“Thalia was tortured, her finger cut off, and her nipple and breast mutilated. The psycho holding her literally beat her to death. She wasn’t breathing when we found her. Thaliaunderwent months of surgery before having her breast removed and a reconstruction done.” Shotgun finished.
Horrified, I stared at them both. “This is a serious threat.”
“Yes, I think so. ENS do as well. Scientists being kidnapped is happening more frequently. We’re worth millions, even billions, to some asshole,” Rain replied.
“I wouldn’t have thought it a high-risk profession,” I muttered.
“No one does. But with the knowledge we hold, we can be invaluable.”
“And nobody knows what this person wants?”
“I’ve a rough idea. I’d mentioned a couple of ideas I wanted to chase, and Matthews knew. If he told someone, or a member of my team innocently alluded to something, that could have made us targets.”
“Rain, you need more protection!” I exclaimed, and Rain laughed.
“I’m okay, Allegra.”
“For now.”
“We’ve alerted Dylan Hawthorne, and he’s hooking our home security system up to his systems. That means we’ve got Hellfire and Hawthorne’s watching us.”
“Hawthorne’s?”
“A specialist PI company. This type of situation is right up their alley. If it comes to it, they’ll provide Rain with a bodyguard. That’s what they do, and if they can’t, the Fallen Warriors MC is also into private security. I can have Rain covered by someone within an hour or two,” Shotgun said.
“Are Darcy and Wade at risk?” I inquired fearfully.
“No. Because they’ll never be out of our sight,” Shotgun reassured me.
“Okay.”
“Just like that?” Rain asked.
“What do you want me to say? I’m trying to build a friendship between us that might become the basis of something else. I either accept your word and trust you, or we’re doomed before we begin,” I replied.
“Something else?” Shotgun demanded, picking up on those words.
“I’m open to anything. Life’s too short. Hell, I’m a wonderful example of that.” A smile crossed my lips. “Hey, check me out, not even four weeks old and adulting.”
Shotgun and Rain stared at me in disbelief.
“Too soon?” I asked. Both laughed when they realised I’d been joking.Tough crowd.
“How do we do this?” Shotgun demanded.
“The usual way of getting to know each other, I’d suggest spending time together,” I replied.
“Now she’s being a smartass. We’ll take it at your pace,” Shotgun said, and I nodded. That was fine with me.
Rain
My spine straightened a little, and my hands shook as I saw the police cars and crowds standing outside the building the next day. Heading over to where Dr Paulson stood with some of my team, I was alarmed to see several of the women crying.
“What’s happened?” I demanded, heart racing.
“Ed was attacked last night,” Sophie, another researcher, replied.
“What?” I exclaimed in horror. “How badly is he hurt? How did they get in?”
