The Evolution Gene: The Complete Trilogy by Aaron Hodges

Author:Aaron Hodges [Hodges, Aaron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780995136571
Publisher: The National Library of New Zealand
Published: 2020-05-28T22:00:00+00:00

54

Liz sighed as she lowered herself into the armchair beside Chris. They had just given their collection of feathers to the Texan, who had promptly left on his mission. Unfortunately, his absence had done nothing to cool Liz’s angst about the man.

Chris’s grandmother had retired to her room to rest. Liz could hardly blame her. After the morning’s events, even she was exhausted, and Maria Sanders did not have her advantage of youth or genetically enhanced stamina.

Chris still stood beside her, staring at the plain walls of the lounge with nervous eyes. The room was empty except for another couch opposite her own, and a single painting of the Golden Gate Bridge on the far wall. Threadbare carpet covered the floor, and the couch was sagging badly. Feeling the tip of a spring prodding her backside, Liz shifted into a more comfortable position.

“You were quiet before,” she said when Chris finally looked at her.

Shrugging, Chris sat down on the opposite couch. “After what happened at the square…I just thought…” He trailed off. “I’ve screwed up so many times…maybe it’s time we let the adults handle things. Even if one is from Texas.”

Liz snorted, doing her best to ignore his last remark. “As angry as she is, Jasmine has a point. Maria and the other so called ‘adults’ had their chance to ‘handle things’. That’s what got us into this mess in the first place.”

Chris sighed, and she saw the doubt in his eyes. The rush from the reunion with his grandmother was finally fading, and he could no longer hide from the consequences of his actions. They had almost lost everything because of him.

“What Mike said made sense,” Chris said finally. “We’d be recognized if we went to the university.”

“So what do we do in the meantime?” Liz pressed.

“We wait.” Chris pursed his lips and stared at the worn carpet. “What do you think happened to Jonathan?”

Liz started. In the rush of battle, she had completely forgotten about the translator. “I don’t know,” she answered eventually. “We left him at the edge of the square. He shouldn’t have been caught in the fight.”

“Unless he tried to help as well,” Chris murmured.

“I’m sure he’s okay, Chris,” Liz offered. “He wanted justice, but he wasn’t an idiot. He wouldn’t have gone charging into a squad of soldiers like a madman.”

Chris winced, but Liz laughed to take the sting from her words. Their eyes met. She fell silent, searching for the boy she knew, but Chris blinked and looked away. She stood and crossed to the other couch.

“I’m sorry,” he said as she sat beside him. “You were right, I should have waited...”

Liz laughed. “Yes, well, as I said earlier—I’m not quite finished with your punishment.”

“Oh?” Chris raised an eyebrow.

Heart hammering in her chest, Liz crawled across the sofa until she was crouched over Chris. He lay still beneath her, his eyes wide. A tremor of desire swept through Liz as she watched him. She desperately wanted to relax, to collapse into Chris and feel him beneath her, to run her hand through his hair and feel his mouth on her neck.

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