“I’m trying to download the data before the chip shuts down,” Peter responded, breathing heavily. “We need to analyze it.”
I swallowed thickly, my gaze never wavering from Sam’s.
“Don’t move, Layla,” Jo said as she crept up behind Sam like a cat about to catch a mouse.
Tension and fear charged the air.
Dr. Vieira came toward us with the needle, ready to strike.
Sam whipped his head around and growled at Doc and Jo as though Sam was protecting me.
I guided Sam’s face toward mine. “It’s okay. He won’t hurt me.” I was ninety-nine percent sure he wouldn’t, only because I could feel his confusion. Drinking Sam’s blood gave me his empath ability, albeit weak at best. Still, his mind seemed to work overtime to understand what was happening.
Sam returned his attention to me, his silver eyes swimming with sadness.
Smiling at him, I dragged a hand along his jaw. “I love you.”
He leaned into my hand, holding my gaze captive.
I beamed through my nerves. “We’re having a baby.”
He squatted, clutching my hips as he pressed his ear to my belly.
I held my breath, attempting to thread my fingers through Sam’s hair, but that metal device was in the way.
“Don’t touch the headgear,” Peter rushed out, typing like he’d taken magic mushrooms—wired and shaky.
I dropped my arms to my sides while Sam kept his ear glued to my stomach. Whether he could hear a heartbeat, I wasn’t sure. But my soul hurt for him, and beneath the emotional pain, I felt the need to gouge Carly Aberdeen’s eyes out.
“How did the chip activate?” Jo asked while watching her brother.
“The second I connected the program, the chip must’ve rebooted,” Peter said.
“And I had no time to reach Sam before he pounced,” Steven added.
Peter typed furiously. “I’m almost there.”
A growl filtered into the room, and Sam jumped up, baring his fangs at the white wolf in the doorway.
Great!The two would eat each other alive, especially now that Dane had positioned himself in front of me as though he was my protector.
I patted Dane on the head. “It’s okay. He won’t hurt me.” I swapped places with Dane. The last thing we needed was a fight of epic proportions while Peter was trying to nix Sam’s chip.
Sam yanked me to him, and our chests collided.
I squealed as pain spread through my breasts.Fucking vampire.My reflexes kicked into gear before my brain registered my actions, and I kneed Sam in the balls.
He expelled air as he bent over, clutching his boys while giving me a heartbreaking look through the pain on his face.
Suddenly, I felt horrible. “I’m sorry.”
Peter banged on a key. “Sam’s chip should shut down in five seconds.”
Sam winced before he collapsed on the floor with a thud.
A collective sigh raced around the room.
Ross, Cooper, and Vera hurried in while Steven helped Sam into the bed. Doc hooked the blood bag to Sam’s arm, and Jo came over to guide me into the chair.
