Chapter Nine
Vaulcron opened his mind to Zaureth, allowing him to see the direction Mallory took to Piney Point.
“You are making a mistake, Vaulcron,” Zaureth persisted. “The human military will be there, armed with weapons. You will not make it out alive.”
Vaulcron took a patient breath. “They do not wish me dead. But Mallory would be in danger if I do not show.”
“I will have Oz bring me to the States. Gryke and Braum will accompany us. Keep your link open to me at all times. I will need it to locate you.”
“Thank you, Zaureth. If you cannot find me, please be sure to take Amy to a safe place.”
“I will do my best.”
“We’re here,” Mallory announced, bringing Vaulcron out of his hypnotic state. “If something happens to me—”
“Nothing will happen to you,” Vaulcron growled, cutting her off.
Mallory held up a hand. “If something goes down in there, do everything you can to help my sister.”
Vaulcron opened his mouth to let her know he wouldn’t allow anything happen to either of them, but she opened her car door. “Remember what I said.”
Left with no choice but to jump out and follow her, Vaulcron hurried from the vehicle and trailed up the pristine walkway behind Mallory.
“She’s in this one,” Mallory pointed out, stopping in front of apartment B.
The door eased open, and a pistol appeared in her face. “You try anything, and your sister will pay the price.”
“I’m well aware of the consequences, Jefferies.”
The guy’s brows lifted. “You know who I am?”
“You seem surprised by that,” Mallory spat, stepping inside.
Vaulcron had to force himself not to launch his body at the guy. Instead, he stepped over the threshold as soon as Mallory cleared the door, and placed himself in front of her. “Let the females go.”
Jefferies took a cautious step back. “I can’t do that. You’re both coming with us.”
“What about my sister?” Mallory blurted, inching her way toward the couch where Amy sat, wringing her hands.
A man wearing military attire stood over her, weapon in hand.
Jefferies moved to block Mallory’s path. “Your sister will be fine, as long as you do what I tell you.”
“Amy?” Mallory called, tension evident in her voice. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Mal. I just wish I knew what was going on.”
“Nothing I can’t handle. I promise. I’ll be back soon to explain it all.”
Amy tilted her head slightly. “Who do you have with you?”
“A friend. Now please just do as they say. Be extra quiet, and they will be gone before you know it.”
“It is me that you want,” Vaulcron growled between clenched teeth. “You do not need Miss Cahill.”
Jefferies lifted the barrel of his gun to Vaulcron’s face. “You’re both coming. Now move, or I’ll shoot the blind girl.”
Mallory rested her hand on Vaulcron’s arm. “Please just do as they say.”
Vaulcron relaxed his mind as much as possible, considering the circumstances. “Zaureth?”
“I can see them. Try to remain calm, Vaulcron. Keep our link open for as long as you can. I will follow you.”
Turning back toward the door, Vaulcron tugged a reluctant Mallory along with him. He longed to ease her mind, to tell her of his connection with Zaureth. But he couldn’t. Not yet at any rate.
“You are going to calmly get back in your car,” Jefferies murmured, following them out. “My man will stay here with your sister until we arrive at our destination.”
Mallory spun around, fear evident on her face. “Why does he have to stay here? She’s blind, for God’s sake. What do you expect her to do?”
“I don’t expect her to do anything, Miss Cahill. She’s merely insurance that you come peacefully.”
“If anything happens to her,” Mallory bit out. “I will spend the rest of my life hunting you.”
“Do you think I enjoy this?” Jefferies snarled, spinning Mallory toward the car and giving her a light shove. “In case you haven’t noticed, the world is dying before your eyes. It’s my job to stop it before it’s too late. By any means necessary. Now shut up and get in the damn car.”
Vaulcron inserted himself between Mallory and Jefferies. He guided her toward the car and helped her into the driver’s seat before circling around and easing his large frame into the passenger side.
Jefferies climbed into the back. “Let’s go.”
“Where to?” Mallory demanded, starting the engine and backing out of the drive.
“Winchester Industries.”
Vaulcron cranked his head around and met Jefferies’s gaze. “The place where Abbie and Hauke nearly died?”
“But they didn’t die,” Jefferies snapped. “Had they cooperated in the first place, you two wouldn’t be in this mess right now, and thousands of innocent people wouldn’t have had to die.”
“People are dying because the CDC screwed up and mutated the bacteria found in the Bracadytes’ barbs,” Mallory shot back. “It’s not Hauke and Abbie’s fault. It’s Raducha’s.”
Jefferies leaned forward, resting his arm on the back of Mallory’s seat. “At this point, it doesn’t really matter whose fault it is. It only matters that we stop this virus before it kills us all.”
“Save lives by taking lives?” Vaulcron narrowed his eyes at Jefferies.
Jefferies met his gaze. “They’re not going to take your life. They’re going to use it.”
A strange feeling came over Vaulcron. “Use it? How?”
“That’s between you and the president. I’m merely the messenger.”
“That does not sound good,” Zaureth whispered through Vaulcron’s mind. “But at least they do not plan on killing you.”
“Yet,” Vaulcron sent back, reaching across the seat to gently squeeze Mallory’s hand.
* * * *
Glenn Anderson watched as Amy Brighton moved around her apartment with a grace that belied her disability.
She stopped in the kitchen and took down a cup before placing it beneath her coffee machine. “Would you care for a cup, Mr…?”
Glenn had to admire her for her obvious attempt to get his name. “No, thank you. And you can call me G.”
“Very well, G. Can you tell me what’s going to happen to my sister?”
Glenn’s conscience ate at him the longer he stood there staring at Amy. He glanced away when she turned to face him, though he knew she couldn’t see him. “I honestly don’t know everything, but I can tell you that they aren’t planning on killing her.”
“Then why hold a gun on her?”
Surprised by her words, Glenn glanced down at his own weapon. “What makes you think he held a gun on your sister?”
“I’m blind, not stupid,” Amy softly whispered. “Being without sight my entire life has enhanced my other senses.”
Glenn holstered his weapon and drifted closer to the innocent girl in the kitchen.
Amy was beautiful, he thought, taking a seat at the dining table. Her golden hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her face was devoid of makeup. Her light blue eyes, though unseeing, sparkled with intelligence and honor.
“How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Amy appeared uncomfortable with his question. “I don’t understand why my age would matter to you.”
“Just curious is all.”
“I’m twenty-five.”
Glenn let that soak in. “And you live here alone?”
Amy moved her now full coffee cup to the counter and began spooning in sugar. “Why are you so interested in my living arrangements? You just had my sister taken to God knows where, and now you’re going to sit here and expect me to make small talk with you?”
Glenn became fascinated by the flash of anger in her light blue eyes. She had to be one of the sweetest yet sexiest women he’d ever seen. “I’m sorry, Amy. I know I seem like the bad guy to you, but I can assure you, I’m not.”
“Then what are you doing here?” she cried, staring at a place a few inches from where he sat.
“Following orders. I wouldn’t be here otherwise. Please sit down, Amy. I’m not going to hurt you.”