Polanitis cleared his throat. “There is a drug we’re working on for an outside party and we need an employee to get involved with the project.”

Part of her was disappointed. “What kind of drug?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Jeanie didn’t agree. “What outside party?”

“That’s none of your business. All you need to know is someone is paying us a lot of money to specifically modify a drug Mercile Industries invented for use on the male test subjects. Now they want a version of it that targets regular women. We can’t be sure it will work without a live trial.”

She tried to make sense of his words. “Someone hired Drackwood to alter a drug for use on humans? One that was specifically designed only to be used on New Species? Which drug? I thought all the research done on them was to benefit humans.” That’s the stupid reason they always give to explain the horrible shit they do to those poor people. It didn’t make sense.

“Never call them that.” He gripped her arms and shook her. “They are test subjects. Don’t let me ever hear you utter those words again. They are lab animals and nothing more.”

Fear silenced her objections about how he viewed the New Species. The only drugs they were testing on New Species were for advanced healing from traumatic injuries but a few of the doctors had some projects she didn’t have access to. Those were the ones that frightened her the most. They couldn’t be good if they were that highly classified.

“You just volunteered to be our trial subject.”

She shook her head, horrified. “No.”

“I’m not asking.” He gave her another brutal shake. “I will keep your favorite pet alive if you comply.” His features hardened as his lips twisted into an ugly sneer. “Not that you have a choice. It’s just that we discussed what would happen if you disappeared. The last thing we need is a police investigation.”

Bile rose as the implications sank in. “What do you mean by that?”

“It means we have to allow you to go home so your neighbors don’t report you missing. You will show up at work every day and never tell anyone what is being done to you.” He released her arms and grabbed her throat, leaning in enough to glare into her eyes. “You can be killed at any time. Remember that. You run, you will be found.” He spun her around until she was forced to stare out the window. “And he’ll die. I’ll personally gut the son of a bitch and make it as painful as possible. He’d suffer for hours before his death.”

The door to her office opened and for a split second, Jeanie had hope that she’d be saved. Dr. Brask entered, closing the door behind him. His gloved hand rose, the syringe gripped between fingers and thumb easy to spot.

“Did she agree?”

“I didn’t ask,” Polanitis snorted. “Give her the shot.”

Jeanie wanted to scream but the grip on her throat tightened until she couldn’t breathe. Her boss abruptly shoved her down, his weight coming over her back until she was crushed between him and the desk.

“What if she goes to the police?” Dr. Brask’s voice lowered. “I thought you were going to pay her extra or something to let us test these new batches.”

“We don’t have the budget for that bullshit. Just hike up her skirt and jab her in the ass with the needle already. The bitch wouldn’t dare be stupid enough to betray me.” He eased up enough for her to suck in much-needed air. “Would you, Shiver? Tell him you know it would be the last thing you ever did.”

“Please,” she begged, terrified of what they were about to do to her.

“Shut up,” Polanitis ordered, squeezing her throat again. “She is your new test subject.”

Jeanie struggled, panicked that she couldn’t breathe or get the heavy weight off her back. Her skirt was shoved up and pain stabbed through her left upper butt cheek as the needle found its mark. Polanitis released her afterward and backed away.

She sucked in air and spun, shoving her skirt down. She glanced at both men, seeing they were putting as much room between her and them as the small office allowed. That was fine with her.

“What did you give me?” She stared at Dr. Brask. “What was that?”

He smiled. “It should immediately take effect.”

“What should? What did you give me?” Her voice rose in panic.

Jeanie cried out when a jolt of sharp pain stabbed from her head to her toes, comparable to the time she’d accidently touched a damaged cord plugged into an electrical outlet. Her knees buckled and she hit the floor. Her stomach churned, her head began to throb as signs of an impending migraine began, and she broke out in a sweat. It felt as though someone had poured gasoline over her skin and lit a match. She writhed on the thin carpet, curled into a ball, suffering a strong burning sensation over every inch of her body.

“That’s not good.” Dr. Brask sighed. “We’ll wait until the drug leaves her system and lower the dosage next time. That wasn’t the response I wanted.”

“She’s all yours.” Dean Polanitis chuckled. “Bring a gurney and we’ll transfer her to your lab for the day so you can monitor the results.”

Jeanie prayed to pass out. The sheer agony she suffered was worse than anything she could have imagined would be possible. She forgot about the two men in the room, lost in the pain as her skin felt as if it were blistering and boiling from her body.