Conspiracy Game

CHAPTER 13

“Briony, look at the monitor,” Dr. Casey instructed. “Jack, do you see what I’m looking at.”

“Two hearts,” Jack said.

Briony went still, the color draining from her face. She reached for Jack’s hand for strength. It wasn’t possible. She’d never considered having one child-let alone two. She was beginning to think she was in the middle of a nightmare and just needed to pinch herself very hard to wake up.

Jack bent close to her, close enough that his lips brushed her ear, but his words were in her head, not spoken aloud. Don’t panic on me, baby. We’ll get through this. His fingers tightened around hers.

Briony swung her head around slowly and stared at the small screen. There was a black cone and a lot of swishing and not much of anything that she could see. “No way. Don’t even joke like that, you two. I almost had a heart attack.”

The doctor pointed and made a small circle first over one spot and then over another. “You’re definitely carrying twins.”

What’s wrong, Jack? I can feel Briony from here. She’s very upset.

Don’t go shooting the doctor. He just told her we were having twins, and she’s not prepared for the news.

She’s very distressed.

I’m aware, Ken. I’ll deal with it.

Jack brushed the hair back from Briony’s face. Small beads of sweat dotted her brow, and her skin was clammy, so pale it was nearly translucent. One hand fluttered to her throat.

“Jack. No.” She shook her head, her gaze desperately clinging to his. “I’ve never held a baby in my life, let alone changed diapers. I don’t know the first thing about babies.” What if they cry and I freak out and throw up everywhere? I can’t be with anyone when they’re upset. A baby can’t control that. I thought with one, I could, you know, take a breather every now and then, but not with two. Jack, I can’t do two.

The doctor held on to his smile, looking cheerful. “I know it’s a bit of a shock, but many women have twins and do just fine. Everything looks good. You should be able to carry without any problems. We’ll want to keep a close eye on you.”

Briony nearly crushed Jack’s fingers. “Are you absolutely certain? Two babies?”

“Yes. I heard two heartbeats, and you can clearly see them on the sonogram. If you’d like more clarity, the hospital has a newer model and you could have it confirmed on their machine. I can set up the appointment.”

Jack pressed his free hand into Briony’s shoulder in warning. “That won’t be necessary.” We don’t need more of a paper trail than necessary. Let’s just stick with Dr. Casey as long as possible. “It’s a shock, that’s all, but a welcome one, isn’t it, baby?”

She swallowed the fear crushing her and hung on to his tender tone. If only he really loved her that much-wanted her that much. A woman could put up with a lot to have a man love her so much. How could he fake that look? That caressing tone? He actually sounded happy about the babies. She wished she had Jack’s strength.

The doctor casually wiped the smears of gel from her stomach. Jack pulled down her shirt. “Thanks, Doc. We’ll go celebrate. Do you have a nutrition expert who can give us advice on what she should or shouldn’t eat?”

“Ask the receptionist for our comprehensive tip sheet and don’t forget to take your prenatals,” Dr. Casey advised. “Any more questions?”

Briony shook her head. The man had already said a mouthful.

“Is there any reason why we can’t make love?” Jack asked.

Briony bit back a squeak of shock. Her gaze jumped to his face, but he was looking at the doctor.

“I’d like to know what we can and can’t do,” Jack added.

Briony closed her eyes. Just the thought of Jack touching her was enough to get her wet, make her body go into hormone overload. What was he thinking, bringing that up when they already had so many problems avoiding it. She should have influenced the doctor to say they couldn’t have sex, but no, he was going into great detail and Jack was just soaking it up. She lifted her hand limply as the doctor left.

“What were you thinking?” she hissed.

“I’m taking precautions. If you’re with me, Briony, it’s going to happen. We both know it, and we need the answers. I don’t want to take a chance on hurting you or the babies.”

