TherianPromise (28 page)

Kyle moved to her other side and touched the upper corner of
the monitor. “Is that…”

Two girls huddled together on the narrow bunk, their images
so small they were barely visible on the cluttered screen. Pity and anger
twisted through Ava’s chest. What the hell were innocent children doing in a
place like this? She selected the camera again and the image filled the screen.

Without explaining his excitement, Kyle tapped his earpiece
and began to pace. “Ian, call Jake. We’ve found the girls!”

Ava looked at the screen with new interest. These were two
of Jake’s nieces? How wonderful! But weren’t there three missing? And who were
the rest of these people? She returned to the divided screen and Kyle pointed
to one of the other rooms. “Show me this one.”

She toggled the image and Kyle let out a happy cry. “That’s
Cheyenne. We have all three!”

“Not yet we don’t,” Payne said from the doorway. “There have
to be guards down there and what about the lab rats? They’re the ones doing the
experiments. They have to be held accountable for their actions.”

Quickly selecting the other images on sublevel one, Ava
determined that there were six holding cells, a treatment room and two guards.
The second sublevel was basically a duplicate of the first.

“Go through all the images again,” Kyle told her. “Make sure
we didn’t miss anything.”

The upper level housed living quarters and none were
occupied at the moment. She located two additional teams of scientists, but no
more guards on the main level.

“Let’s leave Quinn and Carissa in the shed as planned,”
Payne suggested. “But we could use Ian. Especially if anyone manages to sound
an alarm.”

All was quiet right now, but they were rather outnumbered.

Kyle nodded and tapped his earpiece. “We need you inside,”
he told Ian. “Come to the east door and Payne will let you in.”

Payne jogged off down the hall, not needing further
instruction.

Kyle moved back in front of the monitor. “As soon as we lose
the element of surprise, we’re screwed.”

“So let’s not lose the element of surprise.” Ava smiled,
hoping to encourage him. She brought the lab they’d passed on the way to the
control room to screen and went on. “They were curious as we walked by them,
but they shrugged it off and went back to work.” She brought up images of the other
two labs. “Payne can round up one group of the ‘lab rats’ and you and Ian can
round up the other. Then bring them all to the woman’s lab. She’s already seen
us, so she’ll be less shocked when something else happens.”

“Any panic button in the lab will probably notify the
control center. It’s not like calling the police would do any good.”

Ava swiveled her chair so she could look up at him. “Then
once all the scientists are in one place, you guys can start rounding up—or
knocking out—the remaining guards.”

“Would you rather we have snapped their necks? That’s the
easiest way to prevent an enemy from sounding an alarm.”

“Put that way, I guess you guys have been remarkably
restrained.” She turned back to the computer and checked then rechecked the
images. One misstep would send their plans toppling like a row of dominos.

“What’s the plan?” Ian asked as he returned with Payne.

“Payne, head straight down this hall and collect the three
lab rats on your right. Ian, you’re with me.”

“What do I do once I’ve collected them?” Payne asked.

“Keep them from doing anything stupid and bring them to the
first lab we saw.”

“Got it.”

Ava took a deep breath and pushed to her feet. “Where do you
want me?”

Anywhere and everywhere.
He grinned and then said out
loud, “Wait for us near the first lab, but don’t go in until we join you.”

Ava nodded. It was unlikely the scientists would give her
any trouble, but she was much more comfortable behind a keyboard than pointing
a gun. She quickly propped open the door to the control room with a book then
headed for the lab.

Watching the workers from an adjacent hallway, Ava waited
for Kyle’s return. They moved about at a leisurely pace, apparently unconcerned
with what they’d seen earlier.

Payne arrived first, marching his three lab rats in front of
him like obedient children. He winked at her as he passed and she followed as
he ushered his group into the lab.

“What the hell is this?” the female scientist asked, hopping
down from her stool. She spoke with obvious authority, her dark eyes sweeping
the entire scene before focusing in on Payne. “Carvel, explain.”

Payne’s explanation was interrupted by Ian and Kyle’s
arrival. One of the scientists had his hands bound behind his back and his
mouth taped shut. Apparently he had tried to be a hero.

