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  Fact was they had to save Lexi. He’d only seen the girl once in a video call where Luna introduced him to her as her new husband. Though Lexi and Luna were half sisters, the two couldn’t have been more different in appearance. Lexi was tall and pale skinned, a younger version of the sisters’ Irish mother, while Luna clearly came after her Lebanese father with her golden skin and the dark, long waves he could never resist running his fingers through.

  Trying to shake her image from his thoughts, he jumped to his feet again, and his injured rib instantly thanked him by sending a sharp stab through his front. He held his side and slowly leaned back against the desk. While he’d thought Lexi was staying with a guest family in Canada, she’d been right here at GovCorp headquarters all this time. He rubbed his cheek where his latest opponent had broken his skin. The drying blood started itching, and he didn’t want to think anymore. He slowly stood straight again, or at least as straight as his healing rib would let him. The wounds always tended to hurt most after the healing process kicked in. Time to hit the showers and call it a night. The sound of shuffling feet and low murmurs greeted him as he opened the door to step outside into the emptying club again. His fight had been the last, so most patrons had already left or were in the process of leaving.

  He slowly passed the bar, holding his side. Maddie filled a shot glass with whiskey and slid it across the counter. “On the house.”

  He grabbed the shot and tossed it quickly. Even though alcohol didn’t affect him, it burned nicely on its way down his throat.

  Wiping the smooth surface of the counter, Maddie rounded the bar. “Your wife seemed nice. You better start treating her right, if you want to keep her.”

  He huffed. The spunky bartender was never afraid of speaking her thoughts. In a place like this, it got her in trouble pretty often. But she was okay. She treated everybody equally. GV or natural. Fighter or patron.

  He leaned across the counter. “And you better learn to mind your own business. I might not always be around to save your hide.”

  She tossed him a big grin. “You know me.” Concern flitted across her features as she cocked her head and leaned closer across the counter. “You know, if you want to talk, I’ll listen.”

  Why was everybody so eager to talk? Words didn’t change facts. “Thanks, but I think I’ll call it a night.”

  Fifteen minutes later, after he’d taken a quick shower and changed into his street clothes, he waved at Maddie. She and a bouncer seemed to be the only people left in the club. He pushed the handlebar of the metal exit door and stepped out into the brisk night air. After a few steps, the sound of boots stomping down on the snowy pavement behind him prompted him to turn. A sharp pain lanced through his lower back, and he groaned. His vision blurred, but he could make out at least three men surrounding him. A bloody blade glistened in the hands of the guy off to his side. Oliver tried to knock it from the guy's hands, but his arms were being seized by two other men in the group, and the blade painfully dug into his kidney again. His legs went buttery, and he fell to the ground as the men released him.

  High-fiving each other, Oliver’s attackers surrounded him while one of them crouched down, grabbed Oliver’s chin, and forced him to look up at his assailants. “That’s exactly what your kind deserves. And this is only the beginning.”

  Fronters. Oliver couldn’t believe he just let them jump him. He tried to get to his feet, but his legs wouldn’t obey.

  The club’s metal door swung open with a squeak, and the men surrounding him scattered away into a side street.

  “Oliver? Oh, shit. Can you hear me?” Maddie’s voice sounded like a mile away. “Don’t move. I’ll get help.”

  He heard the door opening again and Maddie yelling for the bouncer. Heavy boots crunched the snow around him a few seconds later.

  Maddie leaned over him, speaking to the bouncer she’d called. “Should we get an ambulance? He’s losing a lot of blood.”

  Dizziness started to kick in, and he forced himself to keep his eyes open.

  “Let me through. I’m a friend. I’ll take him.” That sounded like Max’s voice.

  Oliver tried to turn his head, but even that seemed like too much of an effort. “Max? What are you doing here?”

  Max kneeled in front of Oliver and lifted his bloodied jacket. He hissed as he inspected Oliver’s lower back. “Luna asked me to come and get you. The thought of you fighting that giant had her worried sick.”

  Oliver groaned, although Max was careful with his touch. “The guys in the ring weren’t the problem tonight.” He blinked a couple of times, trying to stay conscious.

