by AR Colbert
Shoving the vase over to the side of my desk, I sat to check out the desk drawers. Pens, pencils, a pair of scissors, and a notepad sat in the top drawer. The second drawer held four different shades of lipstick. The bottom drawer—designed for hanging files—sat empty. This wasn’t a job. This was a joke.
“Excuse me, Ms. Greenwood?”
I snapped my eyes up to a timid middle-aged woman standing in my doorway.
“You must be Barbara. I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting you until after lunch.”
“I’m not here for the party planning yet. I only came to deliver this package that just came in for you.” Her eyes were wide as she scanned my office. She clearly seemed taken aback and uncomfortable. “I like what you’ve done with the place,” she added unconvincingly.
“Oh, I— nevermind. Thank you.” I accepted the small parcel from the woman and set it on my desk.
“You are welcome. I’ll see you after lunch.” She turned on the spot and quickly skittered out of the office.
Sliding my new gold handled scissors along the taped edge of the box, I anxiously pushed the flaps aside to discover a black rectangular device the size of my palm. The smooth glass front resembled a cell phone, only smaller and more square. Beneath the device sat a note, and this time, I recognized the penmanship immediately.
Emilio made these so we can communicate. There’s a button on the back. Hold it down for three seconds tonight at seven o’clock. I’ll be waiting for you. -F
CHAPTER 16
I bounced impatiently on the edge of my bed at ten minutes before seven. Lying back with a huff, I inspected the device again. It was simple—a thin black body with a flat glass screen on one side and nothing but the single button on its matte metal back. My finger danced over the button, unsure of what would happen if I pushed it early. Probably nothing.
But not being able to push the button yet only made me want to do it more. I slid my finger around the edge of the circle, round and round until I couldn’t take it anymore. Click.
Nothing happened.
I sat up and glanced at the clock on my wall. Eight minutes until seven. Close enough. I clicked the button again and held it for the full three seconds this time, just as I was instructed. The device blinked to life, and Felix’s face smiled back at me.
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to wait until seven,” he said with a grin.
His blue eyes sparkled. I hadn’t noticed it the other day, but his sparkle was missing when he was here in his father’s house. The thought of Everett snuffing out Felix’s natural joy made my chest ache.
“You caught me.” I returned his smile. Behind him I could make out the edges of the bookshelves in his study. The warm glow of the fireplace reflected off of his cheek and created golden shimmering highlights in his straw-colored hair. Oh how I wished I could be sitting in the comfy armchair across from him instead of locked up at his father’s house.
“These are so cool.” I pulled the device closer as I admired how clear the picture was. Felix looked real enough to touch.
His laughter startled me. “Thanks for the close up. I like seeing the green flecks in your eyes.” The pink spreading across his cheeks matched the warmth I felt in my own.
I batted my eyelashes playfully at him a couple of times. The sound of his laughter was nice. I hadn’t heard much laughter lately. “So... let’s get to business.”
He nodded. “I asked around about Conrad. He spends most of his time with Justice Hines, as we knew. But one of the guards mentioned he goes down to interrogate Milo every day as well.”
“Milo? How is he still alive? I figured Justice Hines would have done away with him a long time ago.”
Felix swallowed. “I think she’s still questioning him about the others.”
“The other Exiled?”
He shook his head with a frown. “The other Outsiders. She knows there are still a lot of them out there, and she’s using Milo to track them down.”
“And now she’s using Conrad, too? I just don’t understand why he would care. It all seems beneath the Supreme Leadership.”
“She may just be trying to prove her worth. Make him see why she’s made the decisions she has lately. The Leadership hasn’t been happy with her—citizens aren’t sure what to make of her anymore when they see her on the evening programming. This might be her last-ditch effort to keep her position.”
“Maybe. But if Conrad has been interrogating Milo about the Outsiders, then I’m almost certain that was him I saw on the motorcycle near the Ember camps. Do you think he’s working with Justice Hines or if there are any plans to destroy the camps? They would have to run that by you first, right? They can’t just attack without your consent!”
