by I. T. Lucas
That was in the future, though. In the meantime, her practical mind was trying to organize this new world into manageable bits.
“Marriage first,” Jin said. “What about Mom and Dad, though? They will also never forgive you if you don’t invite them to your wedding. How are you going to explain what’s going on to them?”
“We will probably need to use Lokan’s services again. He can compel them into silence about our immortality.”
Kian turned around.
“I want you to tell me everything you know about your three friends. Is there a chance that any of them are plants? Jacki knew that Mey was coming for you, and she could have been cooperating with the bosses by organizing a spy team to infiltrate our organization.”
Jin was taken aback. Her first instinct was to dismiss Kian’s suspicions, but that would be naive of her. If not for Jacki, she would have never suspected that Marisol was a compeller, and that she was pushing people into relationships that would produce super talents for the government.
“Frankly, I don’t know. I think Arwel can do a better job of assessing their motives than I did. Maybe once he has rested a little.” She glanced back and smiled at him. “Thralling ten talented paranormals, some of them three times, took a lot out of him.”
Kian nodded. “I understand that you are not a telepath or an empath and that you know only what you see. But you’ve spent time with these people. Are you at all suspicious of their motives?”
“Wendy is just a kid, so I would be very surprised if she is hiding something. Jacki is my best friend from the program, but she is also crusty and suspicious, and I don’t know whether it’s the result of growing up in the foster system, or because she is deceitful and therefore thinks everyone else is as well.”
“Did she ever lie to you?”
Jin shook her head. “Not that I know of.”
“What about Richard?”
“He was my boyfriend, but that was because of Marisol’s compulsion. I would have never gone for him otherwise. First of all, he is full of himself, and I don’t like arrogant men, and secondly, he is ten years older than me. I’ve never dated a guy that old.”
It suddenly occurred to her that Arwel might be ancient and that she’d just blabbered about not being interested in older men. “Not that age is a big deal, I’ve just never done it before. Other than that, Richard is a decent guy. Or at least I think he is, and I really think that he had no ulterior motives when he offered you his hand.” She chuckled. “I’ve never seen him turn that particular shade of red before.”
Kian arched a brow. “What other instances cause him to blush?”
“Richard hates losing or being second best at anything. Whenever someone did better than him, he would turn red.”
“A sore loser,” Mey commented.
“Not necessarily. He was never mean about it or claimed that it was a fluke or that he wasn’t at his best or some other nonsense like that. He would just turn red and then try harder the next time.”
Kian still looked skeptical. “Did you believe Jacki that Mey was coming for you?”
“I did, and I didn’t. I wasn’t sure.”
“As a touch telepath, Richard must have felt your anxiety.”
She waved a hand. “I told him that studying Mandarin was stressing me, and he believed it.”
Mey squeezed her hand. “Not knowing whether I was going to show up or not must have been stressful for you.”
“It was. Jacki knew that you were going to approach me in the mall, so last Saturday, I was a nervous stress ball. But after you didn’t show up, my enthusiasm diminished, and I wasn’t as excited this time.” She cast Mey an apologetic look. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to leave. And I didn’t really believe Jacki’s claim about Marisol compelling me to sign the contract and then to date Richard.”
“But now you believe her, right?” Mey asked.
“I do. But I also know that I would have signed that contract even without compulsion. The money was a good enough motivator. The reason I agreed to run is their breeding program and the realization that they were not going to let me leave.”
“What breeding program?” Kian asked.
“They wanted to pair complementing talents in the hopes of producing super-babies. Like I can touch people and then see what they see and hear what they hear, Richard can touch people and know how they feel. Imagine someone with our combined powers.”
35
Kian
Kian tried to wrap his head around what Jin had said. He could see the government using coercion and even compulsion to get the people it wanted. But a breeding program?
That was something a lowlife like Navuh could come up with, not a branch of a democratically elected government.
Except, it was a huge organization. Kian had no doubt that some of the more prominent cogs in the system took matters into their own hands and played God with the lives of the people they were in charge of.
It was abhorrent, but it wouldn’t be the first or the last time it had happened, and there was nothing he could do about it. What he could do, however, was to make sure that he was not leading those unscrupulous individuals to the clan’s hideout.
The meetup point was at a rest stop about twenty minutes’ drive out of the city, and Kian had spent half of that time questioning Jin about her friends.
He’d hoped to get a better assessment of them before deciding on what instructions he should give the rest of his team members, but Jin hadn’t been much help in that regard.
First of all, he needed to reiterate the importance of keeping up the pretense of being a group of humans with paranormal abilities. Secondly, he was going to use the same precautions with the four trainees as he had used with the captured Doomers.
Regrettably, he didn’t have the equipment needed to check them for implanted trackers, and it would have to wait until they were in the keep. He should let Bridget know so she could get ready and assemble the equipment she needed in her old clinic in the underground.
That could wait, though.
Getting rid of their clothing was the first priority, since it was more likely that if they were tracked, the devices were hidden either in the garments they were wearing or in their footwear.
A quick text to Amanda solved that issue.
