Polar Opposites (In Aeternum Book 4) (9 page)

“Yes?”

“I have a job for you.”

She flicked a glance to the closed door, behind which Ivan was. “What is it?”

“What do you know of the group called The Watchers?”

“Not much. A home-grown terrorist group, although they prefer to call themselves patriots. They’re the group which went after Cassano’s wife.” She readjusted and sat on her counter. “I thought the leader had been eliminated.”

“Along with most of his faction.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Most.”

“Yes, exactly. Most. Someone who goes by the name of The Chief runs things now. They just took credit for the recent bombing. Did you hear about it?”

“Nope. What’d they hit?”

“George W. Bush Presidential Center.”

“Texas?”

“Dallas, to be exact.”

“Casualties?”

“Yes. It happened during an event there. The Watchers didn’t even wait to take credit for it. They claimed it before the body count had even become official.”

She snarled softly. Innocents always got hurt during war but it didn’t mean she liked it. At all. Kids frequented libraries. Parents of children.

“Not sure why you’re calling me. You said you don’t know who this person is, so what is it you need me to do?”

“They made a few other declarations. Saying they will be striking again. Soft targets.”

“They specifically said soft targets?” Her question was low and vibrated with danger.

“Yes. I’d like you to track someone down and bring them back to the States.”

She hopped off the counter. “I’m not in the retrieval business, McNeal. I told you that before when you sent me after the doc.”

“This person may very well be the key to bringing down The Watchers.”

The shower shut off. “So send in Cassano or the ones he sometimes works with. What about some of Ethan’s friends? He’s the tech guy who never has a problem finding anyone. I know he’s missing but surely he had people he was close to.”

Ice coated her heart at the reminder. Her fingers flexed like she was readying to take a shot. No, take a life.

She knew of Ethan and liked him, what she’d heard of him anyway. He was the one from that particular group of operatives she knew the best. Him and his sister—crazy woman that she was, according to rumors—Anabelle Lee. She’d first met Anabelle Lee and Beauregard when they came down to ask for her help. She’d seen Valentino a few times but wouldn’t say she
knew
him. Not that it stopped the stories that floated around about their prowess. The four of them were almost legendary, if she were to put a word to it.

“All feelers are out but nothing has hit, including the one to you. I didn’t call for that. I need you to track this person down for us. I’m sending the file to your phone.”

“Very well.”

“Bailey?”

“Yes?”

“Do whatever it takes to get him back to us alive.”

“Yes, sir.” She ended the call and waited for the file to upload. The moment it finished, she opened it and began reading.

“Bailey?”

She glanced up, Ivan stood there wearing nothing but a blue towel. Water droplets ran down over his tanned torso, flowing along his defined muscles. He raised one eyebrow and she cleared her throat then looked away.

“Something you like?”

“You know that’s the case.” She closed the file on her phone. “Feel better?”

“I do. Could have used the company in the shower, though.”

Her body trembled at the thought of sharing the space with him. “Sorry.”

“Everything okay?” He approached her and stopped just shy of touching her. “You seemed a bit occupied when I walked out.”

“Another job.”

His face tightened. “I see.” He crossed his arms. “When do you leave?”

“Soon. I haven’t finished reading everything yet.”

“Should I even ask?”

“No.” She moved by him and went to the other side of the island counter, needing some space between them so she didn’t only think about what it was like to touch his skin. Taste it. Kiss it.

“Very well.” Ivan placed his hands flat upon the white diamond recycled surface. “So what happens now?”

She indicated her phone. “I finish my reading.”

“I’ll cook.”

“Excuse me?”

“You have work, you work and I’ll cook you a meal.”

“You cook?”

“There are many things about me you don’t know yet. I’m a damn good cook and I actually enjoy it.” He shooed her out of the kitchen. “Go away.”

Bailey shook her head as she walked to the couch.
Kicked out of my own kitchen. There is something wrong with this picture. And yet…
She gazed over her shoulder at Ivan.
There’s something to be said about a hot-ass man wearing nothing but a towel in there fixing me food.

