Deceitful (Rules of Deception 1)

“What happened?” Major asked, his voice controlled.

“It was Ryan. He’s a Variant. He could create and control fog.”

Major’s lips tightened with disappointment, as though he was sad that one precious Variant had slipped through his fingers. Major glanced at Devon, his eyes resting on the dent in his head and the holes in his shirt. But it wasn’t my place to decide if Devon wanted his gift to be known.

“Ryan said something about joining Abel’s Army.”

The room fell silent. Dread flitted across Major’s face before he put on his neutral mask. Alec exchanged a look with Major. He knew. They all knew, except for me.

Alec ran his hands over Kate’s hair. “Why is she here? She wasn’t supposed to be.”

“I don’t know. But she stopped breathing for a while because she was held under water. She needs to be taken to a hospital.”

“What about you?” Alec asked as he lifted Kate into his arms. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.” How easily the lie slipped from my lips.

He hesitated, his eyes conflicted.

“Alec, I think you should hurry,” Major said.

Alec gave a terse nod, his eyes darting to me once more before he turned. I watched as he walked out. For one last moment, my eyes dropped to Ryan. The other FEA agents were checking him. All except for Major, who only had eyes for Devon and me. He probably knew about Devon already. Major always seemed to know things.

“You should let a doctor check you,” he said, looking at my chest.

“I’m fine.” I crossed my arms over my body. “What is Abel’s Army? And why would Ryan kill to join them?”

Major’s dark eyes bored into me, as if he was trying to extract something from my mind. He hesitated. Major never hesitated.

“Abel’s Army is a group of Variants.”

“Why aren’t they part of the FEA?”

“They don’t like to play by the rules and they don’t want to be under the control of the government. Their leader has his own agenda.”

“Abel?” I guessed.

“There’s one thing you should never forget: Abel’s Army is dangerous. Very dangerous. They’re a bunch of criminals, and nothing more. We don’t associate with them, under any circumstances.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll let Stevens take you to headquarters. A helicopter is waiting.” Hawk-Face stepped forward when he heard his name.

“Headquarters? But what about Linda and Ronald? They’ll be worried.”

Devon pushed himself upright, one of his arms wrapped around his chest. “I think it’s better if they never see you again,” he said softly.

Major gave a nod. “This mission is over, Tessa.”

I spent the next two days in bed, recovering; on the third day I couldn’t hide anymore.

Holly sank down on the edge of my bed and put a hand on my shoulder. Her hair was fury-red, just the way she’d promised in her e-mail. “Major wants to see you in his office.”

I lifted my head from the pillow. “He’s back?”

“Alec and Major returned this morning. The entire agency is talking about Abel’s Army.”

I sat up. “You didn’t say anything, did you?” I whispered. I’d told Holly everything last night: in the safety of darkness the words had plummeted from my mouth and afterward, I’d felt as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. But Major would be furious if he determined that I was the source of the gossip.

Hurt flickered in her eyes. “Of course not.”

“I’m sorry. It’s just I don’t know what to think anymore. I guess it’ll take a while before I’ll be back to my old self.”

I untangled myself from the blankets and began changing into jeans and a clean T-shirt.

“You didn’t tell me,” Holly whispered.

I slipped into my jeans before glancing up at her. “Tell you what?”

“That he cut you too.”

My hand flew to the A over my rib cage. I’d managed to hide it from her until now. “He didn’t—he cut me when I was in Madison’s body. I thought it would disappear once I changed back. But—” Ryan had left his mark on me. A constant reminder—something, some little part of Madison, I’d carry with me until the bitter end. There was only one person who could have removed the mark from my body and he was the one person I couldn’t ask. Not after what had happened.

Holly nodded but the sadness in her face was too much.

Outside the room, whispered voices carried through the corridor. The common room was crowded with people, laughing and talking. I walked past them. I’d never felt farther away from life at the FEA. I’d changed during my time as Madison and I didn’t think it was something that could be undone.

Tanner fell into step beside me. “Hey Tess, I heard you kicked some serious ass in Livingston. Well done.”

I stopped, frozen by his words and stared at him, unsure if he was pulling my leg. Slowly his grin faded. “That wasn’t the right thing to say, huh?” He rubbed his mohawk.