Interference: The Empatheia Saga, Book 2

By Tessa Cox

-SOPHIE-

"We're in this together now..."

I meant those words when I spoke them to Zach. He lights up my world, makes me feel safe, and tempts me to believe that life doesn't have to be dictated by my supernatural abilities or the dangers from my past. But lately, it seems the events that took place two years ago are still haunting me, a looming threat that never allows me to escape its grasp. Now, I must choose between hiding my fear--not an easy feat when your boyfriend is an empath trained to pick up on your every emotional response--or telling Zach and my family a truth that could change everything.

-ZACH-

"I'm giving you the real me to hold and keep safe..."

I've given Sophie the most honest version of myself, and she isn't afraid of the real me. She takes all my bad choices, all my good intentions, and all my passionate responses as part of the whole, and I swear, just the sound of her voice or her touch can undo me and then put me back together again. This girl is my everything. Sure, we've had more obstacles to overcome than most couples--supernatural gifts tend to complicate matters from time to time--but we've worked through them together. Still, I can't escape the feeling that there are more obstacles to come, and even though she tries to hide her fears, I know her far too well, and even without my gift, I would know she has a secret to tell--a secret that could stand in the way of a future we deserve to share together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662450631

Book preview

One

-ZACH-

I had a bad feeling about this.

As if my dark mood had summoned him, my phone buzzed with a new message from Sebastian.

Sebastian: Max will meet you at Atlas in 30, and we will debrief there afterward.

Me: Car? I presume I’m not driving my rental for this?

Sebastian: It’s in the garage already. Keys in drawer by the kitchen sink.

Me: Next time, I decide who goes with me.

Sebastian: He was the only one available right now.

Me: Right.

I arrived at Atlas half an hour ago, and although Stephen had a handful of meeting houses that often served as safe houses when we needed them, this one stood out as my favorite. I loved the secluded location and the ranch-style architecture that mingled with the modern farmhouse-style interior. Ellie had been the one to explain what the hell a modern farmhouse style was when they bought the place fully furnished before it foreclosed. I also loved that it had the biggest TV I had ever seen.

Seated on an incredibly comfortable couch, I had the football game on, marveling at the high definition and itching for a bag of chips along with a generous portion of Lily’s seven-layer dip as I waited for Max to arrive. I wanted to get this over with so I could focus on more important things.

Like the fact my girl would be here soon.

Her last text told me they arrived at the airport and boarded the plane safely, but I wouldn’t be able to relax until she was here, or better still until I had her in my arms. I welcomed the knock at the door and moved quickly, verifying through the peephole that Max stood on the other side.

Hey, man, he said as I opened the door and gestured for him to come in. He looked just as I remembered from our first meeting last month, a few inches shorter than me with shoulder-length blond hair that he seemed to be perpetually tucking behind his ears. He just turned eighteen and clearly struggled to grow facial hair in any manner beyond the occasional patches of blond whiskers on his chin and upper lip. He wore torn jeans and a green hoodie with a logo I didn’t recognize and didn’t care to ask about. I watched as his light blue eyes darted about the space. Whoa, nice place.

Wait here. I left him standing in the living room as I went into the kitchen to retrieve the keys. Finding them precisely where Sebastian said they would be, I grabbed my coat and headed for the garage entrance through the living room, Max following close behind. As I opened the door, the overhead motion light switched on, and I cursed under my breath at Sebastian.

There sat a white Dodge Caravan that had seen better days.

A damn minivan.

I could just picture Sebastian’s self-satisfied grin.

Uh…a minivan? asked Max, mirroring my own thoughts.

I opened the driver’s door, instantly assaulted by the overpowering musty scent lingering inside, glancing back at the rear of the vehicle to see if Sebastian also included a couple of empty car seats to really round out the joke. Finding it completely empty, I looked at Max and said, Let’s go. He walked to the passenger side without another word and buckled his seat belt.

His nerves skyrocketed as I took my seat and pushed the button on the remote hanging from the visor to open the outer garage door. I couldn’t tell if it was me or our present assignment that had him so anxious, but either way, it wouldn’t help our situation to have him in this state when we arrived at our destination.

After what transpired with Evans over two years ago, Stephen made a couple of decisions about how we would proceed in the future. First, he didn’t want me to go on assignment alone anymore, and second, we would do some recruiting. Evans might be locked up, but that didn’t guarantee he would stay that way. We wanted to be ready the next time.

I didn’t like having a tagalong, but I made a promise to Sophie, Dad, and Stephen that I would stay safe, and I intended to keep that promise.

