Chapter 8

 

 

Kane winced and dropped the water bottle. On seeing Gaby’s pained glare, he winked before returning to faking his pain.

She narrowed her eyes, on to his game. “Don’t worry, he’s coming.”

Tomlin rushed in. Two guards accompanied him, but they and the security man assigned to him remained outside as he shut the door. He approached the cage, but didn’t get closer than arm’s length. “Where exactly does your head hurt?”

Kane sealed his eyes shut and rasped, “Stop the pain.”

“Could be a reaction to the serum.” He looked in the cabinet. “I can give you morphine.”

“Will that work against a truth serum reaction?” asked Gaby.

“Hard to say. Avery added trace amounts of wolfsbane to the serum.”

Wolfsbane? His wolf snarled. Poison. He knows how to kill us. Yet, will small amounts force the truth out of us? Explains why I spilled everything about Gaby’s charm. Unfortunately, the serum hadn’t helped him regain his memory.

“You mean like the flower mentioned in the movie The Wolfman?” Gaby asked.

“Not precisely.” Tomlin drew a dose of morphine from the vial to the syringe.

Kane grimaced and grunted, “Quick.”

“Extend your arm,” said Tomlin.

Kane moved closer and narrowed his eyes at the doctor. “Turn off the camera, and then let me out.”

Tomlin stilled. “Yes.” He switched off the camera and unlocked the cage.

“Now take the syringe...”

Gaby grabbed Tomlin’s arm. “No. The dose might kill him.”

Kane smiled. Not sure why she wanted to keep the mad scientist alive, but he respected her wish. “Hand Gaby the morphine and get inside the cage.”

Tomlin gave a robotic nod, handed the syringe to Gaby and stepped in.

“Lie down and sleep. When you wake up, you will remember nothing.”

Tomlin lay on the floor and closed his eyes.

“You can do that?”

“My wolf told me to.” He smirked. “And guaranteed not to harm him.”

“What about the guards?”

“Leave them to me, but it won’t be pretty.” They were armed and carried two-way radios.

Gaby sighed. “I get it.”

“First, I need something to wear. Tell them to come in.” Kane hid behind the door and then nodded at her.

She opened the door. “Guards! Dr. Tomlin needs your help.”

The regular security guard and the other two rushed in.

Kane snapped the first guard’s neck in one swift fluid motion. The other two drew their weapons, but with cunning speed, Kane charged and knocked them on the floor before they released a single shot. He grabbed them by the scruff of their necks and banged their heads together, reverberating as if two coconuts knocked. Their eyes glazed in death.

“Holy crap, you are a Navy SEAL team with a bite.”

He tilted his head. “Makes sense.” In fact, the idea of being special ops felt right. He quickly removed the first guard’s uniform and donned it. “Where to?” He found sneakers he wore earlier and pulled them on.

“My office.”

“Are you sure we have time?”

“I’m not leaving without my bracelet and I like the idea of the tracking device in the ball.”

“Me, too.”

“Anyway, I need to get the key to the predator facility.”

“Are you planning to free all those man eaters?”

“They will buy us some time. Besides, there’s an exit to the outside on that floor. Makes it easier to transport them.”

He nodded and followed her into an elevator that dropped them directly across from her apartment. “I’m going to change into something more comfortable.”

He scanned the floor and closed the door. “Hurry.”

Gaby entered her bedroom and returned wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie. She also held the box with the bracelet and tennis ball that held the tracking device. “I have the key code to the predator area. You are in charge of convincing the guard to let us in.”

They ran into the elevator and exited into the predator area.

The security guard stood and pulled out a gun. “Hands up.”

Kane met his gaze. “No, asshole, hands down.”

The guard swallowed and repeated. “Hands down.”

“You will remember nothing.”

The guard repeated in a monotone. “Nothing.”

“We should go to Las Vegas,” snarked Gaby.

Kane punched the guard in the side of the head. Knocking him out cold. “I didn’t take you for the gambling type.”

“Not gambling, but winning.”

