Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) (28 page)

“Fine, but you can see I don’t have time to wait and see if the antidote works. Cardone will move on this once he finds out Garrett is taken down. I can’t let anyone else have to suffer what this stuff does.”

“There are plenty of people to take care of Garrett and Cardone. You have to take care of yourself,” Copper said, knowing full well he wouldn’t accept it. She could not possibly have fallen for a guy so determined to kill himself.

He shook his head. “I don’t trust anyone else. I know Garrett. I know how he thinks, how he acts. I’m not going to risk your life by letting someone else do my job.”

“My life? What does my life have to do with it?”

“I already told you,” he said turning back to the table. “He knows who you are.”

“The Colonel’s daughter, yada--"

“Yes, but that’s not all. He knows about us,” he said.

Copper had to lean close to catch the last part his voice was so low. “Us?”

Us, she wondered again silently. She had started to hope, but never really dreamed Dos would admit to such a thing.

“He knows we’ve . . .”

Copper’s hope soared with his inability to say the dreaded L word. “Had sex?” she offered, hoping to make it easier for him to admit. The shadowed glance she got from him surprised her even more.

“Yes. If I don’t take him down, I guarantee you his plan isn’t to kill either of us right away. I’m not going to let him get his hands on you.”

Okay, use reason, Copper, not sarcasm. “Okay, I appreciate your concern, but what if the antidote doesn’t work? What if you have an attack in the middle of fighting with him or something?”

“There’s another man, one of the men from the rescue team, with the doctor. With him, Ace and Tres at my back he won’t slip away.”

“What about you? They’ll just leave you and go on with the plan?”

“This is bigger than me,” he said with such power his face looked fierce. “Hundreds, thousands of people could die if Cardone gets this stuff on the market.”

She wanted to shake him. She wanted to tell him she didn’t care about other people right now. Just him. Instead she turned away walking over to the still warm fireplace.

Kismet had been lying in front of it. He stood up at the sound of Dos’ emphatic statement. Copper kneeled down hugging the dog. “This is why I didn’t want to love someone so much,” she said into his fur.

“Did you say something?” Dos asked.

Not to you, she thought. “Just talking to Kismet.”

Glancing back she saw he’d already turned back to his planning. He rubbed his other palm now. Couldn’t he see he was not up to this?

What was she going to do to keep from worrying herself silly until the doctor got here? Besides the fact that it wasn’t her house, it didn’t need cleaning. Watching television would probably disturb Dos’ planning. If he had to do this she wanted him as prepared as possible, so TV was out. Looking at him making notes at the table she decided cooking would be best. She would be close to him and make something for all of them to eat before the night got out of hand.

# # #

Dos felt the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he stared into the mirror. He’d finished the plan, talked to the Colonel, and then showered. Now he was ready. A knock at the bathroom door told him it was time.

“Ace is on his way in,” Copper said through the door.

Opening the door, Dos met her gaze then watched her take in his appearance. He’d put on his black night ops clothes. When her gaze returned to his he waited for the fight. She turned and walked away without a word.

Dos went down the hallway and opened the door to the garage. Ace and Dr. Martin were already there. Captain Weaver was unloading bags from Ace’s truck.

“How are you doing?” Ace asked immediately, concern clear in his serious expression.

“Fine. You brought your gear.”

He watched Ace lift the large duffel in answer. “Tres didn’t tell me what it was for.”

“I’ll explain later. Let’s get the doc in here first,” he said, offering his hand to the way too young man waiting behind Ace. He looked behind them through the garage door window hoping to see Tres’ headlights. Tres should have been here already. Before he could worry more the Captain saluted him. Dos saluted back then held out his hand. “Thanks for the escort.”

“I’m glad the Colonel asked me to help, sir.”

When they were all inside Dos didn’t waste any time. “While the doc here gives me the antidote, you can change.” Ace saluted and yessir’d him breaking a little of the tension inside him. “Just do it.”

“Captain, you might want to look over the map of the area and over the plans I’ve laid out on the table,” he said pointing him toward the dining table. Then Dos turned his attention to the doctor and found him in front of the fireplace talking to Copper. Not good.

“Okay, doc, where do you want to do this?”

“Here is fine,” Dr. Martin said pointing to the leather chairs. I’ve asked Miss Kerrigan to monitor your blood pressure and vitals for me.”

Dos sat in his chair and let Copper wrap a blood pressure cuff around his arm. He wondered what she’d been saying to the doctor. Before he could think of a way to ask the doctor drew his attention.

“How are you feeling?” he asked but amended the question before Dos answered. “First compared to before the virus was injected, and second compared to when you left the hospital.”

“I’m fine.” He received a poorly veiled glare from Copper for the lie. The doctor was more understanding.

“Fine is not a comparison,” the doctor said patiently. “I need to get an idea of the damage so I can gage your body’s reaction to the antidote as positive or negative.”

Debating silently how much truth to tell Dos took a minute to gather his thoughts. He glanced at Copper as she wrote some numbers on a pad. If he lied, she would know. Would she tell? Damn straight she would.

“Compared to before the virus maybe 75 percent, but you have to take into account I haven’t been able to work out as much due to healing bones and such. Since leaving the hospital? A few days ago I would have said 90. Now, I’d have to admit to maybe 65. Just look at my hair for starters,” he said as his brother walked back in the room. “A week ago you wouldn’t have been able to tell us apart. With all this gray everyone knows which one I am.”

The doctor made notes as Dos talked. He clicked his pen off and picked up a vial and a hypodermic. Dos couldn’t help the reflexive move back. Immediately he felt his brother’s hands on his shoulders. Then Copper’s hand touched his and he grabbed hold of it.

