Broken Protocols by Dale Mayer Read Free Book Online Page B

Levi looked up, surprised to see a storm gathering above the buildings. Flash storms were unusual here when the weather was computer controlled.
    Johan motioned to the sky. “It’s been going on since late yesterday.” His face twisted as he studied it. “Wonder what the hell is going on.”
    Levi’s stomach knotted. Please let it have nothing to do with Milo’s damn experiment. Please. “No idea,” he said lightly.
    Johan motioned across the street where the coffee shop was. “I know I mentioned coffee but if you don’t mind, I’ll take a rain check.”
    “Not a problem. I’ve got to get to work as it is.”
    Johan slapped him on the shoulder. “It’s been a weird morning already. Let’s hope it improves.” And he walked away. His long legs ate up the distance. Johan had a specific goal and temper was still riding his emotions.
    Levi hoped he was going to his lawyer to raise a little hell. Levi planned to do just that himself.
    After he checked up on Milo and Dani.

Chapter 7

    D ani woke up slowly, her eyes drifting open then sliding closed again. Only to come awake to wild green hair framing a looming face. She screamed and bolted upward. Tripping over the wrappings, she fell sideways onto the soft mattress. Expecting to fall and still trying to get away, she crab-walked backwards to escape on a bed that seemed to grow in the direction she moved. Criminy.
    “Calm down. I was just looking to see if you were awake.” Milo danced back as Dani retreated a little more. “Hey, I’m not here to hurt you.”
    Dani took a deep breath and tried to shake off the panic of waking up to a strange face looming over her. “Why couldn’t you just call out to me?”
    “I did.” He held his hands up in front of him. “Sorry. I should have called out louder.”
    She shuddered and slowly sat up. “Yeah, okay. I’m awake.” She pushed her long hair out of her eyes. “Now why did you wake me up?”
    “I didn’t want to.” He stepped back. “I was just taking a look.”
    She stared. “At me? While I was sleeping?” She glanced down and gasped. She only had her underclothes on. And the fallen blanket had left much of her exposed. She snatched the blanket and clutched it to her chest before glaring at Milo.
    “No. No. I wasn’t looking. Honest.” He shook his head, a blush climbing up his neck and face. “Levi called. Wanted to know if you were up. So I came to look. That’s it.”
    “Well, I am now.” She stared at the weird bed. And caught sight of Charmin curled into a still fur ball. “Charmin,” she cried and scrambled over to him. Gently, she stroked his still form and almost bawled when she realized that he was breathing. “I was so scared that you’d died during the night,” she said to him.
    “He shouldn’t die,” Milo interrupted their cuddle to add, “His DNA may have changed a bit, but he will live a long life.”
    Dani shot him a disgusted look. “You have no idea how he’s changed.”
    “And he won’t ever know if you don’t tell him,” Charmin muttered in a strangled yowl. He opened his eyes and glared at her. “I could use some more sleep.”
    He stretched out his front leg and yawned, then tucked up into a tight ball and went back to sleep.
    Still smiling, she turned to stare up at Milo. Only his gaze was whipping from the cat to her and back to the cat. Oh shit. He’d heard.
    “You can hear the cat talk,” he whispered in awe. “And like wow. It talks back.”
    “Right. Charmin is special.” That he’d heard Charmin wasn’t perfect timing, but it’s not like there was a good time. And he’d have found out sometime. She snorted and shoved the bedding back to free up her legs. “Now if you don’t mind, I have to go to the bathroom.”
    Flushing wildly, Milo backed up. “Sure. No problem.” He gave one last fascinated stare at Charmin and bolted toward the door. At the doorway, he paused. “Do you need anything?”
    “You mean like all my clothes from home? The