Atlas (Apocalyptic Cries Book 1)

by Adalie Jordin

  We watch silently as the men finish greeting each other. Cade’s happier than I’ve seen him in a long time — there’s sheer joy on his face and I love getting to watch their reunion. He beckons me across the room to his side, dimpled grin firmly in place.

  Indicating the man closest to his side, he goes down the line, introducing them all along the way. “Saedie, I’d like you to meet Agents Lance Bishop,” a stoic nod from the brown-eyed, stocky looking man, “Johnathan Craig.” This one offers me a wave, his blue eyes dancing as he tries to bring down the mega-watt smile plastered to his face.

  Lastly, Cade points to the tallest one of the group who gives me a shy, silent bob of his head in greeting. “And Charlie Solomon. Gents, this is Steven Walton’s eldest. Treat her with respect, as you know he’d want.” Sadness washes through them in a wave, and I watch as Agent Craig’s smile droops. They all loved my dad, maybe even idolized him at some point.

  I hope I’m not a disappointment.

  “Nice to meet you all. I’m glad you’re here.” It’s the best I can offer after Cade’s statement. I don’t want to think about how they all knew my dad better than I did in this moment.

  Agent Craig bounces on the balls of his feet, clapping his hands together and making me jump. “Nope! Not happening.” He gives his comrades a look that says they better fall in line — no sadness and regret is allowed in this party. “We’re all happy to meet you, Ms. Walton. Kenji over there told us a lot about you on the walk over. Which was a feat, considering we were supposed to be using stealth.”

  I allow a small grin at his jest and say, “Call me Saedie, please.” At the same time Kenji scoffs, “No one caught us, did they?” Her tone is haughty — self-assured. Without giving any of them a chance to respond, she answers her own question. “Nope! Sure didn’t. I talk, you’ll get used to it.”

  Understatement. Kenji may be computer inclined, and you would think that would go hand in hand with being shy and quiet, but noooo, this chick is boisterous and loud any time she can be.

  Their mini-conversation has Cade stepping forward, an inquisitive frown gracing his handsome face. “Why are you here ahead of schedule?” Agent Solomon raises his hand like we’re back in grade school and he needs permission to speak. “Kid?” As the youngest in the group - my age, if not a year less - the nickname fits, though the hand raising needs to be stopped. I kind of assumed, prior to tonight, that all the men Dad assembled would be older. More … experienced, I suppose. Shows what I know.

  Taking his cue, Agent Solomon’s quiet voice fills the room. I have to lean in to hear him clearly. “That would be my doing, sir. I found us a shortcut through Zerk territory and we made better time than expected.” Gripping the back of his neck, he stares down at his booted feet. “We would have sent word, but things got a bit dicey and then we were already hitting the rendezvous point.”

  Cade accepts the explanation with grace, going over to hug the freckled redhead again in a brotherly fashion. “You did well. I’m happy you’re here.” He turns to face the other two, arm slung across Agent Solomon’s shoulders. “All of you. Been too long.” There’s that sadness again.

  “You got that right.” Agent Bishop pipes up, his voice deep and craggy like a chain-smoker. Agent Bishop is the oldest of the bunch, and I’d guess him around forty — close to Dad’s age. He’s short, an inch or so taller than me, and though that should make him less intimidating, it surely does not. He seems like the silent type, only using his words when he needs to.

  Kind of like Cade had been when we first got to know each other.

  In retrospect, Cade’s still that way with most people, but not me. Even Kenji’s getting to see another side of him. I’d like to think I’m helping him develop healthy social skills that will flourish over time.

  Ha! Probably not.

  I catch Kenji eye-screwing Agent Craig and give her a look to cool it. She rolls her eyes at me - she’s doing that a lot tonight it seems - and goes to sit down a few feet away.

  Her move spurs Cade to action, falling into agent mode as he all but commands the others to sit while he finds them something to eat. You’d think Agent Bishop is top honcho, with Dad gone, but it seems I once again assumed incorrectly. They’re all deferring to Cade.

