6. Clay
Chapter 6
Clay
Give the woman an Oscar because, damn, she’s good. Too good. It doesn’t help that the energy flowing off of her matches her words. It’s not cut and dry like Liv and Charlie’s powers. They can read people’s auras and can determine if they’re scared, sad, or even madly in love. For me, it’s more like hints and suggestions about what they’re feeling. Everyone has a unique electrical signature, and if I pay attention, subtle changes in the patterns can signal many things. If only I had the time to figure out what they mean. It’s like someone is speaking a foreign language and I only understand every third word. It takes practice to piece it together. I’ve been too busy focusing on the physical aspects of my power so I don’t kill someone by accident.
But, from what I can tell, she’s not lying. It doesn’t mean she isn’t, though. Infinitum is meticulous in their illusions and misdirections. I can’t rely on my powers for something so subtle. Especially when my thoughts are consumed by all the salacious ways I can get her to shut that smart mouth. I can’t trust my instincts around her when they’re mired in lust. That’s how Infinitum tried to control me, and I’ll die before I let that happen again.
Dylan follows Emilia home while Paul and I meet up with Specter at HQ to chat with Raven about Deanna’s sudden appearance today. Specter secures the call to Raven and the man’s pseudo face appears on the screen. It’s still weird getting used to the fact that he has two faces now. He wears this one for safety, which I get. If the world was aware that James Reilly was alive, there would be chaos on all levels.
“She recognized Clay. We didn’t cover that possibility,” Specter says.
“We can only hope that Clay distracted her enough.”
“For the record, I’m not calling that bitch.” My tone is too loud and all eyes fall on me.
“I can’t imagine how difficult that was for you, but your quick thinking may have saved our asses,” Raven says, and I take a deep breath.
I swore I would never use sex as a weapon, but it would get Deanna off our scent, and I’m trained to use the tools at hand.
“Fiona has a history with Deanna. That can’t be good,” Paul says.
“Her patterns showed fear and hatred. I wouldn’t call them friends,” I say. Her emotions were potent. They damn near vibrated with rage.
“That doesn’t mean they aren’t working together. They could be rivals. We haven’t had enough time to fine tune your new ability,” Raven says.
“What do we do if Deanna remembers Clay?” Paul asks.
Raven looks to the side as he contemplates. “In the past, I would have scrapped the mission.” He pauses, letting that sink in. “But things are different now. I’ll let you decide if it’s worth the risk.”
“If she remembers me, Infinitum will take us in.”
Raven nods. “Most likely. But we have Garrett now. Our chances of getting you out before that happens are much higher.”
Paul and I share a look with Specter. “We’re staying. If we leave, it will tip Edgar off,” I say.
Raven nods. “Be careful around Fiona. Nova couldn’t see what she was doing on her personal laptop last night.”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Whatever she was looking at, she took extreme measures to block it from prying eyes. I couldn’t even get in. She’s much more talented than she lets on.”
I can’t recall there ever being an obstacle Raven couldn’t overcome. “Do you think she’s Infinitum’s go-to hacker?”
Raven nods. “It’s a very strong possibility. I dove into her history. She’s the younger version of me with her skills. I’m impressed, to be honest. Infinitum would be insane to not harness her talents.”
“It’s got to be her, then,” I say. A weird sensation settles in my gut. Is that…disappointment? No, that can’t be right.
“We don’t want to spook her. It would be easy for her to disappear. Subtlety isn’t your strong suit, Clay, so you need to focus.”
I heave a sigh. “Understood.”
“I’ll check in with you tomorrow. Get some rest.” He reaches for the end call button, but I jump in.
“Is Sylvie okay?”
Raven pauses his hand over the button. “So far, so good. Doc arrives next week.”
I nod, and he ends the call. Paul and I say our goodbyes to Specter before we head to Emilia’s house.
Paul breaks the long silence with a dumb question. “What’s your plan for if Fiona ends up being our mole?”
I glance at him before I change lanes.
“You mean besides throwing a party?”
“You like her.”
“No, I don’t.”
“I understand why that would be confusing for you, but she’s not Candace.”
Anger rockets through my system. “Last time I checked, Charlie was my therapist. Not you,” I snarl.
He sighs. “It’s okay to like her. I do.”
“Oh, so you want to fuck her too?”
“Diminishing your feelings won’t do you any good. You don’t have to talk like that.”
“You don’t have to bring up stupid shit that doesn’t matter.”
“It matters, Clay.”
“Not to me.”
“Well, maybe it matters to me. The world doesn’t revolve around you,” he snaps.
The shock of him yelling at me for the first time overshadows my anger and I take a deep breath. “I’m aware.”
He sighs and rubs the back of his head. “I’m sorry I yelled. You just…frustrate me.”
I can’t help but smirk. “It’s one of my many talents. Ask Sylvie.”
He smiles, and the tension seeps from the car.
“I don’t know how to do this,” he gestures between us.
“Do what?” I ask.
“Be someone’s friend.”
I frown. “I’m confused.”
“The Candace thing. You told me that in confidence and now you think I’m an asshole for bringing it up.”
I sigh, rubbing a hand down my face. “The delivery could have been better, but a real friend would call me out on my bullshit.”
“Candace came to me, too,” he blurts.
He uses my shocked silence to plow ahead. “I’m not sure when, but I was young.”
“Did she…”
He swallows and stares straight ahead. “Yes.”
My eyes water. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
He clasps his hands together. “I haven’t even told Charlie. Every time I try, I find an excuse to avoid it.”
My mind reels, but it makes sense. “How long?”
“A few months. My seizures got in her way of whatever her plans were, and she stopped coming when they started my treatments. She returned a few years later, probably around the time she was…”
“With me,” I finish for him, gripping the steering wheel.
“Clay I… I’m so sorry.”
“No. Don’t do that. It’s not your fault.”
“She didn’t even have to program me. I just wanted…hell I don’t even know.” He scrubs a hand over his neck again.
We roll up to Emilia’s mansion and I put the car in park. “You wanted to be loved,” I whisper.
I meet his tear-filled gaze. “The cruelty we endured would make it difficult for anyone to reject that, even if it was fake. Candace used that against us for her own selfish agenda.”
“I wouldn’t have had the strength to kill her. Your selflessness in the face of all of that amazes me, Clay.”
Except it wasn’t selfless. It’s the most selfish thing I’ve ever done.
“I’m glad you told me.”
“So when I said the thing about Fiona not being Candace…”
“You know what you’re talking about.”
He nods and we fall silent again. “Thanks for taking that so well. I was worried it would ruin our friendship.”
I smile. “Are you kidding? Nothing in this world would make me give up your cooking.”
He chuckles. “Thanks, Clay.”
We head into the house and pause in the doorway. “You’re wrong, by the way. You know how to be a friend. A great one,” I say.
“You’re pretty good at it too when you’re not being annoying.”
I laugh and hold out my hand for a fist bump. He taps his knuckles against mine and we go our separate ways. Once I get in my room, my fingers itch for Lexi’s comforting smooth metal and wood, but my mind wanders to Fiona. There was no stab of jealousy when Paul revealed his relationship with Candace. But when he didn’t deny wanting to fuck Fiona? That stab was sharp. Fiona isn’t Candace, but I’m losing too much control over my emotions. I can’t let myself get too attached. Sleeping with the enemy would be fun, but something tells me it would also be my undoing. Never again.