Seducing Eve (Guardians of Atlantis)

by Miles, Michelle

  She bit off an acid retort. He wasn’t going to take her home. He wasn’t going to let her escape. What the hell was she going to do?

  “So, I have no choice?”

  “No. I’m sorry.”

  All the air went out of her lungs, like she’d been deflated. “What about Abby?”

  “She’s still in the lab.”

  “You have to get her out of there,” Eve insisted. “I can’t leave her there.”

  “I can’t remove another woman from the lab without Franco knowing. Going back there is suicide.”

  She hated him for saying that. “But she’s my best friend. And she’s…soft. She’s not as strong as I am. She’ll do whatever they say because she’s non-confrontational.”

  “Then she’ll be allowed to live.”

  Eve didn’t like that response. She clenched her jaw. “If you won’t help me then I’ll…I’ll…” She didn’t know what she’d do.

  “You’ll what? Go after her? No. Not going to happen, Eve. They’ll kill you on sight. You’re a fugitive.”

  “Well so are you,” she snapped.

  “Right. That’s why we have to get to northside before we’re caught.”

  Eve didn’t want to go to northside. She didn’t want to do anything but get home. Despite her attraction to Lucian. She was about to tell him so when men burst into their small room. Gunfire exploded all around them. She ducked. Lucian dove toward her, pushing her out of the line of fire. There wasn’t really any place to go and they huddled against the back wall as guardians entered, guns drawn.

  One of them she recognized immediately. The one with the tattoo on the side of his neck. The one who kidnapped her on the beach. Kane.

  Eve looked up at Lucian, fear gnawing at her gut. He met her gaze. Her lips parted to tell him Kane was here. But he gave one quick shake of his head. He looked back at the men guarding them, his gaze landing on Kane. Then narrowed.

  He knew. He knew and she didn’t even have to tell him.

  Lucian stood completely still, glaring at the men in front of them. His shoulder leaked blood and she could see where the shot had burned his tunic to his skin. It still smoked.

  “You’re hurt,” she said.

  She reached up to put her hand on him, thinking to heal him quickly but his fingers clamped around her wrist, biting into her bones.

  “I’m fine,” he said through clenched teeth.

  A warning. He didn’t want these men knowing she was a healer. And she’d been stupid and not really thinking when she reached for him.

  Dr. Brice sauntered into the room, looking smug and full of himself. She hated him all over again.

  “Caught and cornered,” Brice said. “You should have known you couldn’t run forever, Lucian. And now I can deliver the lovely Eve back to Dr. Franco. After I’ve had some fun with her.”

  His gaze raked her body. She stepped closer to Lucian, hoping his big form would block most of the view.

  “Over my dead body,” Lucian said.

  “I hoped you’d say that,” Brice said and grinned. Then looked over Lucian. “I thought for sure I shot you before. Once in the leg. Once in the back. But you appear to be healed.” He lifted a brow as his gaze flickered from him to Eve and back again. “Isn’t that interesting?”

  Lucian stiffened. Eve put her hand in the small of his back as she cowered behind him. Brice stepped closer, peering intently at her.

  “I patched myself up,” Lucian said. “And you got me in the shoulder just now. Score another one for you.”

  “Let me see your other wounds.” Brice folded his arms across his chest.

  “That’s kind of personal, isn’t it?” Lucian asked.

  The doctor’s gaze narrowed. “There’s something going on here. I intend to find out what it is. Until then, take his weapons. Arrest him.”

  Two guardians complied and Eve saw her only hope withering away. Lucian’s hands were cuffed behind his back. They pulled him away from her. Brice advanced on her. She may as well be naked the way he looked at her. She felt so exposed.

  “Do you remember Kane?” He motioned toward the big thug standing behind him. “He was kind enough to bring you to me.”

  She refused to look at him as he stepped next to Brice.

  “I’m happy to see you again, Eve,” he said. “Though I confess I prefer you in the other outfit. Not this shabby jumpsuit. Wherever did you find it, Lucian?”

  Brice ran his hand over her cheek, smiling.

  Lucian lunged forward but the men held him steady. “Take your damn hands off her.”