“It’s okay, bro, we’re here,” Ace said.

Dos heard him and tried to believe, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t pull his gaze from the needle. Then he heard Copper’s voice and turned his head.

“Do you want me to do it?” she asked as she handed the pad she’d written on to the doctor.

Knowing he had to get the shot, but unable to get past the fear of a strange man shoving a needle in his arm again, Dos nodded. He watched the doctor and Copper change positions. His muscles started to relax. Then she picked up the needle and he tensed all over again. This wasn’t going to work. God, he was a chicken shit.

Then Copper started talking. Mostly nonsense talk from what little got through his fear filled brain. Something about Kismet and vets and dog treats. He heard his brother’s chuckle behind him and then Copper’s laughter washed over him and he couldn’t hold the tension.

A second later he felt the pain and heat of the medicine being forced into his vein. His jaw clamped tight, he fought the desire to pull away, to yell and hit something. Closing his eyes and telling himself he had to calm down to let the medicine work, he concentrated on relaxing each muscle one at a time. Then his eyes popped open and pinned the doctor with a glare.

“This shit isn’t going to knock me out, is it?”

The man shook his head. “No, Major. There should be no such side effects. We will need to monitor you though since you are the first human to be injected.”

Pulling his arm from Copper’s hold he shook his head as he rolled his sleeve down. “You’ve got maybe a half hour to watch me, Doc. I have work to do. Come on Ace,” he said as he stood and walked to the dining room table. “I’ll show you the plan.”

“Major, that’s not long enough to know if there will be any adverse reactions or if it works. You must--"

He turned quickly stopping the man’s words. “What I must do is take care of business before you end up like Dr. Scheminger, and a helluva lot of other people have this crap unknowingly forced on them.”

He turned back to Ace. “Where the hell is Tres? He should have been here before you?”

His cell phone rang before Ace could reply. Dos looked at the caller ID, it was Tres. “Where the hell are you?”

“Ah, Major, it’s so good to hear your voice.”

Dos had thought hearing Garrett’s voice was bad, this one sent his heart into overdrive. He looked at Ace as he answered. “Cardone.”

“I was afraid you had forgotten me,” Cardone said. “I have missed our visits. Your brother is not nearly as amenable as you are. Though, we haven’t had much time to build a relationship yet. I’m sure with a little time and some persuasion he’ll come around.”

“Touch him and you’re dead.”

“It’s him or you, Major. Your choice.”

“Where and when?” No way was his brother going to pay for his mistakes.

“One hour at your woman’s place of business. Don’t be late, Major. You know how important punctuality is to me.”

The line went dead and Dos fought the urge to throw it across the room. He settled for nearly crushing it in his hand. He felt Copper’s hand wrap around his.

“Change of plan,” he said pulling away from her. “He’s got Tres.”

Ace’s face paled. “How the hell did that happen? Tres was at the station when I talked to him. He was going to get his gear and then come here.”

“I don’t know how it happened and right now it doesn’t matter. We need to adjust the plan. I’m meeting Cardone at Copper’s shop in an hour for an exchange.”

“Bullshit,” Copper said. “You know he won’t let Tres go.”

“She’s right,” Ace said.

“I know. I also know what he will do to Tres if I don’t show up.” He gave a minute for that reality to sink in. “We need to figure out how to gain control.”

“First we need to know how many we’re up against and what kind of artillery. I’ll call Gina and see who Tres had watching their cabin,” Ace said pulling out his cell as he turned away.

Dos headed for his office. Copper wasn’t far behind. “Copper, I can’t worry about the antidote or how I’m reacting right now.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m here to help. I know the layout of my shop, not to mention the area around it. I’m your best bet on getting someone in there unseen.”

Dos walked back into the cabin after helping Ace load the last of their equipment in Copper’s SUV. Despite the fact that the antidote’s effectiveness didn’t matter to him anymore, he let the doctor check his vital signs. He also drew some blood for testing later. Dos knew the guy felt useless with all the military talk swirling around him.

“We’re counting on you to make sure this works,” he told the man.

“I won’t let you down, Major.”

Dos nodded to him then turned to Copper. He motioned for her to follow him into the kitchen for a little privacy.

“I have to do this,” he said as they each leaned against opposite counters.

“I know.”

For the first time since joining the army he wished he didn’t have to go on a mission. He’d never realized it could be as painful for the one leaving as the one left behind. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“You didn’t, I knew exactly who and what you are.”

Dos pushed off from the counter and stepped closer to her. He lifted her chin with his finger. What he saw in those eyes made his heart ache. Love had never been part of the plan.

“I love you,” she said. “I know you don’t want to hear that, and you don’t feel the same, but I--"

Dos cover her lips lightly with a finger, shaking his head. “God forgive me, I do,” he said. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry, please.”

“But I know what the future holds for you,” he said pulling Copper’s body close and weaving his fingers into her hair at the back of her head. “The pain my love will bring you. . .”

“Is nothing to the joy loving you has given me,” she whispered standing on tip-toe and kissing him.

If he did die tonight he would die having known love, he thought ending the kiss. He hugged her closer. What a waste his life had been waiting so long for this. Then again, if he had rushed into it, he wouldn’t have found Copper. He couldn’t imagine loving anyone else.

With her head tucked under his chin he turned his thoughts to making sure she knew what to do if he didn’t come back. “If something happens to me, and you find out you are pregnant tell my brothers. They’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

“I’m not, and nothing’s going to happen to you,” she told him hugging him closer.