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it wasn’t the first thing I noticed about him—maybe it’s that the energy from him sort of overwhelms everything else.
    My heart pulses faster than normal as I try to find the best way to explain. “Our talents came from the same source. All the people with Insight, and Manipulation, and the very rare Shields, and us. It all came from the same place.”
    Our history always incites questions, which brings on questions of loyalty and who the shadows really are. It’s the only time drastic measures have been taken on other member of The Middle Men or people with talents. But right now I’m feeling like I need Ocean to have all the facts because I hope it’ll pull him onto my side.
    I shudder, but Ocean interrupts my thoughts. “Oh-kay.”
    His eyes are boring holes into me again. I can feel him.
    “And I think that’s where they’re headed. There was this woman who traded in Voodoo, and—”
    “Oh,” he whispers, as he lies flat on the canvas. “I think that’s them.”
    I stare at the edges of the horizon as our small boat ventures further out to sea than I’ve ever attempted taking it before.
    “Put your hand in the water.” He lies flat and stretches his hand off the side of the boat.
    I do the same on my side and try to concentrate on the people we’re looking for.
    “Take my hand.” He reaches out with his free hand, and I grab it before thinking, knowing more energy will help.
    The feel of him jolts through me, spinning my thoughts into chaos and making my heart pound. This is supposed to help, not turn me into useless mush.
    “Wow.” He’s so still, and staring at me. His thumb starts to trace patterns on the back of my hand, which raises goose bumps even in the muggy heat.
    I swallow again. Hard. For a completely different kind of fear. And as much as I want to tear my eyes away from him, I’m locked in.
    His fingers squeeze mine again as a faint smile begins to form. “If this is what our fingers feel together, imagine what it would feel like to kiss.”
    I flop back to the canvas, turning my head and burning cheeks toward the water, but keeping our hands together. My fingers touch the water again, hoping to feel something of the people we’re hunting and wishing to avoid Ocean. Even a confirmation that this is the boat we’re looking for. It’s not as if there are a shortage of boats in the water off of West Palm Beach. But I keep getting clouded by how Ocean’s hand feels in mine.
    “Don’t you want to hear the rest of the story?” I ask, not wanting to talk about what it feels like to touch him or to be frustrated that I can’t tell if it’s the right boat. Water is supposed to be some kind of super-conductor. It should be easier .
    “We’ve got to adjust sails,” he says. “You can continue the Voodoo story later. Right now, we have a boat to catch because that’s definitely them.”

FOUR
    Micah
     
    Twenty-four hours ago Landon stepped sideways next to the mast of his sailboat and we’ve heard nothing. We haven’t seen a sleek Middle Men boat either, and I’m wondering what exactly is going on. Why would Landon leave us for so long when he knows we need his protection?
    And then my throat closes up as I think about the last nervous smile he gave me and how maybe he didn’t leave us, he just can’t get back. Tears well up behind my eyes, and I can’t believe where I am and what I’m doing. Being on a boat is weird enough, but shadows? Middle Men? It’s like I’ve stepped into an alternate reality that I really don’t want to be in. I’d happily trade in my gift for normal.
    I stare at the ceiling above our bed and listen to the water rushing against the side of the boat and the wind through the sails and the rigging. Both are things I never thought would feel like part of my days, but I can’t imagine going to sleep without it. The three of us are taking shifts as captain, and I need to get sleep now, while I can.
    “You’re a long ways out here,” Dean