Hunting the Shadows (11 page)

“I’m listening.”

“She opened communication with me. I’m in the unique position
of being able to work with her telepathically. Rick hasn’t tapped what she’s
capable of and he won’t if she stays with him. He doesn’t understand her.”

“And you do?”

“I know what she needs. A woman like Amy needs things to be
taken slow. She shouldn’t be rushed and forced. She’ll spook.” Rick had done
everything wrong. He didn’t have to see the complete file to know that.

“What can you do with her if I gave her to you?”

“Train her. She’d be a highly valuable resource if she can
learn to survive outside.” He dragged a hand along his jaw.

“That’s the question. Whether or not she can even survive on
her own without scientific intervention. I have my doubts.”

Broderick was quiet for awhile before he dropped the file on
the desk. J.C. glanced down at the page that had partially fallen out. Setting
his finger on the edge, he slid it the rest of the way out.

“Rick is useless. He’s had her for years and he hasn’t gotten
the results I need—not without going to extreme measures. If you think you can
get her to work with you, then you better see to it that she does. I’ve about
had it with her.” Disgust flickered in the depths of Broderick’s eyes. J.C. had
noticed the coldness a lot more recently. Nothing his sons did was good enough.
“At three we realized Amy’s abilities were different compared to the other
children, more internal. Special notice was placed on her, but we didn’t realize
the extent of how different until she had her first seizure. Before the doctors
could get to her, she went into cardiac arrest. It became evident we had to take
precautions.”

“So you isolated her.”

“The psych ward was the most secure area for someone with her
abilities. We managed to block out the mental waves enough to stabilize her. We
were never quite sure why she hadn’t developed shields on her own so we had to
create some for her.”

J.C. flipped the cover of the file. “It’s possible they never
got the chance to develop. With her mind being assaulted constantly, she
probably didn’t have the time to build them before they got knocked back down
again.” He stared down at the photos pinned to the stack of papers.

“It doesn’t matter. We’ve pandered to her weakness long enough.
If she can’t survive, she’s useless.” Broderick said, dismissively. “She’ll be
tested. If she can demonstrate that she’s capable of handling herself, we’ll see
what happens. If she can’t, we’re not going to waste our time with her
anymore.”

An argument leapt onto his tongue but he held it back, instead
shuffling through the photos. She was only a child in the last one, maybe five,
hair about her face, eyes that same startling blue that made his insides
tighten. He remembered her now—the young girl that sat in the corner most days,
always keeping her distance. And then one day, she was gone. They’d been told
she’d died.

J.C. flipped to the next page to study her blood tests. Normal.
Physically, Amy was healthy. Psychically, there were things he couldn’t
explain.

“I want her in Testing in the morning. See to it that she’s
there. I don’t want to regret this decision, J.C.” Broderick’s tone was final,
leaving no room to argue.

He glanced up, watching Broderick’s retreating form then
shifted his attention back to the file.

He flipped through the pages, skimming through it all. Until he
got to his own handwriting. He frowned, stiffening as a memory surfaced. Rick
had asked him for a consultation regarding a young woman to fit her for a mind
strengthening device—a personal shielding wristband he’d been creating to help
some of the children. On the day he was to fit Amy with a band, she’d caused a
disruption in the psych ward. He went in to help and found her mentally
attacking the doctors inside. Instead of determining if the band would help her,
he’d looked away and had given her a black mark.

Amy.
He’d
sentenced her to a life
in isolation.

Easing the folder shut, J.C. pushed away from the table, as
though closing the file would shut off the guilt. As a scientist he had to be
objective. Or so he told himself because there were no other options. He
couldn’t let emotion interfere with his job. Ever.

Chapter Eleven

“I can’t stay in here anymore, J.C., I need to get some air.” Amy stood by the door waiting for him. Leaning against the wall in a deceptively lazy pose, she drummed her fingers lightly behind her. Darilynn had brought her some clothes, the black military-esque uniform making Amy almost look like one of them. She’d washed, her hair and skin smelling of his soap as he passed by her.

