Phoenix Tonic (9 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Malachi entertained the idea of visiting a boxing ring after this conversation. His brother could be so ignorant. “You need to try harder.”

Both Kallian’s brows rose. “Excuse me?”

Malachi closed the door to the office. “She’s come to visit me the last several nights.”

He rubbed the stubble on his chin. “And she didn’t burn the place down?”

Malachi shook his head as he sat in his chair. “You were right to give her some freedom. It seems that is what the girl prizes most, next to her family’s happiness.”

Stretching leather gave way as Kallian sat. “So now you’ve gone from ‘you should mate her now’ to ‘seduce her, woo her, make her yours?”

Malachi’s gaze hardened. “You should have never taken that cancer study from her. It seems you’re always hurting her.”

Kallian leaned back. He stared at him as if he’d turned into an alien. “Wow. I’m gone for a few days and you suddenly care for the 'subject?' What did she do to you?”

Malachi narrowed his eyes. “She has befriended me. It seems having a person to talk to has brought her some comfort, which is more than I can say for you.” He shuffled around some papers on his desk. “She doesn’t know I’m your brother. Which is why I have been delicately working things to your favor, from my side.”

The thought of his brother suddenly playing match-maker brought a smile to his lips. “Though I appreciate your assistance, I’ve pretty much given up on her. If you haven’t noticed, Hailey hates me.”

Malachi chuckled. “That she does. She’s even afraid of what you’ll make her do while in your presence. But her body wants you. And if you can walk by any normal girl in Eden and make her swoon, then you can certainly seduce Miss Simmons.”

Kallian’s brow rose. “And how, oh great matchmaker, do you suggest I do that?”

Malachi turned in his chair to gaze out the window. With a fresh cigar in hand, he spoke. “As I said, her freedom and the family’s company are the things she values most. I’ve planted seeds. I’ve talked about some of the good things you do. I mentioned she might still be able to trade marriage to get her family’s company back.” He took a draw of his cigar and exhaled. “Kallian, if she wishes to trade herself in marriage for release of her father’s company, you must do it.”

His tone lightened as he propped his ankle on his knee. “And then, on your wedding night, you’ll take care of the rest. She’ll be married and devoted to you and happy. Throw in a white picket fence and a hot tub and she’ll be all set.”

A scowl settled over Kallian’s face. “You know she’ll have something up her sleeve. If she values her freedom, she won’t give it up that easily.”

Malachi shrugged. “Bed her on the first night and it won’t be a problem.” He glanced over his shoulder and saw his brother’s disapproving look. “Have you lost the desire to be with her?”

Kallian pursed his lips. “No. I haven’t.”

“Good. I don’t see what the problem is then. Now go do something nice for the girl, while I see what I can arrange.”

~***~

Kallian stayed locked behind the adjacent room door until Hailey slipped out the door for the evening.

He stepped out of the observation room to meet the two coworkers waiting for him. "Okay girls, let's go."

Dawn, Abby, and Kallian rushed into her room, laden with armfuls of decor. Malachi gave Kira the weekend off, so he decided to use a couple of his most trusted employees. Though, they had no idea why they were decorating one of the back rooms.

Dawn headed for the simple mattress and dropped the stack of linens on it. She yanked the pillow case on and pulled up the mattress. Something light blue caught her eye against the metal of the slab. “Uh, Mr. Markham? There’s a shirt under here. Should I put it away?”

Kallian barely glanced over before answering. “Don’t disturb anything. If you have to move something to get your portion done, then replace it exactly as you found it.”

Dawn nodded her head and ignored the shirt as she rolled out the new comforter.

"So, Mr. Markham, why are we making up one of the test rooms like this?” Abby asked as she hung pictures over the thick, amethyst curtains. She admired one painting before hanging it up. “Some of these things look a little personal.”

Kallian shot the woman a look. “Abby, no questions, remember?”

She blushed as she hung the frame. “Sorry, Mr. Markham.”

“It’s okay,” He plugged in a lamp and stacked some books on a shelf, “Just hurry.” A picture fell out of one of the books. Kallian paused to pick it up off the floor and flip it over. A ten year-old Hailey smiled from the photo, missing her two front teeth. Kallian couldn’t help but smile back, until he noticed the rest of the photo. Clutched tight in her little arms was the stuffed koala bear she accidentally burned up on her first day here. Kallian pressed his lips together and slid the photo back between the pages of the book entitled “Flight In All Forms.”

Ten minutes later, the girls and Kallian took one last look over the room, before turning to leave. As they did, Dawn paused and squinted closer to one of the photos on the wall. “Is that Hailey? The new girl?”

The new girl?
Kallian stepped back in, glanced at the picture she was pointing at, then stared at her. “How do you know her?”

“Um, she works late at night with me. I didn’t think she’d met you yet…”

At least Hailey was covering her tracks. He wondered if Malachi knew.

Kallian glanced out the door to make sure the other girl was already gone before turning back to Dawn. “Dawn, this is very important to me.” He drew the words out low, his eyes peering into hers. “I’m sure you understand when I say, I can’t tell you anything. But I will say thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to get to know her.”

Dawn’s eyes grew saucer shaped.

Kallian’s voice developed a serious edge to it. “This is a very sensitive project, and I know I can trust you. Will you keep this confidential, as a personal favor to me? Please?”

Dawn closed her hanging mouth and nodded her head frantically. “You can trust me, Mr. Markham. After everything you’ve done for my family, of course I can do this for you.”

He smiled. “Thank you. Now let’s get out of here.”

They fled the room, Dawn hurrying off one way, while Kallian took the other, less used hallway. His gait slowed to that of a man enjoying the day. He whistled a little tune when he noticed two workers in lab coats off to the side in front of him.