Relax, I said as I backed out of the driveway, still silently cursing Sebastian for his latest power play. We’re just going to talk to her.

I’m not nervous, he replied quickly, with a determined shake of his head that I caught from the corner of my eye.

Here’s a free piece of advice, I said, glancing over at him briefly before returning my eyes to the road. Don’t try to convince an empath you’re not nervous when you clearly are. Just tell me what’s got you so anxious so we can go over it before we get there.

He shifted in his seat, angling his body to face me as he tucked his hair behind his right ear. I—I want you to let me take the lead on this one. I think I’m ready.

I kept my expression stoic, not shifting my eyes from the road despite the overwhelming urge to pull over, call Sebastian, and tell him this little joke ended here and now. Instead, giving nothing away, I said, What makes you think you’re ready?

I didn’t miss the sudden shift of enthusiasm that surged through him. I’ve been practicing the blocking exercises and practicing with my control. I remember everything you said in Chicago last month, the way you pitched it and let them ask most of the questions. I’ve been paying attention, and I want a chance to be a real member of this team, not just some stupid background Avenger with two seconds of screen time. I want to be front and center where the action is, you know, like Captain America—I didn’t sign up to get homework assignments or be treated like a kid who needs a babysitter.

Annoyed, I gripped the steering wheel a bit harder than necessary and wasn’t surprised to see Sebastian’s name appear on my phone where I had stashed it inside the nearby cupholder. He had a supernatural ability to sense my annoyance from wherever he hid behind his computer.

I swiped the message so it would appear on the screen.

Sebastian: Park’s all clear, but she brought a guest. Background says it’s her boyfriend. Probably didn’t want to come alone.

I took a deep breath and pulled into the empty parking lot. Switching the van off, I shifted in my seat and met his wary gaze. Let’s get a couple of things straight before we take one step in the direction of that park, I said, pointing in front of us. First, Stephen makes those calls, not me. Yes, he asks for my opinion because I see things from a different perspective, and he trusts me to give him an honest assessment. When he does ask, I will tell him unequivocally that you are not ready to take the lead. You will watch, learn, and keep your mouth shut while we are here, or so help me, I will make you wish you had stayed at home today.

He swallowed hard, and I felt the full force of his nerves as they returned. I unbuckled my seat belt and opened the door. Stepping out, I held the door open as I continued to look directly at him. And second? If anyone is going to be Cap, it’s me.

Without another word, Max exited the van and followed me toward the park entrance. When she finally agreed to meet with us, well, she agreed to meet with Stephen that is, her only condition was that she gets to pick the location. In classic Sebastian form, he had the area carefully swept and monitored. It still irked me that someone so irritating could be so damn good at his job.

As far as meeting locations went, Lake Lynn Park wasn’t a bad choice. The November chill made it too cold for kids to be on the playground or any parties or gatherings to disturb us. In fact, as we walked up the path to one of the two playgrounds, this one intended for older kids, I didn’t see a single person hanging around. The surrounding trees stood so tall, I had to tilt my neck to see the hazy skyline. The gloomy expanse over our heads suited the chill in the air, and a sudden gust of icy wind reminded me to zip up my coat a little more and move a bit faster.

They sat at one of five wooden picnic tables situated about the park enclosure that included swings, a slide, and other standard-issue park equipment, but where other parks might prefer sand, this one had a wood chip surface. I could hear Max’s footsteps on the paved gravel behind me, struggling to keep in stride. When I glanced back, he was lifting his hood over his head and tucking his hands into his front pockets. Focusing my attention on the task ahead, I registered the emotional climate around me. Under my breath, I said, She’s incredibly anxious, so we’ll need to give her a little time to adjust once we sit down. We can’t just hit her with our agenda, got it?

Yeah, he said with a quick nod, and the biting chill in the air made his breath visible as he exhaled the word.

The background check Sebastian had done gave me some basic facts. She was about my age but looked younger in her fitted navy down jacket, bright turquoise beanie with wisps of pale blonde hair around her face, and cheeks flushed from the cold. Next to the hulking guy sitting next to her, she looked delicate and small. Clad in his own beanie, black and fitted tightly to his head in a way that suggested he didn’t have much hair to cover, and a dark gray hoodie that emphasized the fact that he spent six out of seven days each week at a gym, I sensed immediately that in addition to all the expected emotions of curiosity, anxiety, and distrust, his possessiveness registered off the charts. I would need to tread carefully.

