Page 48 of Heart’s Prisoner

"Get Max out," Lana said to Yevonne. The girl's face went pale and she frantically signaled for the chimp to get back into the container.

The chimp yelped and screeched, backing away, as Xerus crouched into a predatory stance.

"No, Xerus don't!" Lana shouted. He seemed to pause for only a moment at her words. His eyes, wicked and murderous, looked back at her. And she saw, for only a second, something mournful in his gaze. His face twisted and he straightened.

"Xi xilera ni kissala."

He said it to her. And Lana froze, uncertain if she had heard him correctly. As she tried to register his words, Xerus lifted his tail and swung.

With whip-like reflexes, his tail cut through the air and hit the chimp square in the chest, slicing it in half. Blood spurted against the wall and on the glass. Yevonne screamed.

"Christ!" General Vearez shouted.

"You two get them all out of here," Galger commanded his men. The others took up their guns and moved to the window. Galger brought up the controls for the glass and hit the charge. Volts of electricity slashed through the room.

"No!" Lana cried. "No!" She could feel hands encompassing her arms but she fought them.

"Gentlemen, I am so sorry," she heard Cole say. "Yevonne, Derrick, come."

Yevonne, with tears streaming down her face and her mouth covered, trying to keep from being sick, turned and followed Cole. She gave Lana a hateful look before exiting.

"Calm down, Dr. Hart, let's go, you have to go," said the soldier, tugging her away. Lana watched helplessly as Xerus was once again shocked into submission. His eyes found hers and he roared as the lights flashed and the soldiers shouted.

"Get her the fuck out of here," Galger shouted. Lana was lifted from the ground and forced from the room.

Chapter Fifteen

"I'm not leaving this lab until I get to see him," Lana snapped. Five guards made a human wall around her, preventing her from getting closer to the unit doors.

"That isn't your call, Ms. Hart," Torrence said from his desk.

"It's been eight hours. Asset X is mobile and I want to talk to him before..."

Torrence swung around in his seat to look square at her. He took out a wrapper and popped the gum in his mouth. He chewed slowly before saying, "Your work is finished here. The asset will remain in complete lockdown before we move to the next phase. I suggest you start gathering your things."

"Thatisn't your call," Lana said. "Cole still–"

"Dr. Kingsley has given me the permissions necessary to move forward, including what shall be done with staff. For security purposes, you will be removed from the facility and unauthorized to return. They shouldn't have let you in even now."

"I will speak with Dr. Kingsley myself then," Lana said through gritted teeth. She stepped back and turned from them, heading for her desk.

"I wouldn't advise it, Ms. Hart," Torrence called to her.

Lana ignored him as she took out her phone. Instead of calling Cole, however, she pressed the number for Nicole.

Lana cursed as the voicemail went off yet again.

As soon as she had been booted from Xerus' unit they had taken her straight out of the place and forced her back to her room. She hadn't had a single chance to speak to anyone. She had tried several emails to both Cole and Nicole but neither responded. She hadn't slept since the test and could only make it a single shift cycle before she left her room and went back to level twelve in hopes of talking them into letting her see Xerus.

It should have been no surprise that Cole was missing yet again and the security team was taking control.

Desperation took hold of her and Lana did the last thing she knew she should. She called Jacob.

Several long beeps went through before she heard a soft click.

"Lana..." Jacob's voice was low.

"Jacob," Lana said softly. "Please I need your help."

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