Jory shook his head, his heart cracking for the poor girl. "Yet she's here now."

"Turns out she knows something about computers." The commander turned and smiled. "Good genes."

Was that fatherly pride or just ego? Jory couldn't concentrate. Pain flared along his leg again, and he glanced down to see another needle.

Madison sniffed. "We can't have you trying to escape again, now can we?"

His eyes fluttered shut as he sank into unconsciousness, his last thought of a little black-haired girl with sad green eyes, wondering why her father didn't visit.

CHAPTER.

7.

PIPER STRETCHED HER neck, pleased when the code finally uploaded. Chance had long ago left to do something else in the compound, and she missed his company. While he wouldn't talk about his life, the kid had been knowledgeable about everything from history to current politics, and she'd enjoyed bantering with him.

But he'd kept his face averted most of the time they'd talked, completely avoiding making eye contact. Maybe he was just shy. Really shy.

Why was such a young person at the compound? If it was some sort of internship, why wouldn't he talk about it? Nothing seemed to be adding up, and her mind worked overtime to make sense of the entire situation.

The door burst open, and two soldiers dragged in a nearly unconscious Jory. His feet thumped on the ground, and his head lolled on his neck.

Piper jumped up and gaped at Jory's face. A cut above one eye trickled blood, while a purple bruise swelled along his jaw. Mottled bruises and lumps showed on his neck, and torn flesh marred his knuckles. "What happened?" she breathed.

One soldier eyed the other and typed in the code. "The guy is a f.u.c.king machine. Did you see him take out Anders? And Jonese?"

The other guy nodded, heaving Jory inside with a harsh grunt. "Guy ain't human. No way, no how."

Jory lurched forward to land on the cot. Blood dripped across the entire cell.

The door closed, and both soldiers heaved sighs. The first rubbed his neck. "If the commander hadn't darted him, this guy would've taken us all out."

The second soldier nodded and patted the gla.s.s. "Thank goodness for cells." They hurried from the room as if something predatory chased them.

Piper swallowed and slowly approached the cell. "Jory?"

He groaned.

"How badly are you hurt?" She squinted to see better. Maybe the soldiers were supposed to take him to the infirmary.

He rolled over and fell onto the floor, his eyes closed. Blood sprayed across the cell to land on the far wall.

Oh G.o.d. She pressed her hand on the gla.s.s. "Jory?"

His eyes opened, dark gray and in pain. Then his mouth worked, but no sound emerged.

"Take a deep breath. How badly are you hurt?" she asked, turning to eye the door. She should find help.

He huffed out a breath, and his eyes rolled back in his head. That quickly, his entire body convulsed, his head hitting the metal end of the cot. More blood spurted.

The world tilted. Dizziness swung her head around. Her stomach lurched. "Jory?" she breathed. He was going to kill himself. If he hit the metal any harder, he could nail himself in the temple. G.o.d, he might even puncture the kill chip, thus deploying the blades. His body continued to convulse, his large frame slamming the concrete.

Going on instinct, she rushed to the keypad and punched in the code the last soldier had used, her eidetic memory easily keeping track of the numbers. The door breezed open, and she rushed inside, dropping to her knees. Putting a hand to his heaving chest, she glanced frantically around for something to put in his mouth to prevent him from biting off his tongue.

His hand wrapped around her wrist.

She tried to shrug him off. "I'm trying to help you," she said as gently as she could.

"I know." Faster than a whip, he jumped up, taking her with him.

Her brain fuzzed. "What-"

An iron band of an arm wrapped around her waist, turned her, and lifted her against his chest. "I'm sorry," he murmured against her ear, his warm breath brushing tender flesh. More than a foot off the ground, her back against his chest, her b.u.t.t against his groin, realization slapped her hard in the face.

"Let me go." She struggled against him, her nails sc.r.a.ping his arm.

"No." He tightened his hold until she couldn't breathe. "Don't fight me, Piper. You won't win."

Her lungs screamed. Tears filled her eyes, and she stopped moving. Slowly, his hold relaxed marginally, just enough to allow her air. "Don't do this," she whispered.

A shout echoed down the hall just as an alarm blared through the facility. Jory rushed them out of the cell and through the computer room, kicking open the door and carrying her easily. Way too easily.

Soldiers ran from the northern end of the hall, their boots clomping.

Jory turned the other way, grabbing her key card and swiping a pad without missing a beat. The door closed behind them, and he pivoted, kicking the pad square in the middle. Wires popped out, and sparks flew. Then he calmly proceeded down the hall again and through another doorway.

Chance barreled around a corner.

Jory paused. "Chance! Come with us."

Chance faltered, his gaze going from Jory to Piper. "No. Can't leave them."

"d.a.m.n it, Chance," Jory hissed. "Come with me now, and we'll come back for them. You have my word."

Chance's eyes veiled. He shook his head. "No." He disappeared around the corner again, and running footsteps echoed.

"f.u.c.k." Jory closed the door and kicked off the faceplate. "I can't figure out what that kid is hiding." Scrutinizing the circuitry, he frowned. "If he's working with the commander, I wouldn't hold it against him." Still holding her tight and seeming not to notice her struggles, he yanked open a desk drawer. "Hmm."

"Who can't Chance leave?" Piper muttered.

Jory ignored her, scrambling through the contents.

"Jory-" She gasped when he grabbed two paper clips and a piece of gum, shaking out the gum and keeping the foil. "You're kidding me," she muttered, wanting to keep fighting but suddenly curious.

