This guy was demented. Did he seriously think Tracker would have sex with me just to create these baby soldiers The General desired? Tracker wouldn’t do that. He’d probably tell The General to fuck off.
“Tracker will never agree to that,” I whispered. Was that why Tracker had been so disgusted when he realized he hadn’t used a condom? Was that why he’d ordered me to terminate the pregnancy if I ended up being pregnant? Because he’d feared this very thing?
“Oh, there’s more, my dear. You are a major part of this now. When Tracker’s superior DNA is combined with yours, it will produce the perfect soldier.”
“Pfft. How is that?” I demanded. “There’s nothing special about my DNA.”
The General smiled again, that evil smirk. “That’s where you’re wrong, my dear. Not all of our experiments were performed on boys we abducted. We also did in-house testing. Lots of in-house testing. Your father was one of my former soldiers who was exterminated after discharge. You were one of the offspring of those in-house experiments, but since you were a girl, you were allowed to leave and live with your mother after you were born. All females are either returned to their mothers, adopted out, or extinguished.”
I stared at him, shock leaving me momentarily frozen. What?
“My father was one of your soldiers? I was the result of one of your experiments?”
He nodded. “Why do you think you and your sister are so far apart in age? Your mother didn’t visit the facility after you were born. She was too busy raising you to come back. Your father didn’t see her again for almost eight years. Then he asked to see his daughter, so I allowed him to visit you and your mother one day. He spent the night with your mother, and your sister was conceived. Not more than a year later, he was injured and extinguished.”
My head spun. This was too much. “Did my mother know about these experiments? Was she one of your prostitutes?”
“Yes.”
My legs wobbled. I was more like my mother than I wanted to admit. She’d fallen in love with a soldier—my father. And I’d fallen in love with an ex-soldier—Tracker. When my father died, my mother, in her grief, had turned to drugs and other men. And then she’d taken her own life. I’d hated her for that, resented her for leaving me alone to care for Eliza. My heart pinched for her now, sympathy tugging at me. She’d been weak, letting her love for my father destroy her. What would I do if I lost Tracker? Would my love for him destroy me? The thought of losing him was too painful to even contemplate.
I drew in a deep breath, slowly puffed it out.
“Did my mother really commit suicide?”
The General sighed. “Yes, believe it or not, she took her own life. She was in love with your father and killed herself after he was terminated.”
My anger returned in a rush. “So you’re the reason I was forced to raise my sister on my own!” The General was the reason Eliza would never know her father.
He eyed me with those cold gray eyes. “Indeed. But you finding your way to Tracker was a blessing in disguise. I never expected things to happen the way they did.”
“Was I born here in this facility?” I couldn’t resist asking. Tracker and I had more in common than we’d thought, both being part of The General’s sick attempt to create a perfect soldier. I felt the blood drain from my face. “Dear God, are we related somehow?” My stomach churned at the thought.
The General rose from the chair. “No, you were not born here, and no, you and Tracker are not related in any way.” He paused, his gaze narrowing on me. “The experimental drugs are now wearing off. The dregs are probably starting to remember their pasts now. They are starting to feel again, to experience normal human emotions. Which is probably why Tracker was able to fall for you. I expect Tracker will be here soon, and that he will do exactly what I say. Because he knows if he doesn’t, you will be tortured. And if Tracker still refuses, then you will die.”
“Even if I’m pregnant?” I couldn’t resist asking. “You’ll kill me if I’m carrying Tracker’s child?” How badly did The General want my baby, assuming I was pregnant? What lengths would he go to, to get his hands on Tracker’s child?
The General paused. “I don’t imagine it will come to that. Tracker won’t want you to be hurt, so he will do whatever I say.”
He turned away from me. The guard opened the cell and removed the folding chair, closing the cell and locking me in again. Alone.
The General turned and met my gaze through the bars.
“Why?” I persisted quietly. “Why Tracker? And why does it have to be his child? Can’t you just impregnate women yourself and leave Tracker alone?”
