The Book of Adam, page 11
Suddenly the gunfire ended. The area was quiet. Adam rose slowly, looking in the direction of his brothers. "You good?" he asked Joshua who was staring at him in disbelief.
"Who in the hell do you think you are, walking in the line of fire like it’s the OK corral with guns loaded?"
Ignoring his brother’s rant, Adam kept his eyes searching around. "There's two more somewhere."
Samuel and Joshua both pulled up, shielding Adam between them. "Do you see them?"
"Negative," Samuel stated.
“Upper deck to your right,” Adam answered.
"I got this." Joshua reached into his pocket, pulled out a small grenade and threw it to the upper level of the parking deck. He quickly turned, knocking Adam to the ground covering him with his body. Samuel covered Joshua's back.
Boom!
Samuel grabbed Joshua pulling him up by his coat as Joshua pulled Adam. The three ran towards Genevieve.
Genevieve pulled up with doors open. As soon as the men were inside, she closed the doors then accelerated out of the deck.
No one said a word until they were back on Quantico grounds. Joshua was the first to speak. "You are not superman," he yelled as he banged on top of the vehicle. "Bullets don't bounce off, they go through your body. And those white pipes behind us were gas tanks. That's why we were not firing back. If you had hit that it would have wiped out the entire block. What in the hell were you thinking?"
"I don't know about then, but right now I'm thinking that it's a damn good thing I didn’t miss."
"What the hell do you mean? You don't even know how to fire a weapon."
"I beg to differ, Joshua. I just took out six men. It really wasn't that difficult," Adam said in an amazed voice. "I took in the position of the men, the travel distance of the bullet when propelled from the Glock and the wind velocity. Then I pulled the trigger. I was surprised there was a little kickback from the weapon. I'm going to have to note that. I'm sure there's got to be a way to eliminate that."
"Adam!" Joshua was furious. "Stop thinking with your brain for a minute. Men were firing real bullets. They did not have to do all the bull you just mentioned, they simply fired."
"Why are you so upset? Genevieve had my back."
Samuel was laughing so hard by the time Joshua looked at him he could not control himself. The look of disbelief on Joshua’s face was priceless. "I can't wait to tell Roc about this."
Joshua kicked Genevieve to keep from hitting Adam. "Get inside the building," Joshua yelled at him, then he looked at Samuel. "What in the hell do you find so hilarious?"
Samuel stood, wiping his eyes. "I knew one day God would pay you back for all the hell you put me through when you joined the agency." He hit Joshua on the shoulder and began laughing again. "Damn I miss this. I haven't had that much fun in years."
Adam looked at Samuel throwing his hands in the air. "Boo yah!" He grinned. "I aim to please." He walked toward the dorm building with Samuel next to him.
Joshua stared at their backs as he took Adam’s clothes from the back seat. "Boo yah my ass," he said, trying hard to hide his smile. "Damn, he's going to be good."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Amber looked up from the computer where she had been making notes on the device. There was something off with the serial numbers. She wasn't sure what. Amber shrugged it off. She thought the finding was significant enough to share with Adam, so she would wait and mention it to him when he returned.
The thought of him caused her to look up. It was close to midnight. Was he going to return? Why should he? she thought. He may have gone to his room after class. There was no reason for him to stop by here. She stood, stretched and then began pacing.
"Getting restless, Doc?" Kalli asked from the adjoining room.
"No…Yes," Amber replied. "Have you heard anything from Dr. Lassiter or Brent?"
"Brent checked in about an hour ago. He's doing some research so he’s in for the night."
Amber waited. When Kalli said nothing further, she asked, "And Dr. Lassiter?"
"Funny you should ask." Kalli got up from the bed then walked around the corner, leaned against the wall that separated them, to see Amber glance up with a questioning gaze. "There's some chatter regarding gunfire not far from the White House."
"The White House? Adam wasn't at the White House, he went to PT training here on the grounds."
"It seems he was summoned to the White House a few hours ago."
"But my father’s orders were explicit," she spoke in a voice laced with concern. "He indicated it would not be safe for either of us to leave the grounds."
"I'm afraid your father's orders do not supersede those of the President."
"I did not mean to insinuate they did," Amber replied. "I wasn't aware the President had summoned Adam." She spoke hesitantly. "Did something break in the case?"
"Not that we are aware of," Kalli replied as she watched Amber. "Did you find something in your notes?"
"More questions than answers I'm afraid." Amber changed the subject. "You stated there was gunfire. Is Adam okay?"
Kalli noted how the name changed from Dr. Lassiter to Adam. "There were a number of bodies found at the site, however, there has been no identification at this time."
"People are dead?"
"Yes." There was a knock on the door. Kalli drew her weapon, pointing to Amber. "Step back," she whispered as she stood to the side of the door.
"Amber, it's Adam," the voice called out.
The relief Amber felt hearing his voice was evident to Kalli as she opened the door.
The man who appeared in the doorway was a complete contrast to the man who left there earlier in the day. This man was dressed in a dark suit, shirt and tie that looked like he’d stepped out of a "Men's Style" magazine. He leaned against the door staring at Amber.