Settling at the corner of his desk, J.C. fingered the length of leather he’d been working on since Broderick had left his lab. “Come here.” He crooked a finger and when she hesitated, snagged her wrist and tugged her forward, feeling her pulse bump against his touch. “Relax,” he whispered against her ear.

“I know what you’re capable of.”

He drew her between his thighs and waited until she stopped squirming. Her body pressed tantalizingly against his without her being aware of what she was doing to him. Gritting his teeth, J.C. hissed out a strained breath as blood arrowed to his groin. “You have to get used to being touched if you want to be on the outside. If you can’t handle even me then maybe you should rethink wanting your freedom.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

He chuckled at the tightness of her words but let the matter drop. “Well, I’m not taking the risk of sending you out there without some kind of protection.” He tied the leather band to her wrist, making sure the small watch-like device was turned on.

“What are you trying to say?”

“You’ll need to wear this band at all times when you step outside. It’ll create the shields and filters you need.” The spark of hope in her eyes made his lips twitch. “It’s your tin foil hat, Amy.”

Those blue, expressive eyes widened. He could feel her vibrating against him with excitement. “You mean it? I can go out?”

“As long as you keep to my conditions, I don’t see why you need to stay here.” He slipped a finger beneath the band, feeling the warmth of her flesh as he stroked lightly, curious when she sucked in a shaky breath. “It’s your own personal bubble, protecting you from everyone outside this room.”

“It’s like the ones the doctors used to wear when they came into my room.”

He nodded. “It’s basically the same idea. I had to readjust the setting in yours, but you should be able to leave the protected zones without worry.”

She launched herself at him, her body slamming his as she wrapped her arms tightly around him. That burst of emotion startled him and as he fell back onto the desk. Her body stumbled on top, her hair falling forward like a fragrant curtain about their faces. She laughed and her entire body shook against his. He found himself unable to resist, his laugh combining with hers.

“You’re crazy. You know that?” His hands swept up into her hair, pushed those softly scented strands away from her face and fisted them at the back of her head so that he could see her face. Her eyes were bright with laughter, her lips curved upward in a smile that stopped his breath. She was stunning.

“I won’t argue.” Her fingers tightened on his shirt with small exquisite touches that made his muscles clench. Insanely, he wanted to lean in and kiss her, to feel her mouth tremble against his.

She grinned down at him, completely oblivious to the compromising position she was in. He wasn’t a good man. She should know better than to get this close.

When her eyes finally widened in awareness and the blush crept up into her cheeks, J.C. smiled. Amy held on to him for only a fraction of a moment longer before she let go and stumbled off him. She stepped back—eyes wide and cheeks dark red.

“Can we go now?” She didn’t wait for his answer.

If she’d stayed a moment longer he might have believed that she wasn’t affected and that it was simply excitement that made her run from him. But before she’d hurried from the room, he caught sight of desire and something else in her eyes. Fear.

He cursed himself. Of course she would fear him. She’d never been intimate with a man before. How could she when she’d been locked up all her life with barely any interaction? He was an idiot.

“Amy, hold up.” She’d reached the corner of the hall. Lengthening his strides, he fell into step beside her. He caught her elbow, turning her to face him. “We should talk about what just happened.”

“No we shouldn’t. What’d Broderick want?”

He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. “You can’t go into my head whenever you’re bored. We need boundaries.”

If she wanted to pretend as though he hadn’t fantasized about her mouth, then it was fine by him. He didn’t need the complication. He’d never wanted it before and he could live without it now.

But if that were true, why was there a gnawing feeling in his gut? Leila leapt to mind, but he forced the image away. He could only deal with one woman at a time.

She nibbled at the corner of her fingernail. “Sorry, habit.”

“You’re now part of my caseload. I convinced Broderick to let me work your file.” Rick wasn’t going to be happy about it. J.C. expected a blow up. Rick didn’t like losing and if the file was any indication, Amy had been his pet project.

