Agent U7: Keegan (The D.I.R.E. Agency Series Book 7) (16 page)

* * *

Clint and James entered his mother’s apartment above the farm’s auditorium. She greeted him like the prodigal son, bestowing him with a hug as brittle as she was thin, a genuine smile on her lips. Although he’d remained in touch with her all of his life and had never received such a greeting, he let her put on this little show of affection in front of James and Jim. He’d cooperate in any way necessary until he was certain the others were safe.

In that moment, when he stared at his father and half-brother, it struck him that his mother hadn’t named James after James Chadwick, but after her former lover. How crude. Then again, in the grand scheme of things, that was nothing for her.

“Clinton…” She pulled away, her hands remaining on his shoulders. “I’m so glad you’re here. Now, we have the entire family in place.”

James scowled at him from behind the leather sofa. Clint remembered the look well. When they were boys, he used to fluctuate between scowling and temper tantrums. As he recalled, James never seemed to be at peace except when he slept.

Today, it was same look, different age.

More deranged.

Clint lifted the corner of his mouth. If he hated to see Clint now, James must’ve really resented Jim’s presence when he started seeing Carol again.

“Not so fast, Mother,” James said. “I found him down in the chamber.”

He held his breath, waiting for her reaction. If she turned on him, at least he knew the others had a chance of escape.

Her relaxed stance didn’t change, though her eyes studied him with intense scrutiny. Clint offered an answer before she could ask.

“I entered through the tunnel on Destiny Lane.”

Her brows rose high on her forehead. “My, my Clinton, you impress me.” Releasing his shoulders, she lowered herself into a recliner in the corner of the room. The thick, brown cushions seemed to swallow her small frame as she burrowed into the chair. With haste, Jim was at her side, handing her a glass of water.

So telling, his actions were a complete travesty. His mother had one of the most brilliant men in the world waiting on her hand and foot, using his intelligence and military experience to carry out her twisted plans, while also rekindling a love affair he’d ended decades before.

As his father used to say, his mother had always been a looker. Russ Robinson had refused to call her beautiful because he said beauty radiated from the inside out, and pure darkness prevailed inside Dr. Carol Robinson.

At the time, he’d chalked it up to the pain they’d inflicted on each other before and after the divorce. Now, he knew his father’s words were real, in the truest sense of the word.

“It wasn’t hard to figure out.” He glanced at his father who stared back with passive expectation.

Jim Monroe was a major regret in all of this, as were the years wasted away from him. To learn his biological father was a man of such vision and intellect made him proud. Yet, he had to wonder if Jim had originally been a part of this plan. Obviously, he loved Carol. Clint’s gut told him Jim would never agree to something like this. Then again, he’d learned the hard way that appearances could be deceiving.

None of it really mattered. What mattered was stopping them once and for all and that D.I.R.E. continued and thrived.

What mattered was giving Keegan peace of mind. He could die happy, knowing he’d given the woman he loved a chance at contentment.

He wasn’t fool enough to think he’d come out of this alive. If James didn’t kill him, Keegan would.

Though short-lived, he could honestly say she’d given him life,
true living
, in the most significant sense. She’d challenged his mind like no one else, had made him laugh in the midst of the complete
cluster
of revelations he’d just endured. She’d given him free reign of her body, something his brother had abused for years.

His hands clenched into fists. He may die before this was all over, but not before he got his own revenge.

Looking back over his life, he considered the few hours with Keegan his greatest accomplishment. Not his scholastic achievements or his scientific innovations.

After all, without her, he never would’ve achieved the impossible.

True love.

“When will Keegan arrive?” James gave him a heated glare of mistrust.

Panic rendered Clint immobile, his heart pounding with dread. “Keegan?” He glanced at his mother before looking back at James.

James’ eyes went wide. “Mother, you told me that was part of the deal.”

Clint glared at Carol. His gut had told him it wouldn’t be that easy. That’s why he’d installed Keegan’s enhancements.

She’d lied to him for decades. Why would he expect his mother to tell the truth now?

