inside, where he needed to be. He simply had to keep his head down and do as he was told. At least until he could gather some information on whether or not COE abducted children as well as adults. After what Thomas had done to him, he wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn they did.
Head still aching, he closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep.
When he woke, the small room seemed flooded with light. Stretching, he gingerly moved his head. Good, the pain had gone. He pushed himself up on his elbows, looking around. The IV had been taken out and he was no longer hooked up to any machines. That must mean they felt he’d recovered enough to be sent to his assignment, whatever that might be.
A strange sensation filled him. Anticipation, something he hadn’t felt in a really long time. This job had not only saved his business, but was proving to be a hundred times more interesting than anything he could ever have imagined.
Someone entered the room. Slowly he turned his head and met the wary brown eyes of one of the most beautiful women he’d ever seen. He’d noticed her before, but in his confused and painful state, he’d figured she might have been only a figment of his imagination.
“Hello,” she said softly. “I’m glad you’re finally awake. How are you feeling?”
“Confused,” he answered honestly. “Just trying to figure out my place in all of this.”
The strangest expression crossed her face. Only for a second and then the placid calmness came back. “You’ll be fine,” she said, her tone full of certainty. “What happened to you before? I saw your scars.”
Shocked, he didn’t bother to hide his surprise. “How do you...?”
“I work here as a medical assistant.” Her simple answer came without pretense. “I assisted when the doctor examined you.”
He decided he might as well be blunt. “Does that matter?”
“I don’t understand. Does what matter?”
“My scars. Does the fact that I have a disfigured body impact my ability to join COE?”
Her lovely brown eyes were clear and guileless. “No. Why would it?”
This time, he had to work to keep his shrug casual. “I wasn’t sure if you allowed people to join who weren’t whole.”
Instead of answering, she continued to regard him, her perfectly arched brows slightly lowered. He actually began to feel foolish, as if his statement had been ridiculous.
But it wasn’t. He’d been rebuffed by enough women who’d been put off by either the fact that he was missing a limb or that the limb had been replaced by a man-made one.
And then she smiled. He felt the sensual power of that smile like a slow flame igniting his gut. “To be honest with you, I have no idea about that. It’s very rare we even bring anyone in from outside. Thomas must think you very special indeed to have allowed you to join us.”
Managing to smile back, he refrained from letting her know just how wrong he found her statement. After answering a few pointed questions at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting and following Thomas to his car, Jack had apparently qualified.
When she turned as if to leave, Jack asked her to wait. “Where are you going?” he asked.
“I have to let our doctor know you’re awake again.”
“First, tell me your name.”
His question appeared to startle her. “I’m Sophia Hannah,” she said. He found the way her full lips quirked as if on the verge of a smile unbelievably sexy. His entire body stirred. Of course, he ignored this. The last thing he needed right now was to get his insides all tangled up because of a woman.
And then, before he could ask her anything else, she spun on her heel and left.
Part of him wanted to go after her. Instead he hunted around for his clothes. Might as well get dressed while he waited to see what would happen next.
He located his shirt and jeans in a beige metal locker. They were neatly folded, with his briefs tucked in between. His socks and boots had been placed on a shelf nearby. Everything appeared to be in good condition, which meant whoever had undressed him had done so carefully. He wondered if the pretty little nurse had helped.
Glancing back once at the doorway, he dressed hurriedly, using the hospital gown as a sort of impromptu curtain. Just seconds after he’d finished, he heard voices coming closer. Male voices, so most likely the doctor or maybe Thomas and his bodyguards.
Three men stepped into the room. They all had a wholesome sort of look. Short hair cut the same way—one light, two dark—and identical expressions of earnest friendliness on their clean-scrubbed faces. Jack didn’t recognize any of them. But then, why would he?
“Welcome,” one of them said, stepping forward and offering his hand. He stood at least six-four, with an impressive girth. When they shook, Jack took note of the rough calluses on his fingers.
“I’m Phillip.” He smiled, less of an aw-shucks grin than Jack had expected. “You’ll be staying with me. We single guys all room together. Also, you can tag along with me when I go to work tomorrow. I’ll keep you busy, at least until they assign you to your job.”
“Assign?” That word again. Asking might be the wrong move, but Jack did anyway. “I don’t get to choose?”
All three of the men exchanged glances before breaking out into laughter. Though Jack listened, he couldn’t detect anything but humor in the sound. No uneasiness or fear.
“Nope,” one of the other men answered easily. “I’m Randy and this is my brother, Jeff. In case you can’t tell, we’re twins. Not identical, though. But I think we still look a lot alike.”
Glancing from Randy to Jeff, Jack had to wonder how he’d missed the resemblance. Same eyes, chin, skin tone and nose. There were a few differences—all minor—but enough to be the difference that would enable anyone to tell them apart.
“We work with Phillip,” Jeff chimed in. He smiled with the same open friendliness as the other two men. “If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll get to work with us. Ever done any carpentry work?”
Regretfully, Jack shook his head.
“Ah, well.” Phillip clapped Jack on the shoulder. “I’m sure you have your own set of skills. Come on. We’ll show you where you’re going to be living.”
* * *
After the three men had shepherded the handsome newcomer out of the medical facility, Sophia sat and tried to catch her breath. She wasn’t sure what it was about the man, but she’d felt the strangest sort of anticipation whenever she’d been anywhere near him. A kind of thrumming in her veins that made it difficult to think straight never mind breathe. Though she recognized her attraction to him, she didn’t pretend to understand why. Most likely because she’d just become newly engaged to a man she hadn’t even met.
As if she’d read Sophia’s thoughts, Ana hurried into the room. “Here,” she said, shoving a sealed white envelope at Sophia. “Thomas left this for you on the front desk. It’s probably the official notification of your
