Johnathan caught himself against the wall and replayed Caspin’s words in his head.
“If the Phillips woman wasn’t suspicious before, she will be now,” Caspin said. “She’ll question him again.”
Jonathan doubted questions were the only thing she’d have in store for the scientist. The Warden would more likely make him disappear.
If that happened, Jonathan would never get Dr. Dante to the Manitoba Hold. And they needed him if they ever hoped to break the secrets of the ichor and restructure the VrK so it would be compatible with egg-bearers.
A necessity if the Mah ever hoped to be their own race and not just the mortal descendants of Varu exiled from their pack. Even though Mah genetics were dominant like Varu, their offspring had to be sired with humans before candidates took the serum. While the Mah were technically alive, unlike their ancestors, the ichor wasn’t.
“You are out of time to talk to him. She will be in Atlanta in a matter of hours. Do what you must to save your wolf. And never feel guilty for it.”
Caspin hung up.
The White Wolf was right. Jonathan had to act if he wanted to save his people. That meant collecting Dr. Dante whether he wanted protection or not.
Then all he could do was hope the scientist would agree to stay.
Johnathan dialed a number given to him, over three years ago before Dr. Dante left the Utah Facility. Before the disaster that had almost cost the Dekker family everything.
The line rang. Picked up. “Hello?”
“We have a problem….”
* * *
Colonel Harrington handed Reese a cup of dark liquid.
“What is this?” Thick tendrils of steam rolled from the surface. Reese sniffed it. The inside of his nose burned.
Definitely not coffee.
“Just drink it.”
“But what if I’m allergic—”
“Drink the damn tea, Dr. Dante.”
Reese took a sip, burning the end of his tongue. The fire swelling in his throat had nothing to do with the temperature. He coughed and tears leaked from the corner of his eyes. “What—” Another cough broke apart his words.
“English breakfast and a healthy dose of whiskey.” Harrington sat across from Reese in the other metal folding.
Reese leaned back in his seat. “I think you forgot the tea.”
Harrington’s mustache twitched, but it was too thick for Reese to tell whether he’d smiled.
He hoped the Colonel had smiled.
Voices penetrated the thin walls of the travel trailer. Reese had been in a similar one at the Utah Facility. Only this one had home amenities rather than office necessities.
But it still had the same temporary feel. A cardboard placemark ready to be ripped up and moved at a moment’s notice.
A cold reminder that at least one branch of the government was still on the hunt for Nash Kelli and Luca Suarez.
“I’ll get you a blanket since you’re cold.” Harrington walked over to a small cabinet.
“I’m not cold, I—”
Harrington took a blanket from a cabinet and draped it over Reese’s shoulders. “I’m going to have some of my men escort you to the Hyatt.” He returned to his chair.