by Brenda Trim
Thinking about the woman’s questions, she knew Ryan was Lawson’s older brother, but Liv had no idea where he or their father was.
“I’m sorry, I’ve only seen Lawson. I wish I had more information that might help. How long have they been gone?” Liv asked.
“They were taken about six months ago. It happened right here in front of the restaurant as they were closing up one night.” The woman began pacing and was now biting her thumbnail, clearly deep in thought.
Moments later she suddenly stopped. “If you know where Lawson is I need you to take me to him right now. I have to see him,” she pleaded.
Liv didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t take her to Lawson. Liv had no way of freeing him and more than likely his sister would end up chained to a wall, as well. He would never forgive her if that happened. She needed to find out if those extra rooms at PRL were empty or not. That was the only way she’d know for sure how involved her boss was in the kidnappings.
Liv was about to respond when another woman stepped out of the restaurant and made her way to over to the two of them.
“Hannah, what’s going on? I need you in the kitch–,” she stopped mid-sentence when her eyes locked on Liv, “what’s she doing here?” she asked sharply.
Puzzle pieces clicked into place, and Liv realized these two women were the twin sisters. The one speaking must be Haylee. She looked identical to Hannah with the exception her hair was shorter, barely touching her shoulders. It was one of the rare times in her life that Liv felt like a midget standing between two women.
“She knows where Lawson is. He’s alive! Our brother is alive,” she squealed, throwing her arms around her sister as the tears flowed.
The other woman hugged her back, and Liv watched the flood of emotion between them. It was hard not to get caught in their moment, and Liv found she was fighting off tears.
Turning to face Liv, Haylee gushed with excitement, “This is incredible news. Take us to him. I’ll grab my keys, and we’ll follow you. Is it far? We have to tell mom,” she rattled out so fast Liv almost didn’t understand her.
“Wait, stop. I can’t do that,” Liv answered, and watched the elation disappear from their faces.
“What do you mean you can’t?” The menace in Hannah’s voice had Liv wincing. “You can and you will. That’s my brother, and I’ll be damned if you’re leaving here without us,” she snarled.
Haylee stepped to her sister’s side, showing their united front. Liv didn’t have a prayer against these two.
Swallowing hard against the building fear, she tried explaining, “I want to help. He’s being held prisoner at the company I work for. A medical research facility, PRL, maybe you’re familiar with it. My boss thinks shifter blood may cure cancer so you can imagine their refusal to release him. I need more time. I believe there are others there but I haven’t found them yet. Let me do some snooping before we decide how to get him out of there,” Liv proposed, praying they would see the logic behind her explanation.
The two women looked at each other and shared a silent conversation that Liv couldn’t decipher. She made a mental note to ask Lawson if shifters were telepathic. It could be as simple as twin’s innate connections to one another, but she was curious if shifters possessed any powers.
“Wait here, I’ll be right back,” Haylee blurted then darted up the steps, brown waves flying around her head as she moved.
She disappeared inside the building and then seconds later reappeared. Her movements were lightning fast, and, once again, Liv wondered if that was a shifter trait.
“I don’t like this one damn bit, but we will agree because we know there are other shifters missing. If we acted rashly and it cost more lives, we would never forgive ourselves. I’m warning you, human, you have twenty-four hours. Not an hour more, understand? Here’s my card. It has the business number and my cell. I expect a call from my brother so I know he’s okay. We will be rescuing him whether you like it or not. I know exactly where PRL is and I’ll burn the fucker down if I have to,” Haylee demanded, leaving no doubt in Liv’s mind she would follow through on her threat.
“I’ll do my best. You’re not giving me much time, but I promise you’ll hear from Lawson. I’m going there now, and I’ll sneak my phone in,” Liv assured.
Jim was strict about items allowed in the room, but she could stuff it in her bra if she had to. In fact, she was upset with herself for not thinking of it before now.
“Don’t let us down or we’ll be hunting you,” Hannah stated firmly.
