Conspiracy Game(24)

“I’m so glad you remember Jack, Jeb,” Briony said, trying to be cheerful. “He needs to get out of the country and I thought you might be able to help.”

“Lock the door.” Jack slowly lowered the gun and put his head on the pillow, draping one arm over his eyes.

Briony turned the lock and leaned against the door, blowing on the coffee to keep from having to look at her brother.

“Just how did you meet up with Jack Norton, Briony?” Jebediah demanded.

“I went to the forest on the edge of the city,” she admitted.

“Damn it, Briony.” Jebediah advanced on her threateningly, looming over her shorter figure. “What were you thinking to take a risk like that? Going out into the forest when I told you to stay put.”

“Jebediah.” Jack’s voice cut in, his tone very low, almost purring. “You talk to her like that again around me and I’m going to rip out your heart. We clear on that?”

Briony’s heart jumped at the threat. Coming from anyone else, it would have been melodramatic, but Jack sounded like he meant it. His tone was mild, he hadn’t raised his voice; in fact he hadn’t even sat up, one arm was still slung over his eyes, but something in his ultrarelaxed posture seemed deceptive—as if inside he was coiled like a snake, ready to strike at any moment. She had never in her life met anyone so casual about violence.

Jebediah backed up. “She’s my sister and my responsibility, Jack. She could have been killed.” He almost sounded conciliatory.

“I already raked her over the coals. Once is enough for anyone.” Jack’s tone said to drop it.

Briony sank down onto the edge of the bed and looked up at her brother. “I’m sorry. I needed to breathe. I couldn’t stay here surrounded by all the people… ”

Jack’s arm snaked out fast, his fingers settling around her wrist. “Don’t apologize. You’re not an anchor. You can’t be around so many people and not feel their misery. Your brother ought to know that about you by now.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Jack?” Jebediah demanded. “My sister isn’t any of your business.”

Jack sat up slowly, the sheet falling away to reveal the masses of cuts and burns and carvings on his chest and shoulders.

“God, Jack.” Jebediah swallowed hard, his gaze jumping to Briony’s. “Who got ahold of you? You need a doctor.”

“Briony took care of me.”

Jebediah’s expression hardened. “Briony? What’s going on between you two?”

“Wild sex, Jebediah,” Briony snapped, sarcasm dripping from her voice. “I’m not sixteen, you know, and you’re totally embarrassing me.” She handed the coffee to Jack. “Does he look in shape to perform?”

Jack looked at her over the top of the cup, his eyes meeting hers, a sudden raw intensity turning the deep gray of his eyes to a liquid silver. “I would have accommodated you had you asked.”

A ghost of a smile curved her mouth, but inside her stomach did a funny little flip. He didn’t look as if he was joking. Her womb did an unexpected clench and she had to look away from him.

“That’s not funny, Jack,” Jebediah snapped. “Don’t even think about my sister that way.”

“I’m heading to the bathroom and don’t have much on,” Jack pointed out. “So if you’re on the shy side, you might not want to look.”

She’d already looked. Briony turned toward the window, not wanting either of them to see the color stealing up her neck to her face. “I washed your clothes,” she said, “and hung them up on the shower, but I doubt if they’re dry. Jebediah, would you get him jeans and a shirt?”

Her brother waited until Jack disappeared into the bathroom before crouching down in front of her. “Are you crazy?” he hissed. “Do you have any idea who that man is? Or what he’s capable of doing?”

Even with Jack out of the room, his close proximity kept the anger, shock, and alarm her brother was exuding from hitting her quite as hard as it usually did. “As far as I can see, Jeb, he’s been tortured and needs help. Can you get him out of here?”

“The soldiers in the city are all stirred up. That’s why I brought you coffee rather than have you go out this morning. A few dead bodies were found early this morning, reportedly rebels. The fear is that they’re infiltrating the city, and that’s why the army is on alert. They were searching bars last night.”

“The rebels are looking for Jack. He escaped from their camp.”

“And they want him bad enough to come into Kinshasa, with soldiers on every street corner?” Jebediah scratched his head. “You’re right, we’ll have to get him out of here. They’ll look closely at us because we’re foreigners. I’ll get clothes for him and you keep him out of sight. Is he strong enough to travel?”