Overtaken Read Free

recover his memory. Eventually.”
    The implication was clear. There was a ticking clock. I knew the longer it took for Chase to remember, the safer Maya would be. Until then, it was up to Oliver, Jackson, and me to keep Maya’s secret—even from my father. It seemed to be the wisest course of action, where my father’s safety was concerned.
    In the meantime, my father thought the best course of action for me was not to do anything rash or call undue attention to myself.
    â€œJust be observant and try to act normal.”
    â€œNormal,” I muttered with a bemused chuckle. I’d almost forgotten what that was.
    â€œAn alien concept, I know,” my dad replied. “But do your best.”
    I promised to do as he asked. And he promised to continue working Cochran and Bar Tech from the inside. His main focus was to ferret out whether I or anyone else was in imminent danger of being identified by the security-goon squad. My father kept reiterating how important it was that we worked together—as a team.
    In the spirit of domestic cooperation, the one new fact I did offer up to my dad was about Dana Fox’s sudden return to Barrington.
    â€œShe’s back?” he asked, genuinely surprised by my revelation and looking a bit disconcerted.
    â€œI met her this morning.” I didn’t elaborate on any of the specifics, but I couldn’t help expressing my nagging doubt. “Though her sudden reappearance does seem suspicious to me.” Of course, I deliberately failed to mention anything about my complicated relationship with Jackson to my dad.
    â€œAgreed,” my father admitted, nodding his head as he processed this latest wrinkle. “I doubt it’s just a coincidence.”
    I doubted it, too. Timing was everything. And I intended to find out exactly what brought Dana back to Barrington.
    Which was why, just a few hours later, I was standing in the middle of Dana’s impromptu homecoming bash. What better place to start digging for answers than in her own backyard?
    â€¢Â Â â€¢Â Â â€¢
    â€œI don’t know what the hell is happening,” Jackson whispered in my ear somewhat forbiddingly as he walked up behind me. He had on his old navy and burgundy school jacket, which I’d never seen him wear at all.
    â€œMakes two of us,” I remarked truthfully, trying my best to keep a stoic expression.
    â€œI was so sure I’d never see Dana again,” Jackson confessed.
    â€œAnd yet here she is.” I was desperate to get everything out in the open between the two of us. “Don’t you have questions?” The floodgates opened, and so did my mouth. “Where she’s been? Why has she never contacted you? Did her disappearance have anything to do with Bar Tech?”
    â€œOf course I have questions, Nica,” he countered, obviously angered by my insinuating tone but keeping his voice low so others couldn’t hear what we were talking about. “I just need to give her time to open up.”
    â€œTime? Last night we were running for our lives,” I snapped back, reminding him of the imminent danger that surrounded us. “And tonight we’re partying?”
    Before Jackson had a chance to respond, Dana abruptly interrupted us, flashing her big, warm grin. “You guys having fun?”
    Jackson and I exchanged tense looks.
    â€œCan’t believe how quickly you pulled this all together in just a few hours,” Jackson interjected, hoping to diffuse the awkwardness that hung in the air.
    â€œYou know me. Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Dana flipped back playfully. “Can’t believe how much I’ve missed everyone.”
    â€œAnd everyone seems to have missed you,” I replied in my sincerest voice. “Judging by the turnout.”
    Dana scanned the big crowd. Everyone seemed to be having fun. “I’m touched to know that people didn’t forget about