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"I think roughly a dozen remain, though I have not been able to keep track of all Talon's creations, so there could be more. Most are dead, though, or soon will be dead."
"That self-destruct button you mentioned?"
"No, the Directorate. The mob you work for are an efficient killing machine, Riley."
Which is why I was fighting like hell not to become a guardian. "So what was the aim of the original five?"
He hesitated. "To carry on and perfect our lab father's research, by whatever means needed."
It was the "by whatever means needed" bit that had me worried. Talon had certainly shown no need to follow the rules, and the man behind the crossbreeding had proven he was ready to kill to keep his secrets.
And if that was the true aim, then why place Gautier at the Directorate?
"You knew I was in that facility, didn't you?"
"Yes, but I was not responsible for you being there, nor was I the one who tended to you there."
"So who did?"
He smiled again. "I can point you to the path that will lead you to the person, but I cannot give you the name."
"Why not?"
"For the same reason Talon cannot."
I raised my eyebrows. "Talon couldn't tell us because the name has been burned from his mind. Are you saying the same thing has happened to you?"
"In a sense, yes. I know the name, but I am prevented from saying it to anyone."
"So why not just give me his address?"
"Personal details are included in the ban."
Which was a little too convenient. I finished my beer and glanced at the timer in the door panel. We had less than half an hour left. "Then explain to me why the hell the person behind all this is so determined to get his mitts on me."
"Because forty years of research has not produced a crossbreed who has fully assimilated the duel natures of their heritage the way you have. It makes you unique. Makes you desirable for research purposes."
Which was the same reason Jack had theorized about some time ago. And the fact Misha didn't mention Rhoan hopefully meant they weren't aware that he carried the very same genes. "They weren't trying to research my genes in that damn facility."
A smile touched his mouth. "Yes, they were. But the man in charge of the facility was certainly taking advantage of the situation as well. He says you owe him."
If it was a hint, it was one I didn't understand. I frowned. "So why spend all this time and money on this sort of research? Especially when both you and Talon are successful businessmen in your own right?"
He shrugged again. "It is what we were programmed to do."
"Bullshit."
He grinned. "Then how about money and power? There's a lot of both to be had for the man who unlocks the secret of a vampire's longevity, or the werewolf's ability to heal almost any wound."
"And a lot of power to be had for the man who could create an army specially designed to handle specific locations and situations." He'd said that to me once. I hadn't understood at the time he was actually feeding me a piece of the puzzle. "You could virtually name your own price."
"Exactly."
I toyed with the empty beer bottle. "The military is trying to do the same thing, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Are you involved with the military, in any way?"
