by Dia Cole
Just thinking of my mate made my breath come faster. My night with her had been spectacular—better than I could have ever imagined. How I wished I was still lying next to her right now. Instead, she’d wake with Reed in her bed.
Jealousy left a bitter taste on my tongue. That cocksucker better not put any moves on my mate. It was one thing for me to claim her while in his body, it was quite another for him to touch her himself.
Jen looked down the scope of her rifle. “Do you see anything?”
“No.” I stopped myself before commenting that her genetically enhanced vision was nearly as sharp as mine. Handlers never liked to be reminded that they were more closely related to us shifters than the humans they identified with.
I had no interest in pushing any more of Jen’s buttons when I’d barely escaped punishment for missing her deadline. Thankfully, her eagerness to recover Dr. Hurran superseded her need to discipline me. As soon as I’d relayed the intel, she’d stopped the painful shocks to my cerebral cortex and ordered me to find a suitable location for an ambush.
It’d only taken me an hour to identify a section of isolated desert road a mile north of Javier’s compound. Soon after, Jen met me on the side of the mountain.
As we’d waited behind an outcropping of sand-colored boulders, I braced myself for her interrogation. No doubt she’d want every detail of what I’d done during the time I’d been unmonitored. Surprisingly, as the minutes crawled by, she said nothing. Even stranger, she’d locked her emotions down tight.
If I concentrated hard on our bond, I picked up flickers of guilt.
What does she have to feel guilty about?
“Let’s go over the plan,” Jen ordered as she flicked a wayward ant that crawled across her leg. The desert combat uniform she wore blended perfectly into our sunbaked surrounding, rendering her nearly as invisible as me.
“After the vehicle hits the spike strips, I’ll take out the enforcers and grab Dr. Hurran.”
“I’ll handle her,” she corrected.
“Fine. You’ll get Dr. Hurran and then we’ll head back to base.” We’d take the Humvee Jen had parked out of view of the road.
Jen nodded. “It’ll be tricky getting through the city. Reports are it’s FUBAR.”
I grunted, remembering what I’d seen during my trek down here. Infected had been attacking unsuspecting humans outside urgent cares, grocery stores, and even day cares. I’d ripped an infected teacher off a toddler only to have the creature spin around and attack the child’s screaming mother. My intervention had saved both the mother and child, but it was doubtful they’d survive long. They didn’t have a fortified compound to shelter in like Javier.
I turned my gaze south to the Alpha’s fortress. The twenty-foot walls topped with electrified barbed wire were visible in the distance. The place was locked down tighter than the army base.
Maybe I should have let Miguel take Lee there.
I immediately rejected the idea. Jen said special forces teams were currently evacuating civilians. I just had to make sure my dancer made it out of the city with them.
I cleared my throat. “I need someone evacuated.”
Although she couldn’t see me, Jen rolled her eyes in my direction. “Let me guess? The stripper you’re obsessed with?”
When I said nothing, she scoffed. “So predictable. I’ll bet that’s who you ran off to screw while your scanner was being upgraded. Poor girl. Is there anything left of her?”
I stiffened. “I didn’t screw her.” Technically, Reed had. “I saved her from one of Javier’s enforcers.”
Jen shook her head as if she didn’t believe me. “While your self-control was admirable, it was all for nothing. The Colonel isn’t going to send a team to rescue Cherry or Lucious or whatever her name is.”
“Her name is Lee.” Annoyed, I made myself visible. It was taxing to cloak myself, and I needed my energy reserves for the upcoming battle.
Jen blinked as I suddenly came into view. She scanned my naked body with more interest than I was comfortable with. “What did you say?”
“My dancer goes by Lee. Although… Heaven is her first name.” I waited for some sarcastic comment about stripper names, but Jen surprised me by cocking her head to the side. “Her last name isn’t Walker, is it?”
“Yeah.” Something moved in my periphery. I turned to see a lizard darting under the shadowy silhouette of a cactus.