His wolf snarled. Compelling people for profit is wrong. Says who? The wolf barked, I just know.

Gaby went in and he followed. A male lion roared. She closed her eyes. “Silence, Ghost.”

The big lion stopped immediately. She winked. “After gambling, we can visit a circus and cause chaos.”

Kane could get used to her dark humor. “Sounds like fun.”

“I’ll release them all at once. Stay behind me.”

He liked her protecting him. “Yes, ma’am.”

Gaby pressed the electronic key and all the cages opened, first the primary doors and then the secondary. The big cats stepped out and stood at attention. They appeared to wait for her command. “Now for the bears and attack dogs.” They went through the next door and she unlocked the cages.

The loose large predators crowded in with the dogs in the tunnel. Not one tried to attack the other. Noah must have been a wolf charmer.

“Speaking of gambling, I bet you would do well at the race track.”

She smiled. “I actually thought about it, but realized I’d get noticed.”

“Not if you bet on one race.” She could influence the horses to allow the horse with the greatest odds to win.

Gaby threw him a pointed stare. “As soon as I open the exit, the alarms will go off.” She opened the exit and a siren blared, hurting his sensitive wolf ears.

“Breach! Breach!” repeated a robotic voice.

Like the Pied Piper, she led the beasts outside. They stalked away, but not too far.

“I told them to stop anyone from following us.”

He smiled. “You really are good at charming.”

“This won’t be pretty.”

“Sweets, not doing things pretty is something we have in common.”

She stopped in front of an SUV. “Shit. We forgot the keys.”

Kane chuckled. “Ready for more surprises?”

“What?”

He broke the driver’s window with his fist. “Apparently, I know how to hot-wire a car.” He went to work and in seconds, the engine started. “This will do until we find another.”

“I still think you were a special forces’ soldier turned werewolf.”

“You might be right. Avery suspected I was on some lycan army mission.” He glanced at the fork on the road. “Hmm. Which direction?”

Gaby looked at the group of animals lingering in the shadows. “My cabin is on the right along the way.”

“That’s the first place they’ll look.”

“Sucks. I could use more clothing.”

He winked. “Money won’t be an issue.” Mind control made stealing so much easier. He stepped out and threw the ball with the tracking device in the direction of her cabin.

“Good throw. Might even land on the front porch.”

“Have the big cats head toward your cabin.”

“And the others?”

“Have them attack anyone who runs out.”

She raised her arms and the animals from bears to dogs obeyed her commands.

Kane snarled and she turned.

Director Giles and one of his men stood with assault rifles aimed at them. “Don’t move!”

Gaby froze and held Kane’s arm. If he charged, Gaby might be shot and killed. “Let her go, and I’m yours.”

“I don’t bargain with assets.”

Gaby scowled. “I quit.”

Giles twisted a wicked grin. “Nelson, if she doesn’t come, shoot her in the leg.” He snorted. “Make that both legs.”

Kane tried to make eye contact with Giles, but he stared only at Gaby, knowing how to avoid his mind control. If he could grab him, he could force him to look into his eyes. The stalking tiger and African male lion came ever so slowly toward them. Better yet, he’d let the cats deal with him.

The tiger attacked the director’s soldier and ripped his head off. Giles shot at the tiger winging him, but the lion pounced on him. The lion muffled his cries as he bit into his scalp, crushing and spilling gray matter like gruesome tapioca.

Gaby gaped.

Kane drew her in his arms and opened the car door. “Let’s go.”

She hopped in and they sped away.

 

Gaby glanced at her watch, five thirty p.m. on a Sunday. Almost an hour since their escape. They made it to the main freeway out of the closest town. Traffic consisted of campers and other vacationers heading home from a weekend in the country. She clutched her bracelet and looked back. I’m free. Away from the man-eaters she turned loose. Away from Director Giles, who forced her to kill and robbed her of a normal life. Project Sabertooth was over or was it? Tomlin would take over. What now? Would Tomlin and Avery hunt them to the ends of the Earth? Would Kane’s memory return? If he was Prince Steele, he meant something to his kind, or to a pack or even mate. If he remembered, she had to be prepared to let him go. Not that they had an intimate relationship. Just friends on the run. Yet, their explosive sexual tension could annihilate their friend status. He kissed her passionately the first day they met as if they had been parted lovers. He flirted with his eyes, language, and so had she. Removing his shirt displaying his broad chest and ripped abs didn’t help. No mistake as to why she dressed in her tightest dress for dinner. A rotor clap from above brought her back to reality.

