Playing With Fire (Phoenix Fire #3)(60)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“What’s happening?” Jamie demanded, huffing out fast breaths.

Dante knew the kid was rushing to keep up with his footsteps, but there was no way they could slow down. He wanted the boy safe and secure, and he wanted to be back at Cassie’s side.

“Who was that guy with Charles? Is he—”

“He’s someone who should be dead.” Dante planned to correct that problem at the very first opportunity. He pushed open the door to Jamie’s room. “Stay here. Keep the door bolted, and no matter what you hear, don’t come out until I come back for you.”

Jamie’s eyes filled his face. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m gonna get rid of the unwelcome company at the door.” Dante turned away.

But Jamie grabbed his arm. “You won’t . . . die will you?” There was fear in the boy’s voice.

He had known fear too much in his short life.

“Death doesn’t stop me.”

Jamie’s lashes dropped. “You’re not scared of anything. I-I want to be like you.”

“No, trust me. You don’t.” When Jamie’s gaze lifted once more, Dante pointed at him. “Stay here. I’ll come back for you.”

Jamie stumbled back with a quick nod. Dante hurried out, but he heard the lock engage behind him.

He’d be back for the kid as soon as he dealt with that ass Jon Abrams. The man had followed them all the way to Mississippi? Talk about a f**king thorn in their sides.

The lieutenant colonel was overdue for his trip to hell.

Jamie stared at the closed door. Whoever that man was outside, he was dangerous. Cassie had been afraid of him.

Dante hadn’t.

But then, Dante feared nothing.

He just faced whatever threat was there. Eliminated it.

Fear didn’t control him.

Jamie glanced toward the broken wooden chair in his room. Charles was outside. No one would be in his room. Before he’d cut out, had he left his keycard behind again? Before, it had just been tossed onto the small desk in his room.

Dante feared nothing.

Jamie wanted to be like Dante. He didn’t want to fear the monsters anymore.

Everyone else . . . was busy with that guy—had Cassie called him Jon? They wouldn’t be paying any attention to the vampire that was locked up.

No attention at all.

Jamie grabbed a few of those broken chunks of wood. He’d just see if Charles had left his keycard behind.

And if he had . . .

I will be like Dante.

He wouldn’t fear anyone.

Or anything.

“Let him in,” Cain said as his fist hit the table. “We’ll give the bastard a welcome that he won’t soon forget.”

Cassie shook her head. “He died, I know he did.” He’d died—and now the guy was conjuring fire. “He’s . . . he’s become a phoenix.” It should have been impossible.

But these days, nothing seemed impossible. Not with science and magic at play.

“You don’t become a phoenix,” Cain immediately argued. “You’re born one. You—”

More fire was spinning out there.

“Maybe you don’t have to let me in,” Jon snarled. That calm veneer was cracking with every second that passed. “Maybe I’ll just kill him in front of you, and then I’ll set the building on fire until you have no choice but to flee.”

“He’s a dead man,” Cain said. The words sounded like a vow. Probably were.

Eve wrapped her hand around his arm. “Jon Abrams has some very powerful allies in the government.” Her gaze slid to Cassie. “Genesis isn’t ever going to be truly dead, is it?”

No, it wasn’t. As for being dead, Jon obviously wasn’t, either.

“I can’t let him kill Charles.” Cassie couldn’t let him die. Charles was her friend.

Two men in black—one carrying a small briefcase—rushed toward the sealed door upstairs.

“They’ll get through sooner or later,” Jon said as his gaze cut to the security camera. “The longer it takes, the angrier I become.”

Charles was trembling beside him.

“Let me in,” Jon snarled.

Cassie’s mind raced. She’d been so close to the cure. So close. She needed more time. Time that Jon wasn’t going to give her.

She focused on Eve. “You have to get out of here.”

Eve blinked at her. “Don’t you mean we have to get out?” she asked carefully.

Cassie shook her head. “Jon might not even know you’re here. He’s after me. You can take my test results—and go. There’s an emergency tunnel that will spit you out half a mile from here. Jon won’t look for you there—”

“Unless Charles has told him about it,” Cain cut in, his voice tight. “The way that poor bastard is hurting, I think he’s telling everything he knows.”

I can’t let him hurt anymore.

Cassie spun away from the screen. She grabbed samples of her blood. Dante’s. Got her results. She was racing as she secured them all in a container that would keep them safe. “Here.” She shoved the container at Eve. “Take these. Go.”

Cassie couldn’t open the door upstairs until they’d gotten a solid head start.

“You really think your Dante is gonna let you go out there and face that guy?” Cain demanded. His big body had tensed. “I can go ahead and tell you, that’s not happening.”

Dante isn’t going to have a choice. “Charles isn’t dying,” Cassie stated forcefully.

“I’m waiting, Cassie!” Jon shouted. Oh, yes, that calm mask had shattered.

She knew he wouldn’t wait much longer. Quickly, Cassie pressed the intercom button. “It takes a while to dis . . . disengage the security system. I’m working as fast as I can!”

He stilled. “You’re lying. I can hear it in your voice.”

Cassie glanced at Eve. “Go, please. Take the tunnel. I’ll meet you in New Orleans. We can meet up at Vaughn’s dad’s place.” It was the safest rendezvous point that Cassie could think of. “Midnight tomorrow. I will be there.”

Or she’d be dead.

Eve nodded. She knew all about Vaughn and his father—they’d also been tied to Genesis.

After a grim moment, Cain took Eve’s hand, and they ran for the door.

Cassie sucked in a couple of deep, hard breaths. Think, think! She had to keep Jon out of the lab. Had to keep Vaughn and Trace and Jamie safe.