Page 118 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“It’s experimental. Part of a series of highly potent drugs we’re using in our development of Salvation.”
“What’s Salvation?” Ky’Li asked.
“The next big rescue drug to help addicts kick their habit, especially those addicted to Flight or Crash,” Vaughn answered. “Sersie’s been developing it. But NK171 was never supposed to leave the labs.”
“Then give her the antidote, Vaughn. This Salvation,” Ky’Li said.
“He can’t,” Sersie answered. “I haven’t developed it yet. Fuck!”
“Vaughn?” Wearing Ky’Li’s shirt from the treatment plant, Hannah appeared in the doorway to the bedroom. Her hair, still matted with dirt and leaves, hung in a tangled mass behind her.
Dark green eyes clouded over as she looked at Ren. Tears formed quickly as her entire body began shaking. “I. . . not me.” She started crying and then her knees buckled. Ren caught her before she hit the floor.
“Get away,” she sobbed, too weak to push him away. Ky’Li calmly strode past Ren, picked Hannah up, and took her back into the room.
“Take care of her,” Sersie said as he headed for the door.
“Where are you going? You’re needed here,” Vaughn said.
Sersie couldn’t help Hannah here. She had who and what she needed in Vaughn and Ky’Li.
“I’m serious, Sersie,” Vaughn called after him. “Don’t let this push you over that edge.”
Without another word, Sersie flew out the door. He’d made the drug that now had Hannah all crazy, and in danger of crashing again. He had no idea how addictive it was for humans. Twenty-five percent of the mice in the lab had killed each other to get a second hit. The rest simply died without it.
“Sersie. . .” Vaughn yelled from the distance. Sersie ignored him.
He headed to his lab. He was going to figure out the antidote now. There was no more stalling, no more delaying this antidote from making it to market.
The Company had lied to him again. Developing Salvation would bring in tons of money for The Company, but that was only half the plan. The Company was going to flood the market with NK171 first, creating profits and an insatiable need for Salvation.
No more. He’d sacrificed too much to The Company over the years. They all had. Turning him into an addict was bad enough, but what they planned to do to the innocents out there, innocents like Hannah. . .
Sersie would stop them. . . after he forwarded the chemical structure of the drug to Vaughn and worked on the antidote. He would not let her become addicted.
His sweet Hannah. . . she never asked for much. Only one thing since arriving, that she and the men in her unit would learn to get along.
Vaughn, Ren, and Ky’Li. . . Sersie had seen their faces, the horror when they weren’t sure she’d make it. Miraculously, all four men were of like mind when it came to her. She was the priority in their lives now, and always would be.
It’s the reason Sersie would destroy The Company from within. . . He wouldn’t let them hurt her again. Never again.
* * *
HANNAH
Hannah opened her eyes. Soft snores had woken her. Light peeked in from under the door. She recognized the middle bedroom.
Why wasn’t she sleeping in her bed, in the master bedroom? Had Ren demanded it back? She’d been waiting for him to ask. Why he’d let her stay in his bedroom puzzled her.
The pounding in her head made her consider closing her eyes and going back to sleep, except she couldn’t forget the images that she’d been dreaming all night, of running through the jungle naked, of men she didn’t know circling her, making lewd comments she knew they intended to carry out.
Her stomach rolled, the need to throw up was so strong. Hannah swung her feet over the bed and let her head drop between her knees.
“Are you okay, Hannah?” a soft voice said.
The snoring had stopped. Why didn’t she recognize the voice?
The light snapped on. Before her stood a man with blond hair and a scruffy beard to match. His crystal blue eyes looked at her with such softness, such love. . . They held a beauty that none could surpass.
