“How am I supposed to know?”Victor snapped.
“You said the office was empty.”
“It was when we came in.”
Alan needed to move.He couldn’t stay when he knew Victor was dangerous.If his boss found out he’d heard the conversation, he’d try to stop him from telling anyone.It was clear that he was making a lot of money from selling the names.He wouldn’t want that to stop.
“Alan?”Victor called out.His voice was closer now, and when Alan turned back, he could see the shadow of Victor moving toward him.
Alan sucked in a breath and rushed toward the door.He wasn’t sure he’d be fast enough, but he needed out.
“Alan!”Victor called out.“Come back here.”
Alan didn’t know for sure what would happen if he obeyed and went back, but he had a good imagination.He didn’t even slow down.He couldn’t afford to.Even if Victor was reluctant to hurt him because they knew each other, there was no telling how the other man would react.What they were doing was monstrous.Victor had to know that Alan wouldn’t let it go.That meant that there was only one way to stop him.
Alan prayed that Victor wouldn’t follow, but he knew it was pointless.Victor couldn’t let him leave.He couldn’t let him run away with his secret.
Where was Alan supposed to go?He thought about it as he ran out of the building and to the parking lot.His first goal was to reach his car.He didn’t think he could go back to his apartment, though.Victor knew where he lived.He knew every place where Alan felt safe.
Which meant that Alan wasn’t safe anywhere, even if he managed to get away.
* * * *
EVAN WAS STILL LOOKINGat Franklin sideways as they left the bar.It was amusing because Evan couldn’t be threatening even when he tried to be.He might be a mutant, but he was a gentle person, and anyone who had even a short conversation with him knew that.He might be glaring at Franklin, but Matthew doubted that Franklin was intimidated in any way.
He didn’t have a reason to be.Evan could be dangerous with his newfound powers, but he wouldn’t hurt a fly unless that fly hurt him first.As long as Franklin didn’t do anything stupid like threaten Hansen, Evan wouldn’t hurt him.
Evan squinted in Franklin’s direction.“I don’t know if I trust you, even though you’re kind of nice.”
Hansen spluttered, but Franklin looked amused.“I don’t expect you to trust me.”
Evan blinked and swayed slightly.Luckily for him, Hansen was standing next to him and had an arm around his waist.“You’re too nice,” Evan said.
Franklin laughed.“Maybe I am.”
“I thought you’d be evil since you were a guard.”
That wiped the smile off Franklin’s lips.“I might have been a guard, but it’s not because I wanted to be one.”
“Right.Your siblings.”
“I need to find them.”
“Your siblings that no one knows for sure exist.”
Matthew really hoped that Evan wasn’t making an enemy out of Franklin.The man was nice, and he was trying to help.Of course, he was doing it because he needed help to find his siblings, but still.He could be useful to the mutants and their mission.He’d worked inside several labs.The people working there had trusted him to protect them.It was a position no mutant had ever been in, and he might have information they could never get otherwise.
Thankfully, Franklin still didn’t look angry.He watched as Hansen tried to shush Evan, but Evan didn’t look like anyone would be able to convince him to keep his mouth shut—not his mate, not his best friend if he was there, and certainly not Matthew.
“Well, if I could, I’d offer to call my mother,” Franklin offered.“She’d have been thrilled to tell you about the almost twenty-four hours she was in labor with the twins.”
“I thought twins were delivered by C-section,” Evan said.
“Not always.”
Evan narrowed his eyes.“You’re not lying to us, are you?”
“I promise I’m not.I’m not sure how to prove it to you, but I can try.”
