Peter powered up his laptop, ignoring my comment. “It’s possible the chip moved. Just like it did with yours, Sam. Other than surgery, we could try a procedure I used on Sam to dissolve his device with sodium hydroxide. But until I know more about shifter physiology, I don’t want to risk it. Greta, when you shift, is the process controlled by the brain or more on instinct?” Peter asked.
The she-wolf lifted dark eyebrows. “Emotions, instinct, and a full moon can spur it on, but that’s more for the younger wolves,” she said. “Healing-wise, our process isn’t as quick as with bloodsuckers. You have to keep in mind that we’re not exactly immortal. Also, our kryptonite is wolfsbane. As far as sodium hydroxide, I wouldn’t give you the green light to use that on Dane. You can consult with Dr. Hammond when she arrives.”
“Jo, can you hold the headgear steady on Dane, please?” Peter asked. “I want to check if the device has been activated. Then do an MRI.”
“You can’t send him to a human hospital,” I said. “But maybe a veterinarian.”
“Our new wing now has an MRI machine,” Jo said, like I should know this.
I cocked an eyebrow. “I’ve missed a bunch since I’ve been gone.”
Jo held the headgear steady. “Dad is moving ahead as fast as he can. We break ground in the spring for the new school as well. He’s also purchased a parcel of land outside the south gate where the abandoned textile company is. We’ll be expanding even more.”
And all it took for us to change and grow was my ugly mug on TV, which had started a viral awakening about the fact that we existed, as well as Adam’s news conference proving that vampires lived among humans.
Peter banged on a few more keys, pushed up his glasses with his middle finger, and leaned closer to his computer screen. “The chip hasn’t been activated. I’m pretty sure it moved, which is affecting him.”
Jo adjusted Dane’s IV. “Dane has blood in his eyes. I suspect he took a hard blow to the head.”
“That would definitely cause the device to move,” Peter mumbled.
I dropped several expletives under my breath. Humans might be able to swallow one supernatural creature, but throw in another one, and hunters would have a field day.
23
LAYLA
Sam and I were winding our way from our apartment to the infirmary. Dr. Vieira had texted me earlier to let me know Jordyn was on-site. I had a couple of hours before I officially started my new job working for Steven. It was a rather big day. As my first assignment, I was meeting reporter Violet Keller. The topics included me and the public’s follow-up questions after the interview with Steven, Sam, and Eugene. Plus, I was giving her a tour of the naval base.
Steven suggested that I didn’t need to jump into the new role until I was settled and Jordyn was up and about, but I insisted otherwise. I had to feel like I was contributing, and I believed in Steven and his vision that vampires could coexist among humans.
Happy, giddy, and nervous was how I would describe my state of mind. Those emotions had formed into one big knot in my stomach, twisting into a super tight ball. Would I screw up the interview? Would I puke on camera? I wasn’t fond of public speaking or having someone tape me.
I yawned as my high heels clicked along the tiled floor in the never-ending hallway. I’d barely slept, although the bourbon had helped to relax me. But the minute I’d fallen asleep on the couch while waiting for Sam to come home, Ellie woke me, then Luna started crying. Trying to feed two babies at once was quite the challenge, but when the four of them were hungry, it was impossible. The job of caring for quadruplets would require two nannies. Agnes and Abbey were babysitting today. But long-term, we had to find someone we could trust. I couldn’t always rely on family. They had their own lives.
I can do this. I won’t screw up.Just focus on Violet and not the camera, just like you did with her in Bozeman, Montana.I’d gone on TV simply to encourage bystanders outside the Pacific Dome Casino to clear the area. My paternal grandmother had a wild idea to do a TV interview to lure Sam to the casino rigged with C-4 in her failed attempt to kill him.
“You’re going to do great.” Sam’s husky tone cut through the mental pep talk I was giving myself.
He, too, was beginning his new position as training instructor, and he was dressed for the part as well. His short-sleeved black Navy SEAL T-shirt stretched across his broad chest and showed off his bulging biceps. Cargo pants hung low on his hips with weapons strapped in strategic places.
My lady parts throbbed every time I set my gaze on him. To quote nurse Isaac, “I just love a man in uniform.”
Sam gave me a sidelong glance, sweeping his luminous forest-green eyes up and down my body. “And if I haven’t told you already, you look smoking hot in that outfit. I’m picturing you wearing nothing but those high heels while I fuck you.”
My cheeks burned hotter than a furnace as I slipped my phone into my sweater pocket. Sam had been ogling me since I’d walked out of the bedroom in my black A-line skirt, a sleeveless red-and-white silk blouse beneath a soft white sweater, and black pumps with two-inch heels. While in Boston, I’d had a chance to buy three outfits in preparation for my new job.
I playfully swatted at him. “I don’t need to be flustered thinking about your dick while Violet is asking me questions.”
He pouted. “But we haven’t finished what we started before we were rudely interrupted last night.”
“Barring any more unforeseen emergencies, maybe we can resume our tryst after the babies are asleep. I’ll even prance around our bedroom in nothing but these shoes.”
He adjusted the package growing in his pants. “I want to fuck you right now.”
As we turned a corner, I scanned the area to see if anyone was around even though I knew no one was. The fourth floor of the building consisted of our apartment on one end and the infirmary on the other, with quite a distance between.
“Dane’s having surgery, right?” I asked, knowing the answer, but it would divert Sam’s attention away from sex—although if he wanted to find a room and have a quickie, I would probably roll over like an excited puppy and have him rub more than my belly.
