“The proper Verdune tests, or the ones from the doctors?”
“Doctors. We couldn’t afford the Verdune ones.”
“The Verdune ones have undergone a recent change, to provide an analysis on reproductive endocrinology.”
Talon’s face becomes a mask. And I’m not an evil man because I have nothing better to do with my time. “Hayes is infertile. The child is a fake.”
He turns and walks away from me, reaching both guns from the trunk and kicking it open, before emptying every bullet he owns into Reid Anders. Once done, he throws his empty service revolvers inside the trunk and slams the lid down.
“Talon, with what I do, I can’t afford for you to do what you do. It’s not personal, it’s life. I’ll go check on Raney for a few minutes. But if you climb in our car you will never have the option of wearing a badge again.”
He holds my gaze, “Siderno, how many bullets you got left?”
“I’ve always got spare, it’s an insult to ask. Why though?”
His shoulders drop. “I had no choice on what I had to grab. Well, I did, it was Nimbex.”
“Pardon?”
“Reid was with me, so I had to make it look real, but Nimbex… I thought it was way too dangerous, the levels need to be exact or a person can drop straight into a coma and never wake up.”
“Keep going,” I snarl.
“Reid emptied a full syringe in her shoulder as soon as we got in the car.”
“And this wasn’t the first thing you thought I should know?”
“No. I mean, if it was Nimbex, I would have already called an ambulance.”
“You switched drugs?”
He nods his head and digs out of his pocket an empty vial. He closes his eyes, and drops his head. “It was the best I could do in a bad situation.”
It literally takes the briefest glance at the label for the word, Igniscaldex, for the day to twist again.
“How long ago did you give my omega a heat stimulant?”
ChapterForty-Two
RANEY
Their conversation ends when Koz shoots Talon. No shit, I don’t think the bullet has even cleared the chamber when Koz swings around and locks his eyes on mine. Over the distance it’s pretty clear he’s employing telepathy, warning me not to even think about getting out the truck.
“Holy shit, he’s wicked pissed,” Puck says. He pulls my attention from Koz, and I watch amused as he keeps talking, trying really hard to talk without actually moving his lips. “Wonder what Talon did?”
Koz’s eyes narrow at Puck, and I freeze. Until Koz turns back to say something to Talon, leaving me swallowing my laughter at how busted we are. Clearly, it’s not the time to be giggling, but once the first chuckle passes my lips, it’s impossible to stop the rest. I’m pretty sure I’m going into shock, or the drugs are making me bonkers. Or this is what it feels like when you first pack.
“I need to write a list.” I twist away from the scene in front of me or I’ll be peeing myself laughing. One small movement is all it takes for me to get consumed about writing a list of things I need to do, and people I need to talk to.
“Do we have paper?” I ask, leaning in to search through the small seat pockets on the back of the driver and passenger seats.
Hayes bunches a fist of Koz’s jacket in his hand and physically pulls me to a stop. With his other hand, he wipes a cool cloth over my face. His eyes become a place for me to focus on as I try to slow the race of my chaotic thoughts and jerky movements.
“Did I hit my head?” I ask him, confused.
“Yeah. You’ve got a cut there too. Doesn’t look serious, but it’s bleeding.” He dabs at my head before he leans in to kiss against the side of my neck, which is aching like a bitch.
I gasp, at the softest brush of his lips. His simple touch reminds me.“You packed me, Hayes?”