Pulling up the file again, Bailey settled forward and focused on reading. Cairo. Egypt.

Bailey leaned against the back of her couch and chewed on her thumbnail. She needed to book a flight via London. Her Arabic was passable—she spoke some Egyptian Arabic. Enough to know if she was being screwed but not enough to pass as a native.

The man she sought was Klinehaus. Eric Klinehaus.

I would have thought a man with his name would hide in a Germanic place. But then again, I shouldn’t assume anything based on names.

She memorized his picture and the information they had on him. It didn’t amount to much. A few likes, and his scar.

Rubbing the nape of her neck, she dialed her boss.

“When do you leave?” McNeal asked by way of answering.

“As soon as you book me a flight. I need a stopover in London.”

“Consider it done. I’ll send you your info as soon as I make the arrangements.”

The call ended and she dropped her phone on the armrest. Bailey pushed to her feet, went to pull her bag out then began to pack. She paused when the sensation of being watched hit her.

“Something you needed, Ivan?”

“Many things, but I wanted to put my clothes on.”

“Pity,” she said with a smile, facing him. “I like you this way.”

Ivan gripped the edges of the towel and slowly released the tuck. She lowered her gaze and focused on his hands.
Remove the towel, please.

“Bailey?”

“I haven’t received my flight info yet.”

He dropped the material and she licked her lips as a spear of longing pierced her. His cock rose, proud and thick.

“Which means?”

“You have time to put that to work.” She crooked her finger, pleased he came in close enough for her to touch. So she did. And so did he at least until her phone beeped indicating the information had arrived.

When the information finally arrived to her phone, she left with her bag. Ivan still slumbered in her bed. There was no concern on her part about leaving him in her place and as the door closed behind her, she turned her attention to the task at hand.

Chapter Seven

Ivan stared at the whiteboard, his right hand cupping his chin, his left in the pocket of his lab coat. Something wasn’t right.

If I could just figure it out.
His concentration had basically been shit since he’d woken up to find Bailey and her bag gone.
I’m worried about her.

Scrubbing his hand down his face, he grunted. After loosening up his shoulders, he once again stared at the equations. There was a way for him to make this work.
I just have to figure it out.

Two of his assistants walked up and he gave them a nod.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“We were working on the prototype of the warder.”

He waited but nothing else came from the speaker. “And?” he prompted.

The blonde woman, Chrissie, shared a glance with her companion, Trick. Ivan didn’t know Trick’s real name and didn’t care. The brunette was damn good at her job, she just didn’t speak. Ever. She signed.

“Chrissy? Trick? What’s going on?”

Another shared look between the women.

“I think you should see for yourself. First-hand.”

He nodded even as he took one final look over his board.
Maybe a break will do me good.
“Let’s go.”

The women fell into step beside him. They were silent during the walk through the quiet corridors and to the elevator that took them down two more levels.

Once in that lab, he followed them to the bench table and stared at the items lying there. He lifted the thin silver band.

“What’s wrong with it?”

He had to admit, he truly enjoyed being in one of the research and development sections of Theta Corps. It was more than what he’d been doing and allowed his crazy mind to fly free.

Chrissy rested her hip against the edge and placed her hands in the pockets of her lab coat. “Didn’t say anything was wrong with it. Just suggested you come see for yourself. Put it on.”

He closed it over his right wrist. A slight tremor moved through his muscles. “What was that?”

She shrugged despite her gaze flashing with excitement. “So it did happen to you as well, then. We don’t know. We also can’t replicate it. If it’s in being scanned, it never displays it on the readouts. We’ve tried putting it on a pig carcass, nothing. Even tried—”

“Attaching nodes out here?”

Chrissy sat beside him. He peered between the women. Trick stared back. He knew she was reading their lips as well as listening.

“We can’t get it copied, whatever we do. In the room, out here. I don’t understand. We’ve all felt it.”

In his periphery, Trick nodded.

“Have you tested it for its true purpose?”

“Not yet. We’ve been trying to isolate this peculiar phenomenon before we continue on with the testing phase.”

