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Scheme had only heard her voice; her father’s wannabe son had never mentioned her name or her expertise.
“You know they’re going to track you,” she warned Tamber as the jeep moved over the uneven road leading through the woods. “They’ll know you were the one who attacked Jolian and took me. ”
“It really won’t matter. ” Tamber flashed her a hard, cold smile. “I won’t be returning for a while. I’ve just taken care of my mission, two in one; John will take me in for a while. ”
Scheme wanted to turn, to check on the unconscious child in the back of the jeep, but she didn’t dare. If she looked at him, she might not survive it, she would break down, and she couldn’t afford that.
“You really think John is going to allow you freedom?” she asked Tamber instead, working at the rope binding her wrists. “Do you think you’re the only spy he’s fucking, Tamber?”
“Actually, I know I’m not. ” A smug smile curled Tamber’s lips. “But working in Breed communications isn’t the only thing I’m trained for, Scheme. The Breeds don’t have my DNA; all they have are my fingerprints. DNA is voluntary, you know. In six months, I’ll be right back, working somewhere else within Sanctuary, with a new name and a new face as well as new fingerprints and a different scent. The Council scientist can work with the scent neutralizer and make it whatever they want it to be. I am a chameleon. The Breeds will never know. ”
Like hell. Scheme knew that unknown to the Council or to other Breeds, Tanner and Cabal’s sense of smell would easily detect her. And they would be looking for her. She would never survive returning to Sanctuary.
“You’re too confident, Tamber. ” Scheme braced herself against the door as she shook her head sadly. “Ego goes hand in hand with failure. ”
“I’m confident, period,” she snapped. “I’ve been working on this for years, you stupid bitch. ”
There had to be a way to escape. They were following the exact path she had laid out on the map for Callan; all she had to do was find a way to delay Tamber, to make her stop.
Scheme struggled harder with the ropes, feeling the burn of her wrists, the slickness of her own blood, but the ropes were loosening, closer to coming free.
God, she prayed the child slept through this. He was so small still, innocent-looking as he slept in the backseat. Of course, if he were awake…
She stilled as she felt something at her wrist. A faint touch, a tug at the knot. He was awake. Oh God, he was awake. She felt her breathing hitch in her chest at the fear he must be feeling.
But he was working the knot free, slowly, his fingers quick and sure. They weren’t trembling like hers. And hers were trembling. She was shaking like a leaf. And behind her, a nine-year-old baby was working the knot loose on her bonds.
“You’re such a dumb little twit, Tamber,” Scheme announced, feigning amusement. “John is going to chew you up and spit you out, you know that, right?”
Tamber’s fist flew out, connecting with Scheme’s jaw, knocking her sideways into the jeep as a mini growl erupted from the backseat and David Lyons pounced.
Tamber wasn’t expecting the attack. She cursed as her hands jerked on the wheel, throwing the jeep against the sharp incline that ran alongside the road. The jeep tilted, wheels spinning as Tamber’s hand flew back and connected with the face of the child locked onto her neck.
A hiss of pain sounded from the little boy, but he didn’t let go. The jeep tilted again as Scheme fought to get to the wheel to right the vehicle. Tamber had her hands full with a miniature Lion Breed hybrid that seemed to be everywhere at once.
And cursing. Scheme hoped she lived to laugh about the less than childish language he was using. But it wasn’t looking good. Oh God, it wasn’t looking good at all. The jeep was tilting, pitching.
The child. She had to protect the boy. As the jeep finally lost its battle to stay upright, she pitched herself toward the little boy, hoping to cushion him, to break the roll as it came.
Her elbow connected with Tamber’s head, her fingers grasping frantically to grab hold of David as she bounced, her back hitting the seat, before she was tossed again, slamming her into the dash as she heard Tamber scream and the mini-Lion’s almost grown-up roar.
Another flip of the jeep and her head slammed against the windshield, darkness flickering over her consciousness as she fought to keep from being sick or passing out. Or both. She could have easily done both.
Dammit, where was Tanner anyway? He was supposed to keep this from happening, wasn’t he? Protect her and all that macho stuff?
Moaning, she felt her fingers curl into something soft, cool. Dirt. She struggled to shake off the paralyzing pain that seemed to blaze through her body. It wasn’t the stupid mating heat either; she had just been bounced around a jeep like a frickin’ soccer ball.
David.
She forced her eyes open, seeing first dirt, crushed leaves, a hint of grass and trees. Moaning again at the effort, she turned her head to stare directly into David Lyons’s golden gaze.
The kid was crouched beside her, his eyes, very much like his father’s, peering into hers as he tilted his head, his shaggy light brown hair falling over his eyes before he pushed it back.
“Lady, we need to move,” he seemed to sigh. “That stupid cat is just knocked out, I think. ”
“I have to move. ” Why didn’t she figure that one out? “Where is a damned Breed when you need one?”
Damn. She hurt. She hurt bad. And if she wasn’t mistaken, the gown she was wearing was ripping further up her thigh with each move she made and she had lost both shoes.
