Passionate Immunity Read Online Free Page A

silver meant nothing. He had age, experience and knowledge. A bullet in his shoulder couldn’t take that from him, nor could a traitorous bitch like Emma Henley.
    Feeling rejuvenated, Tristan dumped the papers onto the conference table and took a seat opposite Lucas. The blond looked overwhelmed.
    “Where the hell do we start?” he moaned. Tristan chuckled and picked up the nearest manila folder.
    “At the start, my boy,” Tristan replied. “Let’s get these folders in chronological order and work from there. If we both scan the files we can brainstorm from there.”
    Sighing, Lucas agreed and the two men set to work.
     
    * * * *
     
    “Here’s another case file,” Lucas said distractedly. “Jeremy Bowman. Male, Caucasian, age twenty-seven.”
    “Add him to the pile,” Tristan replied with a sinking sensation in his stomach. Hell. That made four references to individuals and they were barely halfway through the reams of paper. He ran a hand through his hair.
    “Is there more data this time?” he asked Lucas, hope flickering in his gut. The small flame spluttered as Lucas shook his head.
    “No, man, just an admittance form and half-page of indecipherable scrawl like the others.”
    “Damn it. There must be more data somewhere,” Tristan muttered. “My instinct is screaming at me. These four patients are pivotal somehow. We just need to put them in the right part of the puzzle.”
    “Heads up,” Lucas replied. “Incoming, mate.”
    His mind still submerged in the mental puzzle before him, Tristan lifted his eyes to glance out of the wall of windows from the Conference Room into the office at large. It took him half a minute to compute what his gaze showed him. By the time he realised Preston was leading his ‘Civilian Consultant’ their way the large, dark man had already opened the door for the petite, curvy blonde woman. A head full of spiralling curls bounced as she walked, eagerness sparkling from her like an electric current.
    Her grin was so wide Tristan felt surprised it didn’t have the power to light up the entire city block.
    “Gentlemen,” Preston boomed in his deep voice. He halted in the threshold.
    Both Tristan and Lucas stood politely.
    “This is Kimberly Melmoth, the scientist I informed you of earlier this morning. She will be assisting you in going over these papers. Kimber, this is Lucas Sloan and Tristan Walters. Please listen to them. They’ll stop you doing anything…impulsive.”
    Tristan couldn’t swear to it later, but he thought he heard ever so faintly under Preston’s breath a murmured “I hope” after his last word.
    Kimberly had reached out to shake Lucas’ hand while Preston had introduced them. Then she turned her full focus onto Tristan, smiled blindingly at him and reached out her hand. Unable to help himself, he found an answering smile crease his face. Leaning forward he reached out and clasped Kimber’s palm in his. Tristan wrapped his fingers around her skin, conscious of her long, slender digits feeling warm against him.
    Heat—potent and fierce—gripped his body. Kimberly’s eyes were a warm, bright shade of blue reminiscent of a Fiji lagoon. Energy hummed beneath her skin, an excitement so visceral she practically vibrated with it. The woman clearly felt thrilled to be a part of this mission. Her pale skin was delicately flushed, whether from her enjoyment of her new job or their contact he had no clue.
    “I’m so pleased to meet you,” she spoke, her voice breathless. Their gaze held a moment longer than was usual, both of them seemingly unable to break the contact. Tristan had never felt such an instant snap of connection to anyone before. The chemistry was immediate and intense.
    For the first time Tristan felt at a loss for words. Preston’s tone broke through the haze.
    “As I’ve already explained at length to Kimber, this is predominantly a paper- and report-based job. At this stage there is no need for any of you to leave this room,