“Hello to you, too.” Rick’s voice is cold yet amused. “Straight to business, I see.”
“I don’t have time for games. The symptoms started yesterday. I need the antidote.”
“And why would we give it to you?” His tone sharpens. “You haven’t produced any results. The hybrid is still running around free, and you’re no closer to completing the mission than you were three months ago.”
Panic claws at my throat. “It’s not that simple. The hybrid is never alone. The Alpha watches her constantly. I’m working on it.”
“Are you? Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re too busy frolicking with that she-wolf to focus on your actual objective.”
The mention of my mate makes my blood run cold. “Anne? She doesn’t matter to me. I already told you, she’s just useful for getting close to the hybrid!”
“Really.” Rick laughs, and the sound makes my skin crawl. “Because surveillance suggests otherwise. You look awfully cozy with her for someone who’s just using her as a means to an end.”
“Of course I have to spend time with her, but it’s all fake! The mission is what’s important, and I’m doing what I need to do to maintain my cover!” The desperation is creeping into my voice now, and I hate it. Hate that he can hear how nervous and frustrated I am. “Give me the damn antidote, Rick. I’ll get you the hybrid. I just need more time.”
“Time is a luxury you don’t have.” Rick’s voice goes flat. “You want the antidote? Deliver the hybrid.”
“I can’t just—”
“Then suffer. Those are your options.” The line goes dead.
I stand there, phone pressed to my ear, staring at nothing.
He refused. They’re going to let me die unless I betray Anne and Violet.
And I have less than a month to decide which hell I’m willing to endure.
Chapter Sixteen
Anne
I went to bed last night worried about Kain and how sick he’d seemed.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face—pale, sweating, gripping the back of the car like it was the only thing keeping him upright. The way he’d tried to smile through whatever was clearly causing him pain. The fever burning in his skin when I’d touched his forehead.
It was clear he was ill and just trying to act strong.
But this morning, when I saw him in the elevator, he seemed fine. Better than fine, actually. He kissed me, smiled at me, promised he was okay. The worry that had been eating at me all night finally started to ease.
Maybe it really was just food poisoning. Maybe I was overreacting.
Still, I can’t shake the need to check on him. To see for myself that he’s really okay. I sent a text to him earlier, suggesting we grab lunch, but he wasn’t available, so I had lunch with Sienna.
I’m still worried though, so I decide to pay him a visit. I’m a few steps from the elevator banks when David rounds the corner ahead of me.
My steps falter. He sees me at the same moment, and his expression shutters. He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t acknowledge me at all. Just looks away and keeps walking as if I’m invisible. He gets in an elevator and presses a button without waiting for me. The other elevators all show that they’re moving away from my floor.
I press my lips together, guilt twisting in my chest.
I deserve that.
I push the thought away and continue toward Kain’s office, taking the stairs instead of waiting for one of the elevators to come back down. I’m just about to exit the stairwell onto his floor when I see him rushing into an elevator, seeming desperate.
A frown creases my brow. Where is he off to in such a hurry?
I walk over to the elevator and see that it is going down. My frown deepens. Does he maybe feel sick and want to go home? Assuming he is headed all the way down to the lobby, I take off after him in the next elevator. I walk out to the parking lot just in time to hear his voice coming from around the corner of the building, agitated and sharp. It seems like he’s on the phone with someone.
I stop in my tracks when he says, “It’s not that simple.” He sounds frustrated. “The hybrid is never alone. The Alpha watches her constantly. I’m working on it.”
