Page 33 of The Wolf

Vega

I hit the highway and floored it. The speedometer danced between seventy and eighty miles an hour until the road went straight. After that, I didn't bother looking down. I had to find Poppy. She wasn't safe out there on her own.

I racked my brain about where she could have gone.

Poppy had one thing she was dead set on: confronting her father.

She was either going home or to his office.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized she wasn't going home.

Her father was most likely at work. He was a man who lived for his work, not for his family.

I was lucky there wasn't a cop in sight.

I was able to make it to Aneska Pharmaceuticals in an hour.

The tires screeched as I whipped into the parking lot.

I didn't bother trying to park all neat and tidy after I spotted my jeep tucked in a spot against the side of the building.

I slammed on the brakes and threw my mother's car into park.

My heart was in my throat. Poppy was inside with the man who wanted her dead. He killed her mother. It wasn't a stretch to think that he had it in him to kill her himself with his own bare hands.

The doors slid open to the foyer. A woman sitting behind a desk straightened her back as her body stiffened. “Can I help you?” she asked. She looked startled, taken aback by my sudden appearance.

I ran my hands through my hair and tried to look calm.

I didn't want any trouble with these people.

The secretary and the security guard were just normal, everyday people doing a job.

They were probably unaware of what their boss was doing and what he was capable of.

People like her father know better than openly mixing their legal business with their black-market dealings.

“I need to speak with Mr. Aneska.”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked. The woman began to type on her keyboard as she stared at her computer. “I don't see anything on the calendar.”

“I don't, but this is important.”

“I'm sorry, Sir, but I can't do that. You need an appointment.”

“So, give me an appointment.”

“Mr. Aneska has next Friday available—”

“No,” I said. “This can't wait. I have to speak to him right now.”

The woman pushed her short black hair behind her ear as she glanced at the security guard. “Sir, unfortunately—”

“You don't understand,” I said sternly. “I need to see him right now.” I started to move towards the elevator. “This is important.”

“Sir, you can't.” The secretary jumped up from her seat. “Jeff, stop him!” she yelled.

“Excuse me, Sir! Stop right there!”

I slammed my thumb against the button, trying to open the elevator. I scanned the area, looking for the stairs. The security guard ran up behind me and gripped my shoulder. He yanked hard, causing me to spin around.

I held up my hands, palms out. “Look, I don't want to hurt you.”

“Vanessa, call the cops,” The security guard said as he looked me in the eyes. “Buddy, you need to go.”

“Don't call the cops, Vanessa,” I responded. “You don't need to do that. I'm just going to go talk to Gerard and then be on my way. There's no reason to bring the cops into it.”

“Time to go, Buddy,” the security guard said, digging his fingers into my shoulder as he attempted to guide me out.

I reacted. I wasn't leaving. There was no way in hell I was going anywhere without Poppy.

I took the security guard by surprise. He wasn't prepared at all for a man like me.

I grabbed his wrist, twisted his arm, and flipped him around.

Without a chance to fight back, I had the guard's own gun pressed to the back of his head.

“I don't want to hurt you,” I said. “Just do as I say.” I took the guard's handcuffs and cuffed him and the secretary together. I then locked them inside the utility closet. “Sit tight. I'll make this as quick as possible.”

They looked terrified but settled into the closet without too much resistance. I really didn't want to have to kill either of them, so I was glad the security guard didn't fight me at all and that the secretary didn't get a chance to call the cops. She froze instead, remaining completely silent.

I took the stairs instead of the elevator to the fourth floor. I wanted to avoid having the doors open, which would have made me vulnerable to whatever was on the other side. Stealth was the best way to approach this rescue mission.

My heart was racing, and adrenaline was fueling my body. I was terrified that something had happened to Poppy already. If Gerard hurt her, if he laid a single finger on her, I'd kill him where he stood without pause.

I might kill him anyway. The world would be a better place without that man poisoning it. After everything he had done to Poppy, after all the lives he destroyed over the years, after all the people he probably killed, I'd be doing everyone a favor.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I slowed down and walked more cautiously. The thick, blue metal door had a small glass window. I stayed off to the side, took a quick peek through the window, and saw another security guard sitting behind a small desk.

