Page 51 of Unchained

He swung his attention to her. The unruly strands of his hair, and the blues of his eyes were in sharp contrast to his olive-toned skin.

“It’s okay. You’re never going back there.”

Placing his hand on hers, he turned her palm so he could kiss it. “I know.”

She patted his cheek and nodded at the computer. “Let’s see if we can find out any more details on the drug. We need as much as we can to take to the police.”

Brooks grimaced.

“What?”

“You’re forgetting that you’re wanted.”

“I’m wanted. You’re not. And now we have Lexi and Nash. If we share everything we gather with Lexi, you’ll have a better shot of getting Leonetti arrested. If anyone tries to cover up what he did to you, we’ve got a damn good journalist who can help.”

His mouth relaxed and his teeth flashed. “That’s true. She wouldn’t let it go.”

Cam clicked the mouse. Twenty minutes and countless articles into the deserted pages of the web later, she struck gold. “Here’s an analysis paper on the drug. These look like animal trials.” She wet her lips and read the words, but her stomach refused the information. She took a sip of coffee. Brooks leaned close.

“Jesus. Eighty-three percent of subjects died after the first injection.” He scrubbed his face. “That’s why Leonetti vowed never to let me go.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and then lowered his hand. “What’s wrong with me? Why didn’t I die?”

She shifted in her chair and pulled his face into her palms. “Because you have a different path. You have the power to end his experiments, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

He pulled her hands down, gripping her wrists in his fists. “I don’t want him in jail, dammit. I want him dead.” He slapped the laptop shut. “After he’s taken care of, I’ll make sure I get all of his research documents. Then I’ll have a better idea of what effects to expect for the rest of my life.”

He stood and carried their empty mugs to the kitchen sink. Cam’s heart softened, making the muscles in her chest ache.

“We’re on the right track. You’ll give him what he deserves.” As much as she hated the thought of Brooks committing murder and going to jail, she couldn’t hold his desire against him. He’d endured more pain and suffering than anyone should.

Buzz, buzz, buzz

Cam straightened, narrowing her gaze. Her phone. Crap. She leaped to her feet and tackled the device she’d left charging in the kitchen overnight. The buzzing continued in her palm. She blinked and read the screen: Mom

She swiped to answer and pressed the device to her ear. “Hi, Mom.” She tugged the V-neck of the tank top up. Somehow, talking to her mom while half-naked after banging Brooks all night felt inappropriate.

“Cam! Don’t tell him anything!” Her mom’s scream screeched through the earpiece.

Cam’s heart plummeted to her feet. She turned and locked her gaze on Brooks. Stumbling, she caught the counter before her knees buckled.

Brooks rounded the island and secured her elbows in his hold.

“Mom, what’s—”

“Hi, Aunt Cam.” The sing-song voice sent a tremor down her spine.

Her body temperature turned frigid. “Isaac?”

No, no, no.

CHAPTER 17

Isaac couldn’t have found her mom. Cam had been too careful.

“You sound surprised to hear from me. But you know I got out two weeks ago. You’ve been hiding.” Isaac’s voice squeaked with barely concealed outrage.

She cringed. Flashes of Isaac as a child—angry, possessive, and impulsive—struck her like the voltage from an electric chair. Her brain worked frantically, recalling the methods she’d used to reason with him in the past.

“That’s true.” She forced her words to come out strong. “We wanted to speak to you before seeing you, Isaac. Since things ended so intensely last time.”

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