“They’re not supposed to. But Conrad outranks me as a part of the Supreme Leadership. If he’s involved, they could do anything they wanted.”
I rubbed the heels of my hands into my eyes and inhaled deeply. “Tell James. Ask him to get word out to the camps. Just let them know that there’s a good possibility an attack is coming their way. They’ll need to put up extra patrols and have their weapons ready.” I bit my lip, trying to think of anything else I could do to help from here. “And Felix? Please make sure my dad knows. James will know how to get in touch with him, I think.”
Felix nodded, solemnly. “I will.”
Even through the screen I could see that he was sincere. I just hoped it would be enough.
“How are things there?” he asked. “Anything to report?”
I recognized the look on his face. He’d switched to his politician mask. But under his business-like inquiry, his muscles were tight with concern. His sparkle was cloudy.
“Your dad is behaving himself, if that’s what you’re asking.”
The corner of his mouth perked up. “Good. He'd better.”
Though our conversation had reached its natural end, it was clear neither of us was quite ready to hang it up. We lingered a moment longer before Felix spoke again. “Let’s talk next week at the same time. If anything noteworthy happens before then, I’ll call the house and let you know.”
“Deal. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me, too,” he said with a soft smile.
Once the screen went dark again, I set out to find Rider. I wanted to update him on what Felix said, but he wasn’t in his room. I padded down the stairs and nearly crashed right into him as I swung around the corner of the foyer into the hall.
“There you are!” I exclaimed, a little breathless from rushing down the stairs. “I need to talk to you.”
“Shh!” Rider put a finger up to his mouth. Something wasn’t right, and I was kicking myself for not noticing it in my haste. His jaw was rigid, his muscles tense. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back toward the foyer with the quiet grace of a cat. He whispered as we tiptoed along. “Everett has been dr—”
“Claren?”
I froze.
Everett peeked around the corner with a childish grin. His cheeks were red and his hair was slightly disheveled. “Did I hear you say you wanted to talk?” I knew he was drunk by the laziness of his tongue as he worked to over-enunciate each syllable. He cut his eyes over to Rider and jerked his head for him to get lost with all the subtlety of an elephant at a tea party.
I inched closer to Rider, very aware now of the threat that stood across from us. Even in his inebriated state, Everett looking to get me alone wasn’t encouraging. In fact, his inebriation only made it worse.
“Come, my dear. Let’s go talk privately in my office.”
Rider moved first, practically gluing himself to my side as he nudged me toward Everett. He was making a statement. It was easier to go along with Everett’s suggestion without making a scene, but Rider was going with me. And I’d never been happier to have him there.
I fell into step beside Rider, but Everett frowned as we neared him. “Don’t you have somewhere to be, boy?”
“My orders are to stay with Claren at all times, sir.”<
br />
“Your orders from whom?”
“Me. Those are his orders from me, his direct superior.” I interrupted.
“Well seeing as how I am superior to both of you, I am relieving you of your duties tonight, Rider. In fact, I insist you take the night off. Run along.” Everett shooed him away with a wave of his hand, the playful grin from earlier now replaced by something darker flickering in his eyes.
Rider hesitated a beat too long, causing Everett to raise his voice to just short of a boom. “Go,” he demanded.
Rider glanced at me with sorrow in his eyes. I lifted my chin enough to let him know that I’d be okay. I could handle a drunken Everett.
Probably.
A hungry grin spread across Everett’s face as Rider stepped around the corner leaving us alone. His stormy eyes settled on me, bloodshot bolts of red streaking through the corners. The whiskey on his breath was so strong I began to feel a little heady myself. Was second-hand inebriation a thing? Or was this sick swirling nausea I felt just a side effect of being an Empath around a drunk?