"You clean up well, Mr. Lassiter," Kalli commented. The man never glanced her way. Her head turned from him to Amber. The look between Adam and Amber was so intense, Kalli had to fan herself. "You two need to get a room." Kalli grabbed her phone. "You have one hour," she said as she walked out.
Adam stepped inside then closed the door behind him. He leaned wearily back against it. "I killed several men tonight."
Amber gasped as he spoke.
"I never took an oath, but my life has always been about saving lives, not taking them."
There was a force pulling her towards him. This wasn't sexual as it was earlier in the day. This was something different, something deeper. Her heart was crying from the hurt she could sense he was feeling. She walked slowly towards him. "Were they trying to kill you?"
"No." He looked up at her. "They were trying to kill my brothers."
She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him away from the door. Adam’s arms circled her waist as his head fell in the crook of her neck. His weariness from the day was easing in the comfort of her arms, but it wasn't enough to take away the vision of the men who fell to the ground from his actions. Nor did it erase the memory of how simple it was for him to pull the trigger. Instinctively he knew exactly what to do in the situation and that puzzled him.
"It sounds like you saved your brothers’ lives,” she whispered in his ear. "That takes precedence over anything else." She took his hand. "Come sit with me for a while."
Adam unbuttoned his suit jacket then joined her on the floor where they sat earlier.
Amber entwined her fingers with his. "If those men were pointing weapons at your brothers it was your duty to protect them. That's what family does, protect each other." She hesitated then began to tell him a story. "I killed a man once. It wasn't deliberate. But somehow it doesn't matter how or the reason why it happened. It certainly doesn't change the fact that I took someone's life."
Adam sat up at her words. Her head was down and looking away from him as she spoke.
"During a certain point in his career my father was gone a lot. My mother would only say he was working for the government, but I never knew in what capacity until I was much older. It seemed like my father was a voice on the other end of the telephone for years because he was away from home for so long. I graduated from high school when I was sixteen so during my freshman year of college, I couldn't go to places like my roommate or other freshmen could. Normally I would just stay in the dorm and study, but this particular weekend this sophomore guy had hurt my feelings by going out with my roommate even though he knew I liked him. So that Friday after class, I drove home which was about forty-five minutes away at that time. In hindsight, it was clear something was wrong in the house when I pulled up, but..." She shrugged then continued. "I paid no attention to it. But the moment I walked into the house a feeling of unease came over me. For some reason, I didn't call out to my mother like I would normally do. I stood in the mudroom and just listened. When I heard the first sound of my mother being hit, I froze. I knew my father would never harm my mother so that meant an intruder was in the house. The more I listened, I could tell the man was trying to get information about my father from my mother. I knew where my father's gun was in the study, so as quietly as I could I made my way there. I pushed the silent alarm next to the safe, then pulled the gun from the top bookshelf, loaded it then walked up the back staircase. When I reached my parents’ bedroom, my mother was tied to a chair. Her face was bruised. Blood was running from her nose, and..."
Tears began to run down her cheeks. Adam wiped them away with his finger then squeezed her hand. "What happened?"
Amber inhaled as she wiped her other cheek with her free hand. She swallowed then continued. "I raised the gun, pushed the release then told the man to step away from my mother. He turned, surprised to see me standing there, then he looked at the gun and grinned. He told me 'You should never point a gun unless you are ready to kill. Are you ready to kill, little girl?' I told him to step away from my mother again. My mother cried out but the sound was muffled from the tape covering her mouth. I took my eye off the man for a split second to look at my mother and he lunged at me. The gun fired as we fell to the floor. It seemed like minutes passed away as the man laid there on top of me. Finally, I pushed him away. I stared at him lying there for the longest time until my mother's muffled cries penetrated my mind. I ran over and untied her, then wrapped my arms around her, crying. She pulled me up, put one of her coats on me and told me to leave the house. She gave me a number to call then told me to go back to school and tell no one what happened here. She said if anyone asked tell them you went to a free movie off campus. But I was to tell no one I came home."
"What did you do?"
"Exactly what my mother told me. I went back to my dorm room, crying hysterically every mile. When I arrived, Uncle Royce was there waiting for me. He put me in his vehicle while another man drove my car. I never saw that car or that house again."
She took a moment, then exhaled. "I have no idea why I told you that story." She shook her head. "It's the first time I've allowed myself to go back to that night."
Adam pushed a curl from her face. Then used his finger to turn her face to his. "You saved your mother's life."
She nodded her head. "I know. That doesn't change the fact that I took a man's life in the same way you saved your brothers’ lives tonight." She tilted her head. "The hurt from taking a life never goes away. We learn to live with the fact, but we also triumph every time we save a life. It's a give and take, Adam. We can't be the good guys without taking the lives of the bad guys."
Adam held her eyes. "Are you deliberately trying to make me fall in love with you?"
Amber pulled back. "What? No," she said with an indignant wipe of another tear that had fallen. "Why would you say such a thing?"
"Are we about to argue again?" Adam asked with a grin.
"Yes, if you are going to say indecent things."
