If he really has been the mastermind behind a human trafficking ring for this long and still hasn’t been caught… It’s absolutely astounding to me, the man has almost no security. Something in my senses goes on high alert, every little hair on my body standing up straight all at once. In the space of a heartbeat I shift and use my talent, going all but invisible. I don’t use it often, not liking my power to be all that well known, but when pressed I can make myself camouflaged to the point of being near invisible to humans and all but the most perceptive shifters.
From my hiding spot in the corner I scan the room, hoping I didn’t leave any obvious signs I was here. Of course, the safe is still open, and the drive is still in the laptop. Fuck fuck fuckity fuck.
Burns storms in a moment later, barking at someone on his cell as he tears through the room towards his desk. “I don’t care how it’s done! The merchandise needs to be moved tonight. Those idiots are sniffing too fucking close and I refuse to risk it. Move the entire stock to the backup site. Now.” Burns smashes his finger against his phone to end the call and slams it down on his desk, letting out a long string of curses when he notices the state the office is in.
Sharp tendrils of fear spread up my spine and threaten to choke me as Burns spins in a circle, searching. Turning back to his desk, he notices the drive plugged into the side of his laptop and throws it across the room with a yell. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, I dart from the corner by his desk, along the wall, and sink into the shadows behind a large wing-backed chair on the opposite end of the room.
I watch from my corner as Burns rakes both hands through his hair before resting both palms flat on his desk, leaning forward with a sigh. “I know you’re still here.” He says into the silence. My heart pounds, adrenaline flooding my system as I watch him scan the room. In the back of my mind I know he can’t see me, but this is all too close to call.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.” He calls in a low sing-song voice that sets every hair on my cats’ body on end. Holding my breath, I wait for him to complete another scan of the room, hoping he will move onto another room and continue his search. “Come on out…. Ava”
Hearing him say my name, hearing the evil smile in his voice, sends chills down my spine and my heart seizes in fear. Before my mind can catch up and convince me otherwise, I shift back to human form and stand behind the chair, using it to hide as much of my nakedness as possible.
“Stupid, stupid girl.” Burns laughs. If my nakedness startles him, he doesn’t show it more than in a slight crease between his brows. He stares me down in the unlit room, an evil grin spreading across his face. “Did you think I wouldn’t catch on? The second that idiot Sheriff started poking around the cold cases I knew something was up. And then he went and pulled that bitches case today from cold storage. I expected better from at least you and that band of miscreants you call family. It had to be you in here tonight, you think I didn’t notice you and the damn Sheriff holed up together the last few days? Nothing happens in this town without me knowing about it. Nothing.”
Deciding that keeping him talking is my best bet at getting out of this, I go for another tactic. “I know that file belongs to Annalise. Why her? Why kill her?”
“What else was I supposed to do with her? My contacts sent the bitch back. Defective merchandise. She started going crazy the second night she was there and damn near ripped the throat out of one of the handlers. Never would have been able to get a decent price for her.”
The change. She must have been going through her first change, and without Neo there to help her…. Oh god.
“I still don’t understand why you had to kill her.”
“Jesus Christ, I didn’t think you were that stupid Ava. Let her go and tell someone what happened?” he asks with a bitter chuckle. Dear god, the evil of this man goes deeper than I ever could have expected.
“So, you killed her to keep her silent. What would your daughter say if she knew what you’ve done?”
“It’s cute you assume she doesn’t already know, but no. my darling daughter has no idea what her dear old daddy gets up to. And she never will.” He pulls a gun from the drawer in his desk and points it at my chest.
Raising my hands, I take a step back, looking between Burns and the door, trying to gauge my chances of shifting and making it out of the room before he can shoot. Yeah. Not likely.
“Burns, wait, please.” I say, trying to keep my voice calm but I know he can see my hands shaking.
“Oh I love it when they beg.” He says with a malicious grin. “You know, maybe I should keep you for myself, at least for a little while. Have some fun with you before I finish you off. You’d fetch a pretty penny, plenty of men would love a chance to break that spirit of yours.”
No way in fuck will I ever be someone’s plaything. With a growl I take a step forward, but Burns only raises the gun and steps out from behind the desk in response. He moves to place himself between me and my only chance of escape, standing in the middle of the room with the gun trained on the center of my chest.
“No, I think I’d love getting the chance to break
