Page 18 of Tracking the Alpha (Project Therianthrope #1)

She headed for her room to grab the packed bag, which sat on her uncomfortable cot. As she headed for the barracks exit with it in hand, she almost stumbled as a soldier entered.

Wait, that wasn’t?—

“Barrett?” she blurted out without thinking as she recognized him.

His lips quirked. “Hey, sweetheart.”

“What are you doing here?” she exclaimed.

“Taking you up on your invitation. Nice sling-shotting by the way.”

He had been watching! And been busy. She eyed his uniform. “Guess, I didn’t need to go through the trouble of cobbling you together an outfit,” she grumbled.

“You don’t sound happy to see me.”

“Why did you leave last night?” she asked, crossing her arms.

“Can we go somewhere we’re less likely to be overheard and seen?” he asked with an arched brow.

“Are the soldiers coming back already from their meeting?”

“No idea, but I’m feeling a little exposed.”

“My room’s right there”—she pointed to the flimsy door—“but it’s not exactly soundproof."

"Planning to be noisy?" said with a smile that had her clenching in a most inappropriate spot given the situation.

How dare he flirt when he’d yet to explain his abandonment? “If you’re caught here…”

“I’m fucked. I’m aware.”

Her lips pursed. “There aren’t many places we can go. The main building entrance requires facial recognition and permission to enter. And the windows are barred. Pretty sure a soldier would notice if we tried to remove them.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” His gaze went up and down the hall with the many closed doors. “Not all of these rooms are in use.”

“How can you tell?”

He tapped his nose.

“Of course.” How could she have forgotten? “I’ve been keeping count since I got here, and including some of the white coats, as well as the general and major, I’m up to twelve people.”

“How many doctors in that number?”

“Three.”

“So nine soldiers,” he murmured.

“Seven, actually. Two left this afternoon and haven’t returned. Apparently, the major was raising hell about it. Thinks they might have gone AWOL.”

“They did, but not by choice.”

A cryptic statement until she clued in. “You killed them for the uniform.”

“No, they’re alive, which means I only have limited time to act.” His head tilted. “Someone’s coming.”

Without thinking, she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him into her room. A space that had been claustrophobic before now seemed even smaller with the massive man standing within, close enough she felt the heat radiating from his body.

They were quiet as they heard the clomp of boots and murmur of voices.

“What a stupid meeting,” a male said loud enough to be heard. “As if we don’t know to be careful.”

“I was hoping we were going to be sent back to Petawawa,” complained a woman. “This posting sucks. Can’t call home. Can’t go into town to blow off steam.”

“If you need to blow something, Sheryl, I can help,” teased the third of the group.

“I’m into dick, not oversized clits, Ralph,” her quick riposte.

“Ouch!” exclaimed Ralph. “I know you’re frustrated, but that was just plain mean.”

“I’m tired of being treated like a prisoner,” Sheryl grumbled.

“Could be worse. We could be the ones locked up in the basement,” a somber remark by the first guy.

“Rumor has it they’re military,” whispered Ralph.

“According to who?” scoffed Sheryl.

“Tiffany, one of the lab assistants. She let it slip when we were canoodling.”

“Canoodling?” hooted Sheryl. “Who the fuck says that?”

“You should be careful,” serious guy said. “The major and general were very clear about us staying away from the civilians working the basement.”

“Gonna rat me out?” huffed Ralph.

“No. Just a friendly warning. Last two guys who got on the major’s bad side got sent into the woods and never returned.”

“Kind of like Joe and Kane this morning,” a subdued Sheryl murmured.

“Think the wolf got them?”

“They were in a van,” scoffed Ralph. “More likely they said fuck this shit and took off.”

“General will go batshit if they’re AWOL,” Sheryl opined.

“Is that any different from his usual mood?” snorted Ralph.

“You ladies going to stand around gabbing all night, or are we playing cards?” Sheryl mocked.

“I’ve got nothing left. You cleaned me out last night,” Ralph whined.

“Maybe you’ll win it back.”

Their voices got less distinct as they went up a level and turned on a radio.

The tension in Tanis eased, but she didn’t speak until Barrett said, “We’re good now. I doubt they can hear us if we keep our voices low.”

“Doesn’t sound as if they really know what’s going on, other than the fact people are being held in the basement,” she murmured.

“The underground labs and prison cells,” he corrected. “And I doubt it would matter if they found out.”

“Because the general or the major would have them killed by sending them out in the woods to find you.”

Barrett grimaced. “Never even thought they might be using me as their executioner.”

“How long before those soldiers come back?” she asked, referring to the mention of Joe and Kane who’d left in a van.

“I stashed them far enough away they’ll be a day or more before they find a way back.”

“I take it you have a plan.”

“Not really.”

She blinked at him. “Then why come inside?”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted?”

Her mouth open and shut. “Eventually. I wasn’t even sure it would work. I was going to drop some clothes in the woods for you.”

“No need, but appreciated.”

“You do realize it’s probably too late for you to slip back out.”

“Why would I do that when I need to be inside to dismantle the operation?”

“And how do we do that?”

“I’m not sure. Guess we’ll have to think of something.”

“We?” she repeated. “Last time I thought we were a team, you abandoned me.”

The tummy-tingling smiling returned as he murmured, “I got cold paws, but you’re stuck with me now.”

Before she could reply, he dragged her close and murmured, “Shh.” Then as if he worried she might still speak, his mouth suddenly came down over hers, igniting a fire within and leaving her weak-kneed as he kissed her thoroughly.

Wrong time. Wrong place.

Didn’t stop her from kissing him back.