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“Ow, dammit, Daniel,” she pouts, rubbing.
I reckon we’ve got about two minutes to clear out of here before that SUV comes over the ridge. In my mind, I’m thinking that some kind of APB probably went out when I left the company. I could be paranoid, but better to be safe than sorry. Right now we’re running from shadows, but I’d rather run from them than bullets or whatever else might be coming my way.
I start packing the tent down as she sits on a stump, watching me with a pout. I’m going to have to deal with her lack of discipline. If she wants to be out here with me, she needs to do as she’s told and follow orders. It could mean the difference between life and death.
It’s strange how all these thoughts come to me instinctively. Before Regenermax, I would have never done this. I would never have left the city, sought high ground, made sure that I knew precisely who was in my vicinity. I would have gone back to my apartment and waited for my fate. I would have followed authority blindly, let myself be overrun by the company, the military, whoever. Now, my senses tell me where danger lurks. I am vigilant, prepared to defend myself and the woman I love.
* * *
Briarlee
“Hurry up, Briar!” He shouts the words at me in a rough growl. Goddammit. I haven’t even had my coffee today. I need coffee. This sex is wearing me out. I don’t know that any mere mortal woman could keep up with his monstrous libido. I can’t even muster the energy to be scared anymore.
I’m tired. I need a nap, and I’m pretty sure that whoever is coming up that trail, it’s not the military. They’d come by helicopter or something. Or they’d dart out wearing camouflage with bits of tree sticking out of them. They wouldn’t drive up in a single late model SUV.
I try to tell him that, but he’s not listening. That drug makes him more animal than any man should be. He’s paranoid. I’ve come out into the wilderness with a crazy man.
He’s throwing things into the back of the car, but it’s not fast enough. Cursing, he slams the door shut and grabs me, pulling me over his shoulder, and then he races into the forest just as the SUV pulls up.
“Daniel…”
My words are cut off as he clamps his hand over my mouth. We hide behind a tree and watch as the rear door of the SUV opens. I feel his heart beating against my back, powerful and quick. There’s adrenaline coursing through the pair of us now as he lets out a low, feral growl. Whoever gets out of that car is going to be in trouble.
But it’s not heavy boots that hit the ground, it’s a pair of small pink trainers, and a blue pair behind them. They belong to a couple of kids of indeterminate age, a boy and a girl.
“Mom! Kayden put gum in my hair!” the girl shrieks, holding out a curly blonde lock of hair clogged with pink gum.
“Alright, Nevaeh, calm down,” a woman says blithely as she gets out of the passenger side. A man I’m assuming is Dad remains in the car, his hands somewhat white-knuckled around the steering wheel. It’s not the look of a mercenary. It’s the look of a man who just drove eight hours with squabbling kids and a nagging wife and is thinking about driving off and leaving them all there.
The female child has started hitting the male child with a branch while her mother lights a cigarette and makes a comment to nobody at all about how nice it is out here in the peace and quiet. If the military has decided to annoy us to death, then this could be related, but I don’t think so.
Daniel lets me go. I turn around and give him a look. “You’re out of control,” I say, trying to remain calm. “I mean, honestly. Daniel, you said this medication might have some side effects. Are you sure you’re being followed by the military? I mean… it’s not very likely, is it?”
My skepticism is not met with joy. I didn’t expect it to be, but I can’t help it. All of a sudden, I’m realizing that there’s not actually any evidence that the military is after him. There’s just his word. And he doesn’t seem to have the best perceptions right now. Maybe the treatment is messing with his mind. It’s certainly messing with his body. He’s bigger and meaner and madder every day, and he fucks longer and harder too.
“I’m not paranoid,” he says. “I was told the patent was held by the military and that my taking it made me their property.”
“Okay, but does that make sense?”
