Kissing Sin

you wolf, or part vampire, like Talon?'

'All wolf.'

'Then why not clone yourself a mirror image?'

'Because, for all its advances, cloning still carries too many risks—risks I'd rather not inflict on any offspring of mine. And, as I said to you not so long ago, I am not involved in the cloning side of the research.'

'But you are involved in the crossbreeding.'

'No. My companies undertake research to discover the secrets of a vampire's long life.'

And now I knew why—he was dying. And just in case he didn't discover the secret in time, he wanted a kid to carry his genes and his name.

It was a desire I could sympathize with—which made me wonder just how much he was playing me.

'Given Talon was running Moneisha and Genoveve, does that mean another lab brother runs the crossbreeding facility?'

He hesitated. 'Not exactly.'

'Meaning?'

He simply smiled, so I tried a different tack, 'just how many of you clones are there?' We knew that there was one other, at least, besides Misha, but who knew how many Talon had gotten around to releasing?

He chuckled softly. 'Not as many as you seem to think. All up, if you include Talon, there are five of the original cloning attempts left.'

'Meaning, non-Talon clones?'

He nodded.

So, given Gautier was one, that left two we didn't know about. 'What about the Talon-created clones?'

'I think roughly a dozen remain, though I have not been able to keep track of all Talon's creations, so there could be more. Most are dead, though, or soon will be dead.'

'That self-destruct button you mentioned?'

'No, the Directorate. The mob you work for are an efficient killing machine, Riley.'

Which is why I was fighting like hell not to become a guardian. 'So what was the aim of the original five?'

He hesitated. 'To carry on and perfect our lab father's research, by whatever means needed.'

It was the 'by whatever means needed' bit that had me worried. Talon had certainly shown no need to follow the rules, and the man behind the crossbreeding had proven he was ready to kill to keep his secrets.

And if that was the true aim, then why place Gautier at the Directorate?

'You knew I was in that facility, didn't you?'

'Yes, but I was not responsible for you being there, nor was I the one who tended to you there.'

'So who did?'

He smiled again. 'I can point you to the path that will lead you to the person, but I cannot give you the name.'

'Why not?'

'For the same reason Talon cannot.'

I raised my eyebrows. 'Talon couldn't tell us because the name has been burned from his mind. Are you saying the same thing has happened to you?'

'In a sense, yes. I know the name, but I am prevented from saying it to anyone.'

'So why not just give me his address?'

'Personal details are included in the ban.'

Which was a little too convenient. I finished my beer and glanced at the timer in the door panel. We had less than half an hour left. 'Then explain to me why the hell the person behind all this is so determined to get his mitts on me.'

'Because forty years of research has not produced a crossbreed who has fully assimilated the duel natures of their heritage the way you have. It makes you unique. Makes you desirable for research purposes.'

Which was the same reason Jack had theorized about some time ago. And the fact Misha didn't mention Rhoan hopefully meant they weren't aware that he carried the very same genes. 'They weren't trying to research my genes in that damn facility.'

A smile touched his mouth. 'Yes, they were. But the man in charge of the facility was certainly taking advantage of the situation as well. He says you owe him.'

If it was a hint, it was one I didn't understand. I frowned. 'So why spend all this time and money on this sort of research? Especially when both you and Talon are successful businessmen in your own right?'

He shrugged again. 'It is what we were programmed to do.'

'Bullshit.'

He grinned. 'Then how about money and power? There's a lot of both to be had for the man who unlocks the secret of a vampire's longevity, or the werewolf's ability to heal almost any wound.'

'And a lot of power to be had for the man who could create an army specially designed to handle specific locations and situations.' He'd said that to me once. I hadn't understood at the time he was actually feeding me a piece of the puzzle. 'You could virtually name your own price.'

'Exactly.'

I toyed with the empty beer bottle. 'The military is trying to do the same thing, isn't it?'

'Yes.'

'Are you involved with the military, in any way?'

'Not me personally.'

'Your company?'

'No.'

'Your fellow clones?'

'Sort of.'

Well, that was helpful. 'Give me a starting place, then.'

He raised an eyebrow. 'Not without setting terms. Not without a down payment.'

Annoyance rushed through me. 'You'll get your down payment when I get proof that you're playing it straight.'

'Not good enough, Riley. Not when I'm risking my life by even being seen with you.'

'You keep saying this, but why would they kill you when they obviously need you?'

'Because my part in the grandeur scheme is only minor. And right now, I'm walking the line of being more a hindrance than a help.'

I didn't believe him. Not this time. I had a suspicion he was doing this for reasons that were purely personal. And while I had no doubt he was telling the truth as far as the reasons for wanting a kid went, I also had no doubt there was more to it than that.

Like maybe playing both sides of the fence until he knew for sure who would be the victor.

'If that's the case, how the hell are you going to be my only way out of a return to those damn research pens?'

'Because I have something he wants.'

The cold satisfaction in his voice sent a chill down my spine. 'What's that?'

He raised an eyebrow. 'I swear on the moon that I can, if I want, keep you safe from another attack. Is that enough of a pledge?'

'It would be, if I believed it.'

'The lack of attacks will be proof enough.'

My fingers tightened around the neck of the beer bottle, but I resisted the urge to throw it at his head. 'So, if I agree to your terms, you'll get the dogs called off, but not before?'

'Precisely.'

I blew out a breath. 'What are your terms?'

'No other wolf but me.' His silver eyes gleamed fiercely in the candlelight. 'Which means steering well clear of that damn alpha I saw you with earlier.'

Like hell. 'Everyone but that wolf I was with tonight. He's chipped, so he's no threat that way, and if I stop all contact with wolves other than you, your watchers will be suspicious.'