Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(22)

“Why would I go anywhere with you?”

“Because like it or not, you need to know exactly what you’re trying to run from and why you shouldn’t. And since Jack is taking care of Addison, you need me.”

I wanted to laugh at that. I was definitely showing signs of hysteria. “Why exactly are they looking for me?”

“Because you’re the one who can heal Sandra.”

Oh, yeah. Her.

“And because you’re Peter Roslin’s daughter.”

I closed my eyes tight. “What do you know about my father?”

“I know that he didn’t live long after discovering the IIA’s human cloning facility.”

~~~~~

Jonas made a cryptic phone call soon after we reached his car. He refused to tell me anything further on the short drive back to his, Georgia’s, and Fred’s house. He was inside my head, but it didn’t feel threatening. Some moments, like when I punched him, I had free will over my actions; but at other times, I did exactly as he told me. We pulled into the drive a little after nine. Only soft lighting shone from the windows. It looked like a normal home.

“You could have dropped me off at a hotel,” I said, shutting the door on his small sports car. Was I even safe here? At the sound of the alarm on his car engaging, Jonas joined me on the other side of the car. Even in the dark, I could see the swelling around his eye. I silently congratulated myself.

“Jack would have killed me if I didn’t bring you back here.”

“How would he have known?” I asked, mostly under my breath.

Jonas’s brow shot up.

“What? He can see where I am, too?”

“I don’t think so. He’s inside waiting for you. That was the phone call I received. He said you’re not answering your phone.”

Inhaling, I reached around and felt my back pocket where my phone was. I had ignored the vibrations of incoming calls all evening. The desire to race into the house was strong, but the anger and hurt I had suppressed most of the day now flared. Jack hadn’t believed me. Hadn’t trusted me. We were supposed to have stuck together. But apparently we had different agendas.

I will get out of your head if you’ll promise not to run during the night.

I turned away from the house and studied Jonas. Could I promise that? “So, you knew where I was when I left this morning?”

“Yes. And before you think I’m some sort of pervert, I am not inside your head at all times. I didn’t need to be until I thought you might run.”

So, even if I did run, he’d find me. “What do you want from me, Jonas? I can’t always feel your presence inside my head. Even when I know you’re there.”

We’ll talk more tomorrow. Go let Jack know you’re okay.

“Will you tell me more about what you know about my dad?”

Tomorrow. “But Lexi, be careful who you tell about the The Farm. Your father would have chosen his confidants wisely, yet he still ended up dead.” He glanced down at the jiggling keys in his hand, then back up again. “Jack doesn’t know.”

He said it so softly, I barely heard him. How could I keep information about The Farm from Jack? At the same time, I didn’t want to lose anyone else close to me. I thought of Marci. She had obviously discovered the facility, or gotten a little too close. A chill moved through me at the thought. I didn’t know if Dad had told her, or if she had seen it with her own eyes.

Jonas and I entered the house together and walked toward the voices in the kitchen. I didn’t feel like my life was in danger with Jonas, but at the same time, he made me want to guard my secrets. One minute, Jonas cared about Jack and maybe even me, but the next, he put me in dangerous situations. Mostly, he terrified me.

We rounded the corner. Jonas stood right behind me. Jack started toward me as soon as he saw me, but stopped. His eyes burned into me, waiting for an invitation.

“What the hell happened to you?” Georgia asked, looking past me to Jonas.

I turned and backed away. It was my turn to smirk. The skin around his eye had turned a lovely dark indigo. The dull throb in my right hand, my price for smacking Jonas, was well worth it.

“Long story,” Jonas said. He didn’t even look at me.

What happened to him? Jack asked. Even in my head, his voice had an edge to it.

I turned slowly, biting my lip. Jonas’s stare heated the back of my neck.

Tell me, Jack said.

Georgia’s expression morphed from concern to amusement. “Serves you right, idiot,” she said to Jonas after what must have been their own private mindspeak.

Jack ran a hand over his chin stubble. “Will someone please tell me what happened?”

“Your girl hit me. But I deserved it.” Jonas shrugged.

“She what?” Jack’s voice sounded somewhere between cautious and impressed. He continued slowly toward me. He ran his fingers along a strand of hair hanging beside my face. We have a lot to talk about.

I peeked up through my eyelashes, trying to assess whether he would be protective of the jerk behind me, or whether he would finally believe what I’d told him about Jonas being inside my head.

Georgia grabbed Jonas’s arm, forcing him to turn and exit the room. “Come on. Let’s go show Fred how you finally met your match. Give these two some privacy.”