She let Jack help her into a sitting position. She wasn’t going to go there. Not now, not when there were other, much larger problems. Babies. “What are we going to do? One baby I might be able to take care of, but two of them? Do you have any idea what this means?” She couldn’t disappear with two babies. It would be nearly impossible to protect two children from Dr. Whitney. “Can you see me running with a front and back pack, fighting enhanced soldiers off? This is getting worse and worse.”

Jack’s jaw tightened. “What do you want to do? The doctor said you’re eleven weeks along. What’s the cutoff time?”

Her breath caught in her throat, and both hands covered her stomach protectively. “For what? I’m not having an abortion, Jack. I might not be able to take care of my children myself, but I’ll be damned if I’ll have an abortion. They feel a part of me already. No.” She shook her head. “No way.”

“We’ll take care of them together the old-fashioned way, by ourselves.”

“Jack, you’ve never seen me around people without you there to buffer me from all the emotion.”

“I watched you perform. I didn’t protect you then because I wanted to see and feel what your life was like.”

She shook her head. “You did protect me. Not all the way, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as usual. You weren’t even aware of it. I’m just so afraid that if the babies get sick, or are upset… ” She looked up at him. “What if I can’t take care of them?”

“You performed night after night because you loved your family that much, Briony, why would you think you’d do any less for your children?”

She couldn’t pull her gaze from his. He was so certain, not in the least ruffled by the news. She was impacting his life in ways she hadn’t expected, and he was the one handling it, not her. “Okay. You’re right. We’ll just do whatever has to be done-one day at a time.”

Jack’s fingers circled the nape of her neck. “We can do this.” He flashed a small grin. It faded quickly, but fascinated Briony all the same. There was no softening of his hard, weathered features; rather, his eyes went from dark to light. Her stomach somersaulted in response, proving she was still way too susceptible to him. “And we always have Ken to do diaper duty.”

“Aren’t you worried about Whitney’s men finding us?”

“They’ll either come for you or they won’t, baby. We can’t stop living our lives because Whitney may find out where you are.”

Jack didn’t leave the room as she got back into her jeans; in fact he didn’t even avert his eyes. “You’re incredibly beautiful, you know that?”

“No, I’m not, but it’s nice of you to say so.” She tried not to blush as she zipped up her jeans. It seemed natural to have Jack in the room with her, and it added another layer of intimacy between them.

“You are, and I have good taste in women and underwear.” He bent to brush a kiss against the corner of her mouth. “Ken’s on the roof of the building next door. Maybe we should sneak out back and make our getaway.”

She laughed and took his outstretched hand. “I still can’t believe we’re going to have twins. Do you have any idea how large I’m going to get? You won’t be able to push me through the door.”

It took a few minutes to get out of the doctor’s office. Jack made certain they had another appointment and that he picked up the tip sheet on nutrition. Briony was fairly sure she was going to be sorry she allowed him to get his hands on it.

Ken joined them at the Jeep. “Congratulations, you two. When you decide to do something, you really go all the way, don’t you?” He stowed his innocent-looking case containing the sniper rifle in a well under the seat floor before locking the vehicle.

“Keep it up and I’m going to kick you in the shins,” Briony warned.

“Stay between us, Briony,” Jack cautioned as they started down the street to the restaurant Ken insisted had the best food.

The twins walked with easy, fluid strides, eyes restless, gaze constantly moving-up over the buildings, examining the shrubbery, watching the people. Briony should have been nervous, but she was too excited. She didn’t walk down streets in the middle of a town, have dinner in a restaurant, or go listen to music in a bar in the evening. This was a luxury-a gift from Jack. She felt no pain at all, just a wonderful sense of freedom. She smiled at a couple walking toward them, and joy blossomed when they smiled back. She didn’t read anything terrible, such as that the man was having an affair, or the wife wanted out of the marriage, or that they’d just lost a child. She could take them at face value-a happy couple walking on the same sidewalk.

