Christine Feehan - Conspiracy Game

“Come here.”

She stilled, her eyes too large and drowning in tears, long lashes spiky and wet. Jack could hardly bear the sight of her like that. She should have been somewhere where she was safe and protected-not in Kinshasa where anything could happen to her.

“I said come here.”

The hard note of command stopped her weeping. “I heard you.” He looked so determined, as if he might get up and come over to her in spite of his injuries. Briony got to her feet and crossed to his side, laying her palm on his forehead to access his fever. “Do you want more water?”

He nodded, his gaze never leaving her face, his eyes still glazed with fever. She took out another bottle and removed the cap before handing it to him.

“You washed your hair.” Jack let the liquid slide down his throat, savoring the taste of it. “Whatever you use smells good.” He caught her wrist when she turned away. Tugging, he indicated the bed. “Don’t sit on the floor. I’m not in any shape to do anything and it’s more comfortable.” Mostly he wanted to comfort her. It wasn’t something he’d ever thought he’d be doing, but he’d give it a shot just so she wouldn’t cry anymore. When she didn’t respond either way, he pulled her down to the mattress.

“I could jar you.”

“I doubt it.” He let his fingers slide over her tear-wet face. “Don’t be doing this.”

“What? Crying? Every time I close my eyes I see that man dead. Or I see someone cutting you into little pieces.” She pressed her fingertips to her temple. “I’m afraid to go to sleep.”

“You have a headache. Did you take anything for it?”

“My headache is rather insignificant next to what the rebels did to you. I can’t believe you were running around the forest. You should be dead.”

“I wasn’t going to die and give them the satisfaction.” He took another sip of water, his fingers tangling in her hair. It was softer than he’d first imagined. “They would have done better just to put a bullet in my head.”

“Why didn’t they?”

Jack set the bottle of water on the small nightstand beside the bed and used both hands to massage her temples. Her body felt small and soft next to his, and he actually had a reaction to her, disconcerting when he was trying to be comforting. She was too innocent for a man like him to ever have sex with her. He’d shock the holy hell out of her, be too rough, too demanding, too everything. His body hardened even more and he shut the door on that line of thinking. There was no way he was going to allow it to happen. How could his body react when he was beat up all to hell? Nothing about the situation made sense to him and that made him leery. He was always distrustful, but his reactions to Briony were completely out of character.

“The general wants people to be afraid of him. The crueler he is, the more everyone fears him and he gets what he wants. Torture and genocide and rape are good ways to intimidate people.”

Briony was silent for a long time. She sighed. “My brothers won’t listen to me. They think I’m paranoid, but the music festival offered us an enormous sum of money to perform here. It didn’t make sense to me then and even less since I’ve been here. The festival doesn’t have that kind of money and we weren’t going to be that big of a draw. You served with my brother and we’re both enhanced psychically and physically. I’ve never met anyone like me before. In fact, this is the first time in my life I’ve ever been able to be near another human being without feeling their emotions and being sick. Don’t you think it’s all too much of a coincidence?”

“If you’re paranoid, Briony, I am too.”

“Tyrel told me there’s a rumor that rebel soldiers are sneaking into town. If they aren’t here for the music festival, my guess is they’re looking for you.”

“I’d have to say when they find the bodies on the outskirts of the city, they’ll definitely come looking.”

“Jebediah’s going to be really, really angry with me.”

“Don’t worry about your brother. He knows me.” Jebediah knew him all right, and he sure as hell wouldn’t want Jack Norton lying in the same bed with his sister. Jack lay staring up at the cracked ceiling, one hand in her hair, the other over the gun, listening to her soft, even breathing and wondering why he already felt like she belonged to him.

Poundingon the door jarred Jack and Briony from their sleep. The gun was already in Jack’s fist and he waved her to the safety of the bathroom.

“Open the door, Bri!” Jebediah yelled. “I’m standing out here with coffee and you’re still asleep. Get a move on.”

“It’s my brother,” Briony said unnecessarily, but she wanted Jack to put the gun away. She deliberately moved in front of him, blocking his sight to the door, pressing her hand to his head to check for fever. She raised her voice. “Just a minute, Jebediah. Have a little patience.”

Jack swept her out of the way with his arm. “Stay to the side of the door when you let him in. Someone could be standing behind him with a gun to his head.”

“He would have warned me,” Briony objected. “Don’t shoot my brother.”

“Stand to the side of the door.” When she remained frowning at him, he clenched his teeth. “Damn it, do what I tell you.”

Briony huffed out a breath just to show him he annoyed her, although it didn’t seem to faze him. She told herself she obeyed to keep Jack from getting upset as she unlocked and opened the door, not because he was downright scary at times.

“Here.” Jebediah handed her a cup of coffee as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. As he did, his gaze jumped beyond her to the bed where Jack lay on his side beneath the sheet, the gun steady in his hand, aimed straight at Jebediah’s heart. “What the hell are you doing here, Norton?” Jebediah jumped to place his body between the gun and Briony.

“I’m so glad you remember Jack, Jeb,” Briony said, trying to be cheerful. “He needs to get out of the country and I thought you might be able to help.”

“Lock the door.” Jack slowly lowered the gun and put his head on the pillow, draping one arm over his eyes.

Briony turned the lock and leaned against the door, blowing on the coffee to keep from having to look at her brother.

“Just how did you meet up with Jack Norton, Briony?” Jebediah demanded.

“I went to the forest on the edge of the city,” she admitted.

“Damn it, Briony.” Jebediah advanced on her threateningly, looming over her shorter figure. “What were you thinking to take a risk like that? Going out into the forest when I told you to stay put.”

“Jebediah.” Jack’s voice cut in, his tone very low, almost purring. “You talk to her like that again around me and I’m going to rip out your heart. We clear on that?”

Briony’s heart jumped at the threat. Coming from anyone else, it would have been melodramatic, but Jack sounded like he meant it. His tone was mild, he hadn’t raised his voice; in fact he hadn’t even sat up, one arm was still slung over his eyes, but something in his ultrarelaxed posture seemed deceptive-as if inside he was coiled like a snake, ready to strike at any moment. She had never in her life met anyone so casual about violence.

Jebediah backed up. “She’s my sister and my responsibility, Jack. She could have been killed.” He almost sounded conciliatory.

“I already raked her over the coals. Once is enough for anyone.” Jack’s tone said to drop it.

Briony sank down onto the edge of the bed and looked up at her brother. “I’m sorry. I needed to breathe. I couldn’t stay here surrounded by all the people… ”