Read Online Timestorm by Julie Cross - Free Book Online Page A

for sure but also alcohol,” Thomas said. “It’s toxin that was banned decades ago for its negative effects on health and unpredictable behavorial side effects, not to mention its addictive nature.”
    Thomas and Nora helped me walk to my bed after deciding my balance was less than a hundred percent. Nora placed a cool rag on my forehead and then left to check on Jean. Thomas stayed in my room, sitting in a chair next to the bed.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize Jean was experimenting tonight. I’ve seen how you admire her,” he said quietly, so as not to disturb my upset stomach and pounding head. “I just thought it might help cheer you up a little, spending time alone with Jean. She agreed without question.”
    I couldn’t be upset with Thomas for trying to help me, but finding out he had instigated this whole evening made everything seem like just another mission or experiment. Nothing personal. It wasn’t like Jean would have said no to Thomas. Everyone respected him. Everyone knew he’d never ask for something that he didn’t think was important.
    His intentions might have been out of kindness to me, but Jean’s were out of kindness and admiration for Thomas, not for me. Only the wine made her look at me differently and enjoy the time alone together.
    “I wasn’t completely honest with you, Blake,” he said. “When I told you that Grayson had been injured.”
    “He’s not injured?” I tried to sit up and decided it wasn’t worth the effort.
    “He spent a lot of time in and around the year 1991 for the Tempus Gene Project and then eventually for his own personal time. The same freedom you’ve just been given to explore the past.” Thomas repositioned his chair so he was facing me and looked me right in the eyes. “He fell in love with a man in 1986. An agent working for the Central Intelligence Agency.”
    Shock must have filled my expression though I tried my best to conceal it. “He could come back? Anytime? He chooses to live there?”
    “I haven’t relayed this information accurately to Dr. Ludwig or anyone else. Grayson was my mentor. He helped me through my early missions and I had hoped if I allowed him some time, he’d realize his weakness and overcome it. A physical injury would keep his record clean,” Thomas said. “But a mistake, a judgment error, would mean his ability could be taken from him.”
    “Taken?” I asked, finally able to sit up and lean against the headboard. “How do they take it?”
    “I don’t know all the details,” Thomas said. “But trust me, there are ways. I don’t want you to fall into the same trap, feeling too much emotion for your family. That kind of behavior can really make this job difficult. I thought maybe having fun with Jean would help you overcome this. Perhaps I was wrong, and I’m truly sorry if her intentions hurt you at all.”
    “It was just the wine,” I said. “I don’t know if it would have been a pleasant experience, spending time alone with her, if it weren’t for the … alcohol. Of course I look at her, think about her that way, but she’s the only female even remotely close to my age that I’ve seen since leaving home.”
    “I understand,” Thomas said, standing up. “I won’t interfere in that way again. You have my word. And you also have my word that I’ll do everything in my power to keep my head clear and not abandon my position as your mentor for as long as you need me.”
    “Did you mean it?” I asked him before he could leave the room. “When you said Dr. Ludwig wouldn’t be upset about two time travelers reproducing?”
    He turned his back to me, flipping off the light before saying, “It’s a concept the government is currently exploring.”
    “What about the Tempus Gene Project?”
    “It’s certainly changing history, showing itself much earlier, but has yet to create the larger number of time travelers intended. President Healy wants to abandon the experiment in the next twelve months if it