Jack glanced down at her face. Briony was beaming, and he could feel the change in her with every step they took. The air was cool and crisp, a light breeze with night beginning to fall. She was nearly dancing, the elation coming off her in waves.

“Don’t you love this?” She looked up at him, flashing a smile. “I love this.”

“What?” He tried not to be distracted by her excitement, but something about her jubilation was catching. He was happy just walking down the damn street with her. She fit right beneath his shoulder, her head brushing against his arm as he walked with her and he felt-whole.

He glanced at Ken. Why the hell does a woman complete a family?

Ken shrugged and exchanged a small smile with him. I don’t know, but let’s keep her. She’s mellowed you out, and I didn’t think that was possible.

I’ve always been mellow.

Ken snorted aloud, drawing Briony’s attention. He reached past her head and opened the door of the restaurant. “My brother is living a life of total illusion. He thinks he’s mellow.”

“He does?” Briony’s eyebrow shot up as she tilted her head to look up at Jack. “You do?”

“We want that table,” Ken indicated a table near the exit door, up against the wall facing the front.

“We have a nicer table over here,” the hostess said, “in the section that’s open.” She stared at the scars on Ken’s face and neck and glanced briefly at Jack, then quickly averted her eyes.

Briony took a step to place herself between Ken and the hostess, bristling with indignation that the woman would stare with such naked horror at Ken’s wounds. Jack’s fingers settled around her arm-gently, but firmly-preventing her from moving out from between them.

“That table,” Ken said with another engaging smile, stepping in front of Jack, who didn’t move, didn’t speak, but suddenly appeared menacing.

The hostess took the bill Ken slipped her and led them to the table without further complaint. Ken waited until they were seated and had water and fresh baked bread before he pinned his brother with a steely gaze. “There’s no need to intimidate anyone, Jack. You be nice.”

“You have to bribe them to get your way,” Jack pointed out. “I’m never out any money.”

Ken shook his head. “Cretin.”

Briony rolled her eyes. “Are you two like this all the time?”

“Yes,” Ken confirmed. “I’m trying to integrate him into society, but he’s resistant. Without me, Jack would be some old mountain man with a bad attitude, chasing people around with his bowie knife.”

“I don’t much care for society-and I’d use a gun.”

“Were you always in the military-I mean, before Whitney?” Briony asked.

“Went in as soon as we were old enough,” Ken replied. “It got us off the streets and we had a knack for it. Pain didn’t mean much to either of us, and we’re both right at home behind a weapon.”

“How did Whitney find you?”

Ken sprawled his legs out under the table, forcing Jack to turn sideways. Both watched the doors and windows and people, rather than looking directly at Briony. “We’ve always been telepathic; used it to communicate when we were kids. In fact, we were pretty damned strong and had never met anyone else like us. We trained in the SEALs program and served a few years, then we were asked to take a test for psychic abilities.” He flashed her a brief grin. “We scored very high, and Whitney was drooling over us.”

“Both of you scored high?” She flashed a small, teasing grin at Jack.

“I’m sure my score was higher,” Ken said, breaking off a piece of bread and slathering butter on it.

“Do both of you have the same abilities?”

“Yep, right down to being anchors. And we seem to be enhanced the same as well,” Ken added.

“So if he’s so interested in getting a baby out of Jack, why isn’t he pushing a woman on you, Ken?”

“That’s a good question,” Jack said. “Why didn’t we ask that question, Ken? Why is it that Whitney went to all the trouble and expense of maneuvering Briony and I into the same place to see what would happen, but not you and whoever he’s matched you up with.”

“Maybe there is no match,” Ken said. And I’m not certain how I feel about that. I should be elated that he hasn’t messed with me to that extent, but hell, I wouldn’t mind a woman of my own, not after seeing you with Briony.

The wistfulness in his brother’s voice had Jack’s gaze jumping to his face. Ken couldn’t stop the brief flow of information, the fear that his appearance would stop any woman from wanting to be near him. Ken looked away quickly and stuffed another piece of bread in his mouth.

