Genesis (Extinction Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

I expected,” she said and laughed as confusion passed over his face unchecked.
    “His circuits are still misfiring.” Mittie looked up at Ling and returned a smile. It hadn’t been that long ago since Ling had been hit with a similar contraband weapon.
    “He certainly isn’t handling it as well as you did. Still,” she turned to watch the man try to clear his head, “he is handling it better than most.”
    “Mr. Dumerick.” Ling had long since put his gun away. He stepped toward the man with hands raised, palms out. “We do not have much time. We need to know if the device you stole is safe, or if it has already been taken.”
    When Dumerick spoke, the words seemed to fall from numbed lips. It made Mittie Kate smile. “You’re not with Grey.”
    “No, Max,” Ling answered. “We are not.”
    Mittie Kate smiled and patted Max on the leg, making him flinch. “Let’s just say that for the past forty years or so, we have tasked ourselves with protecting basic human rights. There has always been evil in the world. That little device you have, Max, is the ultimate manifestation of evil. It is the only thing remaining of the Genesis Project, and we are here to destroy it.”
    Max leaned forward and braced himself on his knees, not making eye contact with either of them. Ling cocked his head to one side and said, “Mittie Kate, I believe our new friend knows exactly what the device does. Is that why you shot your partner, Max? Is that why you ran with it?”
    Still not making eye contact, Max snorted a caustic laugh. “I don’t give a rat’s furry ass about human rights or anyone else.” Max struggled for a minute to get the cuffs under his ass and around his legs so that his hands were in front of him. “That device will fetch a hell of a price on the black market.”
    Mittie Kate pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. His wrists were raw where the electric current from the tazer had been attracted to the metal of his handcuffs, he’d broken the skin getting his hands in front of him, he stank, and he looked like he’d just come off a week long bender. The kid had nothing to be cocky about, but he sure was putting on a good show.
    She stood up and walked to the open cell door. “I can give you so much more than what you’d get from the black market. I’ve seen your file. Men like you, with your particular brand of skills, would be awfully handy to a cause such as ours. Are you interested?”
    Before he could answer, a pressure-driven hum filled the basement. Mittie Kate and Ling stepped into the corridor, their eyes on the open doorway at the head of the stairs. Forcing his legs to obey his commands, Max joined them.
    Ling smiled. “Time’s up.”

6
     
    Mel gripped the door frame to her daughter’s bedroom, hard enough to leave small crescent indentations from her fingernails. Pressing her forehead against the cool wood of the door, she fought the urge to yank it open and take her baby into her arms one last time. If she did, she would never leave.
    Dr. Detre Marlo had been blessed with two daughters and a son, with Jene, his wife of ten years. According to Tom, when the attack came there had been no warning and no mercy. The entire family had ceased to exist in a matter of minutes. If the bastards could do something like that, it was doubtful Eve’s beautiful innocence would give them pause.
    She couldn’t make her daughter a target. Not when Mel couldn’t be a hundred percent sure she could protect her. Dropping off the grid when she’d discovered she was pregnant was one thing. Staying hidden when she knew there was a bull’s-eye painted on her back was another, especially when the hunters were as powerful as Grey. The only way to stop them was to make herself untouchable. And make Ryan and Eve unprofitable in the process.
    Wiping the tears off her face, she grabbed only what she could carry in her saddlebags, and dropped the burn phone on the counter. A small red light flashed,