Alexia- The Price of Freedom (Project Zeus-Olympia Book 1)

CHAPTER 5

Alex paced restlessly around the room like a caged animal. If the government was after her, that meant that her brothers and sisters were also in danger.

“First things first, girl. We need to know why your pills stopped working.” Dottie’s voice cut through the silence, interrupting her thoughts.

“Don’t you think my family is just a little more important?” Alex bit out sarcastically, as she turned to sneer in Dottie’s direction.

“Watch your tone.” Dottie snapped back, making her pupils dilate at the tone. The feline DNA in her did not like to be challenged.

“And take a pill. Knowing what set you off in the first place could save all of our asses later, if we’re going to have to work together.” At Dottie’s words, Alex could taste the rage on her tongue. The metallic taste for blood was trying to push to the surface. This didn't usually happen so soon after she had taken her pills.

“Dottie, what’s wrong with me? Why can’t I control it? The medicine has always worked before.” She crunched into a handful of pills as she plopped down on the bed. If the medicine was no longer working for the rage, would she later lose all control of herself? One of her biggest fears was that she would become exactly what the government wanted her to be; exactly what was in Dodger and Cooper's dossier.

“I don’t know. Tell me what happened over the past forty-eight hours to trigger the rage the first time.” Dottie’s cool mannerism under pressure had Alex relaxing. She looked at the two guys before responding.

“I found them in my uncle’s house. I fought with them and I felt the rage, but the pills were able to control it.” Alex then went on to describe the steps she took to protect her family, leaving out names and places. No matter how much she wanted to trust Dodger and his friend, she wouldn’t compromise her family’s safety.

“Alexia St. James, have you lost your damned mind?” Dottie’s indignant tone had her wincing, but determined.

“No, I was thinking I had to do whatever I could to protect what was left of my bloodline.” Alex snapped back, the pain evident in her voice. “They don’t deserve to die, and I don’t deserve to lose everyone I care about!”

“That’s not the point.” Dottie countered, steeling herself against Alex’s pain.

“You’re going to need a full workup to see what damage you caused.” Dottie chided.

“I’m fine, Dot.” Alex assured her friend, as Dottie sat down beside her.

“Uh, could one of you explain the whole mind control thing?” Cooper’s voice crashed through the tension, making Alex look up at him.

“I can make people see things that aren’t there, or make them not see things that are.” Alex explained with a half smile.

“Yeah, it only rips small holes in her brain and does who knows what else to her body.” Alex winced at Dottie’s overly sweet tone. She could tell her friend was pissed.

“That’s why you passed out when you first got here and that’s where the blood came from.” Dodger’s comment had Dottie’s temper on full boil now.

“You couldn’t have kept that fun little fact to yourself.” Alex muttered as Dottie exploded.

“I should have just let you die!” She yelled.

“But then who would cause the gray strands in your hair that you dye every month?” Alex kept her tone and expression innocent, knowing it would soften Dottie, even as she heard the boys’ chuckle.

“I don’t have gray hair. I just like to spice things up a bit.” Dottie defended, “And don’t think those big glistening cat eyes are going to work on me.”

“I never think that.” Alex let her eyes well up with childish innocence.

“Fine, it still works.” Dottie shot Alex a smile and then wrapped her arms around her. “But one day it won’t.”

“Man, I used to let her get away with murder for that look.” Dodger said, looking sheepish when he realized he said it out loud.

“Don’t feel too bad. It’s all in the genes.” She chuckled at his expression.

“Speaking of genes, it seems as if our dossier left a few things out about yours. Care to fill in the blanks?” Cooper asked, curiously.

Alex sat up in attention, hearing the mechanical hum.

“I’d love to, but your tracking device has been activated.” She jumped to her feet, pulling Dottie towards the door.

“Dot, get gone. We don’t know what branch of government is pulling strings, and I don’t want you involved.” She ushered her friend out the door with a promise to call.

“Strip the bed and give me the covers.” Alex said, even as she closed the door on Dottie.

“Give me your shirt, Dodger.” Dodger stripped off the bloodstained material that hung nearly in tatters, tossing it into the covers even as he rolled them up. He picked up the phone, calling the front desk.