“What is this?” The female scientist crept toward the end of
her workspace.

Ava rushed to the counter and ran her fingers along the
underside, easily finding the woman’s destination. “A panic button’s not going
to help you now.” She didn’t want to provoke the woman, but she couldn’t forget
the captives waiting below.

Kyle looked around the room then pointed to the back corner
where there wasn’t any furniture or outlets of any kind. “Everyone over there.
Sit down against the wall.”

“Want me to secure them?” Payne held up a fist full of zip
ties.

“Probably wouldn’t hurt.”

Ian helped Payne, and all of the scientists were soon
contained in a nice cluster, wrists securely bound. Except the woman. Kyle had
stopped her when she started to join the others. “How many holding cells are
there total?”

According to the security feeds there were twelve, but there
could be more if they weren’t under surveillance.

“Six on each sublevel.” There was no hesitation in her tone
and she seemed almost excited by the intrusion of armed strangers. Who was she?

“Don’t help them, Carly. The backers will kill you.”

She glared at the speaker, one of the young men who had been
assisting her. “Thanks for telling them my name.”

“So,
Carly
,” Kyle paused for effect. “Tell me about
‘the backers’?”

“I’m not telling you anything.” Then she moved closer to
Kyle and whispered, “Unless you take me with you.”

“And why would I do that?” Kyle’s brows arched, but his
expression remained cold. “We both know you’ve been abusing the people in those
cages downstairs. Why would I deal with someone like that?”

“Can we talk somewhere away from them?” She nodded toward
the other scientists.

“She’s Osric’s lover,” a thin man with balding hair warned.
“Don’t believe anything she tells you.”

“He’s my professional rival.” Carly glared at the outspoken
man then returned her gaze to Kyle. “And he doesn’t know half of what I know.”

“We don’t have time for this.” Payne growled and rubbed his
forehead. Then he looked at Ian and asked, “What did Quinn do with my clothes?
I need to…change into something more comfortable.”

Ian shrugged, yet his focus remained on the huddled
scientists. “He either threw them in the back of his truck or left them in the
woods. Maybe she can find you a set of scrubs.”

“May I?” Carly asked Kyle. He nodded so she crossed the lab
and opened one of the cabinets. “What size?”

“As big as you’ve got.” Payne’s voice sounded tenser by the
moment.

She walked back across the lab and handed him the garments.
“Anything else?”

“Take her up on it,” her rival sneered. “She can be
very
accommodating.”

“Take them out to the shed,” Kyle directed. “If Quinn needs
help, one of you can stay, but I need the other back as soon as possible.”

The scientists were helped to their feet and marched out of
the lab in a line. Ian led and Payne took up the lead. More than a few glares
were tossed at Carly as the room emptied.

“Are you Osric’s lover?” Before she could answer, Kyle
added, “Don’t lie to me. I can hear your heartbeat and smell your fear. I’ll
know if you’re lying.”

“I have sex with him but it’s not by choice. I’ve been
spying for the backers.” She squared her shoulders and shoved her hands into
the pockets of her lab coat. “My assistant wasn’t exaggerating. The backers
will kill me if they think I helped you.”

“Do you know where Osric is or when he’ll return?”

“He left early this morning with our head of security. They
both think the other is in trouble, but I suspect Osric is in for a rude
awakening.”

“Meaning?”

“The backers will probably kill them both.”

He rubbed his chin and stared at the nervous hostage. “I’ll
take you out of here, but your fate has yet to be determined. The more valuable
you can make yourself, the more likely it is you’ll survive.”

Carly’s lips trembled while desperation burned in her eyes.
“There are two guards on each of the sublevels. I could sound an alarm and two
of the four would run up the stairs to help me. They won’t desert their posts.
You’ll have to deal with the other two.”

“Why are you so anxious to turn traitor?” He stalked toward
her, gaze narrowed and assessing.

“I’m a survivor, and right now you’re my best chance of
coming out of this alive.”

Payne walked back into the lab. He’d returned to his natural
form and was now dressed in the borrowed scrubs. “What’s next,
boss
?”

Carly just stared at him, mouth gaping as he strode across
the room. “You’re… How did you… Where is Carvel?”

