Chapter Forty-Five
Brock
I did everything the general wanted. I called Addie. I lured her back to him. Now I want out of this fucking confinement. At least I’m dressed now in army-green fatigues and standing just outside the cage, but time stretches onward, long and wide. I’m jittery, and a damnable muscle in my jaw won’t stop twitching—adrenaline hums through me like an electric current. Somehow, I keep my look steady and stand tall and proud.
I’m being tested.
Can I be trusted outside the cage?
A test I have to pass.
Lawrence approaches and stands in front of me, glaring at me several beats. “You’re ready for action, aren’t you, son?”
I salute. “Yes, sir.” A lie, of course, as I can barely focus on anything but that damn twitch in my jaw and the need to reach for Jocelyn and pull her close. I’m aware of her at all times. She’s standing behind the table, the scent of her floral and ripe. But I will say or do anything to keep Lawrence from shocking me again. I’m pretty damn sure my brain will fry if he juices me many more times.
“He’s not ready for action,” Jocelyn objects. “He shouldn’t even be outside that cage. Not until Dr. Chin figures out what is causing his aggressive behavior.”
And damn it, Lawrence holds up the remote. “I only have to punch this to control his aggression. We don’t have the luxury of time. Not with Creed breathing down my neck.” He inhales deeply, as if he were inhaling power. “You will have my laser weapons ready, I assume?”
She hesitates but nods her confirmation. “They’re in mass production even as we speak.”
“Excellent, Jocelyn,” he approves, speaking to her but looking at me as he places a hand on her cheek, caressing it with the intimacy of a lover, while the other goes to the remote—silently daring me to challenge him.
“Stop it, General,” Jocelyn snaps, trying to pull away, but Lawrence slides his hand under her hair, his palm on her neck, as he drags her to him.
I can feel my body shaking with the effort to control myself. With almighty effort, I turn away, walk inside the cage, and shut myself inside, locking the door.
Lawrence smiles a smug “I am God” kind of smile. Then, despite her struggles against him, he kisses Jocelyn. I grind my teeth as she finally gives in to the kiss and wraps her arms around Lawrence’s neck.
When Lawrence’s lips finally release hers, she’s fucking panting. “Why must you tease him so?”
“I was simply proving to you how ready he is for action,” he replies. “You are his weakness, and still he prevailed.” He brushes his lips over hers again, and I cringe at the wild noises filling the room—the grunts and growls that I cannot control.
***
“Brock.” The voice, soft and sweet, pulls me back into the light. I blink, opening my eyes, to realize I’m on the hard floor of the cell. Jocelyn kneels at my level outside the bars.
I pull myself upward and soak in the blue of her beautiful eyes, but realization of the head games the general plays with me has my gaze jerking around the room.
“He’s gone,” she says. “He’s been gone for hours.” She pushes to her feet and sticks the key in the lock. “I made you dinner. You have to eat.”
“No!” I shout, feeling the violence rage inside me, not sure what I’ve become. An animal , I think. “Do not open that door.”
She freezes, her attention seeking me out. “You have to eat.”
“Slide it through the bars,” I order. “I cannot be trusted with you, Jocelyn. I won’t be able to control myself.” She steps back as if burned, and for that I’m thankful, but it’s not enough. “Is this what you want to be a part of? Making more animals like me?”
“Dr. Chin is doing lab work,” she says, her voice trembling. “He’s going to figure out how to fix whatever is happening to you.”
I laugh, bitter and furious with her. “You bitch. You did this. Every time he jolts me, I get a little crazier. You can’t blame Chin. You want to, but you can’t. You fucking…” I open my mouth to speak again, but my mind goes black, words lodging in my throat. With a forced breath, I willed myself to calm. “I’m…sorry. I…don’t help him. You have to destroy Red Dart,” I grunt. “Stop Lawrence before he—”
My eyes widen as Lawrence appears behind Jocelyn, the damn remote in his hand. Pain shoots through my body. Everything goes black.