by Stacey Nash
She’s almost right, I probably need it, but maybe she needs it more. After all the tension of the past few days, actually being able to relax for a couple of hours might be good for her.
Harris chuckles. “Right then, I guess we’re going.”
Cynnie shoots me a wide smile and crosses the warehouse floor with Harris. She looks the part now she’s out of the black uniform and dressed in a pair of jeans that Harris scrounged up from who knows where. Maybe it won’t be so bad and some decent food in my gut will be welcome. Never thought I’d miss Martha’s cooking, but the stuff they have here is like army rations, or worse, camping food. Harris reaches the boarded-up window first and pulls it back, making Cynnie gasp. Guess she hasn’t seen anyone come or go yet.
“Cool.” The word whooshes out like she thinks this is the best concept in the world. You’d think it would be boring after having Collective tech at your fingertips your whole life.
We climb through and, as I come out the other side, a security spotlight shining on the parking lot shows up my ride exactly where I left it. Probably should take it for a spin to turn over the engine.
“I’ll ride,” I say. “Hop on the back, Cynnie, and we’ll meet Harris there.”
Harris fingers the bandage on his arm. “Uh, I thought we might walk along the wharf. Grab a burger or something.”
“Sounds awesome,” Cynnie says, before I have a chance to reply. “Some fresh air is just what we need. Clear our heads, right, Jax?”
She tosses a fake smile my way, a sure sign she’s making fun of me, but I won’t bite.
“Whatever you say.”
We pick up a steady pace across the abandoned lot. Harris cuts through a hole cut in the wire fence like he’s snuck through it a million times before, then folds it back while first Cynnie then I climb through. Although it’s completely dark, the area around the warehouse and the buildings next to it are lit up with huge spotlights like this is an obvious place for criminal activity. Not that we see another soul as we make our way between the security fences and down to the wharf. It’s not a place I’ve ever been before. I guess the ocean doesn’t call to me like the woods do. I inhale a deep breath of briny air and my lungs open. This actually feels pretty freeing.
The three of us perfected the art of not talking, so while we walk along the wharfside, that’s exactly what we do. This broken feeling inside me is kind of like homesickness, but not for a place. It’s for a person. I’ve been gone for over a week now and it feels like a year.
As the wharf curls around we come to a section that’s less deserted. Neon lights advertise the takeout shops standing in a row along the grassed foreshore. Harris points to a dingy one at the far end of the row, its front windows more grime than glass. “These guys make the best burgers in town.”
Cynnie and I exchange a doubting look, but he’s already moving inside.
“I’m game if you are,” I say.
She grimaces.
Twenty minutes later the three of us are sitting on the grass, fingers spread around humungous burgers. Mine tastes pretty damn good too.
Harris rests his on his knee. “So, I heard a rumor that you two hooked up.”
Cynnie laughs. “Hardly. I’m friends with his girlfriend.” She jabs me in the side with her elbow. “Right, Jax?”
Harris’s jaw drops in mock outrage. “You have a girlfriend and you never told me.”
Cynnie giggles. “Oh yeah, he sure does.”
I look from one to the other, images of Mae flooding my mind. Her beautiful face, the way those freckles sit across her nose, and the stubborn set of her jaw. An ache pounds my heart and I need to change the subject before they see the emotion that’s surely plastered on my face right now.
“Wait a second . . .” He points a French fry between us. “You know his girlfriend? You guys knew each other before we saved your ass the other day?”
“We met when I was a prisoner.” Just a white lie.
“With Anamae,” Cynnie says. “I take it you don’t know her.”
Harris looks at me for so long I can’t stand the weight of his judgment anymore and glance away. “No. I don’t.”
It’s time to shut her up. “I’m the cavalry remember, I’m just here to help out.” I cut a look to Cynnie she can’t mistake: drop it. I can’t talk about Mae right now. Hell, I can’t even think about her and the last thing I need the people here knowing about is my family tree.
We fall into silence again. The sound of the water lapping against the rock wall is like a constant beating against my mind. Mae, Mae, Mae.
I’m not sure how long we sit there. The passage of the moon across the night sky and the gentle snoring coming from Harris laid out flat on his back means it has likely been over an hour.
Cynnie’s the first to move, tickling Harris right in that tender spot under his exposed armpit. He jerks upright, looking around wild-eyed. She coughs out a laugh while Harris swivels around as if he’s looking for danger. It’s so damn funny that I laugh too.
He swats Cynnie’s arm and joins in. With another hoot, she jumps to her feet and darts down the wharf. Harris takes off after her while I watch them both become silhouettes in the moonlit darkness far ahead. They’re both crazy. Cynnie’s giggling carries on the wind despite the distance. I shove my hands in my pockets, following at a more reasonable pace while I try not to think about where I’m not, who I’m not with.
Hell, I even miss Will.
