Queen of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #4) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,172

Hades Virus by my father long before it was released into the world. We have vials of that vaccine right here.”

“What are you talking about?” she demanded.

“I was taken by government officials and a new vaccine was produced from my blood,” I explained, knowing it sounded crazy, but we didn’t have much choice. “When these men helped me escape the facility, we took it with us. And we need someone who can make more of the vaccine to help…well, the whole world really. Someone like you.”

She fell quiet and I imagined she was trying to figure out if we’d lost our minds or if there was a shred of truth to my words.

I laid the travel bag at my feet. “I can show you…if you want? The vaccine is in here.”

She hesitated then finally gave an answer. “Open it. Slowly.”

I crouched down, unzipping the bag and taking out the refrigerated box. I popped it open, turning it around to show her the contents.

Silence stretched out and she finally tugged her shotgun back inside. “Bring it to the porch. Just the girl.”

She shut the window, moving back into the shadows of her room and I took my gun from my waistband, passing it back to Kyan.

“Take it,” he insisted, shoving it back at me.

“She’s a doctor. And she’s not going to trust us if we don’t show her the same courtesy,” I said firmly and the boys shared anxious looks.

I walked away from them, picking up the box of vaccines and walking up the wooden porch steps, knocking gently on the door then stepping back to put six feet between us. It cracked open and the shotgun barrel peered out at me again, making my heart clench. But I’d be frightened too if the tables were turned. So I had to show her she had no reason to be.

“Tatum,” Blake called, worry in his tone.

“It’s fine. Stay back there,” I insisted as two wide brown eyes gazed out at me from the other end of the gun. “I know this is a shock,” I said gently. “But we had to come at night, we had to avoid the army and the roadblocks. We’ve been looking after these vaccines and my boyfriend spent a lot of time researching doctors we could trust. He is a very meticulous man, and he narrowed it down to one person in the entire state. You.”

Her eyes darted back and forth between mine then she finally lowered her gun, revealing her soft features and cherub like cheeks. She was in her forties, with dark skin and had straight hair down to her shoulders.

“Come in. Just you,” she said sharply, knocking the door wider.

“Aren’t you afraid of catching the virus?” I asked and she shook her head.

“I had it three weeks ago. Survived it luckily,” she said gravely. “I still have antibodies. So unless you are concerned then-”

“Like I said, I’ve been vaccinated,” I replied then stepped into the house as she nodded, frowning suspiciously.

“Tatum!” Nash barked, but I ignored him, pressing the door shut behind me.

Dr De La Cost switched a light on, illuminating a small hallway with a few potted plants around the place. There was photograph on the wall of what looked like her parents and a few pictures of a white cat around it.

I offered her the box of vaccines and she contemplated her next move before placing the gun down on a table behind her. She took the box, examining the contents with her brows pulling together.

“Serenity Pharmaceuticals,” she murmured as she read the name off of a label on one of the vials. “I’ve not heard of them.”

“They’re funded by Troy Memphis,” I told her, and her eyes snapped up to look at me.

“The Governor?” she asked in surprise and I nodded.

“He was the one who had me kidnapped to their facility,” I said, figuring honesty was the best plan here.

“Kidnapped?” she echoed, a flicker of disbelief in her eyes.

“I know this sounds crazy. And you don’t need to believe a word that comes out of my mouth except these next ones. That box contains the only working vaccines in the country. Probably in the entire world. So we need someone who can make more. And who will do it subtly, who will make sure they’re distributed fairly and efficiently to every man, woman and child on Earth.”

Her mouth opened and closed as shock rippled through her features. “Why me?” she rasped eventually.

“Like I said, my boyfriend chose you. And he would