Liv didn’t have siblings, but she imagined she would do the same to protect and defend them. She would move Heaven and Earth if anyone ever harmed her mother.
“I will, I promise,” she replied as she hauled ass to her Jeep, stuffing the small card in her back pocket. The vehicle roared to life, and she punched the accelerator, tires spinning as she fishtailed through the gravel onto the street. She glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Lawson’s sisters watching as she drove away.
Next stop, PRL. She was in a race against time, and if she won, the prize was priceless. To be able to reunite Lawson with those he held near and dear was suddenly the most important mission in her life.
Unfortunately, it was going to take her doing something that had bile rising in her throat.
10
Standing outside Jim’s office, Liv took a deep breath, preparing mentally. She could do this. She had to. It was the only way she knew to get his clearance card from his wallet. Her entry card allowed minimal access throughout the building, but Jim’s would permit her anywhere she wanted. She needed to investigate the other rooms.
Opening his office door, she walked in, shutting the door behind her. Jim was sitting on one of the sofas, looking over some paperwork. He glanced up and smiled then leaned forward to set the papers on the coffee table.
“Olivia, do come in. I was surprised to get your message and rushed right over. Please, join me,” he offered, patting a spot beside him.
“Hi, thank you for coming on such short notice. Let’s have a drink first. I brought my favorite wine,” Liv smiled, walking to the small bar adjacent his desk. Setting down her red tote she grabbed two crystal goblets from an overhead cabinet.
“Sounds perfect. Are we celebrating?”
“Absolutely. I think you’ll be pleased to hear what Lawson shared with me,” she offered, opening the bottle of red wine and pouring two glasses, purposely spilling some across the front of her blouse.
“Oh, shoot. Jim, can you be a dear and grab me a towel from your bathroom? I’m afraid this might stain,” she admitted, showing him her top.
Seeing the mess, he jumped up and rushed to the bathroom. Liv quickly reached in her front jeans pocket and grabbed two sleeping pills. They were strong and would knock him on his ass. She sent a silent prayer for immediate effect. Dropping them in his glass, she stirred with her finger until it dissolved.
Exiting the restroom, Jim walked over, towel in hand. “Here, let me help you with that,” he offered and proceeded to rub the towel across her chest.
His eyes never left her breasts, and she could see excitement build as he groped one side with his hand over the towel. An uncontrollable shudder raced up her spine as nausea set up shop in her gut. Fucking dirty old man.
Handing him his wine, she maneuvered past him and made her way to the sofa and took a seat. He followed suit and joined her, sitting back and stretching one arm across the back.
“Now tell me this good news you think I’ll be happy to hear,” he instructed and took a sizable gulp of his wine.
“Do you like the wine?” she asked, turning just enough that her blouse fanned opened, revealing enough cleavage he could see her bra.
She smiled when his eyes bulged, and she took a sip of wine. Come on asshole, drink up!
“Yes, very much,” he replied, eyeing her breasts as he tilted his glass, taking another big gulp. Almost there. Just one more and the glass would be empty.
“A toast. To long, hard, satisfying nights of working late,” Liv winked, raising her glass to Jim’s, licking her lips as the crystal clinked together. She took another sip, and Jim copied, polishing off his drink before setting it on the coffee table. Good boy.
“Screw work, Olivia, I wanna screw you instead,” Jim announced before moving closer, pulling her towards his body.
Glass in hand, Liv let out a squeal as the liquid sloshed around. “Jim! I’m gonna spill it again. Let me enjoy at least one glass. Wine always puts me in good spirits, if you know what I mean,” she flirted, giving him a seductive look even though her stomach turned in revulsion.
Sighing, he released his hold and sat back on the sofa. “Ugh, if you insist. Tell me your good news while you enjoy your wine,” he remarked, placing a hand on Liv’s inner thigh and rubbing. It took everything not to throat-punch the man for touching anywhere on her body.