  He’d growled the words and if he hadn’t been cuffed, she knew Lucian would tear the man apart. That gave her some smug satisfaction.

  “Is he your lover now?” Brice asked. “You whore.”

  His open hand smacked against her cheek. The stinging pain seared through her but she refused to cry out. She wouldn’t give this bastard the satisfaction.

  Lucian lunged again, fighting against his bonds and his two captors. One of them punched him to subdue him.

  “I’d like to finish what I started with you, Eve,” Brice said. “Shall we?” He pointed a gun at her gut, waved her toward the door. “Perhaps your lover will care to watch.”

  Her loathing for this man increased tenfold. When she refused to move, he gave Kane a nod. He reached for her but she jumped back.

  “Make this easy on yourself, love,” Brice said.

  Kane wrapped a beefy hand around her upper arm and pulled her along beside him. Another guardian fell in step on her other side, making sure she followed them out the door of their little room and into the dusty corridor.

  She knew Lucian walked behind her a few steps. She wished there was some way she could get them out of this. But she was trapped by Brice and the six guardians—two flanking her, two flanking Lucian and two flanking Brice. She was no good at self defense. She was nothing but a big wussy. And they were outnumbered.

  It seemed they walked forever as Brice led them through the shadowy corridors. Past rooms long abandoned. They came to a door. She watched Brice as he used a cardkey to swipe over some invisible pad. The door swished open.

  One of the guardians pushed Eve into the brightly lit street. This looked more like a city than the maze of corridors they’d been in. If she didn’t know otherwise, she would think she were in any other town. Instead of a sky overhead, though, the ceiling was clear and fish swam by. They were under a dome with a view of the ocean depths.

  Brice gave her a push, prodding her forward. They walked through the building-lined street. No trees or grass or other plant life grew here. She didn’t know where they were headed but it certainly didn’t look like the lab. Fear clawed through her. If Brice wasn’t going to take her back to the lab, then what did he have planned for her?

  At a gray building, Brice halted and used the cardkey again to swipe next to a door. As they entered, lights flickered on illuminating the cold and sterile room. She did a quick glance around the room, taking in all the instruments. Things that terrified her. Along one wall were shackles for wrists and ankles. A bed in the center of the room hosted restraints. There was a table full of sharp objects that looked like everything from scalpels to knives.

  A flicker of dread went through her. What was Brice planning to do?

  “Welcome to my private lab, Eve. What do you think?” He stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders as he leaned down to talk in her ear. “Do you like it?”

  She shivered with fear.

  “I thought you might enjoy it,” he said. “Gentlemen, lock up Lucian. I can’t have him getting in my way.”

  The men muscled Lucian against the wall, removing his cuffs from his hands behind him. He head butted the one next to him, their skulls cracking together in a sickening snap. Eve winced but Lucian didn’t seem fazed by it. He knocked the first one out and then went for the second one. He had a hand on the guy’s throat in a second, reaching for his gun.

  Chaos erupted and everythin
g happened so fast she had a hard time comprehending. Lucian grabbed the gun from the guard. In a lightning fast move he shot the guard holding him then turned the gun on Kane at her left side. Two blasts and Kane crumpled to the ground beside her.

  And that was the end of her kidnapper.

  But not the end of her ordeal with Brice.

  Two guards were dead. One was unconscious. That left three. And they converged on Lucian, disarming him almost as quickly as he managed to arm himself. It took all three guards to shove him against the wall and shackle him. Ankles and wrists both.

  Brice stepped next to her, wrapped his hand around her upper arm as if to warn her not to try anything.

  “Very stupid of you, Lucian,” the doctor said. “I thought to give you a merciful death but now I intend to make it as painful as possible.”

  Lucian had no response. He only glared at the man with all the rage and hate he could. Eve was glad that look wasn’t directed to her.

  Brice made a nod with his head toward the door. “Two of you guard the door outside. And you… keep an eye on him.”

  Once the two were outside and the door closed, Brice punched in a series of numbers on the green-glowing keypad next to the door. Then punched one last button and it turned red.

  Locked?

