Page 31

“For the baby shower planning?” Steve replied with a grin. “Yeah, Mira told me about it. You guys are cutting it close, aren't you?”

“Very close.” Jamie sighed, glancing around the training facility. “I’ve only been here once, maybe twice. Both times I got lost.”

“You just need to know where you're going.” Steve gave that enlightened advice.

Jamie gave him a look. “Wow, thanks, Steve. That's really helpful.”

Before Steve could reply, a loud bang echoed through the training facility as one of the recruits hit a heavy bag. Jamie jumped at the unexpected noise, turning so quickly that she stumbled straight into Daniel. He caught her by the arms to keep her from falling, and the moment his hands touched her, the constant noise inside his head vanished.

Daniel froze.

For as long as he could remember, the voices had been there. Even when Drew was around, they never completely disappeared. But now, with his hands resting against Jamie's arms, there was nothing. No whispers, no growls, no demons fighting to distract him. Just silence.

Jamie suddenly pulled away, looking nervous. “Sorry about that.”

The voices returned with such force that Daniel clenched his jaw against the sudden onslaught. What the hell had just happened? His gaze returned to Jamie, who was watching him a little too closely. She quickly looked away, but not before he caught something in her expression that bothered him.

She knew.

He couldn't explain how he knew that, but there was no mistaking the look she'd given him. Whatever had just happened hadn't surprised her nearly as much as it had him.

“Daniel?” Steve frowned. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Daniel answered without taking his eyes off Jamie.

He had questions, a shitload of them, and he had a feeling Jamie had some of the answers. The problem was that he couldn't get a clear read on her. Usually, he could pick up something, even if it was only a brief flash that didn't make sense until later. With Jamie, there was nothing, and that bothered him almost as much as what had happened when he'd touched her.

Jamie shifted uncomfortably beneath his stare, and Daniel finally looked away. He didn't want to scare her, but there was no way in hell he was going to forget what had just happened. He'd spent too much of his life dealing with the constant noise inside his head to dismiss the first real silence he'd ever experienced.

Before he could question her, the door opened and Jax hurried inside.

“There you are!” Jax spotted Jamie and headed straight toward them. “Caroline's been looking everywhere for you.”

“Why? What's wrong?” Jamie frowned at the urgency in his voice.

“You're about to become an aunt.” Jax grinned at Jamie's gasp.

“Seriously?” Jamie's eyes widened. “But we haven't even had the shower yet.”

“Told ya you were cutting it too close, but no one listens to Steve.” Steve shook his head in disgust. “The world would be a much better and more organized place if everyone just listened to good old Steve.”

“Will you stop talking about yourself in third person?” Daniel growled, not knowing why in the hell it bothered him so much. Well, that was a lie. What had just happened with Jamie had thrown him, and not much could do that. His nerves were already shot to hell, and Steve wasn't helping matters.

“Is Lana okay?” Jamie asked, already moving toward the door.

“She's fine, but things are moving faster than anyone expected.” Jax stepped aside to let her pass.

Daniel’s attention stayed on Jamie. She glanced back once, and their eyes met before she quickly turned away and disappeared out the door, with Jax following. Daniel started to head that way.

“Hey, where you going?” Steve called out. “I thought you were sticking around.”

“Something came up,” Daniel answered as he walked out the door.

He could hear Steve yelling something after him, but didn't bother responding. His mind was too busy trying to make sense of what had just happened. He'd dealt with some pretty fucked-up things in his life, but a human woman accidentally bumping into him and shutting down every damn voice in his head was a new one.

Daniel headed down the hallway toward the medical wing, hoping to catch up with Jax and Jamie. He had no intention of questioning her now, but he wanted another look at her. Something about the way she'd pulled away from him kept bothering him. She'd been nervous, that much was obvious, but he didn't think it was because he'd caught her when she stumbled.

The sound of hurried footsteps and voices coming from farther down the hallway reminded him that there were more important things happening at the compound tonight.