Lured (Team Zero #1) - Rina Kent Page 0,42

in danger. You’re saving them, Johnson. They would’ve died in the streets and became another statistic. Another government fuck up, but we’re doing them a favour. We’re giving them a chance to strengthen their weak bodies, aren’t we?”

Johnson is silent for a moment. “I need more time for this to be safe –”

He cuts off when I raise my hand. In a second, Nero is behind the girl’s slumped body on the chair. His gun points at her temple.

Johnson’s eyes almost bulge from their sockets. His body leans towards her, but he doesn’t move. He knows I can blow her head in a mere second.

So, like the smart person he is, he slowly faces me and speaks low. “She has nothing to do with this. Let her fucking go or I swear…”

“She’s my ticket against you, Johnson.” I lean forward so both my elbows are on the table. “You dare ignore my calls and stall with me? No one denies me anything. I’ll wrench you by the gut and kill you a slow death before you say no to me again.” I motion at the girl. “Your choice is simple. Test Type Omega or watch your French doll die a horrible death. Ah. I will bury her so deep, you will never even find her body.”

He doesn’t bother to hide his reaction this time. His fists clench and slams his fist in my face and hauls me off my feet by my collar. That hurt. I was never a physical person.

Nero points his gun at Johnson while keeping his hand on the girl’s shoulder. I shake my head and meet Johnson’s furious eyes with a smile. Angry people are easy. Angry people care.

“You will leave her the fuck out of this,” he snarls.

“Test Omega.” My tone is calm.

He shoves me away. “What exactly have you given her?”

“Type Omega sample. My people have been putting it in her drinks and food since that day you asked her out. The bartender. Your building’s receptionist. Taxi drivers. She looks alive, no? One more reason to test it.”

“You fucking…” He breathes through his nose then mumbles to himself. “That’s why she’s been fainting.”

“What’s a risk without side effects?”

“Omega isn’t stable yet. Children will die.”

“They were dead anyway.” I meet his gaze and motion at Nero’s gun. “Now say yes or watch her brains being blown.”

“Fine. I’ll start the test and you will leave her alone.”

I smile. Stupid fucking little people. Even Johnson can be swept away by such meaningless emotions. I button my jacket. “If anything happens, we always have her as a bargaining chip.” I pat his rigid shoulder. “Take good care of her, Johnson.”

“One more thing.” He’s in my face in a second, his nostrils flaring. “I made Omega. If I decide to fuck it up and your entire organisation, I will. If you, near or far, threaten Camille’s life again, I will destroy you and bathe in your fucking blood.”

Now that’s more like the ruthless Johnson I know. Still, he will keep Omega going because it’s his only guarantee that I won’t touch his French doll.

I smile on my way out.

The Pit is officially starting.

Let the fun begin.

Chapter Twenty-Four

My temples throb. My throat itches and feels dry and sandy like the desert.

I crack my eyes open and find myself on the bed in Dominic’s flat. Night has staked its claim outside. Soft white light illuminates the room.

The sheets rustle as I sit up, cradling my head.

Dominic sits by the side of the bed, holding a bottle of water. I snatch it and gulp half of it down in one go. The cool liquid soothes my scratchy throat.

Once I’m done, Dominic takes the bottle. My eyes roam his broad shoulders covered by a white T-shirt. The cloth stretches over his muscles as he twists to place the bottle on the nightstand.

My lower lip rolls behind my teeth as I admire the view. Even the throbbing in my temple is forgotten.

How can a simple motion turn me into a bundle of need?

Dominic faces me again, and although he catches me staring, he doesn’t give any of those infuriating smirks. If anything, his face is closed.

“Hi,” he says.

“Salut.” I smile and point at my head. “What happened?”

“We walked under the sun for so long. You fainted from perspiration.”

“Oh.” I pout. Who the hell does that? It’s so lame. I ruined the chance to spend as much time as physically possible with Dominic today.

“Are you tired?” He takes my hand in his and places two