He unbent a clip against his jean-clad leg and shoved it into the keypad with his free hand. A twist of the foil around the other clip, and he shoved that in, too. Then he pushed them together.

A spark flew, and metal singed. The locks engaged again-this time permanently.

Piper's mouth dropped open. "You're freakin' MacGyver."

"Best television show ever." Jory turned and continued down his path, squiring them through two more doorways-with her card.

d.a.m.n it. She needed to fight. Panic heated down Piper's throat. She jerked her elbow back and into his ribs. Hard.

He didn't even flinch, his even footsteps more frightening than if he'd started running.

"Let me go." She pulled to the side and tried to nail him in the throat with her elbow.

He ducked and held her closer. "Where are we?" he muttered, shoving open one last door to the outside parking lot.

Bellows echoed behind them, and gla.s.s shattered. Good. The soldiers were at least through one door and would be there soon. She screamed, long and loud.

"d.a.m.n it." Jory pivoted and easily tossed her over his shoulder, loping into a jog. Seconds later, he shoved her inside a battered Ford truck just as soldiers poured from the building, guns out and already firing. "s.h.i.t." Jory ducked and yanked the door shut, ripping wires out and rubbing them together.

A bullet shattered the back window.

Piper cried out and ducked, scrambling for the pa.s.senger-side door. Jory jerked her arm and tugged her flat, her head in his lap. "Stay down. They have fire orders, and it won't matter if they hit you." His voice remained flat and calm.

Why the h.e.l.l wasn't he freaking out? Soldiers were shooting at them. Even if he was a trained a.s.sa.s.sin, surely he could feel fear, or at least have some sort of a physical reaction. The side window blew open, and gla.s.s rained down. Jory curled over her body, protecting her from jagged shards, just as the engine engaged. His thigh tensed, and suddenly the truck jumped forward. He grimaced while propelling the truck out of the lot.

"Where are we?" he asked, his hands turning the wheel as more bullets ripped into metal around them.

"Outside of Salt Lake City," she whispered, biting her lip to keep from screaming as gla.s.s cut into her side.

He snorted. "No kidding. Perfect timing, too."

It was about rush hour. "We'll get caught in traffic. Please, Jory, turn yourself back in. They won't stop coming for you." G.o.d, she had to get out of the truck. Who the h.e.l.l was this man? Even now, he maneuvered the truck quickly, expertly turning the wheel, not even breathing heavy. "How are you so calm?"

"Training." He jerked the wheel, and the truck careened sideways, pressing her cheek into his groin. She tried to move. "Not yet." One heavy hand landed gently on her nape, holding her in place. "They're in pursuit, and they'll fire." He leaned to the side and glanced out the window as they drove wildly.

After what seemed like an hour, but was really probably only half that, Jory grabbed an old shirt from the floor and wiped off all the blood. Soon, the sounds of honking horns and engines filtered through the air. They were in the city. Finally, Jory spoke again. "How far is the main compound?"

She snapped her lips closed. If he thought she'd help him, he was crazy.

The hand on her neck flexed in warning. "How far?" he repeated.

"Bite me."

A wisp ripped through the air, and metal impacted the truck with a fierce screech. "s.h.i.t." Jory slammed the brakes, his hand keeping her head from smashing the steering wheel. "Missiles. Get out." Grabbing her under the armpits, he leaped from the vehicle just as it exploded.

CHAPTER.

8.

HEAT SMOLDERED ALONG Jory's face as he kept hold of Piper and hustled through the gathering crowd, the burning truck behind them. The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds hadn't cared if they'd killed her. She stumbled along next to him, her face slack with shock.

He probably had less than a minute before she freaked out completely. The missile had been too close, and he hoped to s.h.i.t n.o.body had been hurt by the blast.

She felt fragile under his arm, and her scent surrounded them. His mind measured steps and precision, while his body tuned into woman.

All woman.

Without missing a stride, he filtered through the sounds. Running feet, com-links, guns c.o.c.king. Two soldiers left behind to watch the police and run interference if necessary. Six more soldiers fanning out. They moved with confidence, no doubt sure they could overcome one escaped prisoner and a captive.

The soldiers had no clue who he was or what he could do. For that matter, neither did the commander.

Jory shoved through the crowd, holding Piper tight. She brought out something in him, something new. Powerful and intense. He'd have to figure out what later.

Up ahead, he caught sight of an entrance to the mall. Good. Crowds, corners, and cover. Tightening his hold on the trembling woman, he all but carried her across the sidewalk and around a wide fountain, calculating the most likely route through the mall to a parking area.

Sirens trilled in the distance, and he ducked them into a mall. His grip on Piper's arm both contained her and kept her upright. One glance at the kiosk, and he memorized the layout. Keeping his head down, he put her on the escalator in front of him, guarding her back just in case.

They'd have to go through him to get to her, and they wouldn't come close. His focus narrowed, and his chin lowered. Like the creation they'd sp.a.w.ned, he allowed instinct and intellect to take over.

To protect. To defend. Ingrained in his DNA and then his training, the power of a warrior surged through him.

Soldiers poured into the main entrance. A quick ride up, and he ushered her toward the southern exit, where he glanced around.

A sharp breeze cut into his face.

Piper lifted her head, her eyes focusing. She stilled and jerked against his hold.

A young mother with two toddlers hustled toward the entrance, their heads ducked to avoid the wind. Piper sucked in air.

If she screamed, they were screwed.