Part 19 (2/2)

He leaned down, putting his face close to hers. ”Perhaps then we'll be almost even. But I won't rest until the sun rises and destroys him once and for all.”

She spat in the man's face and told him what he could do as far as she was concerned.

He slapped her so hard she barely remained conscious. Stars appeared behind her closed lids. At least she'd had her say. Five of his cohorts were standing by, antic.i.p.ating Noah's arrival. There could be more, but she'd only counted five. She had to stay alert so that she could attempt to help Noah when he arrived. She'd worked until the ropes binding her hands were somewhat looser. The skin was rubbed raw at her wrists, it stung like h.e.l.l but the blood would facilitate her ability to slip free. Except she had to be careful that no one noticed what she was up to.

The light in the warehouse was not bright by any means, but it was stronger than the watts Noah could take, she was sure. She didn't want to think what kind of pain Noah would endure just coming inside. And then, if they survived, he would not be able to leave since the sun would be up. What was she saying? Rothman's serum could be killing him already. He'd said only a ten-percent risk of harmful side effects, but he could be wrong. If only she could break free and escape before Noah arrived...or in time to help him if he needed her. A part of her hoped he didn't come.

She might still escape without any a.s.sistance.

Surely Rothman would know what to do if things took a turn for the worse with the serum.

One of the general's men grunted and suddenly crumpled to the floor.

All eyes turned in that direction.

Nothing. No one was there.

Noah was here.

Blue struggled harder to free her hands. Though she was unarmed, she could fight.

Another guard dropped.

All h.e.l.l broke loose then.

The remaining men scrambled to fight what they couldn't see. The general shouted orders.

Then the unexpected happened. Noah was suddenly standing right in front of the general for all to see.

He held the .38 Blue had left behind aimed right at the general's forehead. ”Tell them to let her go,” Noah commanded, his tone soft but unmistakably dangerous.

Tears welled in Blue's eyes at the sight of him. Her heart hurtled into double-time. He'd come for her. But it would surely cost him his life.

She jerked hard against her bindings.

”Go ahead,” the general said, laughing, ”kill me. My men have orders to kill her first and then you. They won't hesitate even if I'm dead. You see, that's what I've waited for all this time. It wasn't enough that you were sentenced to darkness. I wanted more.”

Blue was almost free. If only he kept talking...

”I've had people watching you from the beginning. I could have taken you out one month ago or two years ago. You certainly didn't appear to care. But I waited. I wanted you to suffer just as I had. I needed to be patient until you developed an attachment. The right kind of attachment.” His smile was menacing, cruel. ”I must say that I've enjoyed watching the goose chase your man Lowell took you on. But, more important, this moment has been worth the wait. She's going to die and you're going to be the reason. For a very, very short time you'll live with that reality. Then we'll be even.”

Pain etched deeply across his face, Noah drew the hammer back with a resounding click of metal on metal. ”But you won't see any of it.”

”I'll die relis.h.i.+ng the triumph,” the general returned.

Suddenly Blue was free.

The attention of the three remaining guards was focused on Noah and the general. She had to make a move...distract them.

She slung the closest object, a bicycle chain, to the right and dashed between the carts and bicycles to her left.

Gunfire erupted.

Unfortunately, the guards weren't the only ones distracted.

Concerned for her welfare, Noah took his eyes off the general for a split second. The general knocked him to the floor. The .38 discharged when it hit, then slid several feet on the concrete. Blue made a dive for it, then rolled to cover.

She got off a single shot, disabling one of the guards. Then she fired again, knocking out the main overhead light. The room dimmed considerably.

Noah gained the upper hand on the general.

Darting through the maze of carts, Blue moved into a better position to bring down yet another guard.

Only one left.

The general regained control.

Blue tried not to focus on that. She needed...

”Drop it.”

The last guard was right behind her.

A weapon exploded. Once...twice. The second bullet whizzed just over her head. The guard dropped.

Noah staggered to his feet, the general's weapon in his hands.

The general lay crumpled on the floor.

Blue scrambled from her hiding place and hurried to Noah. He looked ready to drop himself.

”We have to get you out of this light.” She ushered him toward the darker side of the building. The fluorescent lights were high overhead directly in the middle of the warehouse. Though she'd put the main one out of commission, the wattage was still too much. The outer perimeter of the warehouse was blessedly dimmer.

”You okay?” Noah's voice was tight, laced with the pain he could not hide. But his only concern was for her, she could see that. Her heart melted with an emotion that scared her to death.

”Don't try to talk. Rest. There has to be a phone in here. I'll call Rothman.” She didn't like the way Noah looked. Pale, lifeless. The serum. Was this a reaction to the serum or to the light?

A grating, rattling sound echoed from the front of the warehouse.

She needed to find out the source of the noise but Noah's eyes had closed and he'd leaned back against the nearest crate sending a new flood of worry through her.

”Noah.” She shook him gently.

Light spilled across the concrete. The screech of metal hissed through the air.

Fear sped through her veins as, seemingly in slow motion, her head turned toward the light.

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