“Mom, you agreed that he would have to find Keegan on his own.”

Wide-eyed, James’ nostrils flared as he approached Carol. Jim slid between them, a palm in the middle of James’ chest. He gave him a gentle shove.

Surprised, Clint watched the simmering exchange. That explained one of the reasons his mother needed a bodyguard. James must’ve threatened her in the past. For a man that supposedly didn’t like violence, James radiated with it.

With a hesitant, beady-eyed scowl, he backed down. “Now, I remember why we worked in separate parts of the world, Monroe.”

Carol remained unfazed, her posture regal, along with her tone. “Clinton, I’ve changed my mind in that regard. We need the Meeks girl.”

Panic bombarded him with renewed vigor, awakening the shock and anger he’d thought Keegan had buried. It swelled inside him like a monster, growing, suffocating, until he could see nothing but red.

“Why do you need her, Mom?” he spat, giving his brother a repulsed onceover. “For his need to abuse her?”

Jim’s eyes widened, the first reaction he’d seen out of him. James didn’t move, save for the clenching of his jaw.

“How dare you?” James spoke in a low, deadly voice. “I would never harm a hair on her head.”

With a bark of disbelief, Clint said, “If years of rape isn’t abuse, I don’t know what is, you sonovabitch.”

“Rape?” he cried, his gaze bouncing off Carol before crashing into his again. “I would never do such a thing.”

Closing in on his brother, Clint backed him against the wall, uncertain whether he could actually kick his ass if James decided to unleash the temper he’d used on Keegan for years.

“That’s what one-sided sex is, James. No means no.”

His warm breath washed over Clint’s face. The need to puke struck again with force. “And, I honored her when she said it.” His nostrils flared. “I love her.” He glared at Clint from beneath lowered brows. “She is my life. I can’t live without her.”

All the more reason to keep her away.

“She will
never
be your life.” The monster inside Clint roared to life, spitting flames of green fire.

His mother interjected, her voice laced with a lilt of surprise. “
You’re in love with her, too
.”

Heart pounding, Clint turned to her, his temper a rolling boil beneath the surface of his patience.

“
No
.” The single word held a thousand threats James could surely carry out.

“That will be an issue, I’m afraid.” Carol took another sip of water. “I intend for her to run things while I mend. She’s a strong girl, you know. Smart. Intelligent. We can’t afford dissention amongst the two of you. She’ll need your support.”

Clint swallowed down a snarl. Her nonchalance irritated the crap out of him. “Why her? You have your assassins.”

“Keegan knows our work,” she said. “She’s tough, courageous and quite gifted. What better qualifications could I ask for in a woman to run things for me?”

“Tell me you did
not
sleep with her…” Danger lined James’ muted voice, his body emitting molten rage.

Clint smiled to himself—and didn’t answer. That should kill him.

“Mom, I told you I don’t know her location,” Clint said. “I lost track of her after you kidnapped the women from the hotel.” God, he hoped she didn’t see through him. “I assume she’s with Dan.”

“You
lie
…” James’ words slithered from his mouth with poisonous accusation.

Carol shook her head with condescension. “I still can’t believe someone so valuable came from Dan Meeks’ loins.” Sighing, she said, “James, call her. I find it hard to believe she’s sitting at home with Dan while her sister withers away in our underground chamber.”

Not for long. The doors should open any time now. Clint just hoped the super agents had recovered enough to take care of the hired guns outside and get Jim back to D.I.R.E.

“Clinton, I need you to start on my DNA.” She gave Jim a worried glance, the first sign of vulnerability he’d witnessed since he’d arrived. “I had hoped you and James could work together to expedite the process, but I see that won’t happen.”

When she smiled at him, Clint knew he’d been played like a worn guitar.

“That means we’ll need to keep Teague Hamilton.”

Like hell they would…

Outside, rapid gunfire erupted, stopping all conversation. Had the chamber opened early?

Grabbing a laptop off the coffee table, Jim pulled up security surveillance. “We have bogies penetrating the fence line.” Setting aside the computer, he leaned over Carol and kissed her, before running out the door.

