Page 20 of Hunted

“You can’t do that to her,” he whispered.

Thanatos continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “—or we would have to eliminate her.”

Gunn’s wolf began growling, low in his chest. He didn’t even try to stifle it—fury and frustration were taking him over. “I’m not going to let you kill her just because she had the bad luck to be brought here.”

“Do you think you could stop me?”

“I’d damn well try.”

Thanatos was silent for a long moment. Then he leaned back, putting his hands together and steepling his fingers. The silence drew out.

Finally Thanatos said, “You have… feelings for this woman.”

He was just figuring this out now? Gunn said, “I’m shocked that our former personal involvement isn’t there in your dossier.”

Thanatos flicked his fingers at the papers. “Of course it is. I was simply unaware that the feelings… persisted.”

Of course he was; he didn’t have any feelings at all. Gunn barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. That really might get him dismembered.

Thanatos sat back with a sigh. “This is precisely why Gregor and I did not allow women here. They muddle men’s thinking.”

Gunn stifled another eye roll. His personal opinion was that a lot of the guys would be less crazy if they got laid more often, but he kept that to himself.

Thanatos said, “If your feelings for Ms. Connors will prevent you from taking the necessary steps, then we cannot confide any mission details to her. From what I can see, you are left with persuasion, enhanced interrogation, or mind probes.”

Gunn winced. “I’ll get the antidote.” He had to.

Thanatos said, “Once that’s done, we will still have to consider the matter of Ms. Connor’s fate. She cannot leave here with the knowledge she has gained so far, and keeping her a prisoner indefinitely is… impractical.”

“No shit,” Gunn muttered. Aside from her feelings about it, her family would never let her disappear without a trace. They’d comb the earth until they found her, and lay waste to anyone who’d hurt her.

Thanatos said, “Get that antidote by whatever means necessary. And after that, if you don’t want Ms. Connors or her memories eliminated, present me with a better solution. Dismissed.”

The light flared brightly, making Gunn shield his eyes instinctively, and then faded to a dim glow.

The chair was empty. Thanatos was gone.

Chapter 10

Michelangela put her paws on the windowsill of her prison and watched through the mesh on her window as Gunn strode off into the pre-dawn dimness. Just the way he walked looked pissed off.

As if he had the right to be.

She Changed back to human and sat down on the bed, reaction finally hitting her and making her knees shake. Damned if he was going to get that on his security video.

She didn’t understand what the hell was going on here. She didn’t know whether Gunn was telling the truth when he said she didn’t have all the facts about Harrelson’s mission.

What she did know was that Gunn wasn’t completely in charge, even though he was the pack alpha. Someone else was calling the shots—and that someone was clearly ruthless and unpredictable.

Even if Gunn did have some kind of feelings for her—which was doubtful—what would happen to her wasn’t ultimately his call. And she’d seen their secret base now. Even if she gave them everything they wanted, there was no guarantee they’d let her leave. Or even let her live.

She had to get out of here, and now was her best chance, while everyone was still off guard.

She just had to get herself under control. Right now her insides were churning, because… Gunn. Complicated. Enigmatic. Full of passion. Full of secrets.

She’d imagined coming face to face with him so many times. Demanding an explanation. Killing him slowly. Making love with him hard and fast.

It was all still there, still imprinted on her heart. His eyes, his hands, the planes of his face. The way he stood when he was feeling all full of himself—weight on one leg, his hip cocked, eyes smoldering.