“Or maybe he already has her,” Briony ventured. “I’m betting that Luther was my secondary match and that’s why he was really upset that I was pregnant. The thought that someone other than an enhanced soldier had taken his place was too much for him. He was really angry. I think Whitney had nearly given up on getting us together.”

“And he was counting on the fact that I’d walk if he did manage it,” Jack added.

“I don’t like that idea, that some woman could still be held prisoner by Whitney,” Ken said. “Jack, let’s get ahold of Lily and her team and find out how much they know. If they have an idea where he is, we can do a little recon.”

“The problem that we’re facing, Ken, is that we don’t know who we can trust. Whitney always had contacts. Hell, he knew the president. If he’s alive and pulling all the strings in this experiment, he isn’t alone. We don’t know who’s behind any of this. Whitney may have the know-how and the money, but he’s in solid with someone directing all this.”

Briony cleared her throat. “If Whitney really has contacts in the military, and there is some huge conspiracy going on, if they thought I was with you, wouldn’t they send you out on a mission so I had nowhere to go?”

The twins exchanged a long look.

“Oh God.” Her hand went to her throat. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

Jack pulled her hand to his heart. “We were contacted late last week, but we’re on leave. We were both injured and neither of us has a doc’s okay to return to service, not that that ever stopped us before, but we said no.” I said no because Ken needs far more recup time. Jack made sure his barriers were up against his twin to keep him from that private contact. “Both of us intend to extend our time with personal leave as well.”

“They can’t make you go back?”

“I think they counted on us never turning them down. We never have. And they figured the target would be too personal for us to resist. They want General Ekabela taken out,” Jack said. “My guess is, the man knows too much and they need him dead.”

“In other words,” Ken added, “he isn’t useful to Whitney anymore.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Jack raised her knuckles to his lips. “You were a bit upset, Briony, and you needed sleep last night, and in any case, we didn’t think about why they would send us into the field, we go all the time.” He shrugged. “I thought they offered it to us because of what Ekabela had done to us.”

“But that means they know I’m with you. How would they know?” She nearly jumped out of her skin as the waiter approached.

Jack laid his hand on her arm. Gently. Just touching her. Warmth flowed into her mind, and almost at once she felt calmer, more able to breathe away fear. “Not necessarily. They may have wanted to make certain we were out of the country in case you did try to contact me.”

“It makes sense,” Ken added.

As the waiter hovered, Jack glanced up, eyes suddenly going from warm gray to ice steel. Briony buried her face in her menu to hide her expression.

The waiter cleared his throat. “Are you ready to order, ma’am?”

Jack drew out the paper on nutrition and began to study the menu, comparing items with the paper. “The chicken pasta looks good, Briony,” he ventured. “And the vegetable salad.”

Ken nudged her foot under the table and flashed a quick grin from behind his menu, winking at her.

“Yes, it does, Jack. I think I’ll have that.” Briony gave the waiter her menu and smiled at Jack.

“And she’ll have a glass of milk as well,” he added.

Ken nearly spit water over the menu. “Milk? You having it too, Jack?”

“Sure. Why not? And I’ll have the chicken pasta as well,” Jack said, handing the waiter his menu.

“I’m driving, so I’ll have a very hot cup of coffee,” Ken said. “And a steak, rare, with a baked potato and everything on it.”

“Ken?” Briony widened her eyes in helpless innocence. “That might make me sick just to look at it. I’ve been feeling so nauseous lately.”

Ken jerked his head up, a suspicious frown on his face. “You wouldn’t joke about something like that, would you?”

Briony covered her mouth with a delicate hand. “Just saying steak and rare made my stomach upset.”

“Fine. Give me the chicken pasta as well. But hold the damn milk.” Ken glared at her. “Just how long do you plan on being sick?”

She grinned at him. “A long, long time, now that we’ve had the good news about the baby and all.”

