by Rebecca York
“Point taken, but I want to get far enough from Sedona so they can’t tune in to us.”
“If that’s possible,” she answered.
He looked toward her, then back to the road. “Do you trust Eugenia?”
She thought about everything that had happened. Wishing she could be more positive, she admitted “I don’t know.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“ YOU THINK THEY’RE telling the truth about wanting to get Tessa back?” Jason asked in a gritty voice.
Sophia clasped her hands together in her lap. “If you had asked me last week, I would have said ‘yes’ with no hesitation. Now I’m not so sure.”
Jason had been expecting the answer. “So we’ve got to do this by ourselves.”
“That’s probably right.”
He dragged in a breath and let it out before saying, “And our first job—if we can get back into contact with Tessa—is to convince her that I’m on her side.”
She reached to clasp his arm, holding on tight. “We’ll do it.”
“Maybe.”
They rode in silence for several miles.
When he slowed, she gave him a questioning look. “Now what?”
He gestured toward a fast-food restaurant. “We haven’t had much to eat today. We’d better grab some burgers.”
“And milk shakes,” she said. “We could use the calories.”
“I’m learning your secret vices.”
She gave him a mischievous grin. “Which is worse? Milk shakes or S and M?”
He laughed. “Depends. If you tied me down, dripped cold milk shake on me, and licked it off, I’d be able to give a better evaluation.”
“Stop!” she begged.
“Okay.” But he was secretly pleased that they could joke around, even under the present circumstances.
After paying for the simple meal at the drive-through, they kept driving while they ate the burgers and drank the shakes.
As she bundled up the trash, he said, “It’s been a hell of a day. You should get some sleep.”
“You had the same day. Worse, actually. If you’re going to stay awake, so will I.”
Despite what Sophia had said, he watched her lean back, watched her eyes drift closed. When her breathing became even, he focused on the road, glad that she could get some rest.
He was tired, too, but he wanted to get as far from the Ionians as he could. He’d known they were cautious and clannish. He understood that they could be vindictive. He hadn’t realized the lengths they’d go to get their way. Or maybe it was the old Ionian–Minot thing? They couldn’t let their sworn enemies win? At least that was true of Cynthia. The one named Eugenia seemed more reasonable.
And he knew they weren’t all the same. His mother had been different, or she never would have gone off with his father. He prayed that Sophia had the same courage of her convictions. Still, in the end, his mother had lost the battle for independence. He thought about his father again. What had made him different from the average Minot? Did he have Ionian blood, too? It was an interesting question. One he might never find the answer to. He shuddered.
When he reached the outskirts of the city, he drove past the first few motels and turned in at a well-known chain where the rooms were all on the outside. As he pulled to a stop under the portico, Sophia’s eyes blinked open, and she looked around.
“We’re here?”
“Yeah.”
“I told you I wanted to stay awake.”
“It worked out.”
She pushed herself up. “We don’t have any luggage.”
“Actually, we do. Before I picked you up, I made a quick run to a discount department store. I’ve got basic toilet articles and clothing.”
When she started to get out, he put a hand on her arm. “Stay here. If someone’s looking for us, it’s better if the desk clerk doesn’t remember a man and woman checking in together.”
“I didn’t think of that.”
“You’re not used to being devious.”
Ten minutes after he’d pulled into the parking lot, they were in their room.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and wearily pulled off his shoes. “I’ve got to get some sleep, but I feel like I’ve spent the day in a chimney.”
“Go get cleaned up. I’ll wait.”
He took a quick shower, feeling refreshed for the first time since they’d escaped from the tunnel.
The fates allowed him a few hours of rest. Then a nightmare seized him.
He was Jamie Ferguson, the Prohibition Era gangster again, stripped naked, chained in a chair that was bolted to the floor, with his feet in a tub of water and electrodes attached to the sensitive areas of his body.
His torturer turned the crank on an old-fashioned telephone, and pain ripped through him.
He wouldn’t scream. He wouldn’t tell them where he’d hidden his stash. But his body jerked as the pain stabbed into him.
Then the bastards started shaking him and calling his name.
Only they weren’t calling him Jamie. It was Jason.
His confused mind struggled to grapple with that. When he tried to strike out with his hand, he found that the chains holding him down weren’t all that secure.
He slammed a mighty blow into his torturer, hearing a satisfying gasp of pain and surprise.
“Jason. Don’t. Jason, you’re having a nightmare.”
He was still confused. He’d thought he was in a chair. Instead he was lying down.
When a warm body pressed on top of him, he bucked.
“Jason. Wake up. Jason.”
Jason! Stop it. You’re hurting me.
The voice in his mind got his attention. Maybe he wasn’t back in the 1920s. Unless the gangsters had powers he didn’t know about.
