by Julia Derek
Blinking, I stared at Ian, not sure I’d understood him correctly at first. But it didn’t take long until I knew that I had. I noticed there was an ache in my chest then, faint yet unmistakable, which surprised me when I should be pleased, relieved that Ian obviously didn’t feel as strongly about me as I had thought. What was up with that? Or maybe that dull ache had been there before Ian had said those words, due to something entirely unrelated to unexpected disappointment. I couldn’t remember. Well, it didn’t matter. He was right; we didn’t have much time. Clearing my throat, I nodded.
“I’m glad you approve of my idea,” I said. “Jonah should be around tomorrow. As soon as I see him, I’ll talk to him about going out. Act like I’ve come to my senses.” I smirked and made quotation marks with my fingers.
“That sounds like a great approach.” Ian kissed me on the cheek, then got to his feet.
“Where are you going?” I asked him.
“Home to see if I can get inside your new lover’s email account.” He winked at me and smiled. “I need to do my part, too, right?”
I nodded slowly; I couldn’t argue with that. Still, I didn’t want Ian to go. I realized that I had wanted to spend the night with him then, hoped he’d feel the same way. Clearly, I had been wrong. I couldn’t blame him; my behavior tonight couldn’t be considered a turn-on exactly.
“Talk to you tomorrow?” he said.
“Yes, definitely. I let you know what happens with you-know-who.”
“I can’t wait.” He gave me another smile, this one so sincere, so void of the sarcasm so typical of him that a shiver of discomfort went through me. Then he raised a hand and waved goodbye before leaving me alone in the coffee shop.
***
As I walked into Nikkei’s cafeteria to have lunch the following day, I spotted Jonah sitting with a couple of the other new trainer guys around a table. As I got closer to them, I saw that Burt, the handsome black trainer I’d worked with the first time I went UC as Swedish Annika, also sat there. It had been a while since I’d seen him, I realized then. Seeing him now made me pause and question my initial decision to go up and ask if I could talk to Jonah in private. So far, I had made a great job of keeping away from the old crew of trainers—it was pretty easy since there weren’t that many of them. Did I really want to rock the boat by putting myself in a position where Burt had a great opportunity to get a closer look at me? If Jonah didn’t immediately come with me to talk and instead chose to torture me with questions about what I wanted to talk about, Burt would have lots of time to study me closely.
I quickly decided that it didn’t matter if Burt recognized me finally—if he said something, I’d tell him that he was right even. And then I’d let him know that I was really an undercover cop. Burt was a good man, someone you could trust. He wouldn’t do anything to try to impede whatever I was up to. In fact, maybe Ian and I could use him in some way.
Now that I knew my gut instincts weren’t off after all, I was certain that Burt would be on our side when shit hit the fan, which it undoubtedly would sooner or later.
It had taken Emma’s letter for me to at last realize why I’d had this nagging in my stomach all along that something really, really bad was about to happen. Something bad was definitely about to happen. After learning about what Janine, The Adler Group, and all their cohorts were up to, I couldn’t think of a much worse scenario.
When I finally accepted the truth, it also made sense why I’d had all these conflicting feelings regarding Ian—even though on the surface he’d seemed like a total nutcase, my gut had kept telling me that he wasn’t. Instead, it had insisted that he, like Burt, was a good man who’d always do the right thing.
My gut feelings were well and alive, working better than ever.
So I squared my shoulders, put on a demure smile, and walked up to Jonah’s table, prepared for anything he cared to give me.
“Hey, Jonah,” I began, looking directly at him. “Can we please talk?”
Everyone at the table turned to look at me. Jonah himself was staring at me, his face cold and defiant. Okay, so he’s not going to make this easy for me, I thought. After the outburst yesterday, I hadn’t really expected him to.
“What do you want to talk about?” he asked, a corner of his lips turning up in a derisive little grin.
