Marie Harte - Roane

“So they kicked you out.”

“Yes.”

Doc took off his glasses and rubbed the lenses with a corner of his white coat. “Elliot Pearl had high hopes that you would be the one to bridge the gap. You see, you were his first Circ, what we call people who have doctored abilities far beyond normal men and women.” The skin on Caitlyn’s forearms rippled, and she swore in astonishment.

“That’s part of it.” Doc pointed to her arm. “Your physical change. You see, when your father impregnated your mother, his DNA had been changed just enough to make you into something not altogether human. The injections the labs continued to give you over the years made sure that particular anomaly would manifest later on.” Caitlyn tried to keep up while forcing the ripple inside her to abate. “So I’m some kind of experiment? A product of my dad’s army days and Pearson Labs?” A freak?

“Exactly,” Doc said gently. “You’ve met Circs like yourself in Roane and the others.

Like your father, they underwent experiments in the military. Even though they volunteered, they couldn’t know what they were getting into. They, and now you, can change. Your body will grow -- you’ll get taller and develop more muscle mass. Your skin will harden, like an organic armor. You’ll grow fangs and claws, have the ability to see, hear, and smell better than you ever have before. Your instincts will be sharper and faster. The ultimate soldier, if you will.”

Caitlyn stared in shock. “Are you kidding me?”

“I’m afraid not.” Doc patted her leg. “Don’t you remember shifting in the alley? Or about your time at Kelly’s? That house you visited before coming here?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Interesting.” He turned and scribbled something in a notebook. “Caitlyn, you have no reason to trust me. But the PPA is not a good group to have after you.”

“That I believe.” She shivered, recalling the vile touch of Vincent and Simon. “Who are those guys, anyway?”

“The Project’s Protection Agency. They work for Pearson Labs, and they do whatever Elliot Pearl tells them to. Including murder.” And rape. She didn’t want to think about that. “So what now? Why does the lab want me now, after all this time? They’re the ones who told me to leave. They could have asked me back, and I would have gone, at least to see what they wanted. Why the PPA?”

“I don’t know, yet. But the squad is working on it.”

“The squad?”

“Circe’s Recruits, the squad. Roane, Hale, Derrick, Zack, and Ace. Five ex-military men who work with me to make sure Elliot and his lab play by the rules.” Caitlyn studied him with more than her eyes, using the very extra senses he mentioned. She listened to what the strange awareness inside of her wanted to do.

Leaning forward, she grabbed Doc by the shirt and brought him to her. She sniffed him, then set him back on his stool. Aware claws had sprung from a hand not her own, one twice the size of her palm, she stuttered, “You’re telling the truth. I’m not sure how I know that, but I know.” To her relief, her hand shrank, turning normal once more. Holy shit.

“It’s okay, Caitlyn. This is a lot to take in. Why don’t we start with some basic blood work while you ask me whatever it is you want to know? It won’t hurt. I promise. And once I get some samples, I can give you more answers.”

She eyed the medical paraphernalia on a steel side table. What could it hurt, especially if Doc answered her questions? The more she knew, the better. Unlike the PPA, he and his guys hadn’t hurt her. Yet.

“Okay, Doc. Do your worst. But don’t even think about tying me down while you do it.”

Doc grinned, slapped his hands together, and rubbed them. “You got it. Now lie back while I recline the table and ask away.”

Caitlyn frowned. What did she want to know first? “Tell me about Roane.”

“Ace, give me back my phone.” Kelly glared at Ace and Zack as she stood before the stove wearing a “Kiss the Cook” apron. “It’s none of your business who I talk to on my own time.”

“Ace, leave her alone,” Zack warned.

“Who the hell is Stephen Folsom? You called him three times yesterday, and he’s in your address book.”

“Let me see that.” Zack caught the phone Ace tossed him. “Answer him, Kelly.” Roane sighed and shared an exasperated look with Hale and Derrick. “Guys, leave her alone.”

“My phone?” Kelly held out her hand like a princess demanding obedience.

To Roane’s amusement, Zack and Ace grumbled their dislike of the entire situation while Zack handed it back. They stuffed their hands in their pockets and returned to the sofa, glaring between each other and Kelly all the while.

Watching the local news with the rest of the squad, they all perked up when someone reported a hit-and-run on Beach Avenue in Cape May.

“That was me,” Ace said proudly. “Fucker was so busy watching Caitlyn’s legs, he slammed into me, not the other way around. ’Course, I was a bit over the yellow lines when we hit, but the distraction worked like a charm.”

“Watch your language.” Zack smacked him in the back of the head.

Roane saw Kelly smother a grin before she turned back to the stove.

“Sorry,” Ace apologized. “Speaking of Caitlyn, where is she?”

“With Doc,” Hale answered. “He’s running tests and answering her bazillion questions.” He glanced at Kelly and leaned in toward the others. “I don’t think it needs repeating, but Caitlyn’s unaware of what went down today. So shut the hell up about it, all right?” Everyone stared at Derrick.

“Shit. Okay. Sorry, I was just surprised earlier.”

“About what?” Kelly said from behind Roane.

Damn, she was getting better at that. Sneaking around like a cat. Roane sent Derrick a warning glare.

“Ah, nothing, Kelly. Just a mix-up when we took Caitlyn in.”

“Forget about it,” Ace agreed. “Nothing for you to worry about, sweetness.” Ace gave her a lingering once-over.

“Yeah. Roane took care of her -- it. The situation,” Zack amended lamely, his gaze also trapped on her body. “Hale and Derrick helped settle her down is all.”

“Hmm,” was all Kelly said, but the tension in her slight frame eased. “Whatever.

Dinner will be ready in a few, so you might want to wash up.” When no one moved, she cleared her throat. “If you want to eat, you might want to wash up.” Growling at the pigheaded woman Roane considered an aggravating part of his little family, he waited for the others before he took his turn. His thoughts were on Caitlyn, as they’d been since he’d first spotted her in that alleyway. She’d been through a lot today. First the PPA, changing , taking him, Hale, and Derrick to bliss. Frankly, he was glad she didn’t remember it. He wanted to forget it as well. No one but Roane would touch her again, dammit. She belonged to him.

“Roane, you need to relax,” Hale murmured and nudged him aside. “Your eyes aren’t right, man. I know the female freaks you out, but hold it together, at least through dinner.” Roane gritted his teeth, not as amused as Hale seemed to be. “What the fuck’s so funny?”

“Not a thing, man. Nothing to laugh about when a tough-ass Circ gets his wires fried by a woman. No sirree.”

“Asshole.” Roane pushed past him and cleaned up. When he returned to the kitchen, he found it empty. Everyone was seated in the large dining room, including Doc and Caitlyn.

She looked worn out, though she put on a smiling face.

“Hi, Kelly. Nice to meet you.” Caitlyn shook Kelly’s hand.

Kelly sat on one side of her, Doc on the other. The jealous beast inside Roane eased as he sat at the foot of the table with the others.