He didn't know what response he expected, but he continued when he got none. At least, she wasn't running from him.
"They began to choke, like I physically touched them, but I was across the cell. At first, it scared me a little, but then I realized it was my way to freedom."
"What happened then? Did you kill them?"
He shook his head. "No. Other guards came in and shot me full of sedatives. When I woke, I was strapped to a gurney, pretty drugged up. I remember hearing conversations about LSD and trying to make a super assassin."
"MK Ultra. Joe told me all about it."
Finally, he met her gaze. Her stare no longer held any anger, but sadness. "Yes. They shot me full of LSD, tried to erase my memories and make me into this super killer. They figured with my newfound ability, I could become a very powerful weapon for Group Nine."
"It worked."
"No, it didn't. I don't know how many trips I had. They also tried electrocution and torture, but I couldn't let go of my memories. Remembering you was the only thing that kept me wanting to live throughout the horrific pain they caused me."
Her eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. "I'm so sorry they did that to you. How did they finally erase your memory?"
"Hypnosis. Nicholas came in to one electrocution session and screamed and yelled at the other agents, then got me out of there. I realize now it had been a set up to gain my trust. Joe said that in my traumatized state, he was able to reach my subconscious without me even realizing it while I slept. It was like my mind had fractured, and he went in and sewed it up with his own thread, so it only held the stories he wanted. I had forgotten all that. When I woke up in the hospital and Nicholas was there, Joe thinks that my mind had been programmed to trust him right from the start. Then, the rest is history. He told me his lies, which he'd already planted in my subconscious, so it became easy to believe him. Every time I'd complete a job, he'd hypnotize me and reinforce his story."
Her tears now fell as she shook her head. "In a way, they did create a perfect assassin, just not with LSD."
"Exactly."
He reached up and wiped her cheeks with the pad of his thumb. "I need to stay behind for my own revenge, Ava. I need to take out as many members of Group Nine as I can. They stole a year from me. I've killed innocent people because of them."
She nodded. "Justice. You're seeking justice."
Grinning, he squeezed her hand. "Yeah, just not the courtroom type."
As she started at the floor, he hoped she truly understood how important this was to him.
"I'm going to stay behind, and I'll catch up with you in a few days. Then, I hope you'll want to start over, despite my newfound ability. You're my life, Ava, and you always have been, and I would never hurt you. I remember what we had, and I want that again. I can't imagine losing you once more, but I get it if you don't want to be with me."
Their gazes locked.
"I love you, too, Jordan."
He reached over and pulled her into a hug. How he wanted to kiss her, to make love to her, to never let her go, but for her own safety, she had to get as far away from him as she could.
As she settled into her husband's embrace, so many emotions rallied through her, the main one being anger at those who had treated him so terribly. She tried to feel some type of remorse for wanting them all dead, but none came.
On a personal level, she detested Nicholas and everyone who worked for Group Nine with every fiber of her being. After what Jordan had shared, her hate ran deep and wide, and as far as she was concerned, they all deserved whatever Jordan dished out to him.
"I need to do this, Ava. I hope you understand."
The fact that she wanted Jordan to kill another human … what did that say about her? Did that make her a monster? She didn't think so. Sometimes, violence needed to be met with violence. Right now, she had Jordan back, although slightly altered, and that's all that mattered. He'd be gone a few days, and then they'd be able to really start over.
She squeezed his hand and closed her eyes again. "Please be safe."
"I will."
They stayed in each other's arms for a long time, then Jordan pulled away. "Can I rest in here for a few minutes?"
"Of course."
He stood and pulled off his T-shirt. She glanced over at his thick chest and flat belly, and a scar caught her eye.
"What's that?" she asked as she traced it lightly with her fingertip.
"It's my … holy shit."
"It's what?"
"My appendix removal scar."
Their gazes locked as fear clawed at her. "You never had your appendix removed, Jordan."
