Page 111 of Never the Same

“What do you mean?” Alex asked, elbows braced on the table.

“I found them. In a morgue outside Rome. They were Italian mercenaries, more than likely hired for a single job. Doubtfully without any ties to whoever’s pulling the strings.” Julian glanced sideways at Gideon on the couch to his left. “Someone tied up loose ends.”

Gideon met his eyes, shaking his head. He had to be assuming that someone was him.

“I’m sure you didn’t,” Gwen said softly, and my brother sent her a slight nod, a thanks embedded in that dark, broody expression of his.

“It was more than likely my protector with him who shot those men,” Julian added, voice flat. “Or at least, my protector is also part of this. I bet he’s how my source code was acquired.”

“Then Kylo must really be involved, too. A family affair,” I noted. “Kylo set the trap for me in Rome with the Putcheskis. All of the protectors betrayed us, but why? How would they even know about the book in the first place?” Panic pressed in on my lungs when it clicked. I pulled my hand away from Jason’s to bury my fingertips into my chest at the pain there. “They found out about the book because I was searching for it, and they quickly realized they could use the drugs against us for whatever reason.”

Jason’s hand closed around my jeaned thigh, grounding me. “You don’t know that. Tristan might have—”

“No, I put the spotlight on my brother.” I faced Jason, eyes blurring. “I went to Switzerland and realized if the book was still out there, Tristan would have it. I confronted him about it, and somehow, his protector or mine discovered the truth.”

Ryder shook his head. “If Tristan had the book and told you, then you’d never have been in Rome at the rave. Doesn’t add up.”

I shut my eyes, hating the blank spot in my mind. My memories were another enemy right now.

“What if the formulas weren’t just words on paper? Clearly, that one sent to Putcheski worked. What if Tristan had already tested them at some point in the past, maybe even before you contacted him?” Gideon suggested. “And when you started digging, you stirred something up.” He rose, fists in his pockets. “But that isn’t on you. Someone played all of us.”

“Because your bighearted sister was trying to help the dad of someone she thought didn’t even like her,” Jason cut in, voice low.

“What are you talking about?” Gideon asked, eyes sharp on him. “Julian told me you were after the book, but you were searching for it because of his dad?”

“Jason had no idea. I did this behind his back.” The weight of that admission filled the cabin. “Seems to me if only I’d been honest with everyone, then maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation.” Just like my mother said.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Gwen cut in, “but I finally found Kylo on camera after the rave.” She spun her laptop to the side so we could all view it.

On screen, there was a clip of Kylo being dragged unconscious by a masked man over to a windowless black van.

“That’s me,” Gideon muttered, pointing at himself on camera as he climbed out of the back to help load Kylo inside it.

The driver lowered his window and gave a three-finger salute right at the camera.

“That’s gotta be my protector,” Gideon rasped. “He has to be undercover—but if he’s on the inside and helping us, then why didn’t he get word to us yet?”

“And where the hell is he and Kylo now?” Jason removed a piece of paper from his pocket, and I looked on. It was a list I’d forgotten Carter had asked Gideon to make back at the hotel, pairing up our protectors with our names:

Rowan—Gideon

Kylo—Celeste Hollis

Orson—Julian

Cassian—Lyra

Waylen—Tristan

The list also included my parents’ protectors and so on, but I stopped paying attention to it when Jason got up and passed it to Alex. Something told me he’d already memorized every name on it and didn’t need it anymore.

“Our protectors have two bases of operations,” Gideon continued as Jason returned to his seat. “A remote location outside Surrey and another site in Montana.”

“If Tristan’s innocent, maybe he’s being held at their compound in Surrey,” Julian commented, closing his laptop. “It was probably Tristan’s blood that activated the memory-wipe formula.” He dragged a hand down his face, sitting back in his seat. “They used the mind control shit on him, too.”

Gideon stiffened. “But how would they know the formula would work on Tristan, because not even our protectors know he’s our . . .” His words trailed off as he fumbled for his phone, made a call, then cursed a few seconds later.

“What is it?” I asked, attempting to stand, but turbulence knocked me back down into my seat.