Underground (New World Series Book 4)

by Janelle Stalder

  The physical contact helped, connecting her to where she physically was so she could separate herself from the events happening in the building at the end of the street. Focusing on their touch and words, the familiar, comforting scent of them, Charlotte found herself slowly shutting them out one by one.

  Part of her felt horrible for doing so when all those people needed help, but there was nothing she could do for them if she couldn't function again.

  “There you go,” they said.

  More of them were pushed out and she could feel her body start to relax. When the last of them was gone, her mind once more shut off from the world, she felt herself slump against the person holding her. She gasped as though she'd been drowning beneath water, her lungs taking in huge gulps of air. When she could finally manage it, Charlotte looked up into the face that had helped to bring her back.

  He smiled gently, his eyes looking at her as they'd always done while she grew up.

  “Better?” asked Ludwig Tennebris.

  “What happened to keeping this all a secret and getting ourselves out?” Trent said when he finally released her. Phoenix watched as he faced off with his brother.

  Garrett seemed unfazed, shrugging nonchalantly. “Look, we didn't have much choice. I don't know where he's keeping Pix, and right now none of us are doing any better. Sometimes honesty is the best policy.”

  “I should have beaten you more when we were kids,” Trent said, taking a step toward him. Tyler appeared, placing a hand on Trent's chest to keep him back.

  “You two fighting is going to get us nowhere,” said Tyler.

  Trent threw his hands in the air. “We're dead anyway. You really think he's going to just let us all leave?”

  Tyler shrugged. “It's possible.”

  “Ha!” Trent laughed humourlessly, turning away from all of them.

  “Stop being so dramatic, hot shot,” she said. He turned his angry gaze to her.

  “Says the woman who told him she was part of the Archers! What's going to stop him from selling you off to Ludwig, hmm? I'm sure he realizes what a gold mine he has right now. Everyone knows Ludwig is looking for you!”

  Her face heated in shame. “Well he could do the same for you,” she spat back. “You're rebels just like us.”

  “Yeah, thanks, I've already considered that. But, hey, I'm just being dramatic, right?”

  “Okay, okay,” Tyler said in a huff, as if he were dealing with a couple of children. “What's our plan then?”

  Trent shook his head. “What plan? We're screwed!”

  “So we do nothing?” the Scot challenged. “That doesn't sound like you.”

  Phoenix watched as Trent sank down onto the chair Bastian had been sitting on. He looked tired, and suddenly she felt really bad for having been so forthcoming. He was right, they were screwed. There was nothing stopping Bastian from ransoming them all to the NWO leader.

  “I can break down that door no problem,” Tyler said. “I can also hear how many men are out there, and we can probably handle them between all of us.”

  “Even if we managed to get out and fight our way to the entrance,” Garrett said, “we'd still have to find Pixie, and that would waste precious time.”

  “We can't leave her behind,” Missy said, her face pale.

  Shit, her sister was terrified. Phoenix felt even worse.

  “We get out. You all head straight to the entrance, taking down whoever you need to on the way. I'll find Pixie and we'll meet you outside,” suggested Tyler.

  “And how do you plan on doing that?” Trent asked.

  “I have advanced senses. I'm confident I can find her.”

  Phoenix shook her head sadly. “By the time you do, the whole place will have been alarmed and the two of you would never make it out. The element of surprise would be lost.”

  Trent grunted. “And I don't know if any of you noticed, but the boss man doesn't seem too keen on the idea of giving Pix up. Or is it just me?”

  Missy stepped forward, her face splitting into a smile.

  “What is it, peach?” Phoenix asked.

  “That's it! That's the answer,” she said excitedly.

  “What is? Did I miss something?” Garrett said, scratching his head.

  “Don't you see? Pixie! She's the answer. I’ll bet you she can get him to let us go.”

  Trent and Phoenix shared a doubtful look.

  “What makes you so sure he's that enamored with her? Maybe he has her locked away somewhere,” Trent said.

  Missy waved him off. “No way. I saw the way they interacted at the fight. He'll cave. All men are idiots when it comes to women.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  This night was never ending. Phoenix slipped down the wall, landing on her ass with a thud. Bastian hadn't returned yet. It was impossible to know what time it was, but her internal clock suggested it had to be after midnight.

  What could he be doing? Was he planning some maniacal scheme to sell them to Ludwig, where they'd be tortured in ways she could only imagine? She grimaced at the thought. What if they did a public hanging? Would the people cheer or cry for them?

  “You look like you just ate something sour,” Trent said, plopping down next to her.

  It was funny how he chose to sit right next to her rather than on the other side of the room like he would have before. Something had changed between them, she just wasn't sure what. This whole experience had aligned them, truly, on each other's side. She supposed she should be grateful for that fact. Except that they would probably never see the light of day again, so what did it really matter?

  “I'm just thinking how awful I'll look all purple and blue when they hang us in the town square,” she replied.

  “Wow. You're really thinking positively over here,” he commented dryly.

  She sighed, letting her head fall to the side to rest on his shoulder. Yes she shouldn't do that because they didn't technically like each other. Except, it would seem, when their mouths were touching. But there was something comforting about Trent McKay that always made her feel better when the situation seemed helpless.