Jen threw back her head and laughed until tears leaked from her eyes. “This whole fucking time… you’ve been obsessing after… after Lee, of all people? Oh man, that’s like the definition of irony right there.”
I felt as if I was missing the punchline of a joke. “How do you know Lee?” It wasn’t like the Colonel allowed her kind much more freedom than they allowed us.
Her smile vanished. “That’s none of your business, but you can relax. Lee and her sister are on the evacuation list.”
Thank fuck. My mate’s safety had been weighing heavily on my mind.
“The Colonel even assigned Dominic to pick them up, so you know they are in expert hands.”
My relief morphed into anger. “So, the fucker is out now.”
Jen gave me a wary look. “I know you’re pissed at him, but you need to let it go.”
Pissed? She had no fucking idea. “How can you defend him after what he did?” When she said nothing, I went for her heart. “He doesn’t love you. You know he was willing to take a demotion to avoid the Colonel’s order to marry you, right?”
Although her expression didn’t change, sadness thrummed through our bond.
I immediately felt like the biggest piece of shit. “Sorry.”
She set her jaw and looked up at the hawk turning lazy circles in the bright blue sky above us. “Love isn’t something we can control. Life would be so much easier if it were.”
I shifted uncomfortably, not knowing how to respond. Jen and I had never been close, not like me and Dom had been back before he’d betrayed me.
As if reading my mind, Jen said, “Dominic may not love me, but he sure as hell cares for you.”
I recoiled at her words. “The fuck he does.”
She gave me a ghost of a smile. “The first thing he asked for when he got out was you.”
I bared my teeth. “I can’t wait for our reunion.” I’m going to tear that motherfucker’s head off.
Guilt pulsed through our bond again. “Hunter, the Colonel is making Dominic your—” The sound of car engines interrupted her.
We both cranked our heads around to see a convoy of black Mercedes approaching.
Jen cursed. “You said there would be four or five enforcers.”
“Luis said there’d be four or five in her escort,” I replied. “I’d assumed that meant enforcers.”
“You know what they say about assumptions.”
I scoffed. “Doesn’t matter how many they have.” I’d kill them all.
Down below, the first Mercedes drove across the spike strip. All four tires blew, causing it to veer into the next lane. Flapping rubber could be heard as it coasted to a stop.
The vehicle directly behind it swerved to avoid the strip and crashed into the guardrail.
The third vehicle screeched to a stop and was rear-ended by the last vehicle that couldn’t slow in time.
The smell of burning rubber scorched my nose as car doors flew open and nearly a dozen enforcers swarmed protectively around the second vehicle.
Jen stated the obvious. “Dr. Hurran must be in that car.”
“Give me your orders.” I crouched down, bloodlust stirring inside me.
Jen took a deep breath as if considering her words carefully. “Hunter, neutralize any entity that interferes or might interfere with our current mission. This order supersedes all other orders.”
My beast let out a roar of delight as I shifted. Bones and joints popped. Sinew and muscles realigned. A second later, I rose as a monstrous creature that towered over my handler and the enforcers below.
>
Jen slapped my flank. “Go get ‘em.”
Snarling, I leapt from our mountain perch directly onto the roof of the third Mercedes. The shiny black metal crumpled under my tremendous weight.
Jen, who’d jumped down onto the road, shook her head. “Always have to make a grand entrance, don’t you?”
If I could have communicated with her in this form, I would have answered, “Hell, yeah.”
The black-clad enforcers fired on us. Their bullets ricocheted off my hide.
Jen ducked behind the flattened vehicle as I sauntered toward our enemies.
My beast urged me to tear through them, but there was no fun in that. I slowed my pace, letting them get a good look at death approaching.
The largest enforcer, the one I recognized as Santiago, Javier’s Head Enforcer, was the first to throw his useless weapon to the ground. He barked an order in Spanish, then ripped off his clothes and shifted.
The other males followed his lead, and soon a group of snarling black leopards were circling me.
