Page 98 of Property of Crypt Keeper

I whispered, “Thank you.”

It closed its eyes and slid down the wall.

Ahead, in the direction it had pointed, the reinforced doors were already opening.

On stealthy feet, I hurried toward my goal.

Inside the room was organized chaos.

Rafael. Two armed guards. What looked like a doctor or scientist, behind them carrying metal cases. A younger man dressed the same pushed a metal cart stacked with what looked to be hard drives and boxes of files.

Not fleeing in panic. Evacuating with purpose. The Doctor looked almost offended.

I ducked down behind a workbench. Though I could probably take them, there wasn’t time. The tingling markings on my spine practically hummed. Gideon was close.

“They’re destroying decades of work,” I heard the scientist say as I peeked through the shelving. I scanned the room for my mate.

Rafael grabbed another case as the Doctor tried to grab more.

“Leave it,” Rafael snapped.

The scientist looked horrified. “Never.”

“They’re here,” Rafael went on in near exasperation.

“I know.”

“Doctor, they’re almost through.”

“I know,” the Doctor muttered again. His hands continued collecting notebooks. Everything he could get his hands on. “I finally had him,” the Doctor droned.

Rafael’s voice sharpened. “You have less than five minutes.”

“No.”

“Three.”

The Doctor practically snarled. “No!” Then he quietly murmured as he looked down at one of the sample cases, “I can’t lose this. I’ve waited thirty-one years.”

My blood froze. Thirty-one.

Gideon.

A weak laugh echoed from somewhere beyond them.

Rafael turned first, then the Doctor.

My gaze tracked the same direction. I was barely aware of Rafael and the others rushing out of a door on the other side of the room.

Because I was too preoccupied. There, on a medical restraint table, covered in blood, was Gideon.

His head hung forward. His body was covered in bruises, bandages, and puncture wounds. Silver-lined restraints pinned every limb.

A door slammed shut with finality, and I stood up. The moment he saw me—he smiled.

The idiot actually smiled.

“You…” he choked out, his voice barely audible. “Sure took your time.”