by Wendi Wilson
I persuaded her to forget our conversation and our presence on the property. She returned to her previous position as I thought about her answer. It seemed pretty suspect that President Worth would swoop in to save the day as soon as her family lost everything. Unless he had a hand in making sure they lost it.
Shaking off my suspicions for the moment, I prepared to say goodbye to my boys. They had their V.I.P. passes and it was time to split up. It was the hardest part of my plan to sell. But in the end, they had agreed to go along with it.
“Please be careful,” I said to Beckett, circling my arms around his neck before pressing my mouth to his.
“I will,” he vowed, kissing me again.
I released him and moved on to Wyatt, giving him the same admonishment and the same affection. He grinned, of course, telling me that we were going to be golden and had nothing to worry about.
When I moved to stand in front of Jett, he grabbed my hips and jerked me forward, plastering his mouth to mine before I could speak. As I caught my breath, he hugged me and whispered in my ear.
“We’ll be fine.” His breath tickled my skin. “You worry about taking care of yourself. We’ll see you on the inside.”
“Wait,” I said, grasping a fistful of his shirt as he tried to pull away. “What if you run into an Alt that realizes you’re an Alt?”
“Alts can tour the White House, Savanna. We’ll be okay,” he promised.
“Maybe you should bite me, you know? Drink some of my blood, just in case. Then you’ll be able to persuade them if it happens.”
He shook his head. “I’m not going to bite you, especially out here in the open in front of this crowd. Besides, we plan to split up. Me having the power is not going to help us all… unless you want to let us all, including Silas and Slade, take turns drinking your blood?”
He gave me that smile, the sardonic one I hated so much the first time we met. The one that matched the arched brow and derisive words. Instead of getting angry, I kissed him, pouring all my love and worry into it. I adored everything about that boy, even his sarcastic wit.
I pulled away and his smile turned genuine as he traced a finger down my cheek.
“We’ll be careful. I promise.”
He backed out of my grasp and motioned to his brothers. Then they were gone, disappearing into the crowd inside the fence. I hugged Lizzie and Madsens, admonishing them to be careful. I took Lizzie’s hand in mine, squeezing it with as much reassurance as I could muster.
“We’re gonna win,” I said, my voice firm.
“We’re gonna win,” she repeated back to me.
With that, she released me and followed Slade and Silas inside. Slipping out of line, I headed around the outside of the perimeter fence, looking for the press entrance. I checked my phone for the time. It was eight-fifty. I was cutting it close.
I rounded the corner and saw a group of professionally dressed men and women speaking in low tones outside a small gate. Carts stacked high with black cases were scattered about, presumably holding video and audio equipment. My steps slowed as I got closer to the crowd.
Dr. Patton stood at the back, checking something on his phone. He was wearing a suit and tie, the toe of his expertly shined shoe glinting in the early morning sun as he tapped it against the sidewalk. I scanned the area, but there was no sign of Grace.
“Where is Lizzie’s sister?” I asked as I approached him.
His eyes moved past me, then back as he smiled. “I see you do know how to follow instructions.”
“What?” I asked, confused.
“You actually came alone,” he clarified.
“I don’t need any help,” I said, pulling myself up to my full height and attempting to sound cocky. “Now, where is Grace?”
“She’s safe, for now.”
I shook my head. “Nope. I’m not playing this game with you. Show me proof she’s okay or I’m not budging from this spot.”
“I anticipated this,” he said, turning the screen of his phone around to face me.
There was a video call streaming, and a younger version of Lizzie was centered in the frame. Someone else was holding the phone in front of her because I could clearly see both of her hands still tied to the chair. She looked okay, just a little tired. And she was crying.
“Grace?” I asked, taking the phone from Dr. Patton’s hand and pulling it closer to my face. “Can you hear me?”
“Who are you?” she asked in a small voice.
“I’m Savanna,” I said, “a friend of Lizzie’s. You’re going to be okay. I promise.”
Dr. Patton snatched the phone from my hand, ending the call before I could say more. His rudeness pissed me off, but I held my tongue. I needed to cooperate for the time being. Our plan depended on it.
“So, how are we getting in?” I asked. “Did you manage to get us press passes?”
“No, I didn’t. You are going to get us inside.”
I shrugged my shoulders, feigning indifference as the gate swung open and two security guards started checking the credentials of the reporters. I moved to get in line, trying with everything I had in me to keep my temper from showing on my face.
The man was such a hypocrite. He hated Alts, hated everything we could do and anyone who benefited from our power, yet he had no qualms whatsoever about using that power for his own gain. I couldn’t wait to put a stop to his plans, for good.
“What organization should I say we’re from?” I asked from the side of my mouth as we got closer to the gate.
“Does it matter?” he asked. “Just make them let us in.”
I suppressed the growl that itched to escape from my chest. I hated that man.
“Show me your credentials,” the security guard said as we approached his station.
He looked like a secret service agent, dressed in a black suit with one of those curly wires extending from his ear down into his collar. When I didn’t respond immediately, he met my eyes.
We showed you our credentials. Give us a press pass and let us in, I thought.
