Marius (19 page)

She felt her head start to spin. It had been the one thing she didn’t want anyone to get.

“How did he know about it?” she asked. Her breath came out short.

Zeno stared at her for a moment before answering. “Marius.”

It was just like they had all said. He was not on her side. She had no one.

After the harsh news, his tone softened. “You can use your office to change.”

They reached the door, and she came to an abrupt stop.

“I don’t have anything to change into.” Rachel stared at the knob.

“Here,” Paige said. “I picked up a few things.”

“How did I get by without you?”

Paige gave her a dazzling smile. “I don’t think you really were.”

Rachel snorted and went into her office. In the end, she did have a few people on her side. As quickly as she could, she stripped out of her clothes and put on the new ones. It was nice to have something a bit more comfortable that actually fit.

Something hard hit her leg, and she dug in the pocket. Her hand closed around a cell phone, and she pulled it out. A message lit the screen when she hit the button.

Already programed and ready to go.

This is bullshit, and I’m on your side.

She could have danced, she was so happy. There were so many things about the situation that weren’t going in her favor, but she just needed something to go right. Well, now she had it.

Rachel slipped the phone back into her pocket and went to the desk. As quietly as she could, Rachel pulled out the back of one drawer. Two vials sat cushioned in a box. If she used an enhancement vial now, it was a risk. First of all, she didn’t know if she truly could be considered a Vestal, despite the thoughts of the hybrids. They weren't exactly experts in biology.

Second, there was no telling how long the effects would last. Hannah seemed to experience the effects for days. Rachel could only hope for the same. She had a feeling she was going need all the help she could gather to get to where she wanted.

She carefully shut the drawer and uncorked the vial. In one gulp, she swallowed the whole thing. It wouldn’t be near as good orally as intravenously, but it would just have to work.

She tossed the bottle in the trash and made her way out.

“I’m ready to see my patients,” she said with a smile.

* * *

Marius spent most of the morning pacing his office like a caged animal. He’d tried getting into the clinic all morning with no success. Titus had been serious about keeping her in custody, and Marius was more than serious about making sure she was released. The longer she stayed in, the angrier he grew. Never in his life had he felt this kind of rage before. It boiled out of his chest and made his head pound, which only seemed to fuel his need to help her.

If he couldn’t save her by breaking down the doors, then he was going to do it the one way he could, with a computer. For hours he’d searched through feeds to find out just what had happened to the van with the syringe on the way to the lab. If this was the damning evidence, then he wanted to make sure that they saw every aspect.

The only problem? The heavy fog. Whoever had done this wasn’t some idiot from the woods. They knew exactly what they were doing.

He froze the screen when a figure came into view. The more he focused, the less sense it made.

“What the hell?” Marius said and stared hard at the screen. A huge man, large as a hybrid, with brown skin stared back at him. His movements even reminded Marius of a hybrid.

He shook his head. None of this added up. Marius printed the screen, and the pictures from the flight. Maybe with this they would let her out. He had to find Titus and try.

* * *

“Four more men?” Rachel stared at the beds and the new occupants. “How can there be four more?”

Paige sighed. “They sent the men out sometime this morning, and this is how they came back,” she said. “Luckily, the epinephrine worked quickly, but they can’t act like it’s a cure all.”

Rachel stared at the four new faces, and her cheeks burned. This wasn’t going to end, and the only chance they had to fix this had been destroyed. There was only one choice. She had to get out of here as fast as she could, and she had to do it without getting poisoned as well.

“Keep up the good work, and if there are any changes, come get me,” she said.

Rachel nodded to Zeno to indicate she was ready to go back.

They reached the door, and her palms started to sweat as Servius eyed her suspiciously.

“Did you check her?” he asked.

Zeno frowned, and her heart skipped a beat. She was hoping that they might not even think of it.

She swallowed when his hands patted along her arms, stomach and legs. When he touched the phone, he glanced up briefly. Their eyes connected and for one moment, she thought it was all over. Relief washed over her as he moved on. He felt it. She knew he did, but he was letting it go. Maybe Zeno was cutting her a break. She wasn't quite sure why, but she was willing to take it. Perhaps Marius wasn't the only one who realized she had been only trying to help the Luna Lodge hybrids, not hurt them.

“She’s clean,” he said and turned away from her.

Rachel could tell that it hurt him to lie, but she had to get out of there. The faster she escaped, the sooner she would be able to find Reverend John and his people. It was the only way she could make sure she could figure out just what was hurting everyone before someone ended up dead.

She stepped in quickly before he changed his mind. Zeno gave her one last look before shutting the doors. As soon as they were in, she pulled out the phone and turned to Rem. She placed a finger to her mouth and showed him the message.

Rachel opened up the web and punched in her email. This was going to have to be swift in case they were still tracing her account. Rachel sent a message to Reverend John asking to meet. Her hands shook as she sent it, and she knew it wasn’t the best plan, but there really wasn’t anything better.

She glanced up to Rem, who shrugged. Part of her wanted to laugh that she was getting her moral compass from a guy who hit on anything that moved.

Within a minute, she had gotten a message back. She copied the address and deleted the email. There was no way she would let them stop her.

Rem nodded in the direction of Justus and motioned for her to stand near the door. She did as he suggested and watched.

Rem walked over to the other man's cot and flipped it upside down, knocking him to the floor.

“What the fuck was that for?” Justus said, shooting to his feet in front of Rem. The man was a wall of solid muscle, and Rachel wondered if Rem had made a mistake picking a fight with him.