I chuffed in amusement at their show of aggression.
Santiago lunged for my throat.
A swipe of my paw sent him flying over Jen’s head. His feline body hit the asphalt with a wet crunch.
“Stop playing around and kill them,” she ordered. She turned and fired a bullet into Santiago’s skull before he could heal his injuries. Then she ran toward the second vehicle.
Hissing, the leopards turned toward her.
Unable to allow any threat to my handler, I attacked in a blur of claws and fangs. Moments later, the pavement was wet with blood and not a single leopard drew breath. Shaking viscera from my shaggy mane, I let out a triumphant roar.
“Be still, beast,” shouted an all too familiar voice.
I looked up to see Javier exiting his smashed Mercedes. Oddly enough, he didn’t look angry that I’d killed his enforcers or fearful that he’d be next.
My surprise at seeing him gave way to burning rage. For weeks I’d wanted to punish the Alpha for coveting my dancer. Time to teach that fucker who’s really in charge. I prepared to attack, but every muscle in my body locked up. Shit! He is more powerful than I am. Panicked, I searched for Jen. Surely, her commands could override his.
A wave of dizzying pain suddenly rushed through our bond.
Jen!
I found her at the other end of the car, writhing at the feet of Dr. Hurran.
There was no mistaking the dusky-skinned scientist holding a cattle prod over my handler. Dr. Hurran was even wearing the same white lab coat she always wore.
Jen made a garbled sound.
“Quiet,” ordered Dr. Hurran, repeatedly shocking Jen with the high voltage device.
Jen’s entire body seized up. Another burst of pain exploded through our bond.
I snarled, furious I could do nothing to help her.
Javier made a tsking sound as he watched my handler shake and thrash in the dirt. “I thought Titan soldiers were powerful.”
Dr. Hurran sniffed. “They are. But we microchip them too. And when their chip is exposed to high voltage…” She brought the cattle prod down on Jen again.
Jen’s body contorted so violently, her spine snapped with a loud crack.
Dr. Hurran let out a cold laugh.
Jen’s torment thrummed through our link. I shifted back to my human form so I could shout, “Stop hurting her!”
Javier’s amber gaze swung back to me. “The beast is protective of her.”
“She’s his handler. It’s part of his programming to follow her orders and protect her as if she was his alpha,” Dr. Hurran explained.
“Interesting,” Javier said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Can you reprogram it?”
The scientist tossed her head back arrogantly. “Of course.”
Javier smiled. “And you say it can become invisible?”
“For short periods of time,” Dr. Hurran confirmed. “He’s also venomous.”
Javier’s grin widened. “And it looked fast?”
“We’ve clocked him at 300 miles per hour.”
“Magnífico!” Javier rubbed his hands, looking like a giddy child. “What is it? You must tell me.”
My breath caught in my throat. I too had wondered at my origins. I’d always assumed my kind was some sort of monstrous wolf and feline shifter hybrid.
“Vulcari.”
“Vulcari?” Javier echoed, drawing out the unfamiliar word.
“The species is not of this realm.” Dr. Hurran gave him a smug grin.
What the fuck did that mean?
Javier let out an audible gasp. “So, it is true then?”
I glanced between them. What’s true?
Dr. Hurran nodded.
Javier eyed me with wonder. “Please tell me there are more like it.”
Dr. Hurran shook her head. “Unfortunately, all the Typhos subjects were terminated except this one and his twin.”
My heart skipped a beat. Ghost is alive? The roaring in my ears drowned out the rest of their conversation. “Where is my brother?” I demanded. How did I not know he was alive?
“Silencio,” commanded Javier. But he turned to Dr. Hurran and asked her the same question.
The scientist shrugged. “Dr. Zimmerman moved him to an undisclosed research facility.”
“No matter. We’ll find him, won’t we?” He and Dr. Hurran exchanged some private joke.