“Huh, oh, yes. My news,” Liv muttered, almost forgetting her fabricated reason for their meeting. “I found out Lawson has parents and siblings,” she reported, watching his pupils. Nothing yet. Come on, do your thing, pills.
“And why does this concern me?” he asked, uninterested in the topic. His hand slipped further up her leg and squeezed. If he touched her crotch, she was going to come unglued.
“I was thinking. What if we brought in more shifters? Run some more blood tests, and compare that of family members,” she hedged, testing his reaction to the idea.
She couldn’t help but wonder if Lawson’s brother and father were in one of the other rooms. Jim didn’t even flinch at the suggestion, but his eyes blinked several times and he appeared confused. Bingo.
“You okay, Jim?” she asked.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m great. Just a little tired, I guess. Olivia, let’s stop playing games. I’m very…” he blinked some more and Liv could see the drugs taking effect, “attracted to you. In fact,” he reached over with both hands and ripped open her blouse, grabbing her breasts and squeezing.
Before she could shove him away, he face-planted in her cleavage and remained there. He wasn’t moving. She glanced down and noted he was out cold. Thank fuck, she thought. Pushing, she struggled against his dead weight as she propped him against the back of the sofa.
Liv quickly set her drink down and began searching for his wallet. Second pocket she checked provided the prize. Score! Opening the bi-fold, she found his access card. She didn’t know how much time she had before he came to, so she would have to hurry.
Running from his office, she shut the door behind her before sprinting to where Lawson was being held. One by one, she unlocked the doors of each room. They had covered the windows for a reason. There were shifters in every room, each chained to the wall. She called out, asking their names. None responded to Ryan or Jacob. Maybe Lawson’s family wasn’t here.
She passed by Lawson’s room to search the last three doors in the hallway. Two of the doors revealed two more shifters, but they weren’t his dad or brother. She quickly swiped her card on the last door and turned the handle when she heard the click of the lock. Pushing it open she stepped not into another room, but an enormous laboratory.
About a dozen wolves were strapped to tables. The largest wolves she’d ever seen, closer to the size of a mountain lion. Machines she didn’t recognize were attached to their bodies. Red liquid ran from tubes in their arms and legs to the machines. They were drawing blood. A lot of blood. Were these animals shifters? They weren’t moving and she couldn’t tell if they were alive or dead.
Walking closer she touched the head of a wolf, petting it. Eyes cracked open and she jerked her hand away. The animal just laid there, eyes fixed on her. Its gaze wasn’t malicious. More like a plea for help. This was not just an animal, there was a man beneath the beast. A dying man.
This could be the proof needed to get Bart involved. Reaching for her cell phone so she could take some pictures, she cursed herself when she remembered it was in Jim’s office. Maybe she had time to get it and come back. Suddenly, she heard voices from the opposite end of the room and she quickly ran from the lab back into the hallway.
Closing the lab door, she leaned over and grabbed her knees, trying to catch her breath. Gasping for air, she feared she was hyperventilating. She couldn’t believe what she had just seen. All those wolves, having God-only-knew-what done to them. What if Lawson’s brother or dad were one of them? This was bigger than she ever imagined.
Panicking, she stood and rushed to the only place she felt safe.
Three doors down.
When Liv barged through Lawson’s door his heart leapt in his chest. She was incredibly beautiful and sexy as hell. Every time he saw her, she was sunshine to his dark world.
Except, instead of her typical smile, she was overwrought and frantic as she slammed the door behind her, chest heaving with pants. What alarmed him more was her blouse was torn open. What the fuck?
“Liv, what’s wrong? What happened to you?” he demanded, eyes cemented on her ripped top.
He was trying to remain calm but his nerves rejected the idea. He was on the verge of going ballistic.
Glancing down, she immediately grabbed the material, trying to cover herself. The sheer bra she wore sure as shit wasn’t doing the trick.
“Oh God, I’m sorry. I forgot what he’d done,” she apologized, still shaking with terror.