  “Now. I should be able to conduct your exam without being interrupted,” Brice said.

  “You stay away from her,” Lucian growled, his chains rattling.

  “Shut him up. I want no distractions.”

  Eve watched, horrified, as the remaining guard gagged Lucian. Brice pinned her with his steely gaze. She backed up a step, two, but ran into the bed with the restraints.

  “You wish to start there?” he asked. “How delightful for me. I’m going to enjoy this.”

  Chapter Eight

  Eve’s gaze met Lucian’s. In that second he could see all her fear. He could smell it too. The tinge of it was in the air. Her gaze was one of pleading. The men were going to stand by and allow Brice to do whatever vile things he wanted. There wasn’t a damn thing Lucian could do about it. It was worse than what Franco was doing to the women.

  Lucian clenched his fists, the metal cutting into his wrists. He couldn’t speak with his mouth, no, but he could speak with his mind.

  I’m in eastside. Near the Center. Brice’s private lab. Trouble. Hurry.

  He knew he would get silence back from Raven. The man didn’t mind speak and he hated when others did it to him. But this was a matter of life and death. He needed backup and soon.

  Brice shoved Eve against the bed, trying to push her onto it. Fire snapped in her blue eyes. Her small hands clenched into fists and she shoved him back. Brice stumbled a few steps before he regained his balance. But it was all the precious seconds she needed. Her gaze skittered across the room, landing on the metal tray with all the sharp instruments.

  Eve dove for it, her hands landing on the edge of the tray and yanking it. The metal instruments clattered to the tile floor in a tinkling symphony. Brice leapt toward her, snatched her by the ends of her hair and jerked her head back. But Eve had the metal tray in her hands and swung a wide arc backward. The corner connected with the side of his head with a resounding thong. He cried out.

  The remaining guardian stood still, shocked.

  “Bitch!”

  Eve twisted her body in an odd angle to knee him in the groin. The same move she’d performed on Lucian back in the lab. Brice released her and doubled over.

  “Get. Her,” he ground out.

  But in his moment of pain, she lunged for the sharp instruments on the floor. Her hand closed over one that looked like a scalpel. She gripped it tight as she swung around. By now the other guardian had come to and climbed to his feet, immediately leaping into action with his comrade. She sliced at the first one unfortunate enough to reach her, slashing high across one of his upper arms. He cringed but grabbed her. She stabbed him, jabbing the scalpel into his gut as hard as she could. He released her, his hands covering the wound and blood flowing through his fingers.

  Eve had a wild look in her eyes as she backed toward the bed. Brice had recovered enough to grab a gun from the second guardian. Lucian tried to shout a warning but it was too late. He fired and her shoulder exploded into bits of skin and bone, leaving a large bleeding wound. She screamed. Her hand flew up to her shoulder, her fingers smeared with blood.

  And Lucian knew what she meant to do. He jerked on his shackles trying to get her attention. Her hand closed over the wound. She was going to heal herself in front of Brice and the others. He would know her secret then.

  Eve’s eyes fluttered closed. The guardian left standing charged her but Brice held up an arm to stop him. His gaze was transfixed on her, watching as the skin mended itself back together. As she became whole again. As soon as she finished, Lucian could tell her energy was depleted. She wobbled and stumbled a few steps back, trying to stay on her feet. But her eyes were glazed. Lucian was so attuned to her in that moment. He knew she was going to pass out. He knew she wouldn’t be able to stay awake.

  He rattled his chains, trying to make noise.

  “Well, well,” Brice said. “This is an interesting turn of events.”

  He reached Eve, pulled away her fingers to see they were still smeared with a little blood but the wound was completely gone. The only thing left behind was charred fabric where he’d shot her.

  “You’re a healer,” Brice said. “How wonderful. Won’t Franco be excited when he learns this news?”

  Gods, no. Lucian couldn’t let that happen. He struggled against his restraints. Brice gave him a warning glare.

  “If you don’t stop making so much noise, I’ll kill you now.”

  Brice made a head motion at the guardian. The guard jerked Eve to him and held her against his chest as the doctor backhanded her. He left a red mark and blood in the corner of her mouth.

