Dangerous Promise (The Protector)

by Megan Hart

  Without a warning, Nina took the three steps between her and Crosson and cuffed the other woman a ringing blow to the side of the head. “He asked you a question. Do you have it, or not?”

  With a shriek that pierced his eardrums and seemed way out of proportion to the strength of the blow, Crosson clapped her hands over her ears and shook her head. She staggered. Nina, watching with a raised eyebrow, took the chance to put a fingertip to Crosson’s shoulder and push. Crosson stumbled backward, pinwheeling her arms.

  Nina laughed. Heartily. She shook her head. “Wow. You are truly useless.”

  Crosson found her balance and straightened. No more screaming. No flailing. “I have it, but I’ll only give it in trade.”

  “You never did know how to negotiate wisely.” Ewan knew at once what she was angling to get.

  “Maybe I didn’t have the lack of ethics you do,” Crosson spat in return. “Maybe I don’t want to cheat people out of what they’re owed. But why would I need to negotiate when my plans have all come to fruition? I got you out of Woodhaven and all the way out here, didn’t I? After that, all I had to do was wait until you were vulnerable. I had no idea it was going to be because you were too busy slipping it to Bionica Bronson over here.”

  Nina cuffed Crosson again on the side of the head, harder this time. “That’s Ms. Bionica Bronson to you.”

  The wooziness that had affected him upon waking had faded, but Ewan knew it wouldn’t be long before he started feeling the drugs. “It was you, all along? The warning attacks. The photo drone?”

  “While I did love the pictures they posted of you falling on your ass, no, that wasn’t me. What use would I have for pictures? There are plenty of you all over the place. No. The decibel bomb was me. The gas. It was so easy to hire away some of your staff. You might have been generous with the pay deposits, but there will always be someone who’s unsatisfied with what they have.”

  “Kind of like you were never satisfied,” he said.

  Crosson ducked away from another blow aimed at her by Nina, who couldn’t have been trying very hard to hit her, or else she wouldn’t have missed. Nevertheless, Crosson grunted and whimpered as though she’d been punched in the gut. “It was all meant to get you out of Woodhaven so I would have the chance to get to you! I had no idea you’d pretend to be dead or go into hiding, but when you did, I knew it was perfect! Onegod, call off your dog!”

  “I can’t be called off,” Nina said with another menacing gesture at the older woman.

  “What do you want, Wanda?” Ewan broke in before she could say more. He wasn’t yet having trouble forming words, but his tongue felt thick and numb. He jerked a thumb toward the still and silent man on the ground. “And who’s that?”

  Crosson sneered. “Someone your girlfriend used to, as she told me so gracefully, fuck.”

  “He’s one of the enhanced.” Nina rolled her eyes. “His name’s Connor Blakely. We never served together, but we did train together, after the surgeries. And yes, since Dr. Demento here seems to take such pleasure in sharing the information, we did occasionally have sex.”

  “She’s likely killed him, by the way,” Crosson said, “so I’d be careful, if I were you. She’s like a black widow spider, she’ll probably kill you after she’s done with you, too.”

  Nina jabbed a quick punch directly into Crosson’s nose, which dropped the other woman onto her hands and knees. “Oops. Sorry, my hand slipped. Baby, this woman seems to think that somehow or another, a revelation about my previous sexual liaisons makes a bit of difference to you. Does it?”

  “Of course not.” Ewan grimaced, both at the rising swirls of numbness in his legs and Crosson’s shrieking. “Scratch it, Wanda, please, shut up.”

  “She likes to act like she’s some kind of super villain in a viddy, but she sure doesn’t have much stamina.” Nina waved a hand toward the woman on the floor. “Was she always like that?”

  “Yes. Dramatic and easily distracted.”

  Crosson looked up at both of them with her hand clapped over her nose, blood leaking through her fingers. “Your insults mean nothing to me. Do you think it matters what you think? You haven’t even asked me why I’m here!”

