I watched his tired eyes close. He sounded sincere, or maybe he just talked a good game. I wasn’t sure which. “Dr. Howard, my only concern right now is for your daughter. I’m glad you came along with us, and I hope you get the chance to tell her everything you just told me. I hope she forgives you, for her own sake more than yours. But…”
“You don’t think she will?”
“I can’t answer that.” I went over to Bree without another glance at Dr. Howard. I lifted her head, sat down, then let her head settle into my lap. She didn’t stir. Her hair was silky smooth, and I ran my fingers through the loose curls.
Dr. Howard stood and walked to the back of the cabin, giving me privacy with Bree.
I don’t know if you can hear me, but I kinda like your dad. I didn’t at first. But he’s growing on me. I think he’s telling the truth about everything, but I’ll let you be the judge.
And… I’m sorry for everything crass and cruel I ever said to you. I wish I could promise it would never happen again, but… I chuckled to myself. Well, you know me. Better than anyone. I pushed you away because I thought I didn’t deserve you, and I wanted you to have something better in life than an asshole like me.
The pilot’s voice came over the speakers. “We’ll be landing on Palmyra Atoll in less than ten minutes. Please secure your seat belt.”
Hear that, Red? We’re landing. Lexi is going to be pissed when she sees the mess you turned your own head into. But she’s going to heal you and take your pain away. I leaned over and kissed her temple. I promise.
~~~~~
When we landed on Palmyra, Lexi and Jack were waiting with a gurney. They whisked Bree away to one of the examination rooms. I went with them, but after only a couple of minutes I was kicked out because my pacing was too distracting to Lexi. So I paced outside instead.
When I couldn’t stay away any longer, I went back into the room. Lexi was just rising from a seat beside Bree. Jack had a hand on Lexi’s neck; he was most likely minimizing the side effects of her healing efforts.
Bree looked peaceful and perfectly still. I looked from her to Lexi.
Lexi approached me slowly. She stretched her arms around my neck and hugged me close. “I found the problem, and I fixed it.”
I pulled back and studied her face. “You did? She’s going to be okay?”
“As okay as she was before.” She smiled.
I let out a huge breath, then went to Bree’s side and sat on the edge of the bed, scooping her hand into mine.
“Her brain showed signs of such intense pain that her body simply shut down to protect itself,” Lexi explained. “There was swelling inside her head and fluid between her ears that probably caused the vertigo. Now, I think she just needs some sleep.”
“Why couldn’t I heal her?” I asked.
“You could have. You just couldn’t see the issue.” Lexi put a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay to ask for help. I wouldn’t have been able to heal her pain either if Jack hadn’t been here to lessen my side effects. We all need help sometimes.”
Jack stepped up beside Lexi. “And none of our abilities are without side effects.”
I turned back to Bree. “She was amazing in Portland. She was tireless in her determination to find the missing clones. I was shocked at how many Sandra shipped out there.”
“I’m not sure we’ll ever know the extent of Sandra’s madness,” Lexi said. “We’ll just keep providing a home for the clones we find, and we’ll keep shutting down the trackers we locate.” Lexi turned to leave, but when she reached the door she turned back. “Jonas, I just want you to know that I plan to offer Bree a job on this island, and you have absolutely no say in it. She’s got an incredibly big heart for children.”
“Okay,” I said.
“Okay? That’s all you have to say?”
Jack smiled and reached down and grabbed his girl’s hand. “Come on. Give the poor guy a break. It’ll be hard enough for him when he has to admit to Bree that he screwed up by pushing her away in the first place.”
chapter thirty-seven
Briana
I heard strange music—drums, mostly—in the distance, and I couldn’t decide if it was part of a dream, or if I’d been kidnapped and was now part of some sacrificial ritual.
I ran my tongue over my dry lips, and moaned in an attempt to use my voice. “Where the hell am I?” I asked no one in particular.
“Welcome back, Red.”
I opened my eyes to find Jonas staring at me. I was in a room lit only by a couple of candles. A breeze blew through a window to my right, and I could smell the ocean in the air.