“Thank you,” he said aloud, handing over two lanyards with plastic tags on them.
We passed through the gate and I could feel the smug pleasure rolling off of Dr. Patton in waves. I’d never wanted to punch someone so bad in my entire life.
“Good girl,” he muttered.
“Now what?” I asked, ignoring his praise. We walked out onto the lawn and stood near the big group of reporters.
“Now we listen to the presidential address. When it’s over, you will persuade him to meet with us privately.” His voice deepened as he brought his ruddy face closer to mine. “And you will do what you should have done in the first place. You will persuade President Worth to follow my orders.”
I jerked away, not even wanting to breathe the same air as him. “How do I know you’ll let Grace go once I help you?”
“You have my word,” he vowed.
I barked out a laugh. “Your word means nothing to me. I want an address. Text it to me now, or no deal.”
“No deal?” He sounded incredulous. “You will do as I say, or I’ll have my men kill that little girl.”
“And she’ll be dead,” I said, calling his bluff, “and you’ll have no more leverage over me.” I sweetened my voice, hoping to sound reasonable, “You have me here. I’m going to do what you say. Just text me the address, so I have a little insurance.”
I didn’t expect him to tell me. When he pulled out his phone and tapped at the screen, then my own phone vibrated in my pocket, I didn’t even pull it out to check it. It didn’t matter what he sent. I wouldn’t have believed it to be the truth anyway. I only asked to make the whole scene realistic. He knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t cooperate without asking for something in return to ensure I could find Grace.
I would get the truth from him eventually.
“Thank you,” I said, patting my pocket.
“Excuse me.”
The voice made us both whip around. A
young guy, probably about my age, stood before us, wearing a dress shirt and tie. He was holding a clipboard, but I could see the papers attached to it were blank. It was just a prop.
His gaze snagged mine and I could see a thin outline of silver around what were, obviously, brown contacts. I kept my eyes locked on his as he spoke to me.
“I hope you’ll enjoy the president’s speech and accept his views as your own.”
He looked at Dr. Patton and repeated the same words before turning and heading for another group of people setting up on the green grass. I noticed other teens milling about, moving from one member of the press to the next. Persuading them all to agree with whatever President Worth was about to say.
“Wow,” I said, more to myself then to Dr. Patton. “He’s got a real racket going on here.”
“It ends today,” he responded.
“Yes,” I replied. “It does.”
I wasn’t talking about the same thing as him, but the words fit. His agenda would come to an end, no matter what.
And I was going to be the one to end it.
Chapter Twenty-One
“As I’m sure you’ll agree, this is the best course of action for our great country.”
I looked around the crowd, gauging the reactions of the press to President Worth’s list of policy changes. Of course, every person in attendance was nodding and smiling. A few even cheered. His Alts had done their job well.
I’d never followed politics or paid attention to the news, so I really had no idea whether the president’s new plan was beneficial to the country, or not. It didn’t really matter, though. What mattered was that he’d taken away these people’s right to decide on their own. They’d go back to their networks, broadcast their false opinions and influence the entire country.
If it wasn’t so despicable, I’d think it was genius.
The president had entered into his question and answer portion of the press conference and as I listened, I realized that even the questions were skewed to make him and his new policy look good. His answers oozed charm and likability. It made me feel a bit nauseous, pondering the possibilities of what he could do with his army of Alts.
I raised my hand into the air, sending him mental instructions to call on me.
“What are you doing?” Dr. Patton hissed.
“You want a meeting? I’m getting us one.”
“Yes, beautiful young lady in the back,” President Worth said, pointing at me.
I swallowed the lump of disgust in my throat and cupped my hands around my mouth. I wanted to make sure my question reached all ears.
“Why does everyone agree with everything you say?” I called out.
President Worth laughed, a self-deprecating sound that was obviously fake. At least, it was obvious to me.
“I assure you, that is not the case. Just ask my wife.”
A chorus of laughter sounded around me. I gritted my teeth against the urge to yell out something about his wife and the fact that he liked to rape young girls. I wanted a meeting, not a death certificate. Some of those cameras were rolling a live feed.
I raised my hand, once again persuading him to pick me. One of his eyes twitched and I felt a wave of satisfaction. He called on me, but obviously didn’t like it.
“Why are these teenagers going around telling everyone to enjoy ourselves and accept whatever you say without complaint?”
That worked.
The flinch was minuscule, but I saw it. For the cameras, he laughed off what I said and the crowd agreed. Newscasters reported that no one had told them anything of the sort, and that some obviously unbalanced young woman was doing everything she could to undermine our great president.
Security popped up out of nowhere and led me away, the doctor following as I quickly persuaded the guards to bring him with us. As we skirted around the crowd, I let my eyes wander from person to person until I spotted Jett and Slade, heads lowered, toward the back.
I nodded at them, the movement slight so Dr. Patton wouldn’t notice. Then I leaned closer to the guard on my right. Focusing on him, I sent my power out through my thoughts.
Take this man, Dr. Patton, to meet with the president. Don’t look back. Just go. And when you get there, confiscate his phone.