He chuckled softly. “I have many, many sons, my dear. Most of them were superior soldiers at one time, but I’ve always been a bit partial to Tracker. I’m pretty sure you’ve met some of my other sons: Nate, Logan, Noah, Luke, Ryan and Tony.”
I gasped. “Oh my God. They are all Tracker’s brothers? What about Gordon? And Jacob?”
“Gordon was a street kid we recruited. Jacob was an orphan abandoned by his prostitute mother. Neither of them were mine, but still, very good soldiers.” He paused, appearing lost in memory, then he shook his head and looked at me again. “But, I digress here…where was I? Oh yes, you wanted to know why I’m not impregnating women anymore. Well, I am an old man now. My interests no longer include sex. As the favorite of my offspring, it is now Tracker’s duty to reproduce.”
This guy was deranged. I wasn’t even sure if I believed everything he was telling me.
“Why do you even need more soldiers? You’re getting old. You’re probably about to die, anyway, aren’t you? Cancel your government contract and retire. Let me go and leave Tracker alone.”
He tsked. “No, I’m not about to die. I have longevity in my genes, and so do all my sons. And I can’t leave Tracker alone. Not now. I have to see if this new drug works. And I have to see if a child of his grows to be stronger, tougher, better than he is. Tracker’s son could be the soldier of the future.”
Was this guy serious? Did he really think he could “breed” the perfect soldier?
“You’ve lost your mind.”
The General smirked. “When Tracker arrives, I’ll let him know what I expect of him. If he wants you to live, then he’ll obey.”
I blanched, fighting back the urge to reach through the bars and scratch my fingernails down The General’s smug face.
He turned away. “Think about what I said, my dear. If Tracker cooperates, you’ll get to go home soon.”
“And Tracker?” I couldn’t resist asking. “Will you ever let him leave?”
The General turned back to me with a cold gleam in his eye. “When Tracker finds out he’s my son, he’ll want to stay and do whatever he can to please me.”
With that, The General turned and walked away, his footfalls echoing down the corridor.
I sank to the floor and put my face in my hands.
Don’t come here, Tracker.
Please, stay away.
They’ll destroy you.
This was what Gordon had meant when he said I would be what destroyed Tracker.
Because I knew in my heart Tracker would come.
And he would willingly die to try to set me free.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Tracker
The Company’s headquarters was stationed in Atlanta, Georgia in the northern, treed section of Grant Park not far from the zoo. From the outside, the building looked like a warehouse, but was actually a prison and torture camp where General Waters conducted all of his experiments. The building was inaccessible to the public, and in fact, was so well hidden in the trees that the general public wasn’t even aware of its existence. Security was tight at The Company’s headquarters, the building heavily guarded. No one got inside unless they were allowed in.
I knew General Waters had Jessica, and I now had a suspicion why he’d taken her.
I had intentionally resisted all those women The General had paraded in
front of me during my employment with The Company. I had known if I’d shown the slightest interest, he would have forced me to try to impregnate them in his sick attempt to create the “perfect soldier”. He’d told me over and over that I was his favorite soldier, his most perfect creation, and that I should help him with his research by doing my best to create more perfect soldiers like me. He had ranted again and again that my DNA was the best he’d seen and that I could help him achieve his goal of creating the perfect solider. But I had resisted at all cost. I chose my own sex partners, thank you very much, and I certainly didn’t share who I bedded with The General.
Jessica might not be what I’d originally imagined the perfect woman to look like—big breasts, full hips, a shapely figure. No, she was so much better. I loved her slimness, her small, perky breasts, her gently rounded hips and tiny tummy. Her big, expressive hazel eyes that made me want to drown in their gorgeous depths. That sexy mouth that was so damn kissable. I loved her strength. Her courage. Her kindness. Her goodness. Jessica in the flesh was far more beautiful than any imagined “beauty” I’d ever drawn. Jessica was my reality of the perfect woman. Sure, she had her imperfections, but when I looked at her, I didn’t see those. My heart swelled into this aching, throbbing thing whenever I looked at Jess. She had not only messed with my head, she’d messed with my heart, with my soul. She definitely made me weak.
