it to a colleague at your Mercury lab.” Conn grabbed a cell phone out of his pocket. “The colleague combined our protein with an antiviral he was working on for an AIDS treatment, and basically negated the protein’s binding power. Made it useless—so it can’t bind to anything, much less the catalyst. We intercepted the data last week, a day after you’d escaped. Your blog and website showed up, and Max came to find you.”
A loud exhale rippled the muscles in Max’s chest. “We need that data so we have time to figure out the flaw in the catalyst cure before the Kurjans do. They’ll try to infect mates and then we won’t have time to slow the virus before it goes too far.”
She rubbed her eyes with her free hand. “Why not just take the data?” The guys were soldiers. Surely they could break into a lab.
Max’s hand tightened on hers. “Believe it or not, your Mercury lab has the best security measures we’ve ever seen. It’s designated a Homeland Security Research site. We’d likely blow the building up trying to get inside, which we can’t do. Neither can the Kurjans.”
She’d seen the financials for the Mercury lab—no wonder the budget was so high. “What about Andrew? He has access, right?”
“Nope.” Conn read the screen of his cell phone. “He’s CFO of the company, but since Mercury lab also works on U.S. government contracts, the safeguards in that particular lab aren’t known to him. He’s a businessman, not a researcher.”
Max nodded. “Only the owner, or rather, the majority stockholder, can insist on access—which, for the time being, is you.”
“Until the hearing tomorrow.” If Sarah was found incompetent, Andrew would get control of the stock and either sell to the Kurjans or get them access to the data.
“Right.” Conn replaced his cell phone. “We need to prove you’re not crazy.”
Max shook his head. “Not we, buddy. You’re off to Ireland. Go get your mate.”
Sarah tilted her head to the side. She so wanted to know more about this mating stuff, but would ask Max later. “Ireland?”
“Yes.” Conn stood. “I gave her time to, ah, finish schooling before bringing her home. Her time is up.” Three steps had him at the door. “You’re right, Max. But I’m leaving Jase here for backup.” He turned, and those fathomless green eyes darkened. “You’re a very brave woman, Sarah. Thank you for helping us.”
Panic flashed through her as the vampire left. Brave? Not in a million years. Desperate enough to fight? Sure.
Quiet descended. “So.” She kept her gaze on the closed door. “How are we going to prove my sanity?”
“We have a plan.” Max hauled her off the couch.
The world tilted, and she fought the urge to burrow into his warmth. He carried her through the spacious penthouse to the bedroom, and gently released her legs so her feet met the plush carpet. “For now, you get some sleep.” A quick brush of his lips, and he shut the door.
Alone again. Her mouth burned, and the sensitive skin at the back of her knees tingled from his hold. She had two options. One, escape and get the hell away from the mess. Two, seduce the vampire and give in to the painful demand of her body.
Either choice ... danger.
Chapter 6
Monsters—big, white-faced monsters—chased Sarah through a lab made of stone. She cried out and backed into a cabinet, her gaze wide on the advancing Kurjan. His fingers morphed into needles. Big, dangerous, vampire killing needles. She screamed.
“Sarah. Milaya, wake up.” Gentle hands shook her shoulders.
The scent of cedar filled her nostrils. She opened her eyes, and the sight of male filled them. “Max.” She relaxed with a sigh.
Soft moonlight danced over his face, creating rugged valleys. One button held his shirt together, as if he’d grabbed it before entering the bedroom. He sat on the bed. “You had a bad dream.”
She scooted to a sitting position, resting her back against the upholstered headboard. Vibrations from a man reading a mystery novel wandered through her, and she shoved them away. Apparently the last person to touch the headboard had been alone. Thank goodness. She’d sat on the bed for a moment to think. Exhaustion sucked. “I fell asleep.”
“That’s good.” Max slipped off her tennis shoes with quick movements. He gently rubbed the arch of each foot, and she fought a groan at the exquisite pleasure.
“Go back to sleep—under the covers this time.” He placed her foot back on the bed and stood up, heading toward the door.
“Would you stay?” she asked quietly.
He stopped. His shoulders tensed, and he didn’t turn around. “I’m not in the mood for cuddling, Sarah.”
“Neither am I.” Something inside her calmed. He was big and strong. She wanted him—more than she’d ever wanted any man. “I’m in the mood for you.”
He pivoted, his metallic eyes darkening. “Sarah, there’s a lot you don’t understand.” Reason filled his tone, while color slashed across his cheekbones. Desire. Lust. Oh, he wanted her.
“Yeah. You dole out information sparingly.” Unease flushed through her. “I’m not easy, Max. I mean, I don’t usually extend an invite.” She’d had two lovers in her twenty-eight years of life. She could barely remember what they looked like when faced with a male such as Max.
A wicked smile quirked his lips. “I don’t think you’re easy. In fact, you’re sexy as hell.”
On him, the bad-boy look was more deadly than dangerous.