His eyes blinked open. In the dim light, he saw Sophia above him, staring down. She was trying to hold his arms, but of course she was no match for his strength.
“Sophia?”
Her hands tightened on his arms. “Thank the universe.”
A wave of guilt swept over him as he stared at the red splotch on her right cheek. “I hurt you.”
“You were having a nightmare.”
He made a rough sound. “I was back in the world of that gangster—Jamie Ferguson.”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault. You went back there to prove something to me, and now it won’t let go of you.”
He gently rolled her off of him, then sat up. “I thought it was safe for you to be with me. It seems I was wrong.”
She caught her breath. “You’re not wrong.”
“Like I said, I hurt you.”
“You thought I was someone else in the dream.”
“That’s no excuse.”
When he started to climb off the bed, she grabbed him. “Don’t run away from me. Not when . . .”
Her voice trailed off.
“What were you going to say?”
“It wasn’t the right thing.”
“You were going to say you’d given up everything to be with me.”
“I have no right to make you responsible for my decisions.”
“We both know what you’ve given up. We both know what happened to my mother.”
“Let’s focus on what I’ve gained, not what I’ve lost. Come back to bed. Help me get through to Tessa.”
“It didn’t work so well last time.”
“It will now.”
“Why?”
The determination in her eyes made his throat tighten.
“What if you stay in the background? You help me reach Tessa, and I’ll do the talking.”
“You really think she won’t know?”
“Jason, we’ve got to try!”
He understood that desperation was driving her, but he had to ask, “And you think we’re far enough from Sedona to keep them from finding us again?”
“That’s another chance we have to take. They might have wanted to follow us, but they have no idea which direction we took.
They could be farther from us than just the distance to Sedona.”
He wasn’t sure that was true. Or if her plan would work, but the pleading look on her face tore at his heart.
When he held out his arms, she came into them, nestling against him.
“We’re going to try what we did before?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He nodded against the top of her head.
When she lifted her face, their lips met in a kiss that was as frantic as it was passionate. And in that moment, he knew what she was going to say to Tessa.
“Okay,” he murmured as he stroked her hair, her back, her arms, letting the feeling of closeness between them build along with his arousal.
Nothing had changed in that department. He wanted her with the desperation of a man who understood that the thing he craved most in the world could be cruelly snatched away from him. She might think she wanted a life with him. That might turn out to be impossible.
Never. You spent a lot of time planning how to get close to me. Don’t throw it away.
He knew she was right. He wouldn’t give her up without a fight. So he let the passion build, and tried to drift above the physical need gnawing at him.
Then from far away, he heard another voice. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to stay quiet and hidden.
Sophia?
Yes.
Thank all the ancient powers. I’ve been calling to you, but I couldn’t get through.
I’m closer.
You know where I am?
Santa Barbara. I don’t know any more than that.
I’m with . . .
He heard a gasp. Felt her start to pull away. You’re still with him! And he’s . . . a . . . a gangster. Jamie Ferguson. Or did I dream that?
You didn’t dream it. But that was a past life. He showed it to me. You must have joined us in a dream. Stay with me now. He saved my life. We were in his cabin, hiding out from Cynthia, and she found us. She brought some of the others, and they were using their powers to crush our minds.
Cynthia did that?
He felt Sophia opening herself, letting Tessa see everything that had happened.
The other Ionian gasped.
All that’s true?
How could I lie in my thoughts?
He heard Tessa’s silent acknowledgment.
Tell us the name of the Minot who has you, Sophia begged.
Jason clenched his hands on Sophia’s arms, and pressed his lips together, fighting to stay out of the conversation. He wanted to demand the man’s name, but he understood that she wasn’t going to tell him.
After long moments, Tessa answered, Rafe Garrison.
Jason had expected to feel some kind of shock wave roll over him, but there was no sensation of hearing a revelation. The guy hadn’t been on any of the property or rental records he’d searched in Sedona.
And there’s another one with him. I don’t know his name. He introduced him as John, but that might be ... an alias. They’re plotting something together. This other guy hates the Ionians. He . . . he’s going to help Rafe kill the rest of our sisters.
Sophia gasped. No!
You have to stop them. But I don’t know how you’re going to get in here. He’s got . . .
Before she could say anything else, the transmission suddenly cut off, and he was left holding Sophia in his arms.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know.”
“Could he have heard her talking to you?”
“I don’t know!” Sophia’s voice went high and thin in her frustration.
“We’ll get there.”
“We still don’t know exactly where.”
“While you were focused on talking to her. I got a picture from her mind. She traveled a long way through hills covered with dry grass and scrubby vegetation. She’s out in the country. If it’s around Santa Barbara, it’s probably north.”
“How do you know?”
“The population density is pretty high to the south. There’d be nowhere like what she saw.”
“You’re sure?”
