Phoenix Rising Read online

  “Oh, definitely.”

  She grabbed the bucket of ping-pong balls and tossed the lot at him.

  Like the M&Ms, he took hold of the balls with his TK with little effort. They were so light, it was easy to keep them hovering.

  He let his hands fall to his sides and began juggling with his TK. The balls zipped around his head and shoulders, faster and faster with each second. But he wasn’t watching them. He was looking for some reaction from her.

  Her eyes widened. And her face started to flush. Interesting. Did she get turned on when he used his power? She wasn’t built like the girls he saw at the strip clubs but she was all in proportion and she had such a beautiful face.

  He let go of the balls and they hit the carpet, bouncing to all corners of the office. He stepped closer to her.

  “You’ve got nothing left to throw. So what lesson—”

  She picked up the glass and threw the water at him, ice cubes and all.

  “Hey!”

  Cold water soaked into his black T-shirt and trickled down his arms.

  “Son of a bitch.”

  He spit out the water and concentrated, agitating the air around him until it began to warm him up.

  “You’re steaming,” she said. “Literally.” She set the empty glass back down on the coffee table.

  She thought this was funny? “Why the hell did you do that?” Had she known or just guessed that water wasn’t something he could easily grab with TK?

  “There’s a point if you let me explain.”

  “Not yet.” He waved his hand and all the ping-pong balls in the room rose at his command. He grouped them together and held them over her head. He could simply drop them on her but, no, if she wanted to see what his power could do, he’d show her.

  He took a deep breath and set the ping-pong balls on fire. Her eyes widened again and she started to get out of the chair.

  Not yet, counselor.

  He sent the fireballs swirling around her, wreathing her head in flame but being careful not to set her hair on fire. They swirled between her head and shoulders and zipped down in front of her breasts.

  He watched her face carefully for a reaction. She flushed again. That could be from the heat. Her hands gripped the chair tightly but she seemed to be fighting a smile.

  It was possible she was turned on. Not what he was going for, but good.

  He pointed his finger and the balls flew to him. He waved a hand and the fires went out. The ashes fell harmlessly to the carpet. She stared at him for a few seconds and then she put her hand over her mouth. He saw shadows of a smile as she took the hand away.

  “Now that is a proportional response.”

  He collapsed into the comfortable chair, settling in. Damn, she was pretty, especially now that he’d gotten her to unbend a bit.

  “Explain,” he said.

  She sat back in her chair, the calm mask descending over her face. But now he knew it was just a front.

  “You’ve trained long and hard with your power, obviously. You’re built for a fight and trained in hand-to-hand combat. No doubt that you know what’s a physical threat and what isn’t. Even when I tossed water on you, you knew it wasn’t an attack.”

  “But I did attack back.”

  “Playfully.”

  “With fire.”

  “But you weren’t trying to hurt me.”

  “Of course not.”

  “Similarly, you don’t need to toss someone yelling at you over a fence or throw someone insulting you into a wall, any more than you needed to hurt me for tossing the water on you.”

  So they were back to that again, his supposed lack of control. Point of fact, he’d been in perfect control of his abilities both times. “Both guys were being assholes.” They’d thought his fire was out of control. He had showed them out of control.

  “Yes, I have no doubt they were being assholes,” she said. “But you didn’t have to react that way.”

  “So I should have just let it go?”

  “There’s a wide range of choices between ignoring them and using your power to physically abuse them.”

  “Lansing didn’t care.” Lansing had seemed amused. At least until the CIA had complained, anyway.

  She frowned. “We’re talking about you, not him. Besides, what did Commander Montoya think?”

  Alec sighed. “He thought I went over the top. But he was pissed at the guys too.”

  “You’re going to have to work with hostile people in the future. You’re going to face this situation again. You need to know how to handle it better.”

  She pointed to the ashes of the ping-pong balls. “Basically, you took the verbal equivalent of a ping-pong attack and used a gun instead.”

  “Not quite. The TK didn’t hurt them. If I’d used my fire on them, it would be more like using a gun. So instead, you think I should lift assholes off the ground and juggle them?”

  “Well, that’s probably less painful than what you did.” She smiled. And he was tempted to lift her off the ground to see what happened. Too bad she wasn’t wearing a skirt today.

  “You’re a clever man, Alec. You have options. You could insult him back. You could have a verbal argument instead of letting it get physical. Or you could do something with your power that’s more, um, subtle.”

  “Like stealing your scarf?”

  She frowned. “It was better than grabbing me with your TK. It’s not so much what specific way you react, it’s more that you think before you react. Remind yourself not to use a nuke when a ping-pong ball will do the job instead.”

  “You’re forgetting something. If someone breaks rank and slows down an operation because they’re freaked about my power, someone could get killed, including me. We don’t have time for anyone to decide they’re in charge when they don’t know jack shit about what I can do. That’s exactly what the guy I threw into a wall did. It’s a lot more ‘proportional’ than you think it was.”

  “You may have a point.”

  Aha. “Then can you put in your report to the CIA that they need to assign people who can handle my power and don’t go foaming at the mouth because they’re scared.”

  She nodded. “I can.” She put up a hand. “But—”

  “But what?”

