them and even in the midst of changing pack rules and his dad’s descent into lunacy, they had stuck by him. More than once Sint had reminded him that they were family and relations took care of each other. If it meant keeping them safe, he would break off all ties. His chest hurt at the idea. Goddess, when had everything gotten so fucked-up?
Colin walked around his desk and yanked out drawers to pull out folders. Information he’d found and kept. There were no real secrets in the shifter world and once he was Alpha of Volkshire he would have to make deals. It’s always better to be the advantageous one during negotiations and he was rebuilding his pack from the ground up. Nothing was sacred; he would ensure Volkshire’s survival by any means necessary.
What he didn’t need he crumpled and threw in the metal garbage pail. He set the can on the desktop and lifted the bottle of cognac from the drawer. Baby, I hope this gives you enough time. He pulled the cork from the bottle and took a deep swig of the amber liquid before pouring the aged alcohol over the papers and sprinkling it around the room. Returning to his desk, he lifted his last hand-rolled cigar from his hiding spot, bit off the tip and lit it. He dropped the match in the wastebasket. Flames licked the air and light plumes of smoke spiraled up. He shoved the small can off the desktop and burning documents tumbled out to catch on the sheets littering the floor.
The fire probably wouldn’t make it beyond his office, but it should give them enough time to get away. He stalked across the space, opened the door; and crossed the threshold. He made sure to close and lock the door behind him. Once he got Robbie and the girls to safety, he would contact Matos.
Chapter Seven
Robbie twisted the knob to her lab and entered the dark room. She set the girls down just inside the doorway and flipped the light switches. Waving her hand down in a motion to stay where they were, she moved farther into the room, Marree followed her. Seri hung back. At her desk she pulled papers that were scattered across the surface into a haphazard pile and tried to roll them to get a rubber band around them. The children chased each other along the wall, the hard soles of their shoes clacking on the floor. Hastily she shoved the roll down her blouse.
She trotted around to the counter and crouched to the under-cabinet refrigerator. After she’d discovered the strand in Matos’s sample she’d generated a serum. It was untested, but there was no more time for human trials, she had to trust it would work. And that the equations were correct and it was the missing strain from the other amalgams. She kept her discovery to herself. It was time to walk on faith; she grabbed the three preloaded syringes. Turning away, she hurriedly twisted back and snatched an apple she’d tossed in there a couple days ago, before rising. In case the little ones got hungry.
“What are you doing?” Malachai stood between the children, his hands rested on the shoulder of each girl.
“Shouldn’t you be resting, Malachai?” She stuffed the syringes in her back pocket.
“I was but Tom was supposed to meet me in my room and funny thing is, he didn’t show up. We both know how anal he is about punctuality so when I called him and he didn’t answer I grew concerned.” Malachai’s smile did not reach his eyes.
“I haven’t seen, Dr. Willis.” Slowly she eased around the counter. “I came by to grab a snack.” She held the fruit up. “I was about to take the girls outside for a few minutes of fresh air.”
“That’s not a good idea. At least not until we find Tom.” Malachai narrowed his eyes. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. Tom wouldn’t just disappear.” He urged the children ahead of him as he walked. “I’m putting this facility on lockdown.”
“You can’t do that,” Robbie blurted. Fear skittered along her spine. If he shut the facility down, she wouldn’t be able
Colin walked around his desk and yanked out drawers to pull out folders. Information he’d found and kept. There were no real secrets in the shifter world and once he was Alpha of Volkshire he would have to make deals. It’s always better to be the advantageous one during negotiations and he was rebuilding his pack from the ground up. Nothing was sacred; he would ensure Volkshire’s survival by any means necessary.
What he didn’t need he crumpled and threw in the metal garbage pail. He set the can on the desktop and lifted the bottle of cognac from the drawer. Baby, I hope this gives you enough time. He pulled the cork from the bottle and took a deep swig of the amber liquid before pouring the aged alcohol over the papers and sprinkling it around the room. Returning to his desk, he lifted his last hand-rolled cigar from his hiding spot, bit off the tip and lit it. He dropped the match in the wastebasket. Flames licked the air and light plumes of smoke spiraled up. He shoved the small can off the desktop and burning documents tumbled out to catch on the sheets littering the floor.
The fire probably wouldn’t make it beyond his office, but it should give them enough time to get away. He stalked across the space, opened the door; and crossed the threshold. He made sure to close and lock the door behind him. Once he got Robbie and the girls to safety, he would contact Matos.
Chapter Seven
Robbie twisted the knob to her lab and entered the dark room. She set the girls down just inside the doorway and flipped the light switches. Waving her hand down in a motion to stay where they were, she moved farther into the room, Marree followed her. Seri hung back. At her desk she pulled papers that were scattered across the surface into a haphazard pile and tried to roll them to get a rubber band around them. The children chased each other along the wall, the hard soles of their shoes clacking on the floor. Hastily she shoved the roll down her blouse.
She trotted around to the counter and crouched to the under-cabinet refrigerator. After she’d discovered the strand in Matos’s sample she’d generated a serum. It was untested, but there was no more time for human trials, she had to trust it would work. And that the equations were correct and it was the missing strain from the other amalgams. She kept her discovery to herself. It was time to walk on faith; she grabbed the three preloaded syringes. Turning away, she hurriedly twisted back and snatched an apple she’d tossed in there a couple days ago, before rising. In case the little ones got hungry.
“What are you doing?” Malachai stood between the children, his hands rested on the shoulder of each girl.
“Shouldn’t you be resting, Malachai?” She stuffed the syringes in her back pocket.
“I was but Tom was supposed to meet me in my room and funny thing is, he didn’t show up. We both know how anal he is about punctuality so when I called him and he didn’t answer I grew concerned.” Malachai’s smile did not reach his eyes.
“I haven’t seen, Dr. Willis.” Slowly she eased around the counter. “I came by to grab a snack.” She held the fruit up. “I was about to take the girls outside for a few minutes of fresh air.”
“That’s not a good idea. At least not until we find Tom.” Malachai narrowed his eyes. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. Tom wouldn’t just disappear.” He urged the children ahead of him as he walked. “I’m putting this facility on lockdown.”
“You can’t do that,” Robbie blurted. Fear skittered along her spine. If he shut the facility down, she wouldn’t be able
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