Kane barked, “Shit, helicopters.”

Gaby glanced at two military helicopters. “Heading toward the compound.” Hopefully, they were focused on capturing the animals. She knew the drill: tranquilize, kill, and if need be, take out any witnesses. With Giles dead who knew how Tomlin would handle the chaos?

“They might stop traffic and look for us.”

He got off the freeway and turned into a truck stop. Semis parked in a row across from several fast food restaurants. “We’ll have to ditch the car.”

“And steal another?”

“Not a good idea. Any other suggestions?”

Gaby pointed her chin at the parked trucks. “We can hitch a ride with a trucker.”

“I think I can persuade him.” He winked.

“I’m quite fond of your vampire-like mind control.”

Kane feigned hurt. “Please, I’m no blood sucker.” He raised his brow. “I prefer my protein to come from tender meat.” He drove the black SUV into an abandoned auto repair shed. “Come on.”

“Do you have any idea where we should go?” she asked as she kept up with his long strides.

“How about we just leave the state for starters?”

She nodded and grabbed him. “Quick.” She headed to a trucker opening her cab. She braved walking up to a total stranger and smiled wide. “Hi, do you think we can hitch a ride?”

The stocky woman with a short gray manly hairstyle, who appeared in her fifties, scoffed at her. “Do I look like a taxi?”

Kane smiled at her. “Hi, where are you heading?”

She met his eyes. “Houston, Texas.”

“Pleasure to meet you Miss…?

“Becky, but most call me Becks.”

The trucker’s demeanor shifted from annoying to happy to meet them.

“I’m Jack and this is Jill.”

Obviously, fake names. Gaby looked up into the sky. Like his fighting skills, his memory of fairy tales came in handy.

Kane held Becks’ gaze. “Good, we’ll ride with you to Oklahoma.”

“I’m going through Oklahoma City. Does that work?”

“Perfect,” answered Kane.

Hmm. Why Oklahoma? She’d learn soon enough.

Becks opened the door. “Get in.”

Gaby climbed in. “Wow.” Behind the cockpit was a sofa dinette. Farther back, a large bed.

Kane joined her and smiled. “Thanks, Becks.”

“You two can sleep for now. I’ll drive until midnight and then I get the bed.”

Gabby twirled her bracelet. “That works.”

“I listen to audio books, but you can shut the door and turn the volume down.”

“Sleep is all we need,” Gaby said.

“You might like the book, Shared Mate.” She snorted. “A bit smutty.”

Gaby mostly read fantasy novels. “Erotic romance?”

“Paranormal romance. Hot alpha werewolves and vampires sort of thing.”

Gaby and Kane gazed at one another. She elbowed Kane. “No problem.”

Becks drove off and peered out the window. “There goes another helicopter. You would think we had a major terrorist threat.”

Kane squinted toward the sky. “Must be a training exercise.”

“Makes sense.” Becks glanced at the GPS screen and shrugged. “Should get there in fifteen hours or less.” She started the audio book. Ironically, the narration began just when a werewolf entered a fighting arena against a vampire to win his mate.

Gaby mumbled. “Little does she know this is non-fiction.”

Kane guided her in the back. “Come on, sweetie.”

Gaby followed him to the small bedroom and closed the door.

He lay on the bed and pulled her against his shoulder. “Something about the story rings true.” He draped an arm over her.

She shivered under his touch. For the first time in her life, she felt safe. She whispered, “Don’t tell me vampires are real.”

“They’re not. At least not from what my wolf tells me.”

