Page 56 of Hard Shift

Elizabeth moved to stand beside him and knocked Striker’s hand off Rhys’ chest. “You will not talk to my mate that way.”

Silence fell over the room, everyone in attendance turned and glanced in their direction, waiting and watching the exchange like an oncoming storm.

Striker’s eyes narrowed, and he tried to intimidate her by closing the distance.Bring it on, asshole.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Evan called from the other side of the room where he’d already taken his seat, his feet propped up, his fingers laced behind his head. “She can kick your ass.”

“She? Hell, I can do it myself,” Rhys growled and grabbed Striker’s hand in a grip that he couldn’t break.

“Striker,” her father grumbled in the silent room.

Rhys released Striker’s hand, giving him a little shove. If anything, it was as if he bowed his chest in contempt, ready to throw down.

Oh, try me, asshole.I’ll tear your balls off and fry them with my dragon.

“Dude, stand down. She’s ready to shish kabob your balls over a flame.” Evan chuckled. “She can do it, too.”

“Get out of my head, asshole,” Elizabeth growled while returning Striker’s challenging gaze.

His lips twitched as he stepped back, giving them the royal nod as she and Rhys passed, taking seats at the opposite end of the table from where her father sat.

“It’s time we take the lab.” He winked in her direction as if he was doing her a favor. She’d take it with or without his help. He turned toward Evan. “What’s the status?”

“If you’ve known where it is all along, why have you waited? You’re letting innocent women die.”

“No one being held has died,” Evan assured her and pushing back his chair he stood. “The situation has shifted. The man running the operation is like a ghost, and rumor has it he’s due to visit in the next forty-eight hours, in order to move the facility. Something has changed to bring this man out of hiding. My men on the inside have kept the women safe thus far, thwarting the scientist’s efforts at the lab at every available opportunity and keeping their animals safe, yet sedated.” He glanced her way before continuing. “But they’ve started packing up equipment, and an order has been passed down that they won’t be taking their prisoners with them.”

“Where are they?” she whispered. She’d take the damn place herself if the plans changed. There was no way she was letting them kill the women. Not after everything she’d been through. She’d die trying if she had to.

“In a warehouse, a mile north of town.”

Elizabeth’s hackles rose. Anger rippled beneath her skin. The room flashed into a red tint. Rhys rested a hand on her leg, the only thing keeping her calm. He gave a slight squeeze as if reading her mind. She glanced at him and took a deep, calming breath before the red haze disappeared.

“The senator agrees that it’s time to move.”

Elizabeth snapped her gaze back to Evan’s. “He’s not in on it? I was certain…”

“No.” Her father was the person to answer. “Because of his daughter and his wife, they have just as much at stake in this venture as we do.”

“Huh, a man that cares about his daughter. Wonder what that’s like,” she mumbled beneath her breath. The senator cared more about his illegitimate child than Elizabeth’s father had cared about her.

Elizabeth leaned back in her seat, pondering what the hell that meant. She’d been sure the senator was behind everything the way he’d been pushing implants and his bill. She was positive he’d wanted to use the mysterious drug on his child to hide her paternity. It was the only logical conclusion….not that his intent was to want the instigators stopped.

“And the man from Binks?” she asked, glancing up at Evan. If she’d been wrong about the senator, was it possible she was wrong about him, too?

“The operatives we have positioned inside have been supplying him with the liquid they’d planned to use, in the hope his lab could produce an antidote in the event our guys couldn’t save everyone.”

Elizabeth rubbed her temples. How could she have been so wrong?

“And Jennifer Smith?” she asked, glancing up at Evan. “You called in her disappearance.”

“It was a tactical move. We’re still trying to figure out her involvement,” her dad answered.

“DNA testing confirms her fox was killed. She doesn’t have an animal anymore.” Elizabeth leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “She said she doesn’t want her husband to know. He hates shifters.”

Evan retook his seat. “Did she tell you who injected her? I’ve had the records checked. She’s never been at the lab on the outskirts of town.”

“A guy that goes by the street name Raw. Jennifer didn’t know his real name. Do you think he’s the one we’re after?” A shiver of fear trickled down her spine. “Do you think there’s more than one lab?”

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