Spellbound (25 page)

The way he watched her, his gaze intent, told me Jaz would notice any change in her, however slight.

“It doesn't seem to be bothering him,” I said.

“It won't,” Karl said, his gaze glued to Jaz with the same intensity. “A child would simply be a minor obstacle to him. One easily overcome.”

Easily gotten rid of, he meant, and when I looked back at Jaz, I knew Karl was right. I understood why he wanted him dead. Yes, Karl feared for his child's life and, yes, he feared losing Hope, but more than that he knew that if Jaz ever got Hope, he'd finally realize he'd never have her, not the way he wanted. If he couldn't have her, no one else would. He'd take away everything she loved, and when she didn't love him instead, he'd kill her.

“How much longer until you have what you need from him?” I asked Benicio.

“Soon.”

“You should speed that up,” I said. “Give Hope one less thing to worry about.”

Karl glanced over. His expression said he wasn't sure if I meant it or was just trying to win points. I wasn't. If it was me, I'd want Jaz dead. The sooner, the better.

I turned back to the video feed.

“So you wanted to speak to me?” Jaz said to Hope.

“I did.”

“Let me guess. Karl Marsten isn't doing it for you anymore. When it comes to chaos, he's a wine spritzer. It worked for a while, but you need something stronger.”

She offered an enigmatic smile. “Would you believe that?”

“I believe it's the truth. But would I believe you've figured it out already? No.”

“I didn't think so.”

Benicio glanced at Karl. “What's she doing?”

“Going off script, it would appear. Odd, really. She usually follows orders so well.”

I stifled a laugh.

“She'd better know what she's doing,” Benicio said.

“She usually does,” Karl said.

We turned back to the video screen. Jaz had slid off the bed and was pulling a chair over to Hope. She tensed, and I could tell she was fighting the urge to ease back.

“You've changed,” he said. “And I don't just mean that.” A dismissive wave at her stomach. “Yes, I can tell you're pregnant. You look like shit, Hope. He's not taking care of you. Oh, I'm sure he's trying, but he has no idea how.”

“And you do.”

“Of course I do. First thing? I'd never tie you down with a squalling brat. That's what he's doing, you know. Tying you to him. He knows he can't hold on to you otherwise, so he's got to throw on all the ropes he can. First a wedding ring. Then a baby. Then more babies. Make it harder and harder for you to leave.”

Hope said nothing. I glanced over at Karl, but his expression was unreadable.

“But you have changed,” Jaz said. “You're calmer. More centered. You're not as conflicted about the chaos. Learning to live with it. Learning to feed it.”

“I'm managing.”

“But not lately.” He eased his chair forward. “It isn't the baby wearing you down, is it?”

Hope shook her head, then looked up at him. “You know why I'm here, and what it means. They know about the plan, so you aren't going to get what you've been promised.”

“No? Damn. And it seemed like such a good plan, too.” He grinned and rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward until her curls brushed his face. “Did it seem like a good plan to you, Hope?”

“Not particularly. But if you were desperate enough, you might bite.”

He lifted his face to hers, and Hope's hands clenched at her side. But he only hovered there, his face so close to hers they had to be touching.

“I'm not that desperate,” he said. “Not that stupid. Not that gullible. And not about to become a pawn in someone else's scheme. I have my own.”

His lips brushed hers, and she jerked back, but he only settled into his chair and grinned. “Sorry. Couldn't resist. Now let's talk about the plan. That's the point of this reunion, isn't it? The plan, the plan. A ridiculous plan, but that's the point, is it? It must be the point. Otherwise, there is no point.”

“You're losing me, Jaz.”

“Am I? I don't think I am. I think you're tired. I think all this talk of kidnapping and oracles and prophecies has your brain spinning, and you don't know where to focus. But when you get past all the noise, you'll know where to focus. On the plan.”

I looked at Benicio. “What the hell is he talking about?”

“He's crazy,” Karl said. “A small matter that some people like to forget.”

