Page 27 of Shattering Dawn

The directors had guaranteed him access to the final version of the formula provided he arranged for the drug trials to be conducted. He had jumped at the opportunity. A drug that could generate or enhance paranormal sensitivity promised incredible potential. Somuch more efficient than trying to breed for strong paranormal senses.

He had envisioned expanding his elite mercenary forces with psychically talented spies and assassins. Their services would be for sale to dictators, warlords, and others willing to pay top dollar for discretion and efficiency.

And then there was the dazzling prospect of being in a position to market the promise of genuine psychic talent to those who could afford the astronomical prices he would charge.

But mostly he was obsessed with the prospect of enhancing his own natural talent. He would found a dynasty. His name and his bloodline would become legend.

Now three women threatened his dreams of an empire. Rivers, Llewellyn, and March should not have become a problem, but here he was—with a problem. The fucking podcast was getting too close.

“Falcon is here to deliver his report, Mr. Steen.”

Cutler flinched violently, startled by the sound of the voice. He immediately regained control but he was aware of the ominous tremor that flickered at the edge of his awareness.Not panic, he assured himself. A searing jolt of fury shot through him. He wanted to yell at the guard, fire him on the spot. Hurl him over the railing onto the rocks below the cliff.

You’re overreacting, Steen.

He pulled hard on his control and managed to rein in his temper.

He turned to look at the armed man in the black uniform standing in the doorway. “About time he showed up. Send him out here, Twitchell.”

“Yes, sir.”

Twitchell inclined his head and went back across the great room of the big house. A moment later Falcon walked out onto the deck.

“Nice day,” Falcon said.

Cutler ignored the pleasantry. Until two months ago Falcon had been properly respectful. A loyal subordinate who would take a bullet for his employer. When Cutler had hired him, Falcon had been on the run and pathetically grateful for the opportunity. But his attitude had begun to change after he had been given the first dose of the new version of the drug. He was starting to assume a certain equality between the two of them. Acting as if they were business partners, not employer and employee.

The situation was annoying but Cutler was aware that he could not afford the time it would take to get rid of Falcon and find someone else who could tolerate the drug. One of the things he had discovered in the course of the research trials was that many people could not handle the serum. They either died immediately or spiraled rapidly into insanity and death.

“What the fuck went wrong this time?” Cutler asked.

“There was an unexpected twist,” Falcon said. He lounged against the railing. “The target hired a PI named Sweetwater. Took me a while to put it together. Yesterday I followed her to his address. I checked him out. He’s licensed. But I didn’t think he would be a problem until last night. No homeless guy could have taken out Hurnley. Must have been Sweetwater. Probably had some martial arts training.”

“Sweetwater?” Cutler frowned. He had memorized every name on the list. “Gideon Sweetwater?”

“Yeah.” Falcon’s brows rose. “You know him?”

Cutler shook his head. “Never met the man, but he’s on the list of potential candidates for the drug.”

Falcon’s expression hardened. “Did he receive a dose?”

“No. I considered him briefly at one point but I put him at the bottom of the list.”

“Why?”

Cutler pulled up memories of the background checks he had done on each of the names on the list. “The family business is a security consulting firm. Government contractor. If something happened to Gideon Sweetwater, people with some serious connections would probably start asking questions. I don’t want that kind of attention if it can be avoided.”

“This particular Sweetwater operates a small-time, one-man investigation agency, but he managed to interfere in the pickup. He took Hurnley by surprise. Knocked him down. Hurnley hit his head pretty hard. He’s still unconscious. Weaver says he thinks Hurnley is in a coma. Says he needs an ER.”

“We can’t risk it.”

“You said the drug doesn’t show up on blood tests.”

Cutler grunted. “Because no one outside the need-to-know circle is aware the serum exists. You can’t test for what you don’t know about. But if Hurnley wakes up in a hospital there will be a lot of questions. He’ll be confused and disoriented. If he’s questioned he might talk.”

“You think he’s a security risk in his current condition?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Cutler sighed. “Fucking shame. He was a valuable asset. It won’t be easy to replace him.”