  “Why should we? What about your grand speech?” Nina shot back. “Let me guess, you’ve rehearsed a monologue about how you intend to somehow take over the world or something, and Ewan’s the only one standing in your way. If you tell me you’ve got your finger on a button that’s going to blow everything up, I’m going laugh in your face though; just warning you. Well, first I’ll laugh. Then I think I might hit you again.”

  “She wants money,” Ewan said quietly. No joking around now.

  Nina looked at him, her scornful smiling fading. She nodded. “Right. That makes sense. Couldn’t she just ask you for some? Or blackmail you? Trying to end your life seems like a bit of overkill, doesn’t it?”

  Crosson struggled to her feet, both hands clapped over her nose. Her voice was thick and hollow. “He knows what I’m here for. Why I tracked him down to find him. He owes me. More than money, and he knows why. Tell her the truth, Ewan. Tell her everything. You don’t want to, but you can’t help it.”

  Ewan’s stomach clenched, tight, as did his fingers into fists. The drug in his body had become one of the Billy Goats Gruff, his brain the troll beneath the bridge demanding to know who was trip-trapping over it. He closed his eyes for a moment and spoke without opening them.

  “Dr. Crosson and I worked together a number of years ago on a major project.”

  “‘Together.’” Crosson’s voice rasped, and it sound as though she spat. “Please. I was the one in the lab, night and day. I was the one who did the heavy lifting. You came up with the concept and designed the actual components but I’m the one who had the practical skills to make it all work. I’m the one who made it really happen. And then what did you do?”

  “I took your work and applied it to what we were doing in the lab. I made some small changes and I used my wealth and influence to effectively buy out your portion of the work.” He opened his eyes, hating the words coming out of his mouth but helpless to stop them. “I made sure that only my name was on the patents, but told you otherwise. I lied when I said that I’d make sure that if you took over the actual implementation of the product, I would make sure you got credit and financial compensation. And then after Gray Tuesday, I made sure you were never linked to the project again in any financial sharing capacity.”

  Crosson spit again. “You made certain to completely distance me from anything to do with the project. You scrubbed it entirely clean of me.”

  “And of myself,” he said.

  “Except for the part where you still made all the money off it. All of it, and even now, I bet you’re still getting paid,” Crosson said.

  “You were compensated.”

  Crosson shook her head. “I know there are some who say that money is the true Onegod, but believe me, it was never about the money for me.”

  “Because I gave you plenty. You needed to lack for nothing, ever, for the rest of your life,” Ewan said with a quick glance at Nina, who kept her attention on Crosson.

  “It was never about the money! You pulled every string possible in order to erase all records of who actually did the work, and you hid it all under layers and layers of legal language and deceit.” Crosson’s voice cracked and broke, hoarse and foggy from her broken nose. “You. Erased. Me.”

  “I didn’t erase you. Some hacker with an agenda did that. He erased the whole world.”

  “And you took advantage of that to make sure I would never, ever get the credit or money I was due! You ruined me!” Fists clenched at her sides, Crosson took several stumbling steps toward him, only to be stopped again by Nina.

  “None of that gives you the right to break into a man’s home and order him to be killed.” Nina’s voice was far from calm, but stayed steady and firm. “However, keep coming at him, and I will have no trouble taking you down if you continue
to try. The way I took down Blakely, the way I will take down anyone who comes after him. Forever. Do you understand me? This is the version of my own monologue, so listen up. If you come after him again, I will kill you and whoever you bring with you.”

  “I could find a half dozen clients who would pay you more than he is, and all of them would have more integrity than this liar. Why not let me get you in touch with one of them?” Crosson swiped at the blood trickling over her chin.

  “It’s not because of the money, you stupid git,” Nina said. “It’s because I love him.”

  If Ewan hadn’t already been feeling as though he might keel over, her words would have sent him reeling.

  Crosson turned and made a series of gagging noises before giving Nina an evil glare. “Of course you do. Handsome Ewan Donahue, one of the richest men in NorthAm. Who wouldn’t be in love with him?”

  “I don’t know. Were you?” Nina asked calmly.

