Captivated by Lauren Dane

about it. But if you want to …” She lifted her shoulders and they continued talking.
    He’d learned that in the very beginning when they’d first brought her to the labs that they’d had her go over her notes multiple times. She didn’t remember any specific emphasis on any one thing, but Julian figured the most obvious thing was that there was something she’d seen or touched on that they wanted to know more about. She just didn’t see it at the time.
    The brain scan was accurate of course. Took a print of sorts from her memories of her time in the labs. But because she’d been so mentally harmed, the impressions weren’t as clear as they would have been otherwise. So it was his job to untangle it all and help her make a coherent history of what happened there.
    “Were there any other people there from your offices at the foundation?”
    She looked up from the earth she’d been digging in. “At first theyhad my research assistant, James. But then he went away. I don’t know where.” A shadow passed over her features and he knew she blamed herself.
    “Was there a particular project you were working on with James?”
    “He was my assistant. He worked on several projects with me.”
    “What was his specialty? Why did you choose him to work for you?”
    “He had many of the same interests I did. Disease vectors. How different viruses spread. Speed of transmission. I chose him because I liked him best when I interviewed for the position. He’s very personable. He’s finishing up his degree and his advisor contacted me on his behalf. Not my favorite from my time at the institute, but he’s well respected. A recommendation from someone that accomplished goes a long way.” Hannah paused. “Am I saying too much? Not enough? I want to help.”
    “You’re doing just fine, beautiful Hannah.”
    “Is this how you always do your interrogations?”
    He frowned, thinking of the way he’d had to interrogate prisoners after Parron. “No.”
    She got up, brushing her knees off and tossing her gloves to the side before coming to him. It was when she went to her knees and put her head in his lap that he began to accept the way she brought so much comfort and solace.
    “I’m sorry to have brought that memory to you.”
    He brushed a palm over the shiny black silk of her hair, so soft against his skin. “You didn’t. My job isn’t usually this pleasant. I’m not interrogating you at all. Just helping you get the story out. It’s yours; I can only help you find a way to tell it. Interrogation is for people who don’t want to help.”
    “Do you think that makes you bad?”
    He snorted. “Not precisely.”
    “There are villains in the world, Julian. You are not one of them.”
    He leaned down and kissed her temple, pausing to take a deep breath, drawing her into his lungs and holding her there for long moments.
    “I’m not a character in a children’s story.”
    She laughed then, a real laugh, and he joined her there, on his knees in the dirt, getting face-to-face. “I love your laugh.”
    She paused and he hugged her. She seemed to melt into his embrace and that only made his … whatever it was with her … deeper.
    Vincenz chose that moment to come outside. He paused and then smiled. Julian felt a twinge. Maybe guilt? No, he hadn’t done anything wrong. But it wasn’t that simple.
    “Ellis is here.”
    Hannah froze in his arms and turned to Vincenz. “Do I have to leave?”
    Julian stood and helped her to her feet, and Vincenz was with them in seconds. “No, baby. He’s our boss. He wants to talk to you, but he’s not going to take you anywhere.”
    Her eyes wide as saucers, she visibly pulled herself back together, taking a deep breath, brushing the soil from her clothes. “Will you be there?”
    “Would you like that?” Vincenz asked.
    She nodded, and Julian wanted to grab her and run the other way.
    But Ellis wasn’t a bad man. He was a good man and Julian knew, probably better than