Mind Games (Games Thriller Series) (8 page)

Chapter 23

Jessica parked the car by the beach and got out, looking at the sand like she had never seen it before. The events of last night remained sketchy and broken, a kiss here, the caress of his hands there, his blue eyes glimmering down at her and the dimples etched in his cheeks from the sexy smile she loved so.

Each fragment dragged the breath out of her, not because of her betrayal, betrayal would have been manageable, but because of the purity of the emotions wrapped around his raw power.

Consuming.

Overwhelming.

Irresistible.

God help me, I still want him
.

She looked toward the bluff and guilt bit at her, paling in comparison to the magnetic pull from the opposite side of the beach where his new home stood.

Slowly, she slipped back into her car and headed home.

“What took you so long?” Tom asked, crossing to grab the last of the grocery bags from the trunk.

“I went for a drive.”

“Where?”

“Down by the marinas. I needed to think.” The lie came too easily and she wanted to scream and tear her hair out and erase the silky feel of his hands against her skin. She concentrated on putting the food away, avoiding eye contact.

“Jess?”

His worried tone pulled her gaze to him, but she still couldn’t meet his wide-eyed stare.

“Look at me,” he said and crossed the room.

She forced herself to meet his gaze and the torrent locked inside broke through. Tears blurred her vision and burned her throat.

“I’m so sorry,” he apologized.

Oh God, he thinks I’m upset with him.
The thought knocked a hole in the center of her stomach, devastated her and almost knocked her to her knees. The tears that brimmed were accompanied by a shallow sob and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest and saying “I’m sorry” over and over, stroking her hair.

She pushed him away. “Stop saying you’re sorry,” she said and wiped her face. “Please stop apologizing to me. It’s not your fault.”

“I left the closet door open and I couldn’t stop him.”

Jessica looked up into his baby blue eyes and sighed. “Neither c
ould I.”

“But he can,” Tom said and stepped away from her. His lips tightened into a thin line and the muscles in his jaw worked.

Jessica studied her hands. “Yes, he can stop him, but that doesn’t matter Tom because I’m with you and there’s nothing on earth that can change that.” She tried to smile but it felt foreign on her lips.

“Yeah right.”

“Cut the shit, you weren’t raped by a ghost. You’re not the one he wants to kill.”

“And there is nothing I can do about it! Do you know how useless I felt?”

“Well join the club!”

They stared at each other and their words sunk in.

“I’m sorry, it’s been a hell of a week,” Jessica said, breaking the thick silence.

Tom nodded. “I’m actually glad the kids are coming this weekend.”

“Me too.”
And I need to get the hell away from this town.
She hugged him and when she pulled back, she said, “Can you book three more tickets for us next week?” The smile that spread over his face made Jessica want to cry. She couldn’t imagine the hurt he would feel if he ever found out.

“Really?”

“Yes, I need to get away just as much as you do. And I’ll come with the kids to the set if you still want that.”

“I would love that.” He swept her of her feet and kissed her.

“Stop.”

“Why, they aren’t due until later tonight, right?” He kissed her neck.

“Really, Tom, stop.” She pushed him away. “Not now. I need to make dinner.”

His grin widened and his hands wandered over her. “I’m only hungry for one thing.” He nibbled on her ear.

“Later.” She skittered out of his grip.

“All right.” He sulked away settling on the living room couch.

He will never forgive me
.

Chapter 24

Chris stepped back into the kitchen and squashed the urge to smash everything in sight. Instead he closed his eyes, willing the feral beast inside to calm the fuck down. This wasn’t a situation within his control and as much as he wanted her, she was not his for the taking.

Still, he replayed the last few minutes over in his mind, relishing her every move, the feel of her lips, the frantic flush in her face as she buttoned up her shirt.

His eyes snapped open. “What the...”

Her shirt had
unbuttoned
on its own accord. The second they started unlacing, he had wanted her shirt off, to feel her skin again, but he was across the kitchen when that happened.

“Jesus.”

His gaze shot to the remaining groceries on the counter zeroing in on the six-pack of beer. He put his hand out and willed a can of beer from the six-pack on the counter to come to him. The entire six-pack flew through the air to his hand.

“Holy fucking shit!”

He looked at the cupboards and thought ‘
Open
.’ Every last one of them opened. “Close,” he said and they all closed.