  Crosson recoiled as though Nina had hit her again. “No! Never! And even if I had been, he would have destroyed any such romantic inclinations years ago with how horribly he treated me, with what he did. Much the way he will destroy any good feelings you have, once you learn the truth.”

  “I’m going to stuff a sock in your mouth. What do you want me to do with her?” Nina looked at Ewan.

  Before Ewan could answer, Crosson had shoved past Nina’s outstretched arm. Her head jerked back when Nina grabbed ahold of her hair. With a yelp of pain, Crosson bent backward, arms flailing. She grabbed at Nina’s wrist, but was quickly put once more to her knees at the swift way Nina turned in the other woman’s grip and bent her arm in the wrong direction.

  “It wasn’t about money.” Crosson began to weep, no longer struggling. “It was about the work. You took my work and you ruined it, Ewan. There was so much potential, and you did worse than let it lie fallow. You ruined any chance of me being able to do anything more with it, and beyond that, made a mirage of my contributions. You erased me and made me invisible.”

  Ewan shook his head. “It was never supposed to be about the fame and glory, Wanda. You’re a medical professional. Don’t you have to take some kind of what . . . an oath?”

  From her place on the floor, no longer fighting, Crosson looked up at him. Her face, smeared with tears, filth, snot, blood, twisted into an expression Ewan was surprised to think might have been . . . pity. Nina looked down, her fighting stance not softened although she gave Crosson a curious look.

  “Yes. Exactly. An oath to do no harm. And what do you think?” she gasped, throwing out her arms, palms up, then stabbing at the air in front of Nina. “What harm does it do to give them only part of the gift? You think that did no harm?”

  “I think that sometimes, there’s a price you pay to keep more harm from happening,” Ewan said quietly.

  “But you didn’t pay it, did you?” Crosson shook her head, for a moment letting it hang so that her hair covered her face. She twisted her neck to look up at him. “That was never you, Ewan. You want to speak about not doing harm, but you’ve done more harm than anyone. And why? You alone have the ability to help, but instead, your own selfishness is more important to you!”

  “It’s not about me, it’s about doing what’s right!” he shouted. “It’s about responsibility!”

  Nina looked at him. “Ewan, what exactly is she talking about? The lobbying? I’m not sure I understand the connection here.”

  “She doesn’t know, right? Surely you haven’t told her. Of course you wouldn’t. Especially not after convincing her you love her. You did that, didn’t you?” Crosson’s laugh turned cynical. Then weary. She gave Ewan a bleak look. “Oh, yes. You did. It’s so painfully obvious. So sad, really.”

  “Ewan. What’s going on?”

  Crosson spat once more, this time closer to Nina’s bare toes. “Tell her the truth, Ewan. You’re the one who invented the enhancement technology. You’re the one who created it, funded it, brought it to life. And you’re the one who kept it all, including the specs for all the tech and software upgrades. You fought to keep them from researching any further tech, got it banned, but you’ve had the upgrades all along. If I’m the mother, you’re the father. Tell me something, Bronson, does he make you call him ‘Daddy’?”

  Without so much as a blink, Nina turned. The back of her hand caught Crosson on the cheek, sending the older woman reeling. Crosson ended up on her hands and knees with her face pressed to the bare wooden floor. Her shoulders hitched. When she lifted her face, with a broad, horrifying grin, each of her teeth had been outlined with crimson.

  “He made you as much as I did. Maybe more.”

  “Shut up,” Nina said. “Or I will make sure you never say another onedamned word.”

  Crosson didn’t seem intimidated. In fact, she laughed again, the sound chilling. “Tell her, Ewan. Admit it to her. You’re the one who made her enhancements possible. You signed off on changing her life. And you’re the one standing in the way of any future upgrades, even though you have them all and she could have them at any time. They all could. You made her, Ewan, but you are also essentially the one responsible for breaking her.”

  Nina put a hand in Crosson’s hair and lifted her high enough to crack her again across the face in the opposite direction. This time, Crosson went down and didn’t get up again. Nina stood over her, breathing hard, but didn’t kick or hit her again. She half-turned to face him, and once again Ewan was struck by her beauty.

