Bent (The Gifted Series) (22 page)

              Marnie sighed, wanting the hard truth. “Why did you stay with her, Sam? It’s what everyone wants to know.  Definitely what I want to know.”

              He released an equally hard sigh.  “Initially, I stayed because of fear.” He nodded with a look of disgust. “I have no recollection of my life before the age of eighteen.  I remember waking up in her care.  She explained that I’d been found by some of her men.  She claimed I was gifted and offered me a home, a life, security.  For a kid filled with fear and no foreseeable future, it was a good offer.”

              Marnie couldn’t contain the scoff. “Except for your participation in the torture and killing of innocents.”

              “That wasn’t how it was.  Not in the beginning anyway, and just so know, not everyone I’ve …
handled
were innocent.”

              “However you want to justify it,” Marnie muttered. She waited for his jaw to tighten or body to tense defensively, but he simply frowned and carried on.  “The first five years with Patrice I spent away at college; she likes those closest to her to be educated and well-read.”

              “College boy, eh?” Marnie snipped.  She, herself, hadn’t finished college—well not in the traditional format—the agency nabbed her during her freshman year and she never looked back. The agency supported academics, but not in the conventional sense.  Gifted were naturally bright and intuitive, so unless the state required that you have paper proof of your intelligence, i.e. you’re a doctor or lawyer or such, than college credits held zero rank within the agency.  Many agents took college courses as a means to an end—learning about a specific area of study, but no one cared about the diploma.  Marnie did though; her BA in economics held significance to both she and her father.  And she was well on her way to an MS in cultural studies.

              Sam nodded, his eyes closing. “I see the manipulation now, but I didn’t back then.  I believed her rhetoric about saving purests and how the SAA wanted nothing more than to destroy and control the remaining Landons for their beliefs.  She sold me on all of it, okay?  Even convinced me that I was a purest.”

              “But you have no clue if you are.” Spoken as a statement.

              He nodded.  “I was desperate to believe.  If I believed her word as truth then it justified my actions.” A long sigh escaped. “But for the last four years, it’s just been … different.  Difficult.  Everything’s changed. I suddenly began to see Patrice for who she truly was: ruthless, greedy, no value for human life … She wants to be a God that answers to no one.” His head shook.

              “You could have left sooner.  Turned to the SAA for help.”

              He looked up, his expression honest and contrite. “You’re right, but I’m doing that now.  When I woke up, after being taken by the agency, I knew this was my chance for a clean break from the Landons’ hold.”

              Her eyes narrowed.  “Kind of a pussy move, don’t you think?  Not brave enough to walk away on your own.  Give the Landons a figurative FU.”

              He ran a shaky hand over his tired face, chuckling at her directness, and looking even more contrite. His head slowly bobbed up and down, not rebuking her statement.  Quietly, he added, “I couldn’t spend one more day in her service … One more day doping away the misery.  I may not deserve it, but I just want peace.”

              Marnie’s brow furrowed. “Sam, I don’t know what the agency’s intentions are where you’re concerned, but I doubt immediate freedom is on the menu. That peace you crave might not be in your future.”

              He nodded again. “I’m aware of that, but even with the withdrawals and being held in captivity, this last week has been more peaceful than any I’ve known in years.” He then stood and turned to her.  “That’s why I need to tell you something. I withheld information about Joss.”

              “And?” Marnie pushed, standing as tension filled.

              “She’s been chipped with a tracking devise.”

              Marnie shrugged it off. “Yeah, Tiago read that from you—that all the captives were chipped.  Everyone, including Joss, were checked by Mattis and T; they found the tracking devices on the under side of their arms and removed them.”

              Sam shook his head.  “Joss’ was a decoy.”

              “What?”

              “After Bowen escaped, Patrice wanted to ensure that her more …valuable captives could always be located, so Joss’ actual tracking device was implanted elsewhere.”

              Marnie’s fear for her team and for Joss spiked. “Where’s it located? And don’t even think of lying to me.”