“Babies,” Jack corrected.

“Comes in useful, does it? I had no idea you had a mean streak in you, but I should have guessed, with Jack adoring you and all.”

Briony took a sip of water, looking away so he wouldn’t see her expression. She didn’t seem very good at hiding her thoughts from either of them. Jack didn’t adore her. The chemistry was there, exploding all over the place, but he didn’t adore her-that was never going to happen.

Don’t count on it. The warmth of Jack’s voice caressed her mind, touched her intimately, and spread through her body.

For a moment she could barely breathe with wanting him.

You can’t look at me like that, baby. Not here. Not where I have to keep my mind on protecting you.

She had to remember to shield her mind from him. She wasn’t used to having anyone around who could catch her thoughts, and worse, her face seemed to be an open book.

“Don’t look at him, Bri,” Ken suggested. “Pay attention to me. As soon as we hit the bar, he’s going to go all bossy and possessive and act like an idiot and annoy the hell out of you anyway, so don’t even think nice thoughts about him.”

“Are you, Jack?” she asked. “Are you going to go manly and possessive and act like an idiot?”

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “Probably.”

“Why? I’m pregnant and on the run, Jack. Do you think I’m likely to fling myself at another man and beg him for wild sex?”

Jack groaned. “You can’t say wild sex. You can’t think it. I have the hard-on from hell now, thank you very much.”

Briony flushed, damp heat soaking her panties and her breasts suddenly aching and full. She lifted her chin. If he could admit it, then so could she-just not aloud. You can’t say hard-on from hell because then I want to touch-and taste, and have you buried very deep inside me. She took great care to keep her barriers up against Ken and hoped Jack was doing the same.

Son of a bitch, Briony, you’re going to fucking kill me talking like that. Jack caught her hand and drew it under the table, pressing her palm tightly against him.

His reaction was definitely gratifying. She could hear the need pulsing in his voice, hoarse and clipped and edgy, feel it in the thick bulge throbbing under the thin material of his jeans. Nice to know I’m not alone.

“Would you like me to go check you into a hotel room?” Ken asked, glaring at them. “Because it’s getting embarrassing sitting with the two of you.” Hell, bro, we’ve been mind-to-mind so much we don’t even think about it and certainly have never cared how hot either of us was for a woman-but it feels different with Briony. I feel like a damned Peeping Tom.

I’m sorry. I’ll try to be more careful about protecting you.

I’d appreciate it.

“You’ll be doing a lot of babysitting, Ken,” Jack said, releasing Briony’s hand as the waiter arrived with their dinner.

Briony busied herself with her pasta, not wanting to think too much on her confession and what the repercussions might be. She was getting used to the tremendous pull between them. It wasn’t waning in strength-if anything, it was growing by just being in close proximity and getting to know each other better, but she was learning to handle it. Even so, she sat eating her dinner, listening to the sound of the two brothers’ voices, and all the while she was acutely aware of every move, every gesture-no matter how small-that Jack made.

He watched the doors and the people passing by. The table was situated where they could look out, but no one would see them. She realized that they were acting as they always did-her being there didn’t mean added security. They were always watching-always aware. What did that say about their lives? She studied them closely. The same shadows were in Ken’s eyes. That same wariness. He looked more relaxed, maybe even more easygoing, but she realized it was a façade. And they knew each other so well, had worked with each other, could communicate silently-they were definitely a team, and a lethal one at that. It occurred to her that it was somewhat of a miracle that both of them had allowed her into their lives.

It was Ken who paid the bill, and all the while he was busy talking to the waiter, Jack was at his back, gaze flat and cold and watchful. How long had they had to be afraid someone wanted them dead? Too long. It had to have been too long.

Briony stayed between them as they made their way out into the dark of night. Music blared down the sidewalk, pouring out of a building just up the street. Neither man said anything, but they turned in the direction of the sound.

