Avenged (Altered #2)(48)

Nick was equally incensed. “Sir, he plans to sell the drug, what appears to be a significant quantity. He planned to sell Kitty.” The red-tinted anger filled his mind. She closed her eyes, hurting for him.

I see.

That also didn’t sound promising. Nick’s problem was he didn’t know exactly what Martins knew and what he didn’t. Nick was fishing, and he didn’t know what to use as bait.

He paused. Need to offer incentive. Won’t get us unless incentive. “Kitty can control people’s minds.”

Control them? Martins didn’t conceal his surprise that time. Kitty stared at herself in the mirror. What did that matter?

“Yes. There’s no one else that can do that, at least that I know of. Fields is going to sell Kitty along with the drug to a Middle Eastern businessman with terrorist connections.”

Martins remained silent.

“You need to get her. She’s important.”

There was a long pause.

“We have your location. There is a field behind the motel. The extraction will occur there in two hours.”

“Thank you, sir.” Nick barely concealed amusement. He marveled at the “what have you done for me lately?” mentality of the military as he dropped the phone in its cradle.

Kitty unwrapped the hotel soap bar and splashed water on her face—goodness that felt good—and lathered her hands. She considered the conversation.

Why had Nick mentioned her to make Martins to agree to come quickly? More important, why had it worked? There were so many things Nick could have said. He could have mentioned that he was changed. He could have told him that there were at least ten changed soldiers, with plans to change more. Instead, he’d mentioned her.

She rinsed over and over, not able to get enough of the warm water. In the next room, Nick’s mind roiled.

We could have been better prepared, that could have gone more smoothly. We came so close to being recaptured. So close to almost not making it.

Her stomach soured, and her joy at getting out floated away like the water down the drain.

He hadn’t thought she could do it.

She turned the water off, drying her face. When she was done, she took a calming breath, straightened her Walmart sweatshirt, and joined Nick, who stared out the window, lost in his thoughts.

We passed so many people. The door… Jeremy broke free… So close to not making it.

No reason to put this off. She dove right in. “You didn’t think I could do it.”

It was a statement, not a question.

His head jerked toward her, his gorgeous face full of surprise. “That isn’t it at all. What made you think that?”

“I heard you, in the bathroom. Thinking about how we should have prepared better. How you were afraid we were almost recaptured.” She tapped the side of her head. “I can hear you, remember?”

“Of course I’m sitting here thinking how we could have prepared better. There was so much room for error in what we did.” He ran his hands over his face, rubbed his jaw. “You have to see that.”

“That’s what I mean. You’re blaming me.”

“I’m blaming me!” he exclaimed. He dug his hands into his hair and spun back to the window. His eyes drifted to the ceiling, as if searching for answers or forgiveness in the cruddy drop tiles. “If I’d planned better…We almost didn’t get out.”I could have lost her. They would have separated us. I almost let that happen.

“You think it was your fault?” she whispered. What was this? That didn’t even make sense. He’d played his part perfectly. It hadn’t been him who’d almost let Jeremy give them away.

He dropped his arms, facing her again, his face so full of anguish it hurt to see it. “Of course it was. I should have prepared us better. I should have seen how you could use your power to help us. Why didn’t I do that?” He continued to rail against himself, blaming himself over and over for what could have happened.

Unable to remain still, she stepped closer. He was so upset that his entire body was tight with it. She’d seen her father tense with anger before. Both she and her mother would steer clear of him or risk sending him into a rage.

Nick? She couldn’t help reaching out to him. He practically screamed for comfort.

She laid her hand on his arm.

“You aren’t the only one here, Nick,” she offered. “I didn’t think to prepare, either. Honestly, I didn’t count my gift at all.”

“Why not?” His voice vibrated with disbelief.

“I can’t control it. This stupid power is barely useful.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.” He shook his head. “You don’t see yourself clearly at all.”

She snorted. “Please. I’ve known myself much longer than you’ve known me. I think I get it.”

“No, you don’t.” His jaw tightened. “Why do you think that Ahmed guy insisted on proof of your power? He said it himself. He’d seen movers and he’d seen people with strength. But it was you that most intrigued him. Why do you think that is?”

She had no idea what he was getting at. “I don’t know.”

“Because your power trumps the other talents.” He laughed without humor. “And you don’t even see that.”

She could only stare at him. He thought her power was the strongest?