Free Holocaust (The Deadwood Hunter Series Book 3) by Rachel M Raithby

you care about anything?
    Since Mother made a fool of me and I had to stand by and watch. It is not a feeling I like.
    “Maura,” Lucy snapped, her voice like frost, “what can I do for you?”
    “You sent for me,” Maura replied, just as coldly.
    Lucy froze, caught off guard, and Maura fought to keep the smile from her lips. “Oh, yes, so I did. Silly me.” She pushed her chair back, the wheels screeching across the concrete floor. “Shall we go then.”
    “Go where?” Maura asked, wary.
    Picking up the phone, Lucy glanced at Maura with a cruel smile. “It’s a surprise, darling,” Lucy’s eyes dropped to the desk as whomever she was ringing answered. “Yes, I’d like the package. Have Derrick deliver it.”
    Derrick? What has she planned?
    Lucy placed the phone down, coming around her desk.
    “What has Derrick got to do with this?” Maura asked.
    “Nothing. I just thought he wouldn’t want to miss your surprise.” She walked past Maura. “Shall we go?” Lucy asked sweetly, holding open the door.
    Maura did as instructed. Lucy pulled her door closed, double-checking it was locked.
    Following her mother through the compound, Maura struggled with the growing unease within her. With each step, her heart kicked up a beat. The taut band tightened around her chest, restricting her airways. Lucy led her to the far side of the compound, the side the humans frequented. The side Lucy carried out her experiments.
    “We’re here,” Lucy chimed, turning with her back pressed against the door. “Are you excited?” she asked.
    “I do not get excited, Mother,” Maura replied coldly.
    Lucy’s smile dropped. “Oh, you really are no fun.” Reaching for the handle, she pulled it down and pushed the door open with her back. “Ta da!” she exclaimed.
    Maura stepped into the room and frowned at Lucy. “I don’t understand.” Belinda and Marcus were on one side of the room looking distressed. A member of the elite stood beside them, his gun clasped casually in his hand but no less deadly.
    “Oh, well, not everyone is here yet,” Lucy answered. Walking over to the other side of the room, she spoke to the human scientist standing quietly in the corner.
    Maura’s chest constricted, as dread churned in the pit of her stomach. Attempting to regain control of her body, she clenched her jaw, forcing the feeling away. “Mother, what is this?” Maura snapped.
    Lucy turned slowly around to face her, her chipper façade gone. “I said it was a surprise. Now be quiet and wait.” The tone of her voice warned Maura not to question her further, or she’d wish she hadn’t.
    Cracking her fingers as her control slipped, Lexia grew agitated and restless inside her mind. Maura coped by masking Lexia’s feelings with anger. “I do not like surprises or games, Mother. I have kept up my end of the bargain. Now tell me what is going on?” she demanded.
    The tension in the room rocketed. Lucy’s eyes turned deadly, her true psychotic self, showing through. She opened her mouth to answer but the door opened behind them and Lucy’s angelic mask slipped back into place.
    Maura spun around, already knowing the horrible truth, yet wishing she was wrong, wishing she’d lost her mind because it couldn’t be true. An avalanche of emotions smashed into her mind, crushing Maura and allowing Lexia control.
    Lexia already knew what she’d find when she faced the door. She’d not felt her aura in a long time, this aura, this person, belonged to another life. Not this nightmare. Yet as she faced the door, knowing didn’t lessen the blow. The air rushed out of her in sudden shock. Her heart beat so fast she couldn’t hear anything above the pounding in her head.
    “Alice,” she whispered, horrified.
    Derrick stood to the side of her, his hand clasped lightly around her arm, though Alice had no chance of escape. The deep cut across her thigh looked days old and infected. Her face was covered with purple bruises, her left eye