  Max sounded alarmed. “You’re bleeding out. I’m taking you to the compound. Bergmann is still in the basement lab.”

  Max turned toward Maddie and the bouncer. “What the hell happened? A pissed-off opponent? Some sick sort of revenge?”

  Maddie nervously fiddled with a cigarette. “I have no idea. I found him like this just a minute ago.”

  Oliver’s mouth tasted metallic. “A bunch of damn Fronters. That’s what happened. They hung around near the entrance and jumped me before I was halfway out the door.”

  “Dammit. I’m getting the truck. I’ll be right back.”

  Max jogged away, and Maddie crouched down next to Oliver again after she flicked her burning cigarette into a patch of snow. Lifting his head, she pushed her scarf underneath.

  Oliver couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this helpless. Going straight for the kidneys, the Fronters obviously knew they were a GVs weak spot.

  An engine roared, and seconds later, Max’s black truck came to a halt right next to Oliver.

  Max jumped out of the cabin and opened the door to the back row. “Guys, help me get him inside.”

  Oliver groaned as Max and the bouncer maneuvered him in the back of the truck’s cabin.

  After thanking Maddie and the bouncer for their help, Max jumped into the driver seat and sped away.

  Though Oliver fought to stay conscious, his eyes were getting too heavy to keep them open.

  Max’s voice filtered through to his ears. “You still hanging in there?”

  His body felt like it didn’t belong to him anymore. “I’m good.”

  “All right, buddy. Calling Bergmann—” was the last thing Oliver heard before everything faded to black.

  Sharp pain in his lower back had Oliver’s eyes pop open. He blinked a couple of times to adjust to the sudden brightness surrounding him. Something was off. He was lying on his stomach. In a hospital bed.

  “He’s awake.” Luna’s voice sounded faint, as if he was wearing earplugs. He turned his head to the other side and saw her standing pale and wheezing off to the corner of the room while a set of hands was working on his wounds.

  “Welcome back.” Bergmann crouched down in front of him and shined a light in his eyes. Oliver blinked in irritation. “I’m okay. Just patch me up and give me some painkillers so I can get out of here.”

  Bergmann reached for a pair of scissors and cut Oliver’s shirt.

  “Oh my God.” Luna’s eyes widened, and her wheezing grew louder instantly.

  Bergmann tapped Oliver on the shoulder. “Now this might hurt a bit.”

  Then he addressed Luna with a concerned frown. “I need you to wait outside for this.”

  Still wheezing, Luna shook her head. “I can stay.”

  Oliver groaned as another flurry of pain burst through his body. “I don’t need you here. I need you to get your damn inhaler.”

  She blinked at his harsh tone. But after a beat, she left the room, sucking in another labored breath.

  Bergmann injected him with something Oliver hoped to be pain meds. “Just a minute, then I’ll try to fix you, if I can. If not, we might have to take you to the hospital.”

  “No hospital. I’ve had worse injuries.”

  Oliver could still hear Luna wheezing outside. “Why the hell isn’t she using her inhaler?”

  Finally, he heard the gadget
beep, and that horrible wheezing sound stopped.

  Bergmann grabbed Oliver’s left hand and laid it on the surface of a vitals monitor. “Now take a deep breath.”

  Oliver did as the doctor asked. He hadn’t even noticed that he’d been holding his own breath.

  Bergmann cleared his throat. “It's not a physical thing, you know. That’s not asthma she’s got. She’s perfectly healthy, physically at least. But she has panic attacks. It's psychological.”

  Oliver needed a second to digest the information. “You’re a psychologist now?”

  “I don’t have to be. It’s obvious. She’s been racked with guilt. She worries too much, about your feelings, about her sister. It literally suffocates her. If you want her to get better, you should go easy on her. I’m not saying forgive and forget.”

  “Then she will have to learn to breathe without me. She did it before, she can do it again. And you shouldn’t be talking to me or anybody else about her medical issues.” What the hell did Bergmann think he was doing? What was going on between Luna and him was none of the doctor’s business.

