Chapter 5 - Ryan’s Second Betrayal
For one insane second, I thought Ryan had come back for us.
“Claire,” he said.
His face was bruised.
His expensive shirt was torn.
“You need to get out.”
Dr. Harlow slowly turned.
“You stupid bastard.”
Ryan’s gun shook.
“You said nobody would get hurt.”
“And you believed that?”
“You said it was a blood sample.”
Harlow laughed.
“You sold your wife’s medical access for two million dollars and suddenly discovered a conscience?”
I stared at Ryan.
“You gave them my records?”
He looked at me.
“I was in debt.”
“How much?”
He swallowed.
“Almost three million.”
“Gambling?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Danielle.”
Of course.
He looked ashamed.
“She convinced me to invest in a development fund. It collapsed.”
Luka gave a humorless laugh.
“She convinced you?”
Ryan ignored him.
“Harlow contacted me afterward.”
“And you sold Sophie.”
“I didn’t sell her!”
“You gave strangers access to my pregnancy!”
“I thought they were researchers.”
“You knew they were paying you two million dollars!”
His face twisted.
“I was desperate!”
“No. You were greedy.”
Harlow moved suddenly.
Luka shouted, “Down!”
The gun fired.
Ryan crashed against the hallway wall.
I screamed.
Luka tackled Harlow.
The weapon skidded across the nursery floor.
I crawled toward Ryan.
Blood spread across his shoulder.
“Claire.”
“Don’t move.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You can apologize after you survive.”
Luka slammed Harlow against the floor.
Harlow kicked him away.
I saw the gun.
Three feet from me.
Harlow saw it too.
We both moved.
My hand reached it first.
I had never held a gun.
Never even touched one.
But I pointed it directly at him.
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
Luka rose slowly.
Harlow smiled.
“You won’t shoot.”
I tightened my grip.
“Try me.”
His smile faded.
Luka took the gun from my hands.
“Police are coming.”
“How?”
“I triggered the alarm before entering.”
Ryan laughed weakly.
“Still planning three moves ahead, Moretti.”
Luka looked at him.
“You’re alive because Claire doesn’t need another body on her conscience.”
Sirens approached.
Harlow’s face changed.
“You think arresting me matters?”
Luka grabbed his collar.
“No.”
“I’m one doctor.”
“I know.”
“The project is bigger than you understand.”
“I understand exactly how big it is.”
Harlow looked at me.
“No, she doesn’t.”
My skin crawled.
“What?”
He smiled.
“Ask Moretti why he was selected for M-17 too.”
I turned toward Luka.
He said nothing.
Harlow laughed.
“Go ahead.”
Police lights flashed outside.
“Tell her whose DNA was paired with hers in the original research model.”
I stared at Luka.
“What is he talking about?”
Harlow’s grin widened.
“Luka Moretti wasn’t hired by your father.”
The room went silent.
“He was Subject M-17B.”
My pulse pounded.
Luka’s face was unreadable.
I whispered, “Is that true?”
“Yes.”
My stomach dropped.
Harlow nodded toward the USB in Luka’s hand.
May you like
“And if Daniel’s original drive still works, Claire is about to learn why Luka has spent twenty-five years protecting a woman he supposedly never met.”
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