“You and me,” I stated boldly, which made the two new trainer guys whistle with approval, muttering something unintelligible that surely belonged in the lewd category. Burt’s face remained neutral.
I could tell what I had just said both surprised and pleased Jonah because his blue eyes widened, then gleamed with happiness. Even so, he puffed up his chest as if getting ready for a fight.
“What about you and me?” he challenged, raising his chin childishly. Yeah, he’s so going to treat me like shit for a while… But that was okay because I could also sense that he was going to do what I wanted him to do in the end. Well, as long as I played my cards right.
“I made a mistake about you,” I said simply. “You’re the one for me. Not Ian.”
Jonah’s eyes kept glittering with pleasure and excitement, his breathing picking up speed. “Really?” he asked, as if he wasn’t believing his ears.
I nodded and gave him my sweetest smile. “Really. Now can we talk?”
“Sure,” Jonah mumbled and pushed his chair back so he had room to stand up. “Where do you want to go and talk?”
“How about we go to the park? It’s beautiful outside. My next client isn’t until two p.m. What about you?”
“One.” He glanced at the clock on the wall behind the lunch counter. He grimaced then. “Crap. I just remembered that he wanted to do twelve thirty today.” His eyes found me again. “And then I’m busy all the way till eight. How about after that? Wanna meet up after work?”
“Sure, we can do that. You have my number, right?”
“Yeah, I have your number.”
“Great. Text me when you’re done with work and we’ll meet up then, okay?”
Jonah nodded dumbly. “Yeah, I’ll text you later.”
“Okay, see you later then.” I waved to him and the other guys, who were just sitting there, their eyes going between me and Jonah as we’d been talking.
Walking away, I smiled to myself, even more sure now that Jonah really was the text stalker. Why else would he have my number? I had never given it to him, nor had he and I had reason to exchange any information regarding work. That, combined with the fact that he’d just happened to have been at the club that Sunday night, just couldn’t be mere coincidences.
***
I was sitting on a park bench right outside Central Park, enjoying the setting sun while waiting for Jonah to come meet me much later that same day. He’d told me in a text that he could see me at this particular spot at eight fifteen. Eight sixteen I spotted him jogging up the long avenue that connected Nikkei Sports Club with the famous park, getting closer and closer.
Popping to my feet, I got ready to receive him. I made sure there was an expectant, somewhat timid smile on my lips, as I had the distinct feeling Jonah would respond better to me acting submissive rather than feisty from now on.
Thirty seconds later, he was standing before me, breathing shallowly and smiling big. I couldn’t help but wonder how come a super human like him appeared to be even a little bit out of breath. Weren’t they supposed to have superior lungs? But I didn’t have time to think about that for long because Jonah threw his arms around me and clumsily pulled me to his chest in a close embrace.
Burying his face in my hair, he inhaled me, then sighed. “You don’t know how happy you made me when you came up today and said those words. I had given up hope you’d ever see that I’d be so much better for you.”
“And I’m so happy I did,” I managed to say, even though it was hard to talk as tightly as he was hugging me. Finally, he let go of me. Taking me in, he caressed my cheek with a knuckle, then placed a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“Y
ou’re very beautiful,” he mumbled.
“Thank you,” I responded stiffly. “You’re not bad yourself.”
He chuckled. “And funny too. Yeah, I guess I lucked out in the genetic lottery.”
“Yes, you sure did.” I gazed at him, wondering if that was his idea of a joke. He had obviously not won any genetic lotteries if his genes had been manipulated. From the way he’d talked lately, it seemed like he was aware of at least me knowing what Adler was up to and not really caring that I did. I decided that he just had to be kidding, and that the scientists must have failed to give him a good sense of humor.
“What made you change your mind?” he asked. “Was it only because I told you you’d become untouchable? Which you will become, Jamie.” A soft smile stretched his lips. “You’ll always be safe with me, you can be sure of that. Or was it because you realized I was the one you really loved and not that…that…”— his face twisted with anger suddenly, turning surprisingly ugly as he struggled to get out the words—“that devil.”
