Chapter 20
Under other circumstances, Sasha might have opted for more discretion when it came to the nature of her relationship with Larem, especially in front of his buddies. Things would’ve been too new, too unsettled for her to be completely comfortable with their openly acting like a couple in front of the rest of the Seattle contingent.
However, there was something about almost dying three times in the past few weeks that shattered all need for caution. She might not know how things would play out for the two of them, but not for one second did she want Larem to doubt that he was important to her.
She watched as he quickly checked his gun. Lonzo and Hunter did the same, the motions clearly second nature to all three of them. Just as they were about to leave the examination room, Larem’s cell rang. Everyone froze and waited, the tension in the room immediately ratcheting up.
“Yeah, what’s up?” He listened for several seconds without saying a word. “We’ll check it out.”
When he hung up, Sasha asked, “Larem, what’s wrong?”
His expression was grim. “That was Devlin. He hasn’t been able to reach your father. He’s not answering his cell or the phone in his hotel room.”
Sasha dug her nails into her palms, trying to stay calm. “Do you think they’ve taken him? And don’t lie to me.”
“Probably.” Larem’s answer was terrifying in its stark simplicity.
They started toward the door again, only to have their plans interrupted again with the sound of a phone ringing, this time Sasha’s. She checked the number on the screen and should’ve been relieved. She wasn’t.
“It’s my father’s number.”
Larem caught her hand before she could answer. “Put it on speakerphone.”
She nodded and did as he said. “Dad?”
“Sasha, run! Get the hell out of there!”
There were horrifying sounds of a struggle followed by a brief silence and then a different voice came on the line.
“Miss Willis, listen and listen carefully if you want to see your father again. Especially if you want to see him alive.”
Fear and fury had her gripping the phone hard enough to break it. She forced her hand to relax, wishing she had the same control over her emotions.
“I don’t know who you are, but if you hurt my father, you’re dead. The Regents will authorize whatever it takes to hunt you down, along with anyone stupid enough to follow your orders. There isn’t a place in this world or any other one where you’ll be safe.”
“Tsk, tsk, Miss Willis. Threats will get you nowhere. I want Kincade’s account numbers, and I want the money you’ve stolen from him.”
“That money wasn’t his to begin with, and it definitely isn’t yours.”
Okay, that wasn’t the smartest thing she could’ve said, but Lonzo was making circles in the air, telling her to keep talking. Was he having the call traced?
“You can’t seriously think I give a rat’s ass where he got the money. Kincade owes me for a couple of jobs I did for him and I have a rule about that. People who don’t pay me end up dead, just like the targets they sent me after.”
The cold pride in his voice was nauseating. “I get paid top dollar for what I do. I suspect you don’t approve, but I’m really just a businessman with a specific skill set, one that happens to be in big demand lately. If it makes you feel better, I’m planning to retire as soon as I collect my pay, although I plan to do the world a favor before I disappear. Free of charge, too.”
She hated encouraging the bastard, but keeping him on the line might help rescue her father. “And what favor would that be?”
“I plan to rid our world of that pale-eyed monstrosity who’s probably standing right next to you. Just the thought of him walking the streets of Seattle as if he owns the place, passing for one of us and screwing human women, makes me sick. Who knows, if I get lucky, I might even take out a few of his mutant buddies, too—preferably while you watch.”
Then he laughed. “Oops! Sorry, Miss Willis, I’m guessing from your father’s reaction he just now realized your boyfriend is Kalith. I don’t think he’s happy to learn his daughter has been fucking an alien. Sorry if I let the cat out of the bag.”
The humor in his voice disappeared. “You’ve got five minutes to get the account numbers for me.”
Then the line went dead.
Hunter looked at Lonzo. “Tell me D.J. was able to track the bastard?”
Lonzo nodded and started cussing. “Damn it, he’s right outside!”
Before she had time to absorb the implications, a ruckus broke out at both ends of the cavernous warehouse that housed the clinic. All three men immediately pointed their weapons at the examination room door.
Then the phone rang again. Larem took it from her hand. “I’m listening.”
“Put the woman back on.”
“You’ll have to deal with me if you want those numbers.”
