Navarro's Promise - Lora Leigh [111]
“And what would we have in common?”
They had Navarro in common. Brandenmore had been closely involved in the labs Navarro had come from. So closely involved that he had used many of the Breeds in those labs in his research projects.
“Your Breed. The mate who is not truly a mate,” he said slyly. “Would you like to know why?”
She wanted to know. She was dying to know. But she couldn’t bear standing here to talk to him. The vile, corrupted monster he had become sickened her to the point that it would never matter how desperately she wanted to know more about Navarro, she would never accept that information from him.
Her hand lifted to the button.
“What if I told you he was created to never feel strongly, to never have the emotions that drive a human?”
She paused again.
“If you could have done that, then you wouldn’t have stopped with just Navarro,” she said knowingly without turning back to him.
“That was always the hope, with each genetic design,” he told her. “To weed out emotion, to leave only logic, then to ensure it was only logical that they willingly give their loyalty to the Council and its membership.”
Mica shook her head again and lifed her hand closer to the intercom.
“And if I told you he’s already betrayed you?”
She shook her head as she swung around to stare at him once again. “Navarro hasn’t been with anyone else.”
“There are other ways to betray.” He shrugged.
“I don’t want to hear any more of this. You’re a liar, Brandenmore. A vicious, evil animal with no morals or conscience. Don’t expect me to believe a word out of your mouth.”
“I am not the animal,” he snarled back, suddenly erupting in fury. “I helped create that filthy creature you’re fucking, you little whore. Do you think I’d actually create something that could ever have emotions? Ever have loyalty? Don’t be such a stupid little bitch. He’ll never completely mate you, because he can never love you.”
Mica swung around and pressed the intercom button.
“Dr. Morrey?” There was a tone of surprise in the Breed that answered.
“This is Mica Toler. I was escorted here to see Dr. Morrey and she hasn’t shown up yet, but Phillip Brandenmore has. Could you please ask the doctor to hurry or send someone to let me out of here?”
There was no answer.
Mica was ready to depress the button and call out again when the door suddenly slammed inward and several enforcers rushed into the room, followed by Jonas, Navarro and Callan.
Brandenmore was laughing as Jonas stalked across the room to the window dividing the cell from the exam room and slammed the heavy wide metal shutters across the partition before locking them.
The sound of the laughter was cut off, leaving Mica to stare at the men, amazed at the air of deadly violence swirling around them.
“How did you get down here?” It was Navarro that spoke first.
Stalking to her, he gripped her arm, staring down at her as though he didn’t know whether to shake her or to fuck her.
“I walked,” she retorted mockingly. “What did you expect?”
“This is the wrong time.” His head lowered, his lips pulled back from his teeth, and she could have sworn she detected the faintest hint of a point returning to his canines. “Now answer me. How did you get down here?”
“As I said, I was escorted down here for an exam,” she answered from between clenched teeth. “Dr. Morrey hasn’t shown up yet though.”
“Because you didn’t have an appointment with her until this evening, with me,” he snarled. “Who came for you?”
She stared up at him in surprise. “But, Navarro, the message was waiting for me in my room when I came out of the shower, and it was Ely’s voice.”
“I escorted her down here.” The Lioness stepped from the doorway, her dark gaze lacking fear, but showing only resignation as Navarro’s gaze swung to her.
“I too had a message left for me by Dr. Morrey that I was to escort Ms. Toler here for her tests and examination. At least, it sounded like Dr. Morrey.” Her shoulders straightened as though preparing for a blow.
“Where is Ely?” Navarro growled as he turned back to Jonas.
“She’s in Buffalo