Remember Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #3)(48)

“Thanks,” I muttered. I didn’t know how to respond to that. Carter’s harsh demeanor had vanished, and his smile melted into a proud and compassionate one. It was almost believable. As if the man really did care about me.

Carter, either deciding I’d had enough or that he’d gotten everything he was going to get from us, thanked us again for the interview and wrapped things up. The second they were off the air, Carter’s staff all cheered and congratulated him. He’d gotten the scoop of the year, and apparently the interview was a good one. Personally I wasn’t impressed, but whatever. It was over.

“You’ve got some nerve,” Major Wilks hissed after Carter escorted us out of his building.

Carter shrugged, as if he couldn’t care less what Major Wilks thought of him. “I did exactly what you asked me to.”

“It was supposed to be a human-interest story about a girl with amnesia and her fiancé that she can’t remember. It was supposed to catch the nation’s attention and make them want to follow their every step, not induce a nationwide panic over a possible new terrorist group.”

Carter shook his head. “I had to push you, Major. I had to make both you and Jamie squirm a little. If you didn’t, the interview would have looked scripted and your Visticorp guys would have seen right through it. As it is, Jamie’s passionate speech about wanting whatever testing necessary to get her memory back was quite convincing. As was your desperate need to get her knowledge from her. Donovan will never question Jamie’s desire to be tested, or your presence now. And as for the nation getting caught up in Jamie and Ryan’s story?”

He laughed. “I didn’t have to dwell on their relationship. Ryan’s a heartthrob without even trying. He and Jamie are too easy. Push her buttons, she mouths off; Ryan says something charming, and the nation falls in love. Trust me. They’ll be the tabloid king and queen by bedtime. Hollywood will probably want to make them a reality show.”

I really hoped he was kidding.

“Carter,” Ryan said, offering his hand to the man, “your powers of manipulation are astounding. Thanks for the help.”

Carter gave Ryan a big, cheesy smile. “Anytime. I tend to get promoted after interviewing you two.”

I snorted. “You’re shameless.”

Carter came over to me, shaking his head. “Not completely. I haven’t sold you out yet, Angel.”

“Yet,” I repeated, though I was teasing. He may have made me wary, but I knew I could trust him. It seemed odd, though. “Why haven’t you ever given me up?”

Carter thought for a moment. “I guess because even though you can be a giant pain in my butt, I’ve grown kind of fond of you, kid.”

He punched me in the shoulder lightly as if to prove he was well aware of the corny cliché he’d just used. It was horrible and endearing at the same time. Sobering up a little, he said, “It’s good to have you back. Take care of yourself, Jamie.”

“Are you telling me you won’t be among the sea of reporters following me around tomorrow, begging for a statement?” I smirked, but my heart wasn’t in it this time.

“Not unless you want to give me an exclusive of the moment you meet your parents.”

He was only partially kidding. “Shameless,” I said again.

I forced a smile, but my stomach twisted into knots at the mention of my parents. I was both excited and terrified. I wished I could meet them without the cameras, the military, and the possibility of putting them in danger. If Donovan sent superthugs after them because of me, I’d never forgive myself.

Ryan noticed my mood swing and was instantly beside me with his arm wrapped firmly around me. Sinking into his embrace, I found Major Wilks’s eyes. “They’ll be safe, right?” I hated how small my voice sounded. “We’re not making a mistake, involving my parents in this?”

The major’s hard face softened in a rare moment of compassion. “If we don’t bring them, Donovan could try to kidnap them and use them against you.”

I let out a breath. He was right. They were safer with me.

“We’ll keep them safe, Angel. And you, too.”

I hoped so, but I couldn’t shake the sinking feeling in my gut.

Ryan cleared his throat, pulling me from my thoughts. “Major Wilks, sir?” Both Major Wilks and I looked at him curiously. “It’s going to take a few hours for the ACEs to fly to Boston, and we don’t want Jamie on the plane, right?”

Major Wilks raised an eyebrow. “Your point, Miller?”

“Well, we’re going to have some free time while we wait for the team to catch up with us, so I’m requesting permission to have the rest of the day off, sir. I’d like to take my girlfriend on a second first date.”

The major’s look of surprise was nothing compared to mine. “Excuse me? Your girlfriend?”

Ryan flashed me a smile. “Positive thinking. I’m hoping that if I say it enough times, it’ll become true.”

He was hopeless. I sighed, unable to even get annoyed anymore.

Major Wilks opened his mouth to say something, but Ryan beat him to it. “Tomorrow is going to be a really hard day for Jamie for a lot of different reasons. I think it will help her keep her emotions—and her powers—in control if she relaxes a little this evening and prepares for it. If she gets to know me a little better, and learns more about her past, she might not feel so alone tomorrow when she has to face the firing squad.”