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Even then, they’d send a slave. That’s probably why they locked the outside door. Someone thinks they’re playing a joke on a diminutive race!
Kozien stretched as he paced across the room. He’d been shoved inside that duct, coiled up and doubled over for so long it felt like his muscles were locked up all over. He allowed himself the luxury of a few stretches, breathing much easier now that he was free.
Carefully, he picked up the grate and slid it back into its place. It wasn’t stable at all, but at a casual glance it would appear nothing was wrong.
Kozien’s heart beat faster as he thought about seeing Gianna. He’d been so afraid he would never see her again, and now he was so close. He believed she really was here, and he hadn’t just been following her wrist-comm.
That would be a fine way for the Jorvlens to trap me.
He had no time to ponder the disturbing thought. The great weight of what he was doing threatened to crush him for a few moments as he contemplated what true war would look like.
And all of it will look like a three-year-old human having a tantrum if I lose my mate!
Kozien knew it was true. He’d tear apart both nations to protect her. Nothing else mattered.
He crept to the main door and peeked out the hallway. It was deserted. Kozien wrapped his hood around himself—not that it would do much as a disguise now—and slipped out into the hallway.
She was here. He was sure he could detect her scent now. Nothing would stop him now that he was this close.
Chapter 14
Giannawhirledandtwisted,shimmying to the music and letting her panic energize itself into mad motion. She couldn’t believe it, but it actually looked as if Oxxaro was going to pass out. Even as she danced, she praised stupid men and their continued capacity to underestimate women of any species. More than likely, Oxxaro didn’t think she could escape, even if he did pass out.
She waited for his chin to fall on his chest, and she began to slow down, finally catching her breath. Gianna stood and stared at him for a few seconds, waiting for him to move. When a low snore rumbled from his nose, she grinned in triumph. He was out and she was free.
Without a second thought she grabbed his keycard from the bedside table and hurried to the door. She paused and took a deep breath before opening the panel.
With relief, she saw no bodyguards had been posted. Again, she thanked male stupidity in all its forms. She was so happy to be free, she had to catch a giggle that burst from her mouth as she ran down the hall.
The problem was, she now had no idea where to go. She didn’t even know what kind of building this was—security, hotel, office complex? What was she going to say if she ran into a random person?
Ah, yes, well. Obviously, I seem to have slipped off my stripper pole and ended up in the wrong universe. If you could just direct me to the nearest wormhole, I’ll take my whore-self back to the club.
Gianna slapped a hand over her mouth to stop another giggle. Getting hysterical would not help.
As she came to the end of the hall, she found a wide flight of concrete stairs leading up. Gianna looked back down the hallway and then back up the stairs. The hallway was full of doors, but she wasn’t keen on opening them randomly to see where they led.
She could end up in another alien bedchamber or worse.
I could walk in on Gabe being tortured.
Gianna stopped at the bottom of the stairs. It was truly frightening how much of a possibility that was. She also knew that if Oxxaro had called off the hit, he would undoubtedly put it back on when he found her gone.
Gianna was torn. Part of her wanted to bolt up the stairs and never look back, but the other side of her wanted to tear every door down to see if Gabe was behind it. In the end, her fear won.
She was terrified of what could happen if Oxxaro woke up with her still so near. If he caught her now, he would take her for sure. Gianna set her jaw and turned her back on the hallway, running up the stairs two at a time.
The service door opened out into a wide, carpeted foyer. A desk sat at one end, but no lights were on except for the soft glow above the exit. The dark night outside gave her a feeling of comfort as she hurried out the front and ran across an unkempt car park and into a side alley.
Gianna was so happy to be free that she wrapped her arms around herself and laughed. Her legs felt wobbly, so she leaned on the wall and waited for her thudding heart to slow down. Soon she was trembling from the stress, but she didn’t care.
Now, to find Kozien. Then all we have to do is—
Gianna looked at her bare wrist in shock. She didn’t have her comm.
She looked down at herself and gasped aloud, cursing herself for a fool.
You stupid fuck, Gianna! What the hell!
