Shatter (24 page)

Mitch could practically feel Halina’s heat. It matched his own—only hers came from anger; Mitch’s came from sexual need.

“Intention,” Quaid said. “With all that electromagnetic power rolling around inside you, Halina, you need to be focusing your mind on your intention. If your intention is to see the outcome of your trip to Washington with Mitch, that’s where your focus should be while you’re calling up your power.”

She rubbed her face with both hands. “I need some air.”

Mitch caught her arm. “Halina, it’s twenty degrees outside and it’s
snowing
.”

She glanced out the window, where a light sprinkle of flakes dusted the sky. “That’s why jackets were invented.”

“No.” The command in Kai’s voice caught Mitch off guard. “No one’s going outside.” He pulled his phone from his back pocket, hit one button, and said, “Send a few guys to check the tree line on the west side of the meadow.”

Halina stepped closer to Mitch. He loved the way her fingers tightened around his arm. He slid it further around her waist, pulling her close.

“What is it?” Mitch asked.

The room had gone quiet and tense. Everyone serious. Keira and Luke both held weapons in their hands now. Cash got up from the floor and moved into the kitchen, unlocking a cabinet over the refrigerator. He pulled out two more weapons, handed one to Kai.

“Don’t know exactly.” Kai shot a look at Halina and all signs of his earlier teasing were gone. “Get with Quaid and figure this out, Halina. You may not have another chance.”

 

Owen checked the tuck of his uniform shirt in the window’s reflection, then ran his hands through his hair, which was too long and probably a freaking mess.

“Why didn’t I wear a suit today?” he muttered before taking a breath and opening his office door.

He started down the short hall toward his secretary’s desk and stopped in three steps. Seville was standing directly in his line of sight, hands clasped behind her back, face tilted up as she studied the photographs Stephanie had framed and used to decorate the office.

Seville wore a long, straight navy blue skirt with a slit up the side, a long-sleeved translucent cream blouse that showed a lace camisole beneath, and sexy navy heels, one of which was tilted on its spike, her foot twisting back and forth as she smiled at the images on the wall.

The way she held her arms pushed her breasts against the fabric of her top. In profile, her skirt showed off a flat belly and trim backside. And with her head tipped back like that, her long, thick dark hair fell past the middle of her spine.

“Are you going to stand there and stare?” she asked, never looking away from the photos, her familiar smoky voice rich with a smile. “Or are you going to say hello?”

Heat cascaded through his chest and pooled between his legs. He’d forgotten how much he loved that voice. “Uh . . . staring works for me . . .”

She turned her head, grinned at full throttle, dark eyes twinkling with mischief. That he’d forgotten too.

Slowly, she let her body follow, turning toward him. And, oh, holy hell . . .

“You look . . .” He scanned her, head to painted toe and back, delighting in the glimpse of those white teeth in her smile. He put his hands on his hips, knew he was grinning like a complete idiot, but couldn’t stop. “Wow.”

She twisted to grab a briefcase and a blazer on a chair and started toward him. And, whoa, he didn’t remember that walk either. She paused within six inches, grinning up at him. A dazzlingly white grin against warm Mediterranean skin. So many long-repressed wants churned up inside him. Wants that had developed in those years after the end of his very early relationship with Jocelyn decades ago and before he’d met Libby. Long-ago wants never acted upon because of all those damned military rules.

“Am I drooling?” he asked.

She laughed. The sound was so . . . happy. Almost like a kid in the joy, but there was definitely a full-fledged woman in its edge of heat. “Am I? How do you manage to get sexier every time I see you?”

Then she dropped her briefcase and her jacket at her feet, careless where they landed, pushed up on her toes, and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hadn’t been prepared for a full-body hug, but he got right into the swing of it. Hard not to when a woman this gorgeous offered to press herself up against him.

He leaned down and wrapped his arms tightly around her. That warmth in his chest radiated outward and filled his whole body. Her scent, a barely there, wildly seductive spice, stirred the air. He closed his eyes, memorized the feel of her against him, knowing he had to release her in another second. “The bureau looks good on you, Lieutenant.”

“If I’d known I’d get a greeting like this,” she murmured near his ear, “I’d have come a long time ago.” Her hand brushed the back of his hair. “I hadn’t realized how much I’ve missed you ’til now.”

