Was I dreaming? It was like some bad horror movie. With quick a.s.sessment, I took in what I could of the situation. A cot was placed against the far wall, no sheet or blanket. Obviously he was a prisoner of some sort. Was he S.P.I.? As if sensing my question, he slowly lifted his head. A gag bit into his mouth, the white material contrasting against his tanned skin. His gray eyes met mine, mutinous gray eyes that pierced my skin, seared my soul. He hated me with a hatred that was almost tangible.

I sucked in a sharp breath. Although he was tied and unable to move, it didn't make me feel any better. His skin had an unhealthy ash color to it and his hair was matted with sweat and dirt. But even in his animalistic state, I could see he was gorgeous. As ridiculous as it sounded, I wasn't expecting that. Weren't evil people supposed to be big, bully men...not freaking models?

Twenty, twenty-one? I wasn't sure about his age. The white b.u.t.ton-up shirt he wore was filthy and ripped on the left sleeve, as if he'd been in a fight. His gray slacks were just as rough looking, caked with mud at the cuffs.

"What happened? Who is he?" I demanded, my voice harsh with emotion.

"This," Aaron nodded toward the man, "Is part of the group who wants us dead."

This? As if he wasn't a real person? I looked at him again. He seemed so young, so harmless. So human. Did he really work for S.P.I.?

"This can't be legal," I whispered the obvious.

The man narrowed his eyes into a glare, as if agreeing with me. I had to resist the urge to step back, intimidated by his stare. He was broader in the shoulders than Lewis, taller than Lewis, angrier than Lewis and Aaron put together. I didn't blame him. I didn't like this situation. It didn't feel right.

"Aaron," I whispered.

Aaron waved me over and as I stepped inside the small room, he shut the door behind me so that I was trapped as well. "We caught him lurking around the property."

The man mumbled something indecipherable through his gag, but I could imagine it wasn't pleasant introductions.

"He works for S.P.I., the very people who killed your father and Lewis's parents."

I glanced at Lewis. He was merely standing there, arms crossed over his chest, glaring down at the man. He didn't bother to glance my way. No, he was focused on the S.P.I. agent, like a dog wanting to go after a squirrel. I didn't know or understand this angry Lewis. The Lewis I'd been introduced to on our date was back.

"We need to find out what he knows," Aaron explained.

I brushed aside Aaron's comment. At the moment it didn't seem important. No, what was more important was that we had someone illegally restrained in the bas.e.m.e.nt. "How long has he been here?" I should have felt angry toward the man who worked for S.P.I., the people responsible for my father's death. But all I felt was sick.

"Two weeks."

Startled, I was quiet for a moment, mulling over the reality of what they'd done. Two weeks? For two weeks they'd kept his man tied up, alone in this cell? Smudges marked the area under his steel eyes. The shadow of a beard was beginning to form along his jaw line. Two weeks with no sunlight, apparently no bath. My horror increased. "Why?"

"What would you have us do?" Lewis snapped, finally looking at me. The anger in his gaze was shocking. "We can't let him go. He knows who we are, where we are. We're tired of running, Cam. Tired of hiding. We shouldn't have to."

I looked at the agent again; he was staring daggers as if he blamed me for this entire incident. Why me? I hadn't tied him up. I hadn't even known he was here.

Aaron rested his hand on my shoulder, the touch jarring. "We can't just let him go."

"What does that mean? What will you do with him?" I demanded.

"We have no idea what he knows, that's why we need your help," Aaron said, ignoring my question.

"How," I asked, not sure I really wanted to know.

Aaron cupped my shoulders, stepping in front of me and blocking the man from view. "We need to pull out his thoughts, his memories."

Pull out someone's thoughts? It sounded invasive, wrong. It was one thing to read someone's thoughts that were flowing freely into the universe, but to drag them out? "Okay, so why haven't you?"

Aaron released his hold and stepped back. With a sigh, he rubbed his brow. He looked tired, worried. "S.P.I. places a chip in their officer's heads. A chip that blocks their thoughts from being read by people like us."

"And you want me to remove the chip?" I asked, my voice shrill. Well really, there was a limit to what I would do and I drew the line at surgery.

"No, of course not." Aaron moved around the room, pacing as he rubbed the back of his neck. "If we concentrate hard enough, we can override the chip and pull the info from his mind, but Lewis and I aren't strong enough alone."

Oh G.o.d, I didn't need to be a genius to know where this was going. "You need my help."

He nodded.

My stomach twisted in protest. "But I don't know how."

"You do. We've taught you."

I swallowed hard and dared to glance at the man. He was still glaring at me and his gaze sent a shiver of unease over my skin. Those eyes...those eyes promised retribution if he ever managed to free himself. He could easily kill me with his hands. My attention slipped to the ties binding him to the chair, making sure he was secure.

They wanted me to help. What choice did I have? I owed Lewis and Aaron. Besides, this man was responsible for my father's death. This man would kill me if he could. So why did I feel sick at the thought of invading his mind?

"Okay," I said, my voice quivering.

