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“There are names in all three of these groups belonging to shifters Bowman made me torture. Any of them would have motivation.”
“But not opportunity.” Jax frowned.
Nick handed him a highlighter. “Mark the names in question. We’ll see what turns up.”
“I never knew all their names and can’t remember many of them,” Micah clarified. “But Bowman liked to tell me because it made them more real in my eyes. Made it even worse, what I was about to do to them. He wanted to desensitize me to my human side and theirs, over time.”
“Sick fucker,” Jax spat. “Wish I could kill him all over again.”
Bowman had gotten what he deserved when Jax ripped him apart—or so the team had said after that particular mission, in which they’d rescued Nix from the last-known lab. Micah had wanted so badly to accompany his Pack brothers, but hadn’t been well enough back then.
Micah highlighted the names he could remember, and he was ashamed at how many there were. Not that the number made a difference—one or twenty, his role was equally terrible. Once he was finished, Nick and Jax scanned the names.
Nick tapped the sheet listing the rescues recovering in Sanctuary. “There are four shifters in particular that I know came in here in really bad shape. Much more so than the others. I think we should interview them first.”
Micah thought about that and winced. “You’re right. But is it a good idea for me to be there? They suffered at my hands, and my face is going to be the last one they want to see.”
“Which is exactly why we need for them to see you,” Nick said grimly. “I’ll check with Mac and Melina, of course, but I believe that seeing you whole and healthy, being productive, will be good for them. Give them hope.”
“I feel like I should apologize for my part in their suffering.”
“Then do that if it helps you. It might help them, too. And if there’s someone among them who knows anything about these attacks, or is connected in some way, their reaction to you might be telling. Either way, I’d appreciate your take on each one.”
“Someone’s connected,” Jax put in. “Whoever wrote the note and left it with Mr. Cade’s body knew your lab-subject number. Only a prisoner or one of Bowman’s cronies could’ve known that.”
Nick gathered the lists. “All right. Sit tight while I go get the okay from the doctors to question these patients.”
That might take a few minutes. The docs were fiercely protective of their charges, as they were all aware. After Nick walked out of the conference room, Micah studied the polished surface of the big table. The silence was suddenly a living, breathing entity, weighing down air in the room. He struggled for the perfect words, but there weren’t any.
So he settled for the ones that were eating at his soul. “I’m sorry for how I reacted to hearing about you and Jacee,” he said quietly, meeting his friend’s gaze. He found no censure there, only understanding. “I was out of control. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“There was nothing to forgive. You were already on edge from all the shit your body was going through.”
“But I—”
“Forget it, Micah. I mean that. You’re my brother, and nothing is going to change that.” Jax smiled to show he really did mean his words.
Relief flooded him, and the breath whooshed from his lungs. “You don’t know how I’ve been beating myself up about that day.”
“I have some idea. It’s past history, okay? I think maybe our mates might even become friends one day.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Jax said. “They seemed to get along fine when you were recovering. Translation: they didn’t rip each other’s faces off.”
They both laughed, the tension broken, and Micah clapped his friend’s shoulder. “They might not do lunch and shopping anytime soon, but they’ll make it.”
“True that.”
Jax’s phone buzzed and he checked a text. “Nick says come on over to Sanctuary. Mac and Melina said we can interview the patients on the list as long as they’re not sleeping. If we upset anyone, we have to leave.”
Micah rolled his eyes. “And what are the odds of us not upsetting anyone with our presence at any given moment?”
“About the same as our chances of winning the lottery.”
Together they strolled over to the new building, where Nick was waiting on the fifth floor. Dr. Melina Mallory was standing next to him, her expression as composed and serious as ever. She wasn’t the same woman Micah remembered from before the ambush that had killed her mate, Terry, decimated the Alpha Pack, and landed Micah and Nix in captivity.
She’d let her dark hair grow out some, though, and it almost reached her collar now. The tresses feathered around her face, softening her sharp elfin features. Her eyes were a bit warmer these days as well, her overall appearance the more approachable friend he remembered.
