Veil of Justice, Shadows of Justice Book 3 (18 page)

"You didn't hear me. I was at Lorine's lab,"
he answered aloud.

"Since you won't stay out of my head, I'll
point out that you're the only one who had any motive to prevent me
from doing – doing…that."

"Gutting yourself on the street, you
mean?"

Oh, it sounded so ugly when he said it like
that.

"Would've looked a whole lot worse. Petra
told me you grew up in some kind of secret, extreme security
society. Wasn't selfish bred out of the genes a few generations
ago?"

"Selfish?!" She was up again, this time she
made it to her knees. She wanted to pummel him, but it was a clumsy
attack that only made her feel more inept when he immediately
regained control and settled her back down. Out of breath, she
glared at the big palm resting on her chest.

"Cool it. You'll pop your stitches."

Too bad that wouldn't mean bleeding out.

Nathan glared, his hand shoved her deeper
into the bed then he abruptly released her. "Fine. You wanna die? I
sure as hell can't stop you. But I don't have to stick around for a
useless pity party. Give me a call if you get over yourself."

Kelly watched him leave, or she would have if
she could've seen through her tears. Names of the horrible and
insulting variety flashed through her mind and she pressed the
pillow over her face and screamed, berating herself.

* * *

Nathan rolled his eyes at his sister, but she
stayed parked in the doorway. "A little rough in there weren't
you?"

"She needs a wake up call. Maybe some
electric shock therapy." He tried to maneuver around, but her
protruding belly was immovable. Her hands popped to her hips and
trepidation ran icy fingers over his neck. "What aren't you telling
me?"

Petra grabbed his arm and dragged him away
from the infirmary, down the stairs. He tried to peek into her
thoughts but she elbowed him, so he backed off. Exiting the stairs
at the sign for the gym, she pushed him ahead of her, past rows of
machines and free weights, and into a small office.

Jaden's name was on the door, but Jaden was
out. Thank God. He wasn't ashamed to admit he couldn't handle the
both of them at once.

"Sit." Petra leaned back on the desk,
obviously trying to get herself under control. "You've been close
to Kelly – at least telepathically – for some time."

Nathan nodded slowly, the safest response
considering her mood.

"You share a unique bond with her, am I
right?"

"I thought so." He wouldn't confess to
anything more until he knew what she was after.

"What you do know about her?"

"That's personal, Sis. I don't want to
divulge things she'd rather not advertise."

It was the wrong thing to say, he saw it
instantly as Petra's eyes narrowed. Nathan wished for an escape. A
hole in the floor would be welcome about now.

"Oh, I see. You know absolutely nothing."

The sympathy in her voice brought him out of
his chair. "That's not true." He towered over her, ready to have
this fight if she kept pushing him. "I know she's a private person
with –"

"Why'd she go to the museum last night?"

Nathan started to answer, but stopped,
suddenly unsure. "We only talked for a second." He retreated back
to his chair. "She said she had to get a family heirloom before
Kristoff did."

Petra's gaze drifted past him. "That's
true…"

He didn't like the way her voice trailed
away. It meant she was thinking, measuring her words and opting to
withhold information. "What aren't you telling me?" His heart
slugged in his chest. "Petra!"

Her attention whipped back to him, her eyes
bright as they met his. "You're right, of course." She turned away.
"It isn't my place to share her secrets."

He reached for her, and realized the error
too late to stop the contact. Petra was running wide open and for a
moment he shared his sister's empathic grief for Kelly's tragedy.
He saw lifeless bodies scattered about a barren landscape and a
stoic crowd of black-veiled people weeping around a fresh
grave.

The spike of disappointment that Kelly hadn't
trusted him with this compounded it all. Beneath the frustration,
he surprised himself. None of it changed his desire to help her or
muted his personal passion for her. "I've got to get back up
there." He had to apologize.

"Wait. There's something else. Based on what
you did for her tonight –"

Nathan frowned. "I didn't do anything. I was
in the lab with Lorine and more notes and samples than I ever want
to see again."