  “You’re right. I’m just trying to be a friend. To both of you.”

  “Well, don’t. I don’t need a friend right now. All I need is a doctor.”

  “I know you’re disappointed and hurt by her actions. And that’s your right. But you have to get your emotions under control. There are only so many times you can go down to that fight club and get your head smashed in. Or your kidneys stabbed. Even you are not indestructible.” He rounded the bed and placed Oliver’s right hand on the monitor. “Do your lungs hurt when you breathe?”

  “I can breathe just fine.” Except maybe that every single inhale burned since he learned of Luna’s deception. But Bergmann was right. Those damn Fronters would have never had a chance to jump him like this if he’d had his shit together.

  Frowning, Bergmann put the monitor aside again and started working on Oliver’s lower back. “Whoever stabbed you meant business.” When he was finished with Oliver’s back, he shoved an IV needle in the vein between his middle and ring finger and hooked him to a drip. “There’s not much more I can do for you right now. Try to get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

  Then Bergmann quietly walked out, and Oliver heard him telling Luna to go to bed and come back the following day. The last conscious thought Oliver’s brain managed to churn out before darkness enveloped him was that he forgot to ask how long those wounds would take to heal.

  The next morning, Max came by early. “Hey, Oliver. Are you feeling any better?”

  Oliver scrunched up his face. “Define better. I still can’t lie on my back.”

  Heels clicked outside the door, and soon Luna peeked into Oliver’s room as well. She gave Max a quick, forced smile before her gaze traveled to Oliver. Dark circles underneath her eyes gave her a haunted look. She inched inside and closed the door behind her. “I know you probably don’t want to see me, but I needed to know that you’re all right.” The slight tremor in her voice only added to how damn breakable she looked. And she had every reason.

  They both knew if he wouldn’t accompany her to that retreat, Lexi was screwed. Oliver took a deep breath. Bergmann had been right yesterday, she didn’t deserve his asshole attitude. “I’m okay. When are we supposed to leave for Barbados?” As the question rolled off his tongue, it shocked him just as much as it seemed to surprise Luna. But he’d made up his mind. Whatever would become of him and Luna after they could finally get that divorce, if Lexi weren’t safe, they’d never be able to start living normal lives again—whatever normal would mean for him then.

  Her eyebrows drew together. “You want to go to the retreat? Oliver, you can’t. You almost died last night.”

  Max stepped closer, brow deeply furrowed, silently listening to their conversation even though his expression clearly stated that he didn’t like Oliver’s idea.

  Not that Oliver really gave a damn. His gaze flicked back to Luna and stuck to her worried eyes. “I’ll go with you. We can talk tonight when you’re back at the compound.”

  A hopeful glow lit up her face for a second, but then her expression dulled again. “Oliver, you don’t know what it means to me that you want to help Lexi.” Her voice got softer. “After everything I did to you. But we’d have to leave Wednesday. You’re too badly hurt.”

  The day after tomorrow. Shit. He’d thought the trip started Friday. “Do me a favor and call Bergmann before you head out to work. I need to speak to him.” He tried to turn on his side, but burning pain flashed through his kidney, instantly changing his mind about the new position and forcing a groan from his throat.

  Concern overshadowed Luna’s face, but she nodded. “Okay. I’ll get him.” She bit her lower lip and hurried outside.

  Max ground his molars, his mouth only a thin red line. “If I’m right with what I’m thinking, you’re nuts.”

  Before Oliver could answer, the door swung open again and Bergmann appeared in the frame with an IV bag in his hand. “I just ran into Luna. She said you were in pain and needed to see me?”

  “I need to accompany her to GovCorp’s annual retreat. We’re leaving Wednesday.”

  Bergmann closed the door behind himself and crossed the sterile, white floor until he stood right next to Oliver’s bed. “Out of the question. These wounds are serious. You need at least a week.” He put the new IV bag on the bed next to Oliver’s head and took the empty one from the pole.

  “I don’t have a week.” Oliver craned his neck, and his eyes zeroed in on Bergmann’s. “You need to give me something to speed things up.”

