Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(48)

Ty shook his head. “Never mind.”

But he had said it—shield—and it all became clear. When Jonas… or Ty… forced me to lift a knife high above Jack, I had nearly plunged it into his chest. But Jack had rolled over, grazing my knee with his fingers… and it was then that the mind invader had vanished, and I was able to drop the knife.

There were other times, too, like now, that Ty hadn’t heard my thoughts. And now I knew it was because Jack had been touching me.

“It was you who tried to make me kill Jack.” I had accepted that it wasn’t Jonas, but staring at Ty now, it all made sense. The IIA used Jonas’s look-alike to force Jonas into my head. That’s why I had been so certain that Jonas was the one manipulating me.

“Me. Jonas. What’s the difference? It’s all part of the IIA’s plan,” Ty said.

Finally catching up, Jack moved closer and placed his fingers on my arm. I can’t believe there’re two of them.

I met Ty when Jonas led me inside The Farm on campus.

Ty cocked his gun. “Step away from her.”

No, don’t, Jack. He can’t hear my thoughts while you’re touching me, and he won’t kill me. So stand behind me.

How do you know? Jack asked.

The IIA is here for me. They want something from me. I heard Sandra tell the agents not to hurt me.

Was this before or after you sprained your ankle?

“I said, step away.” Ty waved the gun at us haphazardly, which made me more nervous than the possibility that he might actually pull the trigger on purpose. I had read somewhere that most shooting incidents are from a gun accidentally going off.

“Look, Ty. Tell me what it is you want. Maybe we can work something out.”

“We’ll work something out all right.” He smirked. “Tell your knight to step away. I’ve got something you want. Information I’ve been instructed to tell you and only you.”

I looked back at Jack with a raised brow and nodded.

“Fine,” Jack said. “I’ll lower my hand, but I won’t step away. Tell her quickly.” The warmth of his hand left my lower back. But his close proximity remained.

Okay, Ty, out with it.

You will come with me, and I promise to return Addison to Wellington.

My heart picked up speed just hearing Addison’s name. How can you promise that?

I’m not promising it. Sandra is. They haven’t done anything to Addison yet, other than insert a tracker into her brain, but they will program her tracker soon if you don’t come. And if you’ll come, Sandra promised to return Addison to Jack, here, at Wellington.

Frightened of what Sandra might do to Addison through a tracker, I was tempted to take Ty up on his promise, but I didn’t believe him. I reached my hand behind me. Jack immediately grabbed it, silencing Ty from my head while I searched for Jonas. Jonas, can you hear me?

Been waiting for you to get Ty out of your head. My plan backfired on me. I tried to reason with that crazy clone of mine. He rewarded me with a blow to my head.

Did you hear what he said? I asked Jonas.

Yes. He’s lying. They would never let Addison go now that they have her.

“What’s it going to be?” Ty asked, becoming impatient.

What’s he want? Jack held more tightly to my hand.

I gave my head a small shake. He wants me to return to The Farm with him.

Fat chance of that. When I remained silent, Jack stepped closer, careful not to lose contact with me while continuing to hide the gun in his hand. That’s not all, is it?

What do you mean?

I mean, you’re silent. You’re considering whatever it is that he offered in return. Jack’s heat on my back made it even harder to concentrate. His hand left mine, traveled up my arm until it reached my cheek. Applying pressure, he turned my head, forcing me to look at him. What are you not telling me? When I didn’t answer again, he slid his hand down my body and pushed the small of my back, bringing my body flush with his. His eyes burned into mine.

Jack. I squirmed under his gaze.

Don’t “Jack” me. Tell me.

I took a deep breath. He said the IIA would trade Addison for me.

Jack’s face reddened. No! Not even an option.

Jack. Be reasonable.

I. Said. No. I’m not trading one person for another.

“Okay, time’s up.” Ty’s footsteps sounded behind me until I felt something hard press into the middle of my spine.

I lowered my eyes to the gun Jack still held between us, then peered up at him.

Duck to your right! Jack said in my head. Now!

With no time to think, I darted right, falling to the floor. Jack’s arm swept upwards, hitting Ty’s hand and knocking the gun loose. The metal made contact with the hard tile floor and the gun slid against the wall.

Jack pointed his gun directly between Ty’s eyes. “Tell me who is in charge at the IIA.” A vein in Jack’s neck was pulsing as he held Ty’s neck with one hand and the gun with the other.

“Sandra,” he choked.

“Who else?”

I crawled across the floor and sat beside the gun, just in case I needed it. My ankle throbbed.

Though Ty struggled for air, a smirk filled with arrogance spread across his face. “That is the question, isn’t it?”

“Answer me.” Jack pulled back the hammer on the gun.