ong, purposeful, eating up the distance betwe

o meet his gaze. The scent of his cologne-sa

cold and assessing. He looked at

ow, rough rumble. "You're the woma

k. She met his stare he

seemed to think

. His gaze shifted from her face t

. Bernardo's eyes narrowed. He saw the dark hair, the sharp ja

do's jaw. He looked away,

he porch. "We didn't fly across

d inside. Darleen followe

m of people in lab coats stood near the dining table, a metal case open on

ir, crossing one ankle over his kne

ving a hand at the doct

d, pulling out a small tray of needles

"I just need to take a little

e let out a shriek and dove behind Darleen'

in front of the children, her body

them," she said,

eyes. "It's a needle, not a g

en," Darleen shot back. "They are not lab rats.

ashing with irritation. "I don't hav

time," Da

of Aria. She cupped her daughter's fa

en murmured. "Like a mosquito bite. Y

led, noddi

eeve without a word. He stuck his arm

quick," J

swabbed Julian's arm and inserted the needle. Julian didn

shut and whimpered, but she held stil

. He walked over to the table, roll

," he told

d blood from Bernardo's arm. Bernardo did

er cheek. The light from the wi

oft skin under his mouth, the taste of salt a

will take twenty-four hours. Darleen and

said, standing up. "This is my h

, her voice flat. "And you can w

and headed

Bernar

She didn't turn around. She waited, her back stra