Finally, I reach them just before the turn leading up to our warehouse, both sitting on the pier with their legs dangling over the edge. And, stuff this, but Cynnie and Harris seem to be getting on well. She’s armed with her usual weapon of choice—that lightning shooting knife—and she’s safe out here with him. It must be at least midnight now which means Frank will have taken over scanner duty. That’s it, I’m going.
“I’ve had enough fresh air. You guys enjoy the salty goodness and I’ll catch you inside later.” I snag Cynnie’s attention with a wink, then walk away, leaving them sitting under the moonlight as I return inside.
Frank’s taken up his usual spot snoozing by the scanner. Going to the computer, I set the coordinates for home and brace myself as I fall through the darkness. It’s short, but still makes me feel like puking. Doesn’t matter how many times I port, it never gets any better. My feet slam into the hard floor and my stomach tingles. Theras only knows who’ll be here.
I sweep a look around the port room.
And she’s not here.
My gut clenches, the nerves stilling. It’s probably for the best anyway. I didn’t really expect her to be here at this time of the night; A-crew should be on duty and by the looks of it they’re here.
“Jax,” Sam says, his voice cool, “where have you been?”
“I needed to get away.” Everyone in the room hears my words, words better kept to myself.
He purses his lips as if this comes as no surprise. Then he looks to Hannah and her friend—I still can’t remember that chick’s name. “Are you back?” he hedges.
Twisting my mouth to the side, I shake my head. The girls stare like I’m some sort of freak show. A telcom would be good, one that was wired into Sam and no one else. I’ve got to talk to Marcus about that idea already.
“Mae?” he says, leaving the question hanging on the air.
Am I so transparent? I never thought I wore my heart on my sleeve, not openly.
“How is she?” My voice cracks on the last word. It’s near impossible to keep it free of inflection. I want to ask if she’s coping okay, if she’s missing me, if she’s keeping safe. If she’s with Will now or waiting for me.
“She’s fine. Up to something, but I . . . ah . . .” He glances at the two girls again. Hell, can’t they just disappear for two minutes?
I gulp. The silence has stretched on for too long.
“Make sure he looks after her.”
I port out.
Chapter Seventeen
Mae
F
or the past two days I haven’t stopped thinking about Nik porting out of the diner with Xane. Not for a single second. The pop of Xane’s arm, the evil sneer on Nik’s face, the fear that turned my stomach to liquid. What I haven’t thought about—purposefully pushed away every time it tries to creep into my thoughts—is the kiss I shared with Will. Sweet and gentle, and oh so very Will. I’ve always felt safe and warm with him, but this took that feeling to a whole new level. Now, it’s like we’re both operating on autopilot, our friendship running the way it always has. Like that kiss never happened. It’s almost too easy, yet almost forced.
“Hey, Mae, you all right?” Lilly says.
Holy cow, I’m thinking about it. I palm my knees, forcing them to settle and stop bouncing. The fact I’m jammed between him and her in Al’s truck isn’t good. Will knows my tics, and knee-jigging is almost as bad as thumb chewing. I don’t dare let my eyes move in his direction when I say, “Yeah, I’m cool.”
Lilly raises a perfect brow like she doesn’t believe me. Heck, I wouldn’t either after the way I reacted to seeing Nik. Lucky she doesn’t know the real source of this nervous energy. She’d have an opinion for sure. Damn it, I can’t think about this now. Not with a good possibility we’ll see Manvyke within the hour. Lilly’s probably freaking out at my unpredictability and I wouldn’t blame her.
“I can handle this.” I meet her square on and then look to Will, who eyes me over the soda can raised to his lips, his gaze skeptical. He doesn’t believe me anymore than she does. Well, so be it. I’ll prove them both wrong.
We’re on the side of the road outside Collective territory, hidden by the huge pine trees, which also block the view of the front gates that provide entry into their community. We should still see any vehicle that goes through them. Borrowing the truck was easy since it’s a reasonable time of the day. Lilly just asked Beau for permission saying we were going to visit Will’s folks, something we haven’t done in weeks and should. Just like I should have spent some time with Dad over the past week and haven’t. A tiny part of me feels bad, but I don’t have time to examine that either.
“I feel like the FBI,” Will says.
Lilly barks out a short laugh. “We’ve got more idea what’s going on than they ever have.”
“True.” He takes another sip of his drink. “If only they knew.”
“Indeed.” A lightness that’s returning more often carries Lilly’s voice.
I bump my shoulder against hers. “Love you, Lil.”
“What?” Her brow furrows like I’ve said the stupidest thing this side of ridiculous.
I shrug. “You’re a great friend, dragging your butt out here for me. You’ve been nothing but the best friend in the world since we met.”
“Hoi,” Will says. “Don’t you be giving my place away.”
Lilly’s mouth tips up, just a little at first, then into a huge grin. I can’t help the chuckle that spurts out of me, hers follows.
“What?” Will asks, his eyes meeting mine over the can again. Somehow, with that one sentence, I know that no matter what happens everything will work out just fine. We’ll always be friends over and above anything else.