"Good." He smiled.
"What do you mean good?"
He shrugged. "Your actions today have proven each time we argue there is a more tantalizing kiss that will follow."
Amber glared at him, appalled. "I share something with you I have never shared with another human being and your reaction is to see the physical benefit for you?" She reared back on her heels.
"No..."
She cut him off. "Did it occur to you that I was sharing that story to ease your burden?" Her eyes narrowed.
"Yes, but I...." She cut him short again.
"Do you have any idea how devastating taking a life could be for someone like you if it is not addressed properly?" She stood as she crossed her arms over her chest.
This time Adam did not attempt to respond. He sat there and watched as she paced above him. His father once told him when it came to women it was imperative to know when to shut the hell up and let them have their say. Adam's gut was telling him this was one of those times.
"Answer me, Adam Fitzgerald Lassiter."
"The whole name, huh? I must have hit a nerve." He reached up, grabbed her arm, then yanked her down onto his lap.
A small scream escaped her as she fell to the floor.
"May I now have a moment to speak?"
There was that look in his eyes again. The one she had come to recognize as his, ’I’ve reached my limit’ look. "Are you going to kiss me again?"
"Yes." It was a simple, blunt reply.
Amber thought about that as she stared at him. "Very well. Speak."
Adam smiled. "I'm not upset about taking the men’s lives tonight. I'm concerned with how easy it was for me to do it. I've held guns in my hand before, but I have never fired one. Never took target practice or any type of weapons training. Yet, I handled those guns as if it was an every day occurrence."
"That doesn't surprise me. You are a highly intelligent being. You knew to calculate the time and distance of your targets."
"It takes constant practice to become proficient with firearms. I haven't had that and I'm telling you, I hit those men with pinpoint accuracy. I took the kill shot. It scares me that I could do it so easily." He frowned.
Amber could feel his confusion and wasn't sure how to help him. "I'm sensing you feel compromised in some way."
Adam nodded. "I always wanted to create in order to save lives. In the last twenty-four hours my invention killed one man whom I admired and at least two other men have died at my hands." He closed his eyes. "That's not my life. At least, it's not what I want it to be."
"What is it that you want?" She licked her bottom lip.
Adam wondered if she knew her involuntary reaction to wanting to be kissed was the licking of her lips. He could feel her heart rate increase from his stare. He swallowed as his eyes held hers. “What’s happening with you and Pierce?”
She hesitated then decided to be honest. “We’ve had a teasing relationship. Nothing more.”
“Are you sure?”
Amber nodded. “Yes.”
Adam exhaled. "Then what I want to do more than anything is kiss you until you wonder if you’re going to die in the next moment if I don't stop…and feel you will die the moment that I do."
Her breath caught in her chest. "I want that too," she whispered, gazing into his eyes.
His lips had just touched hers when the door opened.
"That's an interesting way of sharing information."
Amber scrambled to get up from Adam's lap as Kalli walked back into the room. She was frazzled and couldn't understand why standing was so difficult. Then she realized Adam was holding her in place.
"Will you let me go?"
"No," he replied. "I like you here."
"It's not proper," she declared.
"It was a second ago."
"Well, it's not now."
"Why not?"
Amber’s skin flushed as she attempted to get Adam to release her. "Someone else is in the room," she whispered.
"And?"
She stared wide-eyed at him.
He looked up at Kalli. "What information?"
"Something about the serial number."
Adam glanced at Amber who was still trying to break free of him. "You found a code?"
She huffed. "I don't know if it's a code-code but I don't think the numbers Brent took from the device are a serial number." She glared at him. "Will you release me?"
"Why?"
She sighed. "Because I want to get up."
"I don't want you to," Adam replied as Kalli smiled at the two. "Why don't you think it's a serial number?"
Amber stopped fighting, then began scowling at him. "There's something about the numbers."
"What about them?"
"Will you let me up?"
"I will. What about the numbers?"
"Most serial numbers have a mixture of numbers and letters. The letters usually indicate a state or manufacturing location."
"Brent stated he had no luck so far with that number," Kalli added.
"You built the original, right?" Amber asked Adam.
"Yes."
"When you sold it, whom did you deal with on the sale?" Kalli asked.
"McGarry. From the DOD."
"Then he should know who they hired to build the transmitters," Amber suggested. "Simply contact him and ask."
"I'll contact Brent to let him know to try that angle." Kalli stepped into the other room.
"Adam, let me go," Amber whispered quietly.
"Okay." Before granting her request, Adam’s lips covered hers completely by surprise, consuming every inch of her lips, her tongue, her mouth. The kiss was so juicy, he licked her lips until he had taken every drop. He released her then watched as her eyes opened. The smoldering look caused him to kiss her again, this time it was as soft as silk, yet as satisfying as a full round of love making. "You're like a narcotic, Amber Nicolas. One taste and I'm hooked."
“I'm not myself when you are around." Amber said in a breathless tone. "You put me under a spell."
He kissed her temple. "I believe it is the only time you are you."
She frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
"Are we about to argue again?" Adam smiled.
