"I think we should just let Thalia contact her friend in Boston," Dean finally said. "We can send him the sample--"
"No," Tatum interrupted. "We can't let the sample out of our sight. If we're going to have it tested in Boston, at least one of us will go there."
"I just went there," Thalia said. "Franco won't help unless I personally plead with him. He won't trust any of you, even if you use my name."
Tatum didn't look the slightest bit pleased about the idea of sending her to Boston alone. Neither did Dean, who turned to her with a frown. "You can't go anywhere without backup, Doc." Dean said and turned to Tatum. "If she goes there, I'll go with her."
"And while they take care of the lab part, I will search for more details about project Taurus." Ina said.
"Project Taurus?" Thalia repeated.
Dean nodded. "Do you remember when I told you that we were sent to Catalina? Well, we were ordered to extract a man named Roger Edison, he is an American doctor who was allegedly captured by the UFF rebels. Long story short, Edison was already dead when we found him there. We also learned that he works at a private research facility that specializes in the development of biological weapons. He was in charge of something called Project Taurus, which we deduced had to do with the virus among the residents of Catalina."
"That's what I'm looking at, I tried to find more details, but it's slow-going. It's hard to hack some of its databases." said Ina, she could see the frustration on her face.
Thalia was taken aback, "Wait...are you a hacker?"
"Yeah, she's a good hacker," Pierre interrupted.
"I'm working with a friend to crack this," Ina admitted, "but we keep striking out at every turn. We need to know who else is working on project Taurus, what their goals are, and what this virus really is."
"Well, Franco can help us with that virus," Thalia answered. "He has the right knowledge on that matter."
"Then it settled," Dean said. "Doc and I will go to Boston while you stay here and dig up more details about project Taurus."
Although Tatum didn't look particularly happy about the latest development, the man didn't object.
"We need to secure papers for Thalia," Dean added. "How fast is Fernan to do those things?"
"At least twenty-four hours if we email the pictures." Pierre said and stood up. "I'll get your digital camera first."
The next thing Thalia knew, she was being ushered inside and forced to pose for several photographs in front of the white wall in the cozy living room of the beach house. Pierre did tell her to pull her hair back for some shots, for 'authenticity' whatever that means. The photo shoot didn't last long, and when it was over, she went out for a walk on the beach.
While Tatum, Ina, and Rafael entered their room. Pierre was left in the living room and focused on the laptops and monitors. She'd noticed the computers earlier, as well as the fact that the men were armed at all times. If it was nothing to Ina, but for Thalia, it reminded her of the possible danger she would face. Because the men she is with now seem like they are hiding from the law.
And now she seems to be no different from them.
She hugged herself and watched the calm sea. There is a part of her personality that she is in denial about everything that happened. She wasn't really in jeopardy, right? Maybe those soldiers didn't intend to kill her either, but did they? But even though she wanted so desperately to believe that this was nothing more than a messed-up misunderstanding, the memory of the clinic being devoured by flames rendered that impossible.
Her colleagues and patients had been murdered. And she might be dead now if it wasn't for Dean Magallon.
"You're too damn skinny."
Speaking of the devil. Thalia immediately turned around when she heard Dean's hard voice speak.
She just watched him as he slowly approached her. Shit, why is he so handsome? The white T-shirt he wore is fitted to his body. His long cargo shorts revealed a pair of muscular legs, and as he got closer, her heart seemed to be beating faster.
Distracted by his sheer sexiness, she tried to remember what he'd just said, then frowned when it sunk in. "Because I don't have time to eat when I'm at work," she said defensively.
But that is correct - Ina's dress proves that because it was loose on her. Ina was definitely packing more curves than Thalia in her chest and butt regions, but her body still has curves somehow.
"But if that's what will make you happy, then I'll eat more," she said with a smile.
Dean sat next to her, he laughed softly. "Wow."
She edged closer to the waves, her bare toes sinking in the warm, wet sand. Dean was also on his feet, and he followed her sinking his feet into the wet sand.
She pulled her skirt up over her thighs so it wouldn't get wet. "Ina is smart," she said. "I can't believe she captured the heart of a bearded man like Tatum."
Dean laughed. "Me too."
"He is sweet to that little boy, though," Thalia said. "When he's with that child, he looks so tender."
"Even though I was shocked that he also has that side. Tatum doesn't like children, but with Ina's son, the two got along so easily that they really are like father and son."
"Who is..." She hesitated.
Dean read her mind. "Who is Rafael's father?"
She nodded.
"You won't believe me if I tell you."
She was immediately curious about Rafael's father. "Well, now tell me."
"Victor Ortez."
Thalia's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm serious as a heart attack."
"Is Rafael's father really the former leader of the UFF?"
"Yes."
*****