When they reached the rest stop, Anandur eased into one of the two spaces between the two vans, and Lokan into the other. They were parked near the picnic area, which was thankfully deserted.
Amanda opened the side door of one of the vans and waved. “Girls change in here. Boy, on the other side.”
Jin looked at Mey. “What’s going on?”
“You are about to change into my clothes.” Mey smirked. “Nothing new there.”
Kian waited until the other three had gotten out of Lokan’s car before explaining. “Everything you have on goes into a trash bag except for the cash. You might have hidden trackers on you. We have a handheld device that can detect some of them, but not all, and we don’t want to waste time patting every seam and hem. My teammates have organized a collection of clothes and shoes for you to wear until we get to our destination. You’ll get a new wardrobe when we get there.”
“What about credit cards and a driver’s license?” Richard asked.
“You can’t use either, so there is no point in taking them. We will get you new fake IDs.”
The guy rubbed the back of his neck. “I appreciate the help and everything, but what are we going to do for money?”
It was a little late in the game to suddenly be concerned with practicalities. Richard should have thought about that before forcing them to take him.
“You are going into hiding, so you will not need money. Later on, we will figure out something.”
Jacki clapped Richard on the back. “When you decided to run, you should have realized that you’d be starting from scratch. Get used to the idea of a career as a janitor named Pablo Cusinovich.” She smiled at Amanda and offered her hand. “I�
�m Jacki.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Amanda.” She pulled on the girl’s hand, helping her get into the van. “Choose whatever you like. Unfortunately, you will be going commando for the duration of the trip. None of us had new underwear, and I know I wouldn’t want to wear someone else’s undies even after they were washed.”
“No problem.” Jacki ducked into the back.
“Are we going one at a time?” Jin asked.
“Hop in.” Amanda waved her on. “We made room.” She looked at Wendy. “You too.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
After she’d pulled the girl inside, Amanda closed the sliding door.
Richard was still standing next to Lokan’s car, looking lost.
Yamanu put a hand on his shoulder. “You need to get moving, buddy. Everything is going to work out fine. You’ll see.”
Richard lifted his head and looked at Yamanu’s smiling face. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
“Of course. I trust the Fates.”
36
Jin
“Welcome to Amanda’s fashions,” the beautiful brunette said as she pulled Jin into her arms. “And welcome to the clan,” she whispered in her ear.
They were standing bent over in the middle row of the van, while Jacki was in the back with Wendy, already undressing.
“Thank you. Mey said that she left some clothes for me.”
Amanda shook her head. “Kian put me in charge of collecting clothes for the four escapees, and it was easiest for me to just grab some of mine for you and Jacki. Ella donated hers to Wendy because mine would have been too long on her. But you and Jacki are going to look fabulous in what I’ve selected for you.”
“I’m Ella.” The girl sitting at the shotgun seat waved. “Nice to meet you, Jin.”
“And I’m Callie,” the one behind the wheel introduced herself. “Wonder and Syssi will be back in a minute. They are using the facilities.”
Amanda glanced at Jin’s cleavage. “You are a little bustier than Mey and me, but I don’t think that will be a problem. The shirt I got for you is stretchy.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Jacki gasped from the back. “Is this a Prada T-shirt? I can’t put this on.” She had already pulled on a pair of leggings and was sitting bare-chested and holding the shirt out.
“Nonsense, darling. The fabric is very soft.”
Jacki lifted a pair of wide eyes to Amanda. “I’ll be afraid to breathe in it. What if I accidentally stain it?”
Amanda shrugged. “Then you’ll have a stained Prada shirt. It’s yours to keep. I’m not taking it back.”
Jacki lowered her head. “Then I really can’t take it. Can I have some of Ella’s clothes as well? I don’t mind if they are too short. It’s just for the road.”
It took Amanda a moment to realize how what she’d said had sounded to Jacki. “Oh, darling, it’s not because you will be wearing it. I never wear an outfit more than two or three times, and I’ve already worn that damn shirt more than that. If you don’t want it, I’m going to donate it to charity, like I do with all my used clothes.”
Jacki clutched the shirt to her chest. “I’ll take it, and I’ll also take anything else that you want to donate. Consider me your private charity project.”
Amanda laughed. “Done.”
“I hate being short,” Ella murmured from the front of the van. “Amanda could dress the entire village with what she throws away, but who has a body like hers?”
Amanda cast her a hard stare, and Ella covered her mouth. “I meant an entire village of women.”
There was no harm in saying the word village. Jacki and Wendy didn’t know that it was a specific place. Nevertheless, Jin decided to divert the conversation to more practical matters.
To afford top designer brands like Prada and toss them after two or three uses, Amanda must be a rich woman. And she was obviously interested in fashion. She could be the money partner Jin and Mey needed to launch their future clothing line.
“So, you are the group’s fashionista?”
Amanda nodded proudly. “Indeed, I am.”
“My sister and I want to create fashion for tall women. You could become our consultant.”
This was a soft approach, just testing the waters. If Amanda took the bait, a serious pitch could come later.