She didn’t know I’d completely lost myself when she was in my arms, that I’d forgotten all my worries, all the nightmares, all the horrible things I’d done, and let myself go for the first time ever. It had been an incredible feeling—letting myself go. I hadn’t known sex could be so amazing, so mind-blowing, so perfect. Or that I could connect so deeply with another human being. I knew instinctively it would be that way only with her and no one else. I didn’t want anyone but her. Ever.
I wasn’t about to involve myself in The General’s sick, twisted madness—then, or now. I refused to be a part of his experiments. I refused to bring a child into this world, just so The General could torture that child. The man was a lunatic. A sadistic freak who thrived on torturing others, making them break. Messing with their DNA, adding animal genes to their bodies in an attempt to make them stronger. There was a reason why he conducted his experiments close to the zoo. It gave him easy access to the DNA of the animals he needed. I, myself, had animal DNA in me, though I didn’t know all the different kinds he’d injected into me. I knew firsthand the extent of his sickness, for I’d witnessed it time and time again. I’d been subjected to it time and time again. In his attempts to create the “perfect soldier” General Waters had killed more people than he’d saved. I wouldn’t even be coming back here right now if the man didn’t have Jessica.
Jacob must have told The General about Jessica. That was the only way he could have known. Despite his madness, Waters was a smart man. He’d discovered my weakness, and he would use it to exploit me, to make me bend to his will. I would submit to his wishes. I would do whatever he wanted. As long as he didn’t harm her.
But the moment she was free, I was taking him down once and for all. My creator would die a horrible death at my hands. He would suffer long and slow. I was anxious to see his demise. If he thought the torture he’d inflicted on me all those years was bad, just wait until I got a hold of him. Only then would he know the meaning of true torture.
When I arrived at the front gate, the guards let me in, escorting me through at gunpoint. The other dregs were waiting somewhere outside in the trees. They wouldn’t do anything until Jessica was safe. If The General suspected the other dregs were here, he would hurt Jessica, and I couldn’t allow that. He could torture me all he wanted, but I refused to let him hurt Jessica. The other dregs would know when to strike. I just hoped Jessica managed to get out of the way before this went down.
General Waters was waiting for me. The guards led me to his office, the first door to the right of the main entry, then closed the door behind me.
“Tracker! I’ve been waiting for you.” The General rose from behind his giant desk and came toward me, all smiles and fakeness that made me cringe inwardly. A shelf behind the desk displayed all the military awards and medals he’d received over the years. This man was a decorated war hero, yet he’d done horrible things to me—to hundreds of people—and now he’d taken Jessica. There was nothing heroic about General Waters. He’d brainwashed me for years, messing with my mind so deeply that even now, after being away from him for nearly a year, it was almost instinctive for me to fall back into the mindset of obeying him, following orders, and doing exactly what he ordered. It took all of my willpower to remind myself I was not his slave, not his soldier anymore. I was a free man now. I had a mind of my own. I could think for myself. I would never do what General Waters ordered me to do ever again.
I stood stiffly while he clapped me on the back and acted like he was my best friend. Like he’d done nothing wrong. Hatred burned deep inside me, craving release. This bastard had Jessica. And if he’d hurt her, he would pay.
“Where’s Jessica?” I ground out, unable to stand it any longer.
The General smiled indulgently. “Oh, she’s just fine. Don’t you worry.”
“I want to see her. Now.” I held his gaze without flinching.
He chuckled softly. “I gotta say, Tracker, I’m so delighted you’ve finally taken an interest in a woman. It’s what I wanted from you all along. For you to pass on my superior DNA and help me create the perfect soldier.”
