Therian Promise(83)
“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.