Project Terminal: Legacy Read Online Free PDF

against the vertigo. The room tilted, and her knees buckled. Before she could hit the floor hands grabbed her, strong arms pulling her upright before fitting her snuggly against the solid barrier behind her.
    “Damian, you can’t be in here. This is the ladies’ room.”
    He chuckled in her ear, stirring the hair at her temple. “What? Is the ninety pound teenage boy at the counter going to kick me out?”
    She wanted to pull away, but it felt good to lean against him. His hand splayed over her belly, and she sank into his strength. He nuzzled her ear. She gave a long, shuddering sigh, and despite her weakened state, awareness stirred in her veins. The door to the restroom popped open and she met the startled gaze of a middle-aged woman. Her eyes bugged from her head, and she let the door swing closed.
    “Let’s go, I’ve got what we need,” he said, easing her away. Keeping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her to his side. “We’ve got a hard ride ahead of us.”
    “Where are we going?”
    “West. There’s a man I need to see.”
    The door burst open again and the ninety pound teenager scowled at the two of them. “You can’t be in here,” he said to Damian, a mouth full of shiny silver braces slurring his speech.
    Damian held up his hands in surrender. “We’re leaving, don’t hurt us.”
    Laura stifled laughter as he sidled past the boy in mock fear.
    She squinted against the glare of the sun when they walked outside, a question already formed on her tongue. “Why do you need me? People are relying on my restaurant and no one’s there to open it today. Not to mention what my family will be thinking.”
    He stuffed the contents of the plastic bag of goods he’d just bought inside his saddlebags.
    “You don’t understand, Laura. You survived. Nobody survives the virus. You’re a key to a cure, you can stop it.” He turned and faced her, bringing fingertips beneath her chin to tilt her face up. His huge form blocked the sunlight, casting her in shadow.
    “I’m no hero, Damian, and I don’t want to be.”
    He searched her eyes. “Please, think of the lives you’ll be saving. You saw the thing in the alleyway, you know what’s out there. You can’t turn your back on it. What if it’d been someone in your family? Chances are they wouldn’t have made it through.”
    Affectively filled to the brim with guilt, she dropped her gaze to the ground. He stroked a lock of hair behind her ear.
    “Tell me where we’re going then,” she said at last.
    “I know a man who was part of the early experiments. He can help us, I think.” He pushed a bottle of sports drink in her hand with a breakfast bar.
    She crinkled her nose at the offering.
    “Just eat it and don’t argue. You can have something more substantial later when your stomach can handle it.” He took a swig of water from a bottle, cramming the last of a sandwich he must’ve started earlier in his mouth.
    “I don’t care for blueberries. This is a blueberry.” She held up the breakfast bar. His thick brows knit for a moment before a grin split his face.
    “I bought strawberry.” He nodded toward one of the saddlebags. She dug for the box. He constantly surveyed their surroundings while she ate—his gaze as intense as a hawk’s. He missed nothing, and that intensity sent a little shiver through her.
     

Chapter 5
     
    Laura crawled up behind him on the Harley. Dr. Doug Martin , the name repeated in Damian’s head as he cut in traffic. He’d been part of Project Terminal in the early days, and one of the scientists involved in his transformation. Doug had been booted from the program, rumors spreading he’d objected to some of the experiments being carried out.
    Maybe a dead end to try, but worth a shot.
    Damian was forced to stop at a cheap roadside motel in Louisiana by late afternoon. His passenger needed rest, and so did he. He stopped at a restaurant next door first, letting Laura stretch her legs while he ordered soup for