“Give me a break, Eva,” I said rolling my eyes. “I know you’re deeply in love with my dad but he’s still my dad.”
“What makes you think he wants to see you?” Eva asked. “He doesn’t like visitors this late.”
I snorted. “Funny. That’s what he said about you.”
“Well, sure. I don’t like them because he doesn’t like to be disturbed so late.”
“It’s not that late,” I replied.
“Maybe for an old man it is,” Eva said without even bothering to hide her smirk.
I shook my head. “And we all know how much you love older, much, much, much older men, right?”
“Your dad was always nice to me.” Eva winked. “Even before all of this, he was so sweet.”
“Oh, please,” I said.
“He’d always sit down next to me, so close he could smell me,” Eva said. “At first I thought it was a little creepy but then I started to like it. I’m pretty sure he did too.”
My jaw tensed. “You’re an idiot.”
“Ah-ah-ah,” she said wagging her finger. “I’d be careful if I were you. Can you imagine what the guard would do if I told them you were harassing me?”
“All the guards or just Leo?” I asked.
Her eyes narrowed. “They all are on my side. Didn’t you realize that yet?”
“I don’t get it. What kind of power do you have here? What did you ever do for any of the people here?”
“That’s one thing you never understood. It’s all about power,” Eva said. “I have it and you don’t.”
I grimaced. “That’s one thing you never understood, I don’t want it.”
Eva pressed her hand to her chest as she let out a loud, obnoxious fake laugh. “Oh, Adam. Trust me, I realized that but you had money. Money can equal power.”
“Whatever. Enjoy your power,” I said.
“Oh, I am. I really, really am,” Eva said. “Now, why don’t you scatter on home? I’m sure your little friend is wondering what’s taking so long. You know, I have to give you credit though, after what happened to her, you’re pretty brave to wander out here alone.”
I took a step closer to her. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“You should be. And so should your friend.” Eva looked at her nails. “I sure as hell wouldn’t leave her home all alone after everything that’s happened since you arrived.”
Rage bubbled inside of me. I tried not to react because that was what she wanted… a reason to call out for help.
“Go home, Adam. You need the sleep,” Eva said her lips curling at the ends. “It’s going to be an early morning for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“Nothing. Everyone needs sleep,” Eva said waving as she stepped around me as if I carried a contagious disease. “Hope all is okay at home.”
Dammit.
I turned away from her without another word. I didn’t care what she had to say.
At first, I moved at a normal pace but as her words sank deeper inside my mind, the quicker my feet moved. Before I knew it, I was running, and I wasn’t hiding in the shadows. I needed to get to the cabin as soon as possible.
When I got to our door, I knocked hard. My panic-filled bones rattled along with the door in the frame.
The door opened quickly. Leah looked at me with wide eyes before flicking her gaze over my shoulders at the darkness behind me.
“Adam!” she said with a gasp.
I charged into the room and threw my arms around her. My arms fell away and I slammed the door closed, locking it with a quick flick.
“Is the bag ready?” I asked.
“What’s going on? You’re scaring me.”
“I ran into Eva,” I said as if that would explain everything.
She shook her head. “I thought you went to see your dad? Eva was there and you stayed?”
“No,” I said moving around the room like a chicken with my head cut off. I needed to do something but I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. “I ran into her after I left.”
“So much for staying in the shadows.”
“It was before I reached the shadows.”
Leah twisted her fingers. “Did she do something to you?”
“No, we just talked,” I said.
“Why?”
I pressed my fingertips to my temples. “I don’t know. She just kept saying these things. She implied something happened to you or at least that’s what I thought she was doing. Eva knows how to mess with me.”
“I’m fine,” Leah said shaking her hands. “Look, I’m perfectly fine. She just wanted you to leave, that’s all.”
“That’s not all,” I said. “She said I needed to get to sleep. That it was going to be an early morning. The reason we didn’t get our papers is because we’re expected to show up in the morning.”
Leah shook her head. “But your dad… what did he say?”
“I don’t think he knows what she planned,” I said. “We need to be ready to leave. Hell, maybe we should leave right now.”
“Adam! What did your dad say?” Leah asked.
“He said everything is fine,” I said running my finger through my hair. “Dad said that all family is excused from fighting.”
She shook her head. “I’m not family.”
“He told them you’re my wife,” I said.
“Then maybe everything is fine. Maybe Eva is just messing with you for enjoyment,” Leah said. “That’s not out of the realm of possibility, is it?”
“Definitely not,” I said. “But it’s also possible that she did something to make sure we weren’t safe. You and I both know she wants us gone. What better way to get rid of us than this?”
Leah shook her head. “There is no guarantee we’ll die. In fact, they’re fully expecting to win this whole thing.”
“Maybe a guard has instructions to get rid of us,” I said.
Leah frowned. “Your dad would never forgive her.”
“He would if he thought it was an accident.”