“In the woods where we found him,” Kyle told her. “As of
right now, we haven’t killed anyone. If you help us, that statistic might
remain the same.”

“Are you all Therians?” Her anxious gaze kept drifting back
toward Payne. “I don’t think the backers know you can imitate people too.”

Imitate people? As if we don’t deserve the title
. Ava
clenched her hands into fists. She was rapidly developing an extreme dislike for
this woman.

Relax, sunshine. Our first priority has to be evacuating
the captives.
He glanced at her to make sure she’d heard him, so she
nodded.

“We really are going to have a nice long talk about these
‘backers’,” he said to Carly. “But right now we have more pressing concerns.
How many captives are downstairs?”

“Eleven, no ten. I almost forgot they moved Devon.”

“Devon?” Dread, anger and fear twisted through Kyle so
powerfully Ava groaned. “You had a prisoner named Devon? What did she look
like? How long has she been here? Where did they take her?”

“Black hair, big green eyes, very pretty.” Carly stared into
his eyes and her gaze narrowed. “Is she related to you?”

He grasped her upper arms and lifted her off her feet.
“Where did they take her?”

“I honestly don’t know. I didn’t even know they had other
complexes until Roberto mentioned it.”

“Roberto is one of the backers?”

“We need to get moving,” Payne reminded. “You can
interrogate the little turncoat later.”

Reluctantly, Kyle released Carly and stepped back. “No
alarms. Use a radio to call two of the guards, so I can hear what you’re
saying.”

“The intercom is hardwired. Radio reception is sketchy
belowground.”

“Fine. Use the intercom.”

They escorted Carly to the nearest intercom and she
contacted two of the guards, asking for their help moving a filing cabinet.
After some grumbling about useless females, they agreed to help.

Kyle hurried Carly toward the elevator in time to hear the
distinct hum of the motor. There was no way to know if one or both of the
guards were contained within the car, so they prepared for a dual attack. Carly
stood in front of the elevator while Kyle and Payne flanked the door.

The car contained both guards and one greeted Carly with a
flirtatious smile.

“Thanks for helping me, guys.”

Neither of the guards had drawn their weapons. They moved
out of the elevator in close succession and the confrontation was over as
quickly as it began. Kyle disarmed one while Payne wrestled with the other.
Even the second guard’s fiery determination was no match for Payne’s calm
strength. Payne twisted his arm behind his back and forced him to his knees.
Kyle had already incapacitated his guard, so he helped Payne secure the second
man.

Carly watched it all with morbid curiosity. “What do they
change into?” she whispered the question to Ava. Ava’s only reaction was a
silent glare.

“Two to go,” Payne muttered. “Then what? How do we get off
this mountain with ten extra passengers?”

“Let’s worry about that once the complex is secured,” Kyle
suggested. “There’s one left for you and one for me.”

“They’ll presume we’re the returning guards. Let’s get this
done.”

Kyle kissed Ava and said, “I’ll let you know when it’s safe
to come down.” Then he stepped into the elevator with Payne and the door slid
closed.

“I told him radios don’t work down there.”

Ava looked at Carly, suppressing the urge to gloat. “Who
said anything about radios?”

“You
are
telepathic. I knew it.” Carly covered her
mouth with one hand as her gaze moved over Ava’s face. “Did Devon signal your…
Is he your mate or just your lover?”

“It’s none of your business.” She took a deep breath and
widened her stance as she glared into Carly’s eyes. “You experiment on
children. I find you detestable.”

“The children weren’t touched and I had nothing to do with
their capture.”

“How long have you been experimenting on the others or are
you going to deny that too?”

Carly started to say something then shook her head and
looked away as she sighed. “I know you won’t believe me, but I’m as much a
prisoner as they are.”

Ava laughed, hands clenched so tightly her nails bit into
her palm. “Sure you are.”

Kyle signaled Ava a few minutes later and told her to bring
Carly down with her. The conditions below were not nearly as bad as Ava had
feared. There was no excuse for treating these people like guinea pigs, but it
didn’t appear as if they had been overly abused. Beyond long periods of
incarceration and numerous medical procedures, of course.