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She’d miscalculated so badly. She should have sent them farther. Should have gone with them.
    Instead, because she’d misjudged the depravity of her husband, they were gone. But not dead. Oh, please no.
    Surely she’d know if they’d left this plane of life. And if they had, she might just—
    The phone in her back pocket buzzed. Odd for many reasons. One, it was well past midnight. Two, pretty much anyone who would call her this late was in the house at her back.
    With shaking hands, she pulled the cell from her pants pocket and, upon seeing the caller ID, answered.
    “You bastard, where are the boys?”
    “Watch your mouth or you won’t ever see them again,” Andrew threatened.
    “I’m sorry.” The apology left a sour taste in her mouth.
    “You should be. After all, you were the one who tried to hide them first. Just not very well.”
    “I want to see them.”
    “You will, but only if you follow my instructions to a tee. Starting with tell no one I’ve called.”
    She didn’t, not until she’d managed to slip far away. Then she did a quick call, but only to say, “I’ve gone to find the boys.”
    The problem with walking eyes wide open into a trap was not knowing if she’d ever escape.

Chapter 4
    W e should leave .
    His gator expressed his displeasure and had been doing so since they left Bitten Point. Wes couldn’t blame him.
    I wish I could go back in time. Change things so he wouldn’t find himself here, in this place. Trapped in this nightmare.
    Wes paced the room they’d given him at the new and supposedly improved Bittech Institute. Although calling it an institute sounded too nice. Try more like fucking torturous dungeon, only this time it sat above ground.
    The new place wasn’t even all that far from the original, but this new location had a hell of a lot more security, layers upon layers, and barracks for the employees working within.
    No more wandering into town and flapping loose gums. No more curious residents asking questions.
    Bye-bye, freedom.
    Then again, Wes had lost his freedom the day he made his choice. Do as we say, or else.
    The “or else” had made his decision a no-brainer. Still, though, the bitter pill proved hard to swallow.
    A pack of smokes came out of his shirt pocket, and he tapped one out. He snagged the filtered tip with his lips as he yanked out a lighter. He paused as he caught a glimpse of a smoke detector on the wall and the sprinklers in the ceiling.
    “Fuck.” Stupid anti-smoking a-holes. Couldn’t light a cigarette anywhere indoors these days without getting into trouble or causing thousands in water damage as automated fire systems engaged.
    Stepping out of his room—if you could call the cell-like square a room with its double bed, desk, single chair and television—he headed along the bland gray corridor to the bright red Exit sign gleaming at the end. The hall on this third floor of the employee housing was quiet this time of the morning, unlike the previous eve when the guards and doctors, brought over to the new place, moved in.
    The majority of the commotion died down around midnight, but Wes never did manage to fall asleep, not with the image of Melanie, betrayal shining in her eyes, reminding him of his douche-bag status.
    I betrayed her.
    His gator harrumphed. You betrayed all of our own kind.
    And the worst part? He knew what people would say. Not surprised at all he turned out to be a traitor. He is a Mercer after all.
    The stigma of his name followed him and, in this case, proved well deserved.
    Stepping out of the compound, Wes noted in the distance the guards patrolling not only the entrance—which required identity cards and thumbprint swipes—but also those guarding the perimeter, not all of them human.
    It seemed Bittech Institute wasn’t trying very hard to hide anymore. Wes had to wonder how long before the outside world took note.
    Hopefully it would take a while before an intrepid human drove the two miles down the long,