Remember Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #3)(111)

A clearing of a throat made me snap away from Ryan. Seeing my father’s frown, my face flamed unbearably hot. I tried to retreat back to the safety of my bed, but Ryan refused to let me leave his arms. He, more so than my parents, was never going to let me out of his hold ever again. The idea thrilled me.

Giving up the fight—with pathetic ease—I leaned against Ryan’s chest and let out a sigh, ignoring his amused chuckle. I mean, if he was determined to hold me, I may as well take advantage, right?

“So what happened with Teddy?” I asked.

Ryan’s grip tightened a fraction. I hated to bring up the sore subject, but I really needed to know.

“He’s here in the stockade,” Major Wilks said.

I stiffened. “He’s here? On base?” Not sure that was the best idea. However they managed to subdue him, having him in such close proximity to me couldn’t be good. I wasn’t sure what the range on his control over me was. “What if he—”

“You’re safe, babe,” Ryan promised with a reassuring hug. “Dr. Haggerty worked with Dr. Rajeet, and together they were able to extract Teddy’s nanobots from your brain.”

I don’t even want to know how they did that. But the major headache suddenly made sense.

“Anyway, you’re in the clear. He can’t control you ever again.”

Relief of the century. “So, how did you finally stop him, anyway?”

The question made Ryan tense again.

“He let you go, Jamie,” Tyson said, when Ryan couldn’t seem to force the words out. “When you collapsed, he gave up. He let you go and let the ACEs take him in. He couldn’t let you and Betty die.”

I turned my head so that I could see the young PAC. There was something different about him now. He was plagued with a sorrow I understood all too well. It was the pain of betrayal. Teddy had been one of their family, the subjects. He was the first one to be captured and had been there with all of them through their entire Visticorp experience. Tyson looked up to him like a brother.

I felt bad for Tyson, but he was strong and would be all right. “I know what he did was wrong,” Tyson said, “but in his own way, he really does love you, Jamie.”

Ryan scoffed, but I agreed with Tyson. “I know.” I sighed heavily. “It’s not entirely his fault. He was brought to Visticorp when he was five. The only example of right and wrong he ever had was Donovan’s.”

Ryan pulled back to look at me, aghast. “Jamie, he mind controlled you. He forced you to kill Donovan. He was going to kidnap you and force you to be his…his…” He choked on anger, unable to finish his sentence. Not that either of us needed to hear the end of it.

I placed my hand on his cheek and softly kissed his lips. “I know, Ryan. I’m not saying he’s innocent, but I can’t truly condemn him, either. I pity him. He definitely needs to be locked up—he’s dangerous—but he also needs forgiveness and compassion. He needs help.”

I glanced at Major Wilks. “You mentioned having a great therapist here. You should let Teddy see her. Please tell me that whatever happens to him, you’ll try to help him, too.”

Major Wilks gave me a stiff nod. “You have my word, Angel. And you aren’t the only one who feels that way. The other PACs share your opinion and Blake adores him. He’s spent most of his time sitting outside Teodoro’s cell since he arrived.”

I flinched. Now that I had my memories back, I remembered what Blake—Mr. E.—had done to me. It was hard to reconcile the English teacher I’d sent to prison with the man Teddy always spoke so fondly of. Startling, even. “Talk about someone who needs a good dose of therapy,” I muttered. It was easier to understand Teddy’s actions than Blake’s because Teddy’s past had been so messed up. What was Blake’s excuse?

I shuddered. Forgiveness for either of them would be a long time coming, if it was even possible.

Major Wilks startled me out of my thoughts. “Would you like to see him?”

“Who, Mr. E.? No thanks. I’ve killed enough people this week.”

Major Wilks frowned, and so did Ryan. “Donovan wasn’t your fault.”

“Wasn’t he?” I challenged. “I went there of my own free will. I let him inject me with his serum.”

“He tried to control you, and it bit him in the ass,” Tyson muttered. “The man was a sociopath, Jamie. He got what he deserved.”

“And I’m still a murderer.”

Everyone in the room immediately tried to argue. I lifted my hands in surrender, to show them all that I understood what they meant. I appreciated their efforts to console me, but there was still a weight on my chest. I’d acquired wounds that were going to take a long time to heal. I would recover from everything that happened, eventually, but I would never be the same.

“Sorry about the self-pity party, Major. No, I have no desire to see Mr. E.”

“Actually, I meant Teodoro. He’s been asking to speak to you. I told him that would be solely up to you.”

Ryan’s jaw clenched, but that’s not what swayed my decision. “No,” I answered. Ryan let out a small breath of relief. “I can’t completely condemn him, but I hate him still. I don’t want to hear his apologies, or justifications, or declarations of feelings. Maybe someday I’ll be able to forgive him and start talking to him again, but it’s probably better for us both if I just make a clean break for now. Just make sure you get him help.”