But just as I had the thought, I picked up on her wide toffee-colored eyes and dilated pupils. Her lips parted involuntarily as she took more than a cursory glance, sweeping over me from hair to shoe. Inwardly, I groaned in frustration, but at the same time bit back a grin as I remembered Sophie’s response the last time I told her how much I hated this part.

Poor beautiful boy. Nobody understands what a burden it really is to be the world’s most stunning man.

As if realizing her mouth was agape, the girl closed it and rubbed her perfectly pink glossed lips together a couple of times. If she performed the ritual in an effort to draw my attention, all it succeeded in doing was to keep a very singular pair of perfectly pink glossed lips in my mind—lips that I knew from personal experience tasted like raspberry sorbet when that stuff was on them.

She sat on one side of the picnic table with the boyfriend, her eyes never looking away from me as I continued to approach. Once we stood in front of them, I glanced around to confirm we were still alone before extending my hand in greeting. Hannah, I’m Zach, and this is my associate, Max. We work with Dr. Fischer.

She blinked a couple of times before shaking my hand and then Max’s. I—I thought Dr. Fischer would be coming.

He doesn’t meet people outside of secured locations, and you said you wouldn’t meet unless you named the place.

The shift was sudden and unexpected, but unmistakable. One second, she practically devoured me with her eyes, and in the next, her desire had been replaced with something artificial, like a person who is scared but tries to put it aside—they ride the terrifying roller coaster, sit through the horror flick, or walk at a normal pace through the deserted parking lot when they really just want to run to their car and get inside. They try to trick the mind into feeling a certain way, but fooling oneself isn’t really possible. Even if you manage to ride the coaster or finish the movie, your fear never left. It just became tolerable.

Hannah’s sudden shift served the same purpose. Either she feared her boyfriend’s reaction to her blatant perusal of me seconds ago, or she knew what I was and didn’t want to reveal too much. As if just remembering the guy next to her, she motioned at him with her thumb. This is my boyfriend, Sam. He grunted and moved his head in something resembling a nod, but I couldn’t ignore the hostility, suspicion, and slight jealousy I detected.

Do you want to sit? she asked.

Thanks. Sliding into the opposite bench, the wood creaking against the added weight in the awkward silence, I sat across from her. Sam barely noticed Max sliding in across from him since his glare stayed fixed unapologetically on me.

I pointed over her right shoulder to the swing set and said, Last time I was at this park, my younger sister fell off those swings and fractured her collarbone. That was about ten years ago.

She picked up on my attempt to start things off easy and decided to play along. I take it you’re not local then?

Not anymore, I replied, tucking my hands into the pockets of my coat. I live in California now, but I’m back in North Carolina often to help Dr. Fischer and visit family. What about you? You live around here?

Max bounced his leg and tucked his hood closer around his face. I shifted uncomfortably as the cold wooden bench beneath us seemed to somehow grow harder, the cold more biting under my jeans. Hannah zipped her jacket up a little more and looked as if she was about to speak when Sam suddenly waved a hand to interject.

We’re freezing our asses off here, so let’s cut the small talk. He turned to face Hannah. Tell him what you came here to tell him.

Ducking her head, she shut her eyes for the briefest of moments. I told you I was going to handle this. I don’t need you to interfere.

Maybe if you were more interested in getting down to business instead of checking him out, I would believe you.

Her cheeks, stained pink from the cold, became more flushed, and she lowered her gaze even more, staring at a fixed point on the table. At that moment, I wanted to show Sam the meaning of humiliation. I didn’t welcome her interest, but she didn’t deserve to be embarrassed with such callous disregard by her own boyfriend. I hoped Sam wouldn’t be a permanent fixture for her sake, but also for mine if she decided to work with us.

My phone vibrated like a clanging bell in the heavy silence. Sorry, I said, reaching into my pocket. My girlfriend is expected to land at Raleigh-Durham any minute, and I asked her to text when she landed. I met Sam’s harsh gaze as I said it, feeling his jealous hackles ease up a bit.

Sophie: Landed and waiting to deplane. Can’t wait to see you. xx

Me: Me too, baby. Stay safe.

I typed out the quick reply and replaced the phone in my pocket, finding it difficult to concentrate on the task at hand when I wanted to be the one fetching my girl from the airport instead of shivering in the cold beside Max. I took a deep breath and tried to refocus, looking back at Hannah who seemed determined not to meet my eyes. Listen, I think we are all ready to get out of this cold. Did you want to talk about what we came to discuss, or should we reschedule this meeting for another time?

