Deception by Kelly Carrero Page A

wrapped around my back, and the other was rubbing the same spot on my leg where my father’s hand had just been.
    I closed my eyes and melted into his warm embrace, comforted in knowing I was safe and didn’t have to confront the man I despised so much.
    “Jade. What’s wrong?” Aiden’s voice was etched with concern.
    I didn’t want to have to explain it to him. I wished I was able to open up my mind so he could see for himself, but for all I knew, my father was still around. I couldn’t risk him finding out more ways to hurt me.
    “He was here,” I finally managed to say.
    Aiden’s muscles tensed. “Who was here?”
    “Adam.”
    “He didn’t touch you, did he?”
    “Only my leg. But that’s beside the point. He was in my mind.” I shuddered at the thought. How dare he think he could do that? I felt so violated.
    “What did he do?”
    “It’s not what he did. It’s what he said. He said the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He said I was like him.”
    “How did he know that?” Aiden said, more to himself than to me. “He’s been here. He must have been watching us downstairs.”
    “How?”
    “I don’t know. Maybe he was already here, or maybe he’s got cameras set up everywhere.”
    “Like he had when he filmed Mum being shot?”
    “Yeah.”
    “I can’t stay here any longer.” I crawled out of his lap. I got up off the bed and paced the room, shaking with nervous energy. “We have to leave. But where do we go?”
    “Calm down, Jade.” He looked at me as if asking permission. I relented and stepped closer to him so he could reach out and touch me. Once I had my nervous energy under control, Aiden patted the spot on the bed beside him. I sat down and waited for his suggestion. He always had a plan, so this time shouldn’t be any different.
    “So far, we know he seems to have eyes everywhere. I think we’re going to have to do what we said earlier. We’ll need to find a new place to stay whenever we need to sleep. And I think it goes without saying that during the daytime, you, unfortunately, cannot be alone.”
    I nodded. I was completely onboard with that one. I didn’t want to give Adam the chance to sneak up on me again, even if it did mean having to drag someone with me while I showered or even went to the loo. “Safety in numbers, isn’t that what they say?”
    “That’s what they say,” he agreed. “Let’s just hope they’re right.”

Chapter 9
    My phone vibrated on the bedside table. Aiden picked it up. “It’s Chelsea.”
    “Can you answer it and tell her I’m in the bathroom?”
    “Sure.” He swiped the screen. “Hey, Chels. Are you having fun?”
    I left Aiden to talk with her while I went into the bathroom. I was sure to leave the door open so I wouldn’t get any surprise visitors. I turned on the taps and splashed water over my face.
    With my eyes still closed, I reached out and grabbed the handtowel off the ring beside the sink. I patted my face dry, then lifted my head to assess myself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at me looked nothing like what I felt inside. At least no one would be able to tell something was wrong with me. I didn’t want to have to tell anyone else about that creep being inside my head.
    When I heard Aiden hang up the phone, I walked back into the room. “What did she want?” I asked. Aiden looked up at me. His expression was a mixture of concern and dread. “Is she okay?”
    “Yeah, she’s fine, but…”
    “But?”
    “She got a call from the hospital. They’re going to change Marie’s bandages in half an hour, and she wanted us to meet her there. Don’t worry. I said that something has come up, and we may not be able to come.”
    I shook my head quickly. “I’m not going to let what he did stop us from helping out my best friend.”
    “Are you sure? ’Cause Lucas can probably do what I was going to do anyway.”
    “I’m sure.”
    Aiden typed something into my phone, then placed it back on the