Page 136 of CHOICE Lover
“Res6!” she cries.
He sprints for her and doesn’t stop until he’s scooped her in his arms. She returns the embrace. “Oh Zorg, Electra. You’re safe. You’re here. I was so worried.”
He can barely believe that she’s here with him now. He cradles her head, running his hand over her hair.
“Easy, she’s injured.” Someone tugs on his sleeve. When he releases her, he sees it’s the female operative from the video.
He moves away, quickly assessing her. “Did I hurt you?”
“I’m fine. They took a few tissue samples, and I’m a little sore, but . . .” Tears streak down her cheeks, and he takes in the blooming purple bruise there. She holds up her wrists for him to inspect. Stitches zigzag over an almond-shaped cut.
Sable steps up to them, taking Electra’s wrist to inspect it. “Fucking bastards.”
Electra quickly takes in the other woman. “You’re Sable?” she guesses.
“The one and only.” She turns to him. “Can you have somebody take me to your medical unit so I can get some equipment to deal with her wounds?”
Just then, Tommy and Chryl rush down the hall, along with a woman dressed in a full leopard bodysuit, complete with fake ears, a tail, and tattooed cat whiskers.
Nothing more than he expects from Chryl, but it reminds him to figure out a permanent solution for her and to make sure the lease term limits got updated as he instructed.
“Oh my God, Electra! I was so worried!” Chryl makes to throw her arms around Electra, but Sable steps in between them.
“No!” she barks. Chryl takes a startled step back. “Better. She’s injured.” She notes Tommy’s presence. “You. Take me to the medical unit now.” She turns to Chryl and the cat woman. “You both too. I need you to help . . . carry things.” When they look like they’re going to argue, she says. “You can visit once she has been debriefed, and I’ve tended to her wounds.”
They don’t balk at the command in Sable’s voice. Res6 makes a mental note to thank her later.
He leads Electra back to his office, where Wanda is discussing something with one of her team members. They quickly finish the conversation before leaving the three of them alone.
Electra sinks into a chair and yawns big, making everyone else yawn too. “I guess none of us slept,” she says from behind her palm.
Wanda chuffs. “I should be dead, considering the amount of coffee I drank.”
“Thank you so much for everything—” Electra starts. Then she grins and blinks, attempting to act like a manupartner.
“Don’t worry, I know what you are,” Wanda says, shaking her head. “No need to thank me. I’m just doing my job.”
Wanda takes twenty minutes to debrief her on their side of the operation, then records Electra’s testimony of her side of the events of the last twenty-four hours. “And what about Lextr’s presence? It appears Res6’s former employee was held in the same room with you.”
“He was. They’re trying to use him to create reincarnates. I promised him I would make sure you knew he wasn’t working for themvoluntarily. They abducted him too. Since you know their location, can’t you raid the building and get him out?”
“If he were in imminent danger, we would, but you said they need his expertise. I’m working under the assumption that they don’t plan to kill him. Maybe we can get a message to him so he can help us from the inside. I need to learn their goal. But that isn’t anything for you to concern yourself with. Thank you for your testimony.”
Electra’s brows wrinkle like she isn’t pleased with Wanda’s plan.
Wanda rises from her chair. “Trust that I have the situation in hand,” she says, effectively shutting down the conversation. “I’ve released control of your system. I’ll be in contact with you in a few days to arrange alegitimateidentification number. Electra, if you think of anything else useful, Res6 has my number.”
Electra shoots out of her chair. “I almost forgot.” She holds out her hand toward Wanda, wiggling her fingers.
Wanda’s brow wrinkles like she’s confused, but then she takes Electra’s hands, inspecting the gunk beneath her fingernails. “Skin cells! Oh, and there’s more.” She stuffs her hand into her pocket, pulling out a multicolored wad of hair. “I collected this off the floor. You can use that, right?”
“We can absolutely use it. Excellent work.” Wanda pulls out a small container from her satchel. She stares at the hair like she doesn’t want to touch it, though.
“It’s gross, I know,” Electra says, picking it up and setting it inside.
Wanda closes the lid. “This was smart of you to collect. I’m surprised you thought of it after what you went through.”
“I’m a writer. What can I say?” Electra shoots him a contagious grin. Being in on the joke makes warmth flow through him.