              “If you’re concerned about Patrice finding this location, then stop.  She already knows of this place, but she won’t attack here.  There are too many highly skilled gifted, and unlike Marcus, she’s always feared Bowen and Reagan.  Not to mention, with the agency securing her properties and apprehending her men, I’m certain it’s sent her into hiding.  She might have even fled to Europe.”

              “When Mattis read you, he discovered that Patrice has a younger sister, Xandra?” Although Marnie knew this as fact, since Bowen also confirmed this, it was still presented as a question.

              Sam nodded.  “The Landons have property far and wide, but Xandra prefers London.”  A hint of a fleeting grin flickered causing Marnie to wonder about Sam’s relationship with Xandra. Who was this woman and how up-close-and-personal did Sam know her?  Most importantly, how did this woman rate on the scale of depravity?  Marcus and Patrice were known far and wide, but all other Landons remained a mystery.

              “And,” Marnie began slowly, “this Xandra, is she anything like her sister?”

              Sam scowled but offered a steady no, claiming she was nothing like her sister but showed immense loyalty toward her family.

              Silence followed as Marnie brooded. 
 

 
“Well, this is just great,” she finally barked, pulling herself back to their potentially dire situation.  Joss was a walking-talking beacon that might get her partners killed.  Her sarcasm ran thick as she added, “Too bad we didn’t know about Joss before she left.”

              “What?  She’s gone?  Where?” Sam appeared genuinely alarmed.  But suspicion remained as Marnie cautiously countered, “That’s none of your business.”  She spoke slow and succinct, “I’ll ask you again.  Where is the device located?”

              Remorse oozed from every pore as he replied, “It’s near her heart.  Only a cardiologist can remove it.”

              Expletives flew in rapid fire.  “They’re sitting ducks,” she yelled and bolted for the door.

              Sam reached out and snagged her arm. “Marnie.”

              In the blink of an eye, she dipped her hand into the front of her pants and grabbed the blade that was strapped low on her hip.  It was short yet lethal.  She jabbed an inch from his groin. “Let go and step off!”

              “
Whoa
…” Sam’s hands went in the air.  “Easy.  I just want to offer my help.”

              “Pathetic timing.  You could have helped by not withholding this information to begin with.”

              “It was a bargaining chip that I’m not proud of.”

              Seething, Marnie backed toward the door.  “Yeah, it’s a bargaining chip that just might cost my team—my
family
—their lives.  And if that happens, it will cost you yours.”  With that she bolted from the door.
 

Chapter 14

The view before Carter was unbelievable, he certainly couldn’t deny that.  Their ski chalet sat tucked into the mountain side along with hundreds of others that sat off the main thoroughfare leading to Whitefish Ski Resort.  The town of Whitefish was all that you’d expect of a Montana ski destination—definitely catered to tourist from around the country—the world, for that matter.  Patrice would blend nicely here, but disappointingly, she didn’t appear to be “blending” near here at the moment.  Not that they’d expected this, that would have been too damn easy, but some sign of gifted activity would have been nice. 

              It had been a couple of days since they arrived.  Tiago, Bo, and himself scoured Patrice’s property but came up empty handed.  It was just another lap-of-luxury home that sat innocently empty like those surrounding it. They ran daily surveillance, though, hoping for something.  The only movement they got so far was a cleaning service that probably came routinely.  They did take advantage, however; Tiago quickly hypnotized the cleaning crew, leaving the premise theirs to root through. 

              Leah, Tiago, and Bowen planted themselves at the ski resort, as they were the only experienced skiers, but they had only sensed one other gifted—a shield.  Leah investigated, breaking through easily and found that he was from Virginia.
 
There with his family on a typical vacation.  His name was registered and he appeared on the up and up. 

              Smits and Carter went about town, sometimes with Declan and Joss in tow, searching for auras or info.  They planned to stay a couple more days before calling it a bust.   At this point, all would return to headquarters and devise plan B.  They were gaining nothing by staying. 

              Carter inhaled deeply as he glanced out the floor-length window, observing a vast beauty that would make any atheist doubt that the earth “just happened”.  “What a view,” he muttered before taking another sip of water.  He’d just showered and dressed after a five-mile run and the afternoon was slowly slipping into a stunning evening.  

