It's my show of faith. She's put her life in my hands, shown this unhinged, bent on revenge wolf her trust. The least I can do is return it.
Her eyes widen at first and then she smiles. "Thanks. But I really do want to help. What are we looking for?"
"Any clues that will lead us to Smyth."
"And what makes you think Nash knows something?"
"When I blew the lab in Utah, there was one prisoner. A lion-Nash. He escaped. I figured he was another test subject, like me. But there's a picture in his file-look-" I point her toward the right folder. "See? That's Nash with Smyth." Both men are in military uniform and they look friendly with each other-shaking hands. "From the notes, it sounds like he volunteered for the program. And Nash is mentioned everywhere in the research notes. Something about creating a super shifter race, and Nash will be the Allfather."
Layne shudders. "That's the creepiest thing I've ever heard."
"I know. Total Third Reich bullshit. But I figure he would know something more about Smyth. Or whether there's a government connection."
She raises her brows. "You really think the government's involved?"
I nod. "Yeah. How else do you explain the lack of media coverage of the lab I blew up in Utah? Or the number of military-type personnel working security at your lab?"
"I see what you mean."
Layne opens another video clip from the breeding program. Nash is with the same female we saw before, only this time, she's leaving his cage. The camera zooms in on her neck.
"Holy shit," I breathe.
"What?"
"He mated her." If what I'm seeing is true, Nash's animal must be dying to be apart from his mate. "Find the female's file-her name is Denali Decker."
Layne navigates to it. I pick up my phone and text Kylie, Read file on Denali Decker. Please help me get a location on her, as well.
I need something to offer Nash, and I think I just found my bargaining chip. If I can help him find his mate, he has to help me take down Smyth.
"So you need Nash to help you get to Smyth. And then what? Why do you want to find Smyth?" Her green eyes study me with concern. She already knows the answer.
My fists clench. "When I find Smyth, I'm going to kill him." I look away so I won't have to see Layne's disapproval.
This is what I need to do. Uncovering the government involvement is important. So is finding Santiago. But if I died taking down Smyth, I'd consider my life complete. He's the one who caused my personal suffering. I've been patiently waiting for my vengeance for a long time.
My phone rings. It's Declan.
"This is Sam," I answer.
"Nash agreed to the fight," Declan says, no preamble. "Two o'clock this afternoon."
I scoot off the bed and step outside so Layne won't hear. "I'll be there."
"Parker and I don't think you should do this."
"I'm doing it."
"Right, lad." Declan says before he hangs up. "It's your funeral."
Layne
AFTER LUNCH SAM leaves me with the laptop and tells me he needs to run another errand. At first, I'm thrilled to be left with my research. Feeling only marginally guilty, I upload it to a cloud drive I can access later from anywhere. Sam promised a compromise, and I do believe him, but my research is my entire life.
While it's loading, a niggling of foreboding creeps in. The sun slants through the windows. It's getting late.
Where the hell is Sam?
A knock on the door makes me start.
"Layne? It's m-m-m-me," Laurie calls. When I open the door, the tall man smiles sheepishly, holding up a white deli bag. "I brought you some food."
"Thanks," I say, but don't take the bag. Something's not right here. Sam is gone and Laurie won't meet my eyes.
"Well, I'll j-j-just leave you-"
"Where's Sam?"
The man's eyes go wide. "Um-"
I shake my head. "I knew it. He's up to something."
The tall man blinks at me, his Adam's apple bobbing furiously.
I push up onto tiptoes, gaining every inch of my height. "Where is he, Laurie?"
The twitchy shifter wilts. "He didn't want to tell you… he's at the Pit. He and Nash are going to fight."
~.~
AS SOON AS Laurie pulls the car into the parking lot, I'm out and stomping to the door.
"W-w-wait!" Laurie calls. With his long legs, he catches up to me.
"Don't even try to stop me," I snap. A few bikers turn, probably wondering why a human is on the premises, but species of every kind recognize a pissed off female, and they immediately go back to minding their own business.
"Hold up there, lovey," Declan appears in the door, a hand out to stop my forward march. "Lass, I don't think-"
"I'm not leaving until I see Sam," I hiss, and tug my collar to the side where Sam's bite shows up against my neck, red and livid.
"Is that-" Declan trails off, eyes fixed to the scar. His nostrils flare.
"The mating bite," Laurie murmurs. His long fingers smooth my collar aside so he can examine it more closely. "Oh Layne. Congratulations."
"Thank you." I blink back a rush of emotion. Sam has friends in the shifter community, stronger ties than he realizes. "You have to let me in there. I need to stop him."
"It's crazy in there," Declan tells me. "Crazier than last time. Sam wouldn't want you hurt."
"Especially when you're his mate," Laurie adds.
The only thing scarier than an angry female is a crying one. I think of what Sam and I shared last night, and then imagine him down and bleeding on the floor of the Pit like the last fighter to face Nash.
"Oh no," Declan's eyes widen almost as big as Laurie's. "Don't get upset. Sam will kill me."
"Please let me through," I say, and they finally step out of my way.