  After helping him scrounge up a few portions of hard bread and some granola bars, we all relax for a while.

  I listen to Agent Craig as he details their exploits to get here… It sounds like a harrowing adventure. One I’m not entirely looking forward to when we vacate The Compound in two weeks’ time.

  On that note…

  “Pardon.” I interrupt the most recent retelling. When five sets of eyes turn my way, I almost clam up for no reason at all, but I push the irrational reaction away. “Now that you’re here, does that mean we can hit the lab sooner? Given our ally is able to obtain all the needed supplies quickly?”

  “Good question,” Kenji mutters, quietly for once.

  Agent Bishop answers my question with one of his own — I despise when people do such a thing, but I’m not telling him that. “Who is this ‘ally’ you’ve managed to reel in?”

  Has Cade not told them?

  “Luca Duncan.”

  Agent Bishop shoots Cade a critical look. “Nyler’s boy?” At Cade’s nod, Bishop only wants to know one thing, “Is he trustworthy?”

  Now that’s a difficult thing to answer, and it strikes me that it really shouldn’t be.

  “He’s… The best we’re going to get in the time we have.” There, that should satisfy their interest. Cade hums his agreement, and Kenji shrugs one shoulder, like she doesn’t have a better way to say it either.

  “Your reactions don’t breed confidence, but if you’ve gotten this far on his help, hopefully his resolve will stand against Nyler’s threats. Not many people do for long.” That’s the most Agent Bishop has said in the last hour and a half, but he’s not wrong. And the fact he’s aware of Nyler’s nefarious way of coercing his followers makes me believe Luca a little more on the step-dad front.

  Not that I didn’t before, of course, but confirmation is nice to have.

  “It’s not that he’s not a good person.” I defend lightly. “He just has questionable reasons for helping in the first place, that may or may not have been recently jeopardized.”

  Bishop harrumphs but doesn’t otherwise comment. He’s going to be hard to win over, I can already tell. He won’t be one to accept me just because of who my Dad was to them. There’s nothing wrong with that either — proving myself to these men is a goal of mine. I already have a lot to make up for.

  Agent Craig inserts himself into the awkward silence that follows. “To answer your original question, Saedie, yes. If Mr. Duncan can procure the items we need sooner than predicted, we’re ready to go when you are. We’ll need to study up on the maps you’ve made of the place, and get a better idea of the guards’ rotation patterns first, but other than that, we’re rearing to go.”

  Relief is a beautiful feeling. So cool and calm. “Thank you. The quicker we do this, the less people have to endure Nyler’s particular brand of care.”

  “One other thing.” Cade leans back in his chair, waiting until his team’s attention is fully squared on his shoulders. It doesn’t take long - when he speaks, they’re automatically primed to listen. It’s sexy, if I’m being honest. “Saedie has come across some intel that was previously unknown to us. I’m not sure how we’d verify it at this point, but we’re running off the assumption what was said is true.” He locks eyes with me, winking to lighten the mood. It’s just for me, but I’m sure everyone sees. “Go ahead, Sunshine.”

  My stomach flutters at the endearment, not only because I love it, but because he’s so openly showing his comrades I mean something to him other than being an asset to the team. I’m his. I give him my sweetest smile as a reward. This man….

  Focusing on the Agents waiting patiently around me, I ignore Kenji’s tapping fingers as she tries to overcome her boredom.
She’s like me — can’t stand to do nothing for long. I’m sure her hands are itching to be back at a keyboard.

  In fact, Agent Solomon looks like he may be feeling the same way. He’s been twiddling his thumbs for a while now, repeatedly pushing up his square-rimmed glasses even though they haven’t moved a bit.

  Time for the big reveal. “Nyler implanted a ‘spy’ in Luca’s life, as his fiancé. He’s aware of her job description, but still chooses to go along with Nyler’s wishes. It’s unclear how long they’ve been together,” This part is said with a wince they all can see plainly, “but we do know it’s been at least nine months.” I clear my throat, trying to push the cringy words past my lips. “Recently Morgan has claimed Nyler as her biological father — which would make them half-siblings.”

