Page 50 of Wired Ghost

“What is it?”

“Please come to Thailand. To the Yam Khûmk?n compound.”

“No.” The answer burst out of Sophie forcefully. “I will never willingly visit that place.” Sophie had only seen the clandestine organization’s temple compound from above, in a helicopter. The series of interlocking buildings, terraces and courtyards built of ancient stone, lined with drilling ranks of ninjas and guarded by RPGs, was not appealing.

“Pim Wat is back. And she wants to see you.”

Angry heat flushed the back of Sophie’s neck. “I know that the Master rescued her from Guantánamo. But why would I ever want to see that woman again, after she stole my child?”

Pim Wat had taken tiny Momi from Sophie when she was only twelve hours old, setting in motion a series of events that had culminated in the beheading of six good men.

“She wants to reconcile. The Master wants that too. He’s invited you to come, and what he asks for, he gets.” Connor’s voice was resolute. “I serve him, and I have come to trust him. You don’t have to. But you can trustme.I’ll make sure you’re safe. You owe me this.”

“I owe you my life, but not this. I will not willingly see my mother. Ever again. The answer is no.” Sophie ended the call with a punch of her thumb.

Galvanized, she got up and changed.

She needed to see Jake. He was her priority now.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Sophie

Jake was still sleepingwhen she arrived at his hospital room.

Her gaze flew straight to his face, turned toward the door on the white pillows. He was still pale, his visage swollen and marked by bruising, his tan a sickly yellow.

On the other side of the bed sat his mother, Janice.

Her face was as pale as her son’s, her hair a mess, and her eyes steely. “What are you doing here?”

Sophie advanced into the room. She still felt hot from her last confrontation; she was in no mood to be pushed around.

“Jake and I are engaged. I have a right to be here.”

Janice frowned. She stared pointedly at Sophie’s bare hand. “My son told me that you returned our family ring. More than two years ago.”

Sophie continued across the room to stand next to Jake. She picked up his hand, squeezing it hard.Return to me, Jake. I need you!“He woke up because I called him back.”

“What do you mean, Jake woke up? Now?” Jake’s sister Monica, a sleek blonde wearing designer clothing, came out of the small bathroom. “We knew he had been conscious, but he has not woken up since you left here earlier.”

Sophie abruptly sat down in the empty chair beside Jake’s bed. She pressed his big, limp hand between hers. His skin felt hot to the touch, and she placed her palm against his forehead. “He has a fever.”

“We know. He’s on a cocktail of antibiotics. Those wounds he sustained became infected,” Janice said. “Not that you have permission to know any of his medical information.”

“You’re not wanted here.” Monica advanced to stand beside her mother. “Get out of this room before we call security.”

“Where’s Patty?” Sophie looked around frantically. Jake’s favorite sister had always been her advocate, had even become a budding friend.

“Patty had to go back to California. Her kid was sick. But that’s not your concern, either,” Monica said, hands on her hips. “You need to leave.”

“No. I’m staying.” Sophie squeezed Jake’s hand between hers, pressed it against her cheek. She leaned down to whisper in his ear. “Jake, I know you’re not well, but I need you. Please wake up.”

Monica picked up the phone. “Hi. This is Jake Dunn’s sister, Monica Dunn. There’s a woman in our room who is not authorized to be here. She’s not family. We need security to come remove her.”

“Don’t do this. He needs me.” Sophie wrapped her arms around Jake’s upper body and laid her head on his chest. His heart thumped irregularly beneath her cheek. His chest rose and fell with rasping breaths. Heat rose from his body, and an invisible tremor shook him. She turned her head to look at the brain activity monitor, but it was turned off. “Why isn’t that monitor hooked up?”

“We fired that quack doctor who’s been overseeing his care. We are having a neurologist from New York flown in to evaluate him and oversee his case,” Monica said. “Though it’s none of your business.”

---