Chapter 22

“Motherfucker!”

It was a relief to hear Viola’s voice. Both Jay and I joined her in the kitchen. She was sitting on the floor with the remains of a broken chair, removing a piece of wood stuck in her leg. While the short skirts she wore were certainly sexy, they weren’t exactly functional.

“I really have to work on my landings…” she muttered.

Jay joined her on the floor. “Let me take a look.”

Vi glanced at him skeptically. “Aren’t you a geek? I mean, no offense, but what are you going to do?”

“He’s a healer,” I explained. “That’s his power.”

“No, seriously?” Vi said, awestruck. “That’s so cool!”

Jay went to work on her injury, placing his hands just above her bloody thigh.

“Whoa, that’s really hot,” Vi said.

I watched in awe as the cut disappeared, leaving only a trace of blood behind.

“Thanks!” Vi rubbed the smooth skin of her leg, and then added, “Uh, sorry about your chair.”

“It’s fine, it was old anyway.” Jay helped her to her feet. “You were right, Steve had abducted her again.”

I looked at Vi, confused. “You two working together or something?”

“She popped in at your apartment when I was there,” Jay explained. “She was the one who thought you might be in trouble.”

I smiled at her. “Thanks.” Vi always had my back, even if she couldn’t go after me herself. “And I’m sorry about earlier.”

“I’m sorry too, I overreacted. It’s been a while for me.” She half-smiled, and the look of confusion and discomfort on Jay’s face made me regret bringing it up.

“Just a fight we had,” I said to Jay. And then I spent the next 20 minutes catching them up on what happened at the compound—learning about Steve’s daughter, meeting Derek and learning about his plans to “collect” all the powers, as well as my imprisonment.

“If all that’s true, then dickhead should be popping in any minute,” Vi said.

“Vi’s pet name for Steve,” I explained to Jay, who giggled.

“Maybe we should stay here with her,” Vi said to Jay. “If that’s okay with you. The more of us to protect her, the better our odds are of keeping her safe.”

Jay nodded.

“Protect me?” While I appreciated their help, it’s not like I was just a victim, waiting to be taken. “You know, I have a power too. A pretty bad ass one. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“Uh, no,” Vi said. “I’ve seen you around Steve, there’s no way you’d poof his brain.”

She had a point. I would feel totally shitty if I accidentally killed him, especially knowing the motives behind his actions. And I was still attracted to him, jerk that he was. “Okay, okay. But I’m going to need some stuff from my apartment. Derek said he has my place bugged.”

“Then it’s too risky for you to go back,” Vi said. “Tell me what you need, and I’ll get it.”

“But then you’ll be in danger,” I said. “I don’t want them getting to you.”

Vi snickered. “As if. Steve’s afraid of me, remember? If he shows his face there, I’ll beat the shit out of him, gladly.”

She was the most logical choice with her power, but still I felt uneasy, putting her in harm’s way.

Vi took hold of my hand and squeezed it. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

I rattled off a list of everything I needed, including Pickles (Jay graciously agreed to let him stay there with me). After Vi poofed out, Jay approached me. I dreaded the conversation, but I knew I couldn’t avoid it forever. Only so many times I could count on Vi randomly teleporting in and injuring herself mid-uncomfortable conversations about spouses.

“Do you really think I’m married?” He held up his left hand and wiggled his ring finger. “Notice anything missing?”

“I’ve seen the pictures at your desk. Your little boy looks just like you.” I folded my arms against my chest. “And you wouldn’t be the first guy to pocket a wedding band.”

Jay’s forehead wrinkled, but only for a second. “Ah, you must be referring to my sister and her son, my nephew.”

My lips parted open. It hadn’t even occurred to me that she could be his sister, they seemed so perfect and happy together. “Your sister?” I squeaked out.

“Kate, I… I’ve been in love with you for a while now. Ever since we met at that crappy sales seminar, I knew you were special.” He looked down. “I just never got up enough nerve to tell you how I feel. But then in the cafeteria, when I sensed your feelings for me…”

I recalled wanting to kiss him, for taking care of that video footage. “You can sense emotions?”

“Comes with the healing power. But that was something I could always do, to some extent. Before the modification, I was a Reiki master.”

Alternative medicine became commonplace after the healthcare meltdown of 2029, when the cost of common prescription drugs skyrocketed. It explained why his power was healing—what Vi had said about the powers amplifying something we’re already good at. And it so fit him, with his peaceful and gentle demeanor.

“Speaking of sensing emotions,” he began. “Are you and Vi together? She’s giving off some vibes that go way beyond friendship.”

I sighed. “It’s complicated. I think more than anything she just wants to be with me. Not a relationship so much, but the truth is, I’m not sure.”

He held my hand in both of his, and the warmth was so welcome, so comforting. He led me to the couch, where we both sat down. “And what do you want?”

I laughed softly. “There were so many times I wondered what was wrong with me, why I couldn’t have a great guy like you in my life. I never thought you were an option.”

“But now that I am?” His fingers traced a spiral pattern into my palm, amplifying the heat. It shot up my arm and spread throughout my body, calming me in a way I’d never experienced before.

“You are amazing,” I whispered, before my eyelids became too heavy to stay open. I relaxed into his arms and felt the warmth of his hands on my head, right before I drifted off.

Then I was jolted awake by the sound of Viola screaming, “Get the fuck away from her!”