  She truly was a goddess, to be loved. In this moment, feared. Her gaze met his without flinching. She didn’t smile.

  “Is it true?” she asked.

  Ewan nodded, the drug running through him making it impossible for him to lie. Not wanting to, anyway. He took a deep breath.

  “Yes.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Three things happened in the moment after Ewan Donahue destroyed Nina’s faith in him. First, he took several steps toward her with his hands out, as though he meant to touch her, and she moved away the same distance immediately, afraid she would hurt him if he so much as brushed a fingertip across her naked skin. Second, Blakely got to his feet.

  And third, Nina lost her mind.

  Blakely, splattered with blood, had eyes only for Ewan. Crosson might have been able to call him off, but she was unconscious, sprawled on the bedroom floor. Despite Crosson’s insults, Blakely was no watchdog. He was an attack dog, and it was clear he intended to take great pleasure in following through on Crosson’s orders.

  Nina breathed. Tensing, she waited until Blakely was close enough to Ewan that his big fists had closed on Ewan’s upper arms. Then she launched herself at the men, leaping at the last second to land a kick directly to Blakely’s left kidney. It didn’t drop him, but it caught his attention enough that he staggered and turned. Only for a second, but it was enough for her to get between them.

  She shoulder-checked Ewan, sending him back against the attic’s sloped roof, where he cracked his head on the beam. She ignored his cry of pain and focused on Blakely, who was giving her a maniacal, delighted grin. His fists were up.

  His punch caught her under the jaw. Her teeth clipped her tongue. Bright, instant agony flared; it kept her moving. Blakely grabbed at her, but without clothing to hang onto, his nails scored her skin but lost purchase. Already she was ducking low, sweeping his leg. Kicking him when he dropped.

  Then she was on top of him, slashing. Rending. Biting. Punching. She was aware of the thick heat of Blakely’s blood splashing upward, catching her in the eyes and mouth. Blinded, she kept going, until there was nothing beneath her fists but soft flesh and shattered bone.

  Only then did she stagger to her feet and open her eyes. Ewan remained pressed against the attic wall. He had a protective arm half-around Crosson, who was whimpering a long, low series of moans as she shook. When Nina took a step toward the two of them, Crosson cried out again and buried her face in her hands like a child convinced that if she wasn’t looking at the monster, it would n
ot see her.

  A monster.

  Nina caught sight of her crimson-stained face in the small mirror across the room. That’s what she looked like. Not a human, not a woman, but some creature. A beast. No wonder Ewan was staring as though she had terrified him.

  She had killed Blakely, and although his was far from the first life she’d ever taken, Nina knew his death would weigh on her for a while. Not because she’d had sex with him, no matter what Crosson had suggested. There’d been no love between Nina and Blakely, at least not the romantic sort.

  There had been a connection, though. He’d understood her differently than Ewan would ever be able to. A mere few hours ago, Nina would have said that didn’t matter. That what she and Blakely shared had bonded them but wasn’t something to build a life upon, while the weeks here with Ewan in this cabin had convinced her that there might be a life with him. Together.

  Looking at him now, searching his gaze for any sign of the horror and terror on Wanda Crosson’s face, Nina tried to speak. She had to clear her mouth first, spitting to the side. Even then, no words would come. She’d fought hard and steadily, and her body was still reacting to the threat. It would be a few minutes before she could be normal.

  Actually, she would never be normal.

  She would always be the monster with the claws and teeth, the guns and knives. The ability to kill. There’d never been anything more clear than that from the look of horror on Ewan’s face.

  She waited for him to speak, and when he did not, Nina went to the edge of the bed and sat. She didn’t care about dirtying the comforter or sheets. They wouldn’t be staying here much longer and after all, it wasn’t like Ewan couldn’t afford another set of sheets. Or a hundred more.

  “Your hands,” she said finally through the numbness. “Your hands changed me.”

  She didn’t mean the enhancement tech. Crosson had been the surgeon to actually implant all the devices. Nina meant his touch had changed her.