“Sir, can I—” Stephanie’s voice sounded in the hallway, jerking Owen—painfully—back to reality. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

His secretary turned toward her desk, and Owen released Seville. “It’s all right, Steph. What did you need?”

“Um, I was just going to offer you both something to drink . . . ?”

“I’d love water.” He glanced at Seville, once again struck by the beauty of her narrow face and dark hair falling in loose waves over her shoulders. Long, dark lashes. Fine, straight nose. Full, deep-rose lips in a stunning smile. He wanted to sigh. “Seville?”

“Nothing for me, thank you.”

Stephanie disappeared and Owen bent to pick up the blazer Seville had dropped. “You’ve just ruined my reputation.” He straightened and grinned at her. “You know that, right?”

“A little scandal never hurt anyone in this town.”

Owen cupped her jaw. Ran his thumb over her cheek. Her skin was soft and warm. Her smile bright. “I wish you were here for a whole different reason.”

Her brows dipped, smile dimmed. “I’m . . . sorry.”

He dropped his hand, turned toward his office, and sighed. “Come on in.”

Owen closed the door after her and watched her wander around his office, her steps slow as she scanned the diplomas and certificates on the wall. Owen sat on the corner of his desk and crossed his arms. Let himself soak her in. Let himself wish he could turn back the clock, make different decisions . . .

She paused at the watercolor his daughter, Jennifer, had given him about five years back. Owen had framed the typical grassy field of stick figures under a rainbow and smiling sunshine.

“How are Jenny and Zane?” she asked.

He was impressed she remembered their names. “They’re . . . good, I guess.”

She turned toward him with a questioning frown.

“Things are a little strained right now with the . . . uh . . . divorce.”

Her shoulders lowered and sincere sympathy tugged her eyes at the corners. “So the rumors are true. You and Libby . . . ?”

Owen nodded.

Her head tilted and concern floated in her dark eyes. “I’m sorry, Owen.”

“It’s okay. A good thing. Long time in coming. I just wish . . .”

“Easier for the kids?”

He chuckled. “I love the way you finish my thoughts.” He forced himself to create some distance. “What about you? Married? Kids?”

She laughed, the sound less pleased, and gave him a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding look. “A life outside the bureau is highly discouraged.”

“So I’ve heard.”

A moment of silence stretched.

“Look,” Owen said, “I’d really like to flip the bureau the bird and talk for hours, hear all about your life over the last ten years . . . but I don’t want that time with you tainted with this crap.”

“Agreed.” She nodded, smiled. “I’m so relieved you understand.”

Okay. Back to business. They were on solid ground again. But the disappointment covering his brief burst of pleasure felt like a storm cloud.

He pushed off the desk and instead of sitting behind it, dropped into one of the two seats across from the massive piece of furniture. He patted the arm of the other chair. “Come. Sit.”

She eased to the edge of the chair and crossed her legs.

Owen chuckled. “The Seville I knew would have plopped her butt into that chair and planted her elbows on her knees.”

A sly little smile tilted her lips. “Don’t like the new Seville?”

“Plenty to like about both.”

Surprise lit her eyes and she glanced away, pulling her lower lip between her teeth.

Which of course drew his gaze to her mouth.

“Seville, let me—”

“Sofia,” she said. “Call me Sofia, Owen. We’re not serving together anymore.”

Sofia.
His insides did warm, decadent things. His mind tried to read between the lines of her
“We’re not serving together anymore.”

In the end, he just nodded. “Let me help you out here. I’m sure you understand that all my work for Schaeffer is classified. I couldn’t talk to you about it even if I wanted to.”

Her eyes lost their sparkle. She nodded. “I know.”

A knock on the door broke into the conversation.

“Come in,” Owen said.

Stephanie walked in, handed him the water. “Would you like me to . . . ?”

“Yes, hold my calls. Thank you.”

When the door closed behind Stephanie, Sofia said, “I’m not here to try and get answers out of you,” she said, voice low. “We have all the answers we need. I’m here because I’m worried about you. I’m sure you’ve read the papers, Owen. And you were expecting me, so you know the FBI is investigating.”

Owen nodded.

“I’ve been working on this case against Schaeffer for three years, since it was handed over to me by a retiring agent. When your name popped up on the radar last month . . .” She put a hand to her chest. “Scared the hell out of me.”

