When Cormac looked back and waved, the three of us moved up to join him.
A single work lamp hung in the back of the room, giving off just enough light to see comfortably. The room was small, maybe the size of a garage, and might have been used for storage once. A few empty cardboard boxes lay around the periphery, along with some crumpled packing paper. Two men, hulking guard types in black fatigues, lay writhing on the ground. One of them was already tied, hand to foot, arms wrenched behind him, with what looked like nylon cord. Caleb stood on the second one’s neck while Warrick trussed him up—the cord looked like it came
from the guy’s own pockets, part of his own inventory. That had to hurt.
Their guns, mean-looking assault rifles, were tossed aside, against a far wall. Cormac eyed them thoughtfully.
“Don’t even think about it,” Ben said.
Inside, the smells were clearer. People had been moving in and out of the warehouse all day. I caught a trace of lycanthrope—wild, wolfish—as well as the chill that meant vampires had been here. One of Ned’s spies? Or an enemy? The guards from the front of the warehouse must have heard us. They ought to be pounding through any minute. So where were they? Step by soft step, I moved to the next door against the opposite wall.
“Kitty!” Cormac hissed, and I held back.
“Warrick, watch them,” Caleb said, pointing to the guns. The werewolf picked one up and held it on the two mercenaries, who stopped squirming in their effort to loosen their bonds.
Cormac studied the door, its handle, and the crack of light between the frame. “It’s not locked.”
Jill came close and took another of her long, quiet breaths. “Werewolf—maybe your man. He’s not alone.”
Great. The other guards weren’t storming us—they were waiting for us to come to them. The next room was well lit—Cormac’s trick with the flare wouldn’t work again. Maybe we could rush them. Without getting shot.
This was why I preferred talking my way out of dodgy situations.
“Everyone take cover,” Cormac said, hand on the handle ready to pull it open. The rest of us stood against the walls, waiting. I watched him take a breath, then another. Counting to three. Then he swung back, pulling open the door.
Nothing happened.
Inching forward, I reached the edge of the door frame and very carefully leaned around to look. Ben held my arm, as if he could yank me back when the gunfire started.
The next room was like this one—concrete, abandoned. In the middle of it crouched Tyler, fully conscious, muscles tensed, ready to spring. Another black-garbed guard lay crumpled in the corner, knocked out, a bruise marring his slack face.
“Tyler!” I said, falling into the room.
For a short moment, his lips pulled back in a snarl, and his eyes gleamed. Then recognition flashed.
“Kitty,” he said and heaved an exhausted sigh, and I skidded to my knees on the concrete floor. I touched his arm, brushed my hand over his nearly bald head, and let him take in my scent. Anxiety eased out of him, and he leaned into me.
“They miscalculated the dose,” he said. “I don’t think I was supposed to wake up yet.”
“Do you know who did this?”
“Private security, decently trained.” Tyler nodded a greeting to Ben and Cormac. Caleb and Jill fanned through the room, standing watch, covering the doorway we’d come through, looking forward to the next one, leading to yet another room.
“The ringleaders are in there,” Tyler said, tipping his head to the door.
“How many?” Cormac asked.
“Three, I think. Human and vampire. I haven’t seen them since I woke up, and my nose isn’t working too well.”
Once again, we braced for the inevitable battle that would come swarming through the door any moment. It didn’t happen. It kept not happening. I couldn’t even hear anything in the next room.
They, whoever had taken Tyler, knew they were busted. They were fleeing, and if we waited, we’d lose them. I walked straight for the door, stalking like Wolf had cornered her prey.
“Kitty—” Cormac called after me.
“At least stand back when you open the door,” Ben said, rushing to join me. He got to the door first, gripping the handle ahead of me. “Ready?”
I stood on the other side of the door frame and nodded. He turned the handle, yanked open the door, and got out of the way.