“What the hell did she do to me?” He stared at the six-pack and with a trembling hand peeled one off and cracked it open, draining it in one long chug.

The power surged inside him, raging through his blood, getting stronger with each use and he suddenly understood the fear in her eyes five years ago when he told her that Eric wanted to help her unlock the door that contained this, that this ungodly power was the only way for her to get out of that hellhole.

“Jesus,” he said as he walked out into his back yard. She really couldn’t break the mirrors anymore. When he healed her, she transferred this to him.

Chris inhaled, if Jessica had had an inkling of how to use this power back when he had kidnapped her, he wouldn’t be alive today. He sat down in the lounge chairs facing the harbor, glancing at one of the hurricane lamps, willing it to light. Flame leaped from the wick and then settled into a slow burn.

Underneath the shock and fear racking his brain, the possibilities began churning in his stomach. A slow smile formed and he glanced in the direction of the lighthouse.

Chapter 25

Chaos descended on the house when Daniel and LeAnn dropped the kids off.

“Guys, take your things to your rooms,” Jessica said and Eric and Emily grabbed their bags from Daniel and LeAnn and ran down the hall to their rooms.

Tom chuckled. “It always looks like they are moving in every time they come.”

“I told them to pack light,” Daniel said.

“Speaking of packing,” Jessica began. “We would like to take them out west for the week.”

“I think the kids would love that,” LeAnn said.

Tom smiled and put his arms around Jessica. “I’m planning on taking them on the set with me.”

Daniel and LeAnn exchanged a glance. “That ought to be fun,” he said.

Jessica nodded and looked up at Tom. “Pretty plastic people.”

“Don’t laugh. I can make you one of them.” He kissed her cheek.

“We’ll be heading out on Sunday night and we’ll be back in town next Saturday. We can drop them at the cottage on the way through town,” Jessica said breaking free from Tom’s arms. She brought Daniel and LeAnn to the door and hugged them goodbye.

“Have fun Jessie,” Daniel said.

“I intend to.” Jessica closed the door and walked back into the living room.

The kids were crowding around Tom firing questions at him about who they would see and what they would get to do in Los Angeles. He smiled over at her.

“Ok, guys, stop badgering him.” Jessica shooed them away from him.

“Mom, can I use the phone?” Emily asked.

“Who are you calling at this hour?” Jessica asked, looking at the clock. It was after ten.

“Sara, she’s going to flip when I tell her I’m going to L.A,” Emily said.

“Sure,” Jessica said, remembering when she was a senior in high school. She looked around for Eric and saw him leaning on the banister out on the deck. She went out and put her arm around him.

Eric looked at her. “Thanks
, Mom.”

She squeezed him. “I just thought it was time we went out there as a family.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” he said. “I’m talking about Emily.”

She looked out at the water.
Thank Ty
. she thought and glanced to the south.

“You miss him?”

Jessica glanced at Eric, the smile on her face fading. She nodded a little and then glanced inside at Tom.

“Tom can’t protect you
, Mom,” Eric said and looked back at the water.

“I know. But that doesn’t make me love him any less.”

Eric nodded and headed inside. He plopped himself next to Tom on the couch.

Jessica looked back toward the south. She closed her eyes for a minute and felt his lips on hers again. Yes, she did miss him and she turned, heading back inside.

“I’m turning in early,” she announced, kissing Tom and messing up Eric’s hair.

“Night
, babe.”

Jessica popped her head in Emily’s room. “Don’t stay on too long, ok
ay, Em?”

Emily smiled and nodded.

She changed into a nightshirt and headed into the bathroom to brush her teeth. His name floated to the forefront of her mind.

The mirror rippled and Chris stared back at her with his toothbrush in his mouth. He spit in his sink. “Your timing is impeccable as always,” he said wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“I’m sorry about today.”

Chris nodded. “Me too,” he paused. “By the way, you gave me a hell of a gift.”

Jessica’s mood grew dark and she narrowed her eyes.

“I’m not talking about the beach
, Jess. I’m talking about the power you gave to me.”

“What are you talking about?”

Chris lifted his hand where she could see it and she watched as the toothbrush levitated up into his palm. His eyes never left hers. “It’s not just mirrors anymore. In case you hadn’t noticed today, I undid the buttons on your shirt without touching you.” He blushed and smiled a little. “It’s gotten stronger, Jess. Each time I break a mirror or move something, it gets stronger.”

