Exposed

by Aster, Willow

  I nod and lead the way down the dark steps and through the doors leading to the tunnels. It’s quiet as we walk and I try not to think of all the awful things that could be happening to my brother right now. It was crazy for him to leave the code in his office…where I may or may not find it.

  I stagger and run into the dark wall when I realize the implications of that.

  The danger was right there in the house. Today. And Luka must have done the only thing he could to warn the rest of us. I walk faster and when we reach the last door, I open it and let them go first.

  The sand is pressed together and it makes it easier to walk quickly as we go around the rocks and walk up the steps to the sunlight.

  Brienne calls from above, “Should I open this yet or do we wait for the others?”

  “We have to wait. I don’t want to leave without Luka,” Eden says.

  “We’ll give them a few minutes and then we have to go,” I tell her, clutching her arm. “Luka would never forgive me if I let something happen to you.”

  Her lips tremble as she looks at me and nods. “Same. We have to look out for each other. But Ava…”

  “She’ll be okay. Jadon will find her. He won’t let anything happen to her.”

  She nods again. “You’re right. You’re right.” She blows out a long breath and grasps my hand between hers. “Okay, we’ll be okay. Right?”

  I squeeze her hand and hope that I’m right. “Yes.”

  I say a few prayers for Elias to be safe from whatever is going on. The sick feeling in my chest builds as each minute ticks by. We hear footsteps coming a few minutes later and the anticipation is thick in the air as we wait for them to round the corner and come up the last set of stairs. Basile and Harmi come out and we hug them and then look around for the others.

  “It’s just us, I’m afraid. I didn’t see anyone else,” Basile says.

  Eden chokes back a sob and I put my arm around her shoulder.

  “He’ll meet us there. And Jadon will go to your family safe house. We’ll check every half hour to see if there’s word.” I know my assurances are meaningless, but I need to get her on that plane. “Come on, we need to go. It’s time.”

  Brienne opens the door and we head into the sunlight where the plane is waiting for us. Everyone files on and I step into the cockpit just as Basile does.

  “No,” I tell him. “I’m much smoother than you are. Last time you flew the plane, I was sick the rest of the day.”

  He rolls his eyes. “Fine, but I’ll be the copilot.”

  “Perfect. Go make sure no one tries to escape before we get off the ground.”

  He nods and I start turning everything on. I try not to think about the fact that Luka wasn’t able to secure a pilot. Not good. Not good at all.

  My hands are shaking as I sit down and put the headphones on. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve flown. It’s like riding a bicycle, right? I blow out a rush of air and type in the necessary coordinates. When we’re free to go, I wait for Basile to come back and once he’s buckled, we start rolling.

  * * *

  We go to the closest safe house. The code said 44RUBY, which are our numbers for each other, the color of the flowers we always picked at the Saldeen Sea safe house, and if it weren’t as urgent, it would’ve been lowercase letters. It’s elementary, but so were we when we came up with a plan for any getaway. The fact that I knew right where to come proves we were both paying attention at least.

  This wasn’t my favorite of our houses growing up, because there wasn’t as much to do here, but it’s large and comfortable and the view overlooking the Saldeen Sea is beautiful, although we’re all too deeply in shock to notice. We sit in the living room and Basile goes to find the wine stash. I turn on the TV, hoping nothing is there to report. I flip through the channels but don’t see anything about Luka or Niaps.

  “How did you know to come here?” Eden asks.

  “Luka and I have a way of telling the other if something is wrong and we need to get out. He left a code on his desk for me. Who was at the house today? Anyone that seemed suspicious?”

  Eden shakes her head. “Not that I know of…the only person I saw today was that man that works for Elias.”

  “Winthrop?” I frown. “When was he there?”

  “He came right before lunch and didn’t stay long.”

  “I’d asked Luka to take care of some things for Elias…that’s probably all that was.” Winthrop would never hurt anyone…I shift uncomfortably, not liking where my head is going.

  Everyone is quiet as we watch the news, all lost in our own thoughts.

  “What if it’s a trap?” Brienne asks quietly.

  I stand up and start pacing. “I’ve wondered the same thing, but only Luka and I know about the code. And anyone trying to crack our code would first think we meant two other places before this.” We have a red brick safe house and another that has red walls. This house has nothing red inside or out and even the red flowers are something Luka and I found while we explored. Again, elementary, but hopefully he’s going to burst through that door and prove me right.

  “Why wouldn’t he tell me something was wrong?” she asks.

  “I think he had to act quickly. He knew I was at the house and waiting for him to come back.”

  She nods and bites the tip of her nail while looking at her phone. “I’m going to check on Jadon and Ava.”

  * * *

  The hours drag by. There’s no word at all, from anyone. By the end of the night, our small unconventional group is huddled in the living room, not speaking to each other but not wanting to leave the comfort of being together either. We each have a weapon or two next to us. We haven’t eaten, we’re tired, and it’s a wonder we haven’t started attacking one another, given our history. I’m surprised to admit that I’m glad they’re here. It’s more than just being glad I’m not alone. Their company is actually a comfort.

  It’s midnight and Brienne and Chelsea start to look especially exhausted.

