Chapter Two
Bryn and Gunnar’s small apartment on the top floor of GCR HQ wasn’t designed for strategic planning sessions but with only one conference room in the building, it was the best option available.
The table, usually home to a potted plant, Gunnar’s keys and various charging leads, was now covered with maps showing clinic locations that Emmett had printed out.
Giles stood by the window, silhouetted against the light.
He hadn’t asked any questions about Bryn and Gunnar’s living situation but Bryn knew he’d be taking in every detail.
He tried to avoid looking in Giles’ direction while Emmett, now happily working on his laptop, applied some order to their information.
“There are twenty-three clinics in the northeast corridor alone,” Emmett said, adjusting his glasses as he tapped away at his keyboard. “All acquired by Helix Solutions within the last eighteen months.”
“And how many reported cases of lupines or sanguines affected by the drug have there been so far?” Gunnar asked, marking locations with a red Sharpie.
“Thirty-seven confirmed, but…there are probably more. Some of the symptoms could be mistaken for standard drug reactions or mental health issues, especially in the earlier stages.”
Bryn fidgeted, annoyed that his sanctuary had been violated by Giles’ presence.
“You’re thinking too loudly, dear boy,” Giles commented without turning from the window. “How about you share with the class?”
“How exactly did you get involved in this? Because last I checked, you were supposed to be in London on an extended break.”
Giles turned, the fading sunlight casting half his face in shadow. “Ah, you’ve been keeping tabs on me. How touching.”
“Answer the fucking question.”
“One of my former students was affected by the drug. Not that I knew what it was at the time.” Something flickered across Giles’ face, too quick for Bryn to read. “The effects were…particularly unpleasant. I made inquiries.”
“And decided to investigate without telling anyone,” Bryn said.
“I informed the appropriate parties when I had something concrete to report.” Giles moved away from the window. “Emmett, could you pull up the mortality rates for the affected individuals?”
Emmett typed rapidly. “Um, of the thirty-seven cases you’ve identified, twenty-two resulted in death. Average time from estimated first exposure to death is forty-eight days.”
“Jesus,” Gunnar muttered. “That’s fast.”
“Indeed.” Giles leaned over the table, studying the map.
“And the progression of symptoms has accelerated in more recent cases. I assume because the drug is being altered. Refined. I suspect Russo is seeking a way of creating the perfect soldiers for his private army. This is all about power and money. Predictable and so tedious.”
Bryn scowled. “So what’s your brilliant plan? Send me in as what, exactly? A patient?”
“Actually”—Giles straightened—“I was thinking more along the lines of me going in as a potential investor. Helix Solutions is looking for new capital.”
“What about their security?” Emmett interrupted, either oblivious to the tension or deliberately trying to break it. “Their systems have to be sophisticated if they’re working with gene-affected individuals.”
“I’m sure they are,” Giles agreed. “But I don’t intend to do anything that means avoiding security. People and their fallibilities are the key to this plan and that’s where you come in, my dear Emmett. Your research skills and connections could be very useful.”
Emmett blushed at the attention. “I mean, I could probably… Wait, how do you know anything about me?”
“Mr. Delacourt has apparently done his homework on all of us,” Gunnar said, not sounding pleased about it. “Haven’t you?”
“Knowledge is power, Detective Ericson. Something I’m sure you understand, and I like to know who I’m working with.
” Giles moved to examine one of the clinic locations more closely.
“This one. The Burlington. It’s their newest acquisition, still being renovated.
Lots of new hires. That’s our best point of entry. ”
“You know a lot about this place…” Bryn started, but a sharp knock at the apartment door cut him off. Bryn went to open it and one of the staff from the building’s employee restaurant nodded at him. She was holding two bags of takeout.
“This arrived for you guys. Warden asked me to bring it up.”
“We didn’t order anything,” Gunnar said.
“No.” Giles smiled. “I did. I thought we might be here a while, and I remembered how cranky Bryn gets when he’s hungry.”
Bryn mumbled something under his breath but took the bags. “Thanks, Madge.” He pulled the door closed.
“Shall we discuss strategy over dinner?” Giles said. “I ordered extra dumplings. You still like those, don’t you, Bryn?”
Bryn set the bag down harder than necessary. “Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“This…this thing you’re doing. Acting like you know me. Like nothing’s changed. Like you didn’t…” He cut himself off, aware of their audience.
“Perhaps,” Gunnar interjected, “we should focus on the plan. The Burlington clinic. What are you proposing?” He gave Bryn’s shoulder a squeeze.
Giles looked away from Bryn. “A two-pronged approach. I make contact as a potential investor while Emmett researches their employees. We’ll need a few days to establish credentials that will hold up to scrutiny, but…”
“Three days,” Emmett said suddenly. Everyone turned to look at him. He ducked his head but continued. “Helix is having an open day for potential investors on Thursday. I found a reference in the Wall Street Journal.”
“Excellent,” Giles praised. “That should work nicely. It gives us enough time to prepare. Clear a space.” He began unpacking the food containers. “Let’s eat while we plan? Cold Chinese food is not nearly so appetizing.”
“The investor angle could work,” Gunnar said, “but, like you say, we’ll need a rock solid background story. Bryn goes nowhere near that place without it.”
They ate in silence for a while, straight from the cartons. When they were done, Emmett cleared away and, at Giles’ polite request, scurried into the kitchen to make tea for him and coffee for everyone else.