“I would love to.”
“What do you do now?”
“I’m a neuroscientist. I research paranormal phenomena.”
Jin’s jaw dropped. The woman was unbelievable. Gorgeous, smart, and rich?
Amanda chuckled. “Naturally, I couldn’t indulge my fashion obsession with what the university pays me. I come from a very old and wealthy family.”
Yeah, she came from a clan of immortals who lived forever, but that didn’t explain her wealth. Ella was dressed modestly, and so was Callie. Neither had that aura of royalty about them either.
Jin would have loved to know Amanda’s real story, but it would have to wait for later, without Jacki and Wendy listening in.
Once they were done, they exited the van, and Jin went to the backseat to change. The two items left were another pair of super soft leggings and a long-sleeved shirt that at first glance looked like a simple Henley. Except that it wasn’t.
“How are we going to do this?” Jin asked as she pulled her pants and underwear down. “Who is riding with whom?”
Unlike Mey, who was used to undressing in front of people, Jin felt shy, and talking while she was at it helped.
“I’m sure you want to be with your sister and talk freely. So, you should ride in the Suburban with Kian and Syssi, Yamanu, Mey, and Arwel. Jacki and Wendy can ride with me, Dalhu, Callie, and Ella. Richard can ride with Anandur and Wonder. Am I forgetting anyone?”
“Brundar and Julian,” Callie said. “But they are going to meet us at the airfield.”
“Where are we going?” Jin asked. “Mey didn’t tell me.”
“Los Angeles, but we are not flying directly there.” Amanda took the trash bag with the old clothes and opened the back door. “I’m going to give it to Arwel to check for trackers and then get rid of it.”
“Why bother checking if Arwel is going to dump the bag in the trash anyway?”
“Curiosity. Kian wants to know if you had any on you.”
37
Arwel
As Yamanu cast a small shroud, Arwel ignited the contents of the trash can.
Before dumping the bag with the trainees’ clothes, they had swiped the tracker detection device over it, but the thing kept flashing green, which was worrisome.
Arwel found it hard to believe that the recruits hadn’t had any on them. Were they tracking them through the walkie talkies that they had left behind in the mall? Probably, but not only. The government must have developed trackers that the device couldn’t pick up.
Regardless of the technology and materials used though, the fire would take care of that, melting the delicate circuitry in the miniature devices.
As he and Yamanu waited for the smoke to disperse, the rest of the team went to load up on snacks from the rest stop’s vending machines. It was miserable fare compared to Jackson’s pastries and sandwiches, but that’s what was available, and it would have to suffice until they found a decent takeout joint.
Finally, when the smoke was gone, they walked over to where the rest of the group was waiting.
“I’m going to miss you all so much.” Carol hugged Arwel and then Yamanu.
She’d already shed quite a few tears saying goodbye to Ella and her other friends.
It seemed to bother Lokan.
Standing with his hands in his pockets, he looked on with a grim expression on his face, and it wasn’t because he was jealous that his mate was hugging and kissing her male cousins.
The feelings that Arwel was picking up on were helplessness and irritation, the second probably resulting from the first. Lokan didn’t like seeing Carol sad, and he liked even less not being able to do anything about it.
/>
“I’ll see you when I see you.” Carol wiped a tear with the back of her hand. “You should come to visit me. It’s much easier than the other way around.”
“I’ll do my best.” Arwel cast a glance at Jin, who was talking with Syssi.
It wasn’t going to happen anytime soon because he was going to be busy wooing a girl.
How? He had no clue. Not yet.
Lucky for him, Arwel had no shortage of advisers. Amanda would gladly put her matchmaker hat on and assist, and he might even enlist Mey’s help. She should know what her sister liked or disliked about guys.
After another round of hugs and kisses with the girls, Carol took Lokan’s hand, and they got into their car.
“Why is she so sad?” Jin asked.
Syssi put her hand on her shoulder. “Carol and Lokan live in Washington, and she misses her family.”
“I get it,” Jin said. “I missed Mey during the month that I didn’t see her, and I miss my parents terribly.” She sighed. “I don’t know when I’ll be able to see them again. This really is like diving into a rabbit hole.”
Syssi laughed softly. “I felt the same way. But I find the world on the other side of that wormhole beautiful.” She glanced at her mate. “I have more than I could’ve ever dreamt of.”
Jin looked like she wanted to ask Syssi questions, but Jacki was standing right next to her.
“Okay, people.” Kian lifted his hand to get their attention. “Time to move out. Richard, you are going with Wonder and Anandur.”
Anandur clapped Richard on his back. “You won the lottery, buddy. You get the entire back seat to yourself. You can take a nap.”
As the three of them entered the van on the left, Kian motioned to the one on the right. “Jacki and Wendy, you are with Amanda, Dalhu, Callie, and Ella. The rest are with me.”
“Who is going to drive?” Yamanu asked.
“I am.” Kian got behind the wheel, and Syssi joined him in the front.
“I guess we are in the back again.” Arwel motioned for Yamanu to go in first. “Or do you want to sit with Mey?”
