“Maybe you should let him go,” Seung said.
“I’m pretty sure that’s the last thing I should do right now unless you want to experience what it’s like to have a feral cat loose in the cab of a truck.”
“He’s not a cat.”
Another burst of pain gouged Johnathan’s palm. “Fuck.” Johnathan forced himself not to snarl.
Dr. Dante bowed in Johnathan’s grip and landed a series of kicks to the back of Seung’s seat hard enough to shove her forward.
“You still want me to let him go?”
“If you don’t let him go, he’ll never trust us.”
“Pretty sure any chance of trust went out the window as soon as he saw Johnathan’s face,” Frost said.
“You—” Seung pointed at Frost. “Can it.” Then she turned all that fire on Johnathan. “I want you to let him go.”
The truck entered the concrete tunnel, following the worn path left behind by excavation equipment.
“Seung, I…”
Dr. Dante bucked, kicked, flailed. His leg swept over the top of Seung’s seat, grazing her head. His house shoe flew off and landed on the dash.
She blocked the second blow Dr. Dante aimed at her face.
“You still all about me letting him loose?” At least Johnathan managed to hold back theI told you so.
Seung crawled halfway over the console, putting herself within punching distance.
“You probably shouldn’t—”
Dr. Dante swung. Seung caught his wrist, pinning his fist against his chest. She caught his other hand too and did the same. “Calm down, Dr. Dante. Please.”
Dr. Dante’s breath huffed from his flared nostrils. Shivers shook his frame, and his sweat soaked through Johnathan’s clothes.
His scent had been strong before. Locked in the truck?
Frost caught Johnathan’s gaze in the rearview. The look in his eyes said he knew Johnathan’s brother had been right.
“You’re safe, I promise.” Seung moved closer with each word. “But I need you to calm down before you hurt yourself.”
The truck exited the tunnel, and Dr. Dante squinted against the light.
“Can you do that for me? Just calm and listen?”
Dr. Dante rolled a look up at Johnathan.
God, how he hated the fear in the man’s eyes.
Dr. Dante shook harder.
He put his attention back on Seung, who now sat at the edge of the seat.
“We’re here because we need your help, and Luca needs your help. You’re the only one who can do that. Please, Dr. Dante, please, I need you to listen, okay?”
Tension eased from Dr. Dante’s body.
“Are you calm?”