Forget Me Not by Stacey Nash Read Free Book Online Page B

continue my search of the room.
    My heart sinks the further I look. Nothing else even resembles a phone.
    I yank the top desk drawer open and wince when a multitude of pens slide and clatter around inside. Their movement reveals a black shiny cell phone hiding in the bottom. Leaning against the desk to steady myself, I snatch it and turn to leave the room, my hopes and heart soaring with the elation of success. Now I just need to find somewhere away from the house to talk freely.
    As I raise my gaze from the precious phone, my breath and step catch mid stride. Jax slouches in the doorway, effectively blocking my way out.
    “Damn it.”
    “You can’t call.” He eyes the phone in my hand.
    I shove it into my back pocket.
    “It’s not safe. His phone will be bugged.”
    He can’t possibly know who I’m calling. I stare at him and take a deep breath. “Whose phone?”
    “They need to find you, and using your father is their best bet.” His voice holds the tone of Al and Dad discussing the recent sunny weather: bored, casual.
    My hands clasp together, squeeze into each other, turn over, and drop to my sides. “I need to talk to him.”
    “Why?”
    “Dad needs me. We only have each other. My mother’s gone.” I glance at the curved trees in a painting on the wall. “I have to tell him I’m safe. He can’t lose me too.” The words rush out through my aching throat.
    A noise like mice gnawing on cardboard draws my eyes to his fingers. They pick at the doorframe, scratching off the paint. “I’ll help.” The corner of his mouth turns, just a little, and he shakes his head as if he’s surprised by his own offer.
    He’ll help me. I reach into my pocket and pull out the phone.
    Softness warms his eyes for a brief moment, then they return to their usual bored stare. He detaches himself from the doorjamb and moves closer. His eyes never leave mine. They hold me without letting go, and it’s like I can’t move, can’t think, can’t breathe. He slides his hand under mine, uncurls my fingers, and takes the phone. He places it back inside the drawer.
    “You can’t call, but I’ll take you there,” he says evenly. “You can see him, briefly. Exchange heartfelt words of endearment, dance a jig for all I care, and then I’m bringing you straight back.”
    Not what I expected, but I nod. This is ten times better than a call. I’ll let him take me anywhere if it means seeing Dad.
    His eyes continue holding mine, steady, serious, strong. “You have to promise me you’ll follow my instructions. If a situation arises, we’ll need to return immediately. I can’t have you jeopardizing the safety of this base.”
    The tension seeps out of my body, and my shoulders sag. I’m going to see Dad, so everything will be all right. Looking Jax straight in the eye, I tell him, “I promise.”
    I follow him outside in silence. The lack of city sounds almost rings in my ears. Instead, the wind rustles through the long grass. The crisp night air smells fresh and pure, a good match for my new mood. I suck in a deep breath and let it out slowly, savoring the wholesomeness which doesn’t exist in city air. We head toward the paint flecked outbuilding which houses Marcus’s workshop.
    “Ever ridden a bike?” Jax asks.
    “Yeah, Will has a road bike. I ride on the back all the time.”
    “Good, this is almost the same.” He opens one side of the double wooden doors.
    The motorbike I saw earlier still rests by the wall. Once a muscle bike perhaps, but now it’s stripped to its bare essentials, almost naked to the bone. It’s merely an engine with a seat and two wheels. It is really rather ugly. The handlebars laze back like those on a Harley.
    I take a small step backward, pinching the corner of my lip with my teeth. “Is that thing safe?”
    “Thing? That bike couldn’t be safer. Marcus built it from scratch.” He tilts his head a little. He sounds like he’s talking about a favorite toy. “He’s still got to pretty