Page 42 of Under Dark Skies

Layla cautiously crept closer to the two of them while he continued talking and giving the facts to Ivy. "

"So, you see, there is a very real need to get to Griffen and WARN him," he glared back at her for effect and because he wanted her to shake a little.

Layla approached Ivy with a cautious foot, nervous as hell. "Will you please let us go so that we can do just that, warn Griffen?"

"Look, lady," Rafe got frustrated because every minute they stood there preaching to her was a minute wasted getting to Griffen. "He is the only one that can stop all this nonsense. The humans love and respect him because they feel he is fair and honest."

"I'll bet he is," Ivy's voice dripped with sarcasm at his last comment and she shook her head. "I can tell you there are a lot of agents in sleeper roles, just like me. So, my guess is that my superiors are corrupt and working against the wolves."

"That's for damned sure," I pointed my finger at her. "The question is; what are you going to do about it?"

Thirty-Seven

Layla

Damn this woman is a hard-ass!

If she can convince this bitch to let them go, they might get to Griffen in time to warn him. Layla turned to plead with her. "Please, can you please just let us go now?"

"Awe, isn't your pet cute begging for me to let you go?" Ivy sarcastically quips, teasing Rafe.

She rolled her eyes at Ivy's bitchy demeanor and was looking around for something to hit her over the head with. Ivy chuckled, amused with herself.

Rafe stopped pacing back and forth and confronted Ivy, pulling her jacket into a tight knot with his huge fist. "I've had just about enough of you and your bullshit!"

"Put her down Rafe!" he did as he was told, but glared at Layla the whole time. He turned and walked a couple of feet away, shaking his head as he muttered to himself under his breath.

I know you just want to bust her up…but not now.

She noticed Ivy as she watched the exchange between Rafe and her curiously while straightening her jacket. She tugged it down and over the pistol on her right hip. She glanced at Layla with hateful eyes, wanting to run her down if she could.

I'd like to see you try, ass-wipe. He'll mop the sidewalk with your blood.

"C'mon," she asked her. "You don't want to add to your list of infractions, do you?" She pleaded with the more logical side now.

"Infractions? Me?" Ivy laughed maniacally. "This whole damned mess is an infraction!"

Then Layla remembered Darla's letter from the other day. "Do you happen to know Darla?"

Ivy abruptly stopped laughing and a serious look washed over her tiny features. She could tell that she knew her, but would she admit it? Her surprised eyes grew wider with the realization of who she was. "You're her sister!"

"So, you do know her?" Ivy nodded her head and Layla could see that she was trying to put more pieces of the ever-growing puzzle together. "Try not to hurt your head," she bantered back at her.Turnabout is fair play."

Ivy seemed unphased by my sarcastic remark of her ability to think. "Yes, I do know her." Her face became blank as she trailed off in thought while Rafe walked back over to rejoin them.

He leaned into her so that only she could hear him. "She knows Darla?" he questioned her quietly.

"Yep," Layla stated. "How closely have you worked with Darla at PEACE?"

Ivy's demeanor changed when she asked her about Darla, again. "Not much really. She went missing a little while ago." She looked like a person that had some bad news to share, but didn't know how to break it.

And then she dropped the bomb.

"I hate to tell you this, but she has been branded as a traitor," Ivy's eyes held a fragile sympathy as she gazed at Layla. "She's now on the kill list."

She gasped at the revelation and drew a hand up to her mouth in dismay. Rafe placed a calming hand on her shoulder, trying to keep her from losing it. This also was news to him as he hung his head and shook it from side to side.

My sister is on a kill list…Oh my god!

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