frenzied mind.
Xavier and Jaxx froze. Quinn’s mate was completely in the dark about their kind. Saint had agreed she could visit the compound as long as she was guarded at all times by Quinn during the courting process. That plan had obviously turned to shit.
Sasha was in trouble. Hell, if anything happened to her, Quinn may as well bend over and kiss his ass good-bye. The loss would send him over the edge, and Jaxx would have to deal with not only one but two rogues.
Xavier growled, saliva dripping from his long, sharp teeth. With no further warning he launched himself toward Quinn’s salvation.
Mackenzie Sutton glanced around the darkening, deserted parking lot, searching the shadows for danger. Cool air billowed through her hoodie and she shivered, shoving her hands into her jean pockets. She didn’t have a good feeling about this. A laugh slipped out, although it lacked humor. Did she ever have a good feeling about a rendezvous under the cover of dusk?
Air fluttered behind her, and she spun to face the ominous-looking building. In a smooth motion, her hand tightened on her pocketknife and pulled it out of her jeans, the blade extended and ready to do damage. Pigeons flew from the ledge of a broken window to land on the rooftop rail. She blew out a breath. It’s just the birds. Get a grip on yourself, Kenzie.
Scanning the area, her vision swept across the abandoned building. The windows were broken, and tags in thick black paint were scrawled across the front of the complex. Nothing like the slums to reassure her safety. Once she was satisfied the area was clear, her shoulders slowly relaxed and she shoved the knife back into her pocket. Putting her back to the building, she watched for the person who’d be sent to give her orders.
Weariness settle upon her. How could one mistake have screwed up not only her life, but her sister’s as well? She gritted her teeth against the consuming guilt she drowned in daily whenever she thought of her sister. Was Ava hurt? Would Kenzie ever be able to free either of them? Just thinking of her sister trapped in a cell sent her rage skyrocketing, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness coursed through her veins like a disease.
Frustrated, she kicked a loose rock, watching as it flew through the air and bounced off some crates. Life had been hard after their mom abandoned them. Kenzie rolled her eyes; life had been hard before their mom up and left. Her dad was probably a dealer. It wouldn’t have been the first time her mom paid for drugs with her body—did she even know what it was like to be sober? For as long as she was able, it had always been Kenzie’s job to provide and protect.
She had failed.
Life had molded her into a fighter—she didn’t know how to be anything else, and it fueled her to never stop reaching for their freedom. Straightening, she shook her head. Of course she would save her sister. She’d always gotten them out of trouble in the past, and this time was no different. It was taking a little longer than she’d hoped. But… Everything was going to work out. One more job and she would have earned their freedom. Just one more.
Her Delmac-issued cell rang, and she pulled it out of her pocket. Doctor LeRoy’s name flashed on the screen, and she sneered, hating the doctor for blackmailing her, hating herself for making the worst mistake of her life. Snapping the lid closed to her emotions, she accepted the call. “Yeah?”
“Pleasant as always, Kenzie.”
The sweet, condescending tone set her on edge. She hated how the woman referred to her in such a familiar way. Kenzie balled her hand into a fist, her nails digging into her palm. “My name is Mackenzie.”
The doctor clicked her tongue. “Careful. I’m in a rather pleasant mood. I’d hate for that to change.”
Not wanting her sister to pay for her outburst, she reined in her temper and remained silent. For the last two years William—some military GI Joe—had controlled her every move. All because she and her sister had broken into the wrong warehouse for shelter. At first, William wanted to kill them both. Fear had made her stupid. She’d sold herself to the devil and had been paying for it ever since. Then, a couple of months ago, William ordered her to work for Doctor Marie LeRoy. Kenzie used the term doctor loosely. As far