Petra tilted her head, her eyes full of
disappointment. She thought he was lying.

Whatever. Her lack of trust hurt a little,
but it wasn't his top priority. He was a strong telekinetic and a
stronger telepath, and he recognized some very strange jumps in his
talents since the prison break. But the moment Kelly had reached
the museum she'd pushed him out of her head. He hadn't known she'd
tried to gut herself until he'd seen the feed from the camera Brian
had secretly planted on Jaden. He'd felt an odd mix of panic and
rage. She shouldn't have been alone – shouldn't have been out there
without him.

"You've forgotten Mom and Dad used Kristoff's
facility?"

He shook his head, impatient to get back
upstairs. This was old news. Kelly was here and now. "We've been
through this. So the bastard worked a little magic when we were
embryos. I think we've done fine anyway."

"I keep telling you he programmed us to be
susceptible to him, to respond when he calls us. For me, it was a
bell that rendered me nearly useless. I was forced to help
him."

Nathan shook his head again. "No ringing in
these ears. May I be excused now?" To his increasing irritation his
sarcasm was lost on her.

"In a minute. Chicago really isn't safe for
you. Either of you.

"Kristoff's pet assassin, Simon, was out
there last night and he's never far from Kristoff."

"Then shouldn't we be searching and planning
how to take him down?"

"This isn't a military op. Let me look into a
few things while you get away and get yourself back up to one
hundred percent."

He sneered at that. "Where would I go?"

"You always say fresh air and sunshine. Go
see if Kelly can find you some of both."

"You want me out of the way."

Petra smiled, but it was her wistful look.
The same look that made him feel half a step behind the rest of the
class. "It's not that simple. Something's brewing Nathan, and I get
the sense that Kristoff's not the heart of it. We have to know what
we're dealing with if we hope to recover Kelly's map box."

"Can't you just ask Kelly?" he said.

"How about if we make a deal? I'll work with
Cleveland, Jaden, Brian, and Gideon on this side. Surely the five
of us can find his hideout. You work on Kelly and then we'll plan
our attack."

"Attack?" That was a whole new side of his
sister. "You've been hanging around Jaden too long." To his dismay,
he saw tears spring to her eyes.

"Damn hormones," she said, looking upward and
blinking rapidly. "I've just found my sister and I'll be damned if
I let a mad geneticist take my brother."

Nathan opened his arms, letting her decide if
she wanted the hug. She walked into his embrace and he held her
close. "Okay. It's okay. We'll figure this out and put him down for
good. I won't settle for anything less."

She sniffled and backed away, nodding. "Go
back up there and make things right with her."

"Sure thing. Any suggestions for this
prescribed getaway?"

"Kelly will have a solution. Whatever you do,
don't leave her alone."

And on that cryptic comment, Petra dismissed
him, settling herself behind Jaden's desk.

"Happy researching," he muttered on his way
out the door.

Wasting no time, he headed for the stairs,
knowing they'd be faster than the elevator. He didn't question the
internal compulsion driving him back to Kelly's side. And taking
the stairs two at a time proved he was healthier than anyone wanted
to admit.

EIGHT

It makes no difference if I burn my bridges
behind me – I never retreat. Fiorello LaGuardia

Kelly stuck with the back roads as they made
their way through Indiana, grateful Cleveland trusted her with a
car. It wasn't his precious 1957 Chevy, but she couldn't complain
about the vintage Super Sport. Cleveland promised her it could
outrun anything and corner on rails.

Whatever that meant.

She might not get the driving reference, but
she wasn't stupid about the rest of the plan. She knew Petra had
insisted she drive to give her a sense of purpose, to provide a
distraction from her ultimate failure.

Surprisingly, they'd also given her something
to ramp up the healing in her shoulder. She hardly felt any pain
there now. She kept the windows down, hoping the fresh air concept
would have a healing boost for her, like it did for Nathan. The
rush of air teased her hair free of the ponytail. Still devastated,
she'd thought about shaving her head, but no one would let her near
anything sharp. Even now, she felt a little naked and disadvantaged
without her dirk at her ankle. She needed to believe Nathan had it
with him. Hopefully he'd give it back soon. She just had to
convince him she didn't intend to commit suicide.

