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Chapter Fourteen

M alik tried to run after Brooke, only to find his friend ripping him back. “ No !”

“Asshole,” snapped Auberi from the right, drawing Malik’s attention before grabbing him. “We have men shooting at us from above and more coming from the front and you want to chase a stripper? Granted, she’s a powerful stripper, but a stripper all the same. Admit it. The stripper kicked ass .”

“Never call her that again,” he returned before thinking too hard on it. He inhaled deeply as the words fell from his mouth .

He could barely think straight. Brooke was not only alive but she was a supernatural? That couldn’t be. Could it? His irrational behavior all those years ago had been caused by the medication PSI had been testing, hadn’t it ?

He’d never had another dose of the meds, yet he still reacted the same way to the woman. And it was more than obvious that she wasn’t human after all. That could only mean one thing .

She really was his mate, and he’d not only chased her away all those years ago, he’d done so again the minute they were together again. And now The Corporation was after her .

Auberi pointed to the end of the alley, which was filling with more bad guys. “Oh look, the evening just got more interesting. Happy birthday, non-birthday, Tut .”

Malik’s lion pushed up fast, wanting to be free. It took all of him to stay in control enough to think. He charged at the men and felt Auberi there, close at his heels .

Two men in partially shifted form rushed at him. He could smell the mix of supernatural on them. They were functioning hybrids, unlike the ones who smelled like death and were basically rotting from the inside out. Apparently, the enemy was getting better at perfecting their creations .

Malik collided with the men, roaring, the fierce need to get to Brooke all-consuming. The men lifted him off the ground, a true testament to their strength. He flipped, rotating his arms, breaking their hold on him. The second his feet touched the ground, he struck out at the man nearest him, connecting. The man’s head snapped back but he kept coming. So did the other .

Auberi’s curses in French reached Malik, and he knew his friend was figuring out they were up against super powered supernaturals. The knowledge that something as lethal as the hybrids were after his woman did something to Malik, giving him the added boost he needed to strike with a vengeance. Claws emerged from his fingertips and he slashed out, catching one of the men by the throat. Malik pushed hard, cutting through the man’s neck fully. He then set his sights on the other male. He made short work of the man and raced down the alley to the street .

He was just in time to see a dark van speeding away, its tires squealing, the scent of honey and lotus coming from it. They had Brooke. They had his woman .

Auberi rushed up next to him. “We really need to see about the vitamin regimen Dr. Franken-Krauss has those assholes on. I want some. Do you think it would be like the little blue pill? Best invention ever .”

Malik’s mouth burned with the need to change at the thought of Brooke with the men. He took off running after the van as if he had a chance of catching up with them. He was fast, but even he couldn’t run at the speed they were going. The knowledge that he’d never catch them on foot did nothing to deter him. He had to get to her. He had to protect her .

As the red taillights drew farther away, a profound sense of loss hit Malik. If they got away, the chances of him ever finding Brooke again were nearly zero. That simply was not an option .

“No!” he roared .

Auberi caught him by the shoulders and spun Malik to face him fully. “Tut! Focus. Take a deep breath .”

He did but it didn’t help. “Auberi, I have to find Brooke .”

Auberi stiffened. “As in the same Brooke you mentioned spending time with several years back? The one you lost control of your beast with and bit, trying to claim? The human ?”

Malik nodded, still trying to home in on his senses to figure out what direction the enemy had taken Brooke. “It was her. The girl from the club. They have her .”

“It’s clear she’s anything but human.” Auberi sighed. “We’ll call for backup and request satellite footage of the area. We will find out where they went with her .”

Malik knew that wasn’t likely. The Corporation had moles and traitors working for them within PSI. They also had their own technology that was leaps and bounds above that of humans .

Knowing it was hopeless, Malik fell to his knees, his entire body aching. He wanted to scream, to shout, to kill, anything to get the hurt out of his system. He knew it wouldn’t help, but still it was what he wanted to do. He lowered his head, emotions welling in him. He wasn’t the type of man who cried. His mother had been fierce, as had his father. Crying was something that simply was not tolerated .

Auberi pulled out his cell phone and put a hand to Malik’s shoulder. “James, by chance is your mate still a hacking genius? Can she reposition a satellite for us and grab any imagery it has? The Corporation has struck again and they’ve taken a young woman .”

Auberi gave their coordinates and stayed on the line with James. The man had only just been freed from nearly a year of being a prisoner in one of The Corporation’s facilities. James knew better than anyone what horrors the place could and would inflict on those it took .

Malik fought to keep from shedding tears that desperately wanted to come. He’d been so close to her again. He’d touched her, caressed her, inhaled her glorious scent, had her lips on his skin, all to have her ripped away at the last second. Fate couldn’t be that cruel, could it ?

Unable to contain his emotions any longer, Malik growled loudly and punched the concrete as if that would solve anything. All it did was hurt his hand .

“Yes, that is just three blocks from here if memory serves,” said Auberi, surprise in his voice .

Malik perked. “What? Laney got the satellite repositioned already?” Even for Laney, an expert hacktivist, that was impressive. “Where are they taking Brooke ?”

Auberi had the nerve to shush him. “If they had her, they would not be tearing up the area looking for her. Call me back if anything changes. We’re headed in that direction. Send backup. Only the most trusted. And equip them with tranquilizers. I believe my furry friend here may have a repeat plaza performance if this ends poorly .”

Malik didn’t even bother to object. It was true. He would lose control if he didn’t find her or if she was hurt. There would be no way he could keep it together .

Auberi yanked him off the ground and then brushed Malik’s open shirt, trying to smooth out the wrinkles. It was such an Auberi thing to do that it actually helped Malik to gather his wits about him. His friend disconnected the call .

“James and Laney are patched into the police frequencies. Reports of armed men in black SUVs are coming in three blocks from here. They wouldn’t stop for takeout if they had what they wanted—your woman .”

Auberi cupped Malik’s cheek in a manly way. “I believe she lives, and she has managed to escape them, at least for now .”