With a growl of impatience, Carol yelled at the ceiling. “Will that damned D.I.R.E.
never
die?”

Another explosion rocked the building, knocking Clint into the bookcase behind him. This one sounded louder, felt more unstable than the first. Rushing to the window, he saw the grain bin in flames, whistling bullets flying in all directions, men scurrying around the yard, seeking cover.

He rushed to the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Carol demanded. “You’re too valuable to fight our battles.”

Stopping short, he glanced at James who showed no sign of rushing to help. “Why aren’t you headed out there? Or, do you have clones to do the killing for you?”

Hands in his pockets, James’ blue eyes glittered. “Who needs clones with my older brother around?”

Clint pretended to consider that. “True,” he said, before lowering his voice to a deadly rumble. “Keep that in mind.”

Chapter 16

Shudders of fear wracked Keegan’s body where she stood just outside the Madam’s living room. Cyrus stood feet away from her, alive, breathing and in control, with just the sound of his voice. When Hope and Jaydan had rescued her from the island, she’d thought she’d never have to look at him again.

Yet, as soon as she’d entered the living quarters, she smelled his cologne. The scent brought on instant revulsion as she recalled his naked body weighing her down on the bed, his heavy breathing at her ear mixed with vulgarities he knew made her cry—and delighting in them. It brought back memories of waking in the middle of the night to find him beside her in bed, and no one to help.

Her muscles accelerated, the fear buffeting strength into her limbs. How could her calm, rational Clint associate with him? How could he speak with him as though he were perfectly…normal?

Cyrus turned and headed straight for her. His face was flush, pulled into a guise of utter terror she’d seen few times in her life with him. As he brushed past her invisible form, she held her breath, hoping to avoid inhaling his scent. It wasn’t until he was completely out of sight that she let it out.

She checked her armband. Ten minutes until the chamber opened. While the agents took care of the hired guns outside, Monica had gone in search of Austin, with Angela still MIA. She’d come in search of Carol Robinson, expecting to see her surrounded by guards.

Stepping around the corner, Keegan saw her. She sat inside her living room, alone with Clint. “You need to find a way to get through to your brother, Clinton. We can’t afford the animosity.”

Clenching and unclenching his fists, Clint fidgeted before her. “In case you hadn’t noticed, he’s the hostile one.”

Her voice rose with authority, though her posture sagged in the chair. “I expect more from you, Clinton. You’re more levelheaded.”

Silence ensued. Levelheaded was the last thing Clint felt in that moment. She could see it in his handsome face.

“Why didn’t you tell me you went back and saved him?”

The dejected surrender in Clint’s voice tugged at her heart. She steeled herself against the sentiment.

“What was I supposed to say? You were a child when Nathan took me back.”

“And so you just let me live with the guilt?” The painful incredulity in Clint’s voice made Keegan wince despite her own resolve.

God, how she hated Carol Robinson. She would gladly kill her and with her death, destroy the cruelties she’d inflicted on Clint. Whether he’d played her and the agency, or proved loyal, she vowed Carol Robinson would die this day.

“I had no choice, Clinton.”

Ridicule carried his bitter laugh. “Of course, you did.”

“No, I didn’t. Our friends and neighbors knew he’d drowned that day. We had a funeral. I had to send him back to the past with your grandfather. I had no choice.” She winced with pain as she burrowed under a blanket.

If they weren’t discussing how she’d manipulated Clint and her ludicrous plans for the world, Keegan would’ve felt sorry for her. Even the most minute movement seemed to cause her pain, her breathing a struggle.

Clint paced the room, running his hands through his hair.
Don’t let her fool you, baby
.
Don’t be that naïve.

Carol’s voice, now faint, held a note of tenderness. “A man so painfully in love is capable of self-torture beyond belief.”

Stopping in place, Clint turned to look at his mother. “East of Eden.”

Her chuckle sounded weak. “Yes, but I’m talking about you.” She breathed through her nose and let it out. “We need Keegan Meeks, Clinton.”

