The man carrying her dumped her unceremoniously on the floor. She winced at the sharp pain that ripped into her knee when it connected with the unforgiving cement.
Kiantu strode into the room and nearly stumbled over her. His features tight, he transferred his scrutiny from her prone form to the man who’d tossed her around like a sack of potatoes. “That’s my insurance ticket, you moron. Watch what you’re doing.”
“You won’t need her. Hunter won’t be going anywhere for a while, much less after us.”
A spark of hope ignited in Avily’s heart. Jerrick! There was a chance he wasn’t dead. She would cling to that tiny filament of light no matter what.
Her captor glanced about, his distaste of his surroundings apparent. “The sooner we get this deal over with the better. Is that crackpot Rodale here yet?”
A snicker came from Kiantu’s man. “I spotted his bitch outside, which means he’s gotta be on base. Probably just got done blowing him. Shit, if a little brainwashing is all it takes to get the chicks all over my Johnson, I’d consider signing up with these loony-tune rangers.”
“You’re more than free to stay behind,” Kiantu responded smoothly. “Don’t let me stop you.”
“Nah, you pay me better. Plus I don’t relish getting my ass blown off in their holy war. Assuming they’re whacked enough to attempt staging their coup after injecting themselves with Casper’s wonder juice.”
Casper’s wonder juice? Coup? What the hell were they talking about?
A look of warning snapped across Kiantu’s face. “You’ll keep that thought to yourself. I don’t need you fucking up this transaction with your goddamn loud mouth.”
“But surely you don’t think the formula actually works?”
“I don’t have to think it does, they do. It could be unicorn piss for all I care. I siphoned too much damn money into Casper’s research to let it all shit down the toilet. I will recoup it, whatever means necessary.”
Oh my gods. This vile, backstabbing man had been Casper’s boss. Avily lay perfectly still, hoping her silence would be taken for indifference to their conversation. Her next thought brought ice to her veins. The fact that they spoke so freely in front of her in the first place hinted at the precarious nature of her future. Maybe they already assumed her a marked dead woman, therefore they were unconcerned with what she discovered. A sobering thought.
Someone knocked on the door, putting an end to the men’s conversation and any prayer of Avily overhearing further relevant tidbits.
The burly man strode to the window and pinched the blinds open. A lecherous grin stretched his fleshy lips. “Well if it isn’t Rodale’s bitch herself.”
“Let her in. And remember, keep your fucking trap shut.”
“Yes, boss.” He swung the door open and stepped aside, making room for the short blonde woman who entered.
Avily stared at the female’s profile, her heart sinking. “Leena.”
Her sister turned toward her, a dazzling smile lighting her face. “Hey, baby sis. Glad you’ve decided to join us.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
A bright light shone in Jerrick’s face, snapping him to with a groggy start. For a moment he was transported to that hellish night he’d been kidnapped. The next instant that hell shifted into the worst of nightmares when he recalled the sickening sight of Avi getting struck by a volt of electricity and toppling into an unconscious heap.
He splayed his hand in front of his face, ineffectually attempting to block out the light. “I’ll fucking kill you if you’ve hurt her.”
“That’s a fine thing to say to me.” The light snapped off, revealing the image of Francesca standing above it. “Especially since it’s my floor you’re lying on. Quite uninvited, I might add.”
She stepped around him. Jerrick’s attention darted to the man leaning against the elevator door. Smug amusement playing at his mouth, Thane nodded in greeting. “Looks like you’re a little lost, sub Bill.”
An irate noise came from deeper in the penthouse, promptly followed by the reappearance of Francesca. She stormed to Jerrick’s side and pinned him with a glacial glare. “What have you done with Casper’s things?”
“I didn’t do anything.” He decided it wise not to mention he’d been the one to originally break into the lab. “Lex Tarker took off with everything, right after he shot me and Avi.” Gods, Avi. Queasiness pitching in his gut, he struggled to push himself from the carpet. His head and stomach rebelled, but he ignored both as he staggered to his feet.
“Avi?” Francesca frowned.
He steadied himself with a hand braced upon the wall. “Mistress Scarlett. I think Lex grabbed her. I’ve got to go after him.” He had no fucking idea where to even begin looking for her. But if there was one thing he knew, he wouldn’t stop searching until he had her safe in his arms.
Concern ripe in her gaze, Francesca wrung her hands. “What is all this talk of being shot? And who is this Lex? I have no members under that name.”
Jerrick gave her an in-depth description of Tarker. By the time he was finished, something must have resonated with Francesca because her eyes widened and she drew a deep breath. “Except for the eyeglasses, that could be Stephan Kiantu.”
“Kiantu?” Jerrick lurched away from the wall.
“Yes, Casper’s employer. He stopped by earlier to extend his condolences and—” Francesca swallowed, her face going white as a sheet. “Dear gods. He stole the formula.”
Jerrick’s gaze sharpened on her. “You know what his research is?”
“Yes.” She blinked. “How in the world do you know what it is?”
“I don’t, technically. But I was blackmailed into stealing it.” His murderous thoughts trekked to the night in question. Lex—no, Stephan—had been playing him all along. What a laugh riot that must have been for the man. Acting the victim when he was in on the scheme the entire time. Jerrick longed to break every bone in the fucker’s body just for making him endure those countless rambles about his phony relatives. Then he’d break them all over again for injuring Avi.
Francesca still looked bemused. “Then you’re not really a sub? And Mistress Scarlett…?”
He shook his head. “Please don’t hold it against Avi. She genuinely likes you, and I gave her little choice with helping me on this job.” The miserable mass in his stomach doubled. He’d given in to the blackmail to protect her, and she’d ended up hurt anyway, and in possibly more danger than ever. He had to find her, whatever it took. “Tell me everything you know about Stephan Kiantu. Where I might find him.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know much. According to Casper, the man rarely was in the office. I don’t even know where he lives.”
Bloody fuck. Desperation clawing at him like a wounded beast, Jerrick hit the call button on the elevator. He’d drive to the ends of Aurion and search every hellhole until he smoked out his quarry if that’s what it took to tuck Avi safely in his arms.
Thane stepped in front of the elevator, blocking the doors. Well beyond his patience and temper, Jerrick pulled back his lips in a warning snarl. “I advise getting out of my way.”