Page 21 of Tainted Gifts
“You haven’t lost your touch,” he murmurs softly while gripping her a little too tightly for everyone’s comfort level before pulling her into a disgusting display of affection.
And… EW!
Jase stifles a laugh, and grumbles erupt as most of the others disperse from the room. The show they wanted has proven to be fruitless, and they don’t want to watch the new show my mother is putting on in true newlywed fashion.
The man behind the glass draws my attention - since I’m sure as hell not going to watch my mother and uncle anymore. His enigmatic smirk sends more waves of familiarity through me.
“Let me try,” I murmur softly, and everyone left in the room turns to gawk at me.
“You hate interrogation,” Mom objects.
She would flip the hell out if he fell for my rookie antics. It’s not likely, but I do want to try.
“Just let me try. What’s it going to hurt?”
“I don’t like it. Kellan is too dangerous, and you’re not as strong as your mother,” Jase says dismissively.
“You’re not being objective. Just because I don’t interrogate doesn’t mean I can’t interrogate. Let me try.”
His eyes narrow as he comes to tower over me with all of his intimidating stature.
“No. I’m not risking your safety. We’ll let him stew in a holding cell for a few days, and then Mrs. Mordel can try again.”
“Let her try, Commander. She’s licensed in interrogation, and there’s no one else here besides me who is. My daughter is skilled at more than just tracking, and I can put a halt to any attack - should he try something,” Mom says in my defense.
Two against one. She’s stronger than me and him. Now you have to let me because you won’t look very objective at all.
His eyes narrow more. I’m sure he’d rather not be able to read my mind at this point. I even offer him an image of me sticking my tongue out in a childish ha-ha sort of way.
“Very well,” he says through grinding teeth. “Exercise extreme caution though. And if I tell you to get out, you do it.”
“Always,” I chirp triumphantly, and then I drop my gun just as my mother did before going in.
Jase watches me as my mother hands me a bag full of random clothes and props. I smirk as I peek inside, and then I toss it over my shoulder to disappear out the door and into the restrooms across the hall.
I go with the slinky, white fitted skirt that just barely covers anything. I guess it’s good I went with white lacy underwear this morning.
I slip out of my already slinky shirt and pull on a very revealing silver shirt with a plunging neckline, while slipping on some hoop earrings and a dangling necklace that falls between my cleavage.
I just hope I don’t look as awkward as I feel.
I walk out and drop the bag of props in front of the door before taking a steadying breath. I slip on the earpiece I don’t really need, since my hearing surpasses other hybrid’s abilities.
Oh! I’m so stupid!
Kellan is an emergent’s child or a hybrid emergent like me. If he’s like my mother, then he didn’t hear us. If he’s a hybrid emergent, then he heard everything with the same clarity I can.
Damn it.
No wonder my mother’s gimmicks didn’t work on him. He has to be just like me, and he heard every scheme we had.
Since Jase isn’t running out here, I’m assuming he can’t read my damn mind right now.
I have to clear my head and do this right. I can’t let Jase overhear my clogged mind, and I can’t let Kellan know I know who - or rather what - he is in front of everyone.
I finally push my nerves aside as I walk into the room, and Jase’s voice climbs through the glass.
“I wasn’t expecting her to do that so soon,” he gripes.
