Part 17 (2/2)

”Shhh!” I hissed.

He merely rolled his shoulders as if to ease the ache of being tied up. ”You were doing the work, believe me. It was all coming from you.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, my body trembling. ”You're lying.” So why did I suddenly feel sick? No, Lewis would have told me. I hadn't been the only person responsible for making Maddox bleed. ”I don't believe you.”

He shrugged, looking completely unconcerned. ”I don't really give a c.r.a.p. What I care about is the fact that I've had a d.a.m.n headache ever since you broke into my thoughts, so thanks for that.”

I shook my head, feeling cold, close to panicking. ”We...I....had to. You'll kill us.”

He lifted a dark brow and settled on the edge of the cot. The bed creaked and groaned under his weight. Even sitting he seemed huge. ”Kill? What the h.e.l.l kind of nonsense has he been feeding you?”

I frowned, confused when I shouldn't be. He was trying to twist the facts. But I knew the truth and the truth was he was partially responsible for the death of my father. ”Your little group killed my father.”

He was silent for a moment, but I could read nothing in his hard gaze. ”Is that so?”

I didn't respond. What was the point? He'd never admit the truth. ”I have to go.” I started toward the door again, intent on leaving. I wouldn't listen to anymore of his lies. I wouldn't let him sway me, even for a minute.

”Ask them about George Miller.”

I froze, my heart slamming wildly in my chest. ”What do you mean?”

”You think it was a coincidence? You don't think it odd that the man shows up in your small town? No one knows him. You don't think it weird that he starts dating one of your best friends and because of him, you finally start using your abilities?”

My blood had run cold, fear giving way to anger. ”What I find weird,” I spun around to face him, ”Is that you know the details of my life.”

He just smirked. Was he playing with my mind? No way George was a fraud, or planted by Aaron merely to get me to use my powers. No. It was too sick to even think about. I turned and started for the door. He might not tell me about George, the psycho murderer, but Lewis would.

”Wait,” he demanded.

There was something to his voice, an anxiousness that made me pause.

”I want to show you something.”

As my Grandma used to say, too curious for my own good, I glanced over my shoulder.

He reached for his sleeve and rolled the dirty material, the handcuff rattling with the movement. His forearm was just as muscled as the rest of him. But his muscles were suddenly the least of my worries. He flipped his arm over and I saw it...there on the underside of his forearm...a tattoo of an animal...a bird with a lion's body.

Unwillingly, I stepped closer. It was oddly familiar....so familiar, yet I couldn't place it. ”What is it?”

”The Griffin. A symbol of what we stand for.”

For some reason I was finding it hard to breathe. I couldn't look away from that tattoo. A picture that clawed at my memory, begging me to understand. ”Why does it seem familiar?”

”Because your father had one just like it.”

I jerked my gaze up to him. He was completely serious. ”No, he...” But even as I thought the words, a memory flashed to mind, a memory I'd always a.s.sumed was some fantastical dream. Dad had taken me to the lake, intent on teaching me to swim. I think I was four, although not positive. He'd told me not to be afraid, that he'd keep me safe, he'd always keep me safe. Was it real? Had he truly visited me?

Tears burned my eyes, I shook my head. ”S.P.I. betrayed him-”

”No, we didn't.” His hard gaze flashed with anger and something that looked suspiciously like compa.s.sion. Dare I believe him? But if he was telling the truth, what did this mean?

”I don't believe you.”

He held his arms as wide as the handcuffs would allow. ”Why would I lie to you? I have no reason.”

”You have every reason,” Aaron spoke sharply from behind me. ”Get away from him, Cameron.”

Maddox's gaze turned to steel. Before I could even blink, the agent surged from the cot, latched onto my arm and jerked me back, directly into his hard chest. A muscled forearm wrapped around my throat with enough pressure that it brought tears to my eyes.

”Leave her alone,” Aaron said softly, as if he was in total control.

Maddox chuckled, his breath warm on the top of my head. ”You know I could so easily kill her.”

”And then what?” Aaron asked, holding his arms wide, a look of bewildered amus.e.m.e.nt on his face. ”I'll kill you? What's the point?”

”At least you won't have her ability to add your little collection.”

Even through the pain and confusion, his words bothered me. Add to his collection? As if we were priceless dolls. Maddox's arm tightened. Air couldn't get down my throat. I squeezed my eyes closed as blackness taunted.

”She's just a girl!” Aaron snapped.

”And I was only eighteen the first time you and your little friends captured me.”

They knew each other? I barely had time to consider that comment before Maddox's arm tightened, crus.h.i.+ng my throat. Light faded, the world spun.

”So what?” Aaron hissed. ”You're going to kill her? Then do it.” His tone was stern. He was totally serious. I was going to die, here in this dungeon. I'd been worried I'd killed Maddox, instead he'd kill me.

Then, just as suddenly as he'd grabbed me, Maddox relaxed his hold. My body quivered as glorious air seeped into my lungs. Maddox shoved me away. Off balance and practically unconscious, I stumbled. Aaron was there, reaching for me, but I didn't want him to touch me. I didn't want anyone to touch me. I evaded his grasp and spun around, falling back against the wall.

”Cameron,” Aaron called to me.

I shook my head. I had to get away. Away from them. Away from this dungeon. Not looking at either man, I turned and raced through the door. Aaron would have let Maddox kill me. Maddox wasn't on my side. I couldn't trust anyone. I stumbled up the steps, clinging to the railing for balance. I'd been so stupid to think I could deal with this, that I could submerge myself into this lifestyle.

”Cameron?”

Lewis was there at the top of the stairs. Olivia had told him, or maybe he'd read my thoughts. It didn't matter, all that mattered was he was there. I didn't pause, but slammed into his hard body.

He caught me, holding me tight against his bare chest. Vaguely I was aware that he wore only cargo shorts, apparently having come from bed. He smelled warm, and wonderful and comforting.

”What's going on?” he demanded.

”Nothing,” I sniffed, cursing the tears that were forming in my eyes. I didn't want him to see me cry, but I didn't want to leave him either. ”Everything.” The numbness in my body was fading fast and my throat ached.

I felt his body stiffen right before he cupped my shoulders and stepped back. Instead of compa.s.sion, he looked furious. ”d.a.m.n it, you went and saw that agent, didn't you?”

Shock gave way to fury. Immediately I threw up my mind wall. ”Don't read my thoughts!”

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