Read Online Michel/Striker by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright - Free Book Online
Authors: Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright
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again.”
Locke opened his eyes. As much as he wanted to toss the researcher out the door and finish his breakfast in peace, he knew he had to deal with the mess before it spiraled out of control.
“What about the second intruder?”
Mason’s expression abruptly hardened. “He fired off several shots that wounded two of our guards before he ran out of the lab.” The man’s voice revealed his opinion of the intruder. “I assume he was returning to Cole, although there’s the hope he’ll get lost in the swamp and be eaten by a gator.”
Locke allowed a humorless smile to curve his lips. He’d originally shuddered at the thick wetlands that surrounded the edge of the base. He hated the moisture that clung to the air and the scent of rotting vegetation. Not to mention the hideous cloud of insects. But he had to admit it did have a few benefits.
On the point of commanding his guards to go in search of the man, Locke stiffened as his computer made a distinctive ding.
He didn’t have to guess who was trying to contact him.
“Clean up this mess and see that the patients are sedated until things settle down,” he ordered Mason, waiting until the man had left the office and closed the door before he sat back in his chair and clicked the mouse to open the connection.
Instantly a male with short auburn hair, a thin face, and eyes so pale they looked silver appeared on the monitor.
Christopher Benson Segal. The man who Locke called master.
He’d clearly fed recently on Pantera blood, Locke absently noted, giving the impression he was in his early forties. Locke didn’t know his true age, but he suspected it was well over a century.
“Master,” he murmured, giving a respectful nod of his head.
As usual, Christopher came straight to the point. “I heard from our Colonel Cole that there was trouble this morning.”
Locke leaned forward, not bothering to disguise his annoyance. “He sent two goons into the facility and tried to take one of the females.”
Christopher shrugged. “With the money he’s paying us, he can take any animal he wants.”
“But—”
The older man overrode his protest. “Stanton, you know you’re like a son to me.”
Was he? Locke had always thought so, but lately he was beginning to wonder if he’d imagined an affection that had been the basis of his loyalty toward this man.
After all, it wasn’t as if he’d ever had anyone truly care about him. Not even his drunken mother. So how would he know if Christopher’s seeming fondness was genuine or not?
“Yes, master,” he murmured.
“Unfortunately, I no longer feel as if I can trust you to work with our newest partners,” Christopher continued in smooth tones edged with regret. “Perhaps it would be better if you returned to our headquarters in New York.”
Locke sucked in a shocked breath. “All the labs in New York have been closed.”
“This will give you to opportunity to clear your head and recall just who rescued you from the gutters of London,” Christopher soothed, before offering the final insult. “The Colonel and his men are on their way.”
Locke reached to shut off the monitor, feeling…nothing.
It was as if his master’s betrayal had stripped him of all emotion. Or perhaps the emotions he’d felt had always been an illusion.
Maybe he’d never stopped being that desperate boy living in the gutters who was willing to sacrifice everything and everyone to survive.
Slowly rising to his feet, he headed out of his office.
CHAPTER 5
Chelsea stared through the windshield of Michel’s car, trying to pretend that she wasn’t acutely aware of the male seated next to her.
Yeah, like she wasn’t going to notice the heat that pounded against her, or the musky scent of Michel’s cat that teased at her senses. Or even the brooding gaze that monitored her carefully bland expression.
Or the tension that was thick enough to cut with a knife.
She swallowed a small sigh. When she’d awoken tangled in
Locke opened his eyes. As much as he wanted to toss the researcher out the door and finish his breakfast in peace, he knew he had to deal with the mess before it spiraled out of control.
“What about the second intruder?”
Mason’s expression abruptly hardened. “He fired off several shots that wounded two of our guards before he ran out of the lab.” The man’s voice revealed his opinion of the intruder. “I assume he was returning to Cole, although there’s the hope he’ll get lost in the swamp and be eaten by a gator.”
Locke allowed a humorless smile to curve his lips. He’d originally shuddered at the thick wetlands that surrounded the edge of the base. He hated the moisture that clung to the air and the scent of rotting vegetation. Not to mention the hideous cloud of insects. But he had to admit it did have a few benefits.
On the point of commanding his guards to go in search of the man, Locke stiffened as his computer made a distinctive ding.
He didn’t have to guess who was trying to contact him.
“Clean up this mess and see that the patients are sedated until things settle down,” he ordered Mason, waiting until the man had left the office and closed the door before he sat back in his chair and clicked the mouse to open the connection.
Instantly a male with short auburn hair, a thin face, and eyes so pale they looked silver appeared on the monitor.
Christopher Benson Segal. The man who Locke called master.
He’d clearly fed recently on Pantera blood, Locke absently noted, giving the impression he was in his early forties. Locke didn’t know his true age, but he suspected it was well over a century.
“Master,” he murmured, giving a respectful nod of his head.
As usual, Christopher came straight to the point. “I heard from our Colonel Cole that there was trouble this morning.”
Locke leaned forward, not bothering to disguise his annoyance. “He sent two goons into the facility and tried to take one of the females.”
Christopher shrugged. “With the money he’s paying us, he can take any animal he wants.”
“But—”
The older man overrode his protest. “Stanton, you know you’re like a son to me.”
Was he? Locke had always thought so, but lately he was beginning to wonder if he’d imagined an affection that had been the basis of his loyalty toward this man.
After all, it wasn’t as if he’d ever had anyone truly care about him. Not even his drunken mother. So how would he know if Christopher’s seeming fondness was genuine or not?
“Yes, master,” he murmured.
“Unfortunately, I no longer feel as if I can trust you to work with our newest partners,” Christopher continued in smooth tones edged with regret. “Perhaps it would be better if you returned to our headquarters in New York.”
Locke sucked in a shocked breath. “All the labs in New York have been closed.”
“This will give you to opportunity to clear your head and recall just who rescued you from the gutters of London,” Christopher soothed, before offering the final insult. “The Colonel and his men are on their way.”
Locke reached to shut off the monitor, feeling…nothing.
It was as if his master’s betrayal had stripped him of all emotion. Or perhaps the emotions he’d felt had always been an illusion.
Maybe he’d never stopped being that desperate boy living in the gutters who was willing to sacrifice everything and everyone to survive.
Slowly rising to his feet, he headed out of his office.
CHAPTER 5
Chelsea stared through the windshield of Michel’s car, trying to pretend that she wasn’t acutely aware of the male seated next to her.
Yeah, like she wasn’t going to notice the heat that pounded against her, or the musky scent of Michel’s cat that teased at her senses. Or even the brooding gaze that monitored her carefully bland expression.
Or the tension that was thick enough to cut with a knife.
She swallowed a small sigh. When she’d awoken tangled in
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