Devil? I was dying to ask him why he hated Ian so much, but instinctively knew that doing so was not a smart move; it was better if I kept stroking his ego instead. So I just smiled at him and caressed his cheek the way he’d touched mine, preparing to give him the answer he so clearly preferred hearing. “I think I knew all along that I loved you, Jonah. It just took you getting so mad yesterday for me to finally admit it to myself.” I could feel how the tension in Jonah’s strong body instantly subsided and his entire face lit up. The words I’d just uttered had sounded horribly cheesy, not to mention obsequious to my own ears, but judging from Jonah’s reaction, he felt otherwise. The grin on his face went from one ear to the other now.
“I fell in love with you the first day I saw you,” he said, his voice dead serious. “I’ve always loved you, Jamie. We were meant to be together. I knew that the second I saw you, but I was too shy to tell you then.”
He hugged me more tightly, making it hard for me to breathe again. “I’m never going to let you go now that you’ve finally come to me. I don’t care what he says. You’re mine. Mine. And no one can touch you but me.”
It took all I had not to stare at him with a scowl on my face, or he’d instantly know I thought he was acting incredibly creepy right now. I sensed that was the last thing he wanted me to think, though, and instead reciprocate with my own creepy adoration of him. Which might not be so bad, come to think of it; the fact that he was so obsessed with me meant that I should have no problem squeezing out all kinds of useful info of him. Besides, I was probably overreacting. The guy had after all just turned twenty-two. Surely he hadn’t meant for those words to come out quite that way. He was a baby still, inexperienced. Youths like him had a tendency to overstate emotions.
Having decided that he simply didn’t know how to express himself adequately, I made myself smile back at him and pinched his cheek. “Good thing we’re together now then.”
“Definitely. Hey, are you hungry? I’m starving. Wanna go have some pizza?”
“Sure, I’m starving, too. You know a good place?”
He grinned at me. “I know the place for pizza… Come on, let’s go there.” He loosened his arms around me and grabbed my hand instead, pulling me along with him as he began walking down the street.
It was only when we were seated inside Patsy’s Pizzeria and had two big pizzas and giant sodas before us that I began moving the light conversation toward more meaningful things. I figured I had nothing to lose by putting him on the spot regarding the nasty texts I’d received; if he wasn’t behind them and had no idea what I was talking about, I would just play stupid.
“You know,” I began, “I’d have told you sooner how I felt about you if you didn’t send me those texts. They really upset me.”
His face turned red like a tomato. Damn, my hunch was right on the money. He actually was the text stalker…
Grabbing my hand across the table, he said, his face solemn, “Yeah, I know, that was really, really stupid of me. But I was so jealous I didn’t think clearly. I just wanted him gone. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course I can forgive you,” I said. “I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t already done so. What did you want to talk about with me up on the sundeck?”
“I wanted to tell you in person that you’d have nothing to worry about if you became my girlfriend. Ever. I thought that if you heard it directly from me, you’d take it more seriously. I mean, it is very serious. Lots of people will die and I definitely don’t want you to be one of them. Having spent so much time with Ian”—Jonah’s face twisted with anger again—“you’re already considered a threat. And all threats will soon be eliminated, even though things have changed. But if you’re with me, I can stop them. You’ll never have to worry again. All I need to do is tell my father that he must leave you alone. I’ll make him listen to me. As his son, I’ll succeed even if the others think that doesn’t matter.” He fisted his hands on the table and pounded it, making our pizzas tremble. “Blood has always been and will always be thicker than water. Those are my father’s own words. By default, I’m an untouchable and always will be.”
“Are you sure?”
Jonah’s eyes instantly narrowed and he glared at me like he wanted to jump me. Oh, God, I should have known that was the wrong thing to say. But the words had slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Well, it was too late now.
