Define Normal

Chapter Twenty-Two

“That’s fine, I could use a run,” I said, my muscles tingling with unused energy. My shoulder had started to hurt way too early for me to be completely satisfied with my workout.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

I shook my head, already moving away from him. “I’m just going to Jackson’s house, it’s only a few miles. I’ll be fine.”

I sent a wave over my shoulder as he cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted, “Tell Ryder you fought with Chris, okay? Don’t mention me!”

I just shook my head, my lips twitching as I broke into a fast jog, letting my long legs stretch out beneath me, eating up the sidewalk more quickly with each step. When my phone buzzed in my pocket, I barely slowed to answer it, noticing that the caller ID was from Jackson’s house. “Hello,” I said grinning widely as I ran across a street.

“Jade.”

“General,” I said, shocked to hear Jackson’s father’s voice through the line. “Is there a problem?” I asked, slowing to a walk.

He let out a sigh, clearly reluctant to tell me whatever it was he had to say. “It’s about Law.”

I froze, getting a sinking feeling in my stomach. “What about him?”

“I’ve heard rumours that he wants you in custody. He’s been telling anyone who will listen that you’re the key to stopping those kids and unfortunately, people are starting to pay attention.”

I shook my head and started jogging again, picking up the pace as I neared Jackson’s street. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

I hung up the phone and pumped my arms harder against my sides, ignoring the slight twinge of pain in my right shoulder as I ran. When I arrived, Jackson’s car wasn’t in the driveway and I didn’t bother knocking before I entered the house. “General?” I called, closing the door behind me.

“Over here,” the general called from the dining room and I made my way there quickly, plopping into a seat across from him with a sigh.

“Okay, how many military thugs are we talking about?”

“I can’t be sure but it could be a full tactical team,” the general said calmly, leaning his elbows on the table and looking at me steadily with his silver grey eyes that were just a shade lighter than Jackson’s.

I widened my eyes innocently and pressed a hand to my chest, feeling my heart rate come down after my run. “All for little old me?”

“You and I both know it would take at least that much to bring you in.”

I let out a long breath and ran my hands over my face in frustration. “How many times do I have to tell them that I don’t know a damn thing about those kids?”

“I’m really sorry Jade,” the general said sincerely, reaching a hand across the table to grip one of mine briefly. I sent him a grateful smile, appreciating the gesture even though it wasn’t going to change the fact that a group of military men could be on their way to bring me in at this very moment. Something in his eyes shifted and he looked at me with worry once more. “Law and I used to be close friends but lately, I’m starting to think that he’s not thinking clearly.”

I raised my eyebrow at the general. “Oh really? What tipped you off, exactly? Was it the time that he ended up torturing me when he should’ve been sewing up my bullet wound? Or maybe it was when he aligned himself with Reed and kidnapped me?”

The general sighed and placed his fingers on his temples, pressing hard. “I know it seemed obvious to you but we’ve been in the military life for a long time now, Jade. These things aren’t written in black and white. He was doing what he saw as necessary to accomplish his mission. If a little bit of information from you could save lives, then to him, it was worth the price of getting that information.”