Absolution of Fate (Fate Series Book 3) by S. Simone Chavous Page A

Martinez’s ability, so there was no way he could guard against it. “I’m not really sure what happened; you were here with one of the doctors, he went in, and you left. A few minutes later the alarm started.”

    As much as he wanted to be pissed, Commander Claesson knew that Smith hadn’t done anything wrong. There weren’t any signs that the prisoners had escaped, so they were just going to have to wait for the system to reset. Meanwhile, a number of fucked up scenarios were running through the Commander’s head, all of which involved his own men, and made his eye twitch.

    Cami let out a sigh of relief at hearing Smith’s explanation. For whatever reason, he’d decided to leave out the fact that she and Jared just happened to have replaced the assigned blood courier within an hour of the disturbance; not that it was proof of their involvement on its own, but it wouldn’t take much digging for a man like Claesson to put all the pieces together. Now she would at least be able to find out what had happened on the other side of the door they were all watching with fear and anticipation, before she had to deal with the consequences of her involvement.

    She had to assume that Dante and Martinez were still inside; no amount of altered security footage or omitted details could hide their part now. The plan was for them to sneak back out under the cover of Martinez’s mist when the next scientist entered; regardless of what happened with Ethan and Alexa, they were going to lock her in. If that had been the case, the scientist inside wouldn’t have pulled the alarm. He would have alerted the Commander and other researchers more discreetly. The alarm indicated that he felt that there was an immediate threat that needed to be contained.
    ✧
    After what felt like an eternity, the alarm stopped and the system reset. Everyone in the hallway, soldiers and civilians alike, looked around at one another with expressions of anxiety and expectation.

    Without a word, Commander Claesson flashed to the door where several of the resident scientists were already gathered, and checked the weapon in his hands, which was loaded with heavy tranquilizers, and then his side arm, which was loaded with actual bullets. He prayed that he wouldn’t need the back-up gun. Claesson quickly entered the security code and lowered his head for the retinal scan to gain entry to the containment unit. “Dr. Jones, come with me, everyone else wait here,” he ordered as the door slid open and immediately closed behind them before anyone could object.

    Cami pushed her way to the entrance, with Jared close on her heels. “Fuck!” she yelled, startling most of the people in the general vicinity.  

    Jared reached up and stroked her temple gently, indicating that he wanted to hear what she was thinking.

    Cami sighed and looked up into his eyes. As hard as it was for her, she was learning to be vulnerable with him, to let him see and hear what was in her head and heart.

    I’m so afraid of what we’re going to find in there. I’m not sure I can bare it if Alexa was wrong, if Ethan isn’t cured. They could all be infected now, or worse.

    Jared pulled her into his arms, surprised by how willingly she came, given all the people surrounding them, and kissed the top of her head. He understood her fears; he shared them.  

    If Ethan or Layla were out of their cells, it was more than likely that Commander Claesson would have no choice but to use deadly force against them, given the great advantages of strength and speed the infection gave them. Not to mention the fact that Ethan was already stronger and faster than any vampire the ancient Commander had ever encountered. With the short amount of time that had passed and the lack of human blood to fuel the transformation, if the others were infected, they would be easily incapacitated by the tranquilizers and, though their use could have damaging effects on their transitioning bodies, it was better than