“I’ve never actually gone in a bar,” Briony confided, sliding closer to Jack as they went into the darkened interior. “I couldn’t go into such a confined, crowded space. There were too many overwhelming emotions-desperation and loneliness seemed the most prominent when I’d pass by an open door. I wasn’t taking any chances.”

“I’m forced to come here,” Jack said, scowling at his twin.

Ken grinned unrepentantly. “Should I order you milk, Briony?” He turned to go to the bar.

“You do and I’m going to prove to you that I’m enhanced.” Briony heard his laughter as Jack ushered her toward a booth near the back where he had a clear view of the room. The crowd parted like the Red Sea as he walked through.

“You really don’t like it here, do you?” she asked. She had to sit close to him in order to be heard above the music and the noise of the crowd.

“Too many variables. All it takes is one really drunk cowboy and things are going to go to hell fast.”

She patted his thigh. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.”

He looked so startled she couldn’t help but smirk. At once he relaxed, taking her hand. “I do enjoy watching Ken have fun. He loves country music. He plays the guitar and sings like you wouldn’t believe. Don’t tell him, but he has a good voice-really good. Before Ekabela had him tortured, all the women flocked around him like bees to honey.”

“And now?” She watched Ken. He didn’t look at the women. He sat on a bar stool and talked to the bartender, and after bringing them both drinks-hers Coke-he talked to several men who were obviously friends. He didn’t look like he had a care in the world, but she knew differently when Jack took her hand and nearly broke her bones squeezing it.

Can you feel him? He tries to shut me out, but this is hell. Still he makes himself come here. He doesn’t have retreat in him. See why I admire him?

There were a lot of reasons to admire Ken. Watching him make the rounds, she sat quietly enjoying the music, holding Jack’s hand, all the while feeling the warmth of his body so close to hers. Ken took about an hour and then slipped into the booth and waved them onto the dance floor.

“You sure, baby,” Jack asked. “You don’t have to, if you’re tired.”

“I’d love to dance with you.” She wasn’t certain why he looked so leery until she slipped into his arms.

His scent enveloped her, his arms surrounded her, and his chest felt real and solid beneath her cheek. His body responded to her nearness with a tight fullness pressed close to her belly. It was a slow, dreamy song, and she let herself drift in a haze of need and lust, of urgent desire, matching the sway of his body, finding a perfect rhythm with his body. It was a moment in time no one could ever take away from her.

His hands held hers while he guided her through the swaying crowd. He bent his head to brush his mouth along her temple. She’d never danced with a partner-she couldn’t touch anyone so intimately-but Jack was sure and strong and led her as if they’d been dancing forever.

She closed her eyes on the way home, not letting the conversation between the brothers take away from the experience. She was tired, but happy-in spite of the fact she was having twins. She must have fallen asleep, because she woke to Jack carrying her into the house.

Briony took a long bath, and when she came out, Jack was already lying on the bed, his hair still damp from a shower. She raised an eyebrow, but her body reacted immediately, breasts aching. Beneath the thin tank top, she felt her nipples peaking. “Are you sleeping here again tonight?”

He pulled back the covers. “It’s the only way I’m going to get any sleep. If you don’t want me in the bed, I’ll take the chair.”

“No, we managed last night.” She slipped between the covers, her heart beating a little too fast. “I’m going to have nightmares about babies everywhere.”

Jack rolled over and shoved the blankets off of her to expose her before pushing her tank top from her stomach. His hands passed over her rounded tummy, then surrounded it, and he bent forward to press his lips against her skin. “Hello in there. Come to attention. This is your father talking. Your mom’s a little afraid of this twin thing. We’re going to have to ease her into it, so don’t go kicking too hard at first. Give her a little time to adjust.”

“The baby book says the baby can hear and eventually recognize our voices, but not this early.”

“But they aren’t talking about our babies, Briony. They hear me. They know. And they aren’t going to be little soldiers for Whitney and his fucked-up plans.”