Owen sat back, frowning.
Three
years?

“I can’t discuss any details,” she said, “just as you can’t. What I want you to know is that it’s big, it’s close to breaking, and, as my friend, as someone I respect and admire, I don’t want you anywhere near it when it does. I know very little about this arrangement you have with Schaeffer. But I know you, Owen. I know what kind of man you are. And I believe in that man.” She reached out, curled her fingers around his hand, and squeezed. “And I don’t want to see Schaeffer ruin another good man.”

 

M
itch released Halina. She turned and looked at him as if she wanted to say something or ask something, but didn’t know how. Reluctantly, she disappeared into the office off the living room, keeping a notable distance from Quaid. Alyssa and Jessica were right behind.

Mitch was about to grab Alyssa’s arm to pull her aside before she went in, but they both paused beside him instead of following the others into the office.

“Tell me about Halina’s power,” Alyssa said, her don’t-even-think-about-bullshitting-me glare making her eyes spark green.

He didn’t want to bullshit anyone. He wanted this whole freaking mess over. “I can only tell you what she’s told me, which isn’t much.” He gave her the quick and dirty details of Halina’s visions.

Jessica crossed her arms and turned a serious gaze on Alyssa. “They could be triggered by dopamine.”

Mitch frowned. “Excuse me?”

Alyssa smirked at him. “Dopamine is a chemical in the brain. A feel-good chemical that is released under different circumstances, the interactions you’re describing being some of the highest. Orgasm is the highest that I know of.”

“Oh-kay.” Mitch drew out the word, a weird sensation tightening his stomach. “This is . . .”

“Awk-ward,” Kai sang from where he stood beside the dining room table, listening. “Talking to your sister about orgasms. Definitely awk-ward.”

“Grow up already,” Alyssa shot at Kai.

“Why would I want to? You and Teague take such good care of us kids.”

“Quaid senses heavy electromagnetic energy in her,” Alyssa said to Jessica, ignoring Kai. Then explained to Mitch, “When a person has a lot of dopamine in their system, their aura shifts. Auras are simply extensions of our inner electromagnetic fields and take on different frequencies based on the source of the energy.”

“Good Lord.” Mitch pointed dramatically toward his face. “Look at the glaze over my eyes. Come on, ladies, speak English. So, this dope makes her happy and creates a certain electrical charge in her body. How does that relate to the visions?”

Alyssa shook her head. “That I don’t know. It might be a shared frequency with the other person. It might be something in the universe connecting with her frequency when her dopamine reaches a certain level. I don’t think knowing how it works really matters, only how to utilize it. We don’t know how Keira hears others’ thoughts through a photograph. Or how Luke becomes fireproof. Or how Kai feels emotions. But they know how to make it happen, and by making it happen, they learn to control it.”

The room went silent. Too silent. Kat’s laugh drifted down the hall.

Mitch’s body temperature spiked at the implications. But fear tempered the excitement. “You’re not suggesting what it sounds like you’re suggesting . . . right?”

Alyssa’s eyes lost the excited haze she always got when some new way of looking at medicine or the human body tripped in her head. She focused on Mitch again and he could see the moment his insinuation hit. Her eyes widened, her mouth dropped open. “Oh, no, I . . . I mean, it’s . . .” Her brows dipped together in a confused pout. “I didn’t mean to suggest that, but . . .”

“Jesus Christ,” Kai grumbled, “you always get the best end of every situation. How the hell do you do that?”

Mitch stood there for a moment, stunned into silence. Have sex with Halina for the purpose of inducing orgasms—repeatedly—so she could learn how to wield her power to envision the future? A duel stream of hot and cold ripped down his torso.

He covered his discomfort with a laugh. “Uh, no. That’s
not
going to happen.” He wiped his hand down his face, fighting the confusing combination of need and fear rising like a tidal wave inside him. “And I want to see her beat the sh—crap out of the person who suggests it.”

“Actually, I think Alyssa’s on to something,” Jessica said. “I happen to know a little about the dopamine effect. I learned about it in rehab, then went on to study it on my own.”