“Okay.”

Was that it? He wasn’t sure what he expected but he thought he’d get more of a reaction than “okay.”

He reached into his pocket and drew out the picture of her at approximately seven years of age. Holding it out, he waited. The moment Amy’s fingers curled around it, he drew her in until their feet touched.

“I want you to know what this means so that you can prepare.”

Her gaze jumped to his, widening a moment before she steeled herself. She was keeping her cards close, he thought, and nodded with approval. At the Centre, she couldn’t trust anyone.

He’d learned that rule early.

He’d do what he could to protect her from Broderick and the Council. If he had any say, she wouldn’t be doing their dirty work again. “You need to realize that I’m not going to go easy on you. You need to learn how to control these abilities, and I’m going to be there for every step of your training. You’re going to hate me by the end of it.”

“Do you warn all of your subjects?” She licked her lips.

His gaze lingered on her mouth for a breath too long. He shifted his weight and moved his fingers along the picture, so close to hers he could feel the heat of her body. “Amy, I’m serious.”

“And what,” Amy asked, clearing her throat, “should I be prepared for?”

That one sentence snapped him back, away from the heavy curve of her bottom lip. There was nothing more effective than a cold dose of reality. He let her take the photo, moving back to put distance between them. The woman was hell on his system. If she wasn’t pulling a B&E on his mind, she was frustrating him with her stubbornness and back talk. “Tomorrow morning you need to go into Testing.”

Fear had returned to her gaze, but she said nothing. She didn’t have to and he hated that he put that look there.

“You won’t be alone.” He stepped toward her and ran his fingers along her cheek. “You’ll have me.”

He couldn’t be biased. Scientists couldn’t show preference over test subjects. Unfortunately, it was too late where she was concerned. She’d gotten to him.

* * *

J.C. couldn’t take Amy’s freedom away for a second time. As much as he wanted to bring her back to his lab, he couldn’t. She’d lost years because of him. He owed it to her to at least do what he could to keep her from feeling like a test subject. If taking her outside achieved that, then this was a small price to pay. That didn’t mean, however, that he’d forget he had a job to do. As much as he wanted her to enjoy this time, they couldn’t forget that the killer was still out there. Probably searching for his next victim.

“Amy, I know being outside is new, but I need you to concentrate. You can’t allow yourself to be distracted.” He kept close behind, watching as she stepped off the path.

“I’m not distracted.” With a sniff of indignation, Amy reached for a flower, rubbing the petals between her fingers as though trying to memorize every detail. “I never had the chance to appreciate being outside. Just because I’m doing so now doesn’t mean I’m not aware.” She brushed the flower against her lips.

“Try to pick up the killer’s mind. It might be easier now that you’re outside.” He wanted to see how effective the band was. Technically, she shouldn’t be picking up anything with it on, but could she learn to open her mind at will?

The moon did things to her skin, making her pale flesh glow. Under the light of it, her eyes looked bluer, more intense. She slanted a look at him, frowning. “Does it always have to be work with you? Can’t I just enjoy this a bit?”

“I’m sorry, but we have to, Amy. I need to know.”

She sighed. “I know we
have
to, but I’m tired of my life revolving around these abilities. I’ve been in the killer’s head for over a decade. I just want one moment to myself. Is that too much to ask?”

Guilt bit him in the ass faster than he could blink. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but we have to. You came to me for help, remember?”

“I know I did.”

“So tell me, are you picking up anything at all? Thoughts or emotions?”

“No. It’s wonderful.” She shot a glance at him. Walking backward, she lifted her arms over her head, then spun in a slow circle, a move that made him all too aware of the curves of her body. “I don’t expect you to understand what that’s like but… I don’t know how to describe the feeling.”

So the band completely blocked the stimuli of everyone else’s minds. He was going to have to adjust the settings to give her more control. While he wanted her to have some protection, he didn’t want to inhibit her abilities either.

