Cooley's smile froze for a fraction of a second as a thread of fear slipped free of him.
"Ah yes, I nearly forgot. " He sneered. "Elite status. I'm disappointed in you. You should have been harder to catch. "
"You would have thought. " Braden's voice was too soft for Megan's comfort. "I learned how to break men like you, Senator. I believe you were even on the shortlist of potential targets when we were rescued. "
Megan barely contained her surprise.
"And now I'm one of their best assets. How far the Genetics Council has fallen. But I'll build them back. " Cooley's smile was evil, chilling in its insanity.
"Why kill the Breeds?" she asked him then. "Why wait until they sought me out? You could have killed me at any time. " The destruction made no sense. Neither did the potential for discovery.
"Because it was fun. " He shrugged his powerful shoulders as he tilted his
head and watched her with maniacal pleasure. "All I had to do was watch Mark and Airnee. I knew they would come for you; it was just a matter of time. And honorable cretins that they were, I knew they would attempt to do so secretly, to give you a choice in betraying me. And I wanted to watch you run, Megan. It makes me hard. It will make taking you so much more pleasurable. "
The thought of it sickened her.
"I understand. " She nodded solemnly. "Can't get it up the normal way, can you? You have to shed blood to do it. "
His smile dropped for a second before returning with sickening force.
"Blood is nice. " Excitement laced his voice. "Or maybe I'll do you as I did little Mark and Aimee. Put a gun to your head and make Braden hold you down while I take your ass. "
"What is with the ass thing?" She propped her hands on her hips as she feigned incredulous confusion. And no fear. "Have you heard about germs, Mac? Disease? How do you know they haven't infected you somehow? Is insanity contagious?"
His surprise was almost laughable. For a moment, he looked lost, uncertain. And her hand was so close to her gun.
Caution.
She flashed Braden a glare as she felt the command.
Caution be damned. Cooley was making her sick and it had nothing to do with the pain he was trying to cause her.
Gunfire continued to echo through the entrance to the canyon as the comm link at her ear went silent. She knew the Breeds were well aware of what was going on. She only prayed a few of them were at least getting into firing position. "We don't have long, Senator," the Coyote at his side growled out.
"They'll have reinforcements coming in soon. "
Stupid mutt, why couldn't he keep his dumb mouth shut?
"Yes, unfortunately. " The senator breathed in deeply. "There will be no time to teach her Breed how lowly he truly is. But take her alive and bring her with us. "
Megan laughed. She forced amusement to fill her voice, mockery to shape her expression.
"Nuh-uh. " She shook her head slowly. "I don't think so. You may as well go ahead and kill me, Cooley. I won't let you take me. "
He smiled serenely as he turned the gun in Braden's direction.
"I'll make him hurt as he dies, Megan. "
Satisfaction. For some reason, Braden was immensely satisfied to have that gun pointing away from her. Men.
She felt the soldier at her side shift position as the gunfire seemed to come closer.
Megan shifted her own stance, allowing her hands to press close behind her hips.
"He's going to hurt anyway. " She shrugged, feeling Braden's amusement now, as well as the careful preparation of his body. His hands were still held loosely at his sides, but she knew how quick he could be.
Cooley turned his head back to her, his gaze piercing.