"We're going to save him, right?" she asked, her voice much squeakier than she wanted it to be. Quent glanced over at Jackson and then back at her.
"Of course we are." Quent gave her a reassuring smile. She still felt like a tornado had ripped through her world. Ten minutes ago she had been trying to convince herself that Blake really was just in Afghanistan and that he didn't have a connection to the Weres. She knew it wasn't true, but it was better than the alternative of her brother being used as a guinea pig in some werewolf lab experiment.
Jackson put a hand on her shoulder. Just having him touch her made her feel calmer. She was still trembling though. "Are you okay?" Jackson asked.
She nodded, though his frown told her he didn't believe her. That was okay; she didn't believe her either. Chloe put her hand on top of Jackson's, making sure he couldn't pull away. His hand was so warm beneath hers as his fingers tightened gently in a reassuring squeeze. Chloe took a deep breath.
"Okay. What do we do now?" She glanced back and forth between Quent and Jackson.
"Whatever we do has to be tonight. Bronn said he wanted the changes to be in place by the time of the full moon," Jackson answered. Quent nodded.
"If they are enhancing the genetic structure of the Were gene, it would have to be done before the full moon transformation. The gene is at its most volatile right before the change." Quent's eyes went distant. "It may be our only chance to save them."
There was a moment of quiet as the three of them contemplated the results of a super werewolf under military control.
"So, I've only broken onto a military base once, but I've never tried to get a person out of one. How are we going to do this?" Chloe asked, sitting delicately on the bed. She still kept Jackson's hand on her shoulder though.
Quent's eyes narrowed. "Well, I have an old military uniform and I have a buddy who has..."
"How about we just use these?" Jackson interrupted, pulling the two ID badge from his pocket. "These identify you as scientists on the base, so if you're wearing them, you can get on base."
Quent blushed slightly. "That is certainly a much easier option."
Chloe took one of the cards in her hands and played with the plastic. "Then what? We find my brother, get him and the other two out of that tube thing; that much I know. But then how do we get them off base? I don't think the Colonel or that scientist doctor person is going to be very happy about us just taking their science projects."
"We'll go tonight when most of the science staff has gone home. We can use my truck to get them off base." Jackson crossed the small motel room and handed Quent the remaining ID badge.
"What would happen to you if we get caught?" Chloe asked, her voice quiet. She looked up at Jackson with big green eyes.
"Probably a court-martial. No big deal," he said, shrugging as if it were nothing. Chloe frowned.
"If you don't want to be a part of this, I would completely understand." she said, holding up the ID badge. "You got us these. That's more than anything I could have asked for. I don't want you losing your career for some girl you just met.
"You're hardly 'just some girl,'" Jackson said without hesitation. He looked at her with serious brown eyes. She could see a world in those eyes that she wanted to be a part of. They were warm and caring and made her feel alive.
Quent cleared his throat after a moment and Chloe felt her cheeks heat. She wondered just how long she had gotten lost in Jackson's eyes.
"Then it sounds like we have a plan. A flimsy one, but it's the best we got. Chloe and I arrive with you and pretend to be scientists. We break her brother and two other soldiers out of a dangerous lab experiment and bring them home, all while trying not to get you court-martialed." Quent shrugged. "Sounds easy enough."
Chloe giggled nervously. When phrased like that, it sounded ridiculous, but she knew she was going to do it anyway. Her brother needed her and she had never let him down. She wasn't about to start now.
"We can't bring them back here, though," Jackson said, glancing around the small motel room. "Three grown Weres in need of a full moon change are not going to fit in this room."
Quent nodded. "You are absolutely right. We'll have to take them to the Changing Grounds. I'll tell the Alpha to expect company."
Jackson growled. "I don't think it's a good idea to be broadcasting our intentions. I'm not comfortable with anyone knowing, even your Alpha."
Quent waved a hand dismissively. "I won't tell him exactly who is coming. Just to expect three new wolves about to change." Jackson's still glared at him so he added, "if we don't tell him, we won't have access to the Changing Grounds. If you have a safer place than 65 acres of uninhabited woodland, then I'm all ears."
"Fine. But no more details than necessary. This is dangerous enough as it is," Jackson grumbled.
Chloe cleared her throat, the tension in the room higher than what she was comfortable with. "Why is General Bronn so invested in this project? Shouldn't he be busy with base operations or something?"
"It's Colonel Bronn, and that's why he's so interested in this project. The man in power hungry. He's young for Colonel, but from what I know of him, he rose up the ranks quickly because he was ruthless. He's made it very clear that he wants to be a General someday," Jackson explained.
Chloe cocked her head. "So why not just wait for a promotion like everybody else? If he rose up this quickly, it should only be a matter of time."