He had his head down, looking at his phone. There was a set of double doors with a key card slot for entry. The walls and floor were crisp white. Not a spot of dirt or dust could be seen. There was a scent in the air that reminded me of the hospital: bleach and latex.

I tightened my grip around the gun. The guard downstairs was weak and pliable. He didn't think his job was worth dying for, so he gave up easily. I wasn't sure how this guy would react.

I threw the door open and stormed into the hall with the gun aimed right at him. His eyes opened wide, and he sat still for a brief moment before his training kicked in, replacing his initial response of fear with action.

The second guard attempted to reach for his gun, but I was on him before his oily fingers could grab it. I aimed the gun at his face and said, “I'll have your brains splattered on the wall behind you before you get a chance to pop one off on me. Be smart about this. Hand it over.”

The man's eyes beaded with anger, and then his entire body folded with resolve. He sighed heavily with defeat. There was no point, and he knew it. He could never draw on me before I put a slug in his brain. I could guarantee he didn't love his job enough to risk his life. Most people don't.

“Slowly,” I demanded, aiming the gun at the tiny space between both eyes. The guard did as he was told and carefully took the gun out using two fingers around the butt. “Good man,” I said as I took it. I tucked it into my waist as I looked around. “Is Gerard back there?” I asked.

The guard looked over at the door and nodded. “Yeah, but I'm not letting you in there.”

“You don't have to let me in. I can let myself in.” I smugly grinned as I waved the gun towards the door. “Don't overvalue yourself.”

“You don't have a keycard. And that door is made to withstand a grenade.”

I looked down at the man and smiled. His brow lifted, and he pulled his face back as I breathed down his neck.

I leaned in, making the guard even more uncomfortable.

“Look what I found,” I said, plucking the card off his neck.

“I'll just let myself in.” I flicked the edge of the keycard against his nose. “Now, get in that closet over there.”

He did as he was told, walking to the closet and stepping inside. “This is crazy,” the security guard said.

“Sit,” I demanded. He followed my directive and sat on the floor. “Give me the handcuffs.”

“For what?” the guard asked as he touched them softly.

“Just do it.” I pointed the gun at him. The man hung his head as he unclipped the handcuffs and gave them to me.

I locked one tightly around his wrist and the other to a pipe in the closet.

“Like I told your co-workers downstairs, I don't want to hurt you or anyone else. I just need a few minutes with Gerard.”

I closed the door and left him sitting in the dark. I slid the card through the slot. The light turned green, and the metal lock slid back. I pulled the door open, anxious, nervous, and excited to find Poppy and get the hell out of there.

I was hit by an explosive white light. I had to blink a few times to adjust to the brightness. It was what I would expect if you died and went to heaven. A light so bright it was blinding but also heavy enough to actually take your breath away.

As my eyes adjusted, I saw the room come alive.

People were buzzing all over like bees around a hive.

They were dressed in the same shade of white as the walls and the floor.

No one looked up at me. They were all too occupied with their beakers and syringes.

I glanced to my right and saw precisely what I needed.

Perfect.

I grabbed the fire alarm and pulled. The lights began to flash, and the alarm was so loud it vibrated my chest. The lab workers all looked up and around, and like perfect little ants, they began filing out of the room.

I moved through the maze of lab tables, looking for Poppy. I didn't see her anywhere, but I knew she was close. I could feel her. I could smell her sweet scent and sense her heavy heartbeat. My senses were peaked like a wolf on the hunt. I didn't have to see her to know she was here.

A door in the back of the room had her father's name on it. I could hear loud voices and faint, muffled growls. I tested the doorknob, but it was locked. The voices inside were becoming louder and more distressed. Anger. That was the most prevalent tone coming from inside.

Poppy screamed as I heard a smack. I didn't hesitate; I kicked down the door with one hard thrust. The door flew inward. Pieces of the frame splintered and exploded in different directions. My pupils opened to the size of saucers as I took in what was happening.