about I get rid of the gear and we talk as friends?”
He nodded in reply. Slowly, Lexia stripped her gun, and knives, tossing them at her feet and taking a step away. “Happy?” she asked.
A small smile spread on his lips. “Sorry, can’t be too careful. We did just blow up half the forest.”
Lexia laughed. “Yeah, I heard and felt it. You’ve damaged the power supplied to the main compound. The place is in chaos.”
“Yeah, can’t really bring myself to feel bad about that.”
“The problem is you’ve pissed Lucy off big time. I know I told you to destroy it but I think you went a little overboard on the explosives.”
“Yeah, maybe, but I never claimed to be an expert.” He smirked.
“You need to leave, Grey.”
“Not happening.” His voice was firm.
“She’s put together a team to dispose of you and placed me in charge. I can’t trust any of the men. I can’t protect you and not blow my cover.”
“So this really is all a mask? Inside the enemy’s nest, waiting for the perfect time to strike.”
“It wasn’t always a mask, Grey. Please don’t mistake me for being a good person. I’ve made many mistakes and this is how I will atone for them.”
“We’re not leaving the forest, but we’ll retreat deeper into the hills. Keep a large distance between us and the compound.”
“This team will be well equipped, packing AKs, grenades, you name it. Lucy wants you dead and she’s willing to do anything to achieve that, even if it means blowing up half the forest and alerting the humans to her presence. She’s not thinking straight. This grudge she has with shifters is clouding her judgment.”
“We won’t engage.”
“Good. I have something else for you.” Pulling the papers stashed down her top free, Lexia handed them over. “I found these, amongst other things, that morning I was in her office. A scientist who’s helping me found out some information on Ethan Wake which indicates he’d be very interested in helping the hunters resurface. Can you get this information to Lincoln?”
Grey looked up surprised. “The mate you didn’t want to be involved?”
“Yes.”
“Sure. What shall I tell him?”
“He needs to find out how Ethan is connected to this and if he knows any others. We need every name to make sure this program never resurfaces again.”
“Shall I tell him it’s from you? That there is hope.”
Lexia swallowed the sick feeling in her throat, wishing the unease in the pit of her stomach would go away. “You have to understand, Grey; there is no hope for me and Linc. I will put an end to this but I can never go back to my old life. I’m not that person anymore.”
Lexia watched his mouth open; read the emotion in his eyes but he said nothing.
“I’m not going to be able to get out as easily now. Get the information as fast as you can and I’ll try to get to you in a week. All right?”
“Understood.” Taking off into the trees, the rest of the pack followed.
Strapping her weapons back to her body, Lexia made her way back to the compound. Taking her time, she’d breathed in the fresh forest air and hoped it would be enough to get her through.
Feeling eyes watching her, Lexia’s hand hovered over her knife as she paused looking around her. There was no one in the near vicinity so she carried on, trying to ignore the trickle of unease inside of her.
On the highest point of her route, she stopped again. No longer able to ignore the prickle down her spine, and the little voice in her head telling her someone was nearby. It took her a few minutes of silence to pick up the faintest of noises in the distant and when her eyes locked with his, her heart lurched, attempting to escape her body.
In the far distant, just a speck on the horizon stood a leopard. Lexia found herself waving. Her hand moved up on its own and the smile on her face was one for an old friend.
“Goodbye, Caleb.” Her voice carried on the light breeze. She didn’t know if he’d heard her this far away. He never moved or attempted to follow.
Lexia couldn’t outrun her past. The war was on her and there was nothing she could do to keep those from her past safe.
Chapter 25
Lincoln looked at himself in the mirror. He’d not expected to step foot in LA again, let alone wear a suit, but here he was, clean shaven,