Page 6 of Flawed Revenge

Never before had his girl cowered before him.

Kate had always been confident in herself. She’d known who she was from a young age and never allowed herself to be persuaded by the crowd to be anyone else. Back a decade ago, he’d believed that his girl would quickly move on, find someone worthy of her, someone she would be safe around, someone she could build a life with. At the time, he hadn't realized how bad things would get, that Dr. Gardner was insane, that he was going to be kept in a cage for three years, or that the enhancements would work, just not in the way they’d originally thought.

Gaze darting from him, to Steel, who was still holding her arm, to the others who were yet to remove their masks, Kate trembled, but she met his gaze squarely when she answered.

“I was looking for you, trying to find you any way I could. Then, out of the blue, I got a call from a man named Eagle who told me you were here. He gave me this address, and I drove straight here.”

Eagle had told her where to find him?

Why the hell would his boss give out this address to a random woman from his past, when not even the rest of Prey’s employees, who had actually been there, knew the address? Hell, not even the five other Oswald siblings had this address.

“Eagle Oswald gave you this address?” he repeated, clearly incredulous if the confused half nod Kate gave was anything to go by.

Could he believe that?

If he didn't, what was the alternative?

As far as they were aware, Dr. Gardner had never known his location. If he had, he would have turned up there. Therefore, there should be no reason that the scientist’s mother should have the address. Even if she did, there was no reason to believe that Kate would be involved with the woman. Plus, they were still uncertain what role River Gardner had played in the drug program anyway.

“Call him,” Steel ordered. “Call Eagle and find out if she’s lying.”

“I'm not lying,” Kate objected, a slight hint of indignation in her tone. Of course, there was. His girl was honest to a fault, something that used to drive his little sister crazy when they were all kids, because Kate could never lie if the girls were caught breaking the rules.

“Then you have nothing to worry about,” Steel said, making it clear that if she was then the opposite was true.

Something Kate obviously picked up on because she shrank in on herself.

Pulling out his cell phone, Lion couldn’t take his eyes off his Kate as he dialed their boss’ number. If Eagle didn't confirm her story, he didn't know how he was going to face what was coming next for Kate. She’d found her way there, looking for him. If it wasn't because of Eagle, they were going to have to get the information out of her any way they could.

Including torture.

The thought of his girl going through that …

Lion gulped as he waited for the call to be picked up. As much as he couldn’t stomach his girl being hurt, even if she was a threat to him and his family, he had to put the people he loved first. Ahead of everything. Even Kate.

Please don’t be lying, Katie-Bear. I don’t want to have to hurt you all over again.

March 13th

1:40 P.M.

Kate didn't know what these men would do to her if Eagle didn't confirm her story.

What Leo was going to do to her.

Of course, she wasn't lying, and Eagle would confirm that, but knowing that the Leo she remembered was now involved with these men dressed all in black who might not be ghosts haunting a house, but were dangerous nonetheless, was terrifying.

Had she ever really known Leo at all?

Because standing there, looking at him so comfortably pointing a loaded weapon at an innocent woman, the coldness in those eyes she used to love so much, it felt like she never had. Like the boy she’d fallen in love with had turned into a man she never would have glanced twice at.

While he listened to the man on the other end of the phone, Eagle, she assumed, Leo’s gaze never left hers. The intensity of the stare was too much, and she shivered under it. It felt like a weight, pressing down upon her, and it was only because she was there for a reason that she didn't completely crumble.

The stakes were too high to break.

“You're okay,” the man beside her rumbled, and her head snapped up to meet his gaze, breaking the connection Leo seemed to be forcing her into.

Something had changed, but she didn't know these people well enough to know what exactly.