“I’m sick and tired of being in a room with someone who pretends like they don’t even exist,” Rem said and stepped up to the other man. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized how evenly matched it might be. Rem spent so much time being a playboy, but when it came down to it, he was just as dangerous.

“I’d back up if I were you,” Justus said, his dark skin only highlighting the brightness of his eyes.

She watched as Rem’s own eyes lit up with a brilliant green.

The door burst open, and she watched as Zeno and Servius stopped just inside the door.

“What the fuck is going on?” Servius scowled at them.

Justus snorted. “I’m on my cot, and this bastard—”

His words were cut off as Rem punched him in the face. Rachel winced at the sound it made. From there it was a blur of men. Justus trying to get at Rem, and the two guards trying to separate them.

Silently, Rachel took the moment to slip out the door and into the hall. She glanced around and breathed a sigh at the empty way. As quietly as she could, she went into her lab across the hall. Irritation pushed through her as she thought about all the asshats that had been in here, but just as quickly, she pushed those thoughts out of her head. Right now she needed something that would knock out a horse. Or a very angry hybrid, which was pretty darn close.

Rachel rummaged through the cabinets and came up with ketamine. She snorted to herself. Not only would they be knocked out, but they would be slightly happier. She was going to need it after what she was about to do. Rachel prepared several doses and placed the needles into her pocket, capped.

The volume of the fight grew, and she hurried back out of the room.

Once she was back into the hall, she slipped into the room unseen. Her heart pounded as she walked up behind Servius. The poke went quick. He turned to say something but didn’t get it out before then. Zeno rushed to his side.

“What happened? Is he okay?” Zeno leaned over Servius, giving her the perfect opportunity.

Rachel poked him in the arm. When he turned to look, she felt a piece of her burning in shame. He’d given his trust to her, and she’d betrayed him.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s for the best. I promise I’ll fix it all. I'm going to save everyone.”

He closed his eyes, but she didn’t think he would ever forgive her.

“You fucking hit me for this?” Justus said to Rem. “Asshole.”

Rem shrugged and winked at her when Justus stomped across the room and slammed his cot back into the right position.

“Fucker,” he mumbled.

Rem ignored the baby fit and nodded to the door. “Lock us in and get out of here. You aren’t going to get much time before someone will come check,” he said.

She nodded. He was right. They had been changing the guards more regularly, and it wouldn’t be long before the new ones came along.

“Thank you,” she said.

Rem shrugged. “Someone’s got to figure this shit out,” he said. “You seem to be the only one with any sense.”

He reached down and yanked out a pair of keys. “At least you’ll have a car to do it in.”

Rachel grinned and took the keys. It wasn’t until she was out the door and it was closed behind her that the truth sank in. It was going to be hard to get out of there and not be seen. She quickly made her way outside to the cars. Luckily, there were only two in the lot, so her chances were good. She stuck her key in a Jeep and sighed when it opened.

Not wasting any time, Rachel made her way to the nearest exit she knew. It was the least guarded, and she expected the least trouble. One of Carter's men came to her side of the car. She rolled down the window and tried to hide her face as much as she could. Under her sleeve she placed one of the precious tranquilizers.

“What’s your purpose?” the man asked.

The first step was done. At least he hadn’t recognized her. “I’m one of the new nurses. Nurse Paige sent me on an errand.”

The man sighed like it wasn’t the first time they had put up with some inconsistencies.

“What are you getting?” he asked.

She could tell he was just going through the motions at this point.

“Clyster fluid,” she said.

The man turned and made a call on his phone. She waited. Only the nurse would know. He turned back to her and gave a nod.

“Clear,” he said.

The gate opened, and she drove through with no issue.

Once on the other side, she grinned. Rachel wondered how long it would take for them to figure out that clyster fluid was enema fluid and just how mad they would be when they found out. She let out a loud laugh as she sped up.

Chapter Sixteen

“I don’t see how this changes anything,” Apollo said as he made his way across the complex with Marius and Titus.

Marius clenched his fists to keep from knocking the bastard again.

“You know this does,” Titus said. “Lucius dealt with him. The man in the video helped Hannah. It could be that he’s doing the same for us.”

Apollo shook his head. “We know he was last with the Horatius Group. He’s bad in my book regardless.”

“So were we at one point,” Marius said.

Apollo fell silent, but it didn’t really mean much. They walked into the clinic and down the hall to Lucius's room. Without waiting he pulled out the picture and showed Hannah.

“Is this the man that saved you?” he asked.

Hannah stared at the picture and smiled. “Magnus,” she said.

He nodded and placed the picture back in the file.

Titus turned to Apollo. “I want Rachel released.”

Apollo frowned. “It’s a bad idea.”

Titus stepped forward until he was nearly nose and nose. “I’m sorry, did I fucking ask for an opinion? Now let her the fuck out. I need to know why he’s involved and what we can do to help.”

Apollo nodded. They turned and followed him out of the room. When they reached the hall, Titus turned without so much as a glance. “I have some other things to handle. All of you come and meet with me after she’s out in about fifteen minutes.”

They made their way down to the other end of the hall, and it became apparent that something was off. After a few seconds, Marius realized he couldn't see any guards, and silence choked the area. Apollo pulled out his gun.

When they reached the door, each took position on either side. Marius held up his hand. On the silent count of three, they kicked it in.

Marius blinked at the sight of the guards resting peacefully inside with Rem watching them, an amused expression on his face. Justus lounged in the corner, glowering at everyone else in the room, his face slightly swollen.