“I visited there with my parents when I was younger.” She sighed. “Okay.”
He cradled her in his arms, still wanting her as much as he had a few minutes ago. But he could tell that she was no longer aroused.
“You’re upset.”
“I just heard about a plot to kill my sisters. I have to warn them.”
“You can’t.”
“But we have to assume she overheard the two men talking about their murder plans. They could be going right to Sedona.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Don’t you think the Garrison guy would be taking a chance if he didn’t establish his relationship with Tessa better before he went off to kill her sisters?”
Sophia nodded against his shoulder, clinging to him. “That could be right. But if it’s wrong . . . my sisters could die.”
“They have defenses.”
“He must think he can get past them.”
Jason dragged in a breath and let it out. “If you contact your sisters, they’ll stop you from rescuing Tessa.”
She moaned. “I don’t know what to do!”
“We’re not far. We’ll get to his place and stop him.”
Her mouth firmed. Pushing herself up, she looked at the clock on the bedside table. It said seven a.m.
“Let’s get back on the road again.”
“I need to do a little research first.” He got up and picked up the carry bag he’d brought. From it he produced a minicomputer.
“Did you think of everything?” Sophia asked.
“I tried to.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
TESSA LOOKED UP as Rafe walked into her room without knocking. She’d been talking to Sophia, but she’d broken off when she heard the knob turn.
“I wasn’t expecting you,” she managed to say.
“Are you feeling all right? You look . . . upset.”
“I guess I’m still recovering from the trip,” she said, wondering if that sounded too lame.
“I’m going to show my friend around the compound.”
“Okay.”
“We can all have breakfast together later. Perhaps you should rest now.”
“That’s a good idea.”
He stood looking at her for a long moment, then he turned and left her alone.
As soon as he was gone, she got out of bed, crossed the room, and listened at the door, hearing voices in the hall. When they faded away, she pulled on sweat clothes and hurried down the hall to the library where the two men had been talking the night before.
One thing she’d discovered: the servants stayed out of the way as much as possible, which was lucky for her.
After glancing over her shoulder, she entered the room and looked around. Could she find some proof of his plans? Proof that she could show her sisters—if she could get off this estate.
A door at the far side led to a small private bathroom. She gave it a quick once over, then began opening drawers and cabinets.
But it seemed Rafe wasn’t going to leave evidence lying around. She was about to leave the room when she heard footsteps in the hall. With her heart pounding, she looked for a place to hide. Her only choice was behind the draperies.
SOPHIA dressed while Jason connected to the motel’s wireless network and Googled Rafe Garrison.
“What can you find?” she called from the bathroom.
“He didn’t make any attempt to hide his identity. He’s very well off, with an interest in a score of companies. And . . . wait for it, he lives on an estate above Santa Barbara, California.”
“You found all that online?”
“Yes. Which means the place must be well defended.”
He skimmed more of the sites with references to Rafe Garrison. He was a darkly handsome man who looked to be about Jason’s age. But there was no more information that would help them deal with the guy.
TESSA sto
od behind the draperies, praying that Rafe wouldn’t hear the pounding of her heart.
As he crossed to the far side of the room, she cautiously moved the fabric aside so she could see out through a narrow slit.
He opened a cabinet. Behind it was another door with a combination lock.
When he turned the dial on the combination, she was at the right angle to see which numbers he stopped on. Starting with fifteen, then spinning to the right to nineteen. Then left, twice around to seventeen.
While she silently repeated the numbers, he opened the double doors, and checked some equipment. Something electronic.
He closed the door, and she eased the curtain back into place, praying he wouldn’t discover her. Instead he went into his private bathroom and closed the door.
Taking the opportunity he’d given her, she leaped from her hiding place and dashed across the room, making for the door to the hall.
JASON and Sophia came down to the lobby, where the staff had set out coffee and baked goods. They both poured coffee and ate some muffins.
As they drove out of town, Jason said, “We should make some plans.”
“We’ve got to find his place first.”
“Then what? We’ve got two bad guys to neutralize.”
“Minot rely on their strength and cunning. They’re not going to expect a mental assault,” she said.
“You mean like what Cynthia did to us at the cabin?” She nodded.
“You think we can fight them that way?”
“I don’t see any alternative. If Tessa joins us—that will be extra power.”
He wanted to say it wasn’t enough. Particularly since he’d never tried to stop anyone with a blast of mental energy. But he didn’t have any other brilliant suggestions. He’d beaten Rafe Garrison in a fight before, but who knew what the guy might have available on his own territory. And that didn’t take the other one into consideration. Another Minot had joined Garrison. Obviously for his own reasons. Could they use him? Turn him against Garrison? But how would they get to him?
And what had the Ionians done to him to make him angry enough to kill them?
They made good time, with only a couple of quick stops, arriving in Santa Barbara around eleven.
