Hakan Severin Read Free

supposed to be sitting at a desk typing on her computer, not out in the field.”
    Parish arched a brow, clearly caught off-guard by the fury that vibrated in Hakan’s voice.
    “We hoped the doctors would allow her to look through the files to reveal who was behind inseminating Lydia,” he explained. “They were a part of a larger group of Pantera who traveled to the Center…” His words trailed away as Hakan turned on his heel and charged toward the nearest door. “Hakan? Where are you going?” he called out.
    “To get Payton,” Hakan snarled, pausing long enough to glare over his shoulder. “Then I’m coming back to kick the ass of whoever sent her into danger.”
     
    ***
     
    The Haymore Center, just off the Pontchartrain Expressway, didn’t look like a den of evil.
    The three-story red brick building was framed by professionally trimmed hedges and a manicured lawn with large urns on either side of the glass doors. Even inside there was nothing to indicate it was anything but an upscale health clinic that offered in vitro fertilization.
    It was only in the basement, which was accessible by a hidden elevator in the lab and was protected by two guards, that it became obvious there was something wrong beneath the carefully constructed façade.
    What clinic had hidden rooms with prison cells, complete with iron bars? Or a line of steel walk-in freezers that were protected with biometric locks? Or a computer system that would make Homeland Security have a stroke?
    Payton had immediately known that she had to discover the secrets The Haymore Center was so anxious to hide.
    Ignoring Rage’s vehement insistence that she return to the Wildlands, she’d entered the main computer room, not particularly concerned when the guards arrived and tossed her and Rage in the cells.
    They were obviously rent-a-cops, not hardened warriors, and there hadn’t been any malachite in the iron bars of the cells. If they truly felt in danger they would be able to escape.
    Besides, the Hunters weren’t the only ones who were willing to take risks to protect the Pantera. She might be a Geek, but she would do whatever necessary to discover who was behind the latest threat to her people.
    And it had nothing to do with proving her worth.
    Not one damned thing.
    Leaning over the desk, Payton carefully monitored the numbers scrolling across the computer screen.
    Over the past three days she’d been running the computer program that she’d personally developed to break through the firewalls that prevented her from downloading the files.
    It should never have taken so long, but the complicated encryption system had meant there wasn’t going to be an easy solution. Instead she had to peel away each layer of security, one at a time.
    And of course, it didn’t help that they had to pretend to be safely locked away whenever the guards stirred from their private break room to check on them.
    It’d been a frustrating few days, but she was finally at the last firewall. She was close enough she could taste success.
    Tapping an impatient finger on the edge of the desk, Payton pretended she didn’t notice the large Hunter who stepped into the room packed with high-tech equipment.
    As if any female could ignore the gorgeous male with short, dark hair that always looked as if it’d been tousled by an eager lover. He had skin tanned to a warm shade of bronze, a lean, perfectly sculpted face, and eyes that were a startling shade of violet, flecked with gold.
    No big shocker that Rage had been breaking hearts since he’d left the nursery.
    “It’s almost halftime,” the male warned. It was Sunday night and the Saints were playing football. Payton had hoped it would keep the guards glued to their TV until she was done. “You need to get back to your cell.”
    She absently chewed her thumbnail, psychically willing her program to work faster.
    It didn’t actually help, but it made her feel as if she was doing something.
    “Just one more minute,”