Hope didn't seem fazed. She must have seen this side of Jaz before, and only settled back in her chair, watching him.

“Their plan,” she said. “They say they want to free you as a sign. Proof of some prophecy coming true. But they're going to too much trouble for just that. They have a bigger scheme, don't they?”

Jaz shot her a blazing grin. “Everyone does.”

“Especially you.”

“I have my moments.”

“And you have a plan. One that may or may not coincide with theirs. At least, not past the point where they help you.”

“Whatever do you mean?” He arched his brows, but couldn't stop grinning. She knew he was up to something and he was pleased she knew him so well.

“So what's the plan?” Hope asked. “Theirs, I mean. I know you won't tell me yours. Why do they want you?”

“They didn't say.”

“But you think you know.”

“I'm valuable. In so many ways.” He leaned toward her, lips brushing hers again. She jumped. He did too, leaping to his feet and pacing, his voice taking on that manic rhythm again.

“Ol' Ben wants to know how they plan to spring me? Tell him I'm disappointed. I thought he was smarter than that. He's built me a cage from which I cannot escape.” He banged his fist on the wall. “I'm locked in a metal box within a dozen metal boxes, layer upon layer of security. How do I get myself out? I can't.”

“Someone has to get you out,” Hope said.

“Correct. But who? Who could set me free? It must be one of my visitors. No, wait, I'm not allowed any. Then it must be the woman who brings my food or cleans my kennel. No, wait, I don't get a waitress or a maid. I only get guards, and they're all handpicked. Special guards for a special prisoner. All family men, who know that if I get out, the Cabal will retaliate, might make sure one of their little kiddies suffers a horrible accident. So it wouldn't be them. Who else do I see? Who else could set me free?”

“The scientists. And you're fine with telling me this because Benicio can't afford to get rid of them all. They're a lot more valuable than guards. He'll have to negotiate with you to get a name.”

Jaz swooped in and grabbed Hope under the arms, swinging her off her chair before she had time to blink. “See, this is why I love you. You know exactly how my mind works. Because yours works the same way.”

She struggled to get free. Jaz put his hand under her chin, lifted it, and kissed her. Not a quick brush of the lips this time, but a real kiss, deep and hard. At a crack from across the room, I tore my gaze from the screen to see Karl yanking on the door.

“Open this goddamn door,” he snarled at Benicio. “Or—”

“Am I pissing you off yet, Karl?” Jaz yelled from inside his cell.

I turned back to the screen. Hope had gotten free and retreated across the room. Jaz was scanning the ceiling.

“What's the matter, Karl?” he called. “Ol' Ben not letting you come to the rescue? Don't worry, I'm sure he's opening the door right about now.”

The door flew open. Benicio followed Karl out, saying, “Calm down, Karl. We'll get her out. She's not in any danger.”

In his cell, Jaz kept talking. Behind him, Hope fussed with her scarf, tugging at it anxiously.

“You shouldn't have left me alone with her,” Jaz said. “Do you know how fast I could fix her little pregnancy problem? Faster than you could get in here and stop me. One good punch”—he swung his hand back—“and she'd be free from—”

Hope kicked him in the back of the knees. As he dropped, the scarf went around his neck. She twisted it and jammed her foot into his back for leverage.

I raced after Karl and Benicio, and caught up just as the guards flew into Jaz's cell, the two men behind them.

“Hope!” Benicio said. “You don't want to do that.”

“Oh, yes, I do,” she said. Her face was twisted, eyes glowing, and at that moment, I didn't see sweet, quiet Hope. I saw the demon.

Everyone stopped in their tracks. Everyone except Karl, who barreled past and tugged the scarf from her hands, saying, “I've got this,” and in another second, Jasper Haig would have been dead, but that split second was all it took for the security guards to recover. They rushed Karl before he could give that final wrench.

They pulled Jaz out of his reach, then turned on Karl, guns lifted. He waved them aside, picked up Hope, and carried her out the door.