That’s strange
, he thought.
The workers know not to come down here unless authorized.
As he moved closer, his brow drew together. The woman chatting away seemed the same height and build as Hailey. The other was an unfamiliar man. And the two were laughing and whispering to each other.

~***~

Hailey smiled. The new guy spoke frank and honest opinions. It was obvious he disliked Markham as much as she did. Finally, someone who the jerk hadn’t brainwashed— yet.

He leaned against the wall. “I mean, what’s up with all these off-limit places? Am I gonna get shot for wandering back here? I honestly didn’t know I wasn’t allowed.” He scratched the back of his mussed black hair, the action making it stick out in odd ways. She stifled a laugh. He reminded her a little of a guy she had dated in college with his wrinkled t-shirt and stained Dockers. This guy needed a girl to take care of him ASAP. She wondered if Dawn would be interested.

She shrugged. “Naw, they’ll just slap you around for a bit.” She flashed a toothy grin at his false look of horror. “But seriously, it’s probably a good thing that I caught you before Markham did.”

“Yeah, well, now I’m really curious what they keep back here. What do you think? Dead bodies, or illegal science experiments?”

Hailey snickered.
Illegal experiments all the way.
“Actually, most of them are empty. The only crime here is how much they’re paying to rent empty space.”

“Rent?” His eyebrows rose. “I was pretty sure they owned this joint. Huh. Maybe my information is bad.”

She shrugged her shoulders again. “I honestly don’t know.”

“But,” he leaned closer to her. “How do you know all the rooms back here are empty? Have you looked in all of them?”

She rolled her eyes. “I could really care less. All I know is everyone is dedicated to the development of the drug, that’s all.”

Astonishment crossed the man’s face. “I thought this was just an animal preserve. What kind of drug are they working on?”

Hailey shook her head. “You’re the one wearing the lab coat, you tell me.”

He seemed confused for a moment. Then he dug in his pocket and pulled out a pack of mints. “Want one?” He offered.

She shook her head and wondered at just how much training he had. “Are you dodging the question, new guy?”

He popped a mint in his mouth. “Actually, I was just hired for observation of the animals. I didn’t know the facility was so expansive.”

Poor new kid. He really is lost.
“Well, I’ve never seen any animals. But if you want to ask the scientists what they do, the lab is that way.” She jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. “Make your first left and you’ll run straight into it, at the end of the—”

“Why hello, Redding!” Markham slid between the two new buddies. His body brushed against Hailey’s, causing a series of shudders to rack her. His scent and warmth filled her senses so fast, she put a hand up to push herself from him. But the contact did the exact opposite. As soon as her hand touched the small of his back, it refused to leave. She wanted so badly to slip her arms around his waist and lay her head against his burgundy shirt.

Markham’s voice rumbled low. “How did you slip past my guards?”

Hailey peeked around Markham’s muscular frame at the other man.

Redding’s face twisted into a nasty sneer. “The lunch shift. Your men like to take their time with the pretty little animal handlers.”

She blinked.
What is going on? Why does the new guy keep mentioning animals?

The new guy, who obviously knew Markham, jabbed the pack of mints back into his pocket. “So it seems that you not only keep these poor animals who belong in the wild, but now you’re also making drugs?” Redding glared up at Markham. “Everything makes sense now. You won’t set those animals free because you’re using them as your illegal guinea pigs.”

The muscles of Kallian’s back bunched under her hand. Whoever Redding was, he was no friend of Markham.

Markham’s lips curled in a menacing smile. “You have some wild theories. But your information is incorrect, and comes from sources who obviously don’t know what they’re talking about.” He cast an accusing glare over his shoulder at Hailey.

Her shoulders rose to her ears, but her hand stayed glued to him.

The echo of heavy boot steps filled the hallways. Redding’s eyes flashed before he turned to run.

Kallian grasped the man by the wrist and spun him around into an arm lock. “Oh no, you’re going to answer for your crimes, my friend. Trespassing, malicious mischief, and theft.”

“Theft?” Sweat broke out on his forehead, creased with pain. “I didn’t steal anything!”

“You’re wearing what you stole,” Kallian growled at him. He released him into the hands of the guards swarming them. “Make sure the appropriate charges are pressed against him.”

Hailey couldn’t believe what was happening. This guy had used her, and she believed his ploy…

The man threw a cruel smile at them. “It doesn’t matter what you do to me. My article will still run. The whole world is going to know what you’re doing to those poor, defenseless creatures.”

Hailey watched, dumbfounded, as the man marched triumphantly away with the guards.

Kallian suddenly spun around on her, breaking the contact of her hand. “How dare you,” he hissed. “First you threaten to kill my staff, then you give away classified information vital to all we have been working toward. He may not have any proof, but that animal rights fanatic has been after this company for years. And you just handed him ammunition on a silver platter.”

He turned away for a moment to angrily drag his hand through his hair. “He could destroy the company. And that would lead to the loss of several lives.” He glared down at her deer-in-headlights look. “You’re not the only one who we’ve saved, but you may have just handed all the others a death sentence.”

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as he turned his back on her. “I may hold your family’s company in my hand, but you are the one destroying mine. Do you think turnaround’s fair play?”

Hailey’s head shook frantically. “No. Please, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

He glanced over his shoulder, shooting daggers at her. “You and I both know you’d say anything to make me happy when you’re this close to me. I can’t trust anything out of your mouth at the moment.”

She did know that when she was away from him her feelings were different, but right now she just wanted him to be happy. She wanted to be cradled in his arms, lost in his scent. It killed her to see him like this.

His head swiveled away from her again. As he stalked off, he left a few words for her. “You will stay in your room until I say otherwise. If you can’t show me I can trust you with that small direction, then I will take your parents fortune to compensate for the loss of mine.”