Page 11 of Claimed
She sat back against her seat. “But he is safe.” Her expression indicated that she had no doubt about that.
“If he is, then I’ll make sure you’re able to communicate with him. But right now, your safety is what’s important to me.”
She stared at Jasper for several moments.
“Kat, if you are my sister, which I believe you are,then you can’t go back to where you were.” He glanced at her. “Your life will never be the same. You’re a Christmas, and that means your care is in my hands, at least until I know you’re not in any danger.”
She blinked at him as if processing everything he had just said. I could only imagine being in her shoes. Here was this beautiful, powerful man saying that his mission was to protecther. But he wasn’t a lover or an admirer—he was her brother. He was family. Finally, she sighed as if letting go then folded her arms as she adjusted in her seat.
“Okay, but I’m just going to rest because I don’t feel well.” She closed her eyes.
Jasper and I looked at each other through the rearview mirror. My gentle smile was my way of letting him know that I was proud of the wayhe’d handled what could have been a catastrophe. He winked, and all I wanted to do was make out with him until our lips fell off. But I continued to smolder, not taking my eyes off him. Every now and then, he would take a break from concentrating on the road to meet and mirror my gaze. I only ripped my eyes off him when my phone chimed again, letting me know that I had another message.
“You should turn off your phone, babe. It’s dangerous for you to have it on.”
“Or maybe you can throw her phone down the drain too,” Kat said with her head still resting on the top of the seat.
“What is it, Holly?” Jasper asked, watching me scratch my temple.
I was wondering what to do next. The text had been from Rich, the lab technician who ran the DNA tests on the Christmases.My morning had been so full that I forgot I’d put my phone in Do Not Disturb mode, which only gave individuals I deemedcritical contactsaccess to me. Rich was one of those people. His voicemail and text messages were simply, “I need to talk to you about 4834.” The number was code for one of my samples that triggered an FBI investigation.”
“Babe, what’s going on?” Jasper asked.
“It’s the lab.” I started texting Rich back.
Jasper had said thank you to the other person he had been communicating with through his earpods. Our vehicle had picked up speed, and we were now driving across the East River. After asking Rich if I could call him, I looked up to see that we had just left Queens. Jasper had taken service roads all the way here. For the first time since gettingrid of Kat’s phone, he was driving with intention. However, I caught him watching me expectantly. I raised a finger, signaling that he should wait.
“So the two of you are a couple?” Kat asked out of the blue.
Jasper glanced at her in the passenger seat. Then he watched me again through the rearview mirror. “Why don’t you answer, babe?” he finally said.
I smirked just as myphone dinged. Rich was ready for me to call right then and there.
“We’re a thing,” I said and speed-dialed Rich.
“There you have it,” Jasper said.
“So how did you meet?” Kat asked.
The line rang. “Excuse me, Kat. I have an important call,” I said.
My call was answered, and the first thing Rich said was, “Holy shit, Holly. You’re not going to believe this.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Amelia Christmas’s DNA matches a girl named Doris Hollander who was kidnapped when she was twelve.”
My jaw dropped. “My goodness,holy shitis right. Are you sure? Have you personally compared the results?”
“I have indeed.”
“And they’re really a match?”
“They are. But hey, let me ask you something,” he whispered.
“What?”
“Is this the wife of Randolph Christmas?”
Shit.“Why are you asking?” I asked.
“Relax, Holly. I’d lose my fucking job if they learned how I ran these results for you. But you know, if we get a hit, then we have to make it legit. Remember the slogan?” Then he sang, “If we get a hit, we make it legit.”
I heaved a sigh. “Yes, I remember that song.” The weight of the world wassuddenly upon my shoulders. “How long do I have before my name is revealed?”
“Tomorrow morning at eight thirty a.m., my time.”
I shook my head, watching Jasper, who kept eyeing me curiously. Then I had an idea. I told Rich I’d call him right back. I had a proposition for Jasper—a favor, actually—and I hoped he wouldn’t refuse.