J.C. lengthened his stride, shooting out a hand to steady her when she stumbled. She curled around him, her body pressing against his and into his arms when he caught her. If he hadn’t been worried that she’d hurt herself, he might have wondered when he’d started to care so much. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I get spasms in my leg sometimes, that’s all.”

He loosened his grip, one finger at a time, when her legs steadied. “You were shot. I don’t expect you’ll be running marathons anytime soon, but that’s something we’ll have to get looked at. I don’t expect any lasting damage, but I’d rather make sure of it.” He rubbed his fingers over the hair that had fallen into her face. “We need to go back. Tomorrow’s going to be exhausting and you’ll need your rest.”

Tomorrow, he was going to test her link with the killer. Now that he knew the band worked, she would be able to help him more in the investigation.

She trembled. “A bit longer. Please?” Her lashes lowered to brush her cheekbones before her gaze met his. “I know we have to work, but you don’t know how long I’ve dreamt about being outside. I used to sit in that room and stare out the window all day, watching everyone else have all this freedom while I was a prisoner.”

She moved deeper in the shadows, forcing him to follow. When she reached out to touch a branch, drops of water fell from the leaves, delighting a laugh from her.

“I’d given up hope that I’d ever have this chance, J.C.”

“Those days are over.” He stepped behind her and was surprised when she stopped and leaned back against him. She looked up at him and he stared at the long lean line of her throat, barely resisting the urge to nibble there.

Amy laughed. Her hands caught his as she turned. He stiffened. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The smile in her voice made him feel foolish, even more so when he felt his face heat. He’d been trained to block emotion and not let anything or anyone get to him. And then this small woman broke into his mind one day, shredding through his shields as though she had every right to be there.

“What are you doing to me?”

“You need to have fun. Tell me, J.C., have you ever danced before?” Her voice smoothed over him and that flush of heat intensified as she guided his hands around her waist. “Don’t worry, I’ve never either. I won’t tell anyone if you step on my toes.”

Dance? When would he have had time to dance?

His stomach flipped and he frowned. Her arms linked behind his neck, her body pressed close against his and he could only stare at her. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

She laughed, dipping back in a fluid move that pressed her breasts against his chest. He had no choice but to hold her. He swallowed and this time, gave in to the urge and followed that curve of her throat with his lips and teeth. She stiffened for the briefest of moments before melting in his arms, a soft sigh escaping as she leaned closer.

Dance. The woman wanted to dance. He stumbled and that only seemed to amuse her more. This was ridiculous.

“Maybe if you relaxed a bit you’d feel more comfortable.”

He wasn’t built for this. His moves were clumsy, his hands tightening around her. He forced himself to relax and when he twirled her, grinned. “I think you have me mistaken for someone else, sweetheart.”

“Don’t worry.” She leaned up to whisper, her lips brushing the sensitive lobe of his ear and he hardened against her. “I’ll be gentle. Promise.”

He shook his head at her playfulness and nipped her jaw. “For someone who doesn’t like to be touched, you’re awfully close, aren’t you?”

“You touch me and I feel heat,” she murmured. “I want to pretend that you’re a normal man and I’m an ordinary woman, without abilities.”

She rested her cheek against his chest. J.C. couldn’t help but hold her closer, lowering his chin to the top of her head. The soft strands of her hair clung to the stubble of his jaw as he nuzzled softly. “But this
is
our reality. We can’t change the circumstances any more than we can change who w—”

A shot rang out in the silence, pain licking like flames along his shoulder as he shoved Amy to the ground. He rolled off the path, pressing himself low to the ground as he scanned their surroundings, searching in the dark for the direction of the shooter. “Keep down!”

Stupid. He should have been alert. He knew better, damn it.

He was already reaching for his gun, dragging it out from an ankle holster and readying it as his gaze raked through the shadows for the shooter. Bullets sprayed into the dirt and he rolled away into a dip in the terrain. “Amy, are you all right?”