Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
“Holy shit, Gray. That’s a lot of pressure. All we can ever do is what we feel is right.”
When I thought about the abilities Gray and Keaton both possess, it blew my mind. They were superhuman, but in reality, even without them they are still superhuman. Their minds are their true power, and it’s a power Gray wrestles with daily.
“If only it was so easy.” He pushes back from his chair. “Are you finished?” I nod, taking his offered hand. “Let me show my little mouse what she’s so curious about.” He leads me through the house and back up the stairs. When he pushes the painting aside, he nods toward it. “Go on. Put your hand on it,” he encourages.
“It will work for me?”
“Yes, I had you added after I saw you poking around.”
I glance over my shoulder at him. “Why?”
“Because this could also be used as a safe room if needed. It is one of the most secure places in the world.” I reach out and put my hand on the screen, and it lights up as it outlines my hand before flashing green. “Drop your hand and lean in.” I do as he says and step closer so it can scan my face next.
“Access granted,” the house says, and Gray pushes the painting back as the doors open on their own.
“What the heck?” I step closer only to see a metal room.
“In.” He gives my ass a smack, and I jump as I step into what I now realize is an elevator.
The doors close, and then it feels like we’re going underground. When the elevator stops, the doors slide open on their own, and my mouth falls open.
“I knew it!” I’d been right. “You do have a secret lab.”
Chapter Twelve
GRAY
“What is all this?” Jade asks as she looks around.
“Years of research.” I follow behind her as she goes over to one of the large screens where I keep notes while I’m working. “This was my father’s, and when he became worse, I took over. Then after I dosed myself, it became the place where I could hide.”
“That must have been so lonely.” When she turns to face me, I see the pity in her eyes, and I don’t want her pitying me.
“It was my choice. Besides, what options did I have when I wanted to study the drug myself? I couldn’t exactly run out in public after I took it.” I turn on the screen so she can see the huge panel of notes I’ve written. “I’ve come a long way in isolating the components, but I still don’t have a way to predict their volatility. Giving myself Formula X wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve done.”
“You think?” Jade’s voice is dripping with sarcasm, but she softens it by sliding her hand into mine. I could have died the same as my father. Back then, I hadn’t cared. I didn’t have anything to lose.
“But in doing so, I’ve gotten more data, which in the long run benefits science.”
She’s quiet for a long moment as she looks over what I’ve written. “I guess I just don’t understand.”
I glance up at where her eyes wandered and try to point out the method. “So here is where I was able to—”
“No, not that.” When I look down at her, she shrugs. “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t team up with Keaton Lone and the work he and his father have done since his accident. That’s years of untapped research that might be your missing pieces.”
“The Lones are the reason my father and I were put in this position.” I don’t let go of her hand as I take a seat on the stool next to me. This puts us at almost the same height, and she moves to stand in front of me. “I couldn’t trust them.” It’s been easy to direct my anger there. I’ve been almost obsessive about it.
She thinks it over for a second and then seems to come to a decision. “Did you have anything to do with the fire at the Lone lab?”
“No,” I answer honestly. “I have my own vendetta against Keaton’s father Nash, but that fire didn’t come from me. I do believe that it came from the same people who are trying to hurt you.” I’ve gotten us all into this mess. I’m not sure why they went after Keaton. What I’ve been working on with them has nothing to do with Formula X. No one should know about that except us. I need to finish it.
“Then what’s your plan? You say that you don’t trust them and that you won’t combine your testing results.” She puts her hands on my face and looks deeply into my eyes. “I can’t believe that the man who has opened up to me and shown me all of this lacks the capacity for forgiveness. And at the very least, allowing them an opportunity to help.”