Page 21 (1/2)

"Your fault? How?"

Radinka sat back and sniffed "After a few ht shift here, I started to catch on Roets involved with a project He would leave half-empty bottles of blood in his office And since I was raised in the old country, Czechoslovakia, I are of all the old vaured it out"

"Did you tell hiail asked

Radinka nodded "And I swore to keep the secret I needed the job And Root it into his head that it wasn’t safe forthe day, but of course, that was ihed "I lost ine his reaction"

Abigail took a sip of water "What did he do?"

"At first, he was afraid I’d lost my mind Then when he started to suspect it was true, he orried for my safety He drove here to confront Roman And that’s when it happened" A tear ran down Radinka’s face "My poor son He was only trying to protect ail leaned forward "What happened?"

"He was attacked in the parking lot We found out later it was Casiori and ripped open his neck Drank his full and left hiori

"We didn’t have all the security ca his rounds" Radinka wiped a tear from her face "I’d already lost ed Roail took a deep breath and let it out slowly She couldn’t blame Radinka She’d be desperate, too, to save a loved one "It ori"

"Yes, I believe it did" Radinka dabbed at her eyes with her napkin "But he tried not to show it He’s tried so hard to fit in Roman offered him a job here, and he’s worked awfully hard He’s vice president of ail smiled Radinka was clearly proud of him "How old was he as transformed?"

"Twenty-nine" Radinka ate soh ti around with those silly Vairl I won’t live forever, you know, and I want soail tasted the risotto It really was excellent She glanced over at Charles, who had cleaned his plate "There’s more food in the kitchen," she called to hi it out?"

He frowned, looking Radinka over, then hurried off to the kitchen

Radinka snorted "Does he really think I’ail’s mouth dropped open "I - I think you may have misunderstood "

Radinka shrugged "All in good ti any younger, so don’t wait too long"

"But I - "

"At least two grandchildren," Radinka continued

Abigail stuffed her clenched fists into her raincoat pockets, then felt soainst her knuckles She peered into her pocket and found a ball Where on earth did this come from? She pulled it out to look at it

Radinka chuckled "Did Gregori give you one of his stress balls?"

Abigail gave it a squeeze Did he? When?

Chapter Sixteen

Gregori found Roged a hand through his hair

"Out with it, lad I’ed back in his chair and took a long sip from his bottle

Roman set his bottle on his desk "Would you like ori yanked the knot of his tie loose "I-I’ve done so awful"

The two men stared at hius sat up "Did ye bed the lass?"

"No!" Gregori huffed with indignation "What would give you that idea?"

The two ht "I realize I have a bit of a reputation, but I don’t - "

"We’re no’ blind, lad," Angus muttered "We can tell ye’re attracted to her"

"You can?" When they continued to stare at hiht, it’s true"

"You slept with her?" Rorimaced "I erased her uy, too"

Roed a worried look

"Do they suspect?" Angus asked

"I don’t think so" Gregori groaned inwardly as he ran a hand through his hair "If she ever finds out, she’s going to be so pissed"

"With good reason" Roman frowned at him

"I know it’s bad, but I didn’t see any other way out We were in Laszlo’s lab, and he accidentally let it slip that we heal autous muttered a curse

"I tried to cover it up, but she’s really s for tissue and blood samples, and I explained why I couldn’t, but she wouldn’t back down She even threatened to have her dad break the agreeive her some blood"

Roman shook his head "We can’t let theovernrowled "And then they would secretly come after us and drain us all dry"

"They would becoulped down a s of Bleer "I know ye doona like it, lad, but ye did the right thing"

Gregori sighed He still felt guilty

"Do you know any o on?" Ro for some plants in the Yunnan province of China"

Root the - "

"Yes, I know, for the Stay-Awake drug," Gregori interrupted "Laszlo told her about it Of course, she doesn’t remember that now"

Roo there It’s extremely bioperse Over two thousand plants are endemic to the area"

"And I can understand why her father wants the trip to reus said as he rose to his feet "I’ll put together soht" He strode from the office, the bottle of Bleer in his hand