Fear Tomorrow (The Fear Chronicles Book 4)

by C. C. Bolick

  “To eat. I’m thinking about a steak and baked potato.”

  “What about that Thai restaurant?”

  Though one of my favorites, Erin’s choice surprised me. The last time we ate there was the night I discovered Erin had worked in Chicago. I’d put together the truth and realized she was the same Erin that Tyler had loved. Would Tyler bow out of the meal if Erin was there?

  Without a word, he followed behind Angel and Skip. Erin talked with Rena as if they were the only ones going to dinner. At the restaurant, the waiter seated us before a huge salt-water aquarium with yellow and blue fish swimming through live coral.

  “Can we have a different table?” Angel asked.

  “No problem.” The waiter gave her a fearful look as he led us to a table across the room. Like most people, he knew better than to argue with Angel. I sat next to Rena; to her other side was Erin. Angel sat to my right, with Skip next, and then Tyler ended up next to Erin.

  “Are you okay?” Rena asked as Angel sat down.

  Angel looked around as if checking the exits. “This isn’t my favorite restaurant. Bad memories.”

  “Travis said that fish tank has shattered at least three times,” Erin said.

  Tyler looked from Erin to me. “Didn’t realize you were this cozy.”

  “We’re not,” I said.

  “I was here for one of those times,” Angel said. “They evacuated the restaurant.”

  “Who broke the tank?” Rena asked.

  “You did. Well, Rachelle did by freezing the water.” She looked away. “Let’s change the subject.”

  The waiter put menus in front of us and I thumbed through the pages. My stomach growled from the smell of food. Skip and Tyler both ordered enough for the whole table. Angel asked for a glass of water since blood wasn’t on the menu. I asked for two plates, unsure of what I’d eat first.

  If this was my last meal, no one would keep me from enjoying it.

  After Rena and Erin ordered, an uncomfortable silence fell over the table. No one said more than a few words until the food arrived.

  “Well,” Rena said as she lifted her fork, “I guess tomorrow might be it.”

  Erin looked at her. “You need something to fear, right? That’s the way your power works. I think you should fear tomorrow.”

  “Why?” Tyler asked.

  “Because I’m still in charge and I’m not sure what Sylvia was thinking.”

  “Sylvia has a good reason for every decision she makes,” he said. “So do you, I assume.”

  Erin stared at her plate. “I think I’ve lost my appetite.”

  “Tell him the truth,” Angel said. “He deserves to know why you left.”

  “Don’t push her,” Tyler said. “This isn’t the time to scare her into a corner. We need Erin to lead us tomorrow.”

  Erin laughed and took a sip of her water. “This agency doesn’t need me.”

  “Yes, they do,” Tyler said.

  “Name one person here who is better off with me as acting director. I should be in Chicago trying to figure out why the heck I climbed on a zip line.”

  “You’d never get on a zip line,” Tyler said.

  “I know.” Erin smiled at him. “Even after six years, you know that about me.”

  “Like Skip, he has a photographic memory,” Angel said. “They never forget a single detail.”

  Skip shoved an elbow into her side.

  “I noticed that in school,” Erin said. “I always wondered but never asked.”

  “Maybe you should have,” Tyler said. “Who knows? Things could be different now.”

  “There’s always tomorrow,” Rena said. “But in our case, maybe make up now to be on the safe side.”

  Tyler and Erin didn’t speak to each other again for the rest of the meal. Rena tried to keep the conversation going, but she gave up near the end.

  As our plates were removed, Tyler checked a message on his phone. “Well, it was great while it lasted.”

  “What was?” Angel asked.

  “Dinner. Now it’s time to get back to work.”

  Erin sighed. “I hope Sylvia returns soon. I don’t think I can take much more of this.”

  “You’re in luck.” He glanced up from the phone. “Sylvia is back and so is the senator. She wants a meeting in the Centennial room.”

