Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(34)

“I don’t agree with the lost lives or how our parents hid the truth from us all these years. We were lied to. But…” Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “If I thought I could use these healing abilities to save a life? I would do it. What they did was wrong, and I worry about the threats against us now. Last week, I thought the best thing for us… for you… was to run.”

“But now?”

“I want you safe. I also want a life with you that doesn’t require us changing our names and location every thirty days. Is that how you really want to go through life? Not knowing? Hiding? Always running? What if we run, and someone is still getting inside your head? What then? Whether you embrace these unnatural abilities or not, I’m no longer certain we can hide from that.”

I looked away. A breeze blew hair in my face, and he pushed it away.

“You are so beautiful. You have the heart and the mind to do something amazing in this world.”

My eyes found his. Moisture pooled, making my vision blurry. “What if I don’t want to be amazing? What if I want to be… I don’t know… not amazing? Average, even. What if I want to be like everybody else? Finish high school. Go to college. Get married. Have two point four kids. Own a golden retriever and a betta fish.”

“If that were really what you wanted, you would have run when you had the chance. After you escaped on the train, you would have headed straight for the bus station. I know you took the money and everything to start college under a different identity. If you had wanted that, you would have gone.”

A tear escaped down my cheek, and Jack wiped it away.

“But you didn’t. You didn’t run. And I think it’s because you know you owe it to yourself and to your father to at least know who you are.”

“And I owe it to you,” I whispered. I sniffed hard, my nose running from crying and from the cold night air. “I didn’t leave… because I couldn’t leave you.”

Jack crushed my body to his. His fingers laced into my hair, and he pushed my head into his polo sweater. “It’s time for you to start learning more about your abilities.”

I pushed back. Wiping at the moisture I left on his shirt, I said, “Okay.”

He crooked a finger under my chin and lifted. “Okay?”

I nodded.

“As you learn more about your powers, I think you’ll also learn how to shut Jonas out.”

I so wanted that.

“Now, come.” He pulled on my hand.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s time you met Addison.”





Chapter Fifteen


A girl the size of a pixie bounced up and down on the hospital bed like it was her personal trampoline as we entered. Jet black hair hung in a stringy mess. Sky blue eyes lit up the entire room.

I paused just inside the door and studied the small child, just eight years old. My eyes must have widened, because Jack bowed his shaking head. A smile reached all the way to his eyes. “Lexi Matthews, meet Addison.”

Addison stopped. Her grin grew to the size of a half moon, and shined like the North Star. She jumped up one last time, lifted her legs, and bounced on her bottom before propelling herself to stand on the floor. “Oh my gosh! You’re Lexi?” She ran the short distance and threw her arms around my waist in a big hug. “I can’t believe you’re finally here.”

I traded glances with Jack. He covered his mouth and choked on his own laughter. “Hey,” Jack tugged on Addison’s arm. “What about me?”

“You didn’t bring me out of that stupid coma.” Addison hugged me again, knocking me off balance.

Jack visibly cringed at Addison’s words.

She didn’t mean that like it sounded.

“No, of course I didn’t,” Addison said.

I jerked my head toward her, but she had let go and was flitting back to her bed. I found Jack’s eyes. “She can hear anything and everything,” he said. “It’s as annoying as it sounds.”

“Yes, but don’t worry.” Addison waved me off. “I don’t repeat stuff. Unless I think you’re gonna get yourself in trouble.” She stared at me like she wanted to say more. Like she knew something.

“Okay, enough with the introductions. Let’s sit,” Jack pointed to a chair in the corner for me. He crossed the room and got another one. “Addi, where are Cathy and your mom?”

Addison was quiet. She peered up at the ceiling. “Mom went home. I told her to get some sleep. Your mother”—Addison said “mother” like it left a bad taste in her mouth—“is in the dining hall with Dr. Wellington.”

“You know that’s exactly where they are, or that’s where they said they were going?” I had a sneaky suspicion it was the former.

“Addison can also sense where people are at all times. If they’re close by.”

“Seriously?” I asked. “Where is… uh… Briana Howard?”

She considered it. “In the parking lot.”

“Why is she in the parking lot?” Strange.

“Um… she’s…” Addison narrowed her eyes, then gave her head a quick shake. “I don’t know. She’s talking to someone. I can hear her, but not… him. Yes, definitely a him.”