He placed his hands on his hips. “Get a shooter. I’ll be the guinea pig.”

She furrowed her brow. “Are you sure?”

Trick’s expression mirrored Chrissy’s.

Not in the least.
“Of course.” He clapped his hands together. “Let’s do it.”
Quickly before I lose my nerve.

Chrissy hopped off the table and headed for the phone on the wall. He heard her muttering as she went. The words ‘insane’ and ‘bat-shit crazy’ got a mention.

She’s not far off.

Ivan headed to the test room and activated the cameras. He needed them all running if he were to figure out what was going on at first contact. Not to mention if it would affect the purpose of the bracelet. He removed it and placed it down then finished getting ready.

“Dr Vinokourov!”

He stepped back out and stared at the reed-thin man calling his name. “Yes?”

“Phone.” He made the gesture as well. “Line six.”

“Thank you.” Ivan lifted the receiver and pressed the appropriate button. “This is Dr Vinokourov.”

“It’s Howland.”

Ivan rolled his eyes. Howland was the head of Theta Corps’ research and development division. Normally the pain in the ass remained in her office. Unfortunately, when she did stick her head into stuff, it typically got mucked up. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like were she over the entire black op organization. Not what he wanted to find out.

He didn’t know her first name. Nor did he know if anyone did. Perhaps she didn’t have one, just Howland. Either way, he wasn’t up to talking to her right now. There were more important things for him to do.

Be polite.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I want a status report.”

He leaned against the wall. “On what?”

Chrissy returned with a man named Trevor in tow.

“I heard the warder worked. Why aren’t they being produced in my lab as opposed to being still listed in the test phase?”

He peered through the window to the silver bracelet that lay where he’d placed it. Unadorned and plain. And supposed to protect the wearer from being shot. “Something else has come up. It’s not ready.”

“Don’t try to bullshit me.”

“I haven’t the time or inclination to do such a thing,” he stated truthfully.

“We need this to be operational.”

“Until it has passed
all
the tests, it will not be signed off on by me or anyone else in my lab.”

“Then why was I told otherwise?”

He tensed. “Is my name on the memo?”

There was a slight pause. “No.”

“Then that assumption is on you, because I never sent it.” Ivan returned the handset to its cradle.
Lord, I don’t have time for this.
He re-entered the room and made his way to the back wall, swiping the bracelet on the way. “Let’s do it,” he said, facing Chrissy and Trevor.

She lifted her shoulders and blew out between her teeth. “Your call.”

“Trevor,” he said, meeting his collected brown eyes. “On three, go. Chrissy, make sure all cameras and sensors are running. Give me a thumbs up when all is ready and running.”

“You got it, boss.” Chrissy went to the table of monitors.

Ivan cracked his knuckles before donning a vest and ear protection. He then took several deep breaths while waiting for the go from Chrissy and for Trevor to take his position. Ivan scowled at the way his heart kicked up to a higher speed. The purpose of the bracelet was to repel the bullet and save the wearer.

“Make sure you don’t miss,” he said.

“I never do.” Trevor stepped behind the shield wall without so much as a smile.

It didn’t matter he knew where the shot was supposed to go. The fact he had to stand there and let a man shoot a 9mm at him filled him with nervousness.

The bullets were armor piercing. He wanted to know more about this new tingling when it was attached.

Behind Trevor, Chrissy gave him the thumbs up he’d been waiting for. Or dreading.

Aware of the sensors on his own body, Ivan placed the bracelet on his wrist and waited for the immediate tingle to go away. He took one more deep breath and flexed his fingers.

“When you’re ready, Trevor.”

The words had barely left his mouth when he heard the shot. He flinched, expecting the impact of the slug. It never came. The hair on his arms stood on end as an electrical current ran through him. Not like a painful shock, more as if hooked up to a TENS machine.

“Empty your clip,” Ivan commanded.

Trevor never questioned him, just did as ordered. Not one bullet had hit him. Once Trevor had cleared his weapon, Chrissy entered with Trick behind her.