Page 25 of The Hunted
As if Brock could sense my anxiety, she said, “No one here will hurt you.”
“Are you sure about that?” I whispered more to myself than to her.
I was sure she’d heard me, but she didn’t react. Instead, she walked up to the petite blonde who was absorbed in something on her computer screen behind a round desk. “Ruth, is the viewing room unlocked?”
“It is,” Ruth said.
Brock nodded then ushered me along the left wall adorned with pictures of naval ships and other military scenes. As we approached the viewing room near the elevators, a plaque caught my eye.
Jupiter Sentinels
A SEAL Team Community
We protect the Superior World from all enemies, human and non-human, and uphold the laws of our existence. We strive to shield and protect the Inferior World from those who seek harm upon them.
“That plaque.” I stabbed a finger at it. “By inferior, do you mean humans?”
“Yes,” Brock said. “We do our best to make sure humans are protected.”
“Does Sam Mason know that?” Heavy sarcasm drenched my tone.
She gave me a cold smile and waved her arm toward the room. “My superior will be here shortly.”
Once I was inside the ten-by-ten room with no furniture, not even a chair, she closed the door.
Knowing full well Brock could hear, I said loudly, “Please take care of Rianne.”
I shuddered at the thought that my sister was in the hands of the enemy. A crazy laugh broke free. Both of my sisters were in the hands of our enemies. I shook my head, hoping I could get some clarity through the nerves and anger and every other emotion barreling through my veins like an F-5 tornado before I had to deal with Sam Mason.
10
LAYLA
Brock had been gone roughly ten minutes according to the time on my phone. I couldn’t believe it was only ten in the morning. It felt like days had passed since I’d locked horns with Sam Mason, when in fact, it had been only eight hours earlier.
I turned my phone over and over in my hand and walked up and down the room in short strides. I hated waiting for anything, but especially when my sisters’ lives were on the line. I tore off my scarf and shoved it into my coat pocket. Then I practiced my yoga breathing as worry for more than just my sisters sat heavily in my stomach. A bad feeling was seeping into my veins. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint anything specific, but the weird tingling in my legs was always an indication that the road ahead was dark and dangerous.
I mumbled a quick prayer. “Whoever is listening, please keep my sisters safe.”
I checked my phone as I slowed my pace. No calls. No missed texts.
Heaving a sigh, I twisted the knob on the door, and the blood drained down to my boots. Brock had locked me in. A fire built in my veins, spreading and snaking out before giving way to anger.
I screamed as I banged on the door. “Hello!” Every muscle in my body locked in place as I continued to pound my fists, shouting again. “Brock!”
Dead silence greeted me.
I gritted my teeth, staving off the need to bawl my eyes out. I hadn’t cried since Dad’s funeral two years ago, but for fuck’s sake, I was ready to unleash all my pent-up emotions. I was so screwed if the vampires kept me prisoner.
“Always follow your intuition,” Mom had said too many times for me to count. “Your subconscious can see the future. Never ignore that.”
I’d hardly listened to her wisdom when I was a teenager, but I wasn’t in my teens anymore. I knew better than to walk into a coven of vampires.
You had no choice.
I did, though. I should’ve left before I’d gotten out of the car. I should’ve put my stupid pride aside and called the uncles. They couldn’t remove the compelling spell, but they sure could help me kill.
Think, Layla. What would your dad do?
