Viper Game

She didn’t hesitate or think about the possibility of being slashed to pieces by the sharp blades. That way was disaster. She shot forward, zipping between the blades, dragging her legs out of the way just as her mind refused to retain command of the fan. She lay still, her air coming in ragged gasps, like it did each time she stopped the fan. The way back with two babies was going to be even harder.

Wyatt had wanted to open the cells from the outside, using vibration, but it was too dangerous, the entire team had agreed on that. If he shook the building too hard, it could come down on them. And the concrete was so thick he would have had to use a fairly hard blast. Still… She closed her eyes for a moment, refusing to think about the journey back.

No one had really told her how Trap intended to get into the cells. Maybe she’d be lucky and they could go out the way he’d come in. Pepper wiggled close to the vent and peered down into the holding area. There were three cells and a small space for the guards to stand. The doors to two of the cells were open and a body lay in each of the cells. The babies lay curled up in Trap’s arms where he sat with his back against the wall. It was the last thing she expected.

He smiled at her as she pushed open the small vent. “It’s about time you got here. We were all just about to take a nap, weren’t we?” He nuzzled the tops of the babies’ heads. “Getting nice and warm so they could move faster when they go through the vent with you.”

The two little girls both lifted their heads, eyes lighting up, huge smiles showing their tiny little teeth. She dropped into the room, somersaulting headfirst, to land on her feet just to one side of Trap. He seemed to be taking up most of the room, all sprawled out. She held out her arms and both babies leapt into them.

She kissed them both repeatedly and they kissed her back over and over. Little Thym blew bubbles against her neck and then laughed with delight. Cannelle attached herself like a clinging monkey, not wanting a separation again.

“Thanks, Trap. It was thoughtful of you to warm them up.” She looked around her. “Did you come in through the elevator?”

He shook his head. “Most likely there are guards in place at the elevator doors. I’ll go if I have to, but I’m hoping this woman can get through the vent like you did.”

“You’re really going to try to get her out?” Pepper frowned. “How are you going to get to her?”

“I’ll make it. You just get these babies out of here.” He stood up, taking up even more space. “You look pale.”

“Stopping the fans is hard for me. I don’t usually manipulate nonhuman objects.” She glanced at the children and then up to his face. “Wyatt was stabbed. I don’t know how bad, he won’t say, but it felt bad.”

“Draden’s with him, right?” Trap asked calmly.

Pepper nodded. “Yes. At least I think so.”

“Then he’ll be fine. If Wyatt was really hurt, Draden would have raised the alarm and Malichai and Ezekiel would go running. Just stick to the plan, Pepper. Get the babies to safety.”

He rubbed Thym’s back. “Stay close to your mama and do whatever she tells you. That’s important. Stay very quiet. You can do that to get out of here, right? There are men out there who might try to stop you if they hear you.”

Thym signed with her hands to Pepper. Pepper nodded. “Yes, baby, I thought the same thing, but we were wrong. There’s several men who are good and want to help because…” She broke off, her gaze jumping to Trap’s face again. She took a breath. “You have a father. Most babies have two parents, a mother and father. He didn’t know where you were and as soon as he found out, he and his friends helped me to rescue you.”

“Did she say she thought all men were bad?”

Pepper nodded. “The techs and guards are mostly men. We don’t see many women. I did, of course, because I was a soldier going through school with some, but the babies have always been isolated from everyone.” She was beginning to get her nerve back. She’d gotten through the vent with Ginger. She could do the same with the other two.

Cannelle signed. Pepper interpreted. “Where will we go? We’re going to take you out of here to your new home.”

Cannelle signed again, her hand gestures hesitant. Pepper frowned. The baby had asked what a home was. Pepper didn’t know how to explain something she’d never experienced.

“We’ll discuss that when we have you safe and away from this place,” she said. “I have to go first. You follow me. I’ll go through the fan, but you have to wait for me to call you through. Each of us has to go through by ourselves. You’ll have to move very fast. I’ll show you how. Elle, you bring up the rear. Thym, you stay right behind me. Just remember you can’t go until the fan is stopped completely and then you have to be very fast.” She planned on reminding them over and over so there were no mistakes.