Keegan caught her breath. Why did they need her? What did she have that they couldn’t create now that they had Clint and Cyrus to clone again?

“Now, she’s stronger than any woman I know—besides myself.” Carol’s eyes fluttered shut.

Stronger.

The enhancements
. Clint had given her the enhancements, knowing they needed her. With the serum, it would give them access to the strongest woman alive.

She would become another weapon.

All of that garbage about keeping her safe was just that—garbage. He’d played her for a sucker—and gotten amazing sex in the bargain.

Pounding a fist in the air, she squeezed her eyes shut in disgust.
Ugh
. She was such a fool. A stupid, idiotic, naïve fool. How could she have fallen for it? For him?

No
. The word escaped her throat before she could take it back.

Frowning, Clint whipped around, his gaze searching the room. She should just kill him now. Save her and the others the trouble of hearing his lame excuses.

“Keegan?” Walking out into the entry, he looked around.

Scanning her forefinger over the screen, a bright light flashed before she appeared in front of Clint. Panic filled his eyes, turning them a stormy grey. Loathing and gut-wrenching pain pulled at her middle, clenching her teeth.

“I can’t believe I fell for it.”
For you
.

Grabbing her wrist, he tugged her down the hall and into a bedroom doorway.

Snatching away her hand, she told him, “I hate you, Clint Robinson. Do you hear me? I hate you for what you’ve done. When this day is through, one of us will be dead.”

His face paled. “God, Keegan, no—”

“Keegan?”

Cyrus’s voice sent a tidal wave of fear washing down her spine. He approached them with slow steps, his eyes taking in her every feature. She stood between the two men she feared most in the world, armed with the power to kill them both, and still she hesitated.

Why?

Because standing this close to Clint still made her heart soar. His presence still brought her a sense of peace, despite the volatile situation.

Because despite what he’d done to her, she still loved him, and she’d rather die herself than live without him.

Cyrus stared at the armbands on her forearms, his mouth set at an angry slant. “What have you done to her?” He turned wide, incredulous eyes on Clint.

“Protected her from you.” He turned his sorrowful gaze on Keegan. “Which is all I ever wanted to do.”

Pulling his lips in over his teeth, he turned away as though it hurt to look at her. When he spoke again, his voice was tender. “How could you mar such perfection?” He moved to stroke her cheek.

She backed away from his caress, her system humming with simmering strength, her mind fighting the nanobots that begged to form another machete in her hands.

Cyrus curled his hand into a fist, his nostrils flared. “You used to let me touch you.”

“No.” She leveled him with a deadly glare, her accelerated mind zeroing in on Cyrus, on the abuse, the lies, the time stolen from her. “You used to force yourself on me.” She started toward him with menacing steps. “I lived in fear for over twenty years, Cyrus.”

His brow folded in genuine hurt as he shook his head in denial. “No, my love. That’s not true.”

With a hand on her wrist, Clint stopped her before snatching it away. “It
is
true, you sick bastard. I made sure it would never happen again.”

He turned his dazed eyes on Clint before looking back at her. “He’s the bastard, my love, unworthy of your body and your affection.”

“Finally, we agree on something.”

Clint stared into her eyes with sad finality, as though gazing at her for the first, and last, time. She’d told him one of them would die, but she didn’t mean it. She didn’t want him to die. She wanted him to wrap her in his arms and hold her forever.

Her alarm went off. So, did Clint’s phone.

The chamber.

Regret settled in her heart, leaving her chest heavy and aching. If she walked away now, her instincts told her it would be the last time she saw him. Hate battled with love in that moment, hating him for doing this to them when they’d found something breathtakingly beautiful.

Yet, she had to save the others, had to be there to ensure their safety. Clint had betrayed her, betrayed them all. He didn’t deserve her love or her remorse.

Giving herself space between them, she moved aside the cover on her armband and pressed her thumb against the scanner. With grieving eyes, Clint stepped back, as Cyrus stared open-mouthed.

“Keegan?!”

Green plasma filled the small space, Clint’s voice carrying through the dense fog. “I love you, Keegan.”

