Bodie by Nyssa Kathryn
Chapter 22
Bodie watched the trees pass through the window. They were a blur. Oliver wasn’t speeding per se, but he definitely wasn’t driving slowly.
Most people would barely be able to see a thing in the pitch-black night. Bodie could see everything, right down to the browning leaves that lay scattered at the foot of the trees.
After all, what kind of a genetically enhanced soldier wouldn’t have night-vision?
“We’re almost there,” Oliver said, taking another right turn.
Just like Bodie, his friends had been solemn since finding out the truth about Sinclair.
Wyatt had gotten straight on the phone to Evie. The two of them had already researched the guy extensively. They knew they weren’t going to find anything new in his background. This time, they focused on his movements over the last month. They wanted to know where he’d been and, more importantly, where he was right now.
Bodie shook his head. “We knew the guy was dirty. We should have done more to confirm it. Tailed him. Set up surveillance on his home. Something.”
At the very least, they would have discovered that two weeks ago, it hadn’t just been Sinclair who’d taken a leave of absence—six of his men were also on leave.
It was important that Bodie and Oliver didn’t take long tonight. He didn’t want to be away from Maya for a second longer than necessary. Not when they didn’t know where those six other men were.
“His place would be swept for surveillance regularly. The CIA would make sure of it.”
It was true. They should probably count themselves lucky that Maya had found out about Sinclair and exposed him.
They hadn’t told anyone from the CIA what they knew. Not yet. They didn’t know how deep the corruption went.
“All those years ago, when Project Arma was raided, when Hylar and his team managed to escape before police arrived, it must have been Sinclair who gave everyone the heads-up.” Bodie only just held on to the curse that threatened to leave his lips.
Oliver nodded. “We finally know where the leak was.”
It was that warning that had allowed Project Arma to remain active. It was because of Sinclair that Bodie’s team had been hunting their enemy for so long.
His voice hardened. “I hope he’s here.”
He caught the slight tightening of Oliver’s fingers on the wheel. “Me too, Red. But something tells me that would be too easy.”
True. And when had anything been easy for them?
Wyatt and Evie had spent the entire evening researching Sinclair’s movement. They’d hacked every business surveillance camera in the area and employed facial recognition software. They’d also searched for accommodations and any local buildings that might be empty.
That’s how Evie had discovered the place where they were heading now. A house located in a forested section of Keystone. The owner had passed away a year ago and since then, it had been uninhabited. Or at least, was supposed to be uninhabited.
It could still be empty. But about a week ago, the power was reconnected, despite the house not being sold or rented. That right there was a red flag.
The house would be a smart choice. It was close enough to make it into town quickly, but far enough away so that neighbors wouldn’t realize strange men had moved in.
“Do you think his men are like us?” Oliver asked.
Bodie knew what Oliver was asking. Had his men received the same DNA-altering drugs? Probably. “I think we should expect the worst.”
And hopefully be pleasantly surprised if the worst didn’t come to pass.
“Are you worried about Maya?”
Always. “Yes. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. I’m worried about her health and also her safety. I know how strong we are, but every time we think we have our women protected, Hylar or his men get around us.”
There was a short pause before Oliver spoke. “He’s been testing us, there’s no doubt about it. But we’ve survived everything that’s been thrown our way. And every time someone’s life has been threatened, we’ve gotten them back. Safely.”
It was true. Yet it did nothing to ease Bodie’s anxiety. “Lucky you don’t have someone to worry about. It will age you ten years.”
At least.
When Oliver remained silent for too long, Bodie turned to study his friend. “Am I wrong?”
Oliver chuckled softly. “I don’t have anyone. I’m a lone wolf, remember?” Then, after more silence, “There was this one woman, though…I met her a few weeks ago. We only spent the weekend together, heck it was actually only one night, but damn, did she leave an impression.”
Bodie tried to hide his surprise. “You keep in contact?”
“Nah. We exchanged numbers. She never called, and when I tried her number, it was disconnected.”
“Damn. I’m sorry, brother.”
Oliver ran a hand through his hair. “Nothing to be sorry about. I’m still happy being single. I left her a note in her pocket when we parted, telling her to contact me at Marble Protection if she couldn’t get through to me on my cell. What I’m feeling is probably just a bruised ego.”
“I guess that can happen when you give a woman two ways to contact you and she gives you a fake number.”
Oliver chuckled again. “Kind of screams ‘not interested’ doesn’t it?”
He pulled off the highway and onto a long stretch of what once was a dirt road. It was now covered in a thick layer of snow. Oliver didn’t drive far. Instead, he pulled the car to the side of the road behind the cover of trees.
It was safer to walk the remaining distance. If someone like them was at the house, they might hear Bodie and Oliver coming, regardless. They were still hoping that Sinclair and his men were fully human, but weren’t holding their breaths.
They stepped out of the car and made their way through the forest. Bodie was damn glad he had a high cold threshold because a normal person would be freezing right now without the proper snow gear, which wasn’t an option. It would restrict his movement if he needed to fight.
They moved quickly and quietly. For most people, the walk would be hard and slow. For them, it was the opposite.
When a break in the trees appeared, they immediately spotted the house. It was obvious the place had been uninhabited for a while. Hell, he wouldn’t be surprised if it hadn’t been properly kept before the owner died. Rotting wood covered the exterior walls and plants had begun growing between the roof shingles. One side of the building seemed to be sinking and cracks were visible in the windows.
Bodie paused. He listened for footsteps. Heartbeats. Breaths. Anything that would indicate a person was inside.