At that, her head shot up. I don’t want to reschedule. I—I came here to tell Dr. Fischer that I can’t help him.

My phone buzzed in my pocket again, but I wanted to respond to her words before she retreated into herself once more, still humiliated by Sam’s accusation. Hannah, I think that’s where you’re wrong. I think you can help Dr. Fischer. Why don’t you tell me what worries you, and maybe we can work it out?

She frowned and shook her head. Look, I’m sure he’s a good guy—

He is a good guy, and he wants to help.

That’s what Evans said too, she said, the words a mere wisp of breath that seemed to float on the air between us before being swept away.

My phone buzzed in my pocket once more.

Maybe you should get that, she suggested, a slight edge to her tone.

Sorry. I reached into my pocket, knowing Sophie would only text again during this meeting if something was up. Seeing Sebastian’s name on the screen instead of Sophie’s equally unsettled me, but I gave nothing away.

Sebastian: Car just pulled up. Two big guys. If I send another text, it means they are on the move toward you.

Damn.

Tucking my phone away, I fixed her with a determined look. Stephen Fischer is not Alastair Evans. They share a common interest, but you’ll find they have very different agendas.

Nobody knows where he is, she blurted, and the tremor in her voice didn’t go unnoticed. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be scared all the time that he will suddenly turn up?

Yes, I do, I said without hesitation, recalling exactly how it felt to expect him to turn up at any minute and take what’s most important from me and how desperate I felt when he succeeded even for a short time. My response startled her, and I felt the jolt of surprise and watched her eyes grow wide and incredulous. Look, I said with a sigh, making an impulsive decision, but trusting my instincts, I can’t tell you a lot, but I can tell you he’s in custody and not a threat to you right now.

Unshed tears filled her dark eyes for the briefest moment as relief coursed through her. She dismissed it and shook her head. Still…I don’t want any part of this. I just want to move on.

And do what? Pretend you don’t have your ability? Dr. Fischer is offering a way to help you live your life while helping others like you to do the same. She shook her head again, no longer meeting my eyes. Hannah, please. I’m asking you to reconsider.

She gave you her answer, snapped Sam, sitting just a bit taller with his shoulders back, and his jaw tense.

I had been here before. People often feel backed into a corner when their secrets are exposed, and for most, discussing abilities fell into forbidden territory. Talking about them candidly, as I had just done, either encouraged people to trust me, or left them feeling raw and exposed. Even with her concentrated efforts to control her emotions, I could tell Hannah resided in the latter category, and her boyfriend sensed it, too, and felt the need to protect her.

I understood that instinct well.

Under normal circumstances, I would calm things down to a level that didn’t take away their free thoughts or decision-making but allowed everyone present to make sense of my words without the heightened emotions. But I wouldn’t be able to approach this like I usually would. Not when my phone buzzed again with Sebastian’s warning and I could feel the aggressive emotions of the two people approaching from behind.

Sam’s eyes shot behind me at the same time Hannah’s did, watching the men draw closer. I noted the brief tip of his head in acknowledgment as they continued to approach, stifling any possibility that these two guys just happened to show up. He knew them and anticipated their arrival.

Hannah turned to face Sam and bit out, What are they doing here?

Insurance, muttered Sam with smug satisfaction in his tone.

That isn’t necessary, I said, keeping my voice low and even. I came here just to encourage Hannah to give us a chance, to hear us out, and let us set up a time when she can meet Dr. Fischer face-to-face. There was never any intention to make her feel threatened.

She gave you her decision, and if that’s not enough, I’m telling you that I don’t want her anywhere near your little cult or whatever the hell you want to call yourselves. He stood up abruptly, and I caught Hannah’s unconscious flinch. We’re done here. He grabbed Hannah’s arm, and even when she tried to pull from his grasp, he wouldn’t let go, tugging her away from the table. At the same time, one of the other guys stepped closer to Max and the other stepped closer to me, blocking us in.

These two followed the same dress code as Sam, each with standard-issue hoodie and beanie, but loomed larger in their build, like identical defensive linemen. Without question, they had to be brothers, one with an angry scar on his chin, and the other with an elaborate tattoo that wrapped around to the visible part of his thick neck and throat. My lip twitched in amusement as Scar Face took a step closer to the table at the same time as Neck Tattoo, like they had come to the park earlier in the day to rehearse their parts to perfection.

Scar Face crossed his arms over his expansive chest and raised his eyebrows. Something funny?