  It was the same way when they'd first been captured and had been tied up in the cramped, god-awful van. And just like then, he wrapped his arm around her back, tucking her in closer. Warmth surrounded her as she breathed him in, wiggling until she was comfy. If she wasn't so keyed up, she could probably fall asleep like this.

  Her gaze went over to where Missy and Tyler sat. Her sister had her head rested in his lap, her little mouth open slightly as she breathed deeply in sleep. Tyler watched her as though nothing else in the world was as important and lovely. He stroked her long, blond hair reverently.

  An empty feeling in her chest ached from just watching them together. Would she ever have a connection like that? Did she want to? Her life had always been so wrapped up in the Archers and fighting for what she felt was right that she'd never given much thought to falling in love and having a family. She settled more into Trent's side. Could she have something real with Trent?

  Nah, she thought. Sure, she was attracted to the big guy, but they drove each other nuts. And hadn't he suggested they just have fun together, that's it? She breathed him in, loving his masculine scent. He still smelled like sweat from his fight earlier, and it appealed to all her basic feminine needs. Maybe she could have some fun with him, she decided. What harm could there be in that? It's not like they were in danger of falling in love.

  “Are you smelling me, princess?” Trent said with a low chuckle.

  Phoenix turned her face into him, making a show of sniffing him loudly, unashamed.

  “Do you mind?” she asked, her voice muffled against his chest.

  His arm tightened around her and she felt him lean his head down, resting his nose against the top of her head. “Not at all,” he said, breathing her in.

  She arched her neck, looking up at him. “Are you not scared at all?”

  “Nah,” he said with a small smile. “I have a feeling e
verything will work out. Missy's right, guys are idiots when it comes to women.”

  Phoenix arched a brow at him. “Yeah?”

  His eyes turned serious as he let them slide over every inch of her face. They stopped on her mouth, and she swore she saw hunger settle in the deep, blue depths.

  “Yeah,” he said, his voice hoarse.

  She licked her lips, noticing how his eyes followed the movement.

  “Are you scared?” he asked.

  “Me? Never,” she lied.

  His mouth twitched. “Of course not.”

  “You two should just bang and get it over with,” Garrett said, destroying the little bubble they'd created around them.

  Phoenix shot him a glare.

  “What?” he said. “The sexual tension between you is enough to suffocate everyone in here.”

  “You need to shut your mouth before I come over there and remind you just which one of us is the better fighter,” Trent warned.

  Garrett rolled his eyes. “Like I can't take a licking from you. I've been doing it all my life.”

  “All the more reason to continue the tradition,” Trent said.

  Phoenix chuckled. She saw Tyler crack a grin too. Maybe they would be okay, she thought. These people had all become like family to her, and she couldn't imagine anything or anyone tearing them apart. There was no other option, they had to make it out of this alive. What would the world do without her in it? It would be a travesty, she decided.

  Just then the door opened, causing them all to jump. Even Missy shot awake, her eyes wide with worry.

  It wasn't Bastian though, just another one of his goons.

  “Everyone up,” he ordered. “You're coming with me.”

  Lake watched, too concerned for Charlotte to let the reality of the turn of events to sink in. Whatever Charlotte was seeing was bad, and Lake had thought for a second there that she'd never be able to bring her out of it. Never in her life had Lake felt so helpless, as she’d called out to her again and again, unable to break through whatever was happening. It wasn't until he had shown up that things felt like they were under control.

  Out of nowhere, Ludwig Tennebris himself had appeared, his face tight with worry has he'd gripped Charlotte's arms.

  “What happened?” he'd asked, not even looking at Lake, his sole focus on Charlotte.

  “I don't know!” she had replied frantically. “She had her mind open to look for soldiers, and then all of a sudden she was like this.”

  Lake had watched as Ludwig spoke softly to Charlotte. The poor girl had seemed so small and fragile within his arms as he held her tightly against him. Normally she would have been scared that Ludwig had Charlotte, except whatever he was doing seemed to work.

  After a little while, she saw Charlotte's body finally relax, her face looking up into Ludwig’s. Lake had felt like she was imposing as she watched the two of them together. It was clear to her that his concern was genuine.

  She stood back, regarding the New World leader curiously. It wasn't the first time she'd seen him. If she was honest, there had been lots of times when she'd find herself thinking of him. Ludwig Tennebris was the epitome of evil in her mind, and yet he was handsome and charismatic when you saw him in person, making you forget just how bad he really was.

  His face was young and regal, hard and soft in all the right places. That dark blonde hair of his was always slicked back off his face, accenting his strong brow line. And his eyes...they saw through you, something that made Lake extremely nervous.

  The way he looked at her especially put her on edge, because it made her heart beat faster and she didn't want that. She didn't like anything about the way her body reacted to her sworn enemy.

  He wasn't looking at her now though, his eyes only on Charlotte. The way he was looking at her didn't hold the same heat as when he looked at Lake though. No, she didn't sense he wanted Charlotte in any romantic way. The feelings she got off him now was more of a brotherly concern. He didn't seem like the same man at all.

