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Love In The Time Of Outbreak Chapter 40
Thalia seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief. She was also impressed by Dean's acting skills as if the scene was real. They followed Dr. Lucas on his wide balcony. Then he led them into a large den that smelled of leather, firewood and cigars. The carpet beneath their feet and the expensive artwork on the walls revealed that Dr. Lucas liked his surroundings fancy. According to the files they read from Ina, this scientist owns a luxurious villa in Greece, and also owns yachts. Thalia wondered if he'd paid for all these luxuries with the money he made from gambling, or if he'd started gambling to support his life of luxury. She suspected it was the latter. "Look," Dr. Lucas said as he flopped down in a leather armchair adjacent to a stone fireplace, "the Pentagon already contacted our lab yesterday morning after the Tuxie attacks. The director of D&N briefed us about it, and blood samples from Tuxie victims are already being analyzed in our facility. We've been working around the c
Love In The Time Of Outbreak Chapter 41
Dean can't really believe that he and Thalia succeeded their scheme against Dr. Lucas. Yet here he was, sitting in the front seat of an unmarked sedan and monitoring the movements of a rogue scientist who was about to meet a bona fide terrorist for a clandestine rendezvous. To Dean's delight, Dr. Lucas had signed that forged immunity agreement. He'd told them about the gambling debts he'd accrued over the past few years, admitted to having a bit of a cocaine problem, confessed that he'd been paid a substantial amount of dough for his work on Project Taurus, yet apparently not substantial enough to put even a chip in his mountain of debt. When the loan sharks and creditors came knocking, Dr. Lucas had panicked and done the only thing he could think of - sold a deadly virus to a terrorist group. Right, because for him that is the only way to solve his money problem. Dean just focused on the corner of the coffee shop, watching Dr. Lucas every move. The scientist was at a table on the
Love In The Time Of Outbreak Chapter 42
Dean still continues to hear the conversation between Dr. Lucas and the UFF representative. "And do yourself a favor, take the money and get out of town. You won't be in this city thirty hours from now." Dean could practically hear the smirk in the terrorist's voice. "What is it?" Thalia demanded. "What did he say?""He told Dr. Lucas to get out of town." Dean's jaw went rigid. "Dammit. I think these terrorists plan to release the virus again."When Thalia was about to speak, he grabbed her and kissed her on the lips. "Go, Doc. I'll just call you on the prepaid when I know more."Without another word, Thalia slid out the passenger door of the sedan and headed for the unmarked car they'd rented earlier today, which was parked a dozen yards away. He watched her for a moment, then shifted his gaze in time to see Dr. Lucas' contact impatiently rise to his feet. Dean started the engine and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, a rush of adrenaline entering his bloodstream. When the
Love In The Time Of Outbreak Chapter 43
When Dean finally returned to their motel room, Thalia had never been happier to see anyone in her entire life. It's true that Dean kept his promise and called her on a prepaid phone to let her know that he was on the way back, but she still couldn't breathe properly, not until she saw him in person and saw with her own two eyes that he was okay.Good thing he looked more than okay. Her warrior was back, his eyes glittering with menace as he spotted Dr. Steve Lucas sitting stiffly at the kitchenette. Thalia had brought the scientist back to their motel room claiming that it was for his own protection, and that he needed to be away from the terrorist's eyes. She'd led Dr. Lucas to believe that Dean and an entire team of special agents were pursuing the terrorist, when in fact it was Dean's solo mission on his part. Yet he was no longer working solo, she realized once two men in dark suits followed him into the room. Real federal agents, she thought as she noticed their Department of
Love In The Time Of Outbreak Chapter 44
Thalia never really considered herself beautiful, but somehow Dean made her feel that way. Every time he looked at her, it was such reverence, such wonder, such passion. As if she is the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth. And he was equally appealing to her. She stepped closer and ran her hands over the hard planes of his chest, skimming his defined pecs and abdomen, and the trail of dark hair that arrowed down to his groin.He groaned. "I love it when you touch me, Doc."She just smiled, then she ran her hands over his body again, petting and caressing and teasing until her hand finally made its way down to encircle his erection. "Is this the reason why we still haven't picked up by the car?" she teased. "Were you the one who asked Bhram for the two-hour grace period?""You're right," he admitted. She laughed. "Well, I hope you didn't tell him why.""No, but I'm sure he knows. All anyone has to do is take a good look at my face whenever you're around and they'll know e
Love In The Time Of Outbreak Chapter 45
When Dean was suddenly quiet, she didn't push him to continue. The pain in his eyes sent an ache to her heart, and the dull note in his voice brought the fresh sting of tears to her eyes. "But he's the one who got hurt in the end," Dean said. "One night I convinced him to go out in the middle of the night so we could go late-night fishing in the lake near our house. He didn't want to come with me, but he still thought about my welfare. After fifteen minutes without a single bite, I got bored of catching fish and decided to swim in the lake."Dean was quiet again. Thalia suddenly felt queasy. "So Maverick also accompanied me to swim in the lake. We really enjoyed ourselves while bathing, we even played a game of holding our breath under the water. I won with a time of ninety seconds. But me being me, I'm bored of our game again. But Maverick still wanted to stay in the water for a while, so I left him in the middle of the lake. When I reached the shore, I turned around to look at Mav
