And Ria was in love with him.
“Okay, that’s it.” Cam put his tool down and snapped the top back on the shoebox.
As he did, Axel and a guy dressed in a white suit, white helmet tucked under one arm, entered the lab. The newcomer definitely bore the Grey genes. There would be no mistaking him for anyone but a close relative of Cam, Axel and Diesel.
Axel performed the introductions. “Ria, this is our youngest brother, Jack.” He turned to the younger man. “Jack, this is Cam’s new girlfriend, Ria.”
“Cam has a girlfriend? That reallyisnew,” Jack said with a grin, reaching out his hand to shake hers like all Earthers did. Ria was getting good at shaking hands.
“What is it you want me to do again?” Jack asked.
Cam handed him the gray shoebox. “We want you to go check out the house of a possible poison victim.”
“Poison victim?” he said warily. “What poison?”
“That’s why we’re sending you in with this device, to find out.”
“Got it.” He took the box from Cam.
Cam quickly gave Jack the rundown on how to operate the device. “This white button turns it on. The silver probe extension is what tests the air. This blue button will retrieve a sample of the air. Just push the blue button and wave it over the area you want to test. The results will show up on the screen as either toxic or non-toxic to Alphas.”
“Will it tell me what the poison is?”
“Likely not. It will only register a few basic toxins. You’ll have to bring the box back after you sample the entire house for a thorough report. Axel, you drive. Take the van with the portable decontamination unit. Whatever you do, Jack, donotget in the cab of the van with Axel before your suit and the exterior of the device get the green-light from the unit, or we might wind up being down one brother. I’ll monitor you through your helmet. When you get back, I’ll plug the data port into my computer to determine the exact substance if you find anything that registers as toxic.”
“Got it. I’m off to find the poison.” Jack, helmet in one hand, device in the other, headed out of the lab with Axel.
Cam watched them go, then walked over and took Ria in his arms. He kissed her.
“I love you, Ria. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I don’t ever want to be without you.”
Ria hugged him hard, searching her brain for anything that might help them stay together. She came up with nothing. Not a single thing. Tears again welled up in her eyes. This time, she let them fall. So what if she was a crybaby.
She sniffled, but then a measure of resolve straightened her spine.
When the ship docked the day after tomorrow, she’d talk to her mother. Whatever it took, she’d make her mother understand her feelings. She had to, because without Ruth Latham Borne changing her mind and calling off the arranged marriage, Ria and Cam were doomed.
Chapter Seventeen
Cam leaned back from the hug when he heard Ria sniffle. “Don’t cry. We’ll figure something out.”
“Like what?”
“I’m not sure, but I haven’t even told you my worst-case scenario plan.”
“Worst-case scenario plan?” She wiped her tears away with the heel of one hand and looked hopeful. “Tell me.”
“I only thought of it about half an hour ago. I haven’t worked out all the details yet.”
“Tell me the basics. I need hope. Maybe I can help with the details.”
He pushed out a long breath. “Well, you can’t get married to Dirt Bag if everyone thinks you’re dead.”
Her eyes went wide. “Dead?Your idea is to take me out to prevent my arranged marriage?” She dropped her arms from him and took a step back, brows furrowed in confusion.
He couldn’t help it. He laughed. “No. I’m not going to take you out, Ria. My idea is tofakeyour death.”