Aaron smiled and moved toward the man, edging around him, his gaze unwavering like an animal of prey. Lewis did the same, while I was forced to stay in front. We formed a sort of triangle, three points and the agent was at the center. With my legs trembling, I stood my ground, reminding myself that he was responsible for my father's death. For some reason it didn't make me feel any better. I was far enough away that if he was able to reach out, he wouldn't touch me, but I swear I could feel his hot breath on my face.

He was hunched slightly, like an animal in a cage, his gray eyes piercing me, not wavering, not looking at Lewis or Aaron. He knew I was the weakest link. Heat crawled slowly, torturously, up my neck. He jerked forward. I screamed, jumping back. But his bindings held him tight and he merely scooted an inch, his chair sc.r.a.ping against the stone floor.

"Cam, you're all right, he can't escape," Aaron insisted.

Right. Tell that to my heart, which was currently threatening to make a mad leap from my chest and hightail it out of there. I was the one standing directly in front of him and I was the one he seemed intent on coming after. I stepped forward, back to my spot, determined not to flinch under his hard stare. He wasn't much older than me, maybe three years. How had he gotten involved with S.P.I.?

d.a.m.n it all, as much as I wanted to hate him, I couldn't. Rationally, I knew he had nothing to do with my father's death; he was too young. But was Lewis right? Would he kill me if he had the chance?

"All right, Cameron," Aaron said. "I want you to relax. Deep breaths in, out, close your eyes. You know the drill."

Being a coward, I was glad to close my eyes so I wouldn't have to look the agent in his eerie steel colored gaze. I tried to relax, I pictured my ocean, breathed in out, but it was difficult, to say the least. I wasn't sure how many minutes had pa.s.sed, but I suddenly found myself sitting on my beach, everyone forgotten. Only peace and contentment surrounded me.

You're going to concentrate on the man in front of you, Aaron said, his voice invasive. Slowly open your eyes, Cameron.

I didn't want to, but I did. I opened my eyes, but I no longer saw his glare. I only saw that steel gray. A pool of melted metal that I sank into. As I fell, I felt like I was falling through the very universe. Brilliant white stars flashing past me on a cool breeze. I hit something hard, and stopped, suspended between the dark reality of my subconscious.

"You feel it," I vaguely heard Aaron say. "That's the chip that's keeping you out. You have to push against that blockade, Cameron."

I focused more intensely, I couldn't let them down. Aaron and Lewis were counting on me. They'd taken me in, they'd taught me when no one else would.

I didn't question his decision, but reached out and pushed against that wall. It was like I was working on auto pilot; focused only on success. I concentrated as they'd taught me, and a small sense of release whispered through my mind, a slight budge of the wall giving way. Thrilled, I pushed harder. Sweat broke out on my trembling body, but I didn't relent. It didn't take much before the dam burst. I felt as if a river of color was suddenly flooding around me...memories that burst into full bloom.

People swept through my mind in a whirlwind of emotion; laughing, arguing, talking, hugging. I tried to grasp onto them, but they were gone before I had a chance. Christmas trees, presents, birthday cakes, a mother and father beaming down at me. I saw teachers and then college professors, I saw grades, sports.... Then suddenly it switched to men in suits coming to my room, talking about recruiting me...

Everything went so fast I could barely hold onto a single thought. I felt like I was spinning in s.p.a.ce, attempting to grasp onto anything that might help. But it was all too quick, too confusing. And then I was looking at a girl...a girl with dark hair and a wide smile and my heart expanded. The girl he loved, I realized.

I'm Maddox, a voice inside my head explained.

Nora, the girl said softly and then in a flash she was gone.

More memories. Nora dancing...Nora slipping her hands through my hair...or Maddox's hair. So many memories...so confusing...And then I heard it...a scream...as if someone was in pain. The sound jerked me from his mind. The memories were gone and I floated in blackness. Suspended for a brief moment in the silence of the universe, those white stars pulsing around me. I couldn't move, couldn't see or feel anything. But I wasn't alone...no, there was a small white light in the distance.

There it was again. A scream of pain.

I dove toward the conscious world, that small beam of light that I knew would send me back into reality. Within moments I slammed into my body. Freezing cold, like I'd been thrown into ice water. Gasping for air. I stumbled back, falling against a warm body. The room spun, the walls wavering in and out of focus. Aaron, frowning with concern, stared down at me, yet there was something else in his eyes...excitement?

"What happened?" I demanded.

Pushing away from Aaron, I focused on Maddox. The man wasn't moving, slouched forward so I couldn't see his face.

"Nothing, everything." Aaron grasped my shoulders and spun me around to face him. Dizzy, I wavered, his beaming face going out of focus for a moment. "Did you get that?" His gaze jumped to Lewis. "The information? My G.o.d, with her ability we can break in anywhere."

But Lewis was frowning. "They're coming."

I was barely aware of what they said, barely cared. I felt dizzy, off balance. My stomach was twisting and turning. I glanced over my shoulder. Maddox still hadn't moved. Why wasn't he glaring at me? Why wasn't he trying to curse me out?

