Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(23)

Jack slid a finger under my chin and lifted. “Tell me one thing. Are you okay?”

So much had happened. I stared into those dark blue eyes, considering his question. Finally, I nodded.

His strong arms slid around me and brought my body closer. “I’ve been out of my mind today,” he whispered in my ear. “We have to find another way to handle this. I won’t be apart from you.”

A tingle started at the top of my neck and traveled down the path where his arms held me. Desire bubbled up in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. “Jack,” I said against his chest, inhaling the scent of ocean from his shower gel. I had missed his smell. I pulled away. “We have to talk.” But what could I tell him that Jonas wouldn’t hear?

“I know. Come with me.” He intertwined his fingers with mine and led me to the back door. The fire lit the center of the back patio. A couple of hurricane candles were strategically placed between several of the Adirondack chairs. A smaller candle sat on one of the tables. The scent of pumpkin spice laced with the smell of wood burning filled the autumn air.

It had only been last night when Jonas had played with my mind in this very spot. Exerted control over me. Made Kyle stick his hand into a burning fire. Then today, Jonas dominated everything I did, witnessed, and even thought. And then, there was Ty. It was all so confusing. Yet Jonas seemed to be the key to it all.

He had information I wanted—information about who could get inside my head and, hopefully, how to stop them. What price was I willing to pay for that knowledge?

Jack led me to a corner of the patio. A large outdoor cushion was laid out with throw pillows and a blanket. I couldn’t help but wonder two things: Was Jonas really out of my head? And how was I going to tell Jack what I had to do next?

He turned to me. With a tight grip on my hand, he again pulled me close. A tear welled up in the corner of my eye. Don’t cry. I know what we need to do next, Lexi. Jack’s eyes bored into mine. I hadn’t felt his presence inside my head, yet he heard me. Had I lost all ability to sense others inside my mind?

We? I replied.

He nodded. You can’t think about that next step right now, though, okay? Something about the insistent look on his face—the way his brows furrowed, the dilation of his pupils—made me want to back away. When I pulled on his hand, he held tighter. Do you understand? You can’t think about anything other than me right now.

Did I understand him? I studied his eyes. The lines of his face. The way his hand gripped mine. His other hand slid under my fleece jacket and burned through the fabric of my shirt on my lower back.

“You believe me,” I whispered. He knew Jonas was inside my head and controlling many of my thoughts and actions.

He lifted a finger to his lips. “Shh.” Something new must have happened to make him believe me.





Chapter Ten


“When did you know?” I whispered.

Jack’s fingers lightly brushed my arms. He held me close, my back to his chest, as we lay on the cushions by the fire. “I knew when I saw the cut on Jonas’s neck and Georgia in the hospital bed.” He nuzzled his face into my hair and kissed the back of my head. “You would never harm another human being unless you absolutely had to.”

“You sure about that?”

“Positive. And Georgia never would have intervened unless she seriously thought you were going to hurt Jonas.” He pulled in a deep breath and continued to feather my arms with his fingertips. “After I helped Seth, I came back to get you… to tell you I believed you. I had planned to confront Jonas. But you were both gone.”

“I was so powerless when he got inside my head, Jack. My mind. My body…”

“Shhh. Not now, baby.” His breath warmed the back of my neck.

“What do we do now?” I asked.

“Now, you sleep. I’ll watch over you.”

It wasn’t quite what I meant, but sleep did sound good. My mind needed rest. We’d figure out the rest in the morning. I wriggled in his arms, turning over to face him. “What about you? You need to sleep, too.”

“Don’t worry about me.” He lifted a hand and lightly brushed it along the skin of my forehead, down my cheek, my arms, letting it finally rest at my waist, his thumb grazing my ribs. Leaning in, he touched my lips with the lightest of kisses.

“What will we do tomorrow?” I asked against his lips. My words slurred from exhaustion.

“Shhh.” He leaned in again. This time he pressed his lips firmly against mine, deepening the kiss. “Sleep. Now.”

I nuzzled into his chest, and let sleep find me.

~~~~~

I woke to the sound of whispers.

I tried to open my eyes, but my lids were so heavy. And it was dark. We were outside, where Jack and I had fallen asleep by the fire. Except the fire had died out. “Jack.” My voice sounded raspy.

Lexi, don’t talk. Don’t make a sound.

My body stiffened, now alert. Why? What’s wrong?

I felt his hand on my neck. I need you to sit up. His hand slid down my spine as he helped me rise. Jack and another guy knelt beside me in the dark. I felt someone touch the waistline of my jeans. “What are you…” I started, but I was cut off by a sharp sting to my hip. “Ouch! What the hell?”

Lexi, a voice said. Can you hear me?