Daddy's Girl: Cape High Book Five by R.J. Ross Read Free Book Online Page B

been turned into a massive computer lab.  There's working computers on one side of the room, and the entire wall is covered with what looks like a massive computer screen.  In the middle of it all is a table with what can only be a holographic screensaver--a ball bouncing around on top.  The other side of the room is full of tables covered with tools and machine parts.
    "This way," Nico says from the computer parts side.  I walk over, still glancing over my shoulder at the ball that keeps going through "holes" in the table and popping out somewhere else.  Not going to lie, just watching that thing could keep me entertained for a very long time.  I know it and Nico seems to know it, too, because he taps his fingers on the table in an impatient sound.
    "Sorry," I mutter, glancing one last time before looking at this side of the room.  I forget about the hologram as he waves a hand over the table, starting various things floating in front of us both.  That is so cool.  I know I've said it before, it just requires repeating.  The parts put themselves together and he pulls it from the air, moving closer and placing what looks like a chunky metal hoop necklace around my neck.  "This is what you'll have to wear," he says, holding up his hand in front of me.  "Try taking my abilities."
    I grab his hand, intentionally trying to take his abilities, and feel nothing.  "Nothing," I say.
    "Then that might be enough, but," he says, turning back to his table, "something a little more discreet might be useful as you start heading into the schools.  I was thinking gloves, but that's only good for winter and even then it'd only work outside."
    "I like the necklace," I say, poking it.
    "That's standard issue," he says.  "It's full power or none at all.  I think we need something a little more flexible for this job."  He starts more items floating and I watch curiously as they connect and disconnect, reforming into another version of a bracelet.  "Let's see... we'll need a discreet switch, something you can reach easily without being noticed..."
    I sit on a nearby stool, watching him for a while before glancing back at the hologram screen saver.  "Why are you going this far for me?" I hear myself ask.  I can't bring myself to look at him, so I just watch the bouncing ball.
    "It's not just for you," he says.  "It's for both of you.  If I find out another one of the kids is related to an inmate, I'll do the same for them."
    "But you're going against everything for this," I say.  "I've already looked it up--nobody gets into the Cape Cells, especially if they have powers.  It's been that way since the place started.  I never expected to get to see Dad ever again."  A tear threatens and I blink hard, trying to keep it from escaping.  "I don't even know if I want to.  He did all those things--I would have been normal if it wasn't for him.  I would still be living with parents and I--I never would have been caught by Collector--"
    "You know," he says slowly, "we can't help the way we're born.  We can't change our parents, as much as we might hate them.  Trust me, I would have done that a long time ago.  But... do you hate him?  If he died would you skip his funeral?"
    "Of course not!" I say, shocked enough to turn and look at him.
    "Then I need to do what I can and you need to work out what you can," he says, simplifying it far too much.  "This will work," he says abruptly, tossing me what looks like a charm bracelet.  "Each of the charms blocks a certain amount of power--actually it'll effectively be taking your energy to block your energy, turning you into its power source.  The large one is the controller, tap it and all the charms will light up one by one.  Tap it after they're all lit up and it'll turn off.  Only one of them is on right now, since you don't need the others yet, but when you get older you will.  Keep it on at all times."
    I nod, slipping it on and looking at it for a long moment.  Looking