AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I do not get mushy,” she retorted.
“We’ll see.”
Love.Oh, God help her.
With a huff and a small smile, she started forward, keeping along the edge of the woods, hidden from view. She really hoped Lucas would be able to keep up with her and that Braxtonwouldn’t rip her a new one for going in hot and telling him after the fact. But her gut was screaming for her to move and not let the opportunity pass by. They needed to find out what Cross and Selma were up to so they could stop them. This was their chance and she was going to take it.
Once they were at the edge of the treeline, right near the truck, Inda motioned for Lucas to follow her. They jogged forward, using the truck for cover, and crept up alongside the front passenger wheel. She peered around the corner and didn’t see anyone.
“C’mon!” She hurried forward, Lucas right on her heels, and grabbed the door handle, carefully pulling it open. No one was in sight, so she stepped into the long hallway lined by endless doors. She had no idea where Cross and Selma had gone.
Until she heard voices not far away.
Inda grabbed Lucas’ arm and they ducked into the nearest room. Luckily, it was an empty office and she pulled the door nearly closed, listening intently as the voices moved by. As soon as they passed, she cracked the door open and saw Cross, Selma and a man in a white lab coat turn the corner.
Once the trio was out of sight, Inda stepped back into the hallway, motioning for Lucas to follow her. They quietly made their way forward and she peered around the corner where there were several observation windows. Cross and company had to be in one of the rooms.
She and Lucas stalked forward, and her senses were so focused on figuring out which room they’d gone in, she nearly missed the scientist who came walking out of another lab.
Seconds before the man would’ve seen them, Lucas yanked her through the first doorway, keeping them both safely out of sight. He pressed a finger to his lips and she gave him a grateful nod as the scientist passed by their hiding place, none the wiser.
“Thanks,” she whispered, glad he was with her.
“Welcome,” he responded, his lips practically brushing her temple.
They were in a small, dark closet that smelled like disinfectant. Breathing hard, pressed against him, she inhaled his pine scent. A tremble shot through her at his nearness, but now wasn’t the time.
Inda took an unsteady step back and her heel bumped into a bucket. She couldn’t see a damn thing and she reached out, searching for a light switch. There was a soft click and she saw Lucas had pulled a string attached to a light bulb above them.
Soft light illuminated the tiny maintenance closet and Inda looked up, past the bare light bulb, and studied the ceiling panels above them.
“Give me a boost,” she whispered. Lucas hesitated briefly then reluctantly bent forward and linked his fingers. Grabbing his shoulders, she stepped onto his hands, pivoted and lithely brought her leg around. Once she was sitting on his broad shoulders, he straightened up and she easily reached the ceiling.
The panel popped loose with a little push. Grabbing the edge, she pulled herself up, and Lucas’ hands wrapped around her calves to steady her as she stood. Her head and upper body breached the empty space between the roof and drop tile ceiling, and she surveyed the tangle of ductwork, piping and cables.
A quick examination of the galvanized metal frame assured her it would hold her weight. But Lucas? Probably not. She looked down at him staring up at her, face full of concern.
“I’m going over to listen in,” she said in a low voice.
“Be careful,” he mouthed, and she gave a sharp nod.
“Careful is my middle name. Remember?”
“What is it? Really?” he asked, locking eyes with her.
For a brief moment, she hesitated. Then, in a soft voice, she said, “Léa.”
“Inda Léa Diaz, you be careful.” When he grinned up at her, yeah, her heart may have melted. Just a little.
Okay, it was go time. Inda carefully crawled forward, moving along the edge of the metal grid. The dust and dirt made her eyes itch and nose tingle, and she had to pause to plug her nose and stifle the sneeze that threatened. No way was she going to accidentally sneeze and give herself away. Once the urge passed, she continued forward, heading toward the sound of voices.
When she was directly above them, she lowered her ear to the ceiling tile and listened. The voices below were slightly muffled, but she could still make out what they were saying.
“Is this batch correct?” Cross asked.
“It hasn’t been tested yet,” a male voice answered. The Russian accent told Inda it must be Dr. Ivan Zaitsev.
“You said you had the formula,” Cross snapped.
