Aria's POV
"He's not breathing—"
The words tore out of me before I could stop them. My knees hit the cold tile as I leaned over the geneticist's crumpled body. His face was drained of all color, his lips faintly blue, his glasses skewed across the floor.
My hands trembled as I pressed against his chest, my heart slamming so loud I could barely hear Damon bark orders into his phone.
"Don't touch him." Damon's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. He dropped to his knees beside me, pulling me back with a grip that was both tender and unyielding. "Aria, step back. He's been poisoned."
Poisoned.
The word splintered through my skull like glass.
"Poisoned?" My voice cracked. "You mean—someone wanted him silenced? Because of me?"
Damon's jaw locked, that dangerous steel settling in his eyes. He reached for the geneticist's wrist, searching for a pulse.
Nothing. He swore under his breath, pulling his phone closer. "Samuel—get here. Now. Bring the kit. He's down."
