Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

BEAU

I'm a scientist. I'm good at theorizing. I'm good at pouring drinks, finding bones, and making tacos. Things I'm not good at? Fighting. Hand-to-hand combat. Anything requiring the tiniest amount of bravery. So, right now? I'm paralyzed with fear. Killian, on the other hand, jumps into action.

He peeks out the blinds carefully and looks around the room. "They're here. Are there any weapons in this place? Anything we can use?"

I stare. Sure, I understand his words. But responding? My tongue is twice its size. My heart is pounding like a woodpecker determined to get every last insect. He grabs my arms, his grip grounding me. "Beau. Are there any weapons?"

Are there? It's so hard to think.

"Focus on me."

He catches my gaze. His eyes are intense. Determined. I take a quick breath and nod.

"We have tranquilizer guns. Did have. They might not be here anymore."

I focus on the task. And not the men outside. Killian hasn't told me how many there are. I'm not sure I want to know. I rush to the small room in the back. The cabinets are locked, but the keys are in the same spot, hidden on a latch behind the door. I pull out several guns and hand them to Killian. Then I load the darts, almost on autopilot. It's still quiet outside. Too quiet.

Killian smiles. "Good. This is very good."

Is it though? I don't question him because that won't help either of us.

"Beau Tremere. You are surrounded. You and the man with you need to come out with your hands up. No one needs to get hurt."

The voice booms through the trailer. Knowing they're out there and hearing them isn't the same thing. But I can't freeze. I can't let Killian down.

"What are we gonna do?" I whisper even though I know the men can't hear me.

"We don't have enough to take out all of them. But we can distract them."

"Then what? Make a run for it?"

"I can shift…"

"No. That's a terrible idea. They'll realize?—"

"They already know. That isn't the NOPD out there. It's the men who did this to me."

Killian shifting makes sense. He could probably take out the lot of them. But something isn't adding up.

"Enough time. You will come out, or we will destroy you."

Killian hands me one of the rifles and takes the other. He nods and moves to the other side of the room. I check the gun. I've used it many times. Killian nods to the window. Can I get off a shot before they storm in? Doubtful.

But he's already crouched behind a chair and pointing the gun out the window. The air rifle makes a sound I'd know in my sleep, and then there's a thud and a shout.

"Bust down that fucking?—"

"Give me that. Hello, lovely people," a new voice says. Killian and I exchange looks. "I'm not really late. This oaf just started early. I think we can settle this among friends with no need to act like barbarians. Put that down. We're not breaking down the door. That's just silly. And you boys aren't going to shoot any more of my men, right?"

The campy lilt to his voice gives me pause. What is this? Bad cop, gay cop?

Or good cop, bad cop, good-God-I'm-gay cop?

"Come on out, fellas. We're all friends here. We all want the same thing. Well, most of us. Maybe not the ogre over here. He just wants to kill things, and that is so boring. So come on out, Beau dear. Let's have a chat."

We wait a few more minutes. It isn't like we're actually going to go out there just because the guy asks nicely. Right? Killian isn't moving. His jaw is set. Right. We're holding strong.

"No? Shoot. I was hoping we could do this the easy way. Ugh. Fine. Do it your way."

I wait for the crunch of the door, but it never comes. Instead, there's a whistling sound and then glass breaking. The blast is minor. Barely one at all. Then smoke pours into the room.

"Oh hell."

"Cover your mouth. Cover your face," Killian shouts.

I'm already there. Not that it matters because my eyes are tightly shut to keep out the sting of the smoke. I'm trying not to breathe it in, but some gets by and burns my throat. My nose. I cough and choke. Someone grabs me and drags me out. When I'm on the ground and can finally breathe again, I suck in the fresh air. They take our guns and our only hope. Hands drag me to my feet, and I cough again, trying to catch my breath.

Where is Killian?

"Beau." And then, "Oof."

I search for him and find him between two men. He's doubled over slightly. Fuckers. They'd better not have hurt him. God, I wish I was a dinosaur. I'd turn and demolish them all.

"My, aren't you a pretty one. I wish you would have listened. Now your eyes are all red and your face is all blotchy. And that's just so last year. My name is Sallee. S. A. L. L. E. E. Pleased to meet you."

Sallee holds out his hand, and I stare at it before giving him a what-the-fuck look. At least, I hope that's what I'm conveying as I blink away the remaining tears from the smoke.

He laughs. "Look, Doc, I'm sorry you got tangled up in this mess. Once we can get everything straightened out, you can be on your way."

"Really? You're just gonna let me go?"

"Why not? No one's believed you so far. Professor Jassan made sure of that. I mean, we're also kind of a big deal, so…anyhoo. Let's talk about your friend over there. He is so yummy."

"Leave him alone."

I can't explain the growl that escapes my throat. The thought of this man with his hands on my Killian? But he's not mine. Not really.

