Chapter 56 — When Panic Sets In

"Yeah. Chino."

"That kid you put in that new facility?"

"Yeah." Jenson sat still in the driver's seat, recognizing the hint of surprise in his uncle's gruff voice. Surprise mixed with confusion.

As if the last thing Magnus expected to hear today was that poor kid's name. "So you're asking me to keep paying for the bills until he gets better." Magnus chuckled on the other line. "What makes you so sure he will?"

"I'm not. But, he's got no one else left." Helplessly sick, alone, penniless, and unquestionably traumatized beyond words. Jenson sat back.

He didn't expect his uncle to foot all of the treatment expenses. He just wanted to make sure that the orphaned teen would be taken care of until the medical staff deemed his mental illness to be more manageable. That could mean another few months in that expensive facility, a year, or even a decade.

Still, the kid should have proper medical attention—not chucked into prison to rot for what he did to his own parents. It wasn't his fault he was born with a sickness he couldn't control.

"I'll pay off half of the bills. I'm just waitin' for some paychecks." Jenson gripped the steering wheel. "The ratings look good. The big guys want two more seasons. The paperwork's gonna be done in a week or so."

"Good to hear," Magnus muttered in a more pleasant tone. Then he let out a prolonged sigh. "You're getting too involved with this kid. Hits too close to home?"

"He just needs continuous treatment." A chance to get better, since his parents couldn't provide for his needs. Jenson stared at the sunless sky. The kid still reminded him of his past, but it wasn't the only reason he wanted to help. "We have the means. He doesn't need to die."

"Sure. For now," his uncle said after a quiet few seconds, as if he needed time to weigh the pros and cons of his suggestion. "He's lucky I used to play golf with the police chief. Otherwise he'd be rotting in an unmarked grave by now. Or in solitary confinement in some nuthouse, just going more insane by the day."

"Thanks." Jenson almost breathed a sigh of relief. But he wasn't totally relieved yet—his uncle didn't hand out favors. Most especially when they concerned money and having to use his influence and connections.

Someone like Magnus treated almost everything like a business deal. "How's it going with Charm?"

"Better." Jenson frowned, hoping his uncle would be convinced by his lie. "She's enjoying her promotion and her new office."

"Are you planning on moving to Beijing permanently after the show?"

"Not really. Why?"

"When's the wedding?" Magnus asked next, his tone full of interest. "Did you get to talk about that before she flew back to Beijing?"

Shit. Maybe he should just come clean. Lying about his relationship with Charmaine wouldn't do him any good, anyway. Jenson smothered a sigh with his fist while staring at his uncle's name on his phone screen. He should just break the news to avoid having to come up with more stupid excuses in the future. "We called it off. We're over."

"And why's that?" Magnus chuckled again.

"She cheated again."

"When? You got proof?"

"She confessed," Jenson murmured while trying not to scowl. "Coughed up the guy's name the third time I asked." In fact, he didn't even need to pay his hacker contact to do more digging. "We talked it over, and we're not hostile or anything. But I'm done tolerating it."

"I'm guessing that's why you've been spending too much time with your assistant?"

"No." He scoffed. "Why d'you keep insisting I cheated on her? We were over months ago."

"You know her parents would hate to hear you two called it off just because of some guy and a girl you met on the job." Magnus cleared his throat and didn't give him time to respond. "I just had dinner with Bram and Mila van den Hoven. They asked about the funeral, and they send their condolences."

Charmaine's parents? "Why'd you meet up with them?" Jenson frowned again. "You're in Eindhoven?"

"I'm looking to partner with them."

"What's that mean?"

"Already pitched two proposals. We need their money and connections to fund our research."

Jenson held back a sigh and pinched his temple, utterly confused now. "You mean, your team's workin' on a new batch of wolfsbane meds?"

"No. More on vaccine development. Worldwide distribution. This epidemic's only getting worse. We need to speed up our R&D team."

Huh. Meaning: Magnus needed more millions—if not billions—to make his new business plans a reality. "You sure they'll just hand you their money?" Jenson smirked. "Without knowing for sure if your team's good enough to make the cut?"

"We just started Phase II. The initial data sets look promising. Mila's family owns two hospitals. We'll get more volunteers there."

"Good for you." Jenson turned off the engine and sat back, unsure of where their conversation was headed. "But, you'll still pay for Chino's bills? For now?"

"If you talk to Charm again, fix things up. Sure."

He grinned and shook his head. There it was. The terms. Of course his uncle wouldn't just say yes to his request without asking for something in return.

"And you still haven't convinced Mykaela to go to Belgrade soon. Ilya's getting sicker and more impatient." Magnus sighed on the other end. "If you'd done that months ago, I wouldn't be asking for money from Charmaine's folks. I'm not getting another bank loan."

