Denver stared at Dr. Madison. He had to get her away from Noni. “I have your eyes,” he whispered softly. Could he distract her?
Heath moved forward a couple of inches, keeping the women behind him.
Madison’s chin lifted, and she angled slightly behind Noni. Those blue eyes sparkled, and her dark hair had escaped its clip. “Yes, you do. My father’s eyes.”
Denver took a step toward her, calculating the distance. “Your father. My grandfather.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Yes. He was a soldier. One of the best.”
Denver slid forward. About ten feet separated them. “Was?”
“Yes. Even though he was so strong, he still died.” Fury darkened Madison’s eyes.
“Is that why you create soldiers?” Denver asked, forcing himself to speak calmly when terror heated his chest. Madison’s gun was angled so that a bullet would pierce Noni’s heart. She’d die instantly if Madison fired. “Your experiments?”
Madison tracked his movement. “Stop. Or I’ll shoot.”
He stopped. “Is that why?”
“It’s one of the reasons,” she said, eyeing the door. “I’m gifted and was created to do something great. It’s noble, and I’m changing the world one chromosome at a time. That matters, Denver.”
He swallowed. “Okay. So let’s get out of here. Just you and me. I’ll help you.”
She studied him. “I’m not stupid, boy. You can’t love her and help me.”
He stiffened, still pointing the Sig at her. She was taller than Noni and was still visible. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
Noni’s eyes widened.
Madison stared at him, her gaze a little wild. “You’re my son. You won’t kill me.”
“If it’s you or them, you die.” He’d given her the truth. Even though he’d planned to kill her, he was now hoping deep down she wouldn’t force him into it. “Don’t make me do this.”
She smiled. “There’s only one way for us to really be together.” Her shoulders stiffened, and her grip on the gun tightened.
There was no choice.
Denver fired.
The bullet hit her in the center of the forehead. She jerked back, her body hitting the arm of the sofa and sliding down to the ground. Her gun clunked onto the floor a second later.
Denver gaped. His body went numb.
Noni turned and grabbed Talia before pivoting and running for him. He enfolded them, holding them tight, his gaze on Madison’s wide eyes. God. He’d actually killed her.
Heath rushed forward and yanked the detonator out of her hand. “Holy shit. We have no idea how stable these explosives are. We have to run. Now.”
Noni finished burping the baby after she’d had a bottle and then laid her in the portable crib. The small motel room outside of Boise was quaint but clean. Her mind still fuzzed, and her body still buzzed. After he’d killed Madison, Denver had spirited all of them out of the house and away to this motel, where he and Heath had quickly taken the bullet out of Ryker’s leg.
Ryker knew some very interesting phrases.
Now Ryker and Zara were in the next room while Denver and Heath had gone back to the house to clean up. What did that mean? There were explosives in that damn house.
A knock sounded on the door, and she ran for it, yanking the door open. Denver stood in the snow, his eyes dark. She moved to let him in. “Is everything good?” she asked breathlessly.
He shut the door and leaned against it, his eyes weary. “Yes.”
Oh, she needed more. “And?”
