Page 72 of Sergi
“Stay here, but stay farther back in the corner. I saw the tip of your shoe. Can’t you lock the door?”
“We didn’t think we had time.” The female said, her voice a tremor. Then she looked sheepish. “Then we were too scared to move.”
He sighed. “Lock it behind me. The halls seem clear, but it’s best you stay here until told otherwise.”
When they both nodded, he left, shutting the door behind him. Another thought urged him to reopen the door, almost smacking into the female.
“To be honest, this is only my second day on the job. I was told to check the rooms all the way to the director’s office, but I’m not sure where that is.”
Her face brightened, seemingly eager to help. “Oh, you’re almost there. The door is just past the next hallway.”
He nodded. “Now lock it and just remain quiet.” He pulled the door closed and continued down the hall in the direction he’d already been heading. His actions with the two lab members didn’t follow his normal behavior. Any other time, he would have barked an order to stay put and stay quiet. Or he might have ignored the bouncing foot and shut the door.
There was no doubt they were doing bad things here, but how much did the staff know? Could some of the staff be unaware of the facility’s true purpose? His leaving them without saying a word would have been sufficient, but he’d taken the time to go in, and what? Ease their minds? All he did was ensure theyremained quiet. Then he returned to ask for directions.Gah!It was obvious he’d lost his senses.
Then he cursed when he realized why he’d done it.
Cressa.
Simone had warned him that working so closely with humans would change them. Change the House. He’d sneered at the time, and yet, she’d been right. Cressa’s influence on the House had changed them all. Devon the most. And he grimaced with the truth—House Trelane was a better House because of it. A House to lead vampire society into the future.
He found the entire situation irritating, though a slight grin touched his lips. Devon had never been happier since the day Cressa had entered the manor. She’d also saved him from his own beast and had proven her loyalty over and over again. But Sergi would be damned if he’d show her any gratitude. It would only embarrass them both. Most wouldn’t understand, but their constant bickering was their way of paying respect to the other.
He was two doors away from the open double doors at the end of the hall when he heard the yelps and the shattering of wood. He’d have heard it sooner if he hadn’t been wallowing over emotions better off ignored.
He ran the rest of the way in time to watch Gheata throw a female against a bookcase. In a short period of time, he’d come to know her thick, ebony hair by sight alone.
Alex.
When Gheata reached for her hair, a growl rose in Sergi’s throat. In two long strides, he released the beast.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sergi grabbedGheata by the scruff of his shirt and yanked him off Alex. The powerful force, fueled by rage, was enough to slam Gheata into the counter. The male hadn’t been expecting it, and he shook his head before glancing up. He sneered at Sergi, but he didn’t have time to react.
Sergi glimpsed Alex, slowly rising to her feet. She pressed a hand to her head and teetered but managed to stand. Thankful she was alright, his focus returned to Gheata, who had risen to his knees. Sergi grabbed his shirt in one hand, his belt in the other, and threw the interrogator across the room, where he crashed into the desk.
Gheata didn’t stay down and quickly settled into a defensive posture. His face was red, his eyes narrowed into slits, but he was enjoying this. “I should have known it was you.”
Sergi shrugged. “Up to now, it hasn’t been a fair fight.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.” Gheata flew at Sergi, his fists coming fast, and Sergi blocked most of them while getting in a few punches of his own.
They broke apart and circled each other. Sergi caught a glimpse of Alex behind Gheata. She’d backed into the far cornerof the lab and gripped some type of weapon. When he turned his attention back to Gheata, the male grinned.
“Your little wolf slut somehow managed to set you free. I told the director he was too lenient with the slaves. Was giving them too much responsibility. They should have been manacled with just enough chains to accomplish their tasks like the good little doggies they are. But he didn’t want to upset the scientists. There’s nothing I hate more than weak vampires.” His laugh was filled with vitriol. “Except for shifters.”
“You talk too much.” Sergi dove at him, and though Gheata’s punches connected, Sergi barely felt them. The beast shook them off, and it was growing tired of the game. Concerned guards might show up, Sergi pulled a dagger and sliced across Gheata’s belly. A streak of crimson followed in its path.
Gheata never looked down. “Now’s who’s cheating.”
“I simply thought it was time for my own interrogation.” Sergi advanced and blocked Gheata’s fist but misjudged him when Gheata stepped back and landed a solid kick to Sergi’s midsection.
He flew backward and slammed into the table, knocking over chairs, but miraculously stayed on his feet. The distance between them gave him an edge as Gheata charged. Sergi spun and delivered a high kick that connected with Gheata’s jaw.
Before Gheata could react, he stepped in and swung out with a dagger, slicing Gheata’s bicep. In a flash, he pulled out his second dagger and sliced upward, catching flesh as Gheata pushed away from Sergi.
Sergi twirled his daggers as the two vampires circled each other. The pain radiating from his chest didn’t bother him. It fed the beast, stoking its anger and cries for revenge. And for the first time, there was a flicker of uncertainty in Gheata’s eyes.