“Good to know.” She felt his toned pecs. Too timid to act on her temptation to explore his available body, she covered her mouth and yawned. Between her exhaustion and lack of privacy, she focused on sleep.

The loud narration continued with the woman claiming she wanted both of them. A werewolf for the day and a vampire for the night. Geez. “Imagine two hot lovers.”

He laughed, reached over the bed, and turned off the speakers. “Sharing is not a werewolf thing.”

Nor mine. “Besides I’m team werewolf.” She smiled, enveloped in his warmth. The flirting must stop. Better to think about other things than hot werewolves. “Why Oklahoma?”

“I figure we have a day with her before Avery and his ilk check all the vehicles that stopped at the station.”

“No doubt.”

“Once there, we’ll buy a car.”

“Without a driver’s license?”

“Mind control, sweetie.”

“Then Vegas,” she snarked.

“Why not? We need a place to sort things out.”

“Then California,” said Gaby.

“Do you know anyone there?”

“No, but I’ve always wanted to see Redwood trees. Eureka, California might be a good destination. Unless, you think we should head toward wolf country?”

“Actually, I wouldn’t mind seeing Redwood trees.” He raised a brow. “Where were you born?”

“San Francisco. My earliest memory was causing a ruckus at the San Francisco Zoo. Soon after, my mother died from an overdose. Giles searched my mother’s relatives from Ohio, figuring there might be relatives with the wolf-charming gene. Unfortunately, he never found anyone so after years of looking, he gave up.”

“Besides you, did he share your birthplace with anyone else at Project Sabertooth?”

She scoffed. “I was his secret weapon; doubtful he shared.”

“Until Avery Kraig showed up.”

“I only wish Giles would have kept my wolf charm talents out of my file. Although, Tomlin and the other handlers knew, so there was no hiding that. Eventually, my secret will be out.” By now, Tomlin probably shared everything he knew about her with Avery.

“Did he tell you why wolf charmers don’t exist?”

His warm breath sent chills down her spine. “Long ago my kind was burnt at the stake to extinction. Not surprising since having animals do our bidding smelled of witchcraft.”

“There is more to your kind’s demise according to Avery.”

“Huh?”

“Ever hear of the Edict of Segner 1590?”

“No.”

He took in a long breath and slowly exhaled. “Apparently, my werewolf kind killed all wolf charmers. And still do. Likely because you can out us.”

Gaby’s heart skipped a beat. Her skill at fingering werewolves might be her demise. “Are you saying I’m sleeping with the enemy?”

“I would never harm you or allow others to do so, Gaby. We are friends.”

“I’m okay with frenemies.” Certainly, not friends with sexual benefits. She had to prepare her heart for when Prince Steele parted ways with her. “He must believe werewolves have always existed.”

“Yes, Avery confirmed what my wolf already knew. We exist as a separate species.”

“And you believe him?”

“My wolf can differentiate between the truth and a lie.”

“Yet, your mind control didn’t work on him.”

“Correct. However, I can still read the truth. His pulse and eyes can’t hide that.” His tone saddened. “He spoke the truth when he said Steele is my name, but damn, it means nothing to me.”

She kept her tone neutral. “Prince Steele.”

“No feeling about the title either. Nor my so-called brother King Conan.”

“I bet he’s looking for you.”

“Not necessarily a good thing. Avery suspects my pack brain wiped me.”

“Why?”

“I might have broken some rule or threatened to dethrone my brother.” He sighed. “It explains why in my dreams my wolf said my amnesia was my own doing.”

“So I take it you aren’t anxious to find your pack just yet?”

“Not based on the nightmare of a pack attacking me.”

Maybe there was hope, he’d stay with her. He couldn’t go back to his pack if they wanted him dead. “Why would the pack mind wipe you and dump you in the ocean?”

“Maybe to make an example of me, but yeah, over the top.” He sighed. “Sleep. I’ll keep an ear out for any danger.”

Gaby closed her eyes, convinced she was too wired to get a wink, but the last thing she felt was the warm kiss on her forehead and the comfort of his arms.