There was another nasty laugh. “Fine. It’s your funeral—literally. Come out unarmed or Willis and the vet die. You’ve got three minutes until I start shooting. Understand?”
“Yes.”
Larem disconnected the call and then gently pushed Sasha back toward Hunter. “This guy doesn’t know you and Lonzo are here. Keep her safe while I distract him. Tell Devlin to send backup.”
Lonzo held up his phone. “Already did. ETA is ten minutes. They may not make it in time.”
Sasha broke free from Hunter’s grasp. “Larem, wait! Can’t we hold them off that long?”
He backed away, shaking his head. “I’ll try to buy enough time for reinforcements to arrive. They already have your father. I won’t let them hurt him or Dr. Isaac because of me.”
“I know, but—”
She gave up trying to explain and settled for throwing herself into his arms. Larem held her close and kissed her. Then she cupped his handsome face with her hands, memorizing the moment.
“Go, but be careful. I need you. We need you.”
Before he could back away, she added, “I love you.”
He brushed his lips across hers one last time. “Sasha Willis, you hold my heart. Make sure our child knows I loved—”
Sasha covered his mouth with her fingers. “I have faith in you. We’re going to get through this, Larem q’Jones.”
He nodded, but the regret in his eyes made it clear he had his doubts. He handed his gun to Lonzo and started for the door.
Lonzo and Hunter immediately moved to stop him. Hunter whispered low enough so that his words would’ve been inaudible to human ears.
“Slow down, partner. What’s your plan?”
It was a warrior’s question, so Larem gave his friends a warrior’s answer. “I will free Chaz Willis and Dr. Isaac and kill any of the bastards that get in the way.”
The Paladins nodded in approval. “What’s the layout of this place?”
“The room on the left is another examination room and has a door to the dog runs outside just like this one.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket and handed them to Lonzo. “The big one will get you in that door. Maybe you can flank them.”
“I’ll give it my best shot.”
Larem continued his description of the clinic. “Across on the right are the kennels, and beyond that is the surgical suite. The swinging doors at the far end lead to the lobby, which has the only other door out to the street. If this guy has any brains at all, he’ll have someone covering it. He won’t want to be trapped without a way out of here.”
Chance bumped up against his leg. He patted the big dog on the head. “Stay with Sasha, boy.” He looked toward Hunter. “If things turn ugly, get Sasha out of here even if you have to climb the fence of the dog run.”
“Will do.” Hunter held out his hand. “Watch your back.”
Larem looked past the Paladin to where Sasha stood, her face pale with fear. “I will.”
He waited until Lonzo was ready to slip outside into the dog run, hoping the enemy would be too focused on Larem to notice the sound of the second door opening and closing.
Out in the clinic, the scene was pretty much as he expected. He did a quick head count. There was at least one man stationed at each of the two exits. Chaz Willis was kneeling on the floor next to Dr. Isaac. Duke held a gun to Sasha’s father’s head. No surprise there. Another older man stood off to the side, looking awfully unhappy about being there even though he was also armed.
It wasn’t difficult to pick the leader out. Although he didn’t know the guard’s name, he was all too familiar. He’d been the one who’d started yelling that Larem was an escaped Other, inciting one of the other guards to go on the attack that day by the elevator.
He acknowledged the bastard with a brief nod. “We meet again, although I never caught your name.”
“Rusty.” The guard smiled, looking pleased. “I wondered if you’d remember.”
“I never forget my enemies.” Larem returned the smile. “Not until I’ve buried them.”
Rusty’s smile faltered only briefly. After all, he had the advantage and knew it. He glanced toward his nameless companion. “So where’s the bitch? I’m sure she’ll be excited to know her beloved Uncle George has joined us.”
The man in question flushed bright red. “Shut up, Rusty.”
“She’s going to find out anyway.”
Rusty obviously enjoyed outing his partner in crime. “Seems George here has a bit of a gambling problem, which is how Kincade got his hooks into him in the first place. As a Regent, he’s been feeding the colonel inside information for years, not to mention helping the man hide his tracks. But now that the money stream has dried up, he’s hurting.”