Love In The Time Of Outbreak Chapter 46
Dean was very grateful when someone knocked on the door of their motel room, signaling that their pick-up car had arrived. He really wanted to leave when he told Thalia everything about his past. He really didn't want to talk about that tragedies in his life. He avoided them, even thinking about them. Normally, he kept the memories locked up tight, but he couldn't really stop himself from sharing them with Thalia. He'd felt himself getting too close. His heart had been in his throat when he'd made love to her earlier. He'd felt so damn vulnerable, his emotions so close to the surface that he'd decided to remind himself what happened when he let himself love someone. But his plan backfired. He had already told Thalia about his past, his fear, and his curse. She didn't even look away while listening to his story. You are the reason why I am alive today. Her quiet words buzzed in his head and he pushed them away as he went to answer the door. Bhram sent his aide, Patrick Winslow, who
Love In The Time Of Outbreak Chapter 47
"We've got a visual on Apollo. I repeat, visual on Apollo. He appears to be asleep in the back bedroom, west side, clear shot." The hushed report came from the sniper positioned on the roof of the house bordering the terrorist nest. "Roger that. Maintain visual." Faust's voice, in that same monotone murmur, echoed in Dean's earpiece. "Visual on two tangos in the back bedroom, east side," the operative covering the side of the house whispered. "Andromeda One and Two. No movement.""Andromeda Three, Four and Five in the kitchen. Visual on back door," came another whisper. "Awake but no movement."From his position in the hedges separating the UFF nest from the neighboring home, Dean fixed his gaze on the front of the house. The light was on in the living room, and he saw someone lying on the sofa, a man watching television. The bluish light from the TV screen reflected off the glass of the large front window. "Tango in the living room. Awake but no movement," Dean murmured. "That mak
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- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Epilogue
After Bhram left, Dean's full attention was focused on Thalia, whose cheeks were regaining some color. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Surprisingly good. For me it's a miracle that you got the antidote on your hands."He nodded. "Dr. Lucas stole the antidote vial from D&N, and at the same time he also stole the virus. I went to him and forced him to admit where he kept the antidote."Thalia's lips twitched with humor. "And how did you do that?""I'm very persuasive," he said with a shrug. Just as Thalia was about to touch his cheek, he flinched, so he could see the surprise look in Thalia's eyes. "What's wrong?" she demanded."Nothing's wrong." He kept his tone light. "You're alive. That means everything is fine."She frowned. "Okay.""Alright, I'll tell your doctor first that you're awake."He started to stand up, but Thalia latched her hand on his arm and forced him to stay put. "Don't leave just yet. First tell me what I missed when I was unconscious.""Not much." He wanted to
- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Chapter 54
Thalia couldn't answer Dean. But really, who was he trying to kid? He is not a doctor. She was. She knew for herself what exactly happened to his central nervous system at the moment. The virus was attacking it one cell at a time. Soon she'd be nothing but a motionless lump of dead, like the rats in Franco's experiment. Another giggle bubbled in the back of her throat, and soon she was shuddering with laughter because this was all so funny and - nope, she's having a seizure again. God, she was really tired. Those same shrill voices assaulted her ears again. Those same anvils crushed her body. This time she decided to just close her eyes. Maybe she needs more rest. She succeeded in the closing-of-the-eye part because everything went black, but when she heard Dean's husky voice again, she realized that sleeping at that time was a bad idea. Because what if she never woke up? "Go to sleep," he urged. "No," she protested. "But you need to rest.""I do not want."But she couldn't ope
- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Chapter 53
After a long five-minute conversation, Dean came out of the interrogation room and shot Bhram an impatient look. "The antidote is stashed in a locker at his health club. Locker number fifty-nine-seven. Key is on the key ring you confiscated along with his personal belongings. Bhram Davies sucked in a breath, his face awash with shock. "Get me that damn key ring," Dean snapped on his way to the door. "Magallon, wait."He heard Bhram's footsteps behind him but he still didn't stop. "I'll dispatch a team to fetch it. You don't have to do it yourself."He just kept walking. "Damn it, Dean. Stop!"The next thing he knew, Bhram was in front of him, shaking his shoulder. As a wave of rage crashed over him, he shoved the other man away. "Don't touch me," he hissed. "And don't tell me what to do."Bhram got in his path again. "You need to be at the hospital. With Thalia. For chrissake, Dean, she's all alone there."His heart lodged in his throat. "I'll send people to the health club," B
- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Chapter 52