"That is so cute. You guys are so adorable together. Too bad it can't last. We have plans, and, well, you both have different journeys to go on."

"I thought you were letting us go."

"Oh, honey. We're letting you go after we get what we want."

"What do you want?"

"And spoil the surprise? No way." He nods to one of the soldiers. "Be a dear and search their love nest."

The man grabs a mask and runs into the trailer.

As he waits, Sallee walks over to me and touches my hair. I don't flinch. I'm not giving him the satisfaction.

"I wasn't sure you could do it, A9."

He watches my reaction as he talks to Killian. Knowing this man helped brand him has me wanting to kill him all over again. But I don't give anything away. He tips my chin up like I'm an animal he's buying from the market. The only thing keeping me from spitting in his pretty face is my worry over Killian and those men and their guns.

"But you came through. Finished your mission and brought us Dr. Tremere. You will be rewarded." He darts a glance at Killian and pouts. "Although making us come in and get you… Sweetheart, that wasn't part of the plan."

I try to ignore the doubt he's attempting to put in my head. But a lifetime of disappointment makes it difficult. The plan was to get me here. And here I am. Was this all a setup? The amnesia. The helplessness. All just an act?

No. No way. Killian pushed me away every chance he got. He didn't want me to come with him. There might have been a plan, but Killian didn't follow it. He tried to protect me every step of the way.

The soldier returns and shakes his head. Sallee rolls his eyes. "Really? Can't anything be easy? Fine." He grins at me. "I'll search our gentle giant and see if anything pops up."

He sashays over to Killian. And the sigh he makes has me wanting to smash his pretty head in. That might be his intention because he glances back at me and winks.

Who is this guy? He's dressed in camo like the rest of the men, and now that I'm looking, there's about ten of them. Probably more that I can't see. The other guys look all military-ish, standing at attention. No emotion. Except for the occasional aggressive sneer. Sallee definitely doesn't fit in.

"You know, A9. You're making this more difficult than it has to be." He runs his hands over Killian's body, and I grit my teeth to keep from saying anything. He leans closer and, in a whisper everyone can hear, says, "Where's your big bad dino? Doesn't he want to come out and play?"

And I get it. They're not worried about him turning into a dinosaur. Of course not. They'd expect that. Prepare for that. More than that, they want him to. But why?

Jassan. Our studies on the varying levels of aggression in crocodiles and alligators. Jassan wanted to see if he could control—control. That's what this is about. The serum. They need Killian in his dinosaur form to control him. Whereas in human form—what? It might kill him? Or is a dinosaur just easier to control than a human? And what would that look like? Would they try to turn him against me? Finish the job?

"Killian, no." The guy holding me jerks my arm. But it doesn't stop me. "Don't shift. That's what they want."

Sallee snaps his head around. "What I want is the DNA sample."

Why? That makes no sense. They had plenty of chances to get DNA samples. Unless this one is special. Unless the raptor was special. I try to step back, but firm hands on my arms keep me in place.

"I'm getting bored. This is taking too long. Search the doc."

The guy's hands are on me before I can protest. How thorough will he be? My plan had been to use the sample to prove my theories. Save my career. But now it seems pointless. Not that I'd willingly give it up. Especially if they need it. But for what? To perfect the serum? Why else?

His hands tap my pockets, and he grins. When he pulls out my watch, I want to scream. "Here we go."

Sallee takes it from him and examines it. "It looks like a pocket watch. Nothing more." His eyes reach mine. "Maybe I should smash it and see."

My stomach churns. The watch is the only thing I have from my father. The thought of him destroying it—but what if it's all a bluff?

"Go ahead. Destroy the watch. And the DNA."

"You think you're so clever. Search him again to see if there's anything else." His voice gets harder, and he darts a glance at Killian. "And make it hurt. Maybe we can accomplish two things at once."

One man holds my hands behind my back while the other roughly runs his hands up and down my legs. Killian clenches his fists, and I shake my head. Don't do it, Killian. It's what they want . I silently plead with him to no avail. He seems to get bigger as he growls.

"Killian, no?—"

A flash of light blinds me and panic makes it hard to breathe. What's happening? Is Killian okay? The hands holding me drop away, and I cover my eyes instinctively. Sounds make it through. Mostly thumps as things hit the ground. I blink, trying to regain my sight. My only thought is for Killian.

He's still in the same spot, looking dazed but fine. The others are not. Unconscious soldiers litter the ground. There are strict rules about not leaving trash lying around the refuge center. I swallow back my rising hysteria. Keep it together, Beau .

The only soldiers still standing are the grumpy one and Sallee.

"That's that. Yer welcome."

My head swivels to the new voice. A man. A short man, barely four feet tall. He dusts off his hands as he walks toward us. But his height and sudden appearance aren't what grabs my attention.

His long dark hair is pulled back and he has dark glittering eyes. And for some reason, he's dressed like a pirate.