Well, yeah, I said, turning in my seat to face him. Don’t you think this whole scene is pretty tired? I mean, you pull up after we’ve arrived, wait in the car for some type of signal from Sam like a text he sent under the table while I checked my own phone, or something like that, and then you sneak up behind and surround the table in some attempt to intimidate us. You might as well crack your knuckles and roll your neck to really drive it home.

At my provoking words, his nostrils flared, and he moved to step forward.

Don’t! yelled Hannah who had been muttering various forms of Let me go or I mean it, Sam, as she continued to struggle against his tight hold. Suddenly, she ceased her struggles and all eyes fixed on her. Let’s just get out of here. She tried once more to wrench her arm free, and when he finally let it go, she said, You shouldn’t do this, Sam. He’s…he’s stronger than you think.

Her words confirmed my suspicions about her being a sensor, but they also caused her boyfriend to chuckle. Thanks for the warning, babe.

I wasn’t built like a lineman or pro wrestler. I took care of my body, more so in the past couple of years than ever before since I discovered that running, lifting weights, mixed martial arts, swimming, and even yoga could serve as an outlet for all kinds of frustration—especially the frustrations brought on by a certain redhead in my life. Bundled in my jacket and sitting at the table, I looked less than intimidating to guys like Sam and his buddies.

But Sam’s mocking chuckle gnawed at me just the same.

Still, I had a job to do, and I needed to focus on that instead of the small insult to my ego. Taking a deep breath, I said, Tell me what this is all about, Sam.

He glared at me in disbelief, like I had missed the point, which, apparently, I had. To my mind, I didn’t see how the present scene was warranted just because we turned up at a meeting his girlfriend agreed to in the first place. The point is I want this Fischer guy to leave Hannah alone, and since he’s not here to get the message, I guess we will just have to make an example out of you and your quiet friend.

Beside me, I thought Max might be on the verge of some sort of attack because the level of panic I felt racing through him was typical of two or three people, not one kid. I spared a brief glance at him, only to discover he had gone pale, his eyes pleading as he looked at me, and despite Stephen’s new rules, he had no business being here. This scrawny kid who played more video games than Sebastian was no match for any of these guys. At best, he could back me up when I tried to explain how things went wrong to Stephen and Sebastian later on, and at worst, he could be a wild card who lost control and complicated an already volatile situation.

And just like that, that feared complication materialized. Neck Tattoo took a determined step toward Max, and I felt the last of his fragile self-control snap.

Max, no!

He lifted his shaky hand from his pocket and sent Neck Tattoo falling backward without ever touching him.

Everyone seemed to be momentarily frozen in place, absorbing what they had just seen, and none more so than Max. He stared at his hand in shock, like some newly discovered body part that continued to shake as he held it in front of him.

A string of curses came from Neck Tattoo, matching my own colorful expletives as I stood from the picnic table—or tried to stand up from the picnic table. Scar Face’s beefy paw landed on my left shoulder, and my jaw clenched. At some point, I removed my hands from my coat pockets, and I flexed my fingers unconsciously. This is your last chance to take Hannah’s advice. The words sounded as brittle as they tasted on my tongue, and I recognized that part of me didn’t want this to stop here.

There would always be that part of me that craved the fight, but over the past few years, I learned to control it, and I no longer needed it like I used to—but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a constant temptation. I could feel the pull like a siren’s song, and the air seemed to crackle with electricity as my senses heightened. I heard Hannah’s labored breaths, Max’s whimpers as his wide eyes moved to the man lifting himself from the ground with pure venom in his expression. I heard the rusty creak of one of the swings on the playground as it rocked back and forth in the wind, and the slight snicker of the man whose large hand still rested on my shoulder, not heeding my warning. With no more hesitation, I stood abruptly despite the weight of the hand trying to hold me down, and standing at my full height, I took a step away from the bench at the same time I reached up to my shoulder, grasping his hand and wrenching it behind his back until he cried out, and I sent him flying headfirst into the wood chips.

Zeroing in on Max as he tried to lift his hand again and force Neck Tattoo back down, it only took seconds for fear to overshadow ability. Neck Tattoo connected his fist to Max’s face, and blood began to spurt from his nose. He cried out at the same time Hannah did, and in two quick strides, I was at his side, shoving Max aside roughly as I returned the favor to Neck Tattoo and felt the break in his nose when my own fist found its target. He swung, anger eclipsing his capacity for any rational thought as he came at me over and over with no technique or form, and I deflected every attempt.

I sensed Sam heading for me and Scar Face recovering from his