Dean immediately let go of Bhram, and the man nearly fell over before managing to steady himself. With a wave of his hand, Bhram dismissed the guards who were warily monitoring the entire exchange. "Resume your posts, men. Everything is fine here." He turned to Dean. "You know I could have you arrested for this, right?""Five minutes, Bhram. I only need five minutes."Indecision flashed across the other man's face. "I know you're worried about Dr. Ricafort. Hell, I'm worried, too. I don't know how she got infected, but I promise you, the last thing I want is for that woman to die."Dean fought the urge to grab a gun from the hip holster of one of those guards and empty an entire clip into Bhram Davie's chest. The son of a bitch had given him that water, and now here he was, he acted like he had no idea how Thalia got infected with the virus. Acting like he actually cared about her well-being? "Take me to Dr. Lucas," Dean muttered. "Now."Silence prevailed for a few moments before Bh
- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Chapter 51
The next ten minutes were a total whirlwind. Thalia can't remember when she was getting dressed, but somehow she was wearing jeans and a tank top when they stumbled out of the hotel. She doesn't even remember that they got in a car, but somehow she was in the passenger seat while Dean murmured soothing words in her ear and kept a firm hand on her thigh. Her skin was on fire. Blood was still flowing from her nose, she could almost taste the coppery blood in the back of her throat and she almost gagged. As Dean drove, she didn't hear a single word from him. "Maybe...maybe the CDC developed an antidote already," she said to Dean. He sucked in a breath. "An antidote.""Maybe," she murmured again. "Sometimes they can develop one fairly fast."Yeah, right. But that will take weeks, months, and even years. She knew that, yet she refused to give up hope. After everything she'd been through, her life couldn't be end this way. Lisa. Nadine. Marc. Kelvin. Theresa. Kelsey. NasirAnd she wil
- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Chapter 50
They got out of the Jacuzzi and dried off, then they got dressed in a pair of complimentary robes instead of getting dressed. They both ended up ordering cheeseburgers and fries, along with the plate of onion rings to share. Probably wasn't smart to eat such a heavy meal at midnight, but they were both hungry, and Dean was happy to see Thalia eat well. She was always full since they were together, which was ironic considering they'd been doing nothing but traveling and hiding out in motel rooms. Still, no matter where they'd been, he'd encouraged the girl to eat right and it was obvious that she had already eaten much because his efforts showed in the rounding of her cheeks. "If you can work on a new foundation again, don't let yourself be overworked."Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Who's going to stop me?""I will." Dean shot her a mocking look. "I'm not going to hide forever. Sooner or later, me, Tatum, and Pierre, we will also find out who ambushed our unit and who wants
- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Chapter 49
Instead of going back to their motel room, Dean and Thalia checked into a hotel using Dean's fake identity. The only available room ended up being a suite with a huge Jacuzzi tub that brought a delighted grin to Thalia's face. Dean loved seeing her so happy, and she was much cuddlier now than usual. Linking arms when they walked, snuggling close during the car ride, planting a spontaneous and unbelievably passionate kiss on his lips in the hotel elevator. That kiss had succeeded in getting him harder than concrete, but neither of them had been in the mood for sex as they got settled in the suite. They haven't slept in the past twenty-four hours, so that's the reason why they just fell asleep when they got to their hotel room. When Dean's eyes opened a few hours later to find that it was dark beyond the floor-to-ceiling window, and he groaned with unhappiness. Thalia lay next to him, her warm ass wiggling into his groin. "What's wrong?" she asked sleepily."Imagine, we've been slee
- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Chapter 48
An hour later, Dean was on board the chopper after their successful operation. A ground unit was bringing Escalante and the two surviving UFF soldiers for interrogation, while the deadly vials were taken to the basement to be airlifted to the CDC. A search of the house had not turned up any more vials, and according to one of Escalante's men, all the vials in the group's possession had been in the house. That only spoke to the disorganized and highly unprofessional tactics of the UFF sect. Escalante's planning had been shoddy, his security weak, his goals unrealistic. "Very good job," Bhram Davies boomed as he greeted him at the helipad. He slapped Dean's back, and the two men headed for the door leading into the building. The rest of the team stalked past them, Faust barking orders at his men as he wiped the black paint off his face with a cotton rag. Dean did the same, he also wiped the black paint on his face with a cloth. "A joint task force is being organized in San Jose. Ev
- Love In The Time Of Outbreak
Chapter 47
"We've got a visual on Apollo. I repeat, visual on Apollo. He appears to be asleep in the back bedroom, west side, clear shot." The hushed report came from the sniper positioned on the roof of the house bordering the terrorist nest. "Roger that. Maintain visual." Faust's voice, in that same monotone murmur, echoed in Dean's earpiece. "Visual on two tangos in the back bedroom, east side," the operative covering the side of the house whispered. "Andromeda One and Two. No movement.""Andromeda Three, Four and Five in the kitchen. Visual on back door," came another whisper. "Awake but no movement."From his position in the hedges separating the UFF nest from the neighboring home, Dean fixed his gaze on the front of the house. The light was on in the living room, and he saw someone lying on the sofa, a man watching television. The bluish light from the TV screen reflected off the glass of the large front window. "Tango in the living room. Awake but no movement," Dean murmured. "That mak