  The conference room where Van shot Rena. “I hope he’s not still worried about the trade deal.”

  Rena put a hand over mine. “There’s only one way to find out.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rena

  When we reached the conference room, Senator McCall stood outside shouting into his phone. Travis pulled me close as he led us into the packed room. I looked away from the senator, not wanting to take a chance on making eye contact.

  At the long wooden table sat at least two dozen people including agents and members of Kayden’s team. She sat at one end, not the actual end but at a corner. Pade sat by her side.

  Sylvia sat near the table’s center; her usual seat at the end was empty. Dad sat across from her, next to Mama. A few seats down sat Travis’s dad and at the end, next to where Sylvia usually sat, were Agent Lockhart and Agent Dallas. The way the guards and agents sat at various spots along the table showed we were all in this together. Thoughts of this many people depending on my ability to save them made me shiver.

  Travis guided me to two open seats. Angel and Skip took a seat, along with Tyler. Erin looked around for another empty seat and Sylvia caught her attention. She pointed to the seat at the end.

  Erin shook her head and looked ready to bolt from the room. Before she could escape, the senator stepped into the room and closed the door.

  “I don’t know what’s going on around here.” He pocketed his cell phone and smoothed the wrinkles along the front of his suit. “When I find out who locked me in that box on the moon—I wouldn’t call it a room—someone is going to wish they’d never taken a job here, starting with your director.”

  “Me?” Sylvia asked innocently.

  “Yes.” He looked to Sylvia’s normal seat and paused. As he spotted Sylvia, his voice filled with confusion. “What is going on?”

  “I had to make some personnel changes,” she said. “We needed the correct people in each position.”

  “Make your point, Sylvia.”

  “I’m no longer director.” She motioned to Erin, who’d reluctantly taken the seat at the end of the table. I smiled in an attempt to show my support. “As acting director, Agent Watts has prepared the team to face the destruction of this planet.”

  “Destruction?” he asked. “From what I’ve heard, Castillo is no longer a threat.”

  “We’re discussing a nuclear event, but not one planned by a person,” she said. “According to Noah, a star will explode and destroy Golvern and Earth.”

  “That’s ridiculous. It will take more than an empty threat to get rid of me.” He shot an angry glare around the table. “Everyone out. End of the world or not, we will finish this trade deal.”

  “No one leaves,” Kayden. “If you want your trade deal, sit down and let’s finish the details. Our time is short.”

  Some of the other agents stood and offered him their seat. Travis reached for my hand as the senator took a seat across from the queen. His message was clear. We were going nowhere.

  * * * * *

  Travis

  I held Rena’s hand under the table as the senator began the negotiations he’d fought so hard for. Rena gripped my hand tightly; maybe she knew it took every bit of strength I had to stay seated. After his careless words about Rena, I wanted to show him how I felt with a fist in his face.

  The queen leaned forward as she spoke, giving him her full attention. Pade paced the floor and interjected a point every so often. Sylvia leaned back in her chair; her hands made a bridge on the table. At some point, Tyler switched chairs with Agent Lockhart and moved to sit next to Erin. All it took was one look from my friend.

  I caught my
self. Did I really consider Tyler a friend again? After almost getting me killed, did he deserve my friendship?

  Rena had taught me forgiveness. She wouldn’t want to see me fight with Tyler any longer, not when she and Erin were friends. In truth, I missed having Tyler as my partner more than I wanted to admit.

  By the end of the meeting, the senator had what he’d fought so hard to get. Healing technology a thousand years more advanced than Earth’s in exchange for the minerals they needed to build their coveted black glass and spaceships.

  Senator McCall continued to talk, but I slipped out to get some air and Rena followed.

  “Why is the senator so stuck on this trade deal?” she asked.

  “He’s running for president and he thinks this trade deal could win him the election. If people find out aliens not only exist, but he’s already made friends with them, the news will give him every bit of coverage he can handle.”