He nodded. "I know. But, I bet we just figured out how Group Nine found us."
38
Two hours later, Jordan sat with Joe in his bedroom while everyone packed up the house. They both stared out into the night, Jordan's thoughts reeling as he pressed the gauze to his gut. Pulling it away from the stitches, he felt relieved that it seemed the bleeding had subsided a bit.
Shaking his head, he couldn't believe all that he'd endured this past year-the torture, the erasure of his memory, becoming a terribly official assassin, having Joe and the rest of his platoon find him, LSD trips, hypnosis, and now, Joe had cut him open and found a tracking device.
And Ava … he'd spend the rest of his life thanking God for her. He prayed he could make her happy as they continued on their journey in this new life together. He'd been through so may phases in his thirty-three years: the time where he grew up, met Ava and married her, and now. Then, the past year with Group Nine when he did things he wasn't proud of and felt tremendous guilt for them. Now, he looked forward to his new start with Ava.
Joe nodded, then sighed as he rubbed his eyes. The sun would be coming up in an hour, and Jordan hoped that they would all be out of the house before then. When Nicholas and his associate didn't communicate with Group Nine, they'd send more operatives, and Jordan was ready to roll out the red bloody carpet for them.
He'd never seen Joe look so tired. "What's next for you, Joe?"
The man didn't speak for a long time. "We've located Connor Dickson."
Connor had been in his unit, and had been a great guy. "When do we get to see him?"
Joe shrugged. "I'm not certain you will. Connor has the ability to sense paranormal beings. His talents and leadership skills are needed in another organization."
He eyed Joe, wondering if the guy had lost his mind. "Paranormal beings?"
"Yes. We're fools to think that only human beings inhabit this planet, don't you agree?"
A year ago, he wouldn't have given any thought to what Joe said, and just chalk it up to paranoia or some type of mental breakdown. But then again, he never could have imagined everything that happened this past year, either. If Joe said paranormal beings walked among us, then he'd definitely give it some consideration.
"Just like us, there are good and bad of all races and species. I battle the corrupt humans in the government. Connor is needed to fight the bad entities in the paranormal world, to bring them to justice."
"What's the organization called?"
"Operation Underworld."
"Never heard of them."
Joe grinned. "No one does unless they're asked to join. They work a lot like I do."
Speaking of which … he had no idea what happened after the sun rose. Would Ava be safe? Would he?
A knock sounded at the door and Brody stepped in. "We're ready to roll, Joe."
Jordan got to his feet, a little disappointed that their conversation had been interrupted.
Joe rolled himself to the door, then turned back to Jordan. "Are you sure you don't want some help?"
He shook his head. "Nope. I'm doing this one on my own. Are the bodies in the basement, Brody?"
"Yes. It's all you now."
He nodded and walked them to the elevator. When the panels split, Joe rolled in, and he and Brody followed.
"When you meet up with Ava after you've completed your job here, we'll discuss your future in my organization," Joe said, as if he'd read Jordan's previous thoughts. He probably could.
Everyone had gathered on the bottom floor, except Thomas, Joe's right hand man. He'd apparently left before the shooting to secure Joe's next stop.
Ava stood next to Lucas, looking pale and exhausted, with Grunt under her arm. He stepped up to them, and the dog's tail wagged while Ava smiled.
He kissed her, his blood racing as images of them making love dashed through his mind. When they were reunited, he hoped to take the memories and make them reality.
"Are you sure you need to do this?" she murmured against his mouth.
He nodded. "Yes. I'll be careful, and I'll catch up with you in a couple of days."
"He's going to meet us on the boat," Brody chimed in.
He glanced around the room, feeling more certain than ever that he was doing the right thing. Group Nine had affected the lives of everyone in the room. "You guys go. I'll take care of everything."
Ava kissed him one last time, and he watched as they piled into the awaiting cars and sped away. He stood in the house by himself, except for the bodies downstairs.