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Luke took a shaky breath. “Okay,” he said carefully. “Of course I will. If I could just drop my son off first.”

The man’s dispassionate gaze shifted from Luke to Colby and back again. “No.”

Luke’s heart raced as his throat threatened to close up in panic. He’d never felt fear like this in his life. “We’re expected,” he choked out, even as he tried his hardest to keep his voice calm and steady. “People might wonder if he doesn’t show up.”

The scientist blinked at him. “Let them wonder. I’d rather you have an incentive to cooperate.”

Luke tried one more time. It wasn’t just his own life on the line. It was his very heart. “Please,” he begged. “He’s a toddler. A baby.”

The man narrowed his eyes, annoyance cutting through his bland expression. “No whining, or I’ll make this very unpleasant for you.”

Luke took a shuddering breath. Right. Okay. No begging. No emotions. They didn’t appeal to this guy’s nonexistent soul, and if anything, they irritated him. Luke’s safest bet was to cooperate, to go along with what this man wanted and wait for Syrus to come for them. Or⁠—

“Do you want me to take you to Syrus?” Luke asked quietly.

Even knowing Syrus would want Luke to come to him, Luke might have hesitated if Syrus had been alone and unprepared. But Sybil and Daphne were with him, which would mean three deadly, paranormal creatures against this—this fucking asshole with his shitty weapon and shitty demands. Luke would take those odds over what was happening now.

But the scientist was already shaking his head. “No need. He’ll come to us. Now—” He waved his gun carelessly, using it to point around the corner. “Leave your phone and get in the truck. The two of you. If you call out or try to run, you’ll regret it.”

If he’d sounded angry or hyped up or—or anything, it might have been better. But he said it all with the same lack of emotion he might use instructing Luke on a grocery delivery. The threats were somehow so much worse in that mild, dispassionate tone.

But Luke nodded, trying to keep his bile down as set his phone on top of his car and started walking. Colby wriggled in silent protest. Luke was holding him too tightly now, but he couldn’t make himself relax his grip. The only thing keeping him from breaking down was the need to protect his son. That, and the certainty that Syrus would come for them, just like this creep had said.

Syrus would come for them, and he would rip this man apart, and Luke would watch it all without batting an eye.

Had Luke really been worried about Syrus and Riley eating this man? He’d changed his mind. Perfect one-eighty. What good were his morals if they left Colby in danger from those who didn’t have any of their own?

This asshole wanted to study creatures beyond his understanding? He could study them up close and personal. Luke wouldn’t be saving him. This man was going to die, and Luke was going to allow it. Relish it, even.

He was going to cover Colby’s eyes and watch as Syrus ate this asshole’s heart right out of his chest.

Luke held Colby on his lap for the drive.

Colby, for his part, was delighted by the rare treat of not having to sit in a car seat and babbled happily about everything he could spy out the front window.

It made Luke’s eyes burn with unshed tears, his son’s innocence in light of the danger they faced. The scientist had that fucking gun resting on his thigh as he drove one-handed, and if it had been only Luke in the car, he might have risked diving out of the moving truck, on the off chance he could make it out before the other man could take aim.

But Luke couldn’t risk Colby on a chance like that. So he sat there like a good abductee, wishing for their kidnapper’s death all the while.

Luckily for his sanity, the drive was short, and it wasn’t long before they pulled into a familiar parking lot. Maybe Luke shouldn’t have been surprised at where the scientist was taking them—of course this would end in the water, just like it had all begun.

The beach’s parking lot was dark and empty, and Luke didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. Would this crazed man risk collateral damage? If there had been a townsperson in the way, would he have retreated, or added another number to his victims?

“Out.”

Luke got out carefully and hoisted Colby up in his arms once more, holding him as tightly as he dared. With the scientist behind him, his gun cocked at Luke’s back, they trudged down the path to the beach. The morning was already cold, and now a slight wind was picking up. They were bundled up well enough, but it wouldn’t have been Luke’s choice to have Colby out in this weather for long.

As if any of this is your choice, he thought bitterly.

There was a small motorboat pulled out onto the sand, the kind used to ferry small distances, or for the occasional amateur fishing outing. The scientist must have brought it in from the water—there was no ramp or dock here, and there was no way he could have dragged it all the way down the path by himself. There were cans of fuel and waterproof bags inside, presumably filled with food or equipment.

More cold dread settled in Luke’s stomach as their captor walked them toward it. It was windy and cold, and they were in the presence of someone who didn’t seem opposed to murder, and Luke didn’t have a life jacket for his son. Maybe it was the least of their worries, but the open water was a dangerous place.

Luke kept his voice calm and devoid of emotion as he tried one last time. “Let me leave him in the car. Please.”

The scientist didn’t even break his stride. “No. Get in the boat.”

It was as Luke followed his command that Colby finally started to fuss. It wasn’t a surprise—it was cold, and this wasn’t their normal routine, and he was no doubt picking up on Luke’s anxiety.