  Agent Craig groans, throwing his hands up in the air. “Leave it to the Apocalypse for incest to become an acceptable theme once again.”

  Agents Bishop and Solomon say nothing, but the former has disgust written clearly on his face.

  “And they’ve slept together.” Kenji adds unnecessarily — she’s just trying to stir the pot at this point.

  “Kenj.” I warn.

  “What?!” She blows out an exasperated breath. “It’s not like they haven’t already figured that part out. Look at their faces.”

  I don’t, I keep staring at her as she smirks. Wench.

  Though Cade is clearly amused by our banter, he veers the conversation back onto stable footing. “Their assumed relation isn’t anything that will hinder our mission, but Saedie has made an enemy of Morgan, as the girl assumes there is something going on with Saed and Luca. There is not.” His last statement comes out a growl as he indicates the still bright bruising along my temple.

  He’s sexy when he’s growly and jealous. He doesn’t need to be.

  “The girl did that to Saedie?” Solomon asks quietly.

  “She did. Snuck up on her in the laundry and delivered her ‘stay away’ message loud and clear.”

  I can answer for myself, big guy, but thanks.

  “That brings up the point of us telling you all of this — Morgan confronted Luca, and in turn involved Nyler in the situation. We’re being watched more closely now because of it.” Unnecessarily I say, “We need to be diligent.”

  As if these men aren’t that already. They’d snuck in right under Atlas’s nose with large duffels full of weapons. They know how to be discreet and not get caught. More-so than me.

  “You three will be bunking here with me until everything is under way.” This earns a groan from Kenji as she whispers something under her breath about wanting to take Craig with her, and me being unfair. “We keep everything you’ll need to learn more about the lab on the catwalk. Feel free to use anything you want, and if there’s something I don’t have here, I’m sure Cade or Kenji can help me find it for you.”

  “How sweet.” Agent Craig jokes. “She’s nice, Calder, I see why you fancy her. Thanks for the hospitality, lovely.” His words have me blushing and glancing away.

  I’m going to have to watch out for him, the flirt. “Any time.”

  Kenji leaves not too much later, sending doe eyes Agent Craig’s way when she waves goodbye to the men. She’s ridiculous. I can’t blame her though — I’m all Cade’s, but that doesn’t mean I can’t recognize when another man is good looking. Agent Craig is definitely that.

  I expect Cade to stay the night since his team is here now, but he ends up going back to his place, saying he has some things to do if the ball is going to start rolling sooner than planned.

  At least he makes sure to mention Jeremy and Ainsley to the men like I asked him to before he heads out. I figure us rescuing them is a better idea coming from him than me — the unknown. We don’t discuss my immunity and what it could spell for the team, but I think it’s safe to say Cade’s ignoring it at the moment and hoping nothing will come from the knowledge if we move quickly enough….

  They want me to approach Luca in the morning and press him to up his timetable to next week.

  So soon.

  How this is going to work, when we’d originally planned to hit during Atlas’s party, I have no idea. Maybe Luca has enough clout to make them change the date? I doubt it, but I’ll ask him anyway.

  Bishop, Solomon and Craig are still brainstorming ways to get my siblings out from under Nyler and Prudence’s noses as I lay down for the night. I hate to duck out right when we get to a very important topic, but they know more about rescue missions than I do, and I simply can’t keep my eyes open any longer. I’d been dozing sitting up before Craig suggested I get some rest and leave them to hash out the finer details. He reasoned they’re still hyped up on adrenaline from their trek, but they’ll hit the hay soon, too, and that was all it took to convince me.

  Funny thing I’m just learning though — it’s freaking hard to sleep with three unknown men in the room. It takes longer than I’d like, but after half an hour or so I finally manage to quiet my mind enough to get a few hours in before the ‘fun’ begins.

  Tomorrow will be interesting, to say the least.

  CHAPTER 27

  I wake the next day to the sound of ruckus laughter from above my head, high in the dome of the skylight. Squinting open my eyes to the brightness of the grey day streaming through the glass panes, I push myself into a sitting position and glare up at an all-too-peppy Agent Craig.

