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“And to think, you were a zombie the whole time you worked for Saberton. That’s absolutely hysterical.” She did a little golf clap. “Congratulations on pulling off such a delicate undercover job for so long. I can’t say Nicole is pleased with your little charade, though.”
Pierce simply nodded—the safest reply considering Saberton CEO Nicole Saber and the real Pierce Gentry had spent the last couple of years in a torrid affair.
Kristi glanced my way as Jacques finished taking the pint. “Perfect timing. I need blood from other zombies as well so I can establish proper norms. Pierce, how about you go first? Just one little tube.”
I held my breath. Surely he wouldn’t let Kristi get her hands on the blood of a mature zombie.
A muscle in Pierce’s jaw twitched. “You don’t need anything from me. There are other zombies here.”
One-Ear Guard snorted. “Pussy.”
“You’re a pussy!” I declared, leaping to Pierce’s defense both figuratively and literally. Pierce was a lot of things—asshole, jerk, prick—but definitely not a pussy.
Kristi’s eyes shone with amusement. “Now, now, Fritz, we should be more understanding of Pierce’s anxieties.”
“I don’t have anxiety,” Pierce growled.
“If you say so.” Her lips pursed. “You’ve never suffered from shyness either, so I don’t understand this whole tall-dark-and-brooding thing you have going on now.”
Pierce exchanged a long look with Dr. Nikas, then he jerked his shoulders up in a shrug. “Fine. I’ll give you a damn sample.”
Kristi gestured grandly to the chair I’d vacated and gave him a sly look. “Remember that time Nicole asked you to take your shirt off in the middle of a meeting? You didn’t even hesitate. Perhaps you’d be willing to give us a repeat performance? Far better than simply rolling up your sleeve.”
“I was undercover and playing my part,” he said but then, to my astonishment, he gave her a cocky wink and tugged his shirt from his waistband. “But I’ll oblige if it’ll shut you up.”
Her smile widened. “Ah, yes. There’s the Pierce Gentry we know and love so well.”
I watched, unease rising. Maybe he didn’t want to raise suspicion by acting too different from the original Pierce Gentry’s personality. But why would he give Kristi access to mature zombie blood, even if she didn’t know what she had?
Pierce pulled the shirt off, exposing chiseled abs and a powerful chest sprinkled with dark, curly hair, wide lats that tapered down to a narrow waist, and arms with the perfect amount of muscle. Whuf. Pierce might be over a thousand years old, but holy shit goddamn he looked good half-naked.
Jesus. I was salivating over Pierce. “Well, it’s been weird,” I said, slapping my confused libido down, “but I have to go.”
“But Angel, dear,” Kristi said, “I need more samples.”
“Yeah, well, I need to get to work. Besides, Jacques already siphoned a whole pint of blood from me.”
“And yet your body is made up of so much more than blood, isn’t it?”
Dr. Nikas looked up from the tablet. “Blood is sufficient for our current needs, Kristi.”
She sniffed but didn’t argue the point.
I shot Dr. Nikas a look of gratitude. “I’ll come back after work.”
“Not necessary,” Kristi said, waving in dismissal. “I only needed you here for the samples.”
Dr. Nikas held up a placating hand before I could deliver a scathing retort. “Angel is an experienced lab assistant. I need her here.”
“Fine. She can come.” Her smile turned feral. “Besides, I suppose it would be more convenient to have you close by in case I need even more samples.”
Dr. Nikas moved to me and took my hand. “Thank you for coming in so early.” He pressed a folded piece of paper into my palm.
“No problem,” I said and casually slipped the paper into my pocket. “See you later.” I sauntered out, waved to Billy in the lobby, and didn’t look at the secret message until I was in my car.
Jacques will switch Pierce’s blood sample once away from the other tech. No need to fret.
I let out a sigh of relief. Silly me. I should have known Dr. Nikas would take care of things.