I felt the blood drain from my face as his words sank home.
…pass on my superior DNA…
I stared at him, hard. Was he saying what I thought he was saying?
Fuck me. I had his eyes. Except his were colder. Harder. Meaner. Demented.
His nose, too, though mine had been broken a few times and was a bit misshapen now. We had similar builds as well, though I’d never compared myself to him before. Why would I? But that was where the similarities ended. He was paler skinned, while I was darker skinned—I assumed from my mother. I remembered my mother now. Ever since that day when Jessica had been sitting on the bed beside me and asked my real name, more memories had been coming back to me. I now remembered my mother telling me to be watchful and aware at all times, that there were bad people out there. Had she been warning me about The General? What had happened to her?
“Oh yes, Tracker. I see you’ve finally figured out the truth. Yes, you are my son. I wasn’t going to tell you. You were supposed to be dead. But now that you’re alive and well, it’s time you learned the truth. You’re not my only son. A good portion of the boys I trained here are my sons. A lot of your dreg friends are my sons. Your brothers.”
I stared at him as disbelief settled in. “You are one sick son-of-a-bitch. How many women did you force yourself on?”
Waters tsked. “Come now, it wasn’t like that. The women agreed to be part of the experiment. None of them were forced in any way.”
Right. I’d witnessed what some of the soldiers did to women, at The General’s encouragement. No woman would agree to that. I had to get Jessica out of here before Waters did anything like that to her.
“I want to see Jessica now.” My gaze bored into his. “Right this minute.”
Waters cleared his throat. Unease flickered across his face before quickly vanishing. Was he afraid of me? I hoped so, the bastard.
“I love your enthusiasm, Tracker. It’s nice to finally see you taking an interest in the program. Come along, then. I’ll take you to your woman and we can get started. I just had her moved to a special room for you.”
The man was delusional. My enthusiasm for his program? I would kill him right now if I could. But I had to make sure Jessica was safe first, as I had no doubt he’d given orders to have her killed if anything happened to him.
“Did you kill my mother?” I asked.
He didn’t answer right away. “She would have come after you. I had no choice but to exterminate her. I couldn’t have her inter
fering with my program.”
Sadness filled my chest. This bastard had killed my mother. A woman I barely remembered, but whom I somehow knew had loved me. How different would my life have been if I’d listened more carefully to her and paid more attention to my surroundings? If I’d been alert and aware, then I might not have been “recruited”.
“I know what you’re thinking, Tracker,” The General said. “But I would have recruited you no matter where you went or what you did. I would have found you. You were meant to be my soldier from the day you were born.”
I didn’t respond to that. What was the use? I’d just been a kid. He was a powerful man.
He led me to a section in the back of the facility. There were three red doors with the numbers one, two and three above them. The prostitutes’ rooms. I’d passed by these doors many times, but had never entered them.
“I put Jessica in room number three. She’s waiting anxiously for you.” He pulled out a key and unlocked door number three. I hesitated, afraid of what I would see inside. Waters pushed me forward and I entered the room.
A king-size bed took up the majority of the room. The walls were decorated with various types of pornography, couples in numerous positions, twosomes, threesomes, women touching themselves…it was crude and vulgar, and I could imagine how uncomfortable Jessica would be in such a room.
She was sitting in a chair in the far corner with a book in her lap. Her head jerked up as I entered the room, her gaze locking on mine.
“Tracker!” She dropped the book and leapt up from the chair, her gaze searching mine. Then she rushed forward, flinging her arms around me, her softness, her warmth seeping into me. I hugged her tightly, breathing in her unique scent, assuring myself she was alive and well. Her touch healed me. She healed me. Being close to her, touching her, did good things to my soul. I didn’t want to let her go. Ever. But I knew now I could never keep her. For this very reason—it was too dangerous. I had to get her away from The General—to a safe place far away—and once she was safe, then I would have no choice but to walk away from her forever. It was the only way.
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