  “I can tell you the minute we hear anything, if you’d like to go lie down,” I tell them.

  “I’m good here,” Brienne says.

  Chelsea nods. “Me too.”

  Brienne and I share a look when Eden gets up and starts pacing again. She turns around wildly and I jump up when we hear a helicopter in the distance.

  Basile goes to the lookout on the roof and I’m on his heels.

  “We should make sure it’s safe before you come up here,” he says, waving me away.

  “I’d rather die than wait a minute longer.” I rush ahead of him.

  “Mara, wait,” he calls, but I ignore him and open the door.

  The helicopter lands and I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Luka’s face. Until he steps out, alone, looking like he’s lost everything.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Elias

  I lose track of time thinking about what my mother left for me. Fortunately, I ride out the temptation to go gamble it away, but only because I can’t believe she did something nice for me. I craved my mother’s love for so long that now that I’m seeing a sign that maybe she did care, I don’t know what to do with it. Yes, it’s too late in so many ways, but the way that it counts is deep in my chest, so I’ll take it. It might be pathetic that I still care so much what my mother thinks about me, but that must be a feeling that never goes away.

  The doorbell rings and I hear Winthrop hustling down the hall, so I stay in my office, contemplating who to pay first. I hear a woman’s voice and stand up, walking toward the door. Cece brushes past me, entering my office. Winthrop stands behind her, looking affronted.

  “I tried to stop her,” he says.

  “I’ll remember your rudeness,” Cece says to him.

  He stands taller. “I beg your pardon. I am not the one who came barreling through here unwelcome!”

  Cece narrows her eyes at him and then turns to me, as if remembering who she’s come to torment. I think of my mother’s w
ords about Cecilia Catano and give her a look of my own.

  “You’re on borrowed time, Elias,” she says. “My husband has played nice with you long enough and now he’s done.”

  “Playing nice is having me beaten to a pulp?” I laugh and motion for her to sit down. “Let’s be civilized here, Cece, have a seat.”

  She leans over my desk, pointing in my face. “It will be on your hands if you don’t do exactly what I tell you.”

  “What will be on my hands?”

  “The lives of my children.”

  I look at her in alarm and grab her finger to stop it from wagging in my face. “Tell me what you mean by that. Now, Cecilia. Don’t waste my time with empty threats.”

  “This is no empty threat. I might be mad at my children right now, but I don’t want to see harm come to them. You need to convince Luka to change his story about his father and to give me the money I deserve. Titus is getting reckless in that prison cell.”

  I see Winthrop in the hall, listening, and I try to keep Cece’s attention on me. “Tell me what he’s going to do.”

  “If you don’t do what he’s asking, the Catano estate will go up in flames. Today. All of our history will be lost, and God forbid, the lives of the ones I love.”

  “Spare me your talk of love. Who’s working for him?”

  Cece leans back and smirks. “I’ve said what I came to say. You do as you see fit and let the ruins fall where they may.”

  Winthrop scurries down the hall before Cece turns around and I follow her out. “You really just came here about the money, right? I’ll get you the money today, just leave Luka and Mara out of this. It’s between Titus and me.”

  “You’ll never be rid of your debts, Elias. Titus has paid off too many for you at this point. Get me my money from Luka and maybe Titus will be detained a little while longer.”

  I grab her arm. “Don’t threaten me again with your kids’ lives. You sicken me. You deserve to be in there rotting with Titus. I’m taking care of the debts I owe. Anything he tries to do to me again is on his hands, but I’m warning you, either of you lay a hand on Mara or Luka and I will kill you.”

  She looks at me with a deadly glare and puckers her lips with a smirk. Leaning in, she says under her breath, “Not if you’re dead first.”

  * * *

  The minute she leaves, I look for Winthrop, calling his name and going through every room. Is the old man losing his hearing or what? Damn him. I rush through the house one last time and then can’t wait a moment longer. I get in the car and drive to the estate, calling Luka while I’m driving. He doesn’t pick up.

  When I pull in, I ring the doorbell three times in a row, too antsy to wait. No one comes to the door. I open it and expect to see someone—Brienne, Basile, anyone, but I’m shocked to see Winthrop walking out of Luka’s office instead.

  Luka stands in the doorway behind him and puts his hand on Winthrop’s shoulder. I move toward them, my shoulders sagging in relief.

  “Winthrop told you everything?”

  Luka nods, his eyes full of worry. “He did.” He holds up Winthrop’s phone. “Smart bastard recorded the conversation too.” He pats Winthrop’s back again and motions for us to follow him into his office.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I sent everyone to the safe house the second Winthrop started playing the recording. I went to alert all the guards and when I came back, everyone was gone. Mara worked quickly,” he says with pride. I want to ask what he means, but he keeps going. “I tried to talk Jadon and Ava into meeting us at the safe house too, but they’ve gone back to Farrow and will have to resume their visit another time. We need to get out of here, now. I was just waiting to talk to you first about these debts my mother’s talking about. We can talk about it on our way out, but Elias, Mara has been—”

  The doorbell rings and Luka stops in mid-sentence.

  “I’ll see who it is,” Winthrop offers.