  “But you’re going to increasingly come into contact with people who don’t understand your power, who are afraid of what you are. You have to plan how to react to that, in any situation.”

  “You mean when I go outside, even when I’m not on a mission.”

  She nodded.

  “Then it would be a good idea if I get outside more,” he said. “To practice.”

  “That is an excellent idea.”

  I know.

  “Good.” And he suspected she would take him to far different places than F-Team. She didn’t seem the type for strip clubs.

  Now to seal the deal. He concentrated on the M&Ms, picked up a handful with TK and presented them to her, letting them hover just above her lap.

  She put down her pad and held out her hand. He dropped the M&Ms into it.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” They were on the same page.

  Step one, accomplished.

  Chapter Three

  The door to the office that Beth had used at the Resource for the past six weeks was wide open. She peered inside. Strange. Alec wasn’t there, even though he’d been arriving early to wait for her.

  She stuffed her hand into her blazer pocket, fishing for the bag of M&Ms. Philip said the device inside the bag couldn’t be scanned, that it would look like just another peanut M&M. But if it had been detected, maybe the emotionless security guards that prowled this place were moving in on her right now.

  “Good afternoon, Ms. Nakamora.”

  She spun on her heel toward the voice, her face hot with guilt and fear.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Lansing,” she said and hoped that she sounded calm.

  The Resource Director wore his customary black bowt
ie and tweed jacket. His arms were clasped behind his back and his manner gave no indication of his mood. Beth fought a swallow. Her fist nearly crushed the M&Ms.

  “Is Alec all right?” she asked. “I expected to see him today.”

  “Plans have changed,” Lansing said.

  “Changed to what?”

  “You have an irritating habit of asking questions, Ms. Nakamora. I’ve noted it during your sessions with Alec.”

  “That’s what psychologists do.” If Lansing had any morals, he wouldn’t be listening to those sessions in the first place. “Alec is my client. Any objections should come from him. And what is the change in plans?”

  “That I speak to you first.” Lansing’s lips twitched. “I’ve noticed you seem overly close to Alec. We need to talk about that.”

  “I don’t understand your implication.” Was her first impression of being found out correct? She glanced around. There was nowhere to run.

  “Alec’s half in love with you,” Lansing said.

  What?

  “That’s not part of your job description,” he continued. His voice turned harder, his body straighter and more menacing. “I realize he’s probably intrigued because you’re different from what he’s encountered before. But that doesn’t excuse your part in this.”

  Lansing was stupid for someone who should be so smart. She clicked her tongue, knowing it would annoy Lansing and not caring. “Alec’s infatuation is a common side effect at this stage of therapy. Right now, he thinks I have answers. When he realizes that only he has the answers to his problems, it’ll wear off, as these things do.”

  “It won’t wear off if the object of his desire feels the same as he does.”

  That was closer to the truth than she wanted to admit. Each time Alec used his power, she felt it at a deep and sensual level. And she liked the feeling. That he resembled a sculpted god didn’t hurt either. “I have the same affection for Alec that I have for all my clients.”

  “Lucky clients, then.” Lansing snorted. “Every session, you draw closer, physically. Last time, your knees were touching. And you keep smiling at each other.”

  She shook her head, relieved that was all the evidence he had. What century was Lansing from that knees touching bothered him? “Did you rewind the tape to count the smiles?” She couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

  He shook his head. “I didn’t have to. Alec attracts women. That’s natural, given his looks and charm. Those who work for me are under strict orders to steer clear but some of them have tried anyway. I’ve taught Alec better manners than to take them up on it. He seems to view you differently.”

  Beth crossed her arms over her chest, her fear dissipating. If Lansing knew about the device in the M&Ms or who she really was, he wouldn’t be probing about Alec’s crush on her. “Alec is my client. Your suggestion is absurd. Where is he?”

  Lansing’s eyes narrowed. He stepped closer and loomed over her like a homicidal giraffe. “Alec is preparing for a mission. It came up suddenly or I would have called and canceled your session.”

  She fought the urge to step back from Lansing or do anything subservient. He wasn’t the first man to try to intimidate her with his height. “I’d like to see his preparations. Watching Alec at work would definitely help in my evaluation of him.”

  “I have no doubt of that. However, I don’t think you have the stomach for seeing what he really does. Women rarely do.” Lansing shrugged. “It won’t matter. If all goes well on this mission, we can dispense with your services. The CIA can’t very well complain if there are no problems. I’ll extol your virtues, how you managed to help Alec so quickly and everyone will live happily ever after.” He clasped his hands behind his back again. “Separately.”

  He meant for this to be the last time she ever saw Alec. No wonder he was letting his façade crumble and trying to scare her. He’d decided she was a threat and was tossing her aside. But I need more time. Only remembering Philip’s oft-repeated instructions to never lose her temper with Lansing kept her calm. Her heartbeat sounded so loud in her ears that she wondered if Lansing could hear it.

