The Program (The Program #1)(96)

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I jump, startled. “It’s from a private number,” I say when I look at it. “Maybe it’s Realm?”

“That would be awesome,” James murmurs, and opens his PowerBar to take a bite as we sit in the parking lot of the gas station.

I don’t respond, feeling guilty for not telling James about what happened, or almost happened, at Realm’s house. I open the message.

I NEED TO SEE YOU IMMEDIATELY.

When I repeat it to James, he scoffs. “Of course he does.”

Realm knows about me and James—our past—so I don’t think this is a social call. He must know that my parents are looking for me. Or The Program found out that he helped me and tracked him down. I’m suddenly scared for him.

“I have to go to Realm’s house,” I tell James quickly, moving to snap on my seat belt.

He tenses. “Why? I didn’t kiss you good enough?”

“Hey!”

James winces. “Sorry. That was uncalled for. What I mean to say is, do you think he’ll taste me on your lips?”

“Hey!”

James closes his eyes, then looks at me apologetically. “I’m not normally a jealous guy, I swear,” he offers as explanation. “At least as far as I can remember. But when it comes to Michael Realm, I might be a little murderous. But just a little.” He pinches his fingers together.

“I’m not going to Realm’s house to hook up. He needs to see me, James. He might be in trouble for helping me.”

“A real nice guy to drag you into his mess.”

“He’s my friend. Can you not be a jerk about it?”

James doesn’t answer at first, just turns over the engine and pulls out into the street. “Fine,” he says, like he doesn’t care either way. “But if he kisses you, I’m going to fight. I’m completely immature like that.”

“I know.”

James exhales, checking his rearview to make sure no one is following us. Our time is running out. I’m not sure we can escape The Program. Especially when I know that we couldn’t before.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT WHEN I SEE A BLACK ESCALADE near Realm’s house, the windows tinted too dark to see in. As James parks and turns off the engine, I wonder if I should be scared. What if this is a setup? Would Realm do that to me?

“I don’t like this, Sloane,” James says, meeting my eyes. “Whose car is that?”

I shrug, but my hands are starting to shake. “He wouldn’t turn me in,” I say, but I sound like I’m trying to convince myself. “He knows a lot of stuff, and that message . . .” I look down at my lap, my throat beginning to constrict with fear. “It has to be important.”

James puts his hand over mine. “Let’s just leave. I’ll take care of us.” When I look up, James’s expression is desperate.

“I know, but—”

Just then the front door of the house opens, and a woman walks out onto the porch as if she’s been waiting for me. I recognize her immediately, even though she’s not wearing sunglasses this time. She was there the day Realm was released from The Program. The sight of her brings a sick feeling to my stomach, confirming that something is wrong. Where’s Realm?

“Is she from The Program?” James asks, putting his fingers on the key in the ignition, ready to turn it on.

“No,” I say. “She picked Realm up from The Program.” The woman puts her hands on her hips as if impatient, and I look at James. “I should talk to her,” I say.

James groans. “If I see anything strange, I’m getting us out of here. I’ll throw you over my shoulder if I have to.”

“Like some crazed Neanderthal?”

“Total caveman.”

I smile and lean forward to kiss his lips softly, nervously. And then I get out.

The wind blows my hair around my face as I slowly approach the house, my heart thudding wildly in my chest. I half expect a handler to jump out from the bushes to grab me, inject me with a sedative. I take a nervous glance back at James, who is watching intently from the car.

“Michael’s not here,” the woman calls as she waits for me to get to the porch. “And he’s not coming back.”

I take in a startled breath, stopping at the bottom of the steps. “He’s not coming back? My God, is he okay?”

The woman tilts her head, looking me over. “He’s fine. But like I said, he won’t be back.”

I look around, devastated that he’d just leave without telling me first. Without saying good-bye. I was just here yesterday. “Who are you?” I ask the woman.

“I’m Anna, Michael’s sister. I take care of things when he’s away.” She smiles at me then, sizing me up. “He said you were very pretty.”

I’m staring at her, confused. Upset. “I don’t understand,” I say. “He just sent me a text. Why would he—”

Anna holds up her hand to stop me. “I sent the text, Sloane. Michael left this morning. But he wanted me to speak with you. He said you’d need him.”

“I do,” I say. “I’m in trouble, and I need him right now. So call him and tell him to come back!”

“Sloane,” she says kindly. “There’s a lot you don’t know about Michael, and his reasons for leaving—I promise—were out of his control. But he cares about you. He wants me to help you.”