Read 3013: FATED for Free Online Page A

would have come to see her for rounds in a while, even if you hadn’t accompanied us back there to give her lunch. Yep, I think she did it for us.”
    Dane glanced down at their daughter, who was curled up in his arms and still mostly asleep. “The question is, what are we going to do about it?”
    “Considering the fact she’s my patient, I shouldn’t be doing anything.” Vance knew it was the safe answer, the one that protected not only his reputation but his heart as well. For some reason, though, it didn’t feel like the right answer.
    Dane didn’t seem to like it, either. “That’s a cop out, and you know it. In a week or so, she’ll be back on her feet. She won’t be your patient for much longer. I like her. I think you do, too. I’d like to get to know her better. Are you in agreement with that?”
    “If we ended up serious about her, there wouldn’t be any more children. Have you thought about that?” Vance asked.
    Dane’s response was a careless shrug. “We’ve talked about this before. My gene pool is more of a cesspool, which is why I made sure Annie was yours. I don’t need her to share my DNA to love her completely. She’s my daughter in every way that matters.”
    “When are you going to accept the fact you are nothing like your father? Genetics doesn't define everything about a person. You made better choices than he did. You’re a different man.”
    He was met with Dane’s bitter laughter. “I didn’t get caught. That’s not the same thing as making better choices. If I hadn’t passed the tests and started elite training, I have no doubt I’d be sharing a Martian cell with the old man, if I were still alive at all.”
    Vance rolled his eyes. “Give yourself some credit. Your enhancements gave you the perfect gift for someone who wanted to spend their life as a criminal, and yet here you are. You’re a Class-A Telek and instead of robbing vaults or becoming the world’s greatest pickpocket, you’re a Director of Supply and Transport. You’re powerful enough to be able to move things around simply by thinking about it. I hate to break it to you, but you’re clearly not the criminal type, genetics or not.”
    “We’ll never know for sure.” Dane knew Vance’s argument was logically sound, but he’d never been able to get past his parentage, and he probably never would. His father was a vicious thug who had moved in and out of Dane’s life until finally leaving it for good when he wound up a guest of the Martian penal system serving three consecutive life sentences. His mother had gone out one night and simply never come home, leaving her eight-year-old son to fend for himself. If he hadn’t been caught and tested, his life would have likely been short and brutal.
    He owed the Alliance everything.
    “Take our girl home for her nap. We can talk about this later.” Vance stroked a finger down Annie’s soft cheek. “This isn’t a conversation she should be hearing, anyway.”
    “After dinner. We’re talking about this tonight.”
    “Yes, dear,” Vance deadpanned. “Though I really don’t see why we need to talk about finding a new chosen when you’ve adapted so nicely to the role.”
    Dane didn’t bother to reply. Instead, he gave Vance a mental shove that forced the bigger man back a step while spinning him around to the left.
    “Aw, did I strike a nerve?” Vance was laughing as he regained his balance. “And no fair using your freaky mind powers when you’re holding Annie. It’s not like I can retaliate.”
    “That would be a sight. Two Alliance officers rough housing out here in the open. I’m sure Nik and Colin would be thrilled to see that report on their desks. All right, I’m headed home. See you after shift.”
    “Later,” Vance said with a wave.
    Vance headed back inside the medical center, still mulling over what Dane had said and what it all might mean. He made the walk to his office in a few short minutes. A quick chat with his aide confirmed