“There’s a private equity firm specializing in medical technology. They’ve been making strategic acquisitions all along the eastern seaboard. That could be an option,” Giles said.
“A shell company?” Gunnar asked.
“Perfectly legitimate, I assure you. Though their ownership structure is…deliberately complex.”
“And you know this because…”
“I have a stake in the organization. The documentation will pass any level of due diligence.”
“And you have expertise in medical technology. But what about Bryn? What’s his reason for being there?”
“He’ll be my personal assistant.”
“No fucking way!” The words burst out before Bryn could stop them.
“Think about it. It makes sense that a high-powered investor would travel with an aide,” Giles said. “Oh, Emmett, you are a delight.” He took the tea Emmett offered him.
Bryn’s temper was a hair’s breadth shy of boiling point. Playing the part of Giles’ assistant would mean being his subordinate and acting accordingly, something that Giles would love and Bryn would detest. And the smug bastard knows it.
“We need to discuss the risks,” Gunnar said. “All of them. Bryn’s not doing this if I’m not happy he’ll be safe and Warden will support me on that.”
“No way am I doing it anyway,” Bryn stated.
“Of course.” Giles’ tone shifted, becoming more businesslike as he ignored Bryn’s comment and responded to Gunnar. “The security at these clinics is substantial. Armed guards, surveillance, and most concerning, blood scanners at every entrance.”
“Blood scanners?” Emmett asked as he finished handing out coffee.
“A new technology, developed specifically for detecting gene-enhanced individuals. A single drop is all it takes.” Giles leaned forward. “Clever, isn’t it?”
“And once again for the room…you happen to know this because…?” Bryn let the question hang.
“Because I helped design the scanners. The analysis element, anyway.”
“Of course you did. So I guess you have a way of getting us past them.”
“What I understand,” Gunnar said in a voice that was dangerously quiet, “is that you’re asking my partner to walk into a potentially lethal situation without full disclosure. That’s not happening.”
“Your concern is admirable, Detective. But perhaps we should let Bryn speak for himself?”
“Perhaps you should both stop talking about me like I’m not fucking here. I need some space.” Bryn headed for his bedroom, closing the door behind him with measured violence. He took a deep breath then sat on the edge of the bed, head in his hands.
The door opened, and Bryn tensed, but it was Gunnar who came to sit beside him.
“You okay?” Gunnar asked.
“Define okay.” Bryn tried for a smile but couldn’t quite manage it. “Sorry about…him.”
“Don’t be. Knowing what he put you through, I’d really like to detach parts of his anatomy. Don’t think Warden would appreciate that, though. I’ve sent Emmett home and told Giles to go for now.”
“Thanks. His voice, his mannerisms, even his fucking cologne all bring back memories of things I’ve tried hard to forget, you know?”
“All I know is that Warden must have felt there was no other option than to bring him in. I don’t like being put in this position.”
“Me either.”
“It took all my limited willpower not to choose bloodshed when he came into the conference room,” Gunnar added.
“I hate that he can still get to me like this. One look, one word, and I’m right back there…at The Facility.”
Gunnar turned and gripped the nape of Bryn’s neck. “You’re not there. You’re here, with me.” He traced paths along Bryn’s cheekbones with his thumbs. “And I won’t let him hurt you again.”
The fierce protectiveness made Bryn’s chest tighten. “I know.”
“Do you?” Gunnar squeezed a little. “Because I mean it.”
Bryn swiveled to straddle Gunnar’s thighs then leaned toward him.
Gunnar took the hint and responded with a fierce kiss, sliding one hand into Bryn’s hair while gripping his waist with the other, pulling him closer.
Bryn slipped a hand under Gunnar’s shirt, mapping the warm skin of his back, feeling the muscles shift as Gunnar deepened the kiss.
When Gunnar licked a trail down Bryn’s neck with his tongue, Bryn tilted his head to give him better access.
“Mine,” Gunnar growled against his throat, and the possessiveness in his voice sent shivers down Bryn’s spine. “No one else gets to touch you like this.”
“Yours,” Bryn agreed, breathless, pulling Gunnar up for another searing kiss.
He tangled his fingers in Gunnar’s long hair.
Time disappeared as they traded kisses that moved from desperate to more tender, hands exploring every inch they could reach while still dressed.
When they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard.
“Stay with me tonight?” Bryn asked. “Just…stay. Hold me. Nothing more.”
Gunnar pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. “If that’s what you want.”
Bryn stripped to shorts and a T-shirt while Gunnar used the bathroom then they swapped before sliding beneath the comforter. Though it was the first time they’d shared a bed it wasn’t awkward, and Bryn was exhausted enough not to mind that nothing physical was going to happen.
They lay together in the darkness, Bryn resting his head on Gunnar’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. But sleep wouldn’t come.
“So many dead,” he said. “And those are the ones we know about.”
“We don’t have to do this. We can find another way. Focus on the production facilities rather than method of distribution.”
“But if Russo really is building some kind of pumped-up mob army…” Bryn let the thought hang. “What happens when he perfects this Thanacrine? We do have to do this.” Bryn pressed closer, drawing comfort from Gunnar’s warmth. “But we do it our way. We can’t let Giles call the shots.”
“We have three days to go through every detail of this plan. Every contingency. Every exit strategy. And if anything feels off…”
“We pull it,” Bryn finished. He focused on Gunnar’s heartbeat, steady and strong, and tried not to think about what tomorrow would bring.