  “It’s not just that,” Angel said from behind. “Their healing technology saved his wife months ago.”

  I spun around to face her. “I don’t get why he didn’t just force you to save lives. Draining your blood and using your power would have been the easiest way. Of course, I would have made sure that never happened.”

  “Who says he didn’t try?” she asked. “The problem with that is the only people I’ve saved with the healing power of my blood are you, Skip, and Rena. I don’t think he wants the world to know vampires exist.”

  “But aliens are okay?” Rena asked.

  She shrugged. “I tried to save Rachelle and we all know how that turned out.” Angel glanced over Rena. “Don’t take that personally.”

  “You shouldn’t either,” I said. “As an agent, we all have to accept the fact we can’t save everyone.”

  Rena punched my arm. “What were you saying? I don’t know about you, but in a few hours, I plan to save everyone.”

  I smiled, but concealing the wave of pain was a struggle. “I’ve learned there is one thing I can’t give up even to be an agent. I can’t live without you, Rena. You’ve got to know that by now.”

  “I know.” She squeezed my hand. “That’s why it’s you and me together.”

  “That’s cute,” Angel said. “You guys are acting like an old married couple. It’s still weird to see Rena as Rachelle, but I’m glad the two of you can get past that one small issue.”

  I turned to Angel. “Did I mention the fact we’re married now?”

  She raised both eyebrows. “This I’ve got to hear.”

  * * * * *

  Rena

  After Travis explained our wedding and she chewed us out for allowing her to miss it, Angel admitted how happy she was at the thought of us being sisters. As we talked, the senator left the conference room and passed us on his way to the elevator.

  He noticed me and stopped. “Aren’t you the one who froze the entire city and surrounding counties? I heard Agent Dallas brought you back from the South Pole. Does Sylvia let you roam free around this base now?”

  “Sylvia has no control over where I roam,” I said. “And I’m not who you think. I’m Rena.”

  “Our Firebird has come back from the dead?” He noticed Travis held my hand and nodded. “Just like your mother. I had a feeling you’d return. There will be plenty of work you can do for the agency in your new form.”

  “I don’t think so,” I said. “As of now, I no longer work for this agency.”

  Angel smiled at me. “That felt good, didn’t it? Maybe I should quit too.”

  “You can’t quit,” Senator McCall said. “There’s no place for you outside of these walls.”

  She raised her hand as if she might slap him. “I’m not a threat to anyone.”

  “You can’t pretend with me,” he said. “I know where you came from. This agency made you what you are. You owe me. If I didn’t provide the funding—”

  “You don’t provide the funding,” Travis said. “Congress provides funding.”

  “With my support. You know nothing about how government works.”

  “Which is why I’d never run for office.” Travis folded his arms. “Maybe I should. I could set a much better example than you.”

  The senator laughed.

  “If this is about the agency’s funding,” Angel said, “we don’t need your money. I have enough to run this agency for years. Probably more than you’ll ever have even with your back-door deals.”

  His laughter died. “You’re charming, Angel. How strange your mother named you Angel when you’re the deadliest person in this room.”

  Travis got in his face. “Don’t bet on that. All it takes is me removing one of these gloves and you’ll never make the ballot next November. And if Angel needs any more money to run this agency, I have plenty.”

  “Thinking about your election is pointless,” I said. “If the world ends tomorrow—”

  “The world won’t end tomorrow. If I’ve learned anything about this team, you’ll find a way to save it.”

  Travis’s mouth fell open. “Did you give us an order or a compliment?”

  He smiled as he retreated for the elevator. “Let’s just say I won’t lose sleep as long as you’re on the job. After tomorrow, however, changes will be made around here. If you won’t see the advantage of my help with funding, I’ll make sure the money stops. We’ll see how long it takes Sylvia to beg.”

  “I can’t picture Sylvia begging anyone for anything, especially him,” Travis said as the elevator doors closed with the senator inside.