  “That’s not a good idea, Mr. Lansing. Alec has—”

  “Wasted enough time with you. However, he seems to want to see you today. Since arguing with him about it might distract from the mission, you have ten minutes.” Lansing raised a hand and snapped his fingers. From around the corner of the corridor, a guard appeared. “Take her to Alec’s quarters. And wait outside to escort her out of the facility when they’re done.”

  She was as much a prisoner right now as Alec.

  Lansing smirked. “I can’t say I’ll miss you, Ms. Nakamora. Make it fast and don’t trouble him. His life depends on focusing tonight.”

  “Suppose Alec wants to continue as my client?”

  “That’s not up to him.” Lansing loomed over her again.

  “It should be.” She stood her ground. “It will be.”

  Lansing curled a hand around her upper arm. “When you speak to Alec, you will not let him sense anything out of the ordinary. I’ll be listening. I’ll know.”

  Lansing’s fingers dug into her arm. She winced, fighting anger, and tried to tug her arm away. Lansing held fast.

  “If you do or say anything I don’t like, then it will be more than your services that are dispensed with. Remember, the CIA can’t watch you all the time. And the Resource and Alec are more valuable to them than you are.” Lansing dropped her arm and walked away.

  She rubbed the arm, wincing, and watched as Lansing turned the corner at the end of the corridor. Lansing was a bully, a garden-variety bully. No wonder Alec was ready to rebel. But if Lansing was angry enough to threaten her, then maybe she was getting through to Alec.

  She smoothed down her blazer and made eye contact with the guard. “Lead the way.”

  He took the direction opposite where Lansing had gone. She kept blinking during the walk, adjusting her eyes to fluorescent lights that seemed to grow brighter with each step. They went down one level, using a staircase of white walls and steel mesh steps that continued down several more flights past the first level. She’d thought the Resource only had one basement. Now she wondered exactly how big it was.

  “Here.” The guard stopped beside a nondescript white door and assumed a position to the side of it. “Ten minutes.”

  This was Alec’s prison, then. No, he’d call it his home. He must be thrilled at the idea of a new mission, a chance to do something useful again. She shook her head, remembering Lansing’s smirk. The joke was on him. Lansing had wanted the image of a hero to present to the rest of the world. Instead, he’d gotten a real one. She wondered if Lansing realized he’d done his work too well. Maybe he never would, if Alec didn’t learn the truth.

  She knocked.

  Alec opened the door. “Hey, counselor. Lansing said he’d send you. Sorry about missing the session. Duty calls.”

  If Alec in jeans and a T-shirt had been attractive, Alec in uniform was even more so. “Hello, Alec.”

  He wore military boots, camouflage pants and a dark green shirt. The rest of his mission gear lay on the black couch—body armor, jacket, guns and a helmet—all neatly arranged. She recognized most of the gear from Philip’s training video. Only Alec’s hair was different, longer than the military cut from his training days. His one small rebellion?

  The entire living room was the same, in perfect order. No rebellion there.

  “That’s quite a stare, even for you.” Alec tilted his head and frowned. “You can’t be that mad I’m missing a session. What’s wrong?”

  Everything is wrong. “Not wrong, Alec, so much as confused.” She felt around in the M&M bag and found the right one, with the little grove on it, and pressed. Philip said it would scramble all the electronic listening and video devices within about twenty feet. It better.

  “I’m sorry for staring. I’ve haven’t seen your equipment up close before.”

  “Hah!” He sat in an easy chair
to lace up his boots. “You know you can see my equipment anytime you ask.”

  “Um, that’s not quite what I had in mind.” Alec had charmed her. Lansing had been right about that. She hadn’t counted on him being so genuinely interested in her.

  At least she’d had the willpower not to touch Alec’s hand and risk that intense jolt of energy a second time. Just being around him was seductive enough.

  Alec shrugged at her refusal, walked back to the bed and loaded a clip into his handgun. Some sort of pistol, though she had no idea exactly what kind. Philip would have known. Alec’s eyes narrowed as he double-checked the weapon. For a moment, he was completely the competent military officer.

  Satisfied, he set it down and turned to face her. He frowned, on uncertain ground again.

  “Did anyone ever show you a life without guns?”

  He raised one of those perfect eyebrows, oozing more confidence than ten men. Who wouldn’t have that confidence, if fire literally danced to their command?

  “You know, I thought Lansing agreed too quickly to send you. Did he want you to check up on me?”

  “No.” But it would be like Lansing to say that he had.

  “Hah. I think you’re a bad liar, counselor. A life without guns? That’s the kind of leading question that he uses to test me.”

  “I’m not lying.” Not about that. “No, it’s the first time I’ve seen you prepare for a mission. It worries me.” She looked down at the dark carpet and scuffed her feet. “I have doubts about what you’re doing. I think you’re not seeing the big picture.” Like how your foster father is using you to gain power and influence, at the risk of your life. “You don’t have to put your gift to this use. There are so many other things you can do that don’t involve violence.”

  Or the possibility of being killed.

  Philip had been terrified at letting her walk into danger. Looking at Alec, she knew how Philip felt. Just how dangerous was this mission tonight?

  “Only I can do what I can do,” Alec said.

  “Which is all the more reason not to risk your life so recklessly.” She was pushing too hard, out of fear. No choice now. She’d run out of time.