Page 64 of Sergi
Remus snorted as he moved to settle on the ground, leaning against the log, his face tilted up to the morning sun that barely reached the tips of the trees. “We were able to save two guards.And while this unforeseen event seems somewhat of a setback, it seems luck, or perhaps fate, is still on our side.”
“Tell me most of the guards were from the lab and not new ones coming in.”
“Not most. They were all from the lab. Apparently, their director doesn’t trust outsiders. His decision to gather up more shifters didn’t give their security team enough time to vet new guards.”
“So, security at the labs has been compromised. How badly depends on the number of guards they had to start with.”
“They’ve lost a third of their force.”
Devon stared down at Remus, who was still focused on the sky. His grin was slow in coming. “You were right. It is proving to be our lucky day. Who were the shifters from the trucks?”
Remus’s head lifted, and when he turned his gaze to Devon, his eyes glowed a bright red. “They were taken from various packs. Some from Europe and some from the States. They were taken to a holding facility until they could be flown here.”
“How many are willing to help us?”
Remus’s eyes turned back to their natural brown color, and though he grinned, the sight of his fangs made The Wolf appear more frightening than comforting. “All of them.”
Devon couldn’t help his own smile, and to provide some male dominance behavior that Cressa would disapprove of, he included his own fangs. He didn’t know if he should take it as a challenge that Remus simply chuckled. He let it go for the good humor it was and advised Remus of his updated plan.
“We’ll give everyone a two-hour rest, then assign teams once we determine the healthiest from our previously planned strike team. At this point, and with the additional numbers, the rest of the team can take the road. The only problem is how close they can get before they’re seen from any security cameras.”
“I can have four shifters creep up through the forest and watch for our strike teams. Once the blind is taken, they can call up the rest of the team.”
“That sounds like a plan.” Devon stood and stretched. “I’m going to check on the wounded and try to get a few minutes sleep.” He rubbed his stomach. “I miss Cook’s food.”
“He was good to make rations for us. Though they don’t come close to a steak cooked bloody rare.”
Devon chuckled. “Most dried food doesn’t taste good. It’s fortunate with our quick mission he didn’t have to salt it too much.”
He’d taken a few steps before Remus said, “You couldn’t have known about the trucks. We only expected a possible supply truck, and no one could have anticipated the number of guards assigned to the cargo.”
“We were already at risk of being noticed by the size of the team from the start.” He turned back to Remus, his expression grim. “The mission has changed. We’re not just infiltrating to grab evidence. We’re taking the whole facility.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
When the alarms sounded,I followed S-272 and Carlos as we broke into a run for the stairs. Several steps from reaching the door that S-272 held open, I stopped. Sergi needed evidence, and once the guards arrived, we’d be cut off from this level. I wasn’t sure why they weren’t already running down the corridors with rifles.
“Alex,” S-272 urged. “We need to go. Once the shifters are released, we’ll have the numbers to take over level two.” His eyes darted to Carlos, who nodded. Had they agreed on some plan? When did they have time to talk? “We’ll either hold the perimeter until help arrives, or we’ll die like shifters.”
Ah. That was one thing about shifters. When humans spoke about the fight or flight response, it always amused us. We didn’t have a flight response.
I sensed his urgency, but I held my ground.
“I can’t.” What the hell was I doing? Evidence. It wasn’t just Sergi that needed it. Once the vampires regained control, they’d continue their experiments. If they were forced to move, they’d rebuild a lab someplace else and start over. I couldn’t let that happen. “We need evidence. Somebody has to be told what’s happening here, but no one will believe us without proof.”
Based on his expression, S-272 was about to argue, but Carlos stepped toward me. “She’s right. We should be able to hold out until Devon arrives, but those running this place won’t risk the discovery. They’ll destroy all the evidence, and we can’t let them do that. We need that proof. I’ll go with her.”
“No.” I shook my head, my anxiety rising. “There’s no time, and you don’t know your way around the labs. I know exactly where to go to find what we need. Just let whoever’s guarding the stairway know to let me through in case I can’t shift before coming down.”
Carlos stood back and waited for S-272 to make a decision.
“Be quick. Get yourself a lab coat so you look like one of them. And don’t get caught.” He looked at me, assessing, and though he might not like the choice I made, my backbone strengthened at the approval in his gaze. My wolf pranced at the unspoken praise.
Then, without a word, he turned and raced down the stairs.
Carlos’s last glance was quite different, and I wasn’t sure what I saw—regret, concern, support? It was hard to tell. I handed him the keycards I’d grabbed from the assistants, and he squeezed my arm before chasing after S-272, closing the door behind him.
I ran for the director’s office but only made it past two doors before footsteps echoed down the hall. It sounded like they were running. I glanced around, searching for someplace to hide. The first door I tried was locked. Damn. I rushed to the second one, a storage closet, and stepped inside, closing the door to the barest inch. The vampires might be too far away to hear the lock engage, but I wasn’t willing to take the chance.