As Benicio called for a doctor to tend to Hope, Jaz rose, rubbing his throat and wincing.

“I think she likes you,” I said.

He looked at me, hesitated, as if to say, “Who the hell are you?” But he didn't, only flashed that disarming grin and said, “I made her mad. I deserved it and I wouldn't expect anything less. That's why I love her.” He turned to Benicio. “So, Ben, when do I get to see her again? I was hoping we could play a board game. Trouble. I bet she likes that one.”

Benicio ignored him.

“You think I'm joking?” Jaz said. “You forget. I know which of your scientists has turned traitor on you. You'll want to know that information. You'll also want to know about the top-secret project he's working on. With your equipment and your resources. Some of your other scientists, too, I bet. For that I'm going to expect more face time with Hope. A lot more.”

Benicio waved me from the room and followed without a word to Jaz.

 

 

Karl had taken Hope to the lounge where I'd rested. When I got there, he was arguing with a doctor. I was about to withdraw when he noticed me.

“You,” he said. “Get back here.”

“She has a name,” Hope murmured. “Hey, Savannah. Good show, huh?” She tried to smile, but it was strained.

“I want Jeremy,” Karl said. “And Elena. Find them and bring them here.”

“I don't need—” Hope began.

“Savannah.”

“Yes, sir,” I said and retreated.

J
eremy had gone for coffee with Jaime. When I called, he said they'd come right back. Jeremy wasn't a doctor, but he was the Pack's medic, and he'd seen Elena through her pregnancy. Karl trusted him.

Karl also trusted Elena, and that was why he wanted her there. For Hope. Elena wasn't my first choice for a shoulder to cry on, but she was Karl's, and that was what mattered.

I found Elena helping Clay read research files. When I said Karl wanted her for Hope, Elena didn't question, just asked where to find them. “She saw Jaz, I take it,” she said.

I nodded. “She tried to kill him.”

“Tried?” Clay said. “So she didn't succeed? Damn.”

“They would be better off with Jaz dead,” Elena said. “But I wouldn't want to see Hope do it. That's not something she needs to deal with right now.”

“Seeing Jasper Haig isn't something she needs to deal with right now,” Clay said.

Elena nodded and said she'd be back. Then she left and I was alone with Clay.

“Doing research for Adam?” I said, pointing at the stack of files.

“Yep.”

That wasn't as odd a task for Clay as it sounded. He had a Ph.D. in anthropology, and did more than his share of research for papers.

“Can I help?” I asked.

As his mouth opened, I lifted my hand. “Yes, before you ask, my literacy skills have not vanished with my spells. I'm still capable of reading.”

“Then read.” He dumped a pile of folders in front of me. “We're looking for any reference to those people you met. Giles, Althea, Severin, Sierra . . . We're also pulling info on Balaam. Most of that has been compiled before, but Adam thinks there might be more here. Unsupported claims of him making contact.”

I pulled out a chair and opened the first folder. “I told Adam I'd be happy to help with this, too, but he's not going to ask, is he?”

“Nope.”

I read through one file without having a clue what it was about, my eyes just scanning the words, any connection to my brain failing.

“I know he's not happy with the way I acted—”

“To put it mildly.”

I twisted to face him. “It's more than that, isn't it? You know what's bothering him.”

“Everyone knows what's bothering him.”

“And you're the only person who'll tell me.”

He shrugged and made a couple of notes, then said, as he wrote, “Remember back when Paige and Lucas went away on their honeymoon? You were fifteen and Adam had to babysit you?”

“If you're talking about the party, that was not my fault. I invited a few people and—”

“Things got out of hand. More people showed up. Adam had to kick them out and clean up before Paige found out. He didn't take you out riding and hiking for a while after that, did he?”

“So that's what this is about? He's tired of cleaning up after me?”

“You think he was mad because he had to clean up? You really didn't get it, did you? Not then and not now.”