“Hey, can I get more covers and sheets up here in room 408.” He ordered and then disconnected before the person on the other end could respond. Alex wrapped the bundle tight, using the rope and handcuffs that Dottie left behind.

“Hey handsome, get Dodge a shirt, would you? Wouldn’t want your bosses thinking the wrong thing.” She called to Cooper, watching his eyes narrow on her as she tossed him a wink and then turned back around to face her past.

“Dodge, I have so much I want to tell you.” She caressed his cheek before backing to the window. “I’ll come to you later.”

“Alex, wait.” Dodger approached her, gripping her waist tightly as he pressed his mouth hungrily against hers.

Alex accepted the kiss, recognizing the hunger and desperation that matched hers. Even as she wanted to prolong the kiss, she could hear someone picking the lock at the door. Amateur. She broke away from the kiss, reluctantly and offered him a sexy grin; desire sparkled in her green eyes.

“I wished I could stay, but you’re about to have company.” With that, Alex executed a perfect backward flip out of the open window, just as the hotel door opened. Dodger watched in amazement as Alex landed on her feet from a four-story drop and shot off into the dark.

“Don’t you guys knock?” Dodger said in disgust, not turning around.

“No. I like to catch my men unaware.” The coolly amused tone of Donovan Tal’s voice grated on his nerves.

“Sorry, Viper. Thought you were housekeeping.” He turned, catching the T-shirt that Cooper tossed at him.

“I see. What happened?” Donovan gestured to the bed.

“Wet dream.” Dodger replied flatly, causing Cooper to snicker.

“Still a sarcastic asshole, I see.” Donovan chuckled, walking over to the tiny desk and sitting down.

“Sure, make yourself at home.” Dodger sat down on his stripped bed, starring intently at his boss.

“What brings you by?”

“We’re working on tracking the boy, but there’s some kind of scrambler. My girl is still very clever.”

“Your girl?” Cooper brows rose at that.

“Yes. ZX-83 and I have a history.” Donovan’s lips curled in remembrance, causing Dodger’s blood to boil.

“What kind of history? Don’t tell me you were banging a science project?” Cooper inflicted the right amount of disgust into his tone to piss Donovan off, and stopping Dodger from making an ill-advised comment.

“No, I wasn’t ‘banging’ her, as you so charmingly put it, and ZX-83 is so much more than a mere science project. She and the others are worth billions.” Donovan hissed, reminding Cooper of one of the reasons for his alias.

“Others?” Dodger asked, curious now.

“Stop asking questions. You know all that you need to know to track her down and bring her in. Once we break the scrambler’s signal, be ready to move.” Donovan rose and exited the room as quietly as he’d entered. A few seconds later, a knock sounded at the door.

“Housekeeping.” A feminine voice, heavily accented, called out. Dodger pulled the door open and pointed to his bed.

“Where are the other sheets, sir?” She asked, looking confused.

“Beats me.” He gave a careless shrug and headed towards the tiny bathroom, leaving Cooper to deal with her. As he was walking away, he could hear Cooper speaking to her in fluent Spanish. From the flirtatious little giggle, Dodger knew that missing sheets was the last thing on her mind.

Alex pulled into the covered garage and parked her bike, her mind instantly returning to the events of the past seventy-two hours. Dodger. She couldn’t believe that after ten years she was finally able to hold him again, to taste him again. Dodger had taught her to trust again, and then he’d taught her to love. He’d taught her to kiss and he’d taught her patience. For her, Dodger had been everything, and in an instant he was

gone. Ten years ago, she’d let her guards down, and the ruthless scientists that created her, destroyed her existence and nearly ended her life. Now it was time to put a stop to this once and for all. Alex entered her apartment, cell phone in hand. She quickly stripped down as she waited for Dottie to answer, leaving her clothes where they fell.

“I’m fine. I’m home. Love you. Later.” She left a brief message after her friend’s voicemail picked up. Alex showered quickly, knowing she was too exhausted to do much else. Silently hoping not to dream, she crashed into sleep.