He stumbled forward, settling his hand low on the backside of my hip as he guided me into his dimly lit office. I willed myself not to look at the door behind his desk. I wasn’t interested in its secrets anymore. I just wanted to go back to my room.
Spinning toward his bookshelf, I feigned interest in one of the titles sitting upon the shelf. “The Gilded Mask of a Leader,” I read aloud. “Sounds fascinating.”
“I don’t know that I’d call it fascinating, though it has proven to be useful.”
“Oh, how so?” I slid my finger along the spines of the other hardbacks lining his shelf. Everett liked to be in control, and I was beginning to learn that he fed off of fear. If I wanted to get out of here untouched, I’d have to stay casual, bury my fear, and keep his mind on other things. Work seemed a safe topic.
“Well, the Supreme Leadership has actually requested a meeting with me this week. It seems we made a strong impression for Madam George at your party the other night. I fly out on Wednesday.”
I froze. Did this have anything to do with me? Had Conrad enlisted Cynthia George to work with Everett against me? It was all way too much involvement with the Supreme Leadership for my taste.
“How marvelous.” It was difficult to keep my voice steady. “You must be doing very well to draw their attention.”
“We are doing very well. Madam George was quite taken by you.” Everett stepped behind me so close that I could feel his hot breath on the back of my neck. I was caught between him and the bookshelf, unable to move. I couldn’t even see the doorway from where I stood. My game was up.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear. His lips tickled my lobe as he spoke and sent a revolting shudder down my spine. “As am I. I knew we would make an excellent team.” His dry, rough finger trailed a line from behind my ear, down my neck, and across my shoulder. “Now about that room you wanted to explore...”
“Claren.” Rider’s voice was gravelly from over my shoulder. Everett’s body tensed at the sound of it, his breath picking up into loud angry huffs.
“I asked you to run along.” He slowly moved away from me, and I thought I might crumple to the floor with the way the tension dissipated from my tight muscles.
“I apologize, sir. Joy has Ms. Greenwood’s bath ready, and she asked me to notify her.”
The control in Rider’s tone was amazing. His fury was red hot. I could feel his rage, stronger than my fear, stronger than Everett’s desire. It was a wonder he hadn’t already run over here and eliminated him with his bare hands.
I’d already taken two steps away from him as Everett turned back to me. “I don’t think you need a bath tonight, do you?” The look on his face said he’d already decided my evening for me.
“Actually,” I began walking to join Rider in the doorway, “a bath sounds lovely after a long day of work. You remember how stressful a first day on the job can be, I’m sure.” I forced a smile and tilted my head innocently in his direction. “Perhaps we can talk again another night. After your trip?”
His eyes grew hungry again. Of course I didn’t want to meet up with him tonight or any other night, but I would need to learn more about his meeting with the Supreme Leadership.
“Very well, we’ll make it a date when I return. Enjoy your bath.” His eyes dropped from mine and lingered on my body. Rider took my wrist and pulled me behind him as though Everett could see right through my clothes.
“We’ve got to get you out of this house,” Rider whispered as we dashed up the stairs. “I’ll call Felix immediately.”
“No! Don’t tell Felix.” I couldn’t hurt him like that. His relationship with his father was broken enough as it was. “We have to stay here a little longer. I’m getting close to some information we need. Information about the Supreme Leadership. Can you keep me safe just a little while longer?”
“I can definitely try,” he said grimly.
CHAPTER 17
“Joy?”
I skipped down the stairs, my hand gliding along the slick banister as I went. The air in the house felt lighter with Everett gone. There was more laughter, brighter spirits from the staff. I’d given them all some time off while he was away, but most of them stayed at the house.
We weren’t sure exactly when he’d be back, but our two days of freedom had been well enjoyed so far. Even Barbara at the office had a little more pep in her step than usual. And tonight I’d decided I was going to prepare a picnic for Joy and myself to enjoy. The sun was shining and a warm breeze was softly blowing through the new green leaves dotting the trees across the estate. It was the perfect weather for dinner outdoors.
