Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(63)

Holding up her hand, she released her razor-sharp claws. “Blood for blood.”

The man was smart enough to jerk back, fear tightening his face. But instead of leaving the cell as she’d hoped, he sent her a warning glance.

“Please don’t make me call for the guard,” he said. “He enjoys hurting shifters.”

Typical. Most of the SAU staff took pleasure in their pain. Why else would they lock them up as if they were worthless monsters?

“Fuck off,” she growled.

“Have it your way.” Heaving a faint sigh, the man rose to his feet and motioned toward the open door. “Sinclair, will you join us.”

Instantly, a large man with long brown hair and a lean face that was scruffy with whiskers stepped into the room.

“Yeah?”

The doctor nodded toward Cora, who remained huddled on the cot, her claw-tipped hand still lifted.

“I need you to convince our guest to cooperate.”

“No problem.” Walking forward, the guard studied her with a pair of ice blue eyes that sent a chill down her spine. She had no difficulty believing Sinclair enjoyed hurting females. Hell, she wouldn’t be surprised if he ate babies for breakfast. As if sensing her thoughts, he pulled his lips back in a humorless smile. “Hey, *, *.”

Even knowing she was too weak to fight, Cora slashed her claws toward the man’s face. He laughed, lunging forward so he could wrap his arms around her.

She hissed, but he was far too strong. Stronger than most humans. Obviously, he was one of those vain humans who used steroids. Or maybe the SAU was injecting their soldiers with some new drug.

Maybe they were using shifter power to enhance their employees.

That would explain the doctor, and why he wanted her blood.

Effectively trapped, she was helpless as he turned her back to the waiting doctor. Her nose wrinkled. The man smelled…different.

Not bad. Just different.

If she survived this ordeal, she needed to warn the Alphas that she suspected there was something weird going on with the guards.

“Bastard,” she snarled, unable to avoid the doctor as he grabbed her arm to shove the needle into her vein. Swiftly, the vial was filled with her blood. He grabbed another vial, filling it before he removed the needle and tossed it in his bag. Then, pulling out a long swab he pointed it toward her face.

On cue, the steroid-pumped Sinclair grabbed her jaw and painfully forced her mouth open. The doctor reached between her lips with the swab, swishing it against the inside of her cheek before he was hastily pulling back.

Smart man. She couldn’t do a complete shift until she’d regained her strength, but she could grow her fangs long enough to bite off his hand.

Talbot reached back into his stupid bag, no doubt searching for something else to poke or prod her with when the man holding her suddenly glanced toward the doorway.

“Someone’s coming,” he warned.

“Damn.” The doctor scowled, snapping shut his bag. “I suppose this will have to do.” Scurrying out of the cell like the cockroach he was, he hastily glanced over his shoulder. “Lock the door and don’t say a damned word about this.”

Hmm…

Cora barely noticed when she was tossed back onto the cot as the guard left the cell and closed the door behind him. She was far more interested in why the doctor wanted to keep his visit a secret. And how she could use the information to her advantage.

Catching a familiar scent, Cora wasn’t surprised when the soldier who’d shot her entered the cell. Slimy bastard.

Along with him was a large, gray-haired man who had an air of authority. This was a man who was used to giving orders and having them obeyed.

“So…you’re awake,” the older man said, tossing her an orange jumpsuit. “Here.”

With a grimace, Cora used the blanket as a shield as she pulled on the ugly-ass outfit. Orange really wasn’t the new black, she decided as she tossed aside the blanket to look down at the neon-nectarine jumpsuit.

Still, it was better than being naked.

Not that she was about to admit it to her captors. Instead, she sent them a glance of pure disdain.

“Am I supposed to be grateful?”

The man studied her without expression. “Your feelings are immaterial to me.”

Cora shivered. The doctor had been creepy, but this man…he was as cold as ice. And she didn’t need to be warned that he would kill her as easily as he killed a cockroach.

“Who are you?”

“Director Markham, head of the SAU.”

Shit. That would explain his air of authority.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice not entirely steady.

Reaching into the pocket of his black slacks, he pulled out a small cellphone and tossed it onto the cot next to her.

“I want you to contact your father and tell him to meet me at the Flatirons at midnight,” he commanded, referring to the line of rock formations in Green Mountain, southwest of Boulder.

She scowled. “He’s not allowed to leave the compound.”

“I’ll alert the guards that I’ve given him permission to leave, and text him the exact coordinates once he agrees.”

Cora’s mouth went dry. The very fact that Markham was suggesting they meet at such an isolated area at midnight meant that this was no government-sanctioned get together. In fact, she would bet her last damned dollar that this was yet another secret SAU mission that was intended to hurt the shifters while giving the humans more power.