Page 42 of Hard Shift

“As long as you’re happy, I’ll always support you, no matter what you decide.”

“What if it means having to let me go?”

He stroked her hair and remained quiet. Leaning in, he kissed her forehead. “Get some rest.”

****

Elizabeth leaned back into the SUV’s leather seats as Rhys drove toward the senator’s residence. She pulled up her pictures to get a better look at the names on the lab’s marque.

“Whatcha looking at?” Rhys asked as he glanced her way.

“I went by Bink’s, the lab where Patrick Smith works so I could ask him some questions about Jennifer, and when I left yesterday, I noticed Patrick and another man higher up in the building watching me from the windows. Neither of them looked too happy that I was there.”

“Did you ever find out what animal she has?”

“According to her husband and her DNA, she’s not a shifter.” Elizabeth pulled up her camera and turned her phone on Rhys, snapping his photo to save in her phone. She smiled.

“Really?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, but according to her mother, she was a fox.”

“Was, being the key word.” He glanced over at her. “Do you think she was injected with a modified version of the same serum that Evan claims would have killed you and your animals?”

Her head snapped up, and she turned to look at him. “I blew up the entire lab and took out most of those guys. Do you think they started the program up again?”

“Probably, and not only that, but it looks like they perfected the drug.”

She clenched her eyes closed and shook her head. “I knew I should have tracked those last two bastards down to the ends of the earth and killed them. Damn it. I’m so fucking stupid.”

Rhys’ fingers closed around her hand. “My mate isn’t stupid.”

She opened her eyes to find him staring at her.

“My mate is sexy and smart, and I have all of the confidence in the world that you’ll save those women and see this through to the end.”

She gave him a small smile.Even if it kills me.She kept that thought to herself.

They arrived at the three-story mansion on the hill and parked in the circular drive. The white house was enhanced with ornate columns along the front. The shrubs and grounds were perfectly manicured, evidence her tax dollars paying his salary were hard at work.

“How do you know he’s home?”

“I called his office while you were getting dressed. They told me he was on vacation.”

“Okay.” He got out of the SUV and waited around in front for her. “What exactly does a senator do when he’s on vacation?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but we’re about to find out.”

She jogged up the concrete steps to the double wooden doors and rang the bell. A few seconds later, a maid in full uniform answered. “Can I help you?”

She flashed her badge and a genuine smile. “I’m Elizabeth Hanson, and I’d like to speak with the senator, please.”

“Is he expecting you?” the maid asked.

“No.”

She gave a slight nod but opened the door farther to let them in the entryway. “He’s in a meeting, but if you’ll wait here, I’ll tell him that you’re waiting.”

“Thanks.” Elizabeth watched the woman walk on silent feet over to a pair of double doors.

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