Jessica reached behind Mitch and picked up an apple from the bowl. After unsuccessfully struggling with Quaid’s death in the warehouse fire, the grief had dragged her under, and she’d become addicted to drugs, alcohol, and sex. She’d been clean now over a year with no signs of relapse. And with Quaid back, their relationship strengthening and growing every day, no one would ever guess her harrowing history by looking at her.

Mitch crossed his arms and set his stance, preparing to take Jessica’s points and throw out a rebuttal to every one, just as he did in court.

She eased back on a stool and tucked a few loose strands of her deep copper hair behind her ear. “Basically, dopamine is released in the brain in response to a rewarding experience. Generally food, sex, and drugs have the highest incidence of dopamine release. I also read that recent studies have shown aggression may also stimulate the release of dopamine. You and Halina may have a head start there.”

“Ain’t that the truth?” he muttered.

“While this is really only a hypothesis on Alyssa’s part, the details describing the when and why of her visions confirm the probability—”

Alyssa hissed in a breath, drawing Jessica’s attention, and whispered, “Don’t use that word around him. It’s too big. Scares him and scatters brain cells.”

Mitch gave his sister a look, then turned back to Jessica. “Continue, before all my brain cells scatter the hell out of here.”

“Dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter,” Jessica said. “A chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other nerve cells, so there is electromagnetic energy involved. Considering the high levels of this energy Quaid felt in Halina and the high levels he knows to exist in the universe from teleporting, I think Alyssa’s hypothesis is a pretty damned solid one.”

Mitch spread his arms wide. “There
have
to be ways to increase dopamine in the brain other than sex.”

He’d already broken the seal on his heart by trying to fuck her and failing. Every time he touched her, he was drawn deeper into those feelings he’d buried. Emotions he’d been sure he’d never feel again—for anyone, including Halina.

“Sounds to me—” Kai started.

Mitch waved him off. “We don’t care what you think.”

“Like,” Kai continued anyway, “unless you want to stuff her with triple chocolate cake or set her up with a few lines of coke, you’re going to have to step up to the plate, brother.”

“Ryder . . .” Mitch warned.

“Heh,” Kai chuckled, “never thought I’d see you step back from a strike straight down the middle. Hey—this dopamine thing can happen with anyone. You said she’d had it happen with other guys.” Kai turned fully away from the windows for the first time since he’d started acting strange. “I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry, dude, I’ve got your back.”

“Ryder,” Mitch growled, “I swear—”

“Shit or get off the pot, Foster.” Kai’s grin was filled with clear challenge.

“Kai,” Alyssa scolded.

“It’s me or Cash.”

“Don’t bring me into this,” Cash said with a what-the-fuck look.

Kai looked back at Mitch with that grin he was ready to slam off his face. “And I’m pretty sure I’m the more aggressive of the two of us.”

Mitch knew Kai was only pushing his buttons. Knew he’d never touch Halina. But it was still that straw. Before he knew what happened, he was across the room, separated from Kai’s amused expression only by Ransom’s hand against his chest.

“He’s fucking with you, dude.” Luke pushed him back, smiling. “Just the way you fucked with me by coming on to Keira before we were back together. Payback’s a bitch.”

“Fucking assholes,” Mitch muttered, turning away.

“Teague, honey,” Alyssa called into the office. “Would you just pass the jar around to the guys?”

Mitch pulled out his wallet and Frisbeed it into the office before Teague could step out, hitting his brother-in-law in the chest. Teague caught it effortlessly, laughing.

“Just take whatever’s in there,” Mitch grumbled.

Alyssa frowned and crossed her arms. “I think I’m going to have to come up with another form of punishment. Money doesn’t seem to be much of a deterrent anymore.”

“Wait ’til we get the money for Kat’s wedding, babe,” Teague said, sliding Mitch’s wallet into his back pocket.

“Can we get back to this issue, please?” Mitch turned to Jessica, who was sitting in a chair across from Keira chewing a bite of apple, her pretty face alight with amusement.

How could they all be so laid-back when his world was falling apart?

Keira sauntered up to the kitchen bar, picked up a baby carrot from the vegetable tray, and grinned. “Like my better half said, payback’s a bitch.”

He frowned at her in confusion for a second until he’d realized she’d read his mind.

He pointed a stern finger her way. “We made a deal. You’re supposed to stay out of my head.”

