Chapter 20
Under other circumstances, Sasha might have opted for more discretion when it came to the nature of her relationship with Larem, especially in front of his buddies. Things would’ve been too new, too unsettled for her to be completely comfortable with their openly acting like a couple in front of the rest of the Seattle contingent.
However, there was something about almost dying three times in the past few weeks that shattered all need for caution. She might not know how things would play out for the two of them, but not for one second did she want Larem to doubt that he was important to her.
She watched as he quickly checked his gun. Lonzo and Hunter did the same, the motions clearly second nature to all three of them. Just as they were about to leave the examination room, Larem’s cell rang. Everyone froze and waited, the tension in the room immediately ratcheting up.
“Yeah, what’s up?” He listened for several seconds without saying a word. “We’ll check it out.”
When he hung up, Sasha asked, “Larem, what’s wrong?”
His expression was grim. “That was Devlin. He hasn’t been able to reach your father. He’s not answering his cell or the phone in his hotel room.”
Sasha dug her nails into her palms, trying to stay calm. “Do you think they’ve taken him? And don’t lie to me.”
“Probably.” Larem’s answer was terrifying in its stark simplicity.
They started toward the door again, only to have their plans interrupted again with the sound of a phone ringing, this time Sasha’s. She checked the number on the screen and should’ve been relieved. She wasn’t.
“It’s my father’s number.”
Larem caught her hand before she could answer. “Put it on speakerphone.”
She nodded and did as he said. “Dad?”
“Sasha, run! Get the hell out of there!”
There were horrifying sounds of a struggle followed by a brief silence and then a different voice came on the line.
“Miss Willis, listen and listen carefully if you want to see your father again. Especially if you want to see him alive.”
Fear and fury had her gripping the phone hard enough to break it. She forced her hand to relax, wishing she had the same control over her emotions.
“I don’t know who you are, but if you hurt my father, you’re dead. The Regents will authorize whatever it takes to hunt you down, along with anyone stupid enough to follow your orders. There isn’t a place in this world or any other one where you’ll be safe.”
“Tsk, tsk, Miss Willis. Threats will get you nowhere. I want Kincade’s account numbers, and I want the money you’ve stolen from him.”
“That money wasn’t his to begin with, and it definitely isn’t yours.”
Okay, that wasn’t the smartest thing she could’ve said, but Lonzo was making circles in the air, telling her to keep talking. Was he having the call traced?
“You can’t seriously think I give a rat’s ass where he got the money. Kincade owes me for a couple of jobs I did for him and I have a rule about that. People who don’t pay me end up dead, just like the targets they sent me after.”
The cold pride in his voice was nauseating. “I get paid top dollar for what I do. I suspect you don’t approve, but I’m really just a businessman with a specific skill set, one that happens to be in big demand lately. If it makes you feel better, I’m planning to retire as soon as I collect my pay, although I plan to do the world a favor before I disappear. Free of charge, too.”
She hated encouraging the bastard, but keeping him on the line might help rescue her father. “And what favor would that be?”
“I plan to rid our world of that pale-eyed monstrosity who’s probably standing right next to you. Just the thought of him walking the streets of Seattle as if he owns the place, passing for one of us and screwing human women, makes me sick. Who knows, if I get lucky, I might even take out a few of his mutant buddies, too—preferably while you watch.”
Then he laughed. “Oops! Sorry, Miss Willis, I’m guessing from your father’s reaction he just now realized your boyfriend is Kalith. I don’t think he’s happy to learn his daughter has been fucking an alien. Sorry if I let the cat out of the bag.”
The humor in his voice disappeared. “You’ve got five minutes to get the account numbers for me.”
Then the line went dead.
Hunter looked at Lonzo. “Tell me D.J. was able to track the bastard?”
Lonzo nodded and started cussing. “Damn it, he’s right outside!”
Before she had time to absorb the implications, a ruckus broke out at both ends of the cavernous warehouse that housed the clinic. All three men immediately pointed their weapons at the examination room door.
Then the phone rang again. Larem took it from her hand. “I’m listening.”
“Put the woman back on.”