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"We're taking good care of Kenjii. We just didn't want her to get hurt trying to protect you."
I twitched when he said her name. I didn't want him knowing that. He had no business with her or with any part of my life.
"Maya?"
"What?"
He sighed. "All right. We'll pretend you haven't already guessed. You're my daughter."
Daniel's eyes widened. I looked away quickly.
"Did you hear me?" Antone said.
I didn't answer.
"I'm your dad, Maya."
"No, Rick Delaney is my dad. If you're saying you're my biological father, then fine. You can be that. But my dad is Rick Delaney."
"I'm sure you feel that way--"
"No, it's a fact. He raised me and--"
"And he's done a great job. I'm grateful to him and your adoptive mother. But you've reached the end of what they can do for you. You're part of a world they know nothing about. You understand that, don't you?"
"Are you sure? I saw a subject list for Project Genesis. There's a Delaney on there. Elizabeth Delaney."
"A common enough surname. She's no relation to your adoptive parents. She was a half-demon--"
"Was?"
"She's dead, Maya."
I felt a pang of grief for this girl I hadn't known, one who shared my name.
He continued, "The Edison Group killed her. That's what they do when things go wrong. In the first wave of any experiment, there are bound to be problems. But to take such extreme measures? That's unforgivable, Maya, and I won't let that happen to you. To any of you." He paused. "Serena will be the only subject they kill in Project Phoenix. You have my word on that."
"The Edison Group didn't kill Serena," I said. "If they wanted to, they'd have managed an accident a lot more believable than a champion swimmer drowning in a still lake. I don't know what happened in Buffalo, but it's different here. You guys are the only ones killing people."
"We have not--"
"Rafe Martinez? Mayor Tillson?"
"Unfortunate accidents--"
"Caused by your team setting my forest on fire and kidnapping us."
A pause. "You're upset, Maya. Nicole told us you were close to Rafe. I'm very sorry, but we're here to help you now."
I snorted. "Right. That's why you locked us in here."
"I am here to help you. You're my child--"
"No, I'm a teenage girl who happens to share your DNA, which you donated to an experiment."
"Is that what they told you? I was supposed to be your father, Maya. Apparently, your mother didn't see it that way. She took you and your brother, and I've been trying to get you back ever since."
I flinched at the mention of my mother and twin brother, but pushed it aside. "You don't work for the St. Clouds. They're the ones--"