Luke wrapped his arm around Keira’s shoulders. “You must have been—”

“Projecting.” Everyone said at the same time.

Mitch rubbed his face with both hands. “Jesus fucking Christ.”

“Teague?” Alyssa said. “I think I’ve hit my cursing limit. How about a dopamine hit?”

Teague came over and took the baby from her arms. “It’s a tough job, sugar, but
I’ll
never step back from a strike straight down the middle. You’ll get that hit right after we talk to Halina.”

Teague used his free arm to pull Alyssa up and into him, kissing her.

“You can’t do that shit,” Mitch said. “He’s only a couple weeks old.”

Alyssa grinned as she took Teague’s hand and followed him through the office doors. “You’re reading the
old
baby books. And I’m a doctor. I cleared myself.”

“At least leave Brady with me,” he called after them. “You’re going to warp the kid.”

Teague’s laugh drifted clearly to Mitch. “Wait ’til you’re a parent, dude. You’ll get it whenever and wherever you can. Besides, Brady’s got to be a little warped to fit in with this crowd.”

Jessica stood and followed Teague and Alyssa into the office, where Mitch could already hear Quaid talking about physics and energy waves and probabilities that made Mitch’s head swim.

He leaned toward the door. “Lys.”

Alyssa turned and met Mitch’s gaze. All he had to do was dart a look at Jessica, then Quaid and meet her gaze again, and he knew she understood he was asking her to buffer Halina from them.

She nodded and before Teague closed the door, Mitch saw Alyssa position herself on the sofa beside Halina.

Mitch leaned against the kitchen counter, an apple in one hand, a knife in the other. He sliced off a section and used the knife to put it in his mouth as he stared through the living room and out the picture windows. Of course he saw nothing but the stunning, picturesque scene beyond. But he trusted Kai’s instincts, and the man was pacing like a caged panther. Whatever he was feeling had Keira and Luke on edge too. They both had their holsters at their hips. Cash had started scribbling in the notebook again, but seemed distracted. Agitated.

Mitch sat down next to Cash and leaned his forearms on the table. That’s all he had to do to have the man spilling his guts.

“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, his gaze holding on the paper, gesturing with both hands, his fingers spread wide. “I just . . .” He dug his hands into his hair and rested his head there. “If she’d just told someone about Schaeffer, even if he wasn’t put away, he could have been fired or demoted or
something
. He wouldn’t have been able to continue that program. Rostov wouldn’t have gone off on that tangent. Zoya—”

He stopped. Heaved a breath.

“It might have happened that way,” Mitch said, letting his mind wind around other scenarios for the purpose of relieving Cash’s pain. But it also opened up a lot of windows Mitch had never considered looking through before. “But think about Schaeffer’s nature, Cash. Do you really think a few lousy uncorroborated charges from some foreign worker would have damaged him that severely? Do you think he would have
let
a measly immigrant hurt him? He’d have killed her first. Even if she had gotten as far as ratting him out, we both know she would never have lived to see trial. She knew that too.”

Cash lifted his head and glanced at his sister, who sat across the table with so much guilt in her eyes Mitch had to look away. Keira had to live with the knowledge that Rostov had stolen Mateo because he was trying to reproduce her powers through a genetic connection and the knowledge that Cash’s wife had been killed trying to protect their son.

Cash dropped a hand on the table and reached for Keira. She took it in both of hers and lifted it to her mouth for a kiss, eyes closed. Tears slid down her cheeks as Luke massaged her neck beneath her hair.

“And even in the best-case scenario, say Halina had successfully gotten Schaeffer out and the project had been canned. Rostov had already made strides. The seed for his crazy-assed plan of creating paranormal abilities through some genetic connection had already been planted. Without Schaeffer’s threat, Rostov would have been free to do whatever he wanted. There’s no telling what he might have tried. You might not even have your son now.”

“Mitch,” Keira said softly.

“Look, Cash,” Mitch said, “I’m not defending what Halina did. Believe me, she and I have been at each other’s throats about this very subject, and I’m with you two hundred percent. I didn’t lose my wife. And the pain I’ve suffered is nothing compared to yours. But in my own pathetic life, it’s enough to motivate me to see that Schaeffer pays.

“She wants that too. But she’s scared. She’s trying, within her own limited capacity, to help.”