Ghostwalker 06 - Predatory Game

to her as a child…He forced her to kill animals, animals a little girl would love and want to have for pets. He put her in the position of having to have perfect control or kill a friend—another child—toddlers even. How can a child get over that kind of trauma?”
    Jesse was glad to hear Lily refer to her adopted father as “Whitney.” She was finally coming to terms with the fact that he was a monster beyond redemption, and she was beginning to distance herself from him emotionally. Jess was certain that was a good thing. “I didn’t think about that.”
    “You wouldn’t, Jess—you came from a loving home. Saber wouldn’t have known what a mother and father was, not for years. She grew up training. Her life was all about rigid rules and constant learning.
    What do you think those first few years were like?”

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    He was ashamed to admit he hadn’t given it much thought—at least until he saw the pictures of her childhood.
    “It’s amazing that she’s still here with you, that she could learn to trust anyone as much as she does you.
    You’re probably the first person she’s ever confided in, or shared any of the real Saber with.”
    She was making him feel worse by the moment. He hadn’t wanted to think about Saber’s trauma, or even acknowledge there was a threat if she stayed with him, because he didn’t want to lose her. “She’s probably being paranoid, but she thinks Eric knows about her.”
    Lily went very still. “Jess. Why would you doubt her? She was raised in a world even you can’t comprehend. She has to be very sensitive. We haven’t even begun to discover what she can do with her abilities.When a GhostWalker ‘thinks’ something, it’s most likely true. Look at you. Until you were in that chair, you hadn’t developed your ability to move objects and yet now you’re incredibly strong. You
    ‘thought’ you might be able to do it and played around a little bit, but because you didn’t have time, you didn’t bother with it. There’re so many others with hidden talents they haven’t begun to tap. If Saber says Eric is treating her different, I wouldn’t ever think she’s paranoid, I’d believe her.”
    He didn’t want to believe her because he didn’t want to accept the consequences.Logan knew. For sure, Logan knew. Was it possible that he had told Eric? Jess rubbed his head again. He was too tired to think. “I need to go to bed, Lily.”
    “I know.” Lily packed up her equipment. “How are the bionics coming?”
    “It’s frustrating. I’m beginning to think we should have gone with a power pack even though that would be limiting. I can’t keep function and I sure can’t trust it.”His frustration and anger were in his voice, but he couldn’t help it.
    Eric returned, leaning into the doorframe. “Are you visualizing? Using your psychic abilities to rebuild the pathways?”
    Jess sent him one smoldering, dangerous look. He wasn’t in the mood to be lectured. He’d done enough visualizing to get fifty pair of legs working, and he was still sitting in a chair, taking falls that put stitches in his head, humiliating him in front of his friends and Saber.He wasn’t going to take bullshit from anyone, not even a friend.
    Eric held up his hand. “Don’t take my head off, I was only trying to help.”
    “Well, don’t.” Jess glared at him. “Just who told you about Saber?”
    Lily’s hands stilled on the medical bag. She turned and looked at Eric. The doctor stood there, looking uncomfortable, toeing the doorframe. He shrugged.Jess remained silent, waiting, insisting on an answer.
    Because whoever ratted her out was going to get the beating of his life.
    Eric scowled at him. “How the hell would I remember? I’m around all of you all the time. Does it matter?”
    “It matters if you make her feel uncomfortable in her own home.”
    Irritation crossed Lambert’s face. “This is your home, Jess. I’ve been in it hundreds of times over the last year. She’s not like the rest of you and you should know that. And frankly, if anyone should be feeling Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    uncomfortable in it right now, it’s you. Because as long as she lives here, you’re putting your life and the lives of everyone that comes here at risk.”
    “What the hell does that mean?” Jess spun his chair all the way around to glare at his