“Jo is going? I know your father can read minds, but he needs to touch Jack to do so, and my uncle won’t let that happen.”
“She is. Does Jack have a way to block anyone from getting in his head?” Sam asked.
“As far as I’m aware, no. But I haven’t been around Jack for two years. You won’t be able to compel him, though.”
Sam smirked, showing that cocksure arrogance. “Remember, I don’t compel like normal vampires.”
“Careful,” I warned. “Even the best can fail.”
He hadn’t lost his aura of superiority. “Not Jo and me. Together, she and I are unstoppable.”
After witnessing his elemental powers, I had to agree, and combined with Jo’s abilities, I wouldn’t doubt him.
But the way things were going, the mighty could fall.
Two hours later, I stood in front of a wall of windows in Sam’s apartment on the naval base, gazing out at the courtyard below. Piles of melting snow gave way to a mixture of brown and green blades of grass. A handful of round cement tables dotted the yard between the two buildings, and guards patrolled the roof of the one across from me.
If not for the open and spacious apartment behind me, I would have felt like I was in a high-security prison. I would have given anything to rewind the months and years to a time when I felt like I could breathe. Since my parents died, I hadn’t had a day where I didn’t worry about my sisters, our future, or the struggle to survive. If I’d never taken that job from Wyman, my sisters and I would still have been three peas in a pod.
Basking in the silence, I inhaled then released a breath. Sam had brought me to his place while the SEAL team peppered Jordyn with questions. I wanted to be there, but I was tired and nauseous. I would give anything to return to Maine, to hear the crash of the waves, to see the sun rise, to walk the beach with Sam, to do anything other than deal with the tons of crap hitting us all at once.
The landscape lighting turned on around the courtyard as dusk set in. A guard emerged from the prison building across the way. Sam had pointed out before he left that the jail cells resided in the basement of that building. I thought of Wyman. According to Sam, Wyman had been ill. Some type of stomach flu. But he had fully recovered and was working for Alia’s father’s security firm.
I made a mental note to see if I could talk to him. I wanted him to relay every detail of when he’d been with my father. I was growing more curious by the day about the woman my dad supposedly had been dating and if she’d been the one who ended his life.
The doorknob clicked before the door groaned open.
My pulse quickened as Sam swaggered in, appearing as though he could use a year of sleep. Right behind him was my sister.
Jordyn sashayed in wearing a huge smile. “So this is your hideaway?” She took in every corner of the room. “Nice penthouse.”
“It’s my father’s half the time,” he said. “I’ll let you two talk.” Sam strutted down the hall.
I skirted a chaise lounge before perching on the edge of it. “How did it go?”
Jordyn sat on the couch across from me. “Um. Steven read my mind. And before you say anything, I asked him to. I got the feeling the SEAL team wouldn’t trust me, and I want them to. I want them to know I’m on their side.”
“I hear abutcoming.” Dread crawled through my chest.
Her brown eyes lit up. “Chill, sis. It’s all good. I finally had a chance to talk to Steven. He’s offered me a job. He learned yesterday that one of his staff members, who was in that explosion, didn’t make it. So he has an opening. And he said he would do anything for me since we’re family now.”
My mouth hung open. “Family, huh?” It was weird to even think of vampires as family. I guessed I’d better get used to that. “Anyway, you look excited, but your voice says otherwise.”
“I’m headed to Boston in an hour. Steven is putting me up in his apartment at their headquarters. I start work tomorrow. He wants to get me situated before he leaves for his meeting with Jack, so I won’t be here for you.”
I joined her on the couch. “Don’t worry about me. Besides, you’re only two hours away at most. I’m stoked for you.”
“I know, but I’m also worried about you meeting with Jack. To be honest, the other reason I didn’t take the job at Intech was Carly. I don’t want to be around our family. I’m irritated with myself that I even interviewed for it. My heart has always been with the vamps here.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. I pushed you to go to the interview. I’m glad you did, though. Now, you know for sure that vampires are your thing.” I laughed.
She giggled. “We’re vampire lovers, sis. Mom and Dad would freak.”
“I don’t know about Mom.” I sighed, pushing out some frustration over our dead mother. Considering she had vampires somewhere in her lineage, Mom could very well have loved the bloodsuckers.
She rose. “We’ll find out more about Mom. With me working for Steven, I’ll have access to records and their library in Boston.”
A spark of excitement tickled my stomach as I stood and hugged her. “You will.”