There was silence. All he heard were Oliver’s and his own heartbeats.
They moved toward the house. Bodie reached the door first and tried the handle. Unlocked.
Stepping inside, he scanned the interior. It was old and basic. A couch sat in front of him and a wooden table to the right. Beyond the table was an old kitchen, and to the back of the room he could see three doors. Each leading to what he presumed would be bedrooms or bathrooms.
Bodie moved to one of the doors while Oliver crossed to the kitchen.
He scanned a bedroom before moving into the adjoining bathroom. Yep. Someone had definitely been here, and they’d been here recently. The evidence was subtle. The odd droplet of water. The absence of dust or cobwebs.
Bending down, he saw a single black hair on the floor.
The only question: was the person or people who’d been here the men they were looking for?
Bodie was straightening when a noise made his head shoot up.
A footstep. It came from outside the house. Followed by another.
Moving quickly, Bodie pulled the gun from his ankle holster and moved to the corner of the living room. Oliver crouched behind the kitchen counter, his own weapon firmly in hand.
Two heartbeats.
Bodie slowed his breathing and let years of training take over.
That’s when the window beside him shattered and a man jumped through. At the same time, the front door was smashed in and a second person entered.
Bodie aimed the gun and shot. The man was on the ground in milliseconds, narrowly missing the bullet—and exposing his speed.
The gun was kicked from Bodie’s hand before he had time to shoot again, the man throwing a punch. He crouched quickly, the fist only grazing his jaw.
Kicking out his leg, Bodie sent the man to his back. He dove on top of him, throwing a punch to the man’s temple.
The guy barely reacted, jabbing Bodie in the gut and flipping their bodies around.
Bodie let out a grunt.
Another punch hit him in the face, hard and fast. The pain was instant. Bodie absorbed it, focusing on the next attack. When the man’s fist came at him again, Bodie had time to dodge.
He didn’t. He caught the fist and twisted.
The sound of bones snapping echoed throughout the room.
This time, the man did react. He grabbed his wrist and howled. Bodie used the man’s moment of pain to his benefit. Flipping their bodies again before grabbing the man’s head and slamming it to the ground. He did it a second time. Then a third.
Blood coated the floor.
Bodie grabbed him by the throat. The asshole shot his uninjured arm forward, hitting him in the gut. Bodie didn’t loosen his hold. Instead, he tightened his fingers. Watched as panic and desperation flashed through the guy’s eyes.
Bodie shot a quick glance at Oliver, noticing his teammate had the other guy pushed to the wall. They’d get their information from Oliver’s man.
Which meant this guy was no longer needed.
Bodie quickly grabbed the man’s head and snapped his neck.
He went limp beneath him.
Standing, he moved to Oliver, lifting the gun that had been kicked to the floor on his way.
The guy Oliver secured had a knife wound to his gut, blood dripping from the wound. It was probably the only reason Oliver could restrain him.
Oliver grabbed one of the man’s wrists and pressed it against the wall. Bodie lifted the gun, placing the muzzle to the man’s hand.
“I’m going to ask you some questions, and every time you lie to me, I’m going to put a hole in your body. Do you understand?”
The man struggled against Oliver’s hold. “Fuck off.”
Bodie pressed the gun harder to his skin. “I’m going to start with your hand. Next will be your feet. The worst will be your knees. Do you know what it feels like to have your kneecap shattered? I hear it’s a pain that burns through the body like fire.”
The man’s breathing quickened. “Okay! What do you want to know?”
“Where’s Sinclair?”
“I don’t know.”
Bodie took note of the man’s tone as he spoke, as well as his heartbeat. He was scared, but he wasn’t lying.
“After he ran into you at the fair, he wanted us to split up. Him, Jordy, and Casper went to another location. Mick and I stayed here. Sinclair was going to contact us with our next mission.”
More truths.
“Sinclair has six men. If he has two with him, and you guys are here, where are the last two?”
“They were killed in Tyler.”
Tyler. That’s where Wyatt had gone with Quinn to pick up Maya. Only Maya hadn’t been there. Instead, two men had broken into the apartment and attacked, and Wyatt killed them.
Sinclair’s men.
“How did Sinclair get involved in Project Arma?” Oliver’s voice was low and deadly.
“He’s more than involved. Him and Hylar orchestrated the whole fucking thing.”
Bodie’s limbs went cold. “That’s not true.”
They would have uncovered that information.
“It is! The two of them served together. Known each other for years. When Project Arma started, they wiped Sinclair’s past. Made it seem like they’d never met. Even changed his name in his military records so they could never be connected.”
Bodie shot a look to Oliver. His friend had the same expression of shock and disbelief on his face. Hylar had told them he’d created the project. He’d never mentioned a partner.
And to wipe someone’s past…that required a whole lot of power.
“What were they hoping to achieve with Project Arma?”
“I don’t know.” Oliver pulled the man’s head off the wall before brutally shoving it back. The guy grunted before raising his voice. “I’m telling the truth! I don’t know! I worked for Sinclair. He let me and five other guys in on the project. He took us to the facility before it shut down, gave us drugs to make us stronger and faster. He didn’t tell us everything.”
Shit. The guy still wasn’t lying.
“What does he want with Maya?”
The guy’s breathing was labored, but not nearly as bad as moments ago. “Fuck. You.”
Wrong answer.
Bodie was about to pull the trigger when the guy shoved back against Oliver, hard enough to cause him to stumble, then kicked out at Bodie, making him stagger a few feet backward.
The man reached for his ankle, presumably for a holstered weapon.
Bodie shot him in the head before he’d even pulled it out.