He brushed knuckles along my cheek and smiled.
“What happened?” I asked. “Actually, I don’t care. Just tell me it’s all over.”
“It’s all over.”
I leaned into his cupped hand and closed my eyes. “Are we on the island?”
“Yes, we’re back on Palmyra. We needed Lexi.” His voice cracked.
My eyes sprang open to find moisture in his. I reached up and ran a finger under one, letting a tear spill over. “It’s okay to admit you need someone else.”
“Why do people keep telling me that?”
“Because apparently, you and I have to learn the hard way.” I grabbed his hand and pulled. He took the hint and crawled into bed beside me. He brushed his fingers along my arm. “You scared me, Red.”
“I can see that. What are we going to do about it?”
He raised his head and looked at me. The light from the candle on my bedside reflected in his eyes. “Well, Lexi is going to ask you if you want a job here on Palmyra.”
“She is?”
“Yes, and your father is going to tell you the truth about his company, and tell you to come work for him. And that’s a good thing. I honestly believe he only wants what’s best for you.”
I nodded. “And you? What are you going to tell me to do?”
“I’m not going to tell you to do anything, but I hope you’ll let me join you in whatever you decide.”
We lay there, me in his arms, his fingers grazing my skin. I thought about his words, and how hard it must have been for him to admit he wanted to be with me. The music outside the window grew louder.
“There will be plenty of time for me to tell you everything that happened, but I’m sorry that I have to tell you one piece of news now.”
I looked up at him; his eyes looked sad.
“Your mother is dead.”
I turned my face into his chest and released an uncontrollable sob. My body shook, and Jonas squeezed me closer.
“I’m sorry, Red.” He held me there for what seemed like an eternity.
“Jonas?” I asked with a raspy voice when I could finally speak again.
“Mmm?”
“My mom was a horrible woman, but she was my mom.”
“Your mom lost herself in her grief and never recovered. I’ll help you mourn her.”
“Okay.” We lay there, not speaking, for a few seconds before I spoke again. “Jonas?”
“Yes?”
“What in the world is that music?”
“Well…” Jonas began, while hugging me closer. “Barbara, our American Samoan resident, has arranged a celebration in your honor. That music is from the Siva Afi.”
“Siva Afi?”
“It’s a Samoan fire knife dance. Traditionally, the dance is performed by Samoan warriors with machetes. The ends are wrapped in towels, a portion of the knife is exposed, and the towels are set on fire.”
“These warriors dance with burning knives?”
“Yes. It’s quite impressive.”
“Jack’s here, right?” Jack could heal any wounds from these dances, I hoped.
Jonas shook with laughter. “Yes, but he won’t be needed. These warriors are experts at what they do.”
“I think I need to see these warriors.”
“I was afraid you might say that.” He crawled from the bed, then paused as if he’d rem
embered something. “I have something for you.” He reached inside a drawer in the bedside table and pulled out a little black pouch.
“The oracle.”
“Your father didn’t have the same ill intentions as your mother. He just trusted the wrong people. He’ll tell you everything, but I wanted you to have the oracle.”
I got out of bed and stood before him, staring at the velvet pouch. “What should I do with it?”
He placed the oracle in my palm and closed my fingers around it. “That’s up to you.”
I considered. “I think I’ll just hang on to it for now.”
“Okay,” he said, satisfied. Then he gestured to a dress of tropical fabric hanging on the closet door. “Lexi has already picked out your attire for the evening.” He looked back at me. “For the record, though, I’d be happy to spend the evening right here in your bed.”
“If someone is dancing with fiery knives in my honor, I need to witness it.”
He grabbed my hand, linking his fingers with mine. “You need to take it easy. Your body went through something pretty major.”
I reached up and smoothed out the “V” that had formed between his furrowed brows. “I’m fine. I’ll see you soon.” I lifted my head and placed a kiss on his lips.