Instant rage bubbled at hearing her words. “He who? Who the fuck touched you?” he shouted, pulling at the chains binding him to the wall. When she shrunk back against the door he realized he was scaring her which was the last thing he wanted to do.
Breathing deeply, he calmed enough to lower his hands to his sides and steady his voice.
“Olivia, I’m not going to hurt you. Come here,” Lawson coaxed so she would know he was in control of his actions.
She hesitated briefly then pushed off the door and walked to stand in front of him. She was still in a state of panic and he wanted to comfort her.
“Closer,” he whispered.
When she took another step, he reached and grabbed her hand, pulling her to him. She immediately wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into him, igniting every cell in his body. She brought him to life with a simple touch. He held her tight against his body, feeling her warmth. Fuck, what this female did to him.
He hadn’t planned on the kiss they shared several days ago but he was helpless to resist. She was so soft and feminine. She smelled of lemony sugar and he wanted to lick her skin to see if she tasted as sweet as he imagined. When their lips had touched, his world tilted and he thought he would fall to the floor from dizziness.
Now, holding her again, he wanted to explore every inch of her alluring body. The ripped blouse had spread open again and her bare flesh was pressed against his. He fought the urge to strip her remaining clothes, claiming her as his own. For the first time in his life the idea of sharing his life force with a female was appealing.
She looked up at him, drawing him out of his thoughts to her beautiful green eyes.
“Liv, tell me what happened. You’re trembling,” he murmured as he reached a hand to her face, stroking her cheek. So incredibly soft, he thought, as he gently touched her skin.
“I don’t even know where to begin. It’s awful. There are so many of them. I don’t know what to do,” she cried out then told him about the lab she discovered and what they were doing to the wolves.
He had his suspicions but never imagined what she described. They had to be draining them, leaving them for dead after obtaining their blood. As she proceeded to tell him about her visit to Dunlap that’s when he snapped.
“Liv, you can’t go there by yourself. You’re lucky there weren’t any males around because you wouldn’t be standing here now. Promise me you won’t do that again,” he implored, still concerned about who had ripped her blouse.
“Trust me. I won’t be going back there alone. And, if I don’t have you call your sisters by tomorrow, I’m pretty sure they’ll h
ave my head hanging on a wall at the Scott Café,” she spouted and he couldn’t help but chuckle. He imagined the twins were extremely intimidating.
Liv was right, though. They would hunt her down if she didn’t do as they asked. The Scott family was like that. Loyal, determined, and would fight to the end to protect their own.
“Which reminds me,” she continued, “I can’t stay long. I’ve got to get back to Jim’s office before he wakes up,” she stated, dread crossing her lovely features.
“I don’t understand. Why is he asleep in his office?” Lawson asked, curious why the owner was here on a Saturday and sleeping, of all things.
“Well, sleeping is a loose term. I kinda drugged him so I could take his entry card. That’s how I was able to search the other lab, but I’ve got to get it back to him. I just pray he’s still out so he won’t lay another–,” she stopped herself and looked away, biting her lower lip.
The sight would’ve aroused him had he not caught what she said. Suddenly, his temper spiraled out of control and his wolf scratched the surface, wanting to break free.
“Did that motherfucker touch you? Is that why your top is ripped?” he growled, pushing her off his chest so could inspect her body. If Jim had left one single scratch, he’d dismember him piece by piece with his bare hands. A quick look told him she was unscathed, but that didn’t halt his wrath.
“Yes, but don’t worry. I’ve got it under control. I know what I’m doing,” she confessed, placing a palm against his chest, placating him. It worked. Her touch soothed his beast and he instantly relaxed.
“What am I going to do with you? Here I thought I was the one with a death sentence but you, you’re dancing around, taunting in its face. You can’t keep taking risks like this. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you,” he confessed, pulling her against him again, needing her close.
Standing on tiptoe, she wrapped her arms around his neck, looking up at him, green eyes filled with lust. Her burning desire was his undoing. He couldn’t resist any longer. He had tried chivalry, but chivalry was dead to his urgent need.
