Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(65)

No doubt he hadn’t told her because he knew she would be terrified. He was obviously placing himself in constant danger. After all, each time he entered the headquarters, the risk of being exposed and destroyed was high.

The older man tried to hide his flare of relief. “He’s here?”

“Yep. In the lab.”

“So why would he send you down to the pens?”

Sinclair didn’t hesitate.

“He wasn’t entirely convinced that we could fool the authorities if they demanded to see the body after the autopsy,” he said smoothly.

Autopsy? Nicole frowned. Had someone died? Or…

Her distracted thoughts were brought to a sharp end as Grant released a string of curses.

“I knew it would never work. We need to get rid of the evidence.” Reaching for his gun, he pulled it out of his holster, his gaze locking on Nicole. “Starting with her.”

Oh, shit.

Her breath locked in her lungs. There was a flat coldness in the man’s eyes. She didn’t doubt for a second that he would kill her and dump her without an ounce of regret.

“No.” Sinclair took a subtle step to the side, half blocking her from the man’s icy glare. “Doc Tucker came up with a better suggestion.”

There was a tense hesitation, as if Grant were debating whether to give in to his impulse to kill his prisoner, or listen to what Sinclair had to say.

At long last, his gaze moved to his fellow guard. “What’s the suggestion?”

Sinclair took another step, making sure he was positioned so Grant would have to go through him to get to Nicole.

Any other time she might have been offended. She wasn’t a female who hid behind a male. But at the moment, she was still weak from the blow to her head, and not at all opposed to having a bit of shielding.

“Why use dogs to bite the dead body when we have the real thing right here?” Sinclair said.

Nicole grimaced. Okay. Now there was not only a dead body, but they also intended to have dogs bite it? Were they sick?

Her unease only deepened as both men studied her with unwavering interest.

“We’ve never been able to force them to shift into their animals,” the older guard said at last, his gaze skimming up and down her tense body. “Hell, I’ve beaten more than one to death trying to force them.”

Nicole felt a blast of heat from Sinclair, but clearly accustomed to hiding his hatred for his enemies, the Alpha managed to give a nonchalant lift of his shoulder.

“The Doc claims that he’s found a drug that will force them to shift whether they want to or not,” he said, reaching out to grasp Nicole’s arm in what must have looked like a punishing grip.

Nicole, however, understood that it was meant as a caution for her to keep her mouth shut. Not that she needed the warning. If Sinclair and Tucker had a plan to get her out of the facility, she would keep her lips zipped and locked.

“Drug?” Grant looked as confused as Nicole felt. “I’ve never heard of any drug.”

“It’s still in the testing phase,” Sinclair smoothly lied. And it was a lie. Nicole could smell it. “But it’s worth a try.”

Unable to sense that he was being manipulated, the guard frowned at Nicole.

“That still doesn’t mean we can force it to bite.”

Nicole clenched her teeth. It? She wasn’t even a female? She was an it?

Sinclair gave another squeeze to her arm as he answered. “Get an animal mad enough, and it’ll attack.”

On cue, Nicole allowed her fangs to lengthen as she released a loud, dramatic growl.

Instantly, Grant backed away. “Shit,” he breathed. “Fine, we’ll give it a try,” he muttered. “I’ll call the guards who went to get the body-”

“I already took care of it,” Sinclair interrupted. “Doc wanted me to have them bring the stiff straight to the lab.”

Instantly, Grant was bristling with outrage.

“Who the f*ck does he think he is?” he snapped. “I’m in charge of the division while Markham is gone.”

“He’s a nerd,” Sinclair soothed. “They think they own the damned place.”

“Yeah, well, I can teach him who’s in charge,” the guard muttered.

“Okay.” Sinclair kept ahold of Nicole’s arm with one hand while he reached into his front pocket with his other. “Do you want the body put back in the house?”

Grant’s bluster abruptly collapsed at Sinclair’s easy capitulation.

Clearly he was a man who wanted to pretend like he was in charge, without actually needing to make decisions.

“Christ, no.” Shoving the gun back in its holster, he ran a shaky hand over his buzzed hair. “What a disaster.”

“The Doc seems confident that this will work,” Sinclair murmured, his voice soft and persuasive. Nicole felt a stab of admiration. No wonder this male was Alpha. He was capable of using the human’s greatest weakness to his advantage. “And if it does, then Markham will have the ammunition he needs to keep D.C. off his back.”

Hunger flickered in the man’s eyes as if he craved his employer’s approval.

“True.” He squared his shoulders. “Take her to the lab.”

Sinclair gave her a tug, leading her past Grant and out the door of the cell.