“Hello,” she said into the mic. It boomed around the room, and she yelped. Her eyes went wide, and she put her hand over her heart as if to make sure it was still beating.

“Um, hi,” she said, trying again. Her voice was softer when she continued, so soft it was almost impossible to hear her, and we were right in front.

I glanced at Soph, who was standing off to the side with Miguel. They glanced from the students to Lexi and had matching looks of What the hell is happening? on their faces, and I quickly glanced away because there was no way I could answer them at the moment.

“I want to thank you all for coming,” Lexi continued. Her gaze was zeroed in on Jackson. Her voice was little more than a mouse squeak. Conversations started up around the room, the protesters started to get restless, and I was certain that what was being said was not flattering. I glanced at Soph again and our gazes met. She looked like she was about to storm the stage and take over. I shook my head. Lexi had to do it.

“This project, New Dawn, i . . . it . . . it’s more than just a . . . um . . . an . . .” Lexi looked at Jackson. Her face was a mask of horror. It was clear she had gone completely blank and had absolutely no idea what to say.

“Oh, shit,” Jackson muttered. I was right there with him.

“Ban—ouch!” One of the protesters started to chant but Jackson stepped on his hand. When the man shot him an accusatory look, Jackson flexed and the guy settled down.

A restlessness swept through the crowd, and the murmurs and whispers took on a fevered pitch. Lexi visibly paled, and I stared at Sophie. Okay, now we had to do something.

I was about to step forward when I saw the curtain behind Lexi twitch. A little boy in a suit appeared. He looked familiar, and I narrowed my eyes, trying to see against the blinding light on the stage. Elijah!

Now I thought I might faint. I leaned hard against Jackson, and we watched as Elijah yanked the curtain aside with all his might and a man in a wheelchair rolled forward through the opening. Looking impossibly handsome in his tuxedo, he propelled his chair forward until he was beside his sister. Nick had arrived just in time.

Nick

28

“Nicky?” Lexi gasped. She gestured at the chair I was in. “What happened? Is it your head? Are you all right?”