Briony smiled. “If you’re really so sure they can hear you, stop swearing. They’ll come out saying the F word and I’ll tell the doctor you taught it to them.”

“Sorry. That was a slip, boys. Don’t be saying that word.”

“Boys?” She caught his head in her hands, forcing him to look up at her. “Not boys. Boys are difficult. They do all sorts of boy things.”

“Not girls, Briony. Can you see me trying to keep up with two little girls? And what happens when they get older and some boy wants to take them on a date?” He groaned and once again stretched out, turning on his side to prop himself up with one elbow. “I’d either lock the girls in closets or spend my life picking off hopeful horny teenagers.”

“Hopeful horny teenagers?” she echoed.

“We’d have to homeschool the girls and put up a twelve-foot barbwire electric fence complete with a security system.”

“Let me get this straight. If we have boys, they can run wild and be free, but our daughters will be locked up in closets and behind fences for all time.”

“That’s about right,” Jack agreed. “Ken and I can handle boys, Briony, but no girls, so keep that in mind when you have these babies.”

She patted his hand. “I hate to be the one to give you the bad news, but you determine the sex of the baby, so if we have a girl, it’s all your fault.”

The touch of her hand, light and teasing over his, squeezed the air out of his lungs. He stared up at the ceiling and wondered how he’d gotten so lucky, to have her in his home, in his bed, lying in the dark teasing him. It didn’t seem possible. His life was what he’d chosen and he had no complaints. He was used to silence. To being alone. There were days when he didn’t talk to another human being, and weeks when he went without conversing with anyone other than Ken. He had always thought of himself as solitary-it was safer for everyone that way-but now, with Briony lying beside him, her body warm and soft and her scent teasing his senses, he felt an odd sense of peace.

“Strange thing.” He made the confession aloud, not knowing why, but wanting her to know. “I’ve never actually relaxed with anyone around, not enough to sleep. Even out in the field, I have to move away from everyone or I don’t close my eyes-but you relax me. Before, when we were together, first I thought it was exhaustion, and then the sex, but it’s you.” He pressed his hand over his heart. “It’s just you.”

She was going to rip him apart when she tried to leave him, and it would come-maybe not now, or a month from now, but sooner or later, his domineering ways would make her need to rebel. She couldn’t understand the demons that drove him. Hell, he couldn’t-why should he expect that she would?

“I thought I could relax with you because you shield me from emotion, but that’s not the reason either.” She turned toward him, her fingers brushing his face as if she could read his expression. “You don’t think Whitney could do that too, do you?”

“No.” His voice turned grim. “Whitney doesn’t want to make it easy on anyone, Briony. He could have kept you with an anchor, but he deliberately put you with a family where you’d be out in the public on a daily basis. You had to interact. That was on purpose, for his little experiments. What were you made of? Could you find a way to overcome the pain? Overcome your differences living in a normal family? Bastard. He knew you were going to suffer every damn day of your life-and that there was every possibility your family would reject you eventually.”

“They thought I was autistic at first. Mom would hold me, and I felt everything she was feeling, knew what she was thinking, and it hurt so bad. I used to curl up in a ball under my bed and hide. She cried and cried, and I knew I was failing her.”

His hand found her hair. “That’s bullshit, baby. You’ve never failed anyone in your life. You did whatever it took to live in that family and fit in. Whitney needs someone to cap his ass.”

Briony snuggled closer to him, so close he could feel her breath against his chest. “Well, don’t do it tonight. I’m thinking I’m going to have nightmares about little boys running wild in the forest and me chasing them all. If I wake up screaming, it’s your fault.”

He loved the soft, drowsy note in her voice; it was as sexy as could be. What would it be like to be normal? He didn’t know. Ken didn’t know. And he doubted if Briony would ever know. But she was with him now, and he could wrap his arms around her, and somehow the memories of blood and death seemed far away.