That would be easier once she convinced
herself.

Kelly took the last turn and followed the
overgrown track until it ended. Turning off the car's engine, she
stared at her tiny cabin. She thought of the two small rooms and
the sparse furnishings. How would Nathan handle the cramped space?
Would they even both fit in there at the same time?

He was out of the car the moment it stopped,
stretching his legs and taking it all in with a big grin plastered
across his face. Who knew rustic suited him?

She was the opposite. The remote setting was
ideal, but she didn't feel like smiling, she felt like taking a nap
– oh no, she hadn't thought about the sleeping arrangements. She'd
just have to take the floor and give him the single, narrow
bed.

"No way." Nathan said coming up behind her
and flipping her ponytail. "I'm not setting myself up for that
lecture. If anyone sleeps on the floor, it's me."

"But –"

"Martyr much?"

Her temper flashed then settled to a low
simmer when she realized he was kidding. "This trip is supposed to
give you time to heal up and feel better."

He exaggerated an inhale, puffing out a chest
that looked remarkably heartier than he had just few days ago.
"Fresh air, lots of space, I'm feeling better already."

She smiled and it felt sincere. She tipped
the seat forward and started to unload the car. "Let's go in. You
might find the bed's too small anyway."

"I bet it's just right." He waggled his
eyebrows and she resented how his chipper mood grated on her
bruised nerves and heart.

He scooped up the luggage, leaving her to
stalk up the path after him. "Smart ass."

As she reached for the lock, she heard it
tumble. She smacked him on the shoulder, taking advantage of the
moment. He was loaded with a backpack and duffle since he wouldn't
let her carry anything but the cooler. "I can turn a damn key."

"What?" he said, grinning down at her. "No
congratulations for healing up so quickly?"

She muttered under her breath.

"Your language is appalling, dear." He didn't
go inside, though, just dumped their things inside, including the
cooler and snapped the door closed with his power.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"We need a walk after that long drive."

She groused about it, but let him guide her
around the cabin and into the woods that surrounded it.

"Nice area." His eyes were on the trees and
the autumn rainbow of leaves above them. "How'd you find it?"

She wanted to ignore him, but he'd only climb
inside her head.

I would not
.

"Point proved." She hooked her thumbs into
her back pockets and veered off on her favorite deer trail. It led
to a scenic spot on a little stream and she suddenly wanted a drink
of that cool, clear water.

"This place belonged to my uncle, dad's
brother. They sent me here occasionally."

"Sent you?"

"Whenever I whined too much about seeing the
world."

"This is hardly a worldly view."

She shrugged. "It was a different view. I
learned about plants and stuff here. That's what they wanted."

"'They' meaning your family."

"Yes." She recognized the interrogation, but
didn't see much point in stopping him. They'd be here a while and
may as well talk about something. It hurt, but it helped too. "My
father was often baffled by me. When I showed an aptitude for
anything remotely feminine, he encouraged it." She reached out,
plucking a vibrant orange leaf from a tree.

"So what goes into your sedative powder?"

Surprised by the subject change, she looked
up at him. Way up. He was closer than he should be. Not as close as
they'd been in some of their mental pen pal moments, but too close
for in person. Too close for two unchaperoned people in the woods
on a nice fall day.

She cleared her dry throat. "There's a creek
this way, hear it?"

"Sure."

Her intense relief that he was so easily
distracted had to be a bad sign. Who had thought up this idea of
hiding him out here in the wilderness? Oh, yeah, Petra. If her cell
card worked out here, she'd be calling in a change of plan right
now.

The creek burbled to life at their feet and
Kelly sank down onto the bank in the warm sunlight. The lack of
development in this area continued to amaze her. When Nathan echoed
the sentiment, she bristled.