"Fine." Jenson bumped his forehead onto the steering wheel. He was tempted to say he didn't really care about Ilya or what he wanted from his daughter, but he'd rather not comment on their ongoing family drama. He had his own list of problems to deal with at the moment, and he wasn't even sure where to begin. "I'll go back to New York this month, and I'll call Charm."

"Good. You know Ilya hates waiting," his uncle murmured. "Are you home?"

"No."

"You on a date with Jessiah again?"

"No." Jenson scoffed. He just parked behind the apartment complex where Jessi was staying, but his nosey uncle didn't need to know that. "She's leaving."

"Leaving California?"

"She's going back to Minnesota. Says it's safer there."

"Too bad." Magnus tutted. "You make a good team."

"Yeah. I guess." Jenson made a face. He wanted their relationship to be more than that. Unfortunately, Jessiah had other plans for herself. The fact still stang his feelings, but it was the least of his problems right now.

"How much does she know about the girl?"

"What girl?" Jenson craned his neck and eyed the windows in Jessiah's apartment unit, squinting at them through the tinted windshield, watching for any movements. "Sure this line's secure?"

"You think I'd use it if it wasn't?" Magnus said with a forced laugh. "Did Darren say anything to her?"

"She heard enough that night he just barged into my office drunk and high on some shit. I explained to her what happened to Ramona. Didn't tell her much else. She didn't ask a lot of questions."

"Did you make her sign an NDA?"

"Why?" Jenson scowled. Great. Now his uncle wanted him to convince Jessiah to sign a non-disclosure agreement before leaving California, which was tonight. Annoyingly. "I told her to keep quiet about it."

"Sure you did," Magnus replied. "But you know money talks."

"She's not that kinda person."

"Can't be so sure. You just met her."

"I trust her."

"Of course. But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Nice..." Jenson smirked. "You're quoting Taylor Swift now. Did you take your meds today?"

"Hilarious," his uncle muttered. "Tried to offer her a raise?"

"Yeah. She said her parents keep worrying. They just want her back home." Jenson glanced up at the windows again. Still no sign of Jessi. Was she taking a nap? "Can I ask you something?"

Magnus tsk-ed and took a moment to respond. "Why do I have a feeling it's about that vision? That thing I warned you about, more than once," he stressed in a louder voice.

"Maybe." Jenson swore in his head. Whether it was his uncle's visions coming true or not, it didn't really matter anymore. What concerned him right now was the worst possible consequences of what he just did to Jessiah.

Last night, he just lost control with her. Shit. He even tried to mark her. He was tipsy then, but he recalled he bit her on the neck during sex—not hard enough to draw blood, though.

Much to his disappointment, Jessi thought it was just a mindless one-night stand. She probably thought he was just a philandering freak. Just another two-timing asshole like that rich guy she used to work for.

Jenson scowled at the thought. Clearly, she didn't want a serious relationship with him. She wouldn't even give him her complete address in Minnesota. He had to let her go, but he should keep an eye on her.

She could get sick in a few hours. Or days. She could even end up bedridden. Or dead—like what happened to Ramona. Shit.

Although Jessi looked perfectly fine just minutes ago, he should go back in there later to check up on her again. Just to make sure. But his bruised ego was dictating a different plan.

"I'm listening," Magnus murmured on the other line, breaking off his musings.

"Is there a..." Jenson cleared his throat. "A new medication—I mean, for human consumption only—that can effectively neutralize the bacteria? From a bite?"

Instead of answering his question directly, Magnus sighed loudly on the other end. "Where did you bite her? And when?"

"Just on her neck. But I didn't hurt her. No wounds or blood." Jenson pulled a face. His own words just sounded so defensive.

"When?"

"Last night."

"First time? Last night?"

"Yeah." Jenson winced.

"If you make sure she takes those Plan B pills now, then you're all good."

"How many?"

"The usual dosage," Magnus said in a muted voice.

"Right." Jenson massaged his forehead. Since Jessiah bought more than a few emergency contraception pills, he was pretty sure she had taken one by now. Of course she didn't want to end up pregnant, especially not just because of his selfish desire to keep her here. Stuck with him.

The less rational part of him wished for and wanted something that permanent, but of course he didn't tell her that. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off. But maybe he already had.

"Do you know anyone in Minnesota?"

"Why?" Magnus chuckled. "You wanna spy on her? You just said you trust her."

"If you know a cop there or...can you tell them to keep track of her? I mean, without mentioning my name."

"Where's your hacker friend? Too busy?"

"I guess. D'you know someone near Rosenville?"

"Minnesota? No," Magnus replied. "But I can make some calls."

"Thanks."