Page 51 of Kidnapped By the Beast (Beasts of the Kindred #11)

LEXI

On Friday, Lexi stayed late at school, determined to finish her lesson plans for next week before she went home.

The hum of the overhead lights was loud in the empty classroom, the stale smell of dry-erase markers clinging to the air.

She rubbed her temples, forcing herself to focus on the columns of objectives and assignments glowing on her laptop screen.

If she finished them now, she wouldn’t have to think about them later.

She didn’t want lessons planning hanging over her head when she was strapped to the milking machine in the lab on the Mother Ship, tubes tugging at her nipples while Dr. Brandt avoided looking at her like she was nothing more than equipment.

Better to get this done now. Better not to try to do it after the milking.

Because she was pretty sure she was going to be emotionally shattered after her time with the big Kindred—in no shape to make any kind of plans for her students.

She was tempted to skip the milking session entirely to spare herself the pain but two things stopped her.

One—even though she and Brandt couldn’t be together because of his vow, his research was still important.

If he really could cure breast cancer, it would save thousands of lives.

Lexi wasn’t going to stand in the way of that, no matter how hurt she was.

And two, her breasts were getting really full and achy. She’d been leaking golden droplets of nectar for the past few days, wetting the fabric of her bra. Her nipples were tight and her breasts felt swollen. As much as she hated to admit it—she needed to be milked.

So she had reluctantly decided not to skip the milking. She would just have to manage the best she could. There was supposed to be a Kindred shuttle coming for her around six o’clock and she fully intended to be on it.

By the time Lexi packed up her plans and laptop and left the school, her car was the last one in the cracked lot.

Dusk pressed against the windows of her old Honda, the yellow pools of light from streetlights flitting by as she drove.

She gripped the wheel the whole drive home, trying not to think about Brandt, about the ache in her chest whenever she dreamed of him and how hard it was going to be to see him again tonight.

When she finally walked in the front door, Lexi intended to change into something comfortable and get ready to go when the shuttle came. But Aunt Helen was waiting for her.

Looking at her aunt, Lexi knew something was wrong at once. Her hands were twisted in the dish towel and her lined face was pale with worry.

“Lexi—thank God you’re home. I’m worried sick!” she exclaimed. Herbert said he was going out for some milk two hours ago and he still isn’t back. I’ve called and called, but he’s not answering his phone. Where can he be?”

Lexi’s heart dropped into her stomach. She knew exactly where Uncle Herbert had gone…and she had a pretty good idea of what had happened to him.

The twenty thousand dollars she’d given him to pay his debt should have been enough, but men like Butcher were never satisfied.

“I’ll find him,” she said quickly, kissing Aunt Helen’s cheek. “I think I know where he is.”

“Where? Can I come with you?” Aunt Helen started to grab her sweater but Lexi shook her head.

“No, I’ll only be a minute. You stay here in case I’m wrong and he comes back.”

That placated her aunt long and she agreed to stay, much to Lexi’s relief.

She didn’t need two elderly relatives to look after while she confronted Butcher.

Though she wasn’t really going to confront the loan shark, she told herself.

She was just going to see if she could extricate Uncle Herbert and bring him home.

She just hoped Butcher hadn’t hurt him.