The Change (Unbounded) by Teyla Branton Read Free Book Online

throwing them over your shoulder and doing with them what you will.”
    Stella snorted. “Barbarian!”
    Ritter bent and scooped up the hat that had fallen from my head when he let me go, and I caught a gleam of a gold chain previously hidden under his shirt. There was a fluid magnetism in his movement and for a moment all thoughts of escape deserted me. Our eyes met, my furious gray ones to his cold obsidian. We were standing close—too close. At that moment I became aware of him, not as an obstacle, but as a man. A living, breathing man with more confidence and sexuality than I’d ever encountered in anyone before. The power I’d felt from him outside drew me in, beckoned me to touch. I couldn’t breathe.
    A flare of something in Ritter’s eyes. What? I couldn’t say. It didn’t matter. I despised him and everything he represented. I needed all my energy to get back to Tom and my family.
    “This isn’t over,” I muttered. Even so, it was all I could do to step away.
    He gave me a mocking smile. “I’m sure it isn’t.”
    Cort, his feet still ensconced on the desk next to one of the computers, cleared his throat before adding his two cents, “I think you’ve met your match, Ritter.”
    “Shut up,” Ritter growled.
    Cort laughed. “You’re just mad ’cause she’s not batting her eyes at you like every other female you meet.”
    “Shut up both of you.” Stella was staring at an e-mail. “Listen. This morning in New York there was another attempt on John Halden’s life.”
    Ritter swiftly made his way to her computer, bending over with his hands on the wide desk, his face moving only slightly as he read the words. I couldn’t help but notice what a striking couple Stella and Ritter made, both so attractive and completely sure of themselves. There was an easy familiarity in their manner toward each other, and I wondered if they’d ever been romantically involved.
    I didn’t know why I cared.
    “I should have been there.” Ritter threw me a look of disgust.
    “You were needed here,” Stella said.
    I debated whether or not to make a dash for the door, but given his uncanny speed, I doubted I’d succeed. Besides, curiosity burned inside me. I went to stand between Stella and Cort. “Who’s John Halden?”
    “The world’s richest man,” Cort answered. “Though you’d never be able to track all his companies to him. We keep tabs on him through several of his employees. Pass him technology when we need to. He has a huge network.”
    I was beginning to understand. “You use him to develop Unbounded inventions. ”
    “He’s currently our main contact.” Stella sent a quick reply to the e-mail as she spoke, though her hands weren’t touching the computer. Her uncovered eye was slightly out of focus, and I could see movement through the lens of her eyepiece. “From time to time, Halden comes up with technology on his own as well. He’s the man we’re going to see in New York.”
    Ritter glanced at Stella. “What have you told her?”
    She calmly removed her headset. “Only that we need her to go with us, and that Halden has come up with a program we must have.” She looked away from Ritter to meet my gaze, rolling her eyes where he couldn’t see. “Anyway, in exchange for Halden’s software, we’re giving him a virtual reality program I’ve designed with some help from my counterparts in New York, London, and Italy. It’s going to make Halden’s company a fortune in video games alone.”
    I felt a distinct disappointment. “More video games. Isn’t that the last thing people need?”
    Stella smiled. “Oh, but the program has far greater potential than just for gaming. Especially in medical and science applications. Imagine students being right there when a doctor performs an actual surgery, or as scientists conduct a dangerous physics experiment. You’ll be able to experience dozens of scenarios, and that means better training and more lives saved. There are limitless