“You’re sure no one will be able to detect it?” Jeremiah asked, flipping down the collar of his shirt. The uniforms the guards were required to wear were all black, from the button-down short-sleeved shirt, to the cargo pants, to the shitkickers on his feet. The tiny black listening device that Jaxson had inserted under the collar in the back of the shirt was so miniscule, it would easily blend in.
“Positive,” Jaxson promised, moving away and handing out ear pieces to the team. “We will be able to hear you, but you won’t be able to hear us. That part sucks, but can’t be helped.”
“Don’t worry,” Trace said, patting his sniper rifle. “I got your back, man.”
“Me, too,” Sapphire promised, lifting her rifle in his direction.
Jeremiah’s lips quirked up into a grin. “Until I get inside.”
“I’ve seen you in action,” Flame drawled. “I think you can handle yourself until we get in there.”
Rikki slid in close to him, her arm slipping around his waist. “I’ll be in a tree several yards away, my rifle pointed at the building the entire time.”
Jeremiah heard the worry in her voice, but it was still strong, sure, determined. “I know you will,” he said in a low voice. Leaning down, he captured her mouth with his, slowly tracing the plump fullness of the bottom one with his tongue. “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he muttered against her lips, wishing he didn’t have to leave her, but knowing there was no choice. If he didn’t, everyone in that facility just ten miles down the road would die. He couldn’t have that on his conscience.
The sound of the Hummer filled the air, and Jinx pulled up next to them. Putting the vehicle in park, he slid out but kept it running. “You need to hurry before they become suspicious.”
“I’m sure they already are.” He knew they were. He would be if it was him.
“Maybe we need to find another way,” Flame said hesitantly, her gaze going from Jeremiah to Jinx. “I feel like we are throwing Jeremiah to the wolves.”
“That’s because we are,” Angel ground out. “Unfortunately, we have no choice.”
Jeremiah looked down into his mate’s eyes, the dark pools of brown sucking him in. Lowering his head to kiss her gently on the forehead, he said, “There is no other way.” Giving his mate one last, hard kiss, he let her go and made his way to the Hummer. Glancing back, he let his gaze roam over her, from the dark hair pulled back in a pony tail, down her small, curvy body covered in black, to the toe of her combat boots. His woman was a fighter, but she was also soft and loving, and so damn beautiful it made his heart ache.
“I love you.” She mouthed the words to him, her lips turning up into a gentle smile just for him. Her hand closed into a fist, and she pressed it to her heart.
Swallowing hard, Jeremiah returned the gesture, mouthing the words back to her. His heart. His soul. His world.
Jeremiah entered the Virginia facility through a side door, using a five-digit code that was dedicated solely to him, so whoever was watching could see when he came and left each place he was assigned to. And they were watching; of that he had no doubt. They were all a paranoid bunch of bastards, as they should be. Some of the places were more lax, but not this one. It was one of the worst. Very tightly controlled by the man in charge, Lenox Keaton. You had to enter your five digits every time you went from one floor of the large three-story building to another. In the basement, you had to enter your code to enter the scientists’ lab. Hell, he was surprised he didn’t have to use his code every time he took a piss. He’d given that code to RARE, but had no idea how long it would work. If their suspicions were correct, his head was on the chopping block, along with most, if not all, of the people in the place. It only stood to reason they would deactivate the codes and lock them all in the building. He hoped he was wrong, but his gut told him he wasn’t. He just prayed they didn’t blow the thing up with him in it.
Straightening his shoulders, Jeremiah stalked down the long hallway, headed for the offices at the end. It didn’t matter what they did. There were innocent people that were about to die because of Ebony. He had to do everything he could to save them, even at the risk of his own life. He gritted his teeth as a thought hit him. He and Rikki were now mated. If something happened to him, it would affect her, too. She would have to choose to live a long, lonely existence without him, or follow him into death. He knew what he would choose. It was unacceptable for her to do the same. She was important, her life was important. Which meant, he would survive. He had no choice.
Pausing in front of one of the doors, he lifted his hand and knocked.
“Enter.”
Jeremiah opened the door, his gaze instantly meeting the ice-cold blue ones of the man sitting behind the desk.
“Jeremiah. Good to see you.”
Bullshit. He didn’t have to be a shifter to tell the bastard was lying. “Sir.”
“Was there an issue with the Hummer?”
Jeremiah allowed his brow to furrow in confusion. “Issue?” Nope, no issue. Not any that wasn’t caused by him, anyway.
“The tracker doesn’t seem to be working.”
Jeremiah shrugged. “I have no idea. Didn’t even think to check.” He could play Lenox Keaton’s game. Lucky for him, the man wasn’t a shifter and wouldn’t be able to scent the lies. Not that he was technically lying. He hadn’t checked to see if it was working. He’d just made sure it wasn’t.