"The only way to become a General is to be nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. It's very political and the spots are only available when a vacancy occurs, either through retirement or death. Can you think of a better way to distinguish himself and get that General’s star than to provide the Army with a squad of super soldiers?"
"But why this particular avenue? It seems a bit extreme. Why not just be a hero in a war zone or something?" Chloe asked.
Jackson made a pained face as though her lack of military understanding was causing physical discomfort. "It's not quite that easy. He got into some trouble overseas. Screwed up big time. An entire battalion under his command got too violent. They started playing fast and loose with the rules, especially those concerning the treatment of the locals. That's why he's now in charge of a base in the middle of nowhere. He probably sees this as his last chance to earn that star."
"So what you're saying is, he's desperate. Which makes him dangerous," Quent spoke up quietly.
"Very." Jackson nodded and Chloe felt herself shiver. She had to get her brother out of there.
The small motel room went quiet. Chloe thought about her brother and the thought of losing him. They were going to do something to him tonight. Jackson said the scientist had called him a Were, and she was actually okay with that. It was the fact that they were about to do something more that frightened her.
Quent picked up his car keys and went to the door. "You two get things ready on your end. I'll go make sure the Changing Grounds are prepped."
"We'll meet at seven sharp. I'll tell the motel we're checking out," Jackson responded.
Chloe picked up the picture of her brother from the table. Whatever happens, she promised the picture, I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you.
Chapter 21
Jackson knocked gently on the motel door and Chloe hurried over to open it. The wind blew into the small room as she opened the door and old snow skittered around Jackson's feet. He stomped his feet on the cement outside the door before stepping in. It was a futile effort to keep the already disgustingly dirty carpet from getting dirty, but Chloe appreciated the gesture.
"Well, the manager says the room is yours until seven, so you can take a shower and relax until it's time to go," Jackson said. Chloe nodded. Seven o'clock and the plan to break into the base felt a long ways away and she was starting to feel nervous.
Jackson turned as though he was going to leave and Chloe caught his arm. "Will you stay with me? I mean, unless you have somewhere important to go or something," she added lamely. His smile lit up the small room.
"I've got nowhere to be but here. What would you like to do?" he asked. His eyes were cinnamon warm and when they focused on her she felt a heat growing in her belly.
"We never did finish that game of gin rummy," she replied with a smile. Jackson glanced over at the small table and the one, lone chair. She followed his gaze and quickly added, "We can just play on the floor."
"Sounds good to me," Jackson said, smiling as he sat down on the cleanest patch of carpet he could find. Chloe moved to sit cross-legged in front of him. Their knees were almost close enough to touch, and she could feel his heat radiating toward her. Chloe wished she could inch forward just enough to have his knee caress hers, but she didn't want to seem too pushy. He pulled out the cards and began dealing.
The sexual tension in the room was almost unbearable. Every fiber of Chloe's body- every muscle, every bone, every nerve—wanted Jackson. She couldn't understand the insane amount of attraction and it was taking every ounce of her willpower not to jump on him. Her lips tingled from where they had kissed, driving her mad with desire to feel it again.
"So," she said, clearing her throat. The room was too quiet and she hoped talking would distract her mind from the raging needs of her body.
Jackson looked up from his cards, his dark eyes drawing her in. She wished she had something to actually say, but his eyes stole all her brain power.
"I really appreciate you doing this," she stuttered. She organized the cards in her hand, hoping the blush wasn't as obvious as she was afraid it was. "I mean, helping me with my brother. It's a lot of risk, and I would totally understand if you wanted to back out or..."
"I'm not backing out. I said I was going to help you, and I'm going to." He smiled at her and her heart skipped a beat.
"Why?" she asked. "I mean, thank you, but you barely know me. Why are you helping me?" The cards shook slightly as she organized them a little bit more.
"We should fix that- the barely knowing part, I mean," Jackson said, avoiding her question.
After the dreams I've been having, I feel like I know you pretty well, Chloe thought, but she kept that to herself. After all, they were just dreams.
Chloe set her cards face-down on the floor and held out her right hand. "Hi. My name's Chloe Madison. I am twenty-three years old, single, and I like sweet wine and long walks on the beach."
Jackson set his cards down and wrapped her small hand in his. A tingle went up her spine at his touch. "The single thing is good considering earlier," he said with a wink.
"Sorry about that. I don't know what came over me," she answered nervously. Probably the same thing that's coming over me now, she thought. He hadn't let her hand go and she hoped that he wouldn't.
Jackson released her hand and she couldn't help the small sigh that escaped. He stared at the floor between them, as if he hadn't wanted to let go either. "We should probably just take things slow."
"You are absolutely right." Chloe nodded. "So what about you? You twenty-three, single and like sweet wine and long walks on the beach, too?"