Claimed (2) by Zanetti Rebecca

Author:Zanetti, Rebecca [Zanetti, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance, Paranormal, Fiction
ISBN: 9780758274618
Publisher: Brava
Published: 2011-10-25T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Emma leaned against the old pine tree and dug her shoes into the dirt, her gaze on the empty tarmac. The cement sparkled in the sun, returning waves of heat to the bleached white sky. The helicopters had lifted into the air with barely a swish of sound, taking Dage to war. To blood and death.

Her hands trembled and she sought her center. The cool forest behind her failed to provide the peace her sister always found in such depths. While Cara had sought safety from their father in the trees and bushes, Emma had often left a safe haven to put herself in front of the monster who’d raised them so he’d hit her instead of little Cara or their lost, beaten mother. Emma had sought counseling in college and understood her anger toward both parents was normal. But sometimes memories still clawed at her.

The door to the residence opened and Devon hustled out, his hands full of papers and his glasses askew on his face. With a wary glance at the huge soldier accompanying him, he hurried toward her. “Dr. Paulsen? Something’s not right.” He shoved a piece of paper in her hands.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Paulsen.” The soldier’s gravelly voice rumbled with irritation. “This guy insisted we find you.”

“That’s all right.” She glanced down, quickly reading the paper. Damn it. Devon wasn’t to have seen this. “What is this?”’

“I found it with the new cancer data.” Devon shrugged. “There’s a clear genetic profile of something with more than twenty-three chromosomes. There are thirty here.”

She cocked her head to the side, attempting to settle her racing heart. Would the vampires harm a human who held too much knowledge? “Well, since that’s impossible, what logical solution could there be?” She forced a grin.

Devon exhaled. “Seriously. Someone’s playing a joke?”

“What else could it be?” She wrinkled her nose, shaking her head. “You totally fell for it.”

“Dang it.” He laughed, the sound filled with relief. “I did not fall for it. I was just afraid someone on my team royally screwed up. A joke, huh?” He rubbed his chin. “I’ll bet it was Sandy. She’s been working so hard on the proteins that I’m sure she needed a break.” A blush filled his high cheekbones. “She’s got such a great sense of humor.”

“Yeah, she does.” The scientist was in love, no doubt about that.

He glanced with resignation at the silent soldier. “All right. I’ll head back to work.”

Emma kept hold of the papers. “Sounds good. “I’ll meet you in the lab later today.” She didn’t allow worry to cross her face until the soldier had escorted Devon around the building to the public side of the lab. She needed to be more careful with her data.

Her knees felt weighted. She sighed, her mind spinning. The residence door opened again and Janie skipped out, the formidable Max on her heels. Spotting Emma, he gave a short nod and pressed his back into the wooden siding.

Janie shouted in recognition and ran in new electric pink tennis shoes toward her aunt.

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