Chapter Thirteen
Maneuvering the large vehicle onto the access ramp, Liv breathed a sigh of relief. Straight shot on I-24 for about a hundred miles. All she had to worry about was staying in her lane. She was pretty damn proud of herself that she hadn’t run over anything or anyone. Grabbing her cell phone from her pocket, she exhaled another sigh of relief when there were no messages from Jim.
Liv gave Cassie a quick call telling her they were on their way to Hollow Rock. When she mentioned their desitnation, Lawson and the other shifter shared a look that she couldn’t decipher and made a mental note to ask Lawson about it later.
Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, she did some quick math in her head. It was well past midnight, and they still had a few hours of driving ahead of them, and she knew she’d start losing steam, but at least the worst was behind them. Cassie said all was good at her house and that she’d stay there with Milo until Liv returned.
Lawson grunted, drawing Liv’s attention. He had taken off his sweatshirt and was applying pressure to one of his gunshot wounds. “Oh, look in those bags, um…what’s your name? We haven’t been introduced. I’m Olivia Kimbro,” she offered as she looked in the rearview mirror to the passenger sitting behind her.
“Knox. Knox Pierce,” he replied. I owe both of you a huge thank you.” His slight smile was genuine, and his blue eyes held a world of gratitude.
“Nice to meet you, Knox. If you don’t mind, look through those bags behind you and grab a towel for Lawson. I packed several things, not knowing what we might need. There are also extra clothes, snacks, even a first aid kit, not that it will help you, I’m afraid,” she admitted, looking to Lawson. “Oh, and the refrigerator has sandwiches and drinks, so help yourselves. We have a little over three hours of driving to do. Would you mind grabbing me one of the energy shots from the fridge?”
“May Gaia bless you. I’m starving,” Knox blurted as he handed a couple of towels to Lawson then retreated towards the rear of the vehicle. She couldn’t help but grin when she heard his sounds of approval as he rummaged through the small refrigerator. Men and their appetites. They were all the same.
Looking to Lawson, she cocked her head. “Who is Gaia?”
Pressing a towel to his shoulder and another to his leg, he grunted, “She is the Goddess we worship. She is one with Earth and nature,” he answered, gray eyes pinning her.
Instantly, arousal spiked, and she had to turn her eyes to the road ahead. The man was too much of a distraction, and she couldn’t afford to lose her focus with this oversized vehicle.
“Like Mother Nature,” she postulated.
“Yes, exactly,” Lawson affirmed. Knox came back, handing her the small plastic bottle and Lawson a paper plate loaded with food. “Thank you. I’m Lawson, by the way. Lawson Scott,” he said, picking up a turkey sandwich and taking a bite.
When Liv didn’t hear a reply, she briefly looked in the rearview mirror. Frozen in place with a sandwich inches from his mouth, Knox’s eyes bulged. Finally, he opened his mouth, but she wasn’t prepared for the words that followed.
“Lawson Scott. I know you. Well, I’ve heard a lot about you. From your dad and brother,” Knox explained.
Before he could utter another word, Lawson interjected, “You’ve seen them? When? Where?”
“Just a few days ago. They’re back at the lab,” he muttered, taking a large bite of his sandwich.
Liv could hear him smacking and chewing his food and had to bite her tongue. It reminded her of Cassie and the gum chewing. Poor manners were her biggest pet peeve, and she reminded herself that instead of it being his persona, maybe he was starving from lack of food.
“We have to go back, Liv. I can’t leave them there!” Lawson demanded, pulling his sweatshirt back over his head.
“Hold up. That’s a negatory,” Liv countered, her mind reeling from the news about Lawson’s family, as well, but she was highly aware of the danger in returning. “You’re injured, and I’m sure Jim is at PRL by now. If we go back, you could end up chained to the wall again. Not gonna happen. We stick to the plan, and when we get to Bart’s, we decide our next step. I can’t risk losing you,” she confessed, reaching over to squeeze his hand.
He held her hand, quiet for a few moments then slid off his seat to his knees and made his way to her side. She was trying to pay attention to the road, but when she felt his warm body crowd her space, it made it difficult to concentrate.
Sliding an arm behind Liv’s back, Lawson leaned down and kissed her cheek then moved along her jaw, kissing a path to her neck and up to her ear. Arousal shot straight to her core, and she clenched against the painful need.
“You’re right,” he whispered. “We will figure it out together,” he murmured, kissing behind her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. If he didn’t stop, she was going to crash for sure.
Liv’s throat clicked as she swallowed hard against her parched mouth, and her voice cracked, “Please get back to your seat. I’m going to wreck if you keep doing that.” A low chuckle ignited another spark of arousal and a sideways glance told her he was enjoying the hell out of torturing her.
“It’s called payback, babe, and you’ve earned it,” he smiled, crawling back into his seat. “I’m happy to drive if being in my presence has you flustered,” he teased.
“Better yet, how bout I drive, and the two of you can make good use of the bed in the back. I’m getting turned on just listening,” Knox disclosed, returning with another sandwich. “You know shifters have excellent hearing, right?”
Blushing from his remark, Liv acknowledged she didn’t know that small fact but filed that important piece of information. Suddenly, she prayed that neither of them could read her mind. Too many erotic fantasies were playing through her mind about Lawson, and she didn’t want either of them to know the naughty details.
More than once, she had wondered about shifter abilities. Strength was undeniable, but she hadn’t asked Lawson about other skills they might possess. “No, I didn’t know that, but, I’m glad I know now. And, no, I don’t need anyone to drive. I’m the only one registered to this vehicle and Bart would kill me if we were to get pulled over and one of you was driving. I promise to keep my eyes on the road so long as he agrees to stay in his seat,” she proclaimed, winking at Lawson.
