Jay had a way of making her feel special, while Riley brought out her inner bad girl.
Jay climbed off the bed. “I better nab some food. With the speed you’re chowing it down, there won’t be any left.”
She punched him as he walked by. “Ow. Don’t flex when I’m trying to punish you.”
“I didn’t. That’s all me, baby. You have to be prepared for a little pain when you’re with a real man.”
Her only response to his bravado was an exaggerated groan. Riley sat at one of the two chairs at the table looking uncomfortable, though she doubted it was from the hard surface. Something was eating at him, but she couldn’t tell what.
Sarah took the remaining chair, letting Jay fend for himself. “Tell me more about what I’m supposed to do tomorrow. Is Statler expecting me to inspect the equipment and nod my approval, or complain and demand better treatment for the women? I’d like to know my role.”
Riley blew out a breath. “I wish I knew. Connolly said when Statler called him he was rather upset, claiming he wanted to make sure he got his money’s worth.”
She didn’t want to think what that really meant. “The buyer wants women who are coherent. If Elkhart drugs them, they won’t be.”
“That’s not our problem at the moment,” Jay chimed in. “Can you tell us anything about this doctor? When he worked at the clinic, did he appear dangerous? Cruel? Have emotional issues?”
“When I had to interact with him, Dr. Elkhart appeared knowledgeable and competent. His ethics, however, were as bad as Statler’s in that he was willing to do whatever it took to find the key to werewolf immortality.”
She shook her head. Doing experiments on women for the sake of creating a superior race was wrong. When the Pack drove Statler underground, the women’s destiny changed from lab rats to human slaves, and Sarah wasn’t sure which was worse.
“Ford and Tyson were given those infusions, but I don’t think they believe they’re immortal. All of the super werewolves, including Statler, can be taken down if you rip out their throat,” Jay said.
She sat up straighter. “Then why don’t you both gang up on him and do that? Couldn’t the six of you take him down?”
Jay smiled. “I shot him in the heart once, but it didn’t do much good other than give him heartburn. I’m all for ganging up on him, but do you know where he is?”
“No.”
“There you go.”
Damn. When Statler was in the office the other day, the men should have taken him out, but they hadn’t. “Are you waiting to learn the name of his buyer so you can kill him, too? Is that why you haven’t nabbed Statler?”
Jay nodded. “It’s one of the reasons.”
Perhaps she didn’t want to know the other ones. She turned back to Riley. “Do we have a plan?”
“Not yet.”
* * *
Riley didn’t like the whole set-up of Sarah having to meet with Dr. Elkhart. It smelled wrong. Then again, everything Statler did stunk.
Once more, Riley studied the inside of the warehouse, trying to locate its weak points. Last night, he and Jay had discussed how to handle the transfer of the women from the warehouse to Dr. Elkhart’s clinic. Without having seen the inside of this place, they couldn’t come up with a foolproof plan. As much as he didn’t want to subject Sarah to this doctor, it would help give them a clearer picture of what they would be up against.
Connolly approached. “You wired for sound and sight, right?” He kept his voice low.
“So Dante claims.” Riley casually adjusted the hidden camera that was disguised as a shirt button.
“Good luck. I’ll check in with Trax and Dante. What time are you heading over?”
“As soon as Sarah’s ready.”
A few of the women needed significant care and Sarah’s worried about them, perhaps too much so. Amy wouldn’t be arriving for a few hours, but he didn’t want to wait until six to leave. He knocked on the door to the women’s room, pressed the code, and entered.
“Sarah?”
She stood, murmured something to the woman on the mattress at her feet, and then came toward him. Perhaps it was because he hadn’t slept much last night, tossing and turning from wanting and needing her, that when she drew near he almost gave in and held her. She smelled so fucking good, too. Each day, his urges were growing stronger with the need to claim her. Not only did he have a mission to finish, the idea of her leaving afterward was already causing him pain. The best course of action was to keep his distance.
He tried to be happy that she and Jay had connected, but damn, it only made the yearning worse.