Toxic Game (GhostWalkers #15) - Christine Feehan Page 0,18

around the long curve. Shylah had no problem staying underwater, even when it was murky, and she had no idea what was in the water with her. She could see with her enhanced vision, so if anything did come at her, she would know. The roiling in her stomach wasn’t that. The knots and growing terror weren’t from anything creepy in the water, holding her breath too long or the fact the hottest and most lethal man in the world was pressing his thigh against hers. It was knowledge. Time. The clock ticking.

She couldn’t keep her mind on the soldiers making their way down the river, searching for signs of them. It was the fact that she had time to think. This gorgeous man, Draden Freeman, had somehow been infected with the hemorrhagic virus that had killed an entire village. It would kill him and eventually kill her. She had to cut herself off from every human being …

Stop thinking about it.

That voice. When it slipped into her mind, he poured in after it. Heat. Filling every space in her mind unexpectedly. She was lonely. How could she not be? But she was someone who knew she was intelligent. She had amazing skills, taught from childhood. Whitney had tried to undermine her self-worth, but Shylah knew better than to let him succeed.

She believed in herself and her dedication to her country. That was hers, not something Whitney could take from her, but self-esteem didn’t make her any less lonely. Before, growing up, she’d had her two best friends, Bellisia and Zara. Then they were gone, and she was by herself. She would die that way …

Stop.

His fingers settled around her arm and he gently pulled her into him. The way he did it centered her, his touch a whisper against her skin, no more, yet she found herself tucked in close to his body. There was heat just like in her mind, as if inside Draden was a fire, burning hot and out of control, threatening to consume both of them.

She didn’t know where she got that image, but it was there in her mind, which meant he got the same one. This is embarrassing.

Why? I am hot right now. I want to kill every single one of those fuckers. Most of the time rage for me is ice, but not this time. They killed every man, woman and child in that village. Those people were peaceful. They tried to live their lives in the best way possible, not asking for anything from anyone. You bet I’m hot.

Put that way, she understood. They were testing the virus. I’ve been tracking the men who created it.

He pulled out of her mind abruptly. She knew because she felt bereft. Starkly alone. The feeling was raw and ugly after having him there with her. She wanted him back, and that wasn’t an intelligent response. She needed to stand on her own two feet at all times. That was what made her strong. Depending on someone else only made for weakness. With what was coming, she couldn’t afford to be weak.

Do you know who they are? Their identity?

He was back, sliding into her mind so easily, as if they had been communicating telepathically for years. She could tell he was one of the rare anchors. He could draw psychic energy to him, so others wouldn’t overload on it.

Whitney employs several top scientists. Most have their own labs scattered around the world. He oversees every project, gives his consent or nixes experiments. He’s the banker, so if he doesn’t approve, it isn’t done.

At least, that was in theory. Shylah knew differently now. Three of Whitney’s protégés worked together in his laboratory in France, but they broke away and set up a remote lab here in Indonesia. Two were Americans and one was Indonesian. Whitney talked about them often and how brilliant they were. In the last few months, he’s been angry with them.

Do you know where their remote lab here is located?

She nodded. It’s several miles from here. They’re gone and have been for a couple of days.

I’ll need to see it, if we can get there without infecting anyone.

I can take you there.

Do you know what the fight was about, the one that created a big enough rift that would cause the three scientists to leave Whitney and his endless supply of money?

Whitney nixed their project. They wanted to create new viruses as weapons. Whitney was violently opposed to the idea. He’s all about