Then I leaned toward the guard on my left.
Stay with me. Don’t speak.
The first guard latched onto Dr. Patton’s elbow, causing him to sputter, “What is the meaning of this? Savanna, stop him!”
The guard dragged him away as the other guard and I watched. I smiled and waggled my fingers at him as he hissed my name over and over again. I was glad I thought to tell the guard to take his phone. I couldn’t have him calling his goons and ordering them to hurt Grace.
I looked back and saw Jett and Slade heading toward me and, just beyond them, Beckett, Wyatt, Lizzie and Silas. When everyone reached me, we circled up, speaking in hushed tones as the security officer stood by silently.
“Okay, the other guard is taking Dr. Patton straight to the president and I told him to take his cell phone.” I looked at Lizzie. “He won’t have a chance to send any orders regarding Grace.”
Lizzie nodded. “Quick thinking. Thanks.”
I turned to the guard, noting his silver-rimmed eyes. “Did you forget your contact lenses?” I asked him. “You can speak now. Tell me the truth.”
His head jerked back a little. “No. Security detail doesn’t need them. Only the public relations positions use contacts.”
His eyes narrowed as he looked into mine for the first time. I hadn’t worn contacts, so the silver outline of my blue irises had to have been visible.
His next words proved me right, “You’re an Alt? How did you get past the checkpoint?”
“What a genius,” Jett deadpanned.
I smirked. The idiot didn’t realize he’d been persuaded? I wasn’t about to break the news to him.
“Take us to the president,” I said, injecting the words with power.
I nodded at the others, determination tightening my muscles as I turned to follow the security guard. Fingers intertwined with mine, and I looked up at Beckett with a smile. I felt a hand slip into my other one and looked over to see Jett, with Wyatt close beside him.
I glanced over my shoulder and Lizzie had a twin on either side of her. They weren’t holding hands, but their shoulders brushed against each other every couple of steps. The Madsen boys were staying close to her, protective and comforting at the same time.
I turned back to the front and whispered. “When we get to his office, I’ll have to go in alone first.”
“Savanna, no,” Wyatt argued.
“I have to,” I insisted. “He’ll be expecting me to be alone and I’ll need time to persuade any Alts in the room before they go on the offensive and subdue us all.” I pointed to the guard in front of us, motioning to his hip. “They have guns.”
“I don’t like it,” Jett said.
“You just have to wait in the hall for like three minutes,” I pleaded. “Just give me enough time to get the room under control, then you can come in and take over.”
I was appealing to his ego and the look he gave me proved he knew it. But he didn’t argue again. Wyatt and Beckett nodded their agreement as well.
The guard led us inside the White House and it took all I had not to stop and stare in awe. Everything was so bright and shiny, so beautiful. I shook my head and refocused. I needed to keep my head in the game.
“Three minutes,” Jett warned as he and Beckett released their grip on me.
We had come to a stop outside a closed door. Dr. Patton’s voice could be heard through the panel, words of denial and proclamations of innocence pouring from his mouth. Obviously, President Worth was curious as to why he was back after their disastrous meeting the day before.
The guard escorting us swung the door open after everyone else hid to the sides of the doorway. I walked in, head held high and back straight. My eyes scanned the room before landing on
the president.
Only one Alt in the room besides the two guards that escorted us there. I took control before anyone spoke a word.
“Do no move, or speak,” I said, directing the power at the three Alts.
President Worth stood up in a panic, letting me know I’d succeeded in excluding him from the order. He looked from me to his guards, to Dr. Patton and back to me again.
“What is going on?” he demanded.
“I guess all that practice you made me do paid off,” I commented to Dr. Patton, intentionally ignoring Worth to get under his skin.
“Indeed,” Dr. Patton responded. “Indeed, it has.”
“Can someone please tell me what in the hell is going on?” the president demanded.
“Sit down,” I ordered.
With a shocked expression, President Worth’s butt slammed into the chair behind him as I looked around. I had assumed we’d be taken to the oval office, but the room we were in was cramped with a small desk and a couple of unpadded chairs.
I looked at the guard who escorted Dr. Patton to the room. Holding out a hand, I silently persuaded him to hand me the doctor’s phone. He complied, slapping it into my palm.
“Thank you, my dear,” Dr. Patton said, holding out a hand for the device.
“Are you stupid?” I asked, my eyes wide. “Why do you think he took it from you to begin with?”
“Why you little—”
“Now!” I shouted, cutting off his threatening advance.
The door flew open and my friends crowded into the room. The look on Dr. Patton’s face was classic— equal parts shock and anger. I smiled.
“In what world did you think I would actually help you destroy an entire group of people?”
“Do not forget, I have Grace Williams,” he warned.
“Not for long,” I said typing furiously on the phone’s screen as I read aloud. “The plan is complete. Let the girl go. Give her a phone so she can call her sister to come pick her up.” My eyes met the furious ones of the doctor. “You really should add password protection to your phone,” I said, goading him as I shoved the device into my pocket.
Wyatt laughed, causing his uncle to snarl.
