She summoned her strength, finding the ability to speak again. She looked desperately up at Grant. “Why are you doing this?”
Even though his face was indeed animalistic, there was something in those startling eyes. Sympathy? Concern? In her fading state, she found that confusing and troubling.
“It’s nothing personal, I assure you,” he smiled, trying to make it look reassuring.
“It never is,” she murmured drowsily. “That’s what all the bad guys say.” From somewhere in a remote corner of her mind that was still barely functional, the question remained that had to be asked. “Is this about the fox girl?” she gasped, her breathing labored now, her bleary eyes seeking his. “Is that why a wolfman is kidnapping me?”
He made no reply, but the look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. Panic swept over her now. Real fear. More than likely, this meant that badass bounty hunter Frost was probably involved. She’d seen his record. He was bad business. As bad as they came. There was no telling what fate awaited her. If he was willing to kidnap a cop, what else was he capable of? In her present state, she found herself unable to repress the shudder that ran through her body.
“I don’t wanna go out like this!” Her teeth were clenched now, eyes bulging as she fought to stay awake, fighting with everything she had. She was sure that once she went under, she would awaken to some unspeakable horror. “I’m a cop! I deserve better! I deserve to go down fighting!”
He reached a hand behind her neck, lifting her head close to his face. As he did, he released into the air the synthetic pheromone that all creatures like Amber and himself were engineered with. He needed her calm and quiet. His mouth moved to her ear as he whispered in a gentle, soothing voice. “Shhhh! Be a good girl, Stella, dear. Everything’s going to be fine, I promise.” She felt the slight touch of his wet nose against her lobe, his breath warm on her skin. Strangely, she now found it soothing and pleasant. The drugs now worked in unison with the newly introduced airborne chemical, urging her to give in and trust this strange creature.
“I wanna go ho—” her voice faded, her eyes glazing over before slowly closing. Without even realizing it, she moved her head against the side of his face, nuzzling her cheek against the soft fur as she moaned dreamily, “Mmmmm! Nice!”
The battle was over.
“We’re just going for an afternoon drive,” he cooed softly as if singing a lullaby to an infant. Moving in close, his lips hovering just above hers, he continued with his hypnotic whispering, “Would you like that? It’s a lovely afternoon, now that the weather has cleared.”
“Mmmm, ok,” she purred, as she allowed the blackness to envelop her. She could fight it no longer, and she didn’t want to.
“Sweet dreams, Officer Jones,” Grant’s lips brushed hers as he inhaled her breath, feeling her body go limp at last. As he gazed down upon her, he gave her credit. She’d fought it hard. Harder than most.
His sensitive nose took in her perfume, other scents now rushing up into his nostrils, a heady bouquet of feminine aromas. Lifting her closer, his nose moved ever so softly against her pale, white cheek and down to her neck, taking it all in, her sweat, her shampoo, her shower gel. He moved to her mouth again, her breathing soft and shallow now. The drugs had taken full effect. A bomb going off in her lap wouldn’t wake her at this point. The scent of mouthwash and breath refresher on her lips excited him.
God! It’s been too long.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Seven’s voice drew him out of his reminiscing. He looked up to see the young merc staring at him.
“What?”
“I said, what the fuck are you doing?” Seven repeated. He had recovered from the near-miss and now had the refrigerator-shaped fugitive concealment unit open. “Don’t be sniffin’ around on her like she’s a bitch in heat.”
Grant laughed. “My dear boy, I was engineered to have the same sexual desires you have. Do you not find her attractive?”
“Why, hell yeah!” Seven couldn’t deny it. “In fact, I dunno why, but I’m as horny as hell for some reason! Which is kinda weird considering the bitch almost melted my brain!” It was all Grant could do to fight back a knowing smile as the young man continued, “But we ain’t got time for nookie-nookie! Just put her in the box, and let’s get the hell outta here! This is bad juju … kidnapping a cop! I didn’t sign up for shit like this!”
“I agree, it is most unorthodox,” Grant said as he placed her in the unit. Are you sure she’s not going to suffocate in that thing? How’s she going to get air?”
From the outside, the concealment unit looked as an asset retrieval agent wanted it to look. Like a refrigerator. Plain and simple. Yet, when opened, the inside was nothing but a hollow compartment just big enough to fit a person inside in the fetal position. Metal eyelets in the walls allowed for shackling the prisoner’s feet and hands. However, since the unit was mostly utilized to spirit a bounty out of hostile territory, they were usually unconscious.
“Relax, it’s got a ventilation system that pumps oxygen in,” Seven reassured him. “The biggest worry is them waking up before you get where you’re going. You talk about some motherfuckers freakin’ out! They think they’re in a coffin or some shit!”
“I can imagine that would be quite traumatic,” Grant agreed, as the elevator came to a stop on the Service Level landing deck.
Both men almost pissed their pants as the door opened and none other than Special Inspector