  “No, stay here. We don’t know who it is and I don’t trust anyone right now,” Luka says.

  “All the more reason for me to go,” I say, but Luka is already out of the office and walking to the front door. I move toward the door myself, but my jacket gets caught on a chair and I stop to unsnag it.

  The sound is deafening. A loud pop reverberates across the room and the awful sound of Winthrop slamming against the wall and going down with a thud. I fall back with the impact and for a second, I’m not sure if I’ve been shot or if it really was a bomb. Smoke fills the room and a small fire starts in the corner. Definitely an explosion. I crawl toward Winthrop. He’s slumped against the wall with blood dripping down his forehead.

  “Winthrop,” I give his arm a slight shake and feel the pulse in his neck. “Winthrop.” I start to panic. I can’t feel his pulse, can’t feel anything. The door is blocked. “Luka!” I yell. “Luka, can you hear me?”

  The next explosion happens before I can get the door open and the last thing I remember is that I’m glad Mara is safe. I wish I could’ve told her I love her one more time.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Mara

  I run to Luka and I can hear the others rushing behind me. Luka looks at me and I know. I just know.

  “Elias?” I say his name as a whisper, a prayer, a hope that all is not lost.

  “You need to come back with me. It’s not safe, but I knew you’d want to be with him.”

  “He’s alive,” I breathe. “Thank God.”

  “Barely,” Luka says.

  My stomach bottoms out and I feel unsteady. “Please. Take me to him.”

  Luka nods and when Eden rushes out the door, he hugs her and whispers in her ear. She puts her hand over her mouth and looks at me, reaching out her hand to take mine. The gesture is almost more than I can take and I clasp her hand, squeezing it tight. It gives me strength and comfort. More than I deserve.

  “We’ll let you know as soon as there’s word. I’m taking her to the safe house where the doctor is tending to Elias. Stay here and when it’s safe, we’ll come back or send for you to come there,” Lukas says hurriedly. “I love you.” He kisses Eden and stares at her for a long moment before backing away and reaching for me. I take his hand and we run back to the helicopter.

  I lean my head against the seat and when the pilot takes off, I can hear Luka speaking to me through the headphones.

  “There was an explosion at the house.” He takes my hand and I hold onto it like a lifeline. “Winthrop…” his voice breaks and I look at him in horror. He shakes his head.

  I lean my head back again and the tears drip back into my hair.

  “Winthrop saved us, Mara.” He lowers his head and presses his fingers against his eyes. “He saved all of us.”

  “How bad is it?” I ask when I can speak again.

  “Elias hasn’t regained consciousness. The second explosion was closer to where I was in the entryway, and I heard him calling me right before that went off, so I’m just hoping it’s…I don’t know,” he finishes. He looks at me helplessly. “I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to leave him and I didn’t want you to hate me forever if I didn’t make sure you were with him if-if…I can’t even say it.”

  I squeeze his hand tighter. “I could never really hate you, Luka. You’re everything to me. And you know he is too. Thank you for coming to get me. He has to be okay,” I whisper.

  We sit there in silence for the next half hour while we fly across the water in the midnight blue sky.

  * * *

  We arrive at the safe house, the one where we go the least. It’s small and I always thought it was kind of creepy, with the vines covering the stone like it’s trying to suffocate it or trying to sink the house into the ground. I shiver when I step out of the helicopter, my hair blowing haphazardly around me. Luka and I rush inside and the pilot stops the helicopter, the quiet shocking after the constant noise.

  A few nurses are in the living room and they’re carrying various supplies. None of them pay cl
ose attention to us, each focused on their task. It makes me more nervous because it signifies to me the danger Elias is in.

  Luka leads me to the master bedroom and when I enter the room, nothing could have prepared me for how Elias looks.

  Helpless.

  Broken.

  Unrecognizable, even though I still see him in there.

  His arms and legs are wrapped in bandages and he’s hooked up to a ventilator. His skin is a mottled red, and there’s ash in his hair. I rush to him, my throat a painful knot, and touch the only place that looks like it won’t hurt him, his hair.

  “We just need him to wake up now,” the doctor says. “He’s been breathing better the past hour. His burns are minimal, considering what he’s been through.”

  “I’m here, Elias,” I whisper in his ear. “I’m here and I’m never leaving you. I decided on my way here that I’m done. For good this time. I’m done running and I won’t let you run from me anymore either. So wake up and let’s get on with living. I don’t care what happens, as long as we’re together.”

  He lies there, the machine showing all these numbers that I don’t fully understand.

  The doctor pats my back and motions for me to sit down. “It could be a while. Talk to him. He’s been traumatized beyond the injuries. Even unconscious, we had to pry him away from the elderly gentleman, who sadly didn’t make it. Tell him it’s okay to wake up. It’ll make a difference to him to know you’re here.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.” I sit next to Elias and stare at him, willing him to wake up. “I hope you’re right.”

  Luka comes in a few minutes later and tells me what happened.

  “I was about to tell him you’d paid off part of the debt when Mother came to the door. I know you said not to tell him, but I wanted him to know how they’re playing him too.”

  “She was there? Did she get hurt at all?”