Free Vaulcron (Enigma Series Book 3) by Ditter Kellen Page A

hotel room, watching as the sun began peeking over the horizon. How many more sunrises would he be able to enjoy before the government caught up to him?
    He glanced at his watch. He had two hours before his bank opened and he could empty out his savings account.
    Glenn had ditched the car and his cell phone the night before and purchased a deposable phone. He’d paid cash for the room he and Amy were in, under an alias. As soon as he had money in hand, he would purchase them both plane tickets and take Amy out of the country.
    There would be no turning back now, he thought, sliding the curtain closed.
    Moving away from the window, Glenn drifted across the room to stand at the foot of Amy’s bed. She looked so innocent, lying there with her hair falling across her face.
    Amy didn’t deserve to spend the rest of her life on the run. She should be laughing and shopping with her friends, falling in love, starting a family. Instead, she was holed up in a hotel room with the very man that helped turn her life upside down.
    “What time is it?” Amy’s sleep-laden voice startled him. He hadn’t known she’d awoken.
    “Good morning. It’s close to seven o’clock.”
    With a jaw-popping yawn, Amy sat up and threw her legs over the side of the bed. “How long have you been standing there?”
    “Not long,” Glenn clarified, moving to put on a pot of coffee.
    Amy slowly stood, holding her hands out in front of her, and made her way to the foot of the bed. “Which way to the restroom?”
    Glenn stepped forward on instinct but stopped himself before touching her. He had no doubt that Amy wouldn’t welcome his help. “About fifteen feet to your right. Your bag is on the sink to the left of the bathroom door.”
    “Thank you.”
    Watching Amy feel her way across the room, Glenn thought about her sister. He would need to figure out a way to let the reporter know that Amy was okay without alerting Jefferies of his whereabouts. It wasn’t going to be easy. Not impossible, but definitely not easy.

Chapter Fifteen
     
    The sound of the iron door opening brought Mallory out of her exhaustion-induced sleep.
    “I’m sorry to wake you, Miss Cahill, but it’s time to begin.”
    Vaulcron shot out of bed and had Doctor Lambert by the throat before Mallory could process it all. “You will not touch her.”
    Lambert’s face turned purple as he hung suspended from the floor, Vaulcron’s huge hands squeezing his neck.
    Mallory sprang into action, rushing to the doctor’s side. She frantically gripped Vaulcron’s forearm. “You’re going to kill him. Please stop. This is not his fault.”
    “I will not allow you to be further violated,” Vaulcron growled, tightening his grip.
    “He’s being forced the same as us,” Mallory reiterated. “Killing him isn’t going to help. They’ll only bring in someone else to take his place. After they hurt Amy.”
    Uncertainty flickered in Vaulcron’s eyes. He slowly opened his hands, allowing the doctor to drop to the floor at the Bracadyte’s feet.
    Mallory lowered to her haunches in front of Lambert. “Are you okay?”
    At his nod, she continued. “Look. I know none of this is your doing, but you’re the doctor here. Can’t you persuade them that they’re making a huge mistake?”
    “Don’t you think I’ve tried?” Lambert wheezed, rubbing at his obviously tender throat.
    Mallory lifted the doctor’s chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. “Try harder. Breeding us is not going to give them what they need.”
    “How can you be sure?”
    “The head of the CDC, Martin Raducha, manipulated the bacteria from the Bracadytes, with a deadly human virus, hoping to destroy it or at least weaken it. Instead, he ended up mutating the bacteria into what it is today.”
    “The Incola virus,” Lambert mumbled, understanding registering in his eyes.
    “Yes. Force breeding a Bracadyte and a human is not going to solve their problem. Vaulcron and I do not hold the key to a