By the time the video ended, his eyes were burning with amber fury. “Those fuckers. They were planning to eradicate our entire species.”
“Still planning to do it,” Razor said. “All they need is Laurel’s formula.”
“And some of her blood,” Knox added. His mouth flattened. “Or her twin sister’s.”
Razor gave a sober nod. “Somewhere along the way, the decision must’ve come down that letting Laurel live was too great a risk to their operation. Now, they’re after Willow.”
“What does she want to do?”
“Willow wants to give the flash drive to the Order. She wants them to have Laurel’s research and the formulas for Serenicure.” He cleared his throat. “At least, that’s what she wanted before I just fucked everything up with her.”
Knox studied him. “Do I even want to guess?”
Razor scoffed under his breath. “I drank from her. I took her blood when I knew damned well I didn’t have the right.”
“Shit.” Knox exhaled. “You still haven’t told her about the drone surveillance?”
“I tried. I meant to explain it all before now, but I couldn’t find the right time.”
Knox grunted. “The right time would’ve been before you put your fangs in her neck.”
Razor wanted to hit him with a sharp comeback, but he didn’t have the words. He couldn’t find anything humorous in the situation, knowing how confused and wounded he’d left her a few minutes ago. “It gets worse,” he said, giving his brother a remorseful look. “After I drank from her, Willow told me that she loved me. I should’ve laid everything out then and there. Hell, I should’ve told her that I’m in love with her too. Instead, I walked out of the room letting her think she was the one who did something wrong.”
Knox stared at him, not in recrimination, but with a cryptic kind of sympathy. “Yeah, you fucked up all right.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“So, go fix it.”
Razor nodded. “You think I can?”
He shrugged. “That’s going to be up to her. All I know is, you’ve been half in love with that woman for the better part of a year. It’s long past time you let her know it.”
Knox was right on all counts. Razor only hoped he’d be able to persuade Willow to give him a chance to make things right.
“What about the flash drive?” Knox asked. “You going to reach out to your contacts at the Order?”
Razor considered, knowing time was of the essence. “I can contact them through private channels on the web. You got a secure phone I could borrow in case I need it for a callback?”
“Leni’s got an old school land line in the basement.”
Razor grinned. “Analog, even better. What’s the number?”
Knox recited the digits, which Razor easily memorized. Going to an encrypted site controlled by Gideon at the Order’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., he then typed in his message and left the number where he could be securely reached.
“It shouldn’t take long before we hear back.”
At that same moment, a soft rap sounded on the door. The two Breed males exchanged surprised looks until Leni’s worried-sounding voice came through the thick wood panel.
“Is it okay if I come in?”
Knox was on his feet and at the opened door in less than a second. “What is it, sweetheart? Is it the baby?”
“No, no, we’re both fine. The new freezer we ordered for the diner is here early. The driver’s waiting to unload it over there now, so Shannon and I are going to run over and meet him.”
“I’ll go with you.”
She frowned, looking at him as if he’d lost his mind. “It’s nearly noon and broad daylight out there. Do you mind staying to watch Riley for a few minutes? Shannon and I can handle this.”
