A hot ball of dread burns up my esophagus. “What do you mean?” I ask coolly. But not coolly at all. I think I may have squeaked like I just hit puberty.
Jared grins. “Well, besides the fact that I just walked in on you two looking at each other like you were about to go at it on this table …”
“Easy,” I warn but my foot taps uncontrollably under the table.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean it disrespectfully. I think she’s amazing. Cool and smart and funny. I get it,” Jared says. “I sort of hoped—” He shakes his head. “But you two make sense. I’m just warning you. Kate came back to get her purse really late one night and both your cars were here. We all feel the tension.” He smooths back his dark hair. “Yesterday, Ken told me he saw you two here late.”
“Shit,” I say not bothering to lie to him. I could try and explain our late nights, but I won’t insult Jared that way.
“I’m happy for you guys. And I’ve seen how you look at each other. You can’t force that sort of chemistry. But I just wanted you to know there’s talk. I don’t think the team cares. I just don’t think anybody is used to you keeping things from us.”
Guilt shoots through me. I’ve been so preoccupied by Julia. She consumes my every waking thought, more than projects and deadlines or new ideas. I’ve been neglecting the team.
“I’m not trying to keep anything from you guys. Julia and I … we aren’t really anything, technically. There’s nothing really to share at this point.”
“You don’t owe us an explanation. I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to let you know.” He shrugs. “But we aren’t mad or anything.”
“I’ll be careful,” I say. “Thank you.” I feel myself blushing.
“Is there anything else we should know?” he asks. “Is something going on with the project? Like—” He shakes his head before pinching the area between his eyebrows. “No. Never mind. It’s just the long days. I’m getting paranoid.”
I can’t speak. My Adam’s apple sits painfully high in my throat and my heart thumps loudly in my ears.
“Okay. Better get back to it.” He looks at me one last time. “She really is a catch.”
I rub a hand over my mouth. “Yeah, I know.”
After he leaves, I take a moment to collect myself. I never keep anything from the team, but obviously my personal life is a different story. But my relationship with Julia is more than that. It affects our work in the lab, her powers, everything. But those aren’t my secrets to share. Guilts twists my stomach.
Shit. Things are getting more complicated than either of us intended. I need to talk to her.
That’s when the email pops up. The sender’s name makes my blood go cold. The message is short.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Final Warning
Stay away from my family. You made your choice when you left. I will take everything from you.
Regards,
Will
I swallow back the bile that raises in my throat. The absolute gall. Only he could send such a bold threat with no fear of repercussions. He wants to remind me who’s boss. He’s panicking. Something isn’t going his way and he’s lashing out at me, taking power where he can. I don’t know what’s going on in his life that makes him think he can treat me like that but I’m not giving him any more power by reacting to his temper tantrum. I delete the email and then delete it from the deleted folder. I never want to come across it again.
I rub my eyes and feel the walls closing in around me. This threat and the conversation with Jared remind me of the important things at stake. Lincoln must be protected. This work needs to be done. I need to talk to Julia. As strong as my feelings are, I have to have some self-control. I have to focus on the project. I have to get Lincoln, and I can’t let anything screw this up.
