The testing and constant weakening of my system through puberty, not to mention my months in the wild left me scrawny for a shifter. Most of the guys in this place have at least fifty pounds on me, if not more.
So yeah, maybe I'm nuts. My rational brain would never come up with a scheme like this.
"I'll fight him, but if I win, he has to agree to talk to me."
"You're mad," Parker says.
"If I win," I repeat, and he nods.
"I'll see if I can set it up."
I write my phone number on one of his twenty dollar bills. "Let me know."
More shifters brawl in the dirt parking lot outside. A white Camaro screams up to us, Declan behind the wheel, Layne buckled in beside him. I growl, even though I know he just protected Layne for me.
Declan grins, a happy-wild look in his eye. He's as fucked up crazy as I am. So is Laurie in his own way. "I'm not stealing yer lass, boy." He lifts his chin at Laurie. "I'll trade ya for this one."
Layne unbuckles her seatbelt as Laurie walks around to take her place. "Wh-where are you s-s-s-staying?" Laurie asks.
I shrug. "I have a safe house up in the mountains, but it's a good ninety minutes from here."
"You can s-s-s-stay with me," he offers. "I have a guest house."
I remember seeing the tiny, garage-like structure behind his cottage. In California, any structure becomes living space. I'm surprised by the offer. Not that I didn't hope for help from Laurie and Declan, but taking us in, especially considering how much heat we could bring on them, is going above and beyond. I start to shake my head, but then stop. If I hadn't had Declan's help tonight, something might have happened to Layne. I can't chase Smyth and provide constant protection to her, no matter how much I wish I can. Having her secure with other shifters would help me focus on eliminating Smyth. Once he's gone, I can provide her protection until we know it's safe for her to return home.
Except the brick in the pit of my stomach tells me there won't be any going home. Not for Layne. Not for me. If the government is tied into Project Alpha, they won't rest until we're all dead.
Fuck.
I give a single nod. "Yeah, thanks. We'll meet you there."
Laurie bobs his head and climbs into the Camaro and Declan screeches off before the door is even shut.
Layne walks swiftly to the van. I can't tell if she's pissed or scared. Probably a bit of both.
I get in and start the van up. "I'm really sorry I left you unprotected in there," I say.
She shakes her head. She's staring straight out the windshield like she's shell-shocked.
I put the van in gear. We pass a literal cat fight on the way out-two leopards knocking over motorcycles as they tear each other with their claws and teeth.
"That was probably more violence than you're used to seeing."
"Yeah," she whispers.
I reach over and grab her hand and I'm shocked to find how much it's shaking. "Layne."
"Sam, I need to get my meds," she blurts.
Cold blasts through me, wedges tight up between my ribs. She's not looking for birth control meds. It's something serious. Unable to breathe or speak, I settle for stepping on the gas, peeling out the way Declan had and racing for the main road.
It's ten, twenty seconds before I can force back the metallic drumming in my ears. "Tell me," I grate.
"It's a degenerative nerve disease. Barrington's. The one mom died of."
I'm unable to breathe. My female. Dying. This can't be fucking happening.
"Sam!" Layne screams when the van starts to run off the road.
I correct the course, my mind racing. "That's why you're so obsessed with the research. You're looking for a cure."
Layne's eyes rest on her hands. "No. It's too late for me. But I might be able to help other people."
"No." I slam my fist down on the dash, cracking the plastic.
Only Layne's frightened gaze makes me pull back the rage storming inside me.
"There has to be a cure," I grit out.
"Sam." Her voice is pleading, and I hear the tears behind it. "I've made my peace with this. Don't make it worse."
A storm of emotions run through me, one after the other. I want to cry for her. Smash things. Barrels and barrels of regret unload on me. Pour over my head, down my throat. I wish I'd known sooner.
But what different would it have made?
I pull up in front of Laurie's but don't open the door. "Layne." My voice sounds cracked and raw, as if I've been shouting for hours. "I'm not judging your choices, but it fucking burns me up that you've spent your life locked up in research when you could've been... living."
Fates, I feel like I'm dying. Right here, right now. Bleeding out behind the wheel because Layne, my unclaimed mate, will have her life cut short. I must've harbored some shred of hope I'd survive my revenge mission and have something to offer to her.
"Fuck you," Layne spits and throws herself out of the van. Her words shock me out of my pity party.
I launch out of the van after her. I catch her on the sidewalk, looping an arm around her waist and hauling her back against my body. "Layne, wait. I'm so sorry. That came out all wrong." I bury my face in her silky black hair and breathe in her scent. I can't think of anything else to say, not that I've ever been good with words. I just hold her soft body against mine, synchronizing my breath with hers.
"I'll get your meds," I promise. "I'll go right now, if you want. But I go alone. I don't want to risk your safety."