              He sighed, turning away from the window. What everyone considered a “nice break,” he found grating.  Due in part to Declan who continued to hover over Joss—never giving her needed space, or him the space he needed to talk to her.  He wasn’t sure what he would say but figured he stumble his way through some pathetically moronic apology.  God, it was killer on his nerves being so close to her, yet unable to reach out and touch her.  They were cordial enough, which was a plus, and they even shared a couple moments of insignificant chatter, but he needed her alone. 

              “What’s on the agenda this evening?” Declan happily chirped.

              Carter’s skin crawled as he wielded on
Lucky Charm
(a nickname Leah bestowed upon him when they’d first met, which he often cut down to
Charm
).

              As Carter began to speak, Bowen stepped out from the kitchen, wrapping his mouth around a sandwich.  He pointed at Declan.  “You and me are heading to town to meet Smits.  He says he’s feeling some vibes downtown and needs us to track.”

              “If he’s seriously feeling something then I can’t risk taking Joss.  I need to stay,” Declan countered.

              Bowen continued his pace toward the dining room table and snagged a pair of keys.  They’d rented multiple vehicles upon arrival.  He frowned at the jingling keys in his grip, considering them. “These to the Tahoe or that Prius?”

              “The Prius,” Carter answered.

              Bowen grinned, speaking to no one in particular, “I like that little contraption—fun to drive.” He then turned back to Declan. “No, you’re coming.  You sense auras, Declan.” This said with a “duh” connotation.

              Bowen spoke over Declan’s scoff, “I just texted T and Leah.  They’re meeting us downtown.  It’s the first action we’ve had since that weak-minded shield Leah ran across at the ski hill, and it's worth taking serious.”

              “And who’ll stay with Joss?” Declan countered.

              Carter frowned, insulted. “Hello!  I think I can handle the task. I’ve been at this agent biz just as long as you have.”

              Declan pivoted sharply, a finger pointing in Carter’s direction, but before he could speak, Joss walked into the living room. “And I resent the notion that I’m needin’ to be babysat.  I may not be able to use my gifts at the moment, but I can manage a variety of weapons and I’m non-to-shabby at wieldin’ a blade.”

              Declan gave her a since-when look, which Joss quickly shut down with “Since my captivity, dear cousin.  Patrice made sure I was well trained.  Whether I wanted to be or not, I
was
an assassin.”

              “I’m sorry,” Declan began, “I wasn’t thinking—”

              Joss’ hand rose, halting him. “It’s not the first time yer gums have started flappin’ before yer brain kicked in.” Bowen grumbled a deep chuckle as he chewed, and even Carter hid a grin, admiring her firecracker wit.  Joss continued, “No worries, Declan.  Just go and do what we came here to do and stop coddling after me.”

              Declan nodded before waltzing over and placing a kiss upon her head. “I luv ya,
Jossy-girl
.”

              Her eyes instantly softened at the sentiment, driving Carter to know who donned her with the nickname.  She smiled accusingly at her cousin, “Stop trying to soften me, Declan Cearul Gael.”

              A muffled snort from Carter. “
Carol
?”

              Declan wielded. “Yeah, Cearul.  It happens to be a fine name derived from a word meaning ‘fierce in battle.’”

              Carter and Bowen both snickered as Carter mumbled low, “Ya better be fierce in battle with a name like Carol.”

              Declan followed this up with a curse directly aimed at Carter.

              Through Bowen’s snickers, “Come on.  We gotta jet.”

              Declan took in his cousin then gave Carter a leery glance—which Carter didn’t appreciate—before he turned to Bo. “My gear’s in the Tahoe.  I’ll go grab it.”

              Bowen nodded and tossed him the keys.  “I’ll meet you there. Let me grab a coat.”  Declan headed toward the kitchen and they heard the garage door click. Bowen then met their gazes with a hardened stare. “Look, I know there’s something going on between you two.”

              They both scoffed, attempting to dismiss.

              Bo tapped the side of his head. “I’m a telepath, remember?”