  Bergmann’s hand tightened around the pole, and his gaze flicked from Max to Oliver. “What are you talking about?”

  Ignoring the pain, Oliver shifted to his side to be able to face the doctor. “I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. The serum we used to get during our reconditioning session, of course.”

  Bergmann swallowed audibly. “Are you nuts?”

  Oliver rolled his eyes. “Is this you guys’ phrase of the day or what? No, I’m not nuts. I know what I’m asking. It’s simple. If you want to help save Luna’s sister, you need to give me the serum.”

  The doctor tossed the empty IV bag in the trash next to the white cabinet across from Oliver’s bed. “I can’t. I left GovCorp because I didn’t want to do this to you guys anymore.”

  Oliver nodded. “I know you risked your life to get out of their clutches and to stop what they are still doing.” He shot Bergmann a serious look. “I bet Lewis’s scientists are itching to dissect Lexi alive. You, of all people, should know best. And you are the only one who can help us help her. So, I suggest you start creating the serum.”

  Bergmann attached Oliver’s new drip to the pole. “You’re not used to it anymore. Instead of healing you faster, it could easily kill you. It’s out of the question. I’m sorry, I can’t take that responsibility.” Without another look at Oliver or Max, he turned and left the room.

  Oliver wanted to yell after Bergmann, but only a rough whisper came out, and his muscles gradually relaxed. The new drip probably held a stronger sedative.

  Max paced in front of Oliver’s bed. “He’s right.”

  Oliver closed his leaden eyes as frustration clawed through his bruised body. “All right. Can you ask Derek to come by when he’s back from… wherever he is today?”

  Max’s jawline relaxed. “Sure. But do yourself a favor and get some rest.”

  “Will do.” He could hardly keep his eyes open, and he didn’t fight to stay awake. He needed sleep to recuperate.

  Oliver woke to the sounds of quiet mumbling. He cracked his eyes open, and Derek and Bergmann stared down at him. The room was windowless, so he had no idea how long he’d been out, but it was probably already evening.

  Derek’s gaze wandered across the display of the vitals monitor that was attached to his bed. “So, I hear you decided to accompany Luna to GovCorp’s retreat. Care to let me know how you want to
accomplish that? You don’t look as if you’re going to be up to it anytime soon.”

  Oliver coughed to clear his voice. “I could be. All I need is for Bergmann to recreate the serum we received back when we were with GovCorp’s kill squads.”

  Derek’s brows drew together as he listened.

  Shaking his head, Bergmann implored Derek. “You don’t understand. His body is not used to it anymore. He’d need a high dose to heal that wound. Even back then, they’d receive a moderate dose each day and a higher one only when needed.” He trailed off and scrubbed a hand across his beard. “I can’t just give it to him now. It’s impossible.”

  Oliver exhaled. “Derek, I know I can take it. They used me as a test subject to see how far they could go. I know I can take it.” It sure wouldn’t be fun, but he could deal with it.

  Shock registered on Derek’s face at the revelation, but then he nodded. “I’ll leave the decision to Oliver. He knows what he’s doing.” He looked up at Bergmann. “Give him just enough so he can go.”

  Bergmann’s eyes narrowed on Oliver. “You should be aware that a high dose of the serum will only worsen your adrenaline issues. You’ll get even more irritable than you already are.”

  Oliver groaned. As if they needed more complications. “Great.”

  Bergmann threw Derek an annoyed look. “Heaven help us. I won’t take any responsibility for this. I warned you.”

  Derek held Bergmann’s gaze and widened his stance. “I know. There’s no need for you to take responsibility for my decisions.”

  He swiped the display of his phone, and after a few beeps, Luna’s voice came over the speaker. “Derek?”

  “Luna, are you still at GovCorp?”

  “No, I left a little earlier. I’m already on the compound. On my way to Oliver.”

  “I’m with him. We have to discuss something.”

  A click sounded from the speakers, followed by a knock on the door before Luna stepped inside. She was still wearing her gray business suit, but she’d already let down her hair and freed it from the usual twists she wore for work.