Savage Hunger(72)

“Sienna, baby, look at me.”

Her lashes fluttered and all he saw was the whites of her eyes for a moment. But then she made a murmur of pain, before she seemed to slip into alertness.

“Warrick?” Her brows drew together, shock flaring in her gaze as if she were just seeing him for the first time in years.

His gut twisted and sharp pain knifed through his heart. No. Oh God. He’d been too late. Everything that had happened between them was gone now. She’d never remember the shifters. What he was. Remember how he’d made love to her—taken her innocence. Everything from the past few days was gone. The memory wipe had taken.

“I can’t believe it.” She shook her head and lurched upward, flinging her arms around his neck. “Thank God. Oh thank God! I was so scared they’d make me forget you.”

Dismay rushed through him, followed swiftly by relief. She remembered. Warrick inhaled raggedly as he wrapped his arms around her. Oh thank God she remembered! He could feel and hear the furious beating of her heart as she clung to him. She hadn’t been wiped. By the grace of God—and an unplanned assault—he’d somehow gotten to her in time.

“Did I see that right? Is someone shooting at us?” Her voice trembled.

“You saw it right.” He brushed the trickle of blood from her cheek and his mouth tightened. “We’re under attack.”

“By whom? Why?”

“Damn good question. But I’ll bet the answer has to do with your former employer,” he muttered thickly. And if any of the agents ended up dead from this little attack, someone was going to pay fucking dearly. “I need to go out there and help the other agents, baby. Will you be okay?”

Sienna bit her lip, fear momentarily flashing in her eyes, before she gave a small nod. “I’ll be fine. Go.”

Torn between wanting to stay and protect her and the need to kick some serious ass, Warrick gave a swift nod. He set her aside gently and reached for the gun that was strapped to his ankle.

“Stay in the hall. Don’t move a muscle until I tell you to come out. And you scream bloody murder if anyone comes in through a window.”

Her eyes widened but again she gave a small nod.

Warrick started down the hall, then stilled. Turning around, he strode over to her and crouched down. Cupping her face, he crushed his lips against hers in a hard, searing kiss.

When he lifted his head a moment later, her eyes were closed as she was breathing heavily.

“I couldn’t let you forget, Sienna. I refused to let you.”

Then he straightened and jogged back out to the living room. The gunfire hadn’t lessened, and Hilliard was returning fire from his spot near the window. Rafferty was nowhere to be seen, and Larson apparently hadn’t come back since this morning when Quinton had sent him out on an errand.

“Where’s Sienna at?” Quinton asked as Warrick crouched down beside him behind an overturned table.

“In the hallway. Told her to stay there and scream if anyone comes her way.”

“Good. She should be safe there.” Quinton nodded and slapped a reloaded magazine clip into his Glock. “Rafferty shifted and took off outside to hunt down the shooters. This mess should be over in a few minutes.”

Warrick nodded and hardened his jaw. “I won’t let you wipe her memory, Quinton.”

Quinton stilled, a ghost of a smile flitting across his face. “When the smoke clears, I want you to get Sienna the hell out of here.”

Warrick’s pulse jumped and he drew in a sharp breath. “So you agree with me?”

“I didn’t say I agreed with you, Agent Donovan. I said get her the hell out of here.”

Interesting. Not really an answer to his question. Warrick narrowed his eyes, but wasn’t about to argue.

“You got some place in mind where you want me to take her?”

“Head to Boston. Find her dad. She was right, he’s the only man capable of breaking this damn drug they’ve been given.” Quinton glanced over his shoulder toward the window where the gunfire had ceased. “I’ve got samples of the ferals’ blood in the fridge. Bring it on ice. Take the jump drive with you.”

“Any chance we can get a P.I.A. plane to fly us out?”

“I’ll arrange it.”

“I think we’re clear,” Hilliard called out cheerfully. “Rafferty must’ve caught up with the bastards. Hope he ripped their fucking hearts out while he was at it.”

Warrick waited a few minutes, his training too engraved to jump up and throw himself into the line of fire before it was guaranteed to be safe.

The front door burst open and all agents swung the barrels of their guns at the figure who then strode in.