Chapter 7
Holding my breath, I prepared for the worst, the unstable boy before me throwing himself at me over the table. As furious as he looked, this seemed inevitable.
But, much to my surprise, Jonah just closed his eyes and began to breathe in and out deeply, his big hands on his chest as if he worried his lungs would pop out of his body all of a sudden. I stared at him, barely daring to breathe I was so confused.
What is he doing?
Finally, he opened his eyes again and gazed at me, no longer looking furious. He patted my hand then. “I’m sorry. I have an anger problem. But I’m getting better at dealing with it every day. My father’s psychiatrist has taught me how to deal with it by using breathing techniques to calm myself down. I know you didn’t really mean that question. You just don’t know any better.” He leaned closer to me. “Please don’t listen to gossip, Jamie. They can talk all they want but my father will never get rid of me. I’m his son! He would never kill his own blood.” He scoffed and shook his head, muttering to himself. “That should be obvious to everyone by now.”
Yeah, this guy definitely thought I knew all about what Adler was up to. I had to find out what made him think this and why I was still alive then. You’d think they’d be at least a little worried that I’d try to stop them. I was after all considered a top notch detective. If they’d figured out I was really Gabi Longoria, they must have figured out what my real profession was as well.
I was suddenly freezing and goosebumps formed on my arms as I imagined once more that Mr. Stenger and his cohorts were now so convinced there was nothing either Ian or I could do to stop them they’d simply begun to ignore us. But then I remembered that Jonah had just said that I would never have to worry again if he spoke to his father, told him to stay away from me, and felt a little better. I didn’t think he’d say that if they were already so convinced they’d succeed with their mission.
But who was Jonah’s father? The way Jonah spoke of him, he was clearly someone very important within the movement. Could it actually be Stenger himself? Of course, Jonah had once told me his last name was Green. Did I dare asking him about it? I decided that I did.
“You know,” I began. “I still don’t know who your father is. They insist on keeping it a secret from me. It’s really rude.” I huffed like I was offended.
Jonah looked stunned. “Really? Why would they do that? That makes absolutely no sense. Besides, Burt should have told you that along with everything else right from the get go. Didn’t he?”
Wait, what did he just say? Burt? I couldn’t help but s
tare at Jonah I was so taken aback. He couldn’t be talking about Burt as in Burt, the trainer I believed was such a good man, could he? He had to be; what other Burts were there? If he was as friendly with Jonah as it now seemed, I must be wrong about him being so good.
“Are you talking about Burt, the trainer?” I ventured.
Jonah frowned lightly. “What other Burt would I be talking about?”
My heart sank. Yes, I’m most definitely wrong about him being so good then. Still, I made myself laugh as though feeling silly for having asked such a stupid question. “No, of course, you’re talking about our Burt. To answer your question, he didn’t tell me who your dad is. So who is it?”
“Otto Stenger of course.” Jonah shook his head. “No wonder you doubted me being an untouchable if you don’t know who my father is.”
I nodded. “Oh, right… But now I’m a little confused. Why did you tell me your last name is Green if Stenger is your father? You told me that the first day we spoke at the club.”
“That’s only because my father prefers that I use my mother’s maiden name. He’s a very private person. What with everything that’s in the works, I’m sure you can understand why he’s that way.”
“Uh-huh. Definitely. ”
I allowed myself to relax. I’d been right in suspecting that Mr. Stenger was Jonah’s dad then, and now I knew what his first name was as well. That was some progress. Maybe I could also make Jonah tell me where his father could be found this very evening? I thought I might be able to, but I wasn’t about to ask him straight out though. The young man before me might not be the brightest bulb in the room, but even he must start to suspect that I was up to something if I kept asking questions about his father—who I apparently should have known about all along. Especially since Otto Stenger guarded his privacy to the extent that Ian had no idea what he looked like despite having searched for him for so long. In order to coax such delicate information out of Jonah, I’d probably need to do make him think I’d sleep with him.