Mindsiege (Mindspeak #2)(91)

Protect me? He kept me in the dark, I practically whined, and I don’t do whiny. I was starting to hate the sound of my own mindspeak.

No, he protected you until you were ready. Now, you have all the information you need to make whatever choice you desire.

You mean the information I just handed over to Sandra?

No, I mean the information Sandra thinks you just handed her.

What are you saying?

Did you really think I would let you hand over your dad’s life’s research to that mad scientist? Jack’s voice cracked in my head with a mixture of humor and fear. I was scared to tell you with all the crazy mindreading going on around us: we moved the real files and replaced them with meaningless data. She needed to think you were sincerely handing her what she wanted.

My body relaxed into the table; relief engulfed me upon hearing Jack’s words. Sandra continued to struggle with the restraint around my left wrist. Dr. DeWeese leaned over me still. Oh, my, how I love you, Jack DeWeese.

I know. Now fight. You promised me you wouldn’t give up. Fight like crazy. Time is running out, and I don’t know what’s going to happen when it does.

With a burst of adrenaline, I yanked my left arm free, so incredibly thankful for the years of swimming that gave me strength. I quickly turned over on my back.

“Don’t let go of her, John.”

Also grateful for the rigorous kickboxing workout Jonas had put me through, I brought my foot up and made contact with Dr. DeWeese in a beautifully vulnerable spot. He grunted and pulled back just enough to give me my opening.

Sandra grabbed for one of my arms, but I was faster.

I gave the pearl a quick twist then slid my fingers around her neck and gathered her hair in my fist. She grunted. Bringing her face just inches from mine, I smiled. I was suddenly the one with the evil thoughts. An anger I had never known before pulsed through my veins. I stared into eyes identical to my own as I rotated the pearl around my finger with my thumb, careful not to touch the already exposed needle. “I’m terminating this program, bitch.” I flattened my palm against the side of her neck. The needle from the pearl made contact with her skin, and she flinched. I snaked my left arm around Sandra, hugging her next to my body while I continued to press the ring into her skin.

Almost instantly, her body went limp. I let her slump to the ground beside the chair.

Dr. DeWeese lurched for Sandra, catching her head in his palm. “What did you do to her?” Her wide eyes stared up at him.

I reached over and grabbed the tracker from the tray, then rolled off the table and backed away. I pulled the gun from my waistband and pointed it at Dr. DeWeese. “She’ll be knocked out for twenty-four hours or so. So she might need a little help out of here.”

“LAB WILL SELF-DESTRUCT IN FIVE MINUTES.”

He laid her gently on the ground and stood. “You’re not going to shoot me. If you had it in you to kill someone, you would have shot Sandra after she killed your best friend.”

Talk to me. You okay? Jack asked. We’re running out of time.

I waved the gun at Dr. DeWeese, motioning him toward the door. “Unlock the door.”

“No.” He walked slowly toward me.

I cocked the gun. He paused, but then took another step toward me.

Lexi, you have to open this door, now. This time it was Jonas. He was inside my head completely. Shoot him.

It was a direct order. I pointed the gun down at Dr. DeWeese’s kneecap. And fired.

His eyes widened. He fell to the ground on the opposite knee.

The gun was at close enough range that the rubber bullet had to have shattered his kneecap.

“You shot me,” he said, shock in his voice. He fell further to the ground, beside Sandra.

I leaned down and peered directly into his eyes. “You can thank Jonas for that. He ordered me to shoot you.” I smiled.

“LAB WILL SELF-DESTRUCT IN THREE MINUTES.”

Jack, Jonas, I’m coming. I bent down and slid my hands under Sandra’s shoulders. I pulled her limp body backwards toward me. Toward the door.

Dr. DeWeese grunted. He reached for the exam table, trying to pull himself up.

If he starts limping toward you, shoot him again, Jonas said.

“Gaaaahhhh!” I screamed as I hauled Sandra’s dead weight. She was completely paralyzed. At the door, I lifted her up further, sliding my arm around her back, and held her there, propped up against the wall. I took her right hand and pushed it flat into the scanner. The click of the finger prick sounded, verifying her DNA.

The door slid open and Jack rushed in. I let Sandra fall to the ground, and I fell into his arms. Jonas, Addison and Briana stood just outside the door.

“Let’s go,” Briana urged.

“Wait! The hard drive.” I pointed to the computer on the other side of the room.

Jack held me in the doorway while Jonas rushed over and ejected the hard drive from the computer. “They’ll have a backup of this information, but I’m sure they were counting on this one. So we’ll at least slow them down a little.”

Dr. DeWeese held himself up by leaning against the table. “Jack, don’t leave me here. You have to help us.”

I looked at the open hatch in the floor, then at Jack’s face. His eyes were glued to mine, his message clear—his father would have to fend for himself. He didn’t even acknowledge his father. Sandra’s eyes, the only item on her body capable of moving, fluttered as she lay splayed across the floor beside me.