Ben lowered the flare gun.
Evelyn clutched her bleeding arm.
“You sold us out,” she said.
Graham smiled.
“I sold everyone out. That’s why I’m still alive.”
Samuel emerged from the trees behind him.
Up close, he looked less like the man from my childhood and more like a carefully preserved ghost.
He studied my face.
“Laura’s eyes,” he said.
I wanted to spit at him.
“You murdered her.”
“She betrayed me.”
“She tried to stop you.”
“She lacked vision.”
He touched my cheek.
I recoiled.
“You belong to me, Claire.”
“No.”
“Your genetic inheritance is remarkable. Your mother was resistant longer than any subject except Rosie.”
“She died.”
“Because Richard interfered before I could complete treatment.”