“No, he wouldn’t because he did everything he could to prevent us from going,” Leah said. “The bag is ready. What should we do?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
Leah chewed her fingernails. “We could eat and get some sleep and leave in the morning if we need to. Everyone will be at the town center. If we have to, we can run.”
“Maybe,” I said. We’d have the energy to escape, unlike now.
I was drained. My thoughts were a jumbled mess. And for all I knew, Eva was just messing with me. Maybe she was just trying to trick me into running.
I sat down on the sofa and buried my face into my hands. Leah sat down next to me and wrapped her arm around my shoulders, resting her head on my shoulder.
“Your dad wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” Leah said. “She was probably just trying to freak you out.”
“It worked,” I said.
“She implied something happened to me and look, I’m fine,” Leah said. “She’s awful, I know that, but she was probably just trying to get rid of you.”
My head bobbed. “I hope you’re right. I’d hate to have to leave here without telling my dad good bye. He’d never understand it.”
“I know,” Leah said. “But you know what it’s like out there. Our chances aren’t good out there.”
“They don’t seem that great here either. And I’d really hate that she’d win.”
We ate nearly everything in the cabin that wasn’t packed. It was hard to eat with my stomach spinning but I forced every bite down just in case I needed it there.
Leah fell asleep easier than I had but once my eyes closed, they didn’t open again for several hours. I could tell morning wasn’t far off. If I closed my eyes, I was almost sure I could hear voices.
The voice became louder. Loud enough that I knew they weren’t in my imagination.
I went to the front window, my fingers shaking as I lifted them to slightly pull back the curtain. The
people weren’t noticeable but the lights they carried were.
They were coming.
24
Stevie
I didn’t know how far away from the compound we were but it wasn’t like we could go back and get everyone to safety. We didn’t have anywhere else to go.
We should have been working on our backup plan instead of running around chasing a fantasy. If we would have stayed back, we could have hidden more supplies in the basement like we’d discussed. Gage could have searched for a new place far away from the compound.
“All I have is my gun and the shirt on my back,” Jake Quinn grumbled. “I had to run. Leave everything behind. There were so many of them I couldn’t stay and go down with my ship, although maybe I should have.”
“Maybe we can figure out a way to get it back,” I said.
Jake huffed. “There were at least fifteen of them. All dressed the same. Each one of them assholes wearing a bulletproof vest. What the hell could I have done differently?”
“You did the smart thing,” I said.
“I should keep going,” Jake said. “Can’t believe I’m even walking back in this direction at all. If he weren’t bleeding, I probably would just keep going because I am a damned coward.”
“No, you’re not,” I said. “You just saved our lives. Cowards don’t save lives.”
Jake flapped his hand at me as he grunted. He let out a long, heavy sigh.
“I’m pretty sure each and everyone one of the men were armed,” Jake said. “I don’t see we have much of a choice but to go on the run. Maybe that’s just delaying the inevitable. They’ll catch up with us sooner or later.”
“We should be careful,” Shawn said. “Not just now but as we get closer to the compound.”
I nodded. My stomach twisted with worry. If anything happened to Gage, I wouldn’t ever forgive myself for leaving.
“You probably hate me for leaving without warning you,” Jake said.
“Not even a little,” I said.
“They could have been following me,” Jake said flicking me a glance. “I didn’t want to lead them right to you.”
I nodded. “I know. That was good thinking. I wish there was something we could do to get your things back.”
“Bah,” Jake said. “It’s probably all gone by now anyway. Honestly, I knew it was just a matter of time.”
“I wonder if we’ll have time to set up the basement,” I said.
“They’ll look in a basement,” Jake said.
I shook my head. “Not this one.”
“We’ll want to run,” Jake said shaking his head. “Hiding isn’t going to work.”
Lightning flashed as brightly as the night everything changed. I crouched and covered my head as if I were afraid the sky would fall.
Shawn wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Just the storm.”
“And we should get a move on before it gets worse,” Jake said.
“We’re not going to be able to outrun it,” Shawn said.
“Maybe we should find a place to wait it out,” I said.
Jake grumbled something I couldn’t make out. He covered his mouth with his hand and let out a rumbled cough.
“We can’t waste time,” Jake said.
“Do you think they’d travel in the storm?” I asked.
“Hmm,” Jake said. “I don’t know but if they don’t and we do, that’ll give us more time.”
He was right. The quicker we traveled, the sooner we’d get there and Shawn could get help.
“Never mind,” I said. “Let’s keep moving.”
The rain poured down. I ignored as much of the thunder and lightning that I could. I also ignored the fact that it was nearly impossible to walk through the storm with everything I was carrying.
Shawn, though, he had it worse. He was bleeding and the traveling wasn’t helping. I didn’t mention the whiteness of his skin but he could probably see the worry every time he looked in my direction.
“How are you feeling?” I asked quietly.
“I’m okay,” Shawn said. “I wish there was something I could take for the pain. It feels like someone stuck a curling iron into my arm.”
“Is the bullet still in there?” I asked.