Sorrow threatened to choke her as Keegan landed outside the chamber. How could he tell her that now, when he’d betrayed her? When he’d picked his family over her and his friends?

Because he didn’t do any of those things. He’d sacrificed himself for you
.

And, Carol had deceived him again.

Monica stepped out of the alcove that housed the chamber door, her shoulder back in place, her face wiped clean of blood to reveal cuts and dark bruises. “We decided to meet you here and let the agents take care of upstairs.”

“We?” She looked around, wondering who had accompanied Monica.

Austin Rose dropped out of the ceiling down the hall, his boots crunching on the debris littering the floor. His face was lit with excitement as he trotted over to them. “I think I got it all.”

“All?” Keegan said, glancing back and forth between the couple.

Monica smiled. “Jim told him where all of the weapons were stored, including the explosives.”

“Jim?” Keegan said, “as in Jim Monroe?”

“Yeah,” Austin said, with a wide grin. “Weird, huh?”

Weird didn’t begin to describe it. “I’m kinda more concerned with why?”

“He said when Mitchell showed him the pictures of him with his children, it changed everything. It proved Carol had lied to him and he’s pissed off. She’s dying and this plan is taking its toll on her. She thinks Teague and Clint can cure her, but Jim says she’s too far gone.” He lowered his voice. “At this point, he wants to put an end to all of this and let her spend her last days surrounded by her sons.”

Jim’s good heart had shown through the serum, his love for Carol, unshaken despite her deceit. If it hadn’t been for Mitchell coming here and showing him those pictures, they would all be in a much different, hopeless situation.

“That doesn’t eliminate Cyrus as a threat,” Keegan said, her muscles still hard, her mind still reeling from his presence.

The door behind Monica clunked, the lock sliding out of place. Grabbing the handle, Keegan pulled it aside with ease, the stench of Mitchell’s body overwhelming the remnant of gas. The agents stood in the center of the room, looking confused, but not crazed.

Hitting her hard fist against the control panel, the glass wall slid into a groove in the far wall. The women beamed at her, some with tears in their eyes as they rushed to hug her. Natalie was the last, her eyes darting to her new armbands before hugging her tight.

“Thank you, Keegy. You saved our lives.” Rushing over to Riordan, she spoke over her shoulder. “You have some explaining to do, Sister.”

The women all rushed to their super agents, while Austin placed a spare t-shirt over Mitchell’s face. She needed to get them out of there.

Keegan said, “The gas may take a while to completely recede. Close the door and stay in the tunnel until I come back for you. It’s not safe topside.”

Giving Monica a kiss, Austin moved to follow her. “I’m coming with you.”

“
No.
I need you to take care of them. Monica’s been through enough.”

Monica shook her head. “The women are perfectly—”

“
No
,” she said, her voice stern and impatient. “I need to know they’re safe. It’s one less thing I have to worry about.”

Hesitating, Austin gave a conciliatory nod. “If anyone comes down here, we’ll take the tunnel back in the other direction.”

Pulling her aside, Monica said, “Angela is still MIA. If she was in the middle of the shootout upstairs, she could be lying dead somewhere.”

Angela. They hadn’t heard from her since they’d first arrived. While Keegan had enlisted her to help the others escape, she knew Angela had an ulterior motive.

“Fill in the women on what’s happened,” she told them. “Once the agents have come around, make sure their armbands are activated in case you run into trouble.”

“What are you going to do?” Austin said.

“I’m going to find Angela.” She turned to go.

“What about Clint?” Monica said in a soft voice.

Keegan stopped in her tracks, her heart stopping, too. She spoke over the lump in her throat. “I have to eliminate all threats—if he’s one of them.”

* * *

A deathly silence hung over Carol’s living room, with only a random gunshot sounding outside. The D.I.R.E. agents had swept the farm with cool efficiency and were collecting bodies and information with their usual precision.

The Madam’s home was too quiet, too calm for Keegan’s peace of mind. With the two brothers in residence, and traces of a small war outside, calm just wasn’t doable at the moment. Something wasn’t right.