  Too early, dude.

  Magically, or something like that anyway, the kitchens haven’t run out of coffee despite how long it’s been since grocery stores were a thing, so Cade has made it a daily habit to bring me a sludgy cup in the mornings in between gate duty and lunch time.

  Working the gate has been his assigned duty the whole stint of his time here at The Compound, much to my surprise. But his hours are sporadic in nature, making him available whenever I’ve come around. I hadn’t thought to ask about his contribution since he never seemed to be doing much.

  In fact, I only know now because he mentioned it to the guys last night. My bad.

  Making sure my clothes are straight and I’m not accidentally going to flash any titty at the men holed up in my personal space, my eyes bounce around the room as I seek out the man of the hour.

  He’s perched on the arm of a seat near the front edge of the room - I don’t know how the thing doesn’t break under his massive frame - a beautiful steaming cup of tar is cradled in his hand as he says something to Agent Bishop.

  For once, he hasn’t noticed the second I’m up. I’d be offended if I couldn’t see how deep in conversation he and Bishop are, both their faces serious as they speak. Cade’s free hand is gesturing all over the place, more expressive than I’ve seen him with someone other than me. He’s clearly agitated.

  Even without my coffee, his demeanor is enough to have me fully awake. Somethings up.

  I toss the blankets aside and make my way barefoot through the theatre-like seating. Just before I’m about to step in behind him, Cade hears my footsteps and turns. His features are drawn, burdened down.

  Sliding my hand back and forth across his shoulders, I mumble a bare good morning to Agent Bishop, just to be polite, but my attention is all on the man I love.

  “What’s wrong?” My mind is jumping to conclusions, trying to figure out what could make him go from happy his friends are here, to the man I see before me now.

  Pressing the warm mug into my hands, he pulls me into his side. Even though he’s sitting, he’s tall enough that my eyes are at jaw-level and I watch him as he clenches his teeth in frustration. “It’s alright, Sunshine. Bishop was filling me in on how the other two members of our task force came to not be here today.”

  Ah. It hits me then — as I’d guessed before, his team was once larger than the men I’m seeing now. The other two had passed on. I’m instantly sad for him, all of them, knowing they must be taking their friends’ deaths hard. I’ve seen it here, and during my intern years in college when police officers would be brought in by
their partners — or military veterans by their brothers and sisters in arms. When it comes to a unit, there’s nothing quite like the bond they share.

  “I’m so sorry.” I know it’s not much, but it’s all I have to offer. I’m no friend of death, but I’ve seen it many times over now and I know it’s toll.

  And we’re about to be embroiled in more of the same.

  I can only hope the men around me are still here when we walk through the end of this Herculean-feeling task.

  “Nice of you to say, gel, but there’s no need. They knew their duty and were glad to give their lives in service to the last remainders of our once great nation.” Bishop’s words are preachy, but I get his point. They knew what they were getting into and welcomed it.

  While I have his attention, I decide to steer the conversation another way, hoping to pull Cade back from the void I can see creeping up in his gaze. “Any ideas on what to do about Jer and Ainsley?”

  A clang sounds from the dome above and I look up to find Agent Craig dangling by his fingers from the catwalk directly above us. There’s a good ten feet of space between him and the floor right now, but the smile adorning his lips tells me he’s not perturbed in the least.

  “Yes, and some rather dandy ones at that, lovely! Rather dandy.” I bite my lip to hold back a shout of surprise as he lets go of the metal walkway, arms spread out straight like a bird’s wings. His untucked over-shirt flaps in the fluff of air stirred up by his descent. It feels like minutes, but really only a few seconds have passed when his boots come thudding to the ground. He drops into a crouch to catch his balance, one hand planted on the floor inches from my bare toes. “Cute.” He’s commenting on my feet after nearly giving me a heart attack. Weirdo.

  Who is this guy?

  Men are a fucking mystery to me. There was no need for the show — ass nearly gave me a panic attack, thinking he’d break something right before the big mission.