“Jooooy,” I called again. She wasn’t upstairs, so I turned down the attendants’ hall, hoping I’d find her on my way toward the kitchen. Empty. The entire mansion seemed to be completely devoid of people. Where was everyone?
The muffled sound of cheering drew my attention down the long hall away from the kitchen and back toward the carriage house. I quickened my steps and pulled open the painted steel door that served as an attendants’ entrance out onto the grounds. Shielding my eyes from the sunlight, I took in an unusual sight.
Several female attendants sat along the steps leading down from the house. They cheered and hollered at two men circling each other in the gravel between the main house and the carriage house. There were too many people crowded in a huddle watching the men for me to make out who they were, but I could definitely tell they were fighting.
I pushed my way down the steps and spotted Joy and Asher whooping along with the crowd. “Joy! What is going on?”
She turned to me with taut cheeks and wide, guilty eyes. “I, uh...”
Asher grinned widely beside her, casually throwing his arm over her shoulder as he leaned closer to me and said, “Your boys are fighting. Rider clearly has better training, but my money’s on Raf. He’s scrappy.”
“What?!”
I shoved my way toward the middle of the circle, attendants—and several strangers—parting as they realized who I was. Two tall men stood panting in the center. Raf was turned away from me, shirtless, sweat glistening on his sinewy back. Rider stood across from him, determination set on his face. Before he noticed I was there, he lunged forward, swinging a powerful fist up at Raf’s jaw.
“Stop it!”
Raf ducked and thrust his shoulder into Rider’s waist, propelling them both back into the onlookers.
“Guys! Knock it off!”
Rider twisted, throwing Raf’s balance off and wrenching an arm between them for leverage. Then, too fast for me to make out what was happening, he pulled Raf up over his back and slammed his body down onto the gravel.
“No!” I threw myself into the circle to get in between them, but Rider beat me to Raf. He extended his arm, which Raf willingly accepted, and pulled him back to his feet. They both wiped the sweat dripping into their eyes and then pulled each other into a salty wet handshake of sorts, with tired smi
les and claps on the back.
The crowd clapped and cheered, and I spotted Jeremy watching me with a smirk from across the circle. Frowning at him, I turned back to the fighters.
“I demand a rematch,” Raf said through heavy breaths.
Rider flashed a rare smile. “If you insist, but I’m not going to take it easy on you next time.”
“Ha!”
They turned to face me, completely unalarmed by the steely gaze I set on them. “You boys have some explaining to do.”
Jeremy let out a whistle and started backing away.
“Uh-uh... you stay here, too. And Asher.” I turned back to find him and Joy watching anxiously from the sidelines and motioned for them to come forward. “The rest of you can go.”
The remaining attendants and their friends dispersed, murmuring about how they were all going to be in trouble. But they weren’t the ones I was angry with. I turned back to Raf and Rider, hands on my hips.
“What was that?”
“We were just messing around,” Raf said. His breathing had finally slowed, and he held a crooked grin, playing up his boyish charm. But it wasn’t working on me this time.
“No.” I pointed my finger at him. “You’re not even supposed to be here. I want to hear it from Rider.” His smile had faded, but Rider’s eyes still danced with amusement. “Unless Raf was planning to attack me, I can’t think of a single good reason why I would find the head of my security out here fighting with him.”
Jeremy rolled his eyes and spoke before Rider could answer. “They told you they were just messing around. Head of your security or not, maybe they still want to have a little fun. It’s not always about you.”
“Hey, relax.” Asher held his hands out to Jeremy, as if he could physically tamp down his annoyance with me. “We were just killing some time, Ms. Greenwood. We didn’t mean to upset you.”
“By fighting?” I dropped my hands in exasperation.
“We weren’t fighting,” Rider spoke at last. “Not really, anyway. Just working to keep our skills sharp. Raf is actually pretty tough for a Sanitation Office Worker.” There was humor in his tone.