That’s why the power felt different inside her. It was pure light, not tainted with the darker more dangerous power she harbored all her life. The power she locked away for a reason and now he had it. Fear laced her blood, bringing a metallic tinge to her mouth. “Last night, did you make me...”
she trailed off.

Chris shook his head. “No
, Jess. That was all you. Besides, I haven’t figured out how to manipulate people with this yet.”

“Yet?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.

Chris nodded. “I figure if I can control a person, I can control a ghost.”

Jessica tilted her head a little. “I’m not sure it would work the same.”

“Why not?”

“A person is physically here, a ghost really isn’t.” She looked at him. “Even though Frank can physically hurt me, I’m not sure we can hurt him, unless we can get him physically in the room with us.”

Chris took a deep breath, the fortuneteller’s words came back to him and he shook his head a little. He didn’t want to go there. He sighed and put his hand on the mirror. “I can try.”

Jessica put her hand against the reflection of his, expecting to feel the cool glass but instead she felt his skin, the jolt of touching him flaring heat in her soul and he laced his fingers through hers. “You can try
,” she agreed and slowly pulled her hand away.

“Good night
, Jess.”

“Night,” she whispered. The image faded and she looked back into her own haunted eyes.

Chapter 26

Emily glanced at the clock on the nightstand; it was after one in the morning. “Oh shit, I need to get going,” she said to Sara. “If my mom comes in, she’s going to kill me. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She hung up the phone and plucked her hairbrush out of her bag and turned toward the mirror. Her breath caught in her throat.

Someone stood behind her.

She whirled around to nothing but a pocket of frigid air. She snapped her head back toward the mirror and a cold hand grasped her throat.

Black eyes looked back at her with a wicked smile. The ghost yanked her bra off and she stared at his reflection with wide frightened eyes.

“If you scream, I’ll kill everyone in this house.”

His ice-cold hands ran over her skin.

Terror beyond anything she ever experienced gripped her and the shakes began aided by the ghost’s arctic touch.

“You’re hotter than your mother.”

He tossed her onto the bed and she rolled, trying to get away but the form materialized above her, slamming her on her back and tying an invisible rope around her wrists, yanking her arms over her head, binding her to the headboard.

She struggled but she didn’t cry out even when he peeled her pants off. “Please don’t.”

Emily felt the rope tighten around each ankle, anchoring her legs wide. She tried to struggle but it was no use, whatever was in the room wasn’t letting her go. Instead, the frigid hands began exploring.

A small sob
escaped. “I’m a virgin. Please don’t.”

“Not anymore.” He laughed in her ear and shattered her innocence.

Pain flared in her lower abdomen and she bit down on the scream that wanted to give life. “No!” The word hissed out of her chest, no more than a whisper and hot tears of humiliation leaked from the corner of her eyes.

The ghost’s laughter echoed in her ear and his cold hands roughly assault
ed her with their callousness.

“I will definitely be back for more of this.” He bit her neck. “And if you tell anyone, I will kill your mother and your brother, slowly and painfully. Understand?” he hissed in her ear and then the frigid pocket of air diss
ipated.

Emily felt the bindings around her wrist and ankles release and she rolled onto her side, curling into a tight ball, silent sobs racking her and blood trickled down her legs. Slowly, she got up and slipped her nightgown over her head. Grabbing her underwear, she bolted to the bathroom,
turning on the shower. She stripped and stepped in before the spray warmed, more concerned with feeling clean than the water temperature. She ran the bar of soap over her skin but no matter how hard she scrubbed, she knew she’d never feel clean again. When her skin was red and her fingers shriveled, she shut off the water and stepped into the steam-filled bathroom. Rifling through the cabinets, she finally found what she was looking for, a package of panty liners. She ripped open the box and affixed one to the crotch of her underwear and slipped the garment on.

She hesitated in front of her bedroom door and turned away, too frightened to go back in, she opened Eric’s door and crawled into the bed next to him.

Eric woke up and looked at Emily. “What’s wrong?”

“Nightmare.” Emily rolled so her back was to him.

Eric looked at her for a few minutes. “You sure?” he asked, sensing the fear radiating off her.

“Yes.” Emily closed her eyes and Eric put his hand on her back.

“Night Emmy,” Eric whispered.

“Night squirt,” Emily answered and the tears trickled down her cheek, dampening the edges of the pillowcase.