Kat flinched. “Shit. Is that needle for humans or horses?”
“Sorry,” the doctor said. “I need a blood sample.”
“Not human trafficking,” Lann said. “He only wants people with special gifts.”
“He’s hunting your ability?”
Lann’s gaze was flat. “Yes.”
“But how?”
“David’s job is to deliver us to people who can harvest our gifts,” he said.
“How is that done?”
“They have to kill us.”
Eve removed the needle and pressed a cotton swab to the wound.
But… “He said he wanted the baby,” Kat said through dry lips.
“I’m calling Joss.” Eve moved to the door. “We don’t have time.”
Lann nodded. When Eve left the room, he sat down next to Kat. “A stolen gift is always less powerful than one that remains with its natural owner. It’s a lot more effective for power hungry people to steal babies, to raise them, shape them as they want, and abuse their power.”
As the meaning of his words sunk in, she turned even colder than what she already was. “Whoever he was going to sell me to was going to keep me hostage until the baby was born.”
“Now do you understand what I was trying to protect you from?” he asked with a note of soft anger.
There were too many things Lann had kept hidden from her.
“You should’ve told me,” she exclaimed. “I had a right to know.”
“I didn’t want you to worry more than you already are. You’ve suffered enough.”
Her voice rose with anger. “It’s not for you to decide.”
“For a terrifying, sickening moment back there, I thought I was going to lose you.” He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. “Why did you run?”
She closed her eyes and turned her face away from the touch. “I couldn’t. You won’t understand.”
“God, Katherine.” Something like hurt or worry flashed in his eyes. “Why didn’t you talk to me?”
Biting her lip, she considered her answer, and then gave him the truth. “Because I don’t trust you.”
His head jerked as if she’d slapped him. “When we made love, you trusted me with the very air you breathe.” He flexed and clenched his fingers. “You said you’d trust me with your life.”
“That was before I found out you deceived me. You should’ve told me who you are.”
He turned away from her and lifted his face to the ceiling. After a moment, he looked back at her with regret. “I couldn’t tell you. I never wanted you to suffer with the knowledge.”
“That’s not true.” She got up. “It didn’t matter to you because it was never your intention to see me again.”
She made to move past him, but he blocked her way.
“I’ve already told you it was because I didn’t want to ruin your life,” he said. “What did I have to offer? A sure way for you to be as hunted as I am? Death? Is that what you wanted me to give you?”
She lashed back with words. “Well, you have now.”
He flinched.
She immediately regretted the childish accusation. Making an effort to control her temper, she said, “I know you didn’t mean to, but I had a right to decide, based on all the facts.”
“Would it have changed your decision?” he asked. “Would you have given me thirty days if you knew the truth?”
“No,” she cried out, “and that’s exactly the point I’m making.”
A muscle ticked in his temple. He studied her for a while with a bunched jaw before saying, “If I’m to help you, you need to trust me.”
“How can I do that if you hide things from me?”
“Fine.” He lifted his palms. “No more secrets. I’ll play open cards. Will you give me your cooperation?”
Hugging herself, she whispered, “I’ll try.”
He gave her a stern look. “No more running away. You don’t know what I went through when I realized you’d run right into the middle of Piranha valley.”
She suppressed a shiver and pushed the memory away. It would haunt her for the rest of her life. “How did you find me?”
“Satellite.”
“Oh, satellite.” She couldn’t help her wry smile. “At this point, nothing should surprise me any longer.”
Eve walked back into the room, her face solemn. Catching Lann’s gaze, she shook her head.
Lann paled. His expression turned into a mask of fury. Turbulence reflected in his golden eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Eve whispered before leaving the room.
Removing his glasses, Lann rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palm.
Kat studied him with growing dread. Whatever news Eve had quietly delivered wasn’t good. “What’s going on?”
When he met her gaze, he looked ten years older. “Tell me about the men, anything you can remember.”
“Lann, you said you wouldn’t hide—”
“This is important, Katherine.”
The tenseness in his tone shut her up. She thought back to last night, trying to remember. “I saw them in the alley. They must’ve seen me entering the hotel. I fell asleep, and only woke just before dawn, when they broke down my door.”