Page 23 of Dark Medicine (Strange Gifts #2)

“What the fuck did you just say?” said Adam, standing, clenching his fists at his sides.

“She’s his daughter, and her brother was his son. It’s what got your brother killed. He was going to tell you and hide you. You already know that you were adopted, right?” Fiona nodded her head.

“Moore was dating your mother early in his career. Although dating is probably too kind a word. He fathered your brother and promised to return to Ireland and marry her. When he came back eight years later, he fathered you and then left again, telling her he would never marry her. That’s how your brother knew who he was.”

“Jesus,” whispered Fiona.

“She tried, Fiona. Your mother loved him and honestly thought he would do what was right by her. She wanted desperately to keep you and your brother, but she was a simple shop girl. She just couldn’t afford to feed three mouths, and Moore refused to send any money. When she said she would go to the American military authorities, he threatened to kill her and both you and your brother.”

“Is… is she still alive? I was told she died giving birth to me,” she asked.

“No, I’m sorry. When Moore found out she gave you two up for adoption, he had her removed from the equation. She would have been able to verify who he was and that he was the father, and he couldn’t have that. He monitored you and your brother. When your adopted father was offered the position at the Depot, that was no coincidence.”

“Oh my God, that monster is my father?” Fiona clutched her stomach and sat back in the chair, her face pale, bile rising in her throat.

“He’s your sperm donor, not your father, Fiona,” said Adam, reaching for her hand.

“It’s a good thing right now,” said Uri. “He won’t kill you. You’re his only legacy for this world. He thinks he’ll be able to play on your heart to save him. But I’m here to beg you, Fiona. Do not save this man. There are certain people that the earth is better off without, and Moore is one of them.”

“What about the woman? Kay?” asked Flip.

“She’ll wait until Moore dies and will most assuredly take up his work. The others, most of them, will scatter if they can.”

“Most of them?” asked Kane, folding his arms across his chest.

“Groome thinks he’ll take over. He and the woman have had a thing on the side for months now. He believes he’s in control, but I can tell you that she has the reins on everything. He’s a fool if he believes otherwise.”

“Groome. You mentioned him. Major William Groome, right?” Uri nodded at Kane. “I remember a story about him in Slovenia or Bosnia.”

“It was Bosnia,” said Uri, “and it was true. He helped murder those villagers with Moore.”

“I really think I’m going to be sick,” said Fiona, holding her stomach. Adam dutifully poured her a glass of water and sat beside her.

“I know this is a lot to take in and a lot to ask you to trust me, but Moore is moving fast because he is out of time. I will gladly give my life if it means stopping him. But mark my words, he must be stopped.”

Kane looked around at the faces of his friends. He knew without asking that they wouldn’t allow Moore to live, and more importantly, they would never allow Uri’s wife and daughter to die. He looked down at Aislinn squeezing his fingers, and he stepped forward, laying his hand on Uri’s arm. The man didn’t move, just looked between Kane and Aislinn.

“You’re no prince, but you’re certainly not evil to the core. I would sense it if you were,” said Kane. “I’m getting married tomorrow, Uri. You up for a wedding before we spend our honeymoon saving the world?”

Uri let out a long slow breath, and his shoulders began to shake. The sobs were hard, his body rumbling from the reaction.

“We’ll make sure your family is safe, Uri. I have friends that can hike to where they are and get them out.” Uri shook his head again.

“No. No, they’re safe where they are. It’s in a very remote area of Wyoming, and no one knows about its location. However, I wouldn’t be opposed to a guard or two,” he said with a smile. Flip nodded and moved toward the parlor to call a few old friends.

“Where are they?” he asked over his shoulder. Uri quickly wrote down the coordinates of the cabin and handed them to Flip.

“Well, I guess if I thought you were double-crossing us, that proves you aren’t. If you did, we’d have the location of your family. It seems you’re telling the truth, Uri.”

“I’m so very sorry for all of this. I’m ashamed of how I’ve had to betray brothers. I swore nothing would ever make me do that, but my wife and daughter are everything to me. A man does a lot of heinous things in the name of love.”

“I can understand that,” said Adam, looking at Fiona. The television above the bar flashed a scene of the California coast, and all eyes turned to see a burning home.

“That’s one of his. One of Moore’s homes. It’s the second time in as many weeks someone has tried to burn him to the ground,” said Uri.

“Could it be one of us? I mean, one of the pink dust people,” asked Fiona.

“Pink dust people?” Spook’s nose scrunched up, and he shook his head.

“Well, what would you call us?” said Fiona.

“The Gifted,” said Spook. “I’ve decided that’s what we are. The Gifted.”

“The Gifted,” said Fiona. “I like it.”

“To answer your question, Fiona, it very well could be one of you. We know for a fact there were at least two individuals who possessed the ability to start fires at will.”

“Holy shit,” whispered Kane. “We have to find the others. We need those records.”

“Well, that’s easier said than done,” said Uri.

“Why is that?”

“Because,” he said, pointing to the screen, “that house is where the records were kept. All paper, nothing electronic.”

“Fuck!”