Free Time Eternal by Lily Worthington Page A

James in his tracks. “Wait.”
    “Yes, is there something else I can get for you?”
    “For starters, you could return my first cup of coffee. Don’t think I do not know about your DNA technology. If you want a sample of my DNA, all you need is to ask.” With lightning speed, Rei jerked a small blade out from his boot.
    A small chaos erupted. Butch now stood between Rei and the director, and Knox pressed his submachine gun between Rei’s eyes.
    Damn he had underestimated them. They were better than good.
    Rei smiled easily. “I’m impressed. For a mild-mannered doctor, you are fast and precise.” But he was faster. In less than a blink of the eye, he sliced a small puncture wound on his thumb and held the swelling blood to the director’s assistant. “Take this along with the coffee. The answer you seek will be in your DNA test, just like the results from the tests done on Skyla twelve years ago.”
    Knox’s face frowned in confusion. Interesting. The good doctor didn’t know about the test nor what had happened twelve years ago.
    “Take them and compare them with the same tests done on Skyla. Let me know as soon as the results are available and verified.” The director nodded her consent.
    Mr. James efficiently wiped off his blood with a tissue and swiftly left the room—along with his coffee cup.
    “Now, Mr. Dusan, what other proof do you have of this assassination plot?”
    “None whatsoever. You can choose not to believe me, and I’ll take Skyla by force. Or you can choose to assign Skyla, and Skyla only, to work with me to stop the assassination. Either way, I will not be leaving here without her.” He answered simply, matter-of-factly, brooking no argument.
    Director Jensen’s expression remained neutral. He could feel Knox’s body subtly shifting into an offensive combat mode. After witnessing Knox and Skyla’s intimate interaction in the lab earlier, Rei knew there was more than friendship between the two. But he would not allow anything or anyone to stand between him and Elizabeth again. Ready to do battle, Rei slid his folded saber down his sleeve and extended it in to its full lethal length with lightning speed. “Mr. Sittler, I suggest you listen to your director and put your weapon down. You don’t want to accidentally shoot yourself.”
    Knox’s eyes narrowed, coolly assessing him and his quiet threat. Just as fast as he was with his saber, Knox set down his submachine gun and charged at him. His speed was almost a blur. Rei barely ducked the coming blows in time. Knox was a worthy adversary, strong and agile. He kept a cool head, methodically attacking Rei without giving himself any undue disadvantage. Rei respected that a lot. He had no intention of harming anyone here yet, so he chose to fight defensively without pursuing any offensive move.
    “Stop. That’s enough.” Somehow the petite director saw an opening and managed to step between them. She turned to him first. “We’ll discuss this further after the test results are back.” Then she turned to Knox. “Stand down, Agent Sittler.” Her voice was low but firm, expecting absolute obedience. Rei still held his saber at his side and didn’t relax his stand until the good agent took a step away. Knox’s tight expression clearly showed that he was still mad as hell and wouldn’t hesitate to tear Rei limb from limb. If he’d been a wise man, he would just let that go, but instead, Rei snarled at him. “She’s mine. No one will stand between us again.”
    Unexpectedly, a blast of searing energy hit him again. He stifled a hiss from the singing, fiery sensation and looked squarely into Knox’s eyes. Gone was the shade of crystal blue. They were now flashing with a swirl of dark, stormy blue. What the hell was that? Rei knew the good doctor was more than what everyone thought he was. And he so didn’t need any sideshow right now. He made a mental note to have his men check out Knox Sittler in detail.
    The director