* * *
“Where’s the fun in that?” Lawson argued playfully, turning his attention towards Knox. “So, tell me about my family. Are they hurt? How long have you been imprisoned?”
His mind was still spinning over the fact that his dad and brother were back at the lab. He was tempted to go back on his own and get them, but he knew Liv was right. The system was probably up again, and he needed time to think and decide the best plan of attack.
“A few months, I guess. They grabbed me one night outside a bar. I was lured to my demise by a sexy human, although, now I’m certain it was a setup. I’ve gotta give it to you females, you have irresistible charm,” he remarked sarcastically, looking Liv in the eye. She sat quietly, and Lawson wondered what was roaming through her mind.
“Interesting. Same thing happened to me,” Lawson admitted, and Liv’s face turned his way, unmistakably shocked. He had told her about his kidnapping, but not about the human. It was embarrassing as hell, and he recalled the night in question.
She had been a sexy little number, all over him one night at a local bar. It wasn’t that he was terribly attracted to her, but he was horny and drunk, and she was talking some dirty shit. He had wanted to know if she was a prick tease or if she could live up to her intriguing promises. They left the bar and made their way to a side alley. She unzipped his pants and dropped to her knees, and he thought he was about to get his dick sucked when, suddenly, something hit his skull. Hard. Next thing he remembered was waking up in a room, chained to a wall.
Knox’s voice intruded his musings as the male continued his story. “Anyway, about your family. They were there when I was taken to the lab. They seemed okay, no injuries I could see, but then they threw me back in one of those fucking cells, and I haven’t seen a soul, until tonight.”
“You shift for them?” Lawson asked curiously.
“Hell no! I was considering it because they promised to let me go if I did. Said they only needed a sample of blood. Lies, all fucking lies with the humans. No disrespect, ma’am,” Knox said to Liv but locked eyes with Lawson.
Lawson knew precisely what the male was thinking. Humans were cold and heartless and couldn’t be trusted. He had felt the same way, until meeting Liv. She had shown compassion and concern from the very first day.
“None taken. I know exactly what you mean. One night I broke into the lab, and that’s when I saw several shifters in animal form, attached to machines. They were taking a hell of a lot more than a sample of blood,” Liv shared.
“I knew then they had no plans to let me go, so I refused to shift. Received the worst beating of my life as punishment but hell if I’m not glad I didn’t do what they wanted,” Knox cursed.
“How long ago was that?” Lawson asked, looking to Liv. She had seen wolves in the lab, as well, and had been worried they were all dead.
“About a week after they abducted me, why?”
Lawson shook his head and looked out the passenger window, trying to put the puzzle pieces together. Something was still missing, but he couldn’t put a finger to it. After a few minutes, he looked to Liv.
“It doesn’t make sense to me. If the scientists know our blood doesn’t alter after we shift, why keep us locked up? Jim’s theory is wrong, which I knew, but why continue the torture?” Lawson asked, hoping she knew something.
She shrugged, as confused as he was. “I don’t know. As much as I disagree with their methods, I was hoping Jim was on to something. The mere thought of having a cure to cancer was exciting. Now, it would seem we’re back to square one,” she sighed, and he could see the disappointment.
“Oh, I know the answer to that,” Knox offered freely, and they both looked in his direction. “Yeah, I overheard a couple of the lab techs talking. Dumbasses thought I couldn’t hear them because they were whispering. Apparently, Jim’s sister had cancer and decided to sow her last remaining oats with a shifter. Long story short,” he concluded, “her cancer went into remission. But here’s how fucked up Jim is. The shifter agreed to give him his blood, but Jim ended up draining him in the process. He died.”
“That’s it!” shrilled Liv. “If we can talk with his sister, we will have the proof needed to implicate Jim and PRL. This is the information we’ve needed. Do you know where she is?” she blurted, overcome with elation.
“Dead,” came a resounding reply from Lawson and Knox.
“Huh?” Liv asked, eyes filled with shock as she looked to Lawson for answers.
“For shifters, if they share their life force with another, they are tied to them in every way. Physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. It is something a shifter can do only once in a lifetime. Once bonded, if one of them dies, the other cannot live without that tethered life force,” Lawson explained.
Liv sat quietly for a few moments, staring straight ahead. Lawson could tell Liv was lost in thought. No doubt her brilliant mind was piecing things together. She was a scientist and instinct had her reeling with a need for answers.
Finally, she looked over again. “So, what you’re saying is that this shifter shared his life force with Jim’s sister, and, in doing so, his blood altered and that’s why her cancer was cured. Because his blood also changed when that happened. That’s why your blood isn’t the key,” she indicated, realization dawning on her lovely face.
“Yes, Liv. It’s why I’ve said all along that my blood won’t do anything. It’s also why I’ve got to get my family out of there. My dad’s blood won’t help them. They don’t know this, but he doesn’t need to shift. His blood altered when my mom became his life mate,” Lawson clarified, wanting her to know the severity of the situation.
Lawson felt Liv’s warm hand on his. “I promise we’ll get them out. We won’t leave them there. But first, I’m taking you to a safe location. Then we’ll figure it out, okay?” she asked, squeezing his fingers.
Nodding his head, he looked out the passenger window, thinking about the shifter who shared his life force to save the human female. Poor bastard paid the ultimate price for loving her.
Life was a bitch sometimes.