But even more than all that, Landon and Ivy had told him that the brilliant doctor had single-handedly driven the DCO's own hybrid program completely off-course and made it impossible for anyone here to ever replicate the hybrids Stutmeir had created out in Washington State.
So while Angelo might not have known if he could trust John, he knew Zarina was okay.
"Angelo," John said as if reading his mind. "I'll never let anyone experiment on this girl again. You have my word on that." Before Angelo could point out that he didn't know John well enough for his word to mean all that much, the director motioned toward Zarina. "I think it would be better if I leave you two in Zarina's capable hands, at least until you can trust we're on the same team."
Giving Angelo a nod, John turned and walked out, leaving him and Minka with the Russian doctor. Angelo made the introductions and was surprised when Minka seemed to immediately take to the woman.
"Let's go to my office," Zarina said with a smile. "I have everything I need there to check Minka out, and I think it will be less stressful."
Angelo glanced at Minka to see what she thought of that. Minka nodded but kept one hand on his arm.
They walked down several long hallways with a few left and right turns thrown in just to confuse him, but finally they arrived at Zarina's office. It didn't have any beds or the antiseptic smell like the lab they'd been in, but it had a microscope, carts full of medical instruments, and pieces of expensive-looking equipment just like the other room, in addition to a desk, a computer, and a printer.
Zarina was reaching for a stethoscope on one of the carts when Minka suddenly whirled around to face the door. Fearing Coleman had come back to cause trouble, Angelo turned and instinctively pushed Minka behind him but then relaxed when he saw Landon and Ivy. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his friend in a suit, unless you counted the tux Landon had worn at his wedding, but Angelo had to admit his friend pulled off the corporate look well. Ivy was dressed in a more feminine version of the same, her waist-length hair in a bun.
He glanced at Minka. "It's okay. They're friends."
Grinning, he stepped forward to shake his best friend's hand, engulfing him in a man hug. Landon slapped him on the back so hard Minka let out a growl. Angelo pulled away with a chuckle, then turned to introduce Minka to the two people he respected more than anyone in the world only to stop when he saw that Minka and Ivy were staring at each other in wide-eyed shock.
He guessed Minka was staring because she'd never smelled anyone remotely like her before, and Ivy was definitely like her. Having the two of them standing this close together, it was impossible not to miss the connection between the two of them. It wasn't that they looked a lot alike-no one would mistake them for sisters or anything. But there was definitely something eerily similar in the way they carried themselves.
He expected Ivy to step forward and greet Minka. The way Ivy had been treated by Stutmeir and his doctors, she understood better than anyone what it was like to be tortured and treated like something less than human. Instead, Ivy turned and walked out of the room without saying a word. Angelo looked at Landon to see that his friend was just as shocked as he was.
"Is everything okay?" Angelo asked.
"Yeah." Landon gave him a tight smile. "I have to admit, when you said you needed to get a hybrid back here, I didn't think you'd be coming with her."
Angelo shrugged. "It was the only way we could get her on the plane short of drugging her, and I wasn't going to let that happen. She really doesn't like needles, and she definitely doesn't have a problem letting people know it."
Landon gave Minka an appraising look. "Really? If it wasn't you telling me she's a hybrid, I wouldn't believe it. She looks harmless."
Angelo chuckled. "Ask Dick how harmless she is. She would have removed his face just a few minutes ago if I hadn't been holding on to her."
"She doesn't like Dick, huh? She obviously has good taste then." Landon held out his hand to her. "I'm hoping you speak English because my Tajik is rusty as hell. I'm Landon Donovan, a friend of Angelo's."
Minka stared at Landon's hand for a moment but didn't reach out and take it. Instead, she only nodded her head in his direction, then stepped closer to Angelo and took his arm again.
Angelo ignored the curious look his former A-team leader gave him. "Give her some time. She has a lot of reasons to distrust people. Minka, this is my best friend. You can trust him like you trust me, I promise. Landon, this is Minka Pajari. And yes, she speaks English."
Minka nodded at Landon again but didn't say anything.
"Now that the introductions are finally over with," Zarina said with a smile, "maybe I can check out Minka and make sure she's okay?"
Landon nodded. "Sure. Sorry to hold you up, Doc. I need to talk to Angelo for a second anyway."
Angelo was fine with that. He turned to Minka, taking her hands in his. Damn, they were so tiny in his big, rough mitts. "I'm going to talk to Landon while Zarina checks you out, okay?"
Minka shook her head. "I'm afraid."
"You don't have to be afraid," he said softly. "Zarina won't hurt you."
"It's not that. It's just … " She dropped her eyes, her voice trailing off.
Angelo slid a knuckle beneath her chin and gently tipped her face up. Even with all the dirt, she still looked beautiful. "I wouldn't let you stay here if I didn't think you'd be safe, Minka. I'll just be out in the hallway. I won't leave your sight."
She bit her lip. "Promise?"
He smiled. "I promise."
Minka's gaze went from Zarina to him. She still looked like she didn't think it was a good idea, but she finally nodded. Even then, she kept her eyes locked on him as she sat down in one of the armchairs in front of the desk and let the doctor examine her. The fear in her eyes at the thought of being just a few steps away from him made Angelo's heart squeeze as he and Landon walked into the hallway.
Landon noticed it, too. "Wow, she's really attached to you."
"Yeah," Angelo agreed as he watched Zarina shine a small light in Minka's eyes. He tensed, afraid Minka would freak out, but instead she smiled at something the Russian doctor said. Damn, Zarina was good with hybrids. "I'm not sure why, but being in immediate contact with me seems to help Minka stay calm. Strange, I know."
Landon shrugged. "Not really. Zarina has that same kind of effect on Tanner."
Regardless, Angelo kept one eye on Minka as he got Landon up to speed with what had happened in Tajikistan and the crappy initial meeting he and Minka had had with Coleman and his damn doctors.
"I'm telling you right now," he added, "I won't let anyone lock Minka up and experiment on her. If Coleman thinks he's going to try that, I'll haul her cute ass out of here and disappear with her."
Landon shook his head. "You won't have to do that. Nobody is going to hurt Minka. John will make sure of that."
Angelo gave him a sharp look. "You and Ivy trust him now?"
Landon nodded. "It's a long story that we can talk about later, but yeah, we do. He's on our side. He'll find Minka a place to stay where she's comfortable-maybe one of the dorms here on the complex, like the place Tanner stays."
Angelo wasn't so sure anyplace on the complex was going to work for Minka, not with Coleman around. "She's going to need a place she can feel safe, preferably somewhere I can stay with her until she gets settled in." He sighed. "Speaking of which, maybe John could run interference with the battalion. The new lieutenant said he'd take care of it, but you know Major Bennett. LT could use some backup."
"I'll mention it to John. I'll also talk to him about Minka and make sure he understands the situation. He'll find a safe place for her." Landon glanced at Minka. "I'm going to let you get back in there. I'll catch you later."
Angelo nodded. He wasn't too sure about John yet, but if Landon said the director would figure something out, then he would. If not, Angelo would damn well keep his promise and get Minka out of there.
He headed back into Zarina's office and was surprised when he found Minka talking with the doctor in Russian and holding a plush toy sloth of all things.
Chapter 4
Minka's world had been spinning from the moment she'd arrived at this place. There were some people she immediately felt a connection with, like the nice man in charge of the guards; the doctor, Zarina; and Angelo's friend, Landon. They all seemed nice, and the beast inside her felt no threat from them.