"Yes, but we can be ready for them," Aaron was saying.

Unconcerned with my safety, I stepped closer to Maddox and knelt to get a look at his face. For some reason, I needed to see his face. His eyes were closed, his forehead damp and pale. I hesitated a moment, then reached out, nudging him in the shoulder. He didn't move. My heart jumped into my throat. Cupping the sides of his face, rough with whiskers, I lifted his head. Blood trailed from the corner of his mouth. I dropped his head and jumped back.

"Oh my G.o.d."

"What?" Aaron was at my side, his arm around my shoulders.

"He's...he's dead!"

"No. Of course not." Still, if Aaron wasn't concerned why did he leave me and feel the man's neck for a pulse? "He's fine."

Fine? He wasn't fine! Horrified, I stared up at Aaron. He was way too blase about the fact that Maddox was totally not fine. I threw my hands in the air, unable to stand still. "He's bleeding! From the mouth!"

"It happens, when you break through the chip."

"The scream was his!" I clasped my hands over my mouth, trembling with shock, fear, worry...a jumble of emotions. I'd heard him screaming with pain...a pain I'd caused. Why was no one else upset about this? "No."

My stomach churned, acid rising to my throat. I was going to be sick, vomit all over the floor, but I didn't care. I shook my head and backed up a step. I had to get out of there; I swear I could smell his blood. My lungs shrunk, I couldn't breathe. "I hurt him."

Aaron stepped closer to me, his face full of concern. Concern for me when he should have been worried about Maddox. "Cameron, you have to understand, it's either us or them. I know you feel bad, but do you want to give your life for his?"

I looked at Maddox, so large, yet at the moment so vulnerable. Would he recover? Even though he was my enemy, I prayed he would.

"He's with S.P.I.," Lewis said. "The same branch that's responsible for killing your father." He slammed his hand against his chest. He was angry with me and even though I shouldn't have cared, I did. "My parents."

But he knew as well as I did that Maddox had nothing to do with the death of our parents. "So I have to do this in order to stay here? I have to hurt people?"

Will they throw me out if I don't?

"Of course you don't have to do anything you don't want to." Aaron started toward me. "We'd never throw you out, Cameron."

d.a.m.n it! I'd forgotten to close my mind. I didn't want them reading my thoughts, I already felt too vulnerable. I didn't want to hurt people. I didn't want to disappoint Aaron and Lewis. So I did the only thing I could. I pulled open the door and raced up the stairs, leaving them to deal with the mess.

Chapter 14.

I pushed open the front door and ran down the steps to the driveway. Darkness called to me, providing a safety and privacy I so needed. My skin crawled with the realization of what I'd done, my heart hammered with the desperate need to escape. The gra.s.s, slick with dew, quickly soaked my tennies, chilling my feet. The elements would kill me if I was out all night. I didn't know where I was going and vaguely realized how irrational my escape was, but I didn't care.

Maddox's face kept flashing to mind...that brilliant red blood trailing down the corner of his mouth. I'd taken their word that he still lived, but what if he didn't? What if I'd killed him?

My G.o.d, with her ability we can break in anywhere. Aaron's words came rushing back.

Had they used me? Did they not even care how I felt, but only about my abilities? With a cry, I gripped the cold, metal posts of the fence. The need to escape was so overwhelming, I wanted to scream. I jerked on the gates. They didn't budge. No security guards came down from the tower, even though I could see a light and knew they were there.

"Jerks!" I cried.

Just past the road, lay the ocean. Dark and foreboding. Impossible to cross.

Trapped. I was trapped here- on an island I couldn't leave.

"Cameron!" Lewis called.

Furious he'd followed me, I spun around. "Go away, Lewis."

"No," he insisted, pausing a few feet in front of me. His breath came out in cold puffs of air that suspended between us.

I pushed past him and followed the fence line. Maybe it ended somewhere and if it didn't, I'd just keep walking. Like an animal in the zoo, I'd walk in circles, pacing my cage day after day until I went insane.

Lewis rushed after me, I could hear his harsh breathing. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know. I don't care. I want to leave."

"You can't leave, Cam."

Anger and fear hammered through my chest. I spun around to face him. "Why?"

He raked his hands through his hair, obviously frustrated. Well, get in line. "Because...because you'd be in danger."

I released a harsh laugh, and started walking again. "I'm in danger here, in this house, on this island. Didn't you say they were coming, S.P.I.? My G.o.d, he found us in town, what makes you think he can't get in here? Maddox did."

"You're safe. Protected. I promise. But out there anything could happen to you." He latched onto my arm, his grip tight. "Cameron, please, you can't leave, I would worry about you."

My heart warmed, even as my mind demanded it not soften. My heart won. Slowly, I turned. "Lewis, I can't do this again. I can't hurt someone like that. Did you see his face? Did you see the blood?"

He gripped both my arms, bringing me closer to his warmth. "I know, but Cam, the man's a criminal."