“That was some performance, though. You even had me going at one stage,” Nick admitted.
“Do you still think you like me? Do you still want to be with me?” she asked. “Be honest.”
“I do, and what’s more, I think you want it too,” Nick replied, flashing her a grin.
“Yeah, how do you figure that?”
“Because I know everything about you. Every ugly little secret that you try to hide, and I still want you,” Nick replied. “I don’t think you can say the same about Ethan.”
Dylan was silent, aware that he’d struck a nerve. As much as she liked Ethan, she didn’t think he’d be able to cope with her dark side. He was too good for that. “You’re probably right about Ethan, but that still doesn’t mean I’m going to fall into your arms.”
“I don’t expect you to, but don’t be surprised if I club you over the head and drag you to my lair. I’ve got a dark side too.”
Dylan smiled. “Oh, I’m counting on it.”
***
Ten minutes later, Dylan stared up at the sky as the first snowflake tumbled to the ground. The temperature was dropping fast, and the wind speed was picking up. Her watch told her it was almost five o’clock, and she knew their time was up. Amy and Tara were waiting for them. The meeting with the major would have to wait until the storm had passed. At least, they had a signed confession now.
Before she could call out to him, Saul stormed out of the storage room with a grim look on his face. “We need to get to the lab.”
Alex was hot on Saul’s heels, his eyes wild. “Let’s go, guys.”
“What’s wrong?” Dylan asked, her stomach forming a knot.
“I’ll explain on the way, but right now, both Tara and Amy are in danger,” Saul said, striding toward the truck.
“What about Harris?” Dylan asked as she ran after him.
“Screw him. We’ll come back for him later,” Saul said, jumping behind the wheel. They tumbled in after him, and he started the ignition. With a roar of the engine, they spun away.
During the drive, Saul told them about Harris’ confession. “There’s a lot more going on here than either of us thought. Not only is Lieutenant King and his men staging a coup, but they’re also planning on getting rid of us for good.”
“How do they plan on doing that?” Dylan asked.
“Bannock is supposed to kill Tara while King and his men take out the major. Amy’s just a bonus. They don’t even know about her or Alex yet. After that, they’re supposed to come for us at the house,” Saul explained.
“How did they think to manage all of that? A coup and mass murder? Wouldn’t the other soldiers and civilians catch on?” Dylan said.
“Not while the base is on lockdown during one of the worst blizzards of the season,” Saul said. “By the time the storm passes, the new command will be in place, and we’ll have disappeared.”
“Wow, that is clever,” Dylan admitted. “King is one smart guy; I’ll give him that.”
“He’ll be a dead guy once I get my hands on him,” Saul said as he spun to a stop in front of the lab’s entrance.
Before any of them could move a muscle, Tara and Amy came running straight for them. They jumped into the car, red-faced and out of breath. A flurry of snow followed them into the cab, and Dylan leaned forward to crank up the heat.
“Thank God, you came,” Tara cried. “I was so worried something had happened to you.”
“Happened to us?” Saul said. “We were worried about you. We learned that Bannock was going to try and kill you.”
“He did, but we got out. He set the lab’s captive infected on us,” Tara said. “Thanks to you, we were armed, but Dr. Patel wasn’t so lucky.”
“She’s dead?” Dylan asked.
“The zombies got her,” Tara confirmed. “Bannock will pay for that, I swear it.”
Dylan looked at Saul. “What now? You said they were going after the major.”
“Not if we can stop them,” Saul said.
“Wait, how many of them are in on this?” Dylan asked. “We can’t be outnumbered. These are trained soldiers.”
“So am I. Alex and Nick, too,” Saul pointed out. “Besides, there are only three of them left. King and two of his henchmen. Harris was supposed to join them, but he’s going nowhere.”
“What about Bannock?” Dylan pointed out. “He just tried to kill Tara. Won’t he be there?”
“Apparently not. He’s supposed to wait it out in his quarters. Tara was his one job,” Saul said.
“So, it’s four against three,” Dylan said.
“Not this time, Dylan,” Saul said. “You, Tara, and Amy will wait in the truck. If anything goes wrong, you get the heck out of here.”
“You expect me to do nothing?” Dylan said, her blood up at the mere thought.
“I do. If something happens to us, I need you to look after Tara and Amy. You’re the only one I trust enough to do that,” Saul said, his expression serious.
Dylan stared at him, shocked to the core. “You mean that?”
“I do.”
“At least, let me watch the entrance,” she bargained.
“Fine, you can watch our backs, but if things go south, you get out of there. Deal?” Saul said. “You get them somewhere safe.”
“Deal,” Dylan replied.
“Don’t we get a say in this at all?” Tara asked with an exasperated frown.
“Yeah, what she said,” Amy cried.
“No,” came the single answer spoken in four unanimous voices.
Saul glanced at them in the rearview mirror as he gunned the truck, heading toward the major’s office. “Sorry, ladies, but it’s four against one. The majority has spoken.”
Chapter 20 - Saul
Saul burst into the major’s office with his rifle at shoulder height, ready to shoot. “Nobody move!”
Nick appeared beside him, followed by Alex. They each took up a position near the door with their guns aimed at the four figures within the room. In the passage behind them, Dylan stood guard, ensuring no one could sneak up on them.
“What
