Take - Page 88

“You can’t help him,” Trent said sternly.

What? My heart pounded crazily. What the hell was going on?

Trent spun me around, his fingers biting into my arms so hard it hurt.

“Let me go.”

He shook his head. “We’re going for a drive.” He started dragging me down the corridor.

No. My instincts kicked in. I jerked backward and he spun. I tried to get a good grip on his sleeves to do a judo throw.

“No, you don’t,” he growled. He lunged forward and clamped his arms around me, trapping mine to my sides. I fought him, but he was too strong.

“You’re DARPA,” I cried. “Why are you doing this?”

“I owe a favor to the wrong person. He called it in.”

“Auclair,” I whispered.

A muscle ticked in Trent’s jaw, and he nodded. Then he carried me into a side room. I saw heavy-duty, large, black boxes used for transporting lab equipment.

He opened one with one hand, while holding me in place with the other.

Anger punched through me and I kicked at him.

He grunted, but lifted me off my feet. He was so damn strong.

He shoved me into the box.

“I am sorry,” he said.

“You should be. Reath will come for you.”

I saw hesitation in his face, and he glanced at the floor. Then he dragged in a breath and slammed the lid closed.

I was trapped in darkness.

Well, this really sucked.

37

REATH

Anger tasted hot. Frustration tasted like dust.

My hands flexed on the wheel as I headed to the DARPA lab. The trees whizzed past on the side of the road.

Auclair was like a fucking ghost. I was certain he just let me see him on that camera to play with me again. To have me running all over New Orleans looking for him.

I blew out a breath. All I wanted right now was to see Frankie. To hug her, and breathe in her scent.

If she even noticed me. I smiled. It was easy to imagine her neck deep in her lab work, oblivious of the world.

I touched the dash. “Send a text message to Ben Axelson. I’m on my way.”

I waited for a response, but one didn’t come.

I frowned. He must be busy checking in with Trent Weare and his team.