  “You’re finally free,” I said. “We’re all finally free.”

  Travis and Angel spoke in low voices. They were plotting how to keep the lights on if the senator pulled the agency’s funding. The important thing was they thought of us all as having a future beyond tomorrow.

  * * * * *

  Travis

  Before leaving the conference room, we went back inside to tell Sylvia about our latest confrontation with the senator. She didn’t seem worried about him or his funding. Instead, she went over the plan one more time and told the team how proud she was of everyone’s efforts, especially supporting Erin during her absence.

  “Okay, folks,” she said in closing. “We have six hours before deployment. We’ll meet at oh-four-hundred hours and prepare to depart. Spend tonight as if it were your last.”

  Four o’clock would come early in the morning, but six hours was more than enough time to sleep next to Rena. Seeing Van step into the room made me want out of there as quickly as possible.

  Angel followed my gaze in Van’s direction. “Are you going to be okay?”

  I nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

  “You’re not going to cause an earthquake or choke someone with your bare hands?”

  “No,” I said. “I’m over the idea of scorching people’s skin, even yours.”

  Angel gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. When she stepped back, she touched her lips. “Don’t worry. You know I heal fast.”

  On her way out, Angel stopped and talked with Agent Lockhart. Before I could reach them, Agent Dallas approached with a smile.

  “How does it feel to have proved me wrong?” she asked.

  “You’re never wrong,” Rena said with a laugh. “What are you going to do on possibly your last night?”

  Agent Dallas shared a rare laugh with us. “Hopefully I’ll get the chance to fly.” She looked at Rena. “Not fly like you, of course. I’ll be in the cockpit of a jet. If the world ends tomorrow, I’ll go out doing what I enjoy most.” With another laugh, she turned to leave.

  “Amber?” Agent Lockhart said.

  Agent Dallas spun around to face him, eyes wide with shock. “Jon?”

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I think that’s the only time you’ve ever called me by my first name. Even when you were training me, you never called me Amber.”

  “When this is over,” he said, “assuming we survive, what do you think about us grabbing a cup of coffee?”


  “Coffee?” She gave him a strange look.

  “I’ve never been a huge fan of coffee, but you once said you could make a cup that would change my mind.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “The world’s about to end and you want to drink coffee?”

  He smiled. “Yes, I think I do.” Agent Lockhart followed her out of the room. Angel watched them leave, her eyes wide with shock.

  Rena gripped my arm. “I think we should take Sylvia’s advice.”

  I pulled her close and grinned. “What do you have in mind?”

  “Could we go somewhere alone?”

  “Your room?” The truth hit me as I stared at her. Less than twenty-four hours ago, we were sleeping in that room, soundly wrapped in each other’s arms.

  Rena glanced down at her hands. “No, I think we should go to your room.”

  “It doesn’t matter where we go,” I said. “As long as I’m with you.”

  Around us, people began to filter out of the conference room. I held Rena’s hand as we walked to the elevator. Before the doors could close, Tyler stepped inside with Erin. I pressed the buttons for my floor and the close elevator button before anyone else could join us.

  The elevator began a decent and Erin swore. Tyler gave her a look of surprise. She put a hand to her forehead. “When I left the plane, I brought my bags back to the base, but I forgot to ask where Agent Lockhart put them. I gave up my room when I left for Chicago.”

  “I doubt they had time to reassign your room,” Rena said.

  I nodded. “I’m sure Agent Lockhart returned them for you.”

  “Your bags are in my room,” Tyler said. “I asked Agent Lockhart to put them there after Sylvia gave you the promotion.”

  “You still have a room here?” Rena asked. “I thought you left the agency.”

  He shrugged. “Sylvia kept the room in the event I returned.”

  Erin moved away from him, as far as the small space would allow. “I can’t do this, Tyler. It’s been a long time since I let myself get this close to anyone.” She looked at me and then at Rena, for what I wasn’t sure.