Chapter 3 #2
The enhancements done to her system allowed her to tolerate heat and cold, go longer without food and water, and function well on little to no sleep.
They also made her nearly impervious to pain.
If she had to, she could stand on her broken leg right now and walk on it provided it could support her.
She wouldn't be slowed down by pain, although those first couple of steps would be hell.
It would only be the physical limitations of an injury that would hold her back, although her body healed much faster than it should.
Somewhere around them, far too close for her liking, Indigo heard gunshots. More of Dr. Gardner’s guards were fighting against Voodoo’s teammates.
What if something happened to one of them? Voodoo should be there with them, helping them, not worrying about getting her to safety. There was no one to care if she lived or died, but he had at least five men who would grieve his loss.
“Put me down,” she mumbled, trying to lift her head from his shoulder and finding it much harder than it should be.
“No.” Voodoo didn't elaborate, just offered that one word, said with a finality that indicated arguing was pointless.
But it wasn't pointless if it meant this man got to live.
Honestly, Indigo didn't really care if she died. She’d fight.
That was ingrained in her from birth, but fighting was exhausting, especially when you were doing it all alone.
It would be nice not to have to fight all the time, for everything, even if that meant the only way she found peace was in death.
“Leave me behind,” she insisted. “Not too late for you to go back and join your team.”
“What part of no don’t you get?” he asked as he continued to run with her in his arms like she weighed nothing. He wasn't even winded, and she had no idea how long it had been since she passed out in the lab.
“Not worth risking your life to save mine,” she whispered, being completely honest. As she tilted her head a little, she could make out Voodoo’s profile in the thin light of the moon.
Even with the night vision goggles making it a little disjointed, it was a nice profile with a chiseled jaw and high cheekbones, he was handsome.
She liked his lips, too. They looked like they’d be nice to kiss.
The thought caught her by surprise. She usually didn't waste time thinking about kissing men. After all, what man would want to kiss her? Even her own husband used to tell her often how lucky she was that with everything she’d been through as a child, a man like him was still willing to marry her.
Damaged. That’s what he always called her. Damaged goods.
People who were damaged goods didn't deserve affection, tenderness, or love.
“Going to pretend you didn't say that, but we’ll address that thinking when we get home,” he informed her as more gunshots peppered through the night.
Would it be worth reminding him that she didn't have a home? Hadn't ever really, given that the one she thought she was building with her ex turned out to be a sham.
“They’re shooting at your friends,” she reminded him. It was getting increasingly harder to keep her eyes open, but she knew she needed to convince Voodoo that leaving her and going with his team was the better option for him.
She didn't want his death on her conscience.
Would sacrifice herself in a heartbeat, without a second thought, to save him.
“They won't beat them,” Voodoo said with such confidence in his voice that for a moment she almost believed him.
But what if he was wrong?
Even with their enhanced skills, Voodoo’s team could still be outnumbered. It didn't matter that she’d only just met these men, wasn't even sure she could put names to faces for all of them, they were like her and that made them allies.
“Don’t want anyone to die because of me,” she said, pleading with him to understand that she held no value, no significance, she wasn't worth risking everything for. “What if … what if you killed me?”
Abruptly, they halted. The sudden lack of motion was so unexpected that her stomach lurched, and that sickening nausea washed over her like a wave, making her groan.
“What the hell did you just say?” Voodoo demanded, making her tremble.
Not really from fear, more just because he was an intense guy, and when he was focusing all of that intensity on her it was a lot.
“Umm … if I was dead, then you could go back to your team and not feel like you were leaving one of you behind,” she said in a rush because while she absolutely believed that what she was saying was the right move, she was pretty sure Voodoo disagreed.
Vehemently.
Although she didn't really understand why. There was only so far the fact that they had both fallen victim to Dr. Gardner’s machinations could carry her.
“Going to pretend you didn't say that as well,” he said through clenched teeth. Balancing her with one arm, he tipped back the night vision goggles. While the dark meant she couldn’t really see his eyes properly, she felt their penetrating gaze.
“Being honest,” she said, forcing her teeth not to chatter. “I won't go back to that place. I'd rather die. And I don’t want you to die. And I don’t want any of your team to die. Killing me seems like the solution to all of those problems.”
Instead of answering her, he glared.
Then as quickly as he could, he darted forward a few more steps and bent, setting her down on the ground, before abruptly turning and disappearing.
He’d agreed.
For a second, Indigo stared in shock at the spot she’d last seen Voodoo.
While she still one hundred percent believed that his killing her and going back to his team was the best option, it had seemed there had been zero chance of him agreeing.
But now he was gone. He’d left her, but she was still alive.
She’d thought that, at least, given that they were the same, he’d give her a mercy killing to prevent her from getting recaptured.
If she could hide out for a few days, she might be strong enough to find her way to the nearest town.
No one would believe her if she got to a hospital or a police station, but she’d tell what she knew anyway.
The worst that could happen was that Dr. Gardner had connections that got her back in his hands and she’d be punished.
But her life had been one big punishment, always for sins she’d never committed, so what was one more?
Footsteps caught her attention, and she turned her head to see shadowy figures moving through the trees.
Guards.
Not Voodoo’s team, because if it were, he wouldn't have left her. Indigo didn't care that he’d left her, but why couldn’t he have killed her first?
Why would he allow her to go back into that hell he’d only just rescued her from?
Maybe he didn't really care that she was like him and decided to leave her behind as a sacrifice so he and his team could escape.
“Got her,” a voice shouted, and a beam of light suddenly danced over her, making her shrink into herself.
There was nowhere to hide. Nowhere to escape.
Just because she would heal quicker than any of the men approaching her and could walk on her broken leg if she had to, she wasn't going to be able to get away from them.
“Grab her and let’s get out of here, they’re still out here somewhere,” another man said, and he sounded worried about that fact.
He should be. Voodoo and his team would be fierce opponents.
Even though she wished Voodoo had killed her before bailing, she couldn’t fault him for it. Self-preservation was a strong motivator, and she was glad he was going to get to live, to go home, maybe to take down Dr. Gardner one day.
A man moved closer, was just reaching for her, when suddenly a volley of shots was fired, and the men surrounding her dropped one by one.
Breathing hard, it took a second for her foggy mind to process what had happened.
It wasn’t until a large figure suddenly stalked toward her that it clicked.
Voodoo had never left, he’d simply realized someone was coming, known that as soon as they saw her they would temporarily let down their guard, then picked them all off like sitting ducks.
He hadn't left.
Reaching her, he dropped to his knees at her side, and one of his large hands grasped her face, his thumb and forefinger on either side of her jaw, holding her just tight enough she knew she would have felt a twinge of pain if she were anybody else.
“Don’t want to hear another word about leaving you behind or killing you, got it?”
Indigo gulped. How could she argue with an order like that?
“Got it,” she murmured, but she was pretty sure she didn't get anything about this man or his determination to save her.