Shawn shrugged and winced. “I have no idea.”
“Want me to take a look?” I asked even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to see. It wasn’t like I would have any idea how to get a bullet out of his arm.
“Let’s just get back,” Shawn said. “For now, I’m pretending it didn’t happen.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
He shook his head. “It’s not your fault. I volunteered to go.”
“Not about that,” I said.
He glanced at me. “What are you sorry about?”
“Our fight,” I said. “I’m sorry, I’m a terrible girlfriend.”
“You’re not a terrible girlfriend.” Shawn smiled. “If it makes you feel better, you’re the best girlfriend I ever had.”
“I think that might just make me sad,” I said.
Shawn laughed. “I didn’t have a lot of girlfriends. I do like that you consider yourself my girlfriend, though.”
“After what happened, I’m not sure if I should?”
“You should.” Shawn looked down. It looked like he had more to say but he didn’t continue.
“What are you thinking about?”
He wiped the rain off his face with the back of his hand. “I’ll try to be more understanding. I just want to be as important as everyone else.”
“You are,” I said. “I’m not good at this stuff.”
“You’re really good at taking care of everyone,” Shawn said.
I laughed. “My family is dead. My friend, Jace, is dead. Brooklyn… dead. And now you’re hurt. I’m terrible at this.”
“Things would be so much worse for everyone without you. It’s weird you don’t see everything you’ve accomplished amid this disaster,” Shawn said. He raised his gaze forward. “I wouldn’t have been able to do what you’ve done.”
“Of course you could have,” I said.
“So,” Shawn said giving me a smile that warmed my insides. “You’ll be my girlfriend again?”
My eyes narrowed. “That’s such a strange word to me.”
“Oh, come on,” Shawn said rolling his eyes.
“I never stopped,” I said.
He wrapped his arm around me and gave my shoulders a quick squeeze. “Let me take care of you sometimes too, though, okay?”
“I promise nothing,” I said.
Jake groaned. “If we don’t get a move on, we’re all going to be in trouble and there won’t be anything anyone can do about it.”
If there was anything else Shawn and I needed to discuss, it would have to wait. We needed to get back to the others as fast as we could.
My hair whipped around my face as the storm continued its relentless attack on us. Relief didn’t wash over me like I had hoped when the compound came into view. It hadn’t taken us long to reach home, which probably meant that Henry and Clara had led us in a huge circle. Not paying better attention was only another mistake I’d made. More proof that I wasn’t cut out to lead the group I had.
As we got closer, I noticed something that made my heart uncomfortably skip a beat. The front door to the main house was open.
25
Joss
I grabbed Caleb’s hand as he ran toward the door. “He’ll come back here looking for us.”
“And then he’ll see we’re gone,” Caleb said. “Where do you think he’ll go?”
I couldn’t think.
“Do you think he’ll go to Rex or that other guy?” Caleb asked.
“Marcus?” I said scrunching up my nose at the sour taste of the name.
“Right,” Caleb said placing his hand on my back. He led us to the stairwell. “Which place?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. Wait, I have to get Clover!”
“Hurry,” Caleb said.
I dashed into the room, grabbing Clover. Her legs stretched out as if she were trying to hold on to the room.
“Sorry,” I said. “We have to get somewhere safe, okay?”
Her back claws dug into my flesh through my shirt but she settled into my arm as she had many times before.
“Did he seem to lean more one way than the other?” Caleb asked when I rejoined them.
“I think if Jenna wouldn’t be pregnant, he’d go to Marcus,” I said. “But she needs to stay where the doctor is.”
Caleb looked forward. “I don’t think there is going to be much of anything left if this place keeps getting bombed or whatever is causing those fires and explosions.”
“Okay. I think Marcus then,” I said. “He would want to keep us safe. Rex’s army clearly hasn’t kept us safe… right?”
“Sounds good to me,” Caleb said.
“But Caleb,” Jenna said. “I need to be here.”
Caleb turned to her. His shoulders softened but only a bit. “If we stay, there is a good chance we’ll all die.”
Tears rolled down Jenna’s cheeks but she didn’t say another word. She was scared. The severity of our situation had hit her. It may have hit all of us.
On the first floor, several people were gathered in the lobby. They were hugging, mumbling, and staring out of the window, confused by what was happening outside.
“Don’t go out there,” someone said.
“We’re safer in here,” another chimed in.
“Maybe they’re right,” I said looking up into Caleb’s eyes. “We could wait here. Robby will be back any minute. He couldn’t have gone far.”
Something rolled down the sidewalk past the front window. Caleb looked out, narrowing his eyes as it clinked and clanked like a metal chain being dragged along the pavement.
“Oh, no,” Caleb said. He must have spotted what was out there. He grabbed my hand and stepped behind Jenna as if he were using his body as a shield.
He pushed us toward the hallway. We only made it behind the wall as the explosion shattered the front windows. The power from the blast threw us to the floor.
The Reset Series | Book 5 | Torrent Page 12