  Lake tried to pinpoint the difference, and decided he seemed calmer, more relaxed. Happy almost, even though he was concerned for her at the same time.

  “What are you doing here?” Charlotte was asking him.

  She stayed against him, and Lake wondered just how weak she must be to let him continue to support her. Lake felt even more worried, knowing just how fragile the tiny girl was now.

  Ludwig smirked, raising one eyebrow. “I could ask you the same thing,” he pointed out. His face immediately turned serious again. “What happened, Lottey? I haven't seen you that bad since you were younger and still building your defenses.”

  Lake saw her eyes widen and then she stood up straighter, her gaze looking over his shoulder.

  “The community center,” she whispered.

  Lake and Ludwig looked down the street.

  “What about it?” he asked. “There's a community event happening there tonight.”

  Charlotte shook her head slowly in horror. “Someone is shooting in there. Everyone is terrified,” she said, her hands reaching out to grip the front of his shirt. “There are women and children in there, Ludwig.”

  His eyebrows pinched together in confusion. “That can't be,” he said.

  He looked over at Lake. She glared back, disgust filling her at what Charlotte was saying. Ludwig must have read it in her eyes, because he instantly shook his head, affronted.

  “It's not my men,” he said. “I didn't order anything such thing.”

  “Then who would?” Lake asked, not believing him for a second.

  She watched as Charlotte and Ludwig looked at one another knowingly. They spoke together.

  “Douglas.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Charlotte moved up the street alongside Lake and Ludwig, her legs still feeling shaky from the earlier assault. Having Ludwig there with her was beyond strange. If it hadn't been for the fact that he had helped her, she'd be kicking his ass and making a run for it. What was even stranger was that he was there alone.

  Something was up with him. He wasn't acting like himself, and it wasn't normal for him to just roam the streets without guards. He seemed a little lost to her. If it were any other time, in any other universe, maybe she would ask. But she couldn't afford to care. And right now she needed to focus on helping those who were still trapped in the community center.

  Ah, crap, she couldn't help it. “Want to tell my why you're out here by yourself?” she said as they kept themselves to the shadows of the surrounding buildings. They didn't know if there were men stationed as lookouts, and she was too weak to open her mind enough to check. And that was if she could even sense them, since her father had been training his men to block her out.

  “Can't a man enjoy an evening stroll?” he replied, those keen eyes of his scanning the area.

  Charlotte couldn't remember the last time she'd done anything like this with him. It had always been her and Roman out on missions, but she knew Ludwig was just as good a soldier as any of them. He was smart. He'd have to be to achieve what he had.

  She snorted at his response. “A man, sure. The leader of the New World? Not so much,” she said. “Roman and I never would have allowed - ”

  He stopped in his tracks, interrupting her. “Yes, well, you and Roman aren't around anymore, are you? What I do is my concern.”

  He turned back around stiffly and continued walking.

  Charlotte looked over at a stunned Lake, imaging her own face probably reflected the same. They didn't say anything as they started to follow him again.

  “So you make a habit of doing things like this?” she pushed as she caught up with him, falling in step.

  He huffed. Charlotte could see how angry he was and it fascinated her. Ludwig never got pissy with her. Or, he hadn't, before she’d left him. If she didn't know any better, she'd guess he was actually bitter.

  “Why do you care? Better yet,” he said, stopping, forcing her to stop as well as he faced her, “are
you asking out of curiosity from a friend, or a rebel? Would that kind of intel let you take me down easier?” He laughed humourlessly. “I can just imagine how quickly you two would run back to your friends to tell them how the big, bad, Ludwig Tennebris walks around alone and vulnerable.” He turned to shoot a glare at Lake before looking back at her. “We're enemies now, isn't that right?”

  A strange lump lodged in her throat. She nodded once, unable to speak. Why did it feel so wrong all of a sudden when she stood in front of him? They were enemies. That was a fact. So why couldn't she look him in the eye?

  Her stomach rolled and she realized the measly lunch she'd had earlier was no longer making her feel good. Ludwig stared at her for another tense moment before turning away again. She watched him walk and then her stomach lurched. She clapped a hand over her mouth.

  “Charlotte?” Lake said, coming up to touch her shoulder gently. “You okay?”

  Charlotte shook her head and then ran to the opening of an alley, losing her stomach contents.

  “Lottey?” Ludwig shouted. She heard his footsteps as he ran toward her. “What's wrong with her?”

  “She's sick,” Lake replied.

  “Sick?” He sounded baffled and she would have laughed if she wasn't hunched over dry heaving.

  “It's why we were here tonight,” Lake told him. “She's been sick for...a while,” she said quieter.

  Charlotte sensed him come closer. “Stop,” she said, holding out a hand. “I'm fine. Just give me a second.” Glancing up at him, she watched as he shoved a hand through his hair, looking, for once, at a loss as to what to do.

  “Well what did he say?” he asked Lake.

  Charlotte gave her a quick look, subtly shaking her head. Ludwig could not know what was wrong with her.

  “He said I'm fine,” Charlotte answered, standing up straight. “And I am.”

  He gave her a narrowed look, but didn't say anything.

  “Come on,” she said, walking again. “We need to see what's happening.”