“And your phone?”
“Must have forgotten it in Arizona, sir.” He’d left it. On purpose.
Keaton nodded, leaning forward to rest his forearms on the desk. “We will get you a new one.”
Another lie. “Appreciate it.”
“There’s been a… development… since you were last here.” Keaton paused. “Vixen is no longer with us. It is unclear if she is dead or a traitor. If you should see her, your orders are to take her out. Understood?”
Interesting. For some reason, they thought the assassin might return. He wondered what that meant. “Yes, sir.”
Keaton raised an eyebrow. “Not even going to ask what happened?”
“No. Figured if you wanted me to know, you would tell me.” Whatever the son of a bitch said would be a lie, anyway. Just one more floating around the room, and the stench was starting to get to him.
“Your things?”
“Left them in the Hummer until I had my orders.”
“Bring them in. You will be staying where you did last time. Second floor, same room.” Keaton pushed his chair back and rose, glancing at his watch. “Your shift starts in fifteen minutes. Got here just in time.”
“Which floor am I working on?” he asked, although he had a feeling he already knew.
“Basement.” Yep. They were going to keep him down below, out of whatever was taking place above. Better to keep him in the dark.
Jeremiah nodded to Keaton before turning toward the door.
“And, Jeremiah.”
“Yeah?” He glanced back, stiffening slightly at the hard, calculating look on the other man’s face.
“I’ll be leaving tonight for a meeting. I’m taking Connors and Kozad with me. That leaves you as senior guard until we return.”
Damn, that was fast. They weren’t wasting any time. Which meant, he was going to have to move quickly himself. “Yes, sir. Who will be here with me?”
“A new guard, Jennings. Young kid, but good at his job. And another newbie, Rena Greyson. Been with us for a couple of months. Keep your eye on her.”
“Why?”
“Kozad caught her talking to a prisoner the other day. She may be a bleeding heart.”
Jeremiah scented the truth on him and nodded. “Got it.”
That could work to his advantage, because it was obvious that they were getting ready to implement their plan. Jinx and Vixen had been right. Leaving a kid who was still in training behind, along with a woman they were tagging as a possible traitor to their cause, meant they were going to be collateral damage. The same as he was. Screw that.
Five minutes later, he was outside by the Hummer leaning into the backseat. “You get all that?” he asked quietly, grasping the handle of his duffle bag. He saw a small flash of light in the distance, and went on, “They are going to move quickly on this. Not sure my code will work again once I get in the basement.” Another flash. “Jennings and Rena come with us. He’s young and stupid, but hopefully that stupidity is his biggest fault. Sounds like Rena could be on our side.” Another flash. “If I don’t make it out…” Two flashes. A small smile kicked up the corners of his mouth. “Love you, too, mate.” One flash.
Shaking his head, Jeremiah backed out of the Hummer and slammed the door shut. When he went to key in his code to get back in, the door slammed open and Quinn Connors walked out. Tall and stocky, with black hair and dark green eyes that seemed to miss nothing, he was the kind of man who caught someone’s eye and kept it. Quinn paused, his gaze skimming around the area before coming back to land on him. “Jeremiah Jenson. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, it has.” Jeremiah watched Connors closely. While Quinn had always seemed dangerous, especially because Jeremiah could feel the overwhelming power flowing from him, he’d never scented the stench of evil that wafted off most of the other guards. He’d worked with the other man once before, and had wondered just what the hell Quinn was, but he’d never been able to figure it out. A shifter, he was sure, but somehow the man managed to mask it from him. “I hear you and your lapdog are taking Keaton away from here. Leaving me alone to babysit.” It was said with a sneer, because that was what was expected of him. He played the part, and he played it well.
“If that little prick, Kozad, makes it that far,” Quinn grunted. “Fucker’s gettin’ too big for his britches. Gonna have to bring him down a peg or two.”
Jeremiah chuckled. “You looking for these?” He tossed the keys to the Hummer at the man, knowing he would be giving it a thorough look-over.
“Thanks.”
“See ya.” Jeremiah punched his code in and opened the door.
“Not if I see you first,” Quinn said, slamming a shoulder into his, cursing when he dropped the Hummer key on the ground. Leaning in, he ducked his head and muttered. “One, five, three, four, six.” He squatted down to retrieve the key, and then reeled off the numbers again as he rose. Jeremiah kept his head averted and walked into the building, the door slamming shut behind him. What the hell? He repeated the numbers over and over in his mind, realizing what they had to be. Someone’s personal code, like the one he had. Which could only mean one thing. Quinn Connors knew what was going to happen, and he was trying to save Jeremiah’s life. The man was one of the good guys. Shit. How many of them were there in the organization that he didn’t know about? Connors was in even deeper than he was, as right-hand man to Lenox Keaton. Were there more?