Page 173 of Beautiful Venom

“You do enough by spying on our team,” Julian speaks in a cutting tone.

“Spy?” I ask, dumbfounded.

Julian motions at the lab. “Isn’t that what all the DNA tests are for? Is there a pharmaceutical company that paid you enough to extract our players’ DNA so they could dig into their genetics and possibly use that information to produce athletic supplements? Or perhaps target them? For your own safety, it better not be the latter.”

My mouth hangs open.

How the hell did they know about the DNA tests? Have they known for some time but kept it under wraps to…what? Why are they confronting me about it at this stage?

“Now, Julian.” Grant squeezes his shoulder. “Dahlia is notthatsophisticated. Her DNA tests were only forensic in nature, so she’s just being a little Sherlock, that’s all.”

I swallow.

The walls feel like they’re trapping me, their white color resembling a blindfold.

They’re going to hurt me.

I feel it. Deep down.

This is what happens when I get too close to the sun.

“In that case,” Julian says. “What are you investigating?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I speak in a voice that’s so steady, I don’t recognize it.

“Miss Thorne.” Julian walks toward me with a leisurely pace, then stops a few steps away, his voice and eyes stabbing me in place. “My family dominates the pharmaceutical and medical industries, running large medical complexes and cutting-edge research labs. We are key players in drug development, healthcare innovation, and medical technology. We hold patents that affect the treatment and health of countless individuals. I know of every single piece of research, test, and even accidental findings that happen in our labs. Including this one. Especially when my brother’s DNA is involved. So you know exactly what I’m talking about, and you will tell me the reason if you wish to leave in one piece.”

Goosebumps prickle over my skin, and the only thought in my mind is to run.

Get as far as possible from here.

God. Talk about some fucked-up genes.

Julian might not be physically aggressive like his brother, but he’s equally hostile.

I feel like he’ll bring out a gun and shoot me between the eyes.

“Tell him, Dahlia,” Grant says while leaning against the wall. “It’s forensic, no? Possibly related to your foster sister’s recent case? Violet Winters, if I remember correctly. What did Detective Collins say? Right, they found traces of human skin under her fingernails, but they couldn’t identify it. With that, the only evidence that could be used to locate her assailant is useless. You’re just trying to do what the police couldn’t accomplish.”

The room spins.

My head aches.

And I feel as if the ceiling will break and crush me.

He knows.Everything.

He’s in direct contact with the detective. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in Grant’s pocket.

“Why?” the word spills out in a whisper.

“Why what?” Grant asks.

“Why did you wait until now? You…obviously knew what I was doing.”

“Julian wanted you dead after the first DNA test you did, but since you didn’t communicate with any rival companies and merely seemed to be comparing them to another DNA sample, I asked him to wait and see where this was going. Especially since you seemed interesting enough for my son to insist on protecting you.” Grant strides toward me and stands beside Julian. “In hindsight, I should’ve eliminated you before you grew into a pesky problem.”

“I’ll leave it to you,” Julian tells Grant. “I want her banned from all Callahan property. Including the hospital.”

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