  When Lucian got free, he was going to kill that man.

  “That’s for lying to me.” He hit her again. “That’s for healing the bastard guardian, Lucian.” He hit her a third time. Her head dangled between her shoulders.

  She tried to kick him but it was a weak attempt. He easily backed out of the way.

  “You have spirit,” Brice said. “I hope you’re a better fuck than you are a fighter. Put her on the table. Bind her.”

  The soldier hefted her up and held her down while the other one strapped her arms and legs to the table. Brice gave him a winning smile.

  “I hope you enjoy the show, Lucian,” he snarled.

  Lucian yanked again on the chains. Pain burned through him and he knew he’d cut through skin. Blood and sweat trickled down his arms.

  “When I’m finished with her, I’ll enjoy killing you. How will it be knowing you died unable to save your bitch?”

  Raven. Now would be a really good time.

  Where the fuck was he? Why wasn’t he here yet? Why hadn’t he made it? Unless he was captured. Unless he couldn’t. Lucian was about to send out a call for help to Sabre when a dark, thick voice trickled into his mind.

  Working on it.

  Whatever you’re doing, do it faster, for fuck’s sake.

  No response. He hoped to the gods Raven would be there soon.

  Brice turned back to Eve. With what strength she had left, she struggled against her bonds and Lucian was sure he could see tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. It pained him. He didn’t want anything to happen to her, yet he couldn’t do anything to help her.

  Stay strong, Eve. Help is on the way.

  Her head snapped in his direction, her eyes wide. She calmed. Had she heard him?

  Blink twice if you can hear me.

  A pause and then she blinked twice.

  She could hear him. He couldn’t believe it. If she could hear his thoughts, could she then speak back? Maybe not now, but in time could she learn to do that. Sabre could read Eden’s thoughts. Maybe Lucian could read Eve’s. He had no idea why or how that was happening
but he was glad. Now he could talk to her. He could keep her calm.

  Stay calm, sweetheart.

  Brice’s hand was on the zipper of her jumpsuit, slowing pulling it down, down, down. Revealing that bronze skin underneath the material. Brice’s hand shook as he got closer to revealing Eve’s naked body beneath. She whimpered. A tear leaked from the corner of her eye.

  “Did you give yourself to him?” Brice taunted. “I intend to wipe any thoughts of him from your mind. All you’ll think about is me.”

  Eve whimpered. Her fists clenched. A wave of emotion hit Lucian. Besides her fear, he could sense her other emotions. Disgust. The urge to fight back. Yet she was fatigued. Her strength waned. She fought hard to stay awake. Her fists were clenched so tight her knuckles had turned white. He wanted to get to her. He had to get to her. If it wasn’t for these damn shackles he would have snapped Dr. Brice in two.

  The doctor pushed aside the material of her jumpsuit revealing her two lovely breasts. Breasts Lucian had recently laved with his tongue. Brice breathed out a sigh of admiration.

  “Lovely. Just as I thought.”

  Raven, where the fuck are you?

  Brice’s hand hovered over her, ready to touch. To feel. And Lucian’s temper flared to a flash of red in front of his eyes. He would have his vengeance. He would kill the bastard.

  As the man was about to touch her, to lay a palm on one of her perfect mounds, sounds of a scuffle outside the door interrupted them. Gunshots. Shouts.

  Brice whirled toward the door. More shots fired and a second later a hole blasted in the door. Someone shoved it open with brute force. Standing on the other side was Raven, Sabre and two other loyal Guardians, Axis and Draco. They took out the remaining guards in seconds.

  “Don’t kill the doctor,” Sabre ordered.

  The coward was on his knees, his hands up in surrender. Axis pointed his gun at Brice’s head.

  “Tired of saving your ass,” Raven grumbled as he unlocked Lucian’s wrists and ankles.

  Lucian stripped off the gag. “Me, too.”

  “You owe me,” he growled.

  And Lucian knew Raven would cash in eventually.

  “What do you want to do with this punk ass?” Axis dug the end of his gun into Brice’s temple. “I really want to shoot.”