Jen opened her blood-rimmed eyes. “Hunter,” she whispered. “I order you… to run straight to Dominic…”
I growled under my breath. I wouldn’t have left her even if I could have moved.
“I-ignore all other orders. Go to Dominic now,” Jen wheezed.
Suddenly, I was free to move. I snarled at Javier, wanting more than anything to destroy him and that traitor scientist, but I couldn't fight Jen’s orders.
“Come back!” Javier shouted as I turned and ran. The power in his voice made my head ring, but it wasn’t enough to counter my handler’s order.
I heard Dr. Hurran shout, “Kill his handler.”
A gun fired.
The bond between Jen and I flared with agonizing pain and then snapped. Static burst through my inner ear and all my sense of Jen’s emotions vanished.
She’s dead. My handler was dead.
Instead of feeling relief that I was finally free of her oversight, an unexpected wave of grief hit me.
Jen had been decent to me. She didn’t deserve to die.
It was yet another nail in Javier’s coffin. Soon he and Dr. Hurran would die by my hands. But they’d have to get in line because right now I had someone else to kill.
Jen’s last order was the greatest parting gift she could have given me. I was going to do as she ordered. I’d run straight to Dominic, and then I’d send the bastard straight to hell.
18
Lee
I’d never been more excited to see Gran’s stupid bus than when I spied it parked behind one of the news vans.
I waved at Reed and dragged Eden over to the vehicle. “Come on.”
She stumbled after me. “Lee, you could go to prison for this.”
“Just get in.” I slid open the back door, revealing two raggedy bench seats facing one another.
She stuck out her chin the way she always did when she was about to pitch a fit. “This is insane.”
I tightened my grip on her arm. “Don’t make me throw you in.”
Reed twisted around. “Hey, Eden. Everyone’s turning into zombies. Cool, huh?”
Eden looked between us. “Are you high?”
“Totally.” Reed laughed. “I’m tripping hard.”
Two police cars, lights flashing and sirens blaring, pulled in behind us.
A rush of adrenaline had me shoving my sister into the van. I clambered in behind her and slammed the door. “Go,” I shouted to Reed.
He shifted, and the van slowly puttered forward. He shifted again, and the van reversed a few inches.
I could
feel the vein in my temple throbbing. “Get this hunk of junk moving.”
“Patience, woman. We’re boxed in.”
I pushed the dirty curtain out of the way and peeked through the window. Thankfully, the officers were running toward the station. My blood pressure fell a couple of notches.
Reed flipped a U-turn and drove us back the way we came.
Letting out a deep breath, I sat down next to my sister and met her incredulous stare. “Don’t give me that look. You’re the one that screwed up.” I pursed my lips and thinned my voice. “Sissy, I promise no more protests. I’m just going to have coffee with friends tonight.” I finished my impersonation of her by flipping back my hair.
She paled. “I can explain—”
I held up my hand. “I’m tired of excuses. Reed, step on it.” Hopefully, we could still make it home in time to meet Uncle Duncan and get the hell out of town. If we didn’t…
I swallowed hard. No. Not thinking about that.
Eden jangled her cuffs. “How am I going to get out of these?”
“We’ll find some bolt cutters.” I’d bet my fluffy angel wings that Uncle Duncan had a pair. He was usually prepared for anything.
Eden touched her neck. Her eyes widened. “Sasha’s collar. The police impounded it.” She glanced behind us. “We have to go back.”
“The hell we will. You can get another collar, okay?” I got that Eden was mourning the loss of her dog. Hell, I missed the pit bull mix too. But her collar wasn’t worth getting arrested over.
She jerked her head up. “You just don’t get it, do you? I wear Sasha’s collar to remember her and the senseless reason for her death. I went to jail protesting her killers and their murderous laws, and I won’t stop fighting them no matter—”
“Can it, Edie,” I said with an eye roll. “We’ve got bigger problems than Order 1537. People are turning into monsters. That prisoner next to you in line was infected with the Z-virus.”
