Page 31 of Fury
She said that like it was supposed to mean something to him. “In other words—no?”
“In other words, only if they had a billion years on their hands or had the key code. Andthat’sonly up here.” She tapped her temple. “Dad was meticulous with the details when setting up the system, so the code was only memorized, never written down.”
Impressive, but it didn’t surprise him that Ansel had been thorough.
“What about a 3D finger?”
Again she shook her head. “No. It’s not as easy as just creating a mold. While the chances aren’t zero, it’s highly improbable. Systems these days are hard to fool with something like that.” Her thumb brushed along the edge of the book. “Still. Whoever it wasdidget in. I just wish I knew how. And with the lab break-in on top of everything else”—he thought he saw her chin quiver—“it scares me.”
Davis’s hand fisted. When he found who’d broken in, the guy better pray his medical insurance was active.
Fury ran back to the door, and Davis let him in. Started back toward his spot on the couch. But instead of joining him, the RMWD bolted to Hollyn. Jumped forward. Hollyn yelped. Fear strangled her voice as Fury’s paws pressed against her. He nosed her neck. Tail up. Intent.
Hollyn’s eyes were wide as saucers.
“Don’t move!” Panic that Fury would bite her if she hit at him surged in his gut. “Fury, no!” Davis launched forward, ready to throw his arm in the way if the GSD’s strong jaws lunged forward.
He grabbed the dummy’s collar and pulled him off a now-terrified Hollyn.
“You good?” he huffed out, pulse thrumming.
Fury continued to try to plow forward, though not aggressively, Davis noted.
Hollyn leaned her body as far away from the RMWD as she could. Eyes still wide, she lifted them to Davis. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “I’m . . . yeah. I th-think so.”
Without warning, Fury dropped his backside to the floor. What was with this dog lately? Maybe he’d been wrong to suggest that Crew take him on.
“Sorry.” Davis shifted focus to Fury. “Fuss.” He tapped his side once, and the lug flew intoposition. Pressed against his leg.“Af.”
Fury lay down without hesitating. His body trembled and he looked up with an expression Davis had seen on nearly every mission they’d worked. He was happy with himself. Proud even.
Davis studied Hollyn, making doubly sure she was really okay. Forced his racing heart to slow down. She was fine. He lowered to the couch again.
“Reminds me of you back in high school, tackling everything on the field.” Hollyn ran a hand along her shirt. Davis could practically see her telling herself to act like she wasn’t rattled. “Remember?” She forced a smirk that didn’t reach her blue and green eyes.
He did, unfortunately.
“All the girls were so obsessed with you. Especially the cheerleaders.”
Where was this going? He couldn’t think of anything he wanted to get into less than his high-school days. But Hollyn seemed to be barreling down memory lane faster than a BrahMos missile.
“They were always trying to pump me for information on how they could catch your attention, because they knew we were close.” She grinned.
No chance of that happening. Only girl he’d been interested in back then—and even now—was her.
“Remember the Asheville game?” Hollyn’s grin was timid.
Davis had closed the door on that part of the past. Didn’t really want to rehash things now.
Hollyn rubbed her hand. “Sophomore year, and it was the first game my parents didn’t make it to. I was on top of the pyramid that night. I was so disappointed they couldn’t make it. And then you—” She gasped. Clamped her mouth shut.
He swallowed. Knew what she’d been about to say.
He wasn’t there.
“You were lucky to have them as parents.” He tried to redirect the conversation. Didn’t feel like hashing out why he hadn’t made it to that game. “Better than a mom who didn’t really care about anything her kid did.”
Her expression went soft.