Chapter 18

Okay, I kinda expected him to say I couldn’t leave. I knew it was a long shot. But belong to him? My cheeks began to flush in anger. I glared at him.

“Did you really think I’d let you walk out of here?” Derek said. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for telepathy? What kind of an edge that would give me in business?”

“I don’t give a fuck. No one owns me.”

He smiled. “I created you, my dear. Therefore, I own you.”

Who the fuck does this guy think he is? I concentrated on penetrating his mind. If I had any shot of escaping, it had to work.

“I’m sure Steve explained your powers won’t work here.” Derek nonchalantly returned to his tablet. “But please, be my guest. Knock yourself out.”

I closed my eyes and focused on splattering his brains, like I did with Chad.

Big fat nothing.

“What are you going to do with me?” I asked, defeated.

Derek looked up from his tablet. “Extract the power, of course. By any means necessary.”

“Why now? Why didn’t you just keep me, after you inflicted me with this… freakishness?”

“The modifications don’t always take. It’s annoying to have to dump a body,” he said and then suddenly smiled. “But I guess you know all about that, don’t you?”

“Fuck you.” God, I’d never met anyone so in need of an ass kicking in my entire life.

“Pritchard sends his regards, by the way. He’s taken quite a shine to you as well.” Derek licked his lips in a subtle fashion, but it still ended up creeping me out. “I didn’t see it at first, what all the fuss was about. But now that I’ve spent some time with you in person, I’m starting to get your appeal.”

“Who the hell is Pritchard?”

“The cashier at the convenience store,” Derek said. “He’s one of my guys.”

Jethro, really? It was so hard to picture him as a Pritchard.

“What do you think, Steven?” Derek tucked his tablet away. “We could have a threesome right here.”

Steve lowered his head but clenched his fists at his sides.

“First of all,” I began, in as even-tempered a tone as I could, “I wouldn’t fuck you if my life depended on it. And if you’re thinking of raping me, remember what happened to Chad.”

A patronizing smile appeared once more. “This little kitty Kate has claws. I love it!” His smile faded. “But you’re forgetting one thing, my dear. Coming here has effectively declawed you.”

“Are you sure about that?” I glared again. If I couldn’t actually probe him, I could at least try to bluff.

He chuckled. “Don’t you think Steven here would’ve turned me into a popsicle if that were the case?”

Steve remained silent, staring at the wall behind me. No fucking help there.

Out of nowhere I felt a warmth build in my body, starting at my feet and working its way upward. It tingled as it passed through me, and I found it strangely comforting. I felt different, better. Refreshed, as weird as that sounds.

Maybe I should rape her. Teach her that I’m her master, now and forever.

I gasped. Did I just hear his…?

I’m going to enjoy using her.

“The fuck you will.”

Steve looked up, and his eyes darted back and forth between Derek and me. Derek’s mouth fell open. Then, his eyes grew large in sheer terror.

It felt good, probing his mind. Putting pressure on his skull. I stood, feeling stronger by the minute. The only wildcard in my mind was Steve. Would he protect Derek, or help me escape?

“Your power is back?” Steve asked as he scrambled to his feet.

Derek’s nose began to bleed. A single drop fell onto his pristine coat jacket. I smiled. Just a little more pressure, and I’d be done with this douchebag.

“Kate, you can’t kill him!” Steve grabbed my arm. “He still has my daughter.”

I stared at the pathetic, spoiled man child in front of me. Even then, in his possible last moments of life, he grabbed his tablet and fiddled with it.

“Please!” Steve released his grip on me and crumpled to the floor, crying. “I can’t lose her.”

Every fiber in my being wanted to end Derek’s life. But I couldn’t hurt Steve or his daughter; I couldn’t live with myself if he never found her. With a heavy sigh, I released my hold on Derek.

Two men dressed in black SWAT-looking outfits arrived, and it occurred to me that’s what Derek was doing on his tablet: alerting them.

Derek rubbed his forehead. “Sedate the bitch.”

Before I could probe the guards, multiple little darts pierced my skin. Then, it all went black.