His arm wrapped around my back and pulled me closer. He kissed me passionately, showing me just how deeply his fear had run. After he pulled back, he leaned his forehead against mine. “I’ll let you change. Don’t take long. Just follow the music.”
chapter thirty-eight
Jonas
When she finally appeared at the edge of the beach, she was dressed in a tropical halter dress and a pair of sandals. She had showered, and her hair hung in tight curls. The humidity made it near impossible for her to wear her hair straight, and I was glad, because I was in love with her curly hair.
Hey, Red, I mindspoke.
Her eyes found mine. She smiled. Give me a few minutes to speak with my dad, and then I’m all yours.
Promise?
Yes.
I watched her speak with her father, with Addison, and with Lexi. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. When she finally made her way over to me, I was ready to take her back to her room and be alone with her. But I wouldn’t. I’d be patient. I would wait as long as it took to be with her.
“Hey,” she said. Her voice was low and sultry.
“Hey,” I said back. I intertwined my fingers with hers. “Everything okay?”
She seemed to think about it. “Yeah. I think so. I’m sorry for my dad. The betrayal from my mom runs deep, and he’s mourning the death of his wife. I don’t think he’ll get over it anytime soon.”
“What about you? She betrayed you, too.”
“I feel betrayed by a lot of people. But my mom had already betrayed me, many years ago, when she shipped me off to a boarding school instead of helping me get over the death of my twin brother. Now, I’m just sad at how final everything feels.”
I shifted uncomfortably. I lifted my hand, and after playing with a loose curl, I slid my hand to the back of her neck. “Will you ever forgive me for pushing you away? I can’t help but wonder if any of this would have happened if I had just welcomed you on the island when you came looking for my help.”
“I’m glad this happened. I needed to learn who I was, who I could trust, and where I belonged.” Her eyes were glued to mine. The whites glowed in the moonlight. “You don’t need my forgiveness. I know now that you have always looked out for me. I also know how deep your love goes for all those clones your train wreck of a mother created. We can hate what your mother did, and how we were created, but not the humans that came from it. We can only love them.” She stepped closer to me, so close that I could smell the scent of mangoes from her shampoo.
I continued to massage the back of her neck. I slid my other hand to the small of her back and forced her body to be flush with mine. “I want to love you, Red. If you’ll let me.”
She put both hands up around my neck. “I wasn’t sure you’d ever admit your true feelings for me.” Her breath whispered across my lips.
“Well, I am. I meant it when I said I’d go wherever you’re going if you’ll let me.”
“Then it’s a good thing I told my dad that I’m staying here.”
My lips twitched at the corners. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I can’t imagine any other place I’d rather be. Besides, if I change my mind, then I change my mind.”
I angled my head away from her.
She smiled. “Relax, Whitmeyer. I only meant that you and I might decide to join my dad one day. Or we might decide to return to Wellington. I mean, Lexi pays well for these jobs, right? We can do whatever we want.”
I returned her smile and whispered against her lips. “Yes, she does, and I like the way you’re thinking.”
“Lexi did say you and I were a hot mess.” She laughed.
“Exactly the way we like it.”
~ THE END ~
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Please visit the retailer’s product page if you have enjoyed this story to leave a review. It helps me to know which characters and story lines readers enjoy so I can make future books even better. You are the reason I write these stories and I sincerely appreciate you!
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~ Heather Sunseri
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Also by Heather Sunseri
The Mindspeak Series
Mindspeak
Mindsurge
Mindsiege
Tracked
Deceived
The Emerge Series
Emerge
Uprising
Renaissance
“The Meeting” (An Emerge short story)
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About the Author
Heather Sunseri was raised on a tiny farm in one of the smallest towns in thoroughbred horse country near Lexington, Kentucky. After high school, she attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and later graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in accounting. Always torn between a passion for fantasy and a mind for the rational, it only made sense to combine her career in accounting with a novel-writing dream.
Heather now lives in a different small town on the other side of Lexington with her two children and her husband, Mike, the biggest Oregon Duck fan in the universe. She is a recovering CPA, and when she’s not writing, she spends her time tormenting her daughter’s cat, Olivia, and loving on her son’s Golden Retriever, Jenny.
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Deceived Page 23