Xane said Manvyke leaves every second today, and I hope to high heaven that today’s the right day. My nerves can’t take a second stakeout. Or maybe it’s not this, it’s all the caffeine. You’d think it was three in the morning rather than the afternoon by the amount we’ve consumed. I flip my wrist over and it’s now three forty-five. Getting closer.
Something warm closes around the hand at my mouth and I near jump off the truck’s bench seat. “Gosh, Will. Don’t scare me like that.”
“Well, stop doing that. You’ll chew right through your thumb.”
He tugs it away from my mouth and on the way down my fingers brush my pendant, sparking a thought. Will places my hand in my lap and I spin around to face him before he’s even let go. “Do you think . . .”
“No.” He shakes his head. “No way, Mae. It couldn’t.”
“It might.”
“What are you talking about?” Lilly asks. “Sometimes I swear you two have your own wavelength.”
Will peers around me. “The cover-up—”
“Do you think it might work over the whole truck?” I ask.
Lilly laughs, flat out laughs, at me.
“See,” Will says, “it won’t.”
“Do either of you know for sure?” I tug the brooch out of its permanent home in my jeans pocket. It’s a good place to keep it, better than leaving the thing lying around. After twisting the pin through the collar of my blouse, I plant a hand on the truck’s dash, glancing over my shoulder at Will. “Out you get,” I tell him. “We won’t know if it works if no one’s looking. Just stand away a bit.”
He raises a brow and gives me an incredulous look, but reaches for the handle then jumps out of the truck and lops around the front where he stands a few feet away, arms crossed. I run my thumb over both forget-me-nots. The sensation ripples through me and fabulous, that’s the sign I’ve turned invisible. Maybe Lilly too, since our thighs are touching and hopefully the truck. Will just stands there looking straight at us; my hope blooms. It worked?
Slowly, he moves his head left, then right. Damn it.
“Shoot. He’s on the move.” Lilly guns the engine and the tires spin up gravel. She’s right too. A dark blue SUV pulls out of the Collective community; not fast, thank goodness, but crawling out like the driver either isn’t paying attention, or is concentrating too hard, granny-style. Will runs, planting his palm on the hood just as the truck spins to the side. He nearly falls over, but manages to grab the open door as the vehicle slides back around. He tosses himself in, slamming his hip into mine and yanking the door closed only a second before Lilly hooks the truck onto the road and speeds off.
“Holy hell, Lilly,” his voice is breathy, “you could’ve waited for me. It’s not like we are the frickin’ FBI.”
“He’s moving, Will. A second’s hesitation and we’ll lose him.”
“Is that even him?”
“It’s four o’clock and it’s the only car we’ve seen come out of there since we arrived. It’s him.”
I’m not so certain, but logic says she’s probably right.
“Hey, invisi-girl.” Will bumps his knee into mine. “You’re making it look like there’s no one driving this truck.”
Imagining exactly what that would look like, I laugh. A driverless car is pretty darn funny, even though that’s a sure fire way to wave a red flag saying, I’m here. With a quick brush of my thumb, I deactivate the cover-up then pull the baseball cap down low over my head. Will and Lilly shouldn’t be recognizable, but Manvyke would know me with a passing glance.
Now that we’re moving, the truck putters along at a more reasonable speed, hanging back out of the SUV’s path. None of us speak; we’re all holding our breaths to see where this game of cat and mouse leads. And where it does lead is right out of the suburbs and onto the highway; heading back toward the city, the farm, and a million other potential destinations.
In just under an hour we’re off the highway again and on the exit that leads into the city. The high-rise buildings that mark its center slowly grow closer, and as they do the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. It sure looks like we’re headed toward the council building over by central park. Abandoned or not, we need to be wary, so I slouch in my seat and watch under the rim of my borrowed cap.
The SUV slows, passing the Collective’s city territory at the pace of a fast snail, but it doesn’t stop. Instead it continues around the park, pulling to a stop on the far side. I guess he could still be going back there. Just because he didn’t park right out front doesn’t mean anything, but then maybe he’s going somewhere else. Damn spiraling thoughts . . .
Shoving my ponytail into the back of my shirt, I say, “What do you—”
“Dunno.” Lilly pulls into a free parking space, hopefully far enough away to not be obvious. “Stay here.”
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Will opens the door and jumps down out of the truck. Stay here while Will goes who knows where? Hell, no. I slide across the seat, but her hand snags my arm while Will walks away without waiting for me. And damn, the man who just hopped out of the SUV is Manvyke. That frame, that stance, all confidence and grace and don’t-mess-with-me-I’m-important. He slips around the corner of a connecting street and Will follows at a decent distance. The two of them being alone is the dumbest idea ever, so I reef my arm out of Lilly’s grasp.
“Mae!” She sounds angry but damn, so am I. I won’t be told to sit, stay, or heel. I’m not her pet dog.
“You’re not Will. Stop being so over-protective and let me go.”
“Listen to yourself,” she says. “You need to stay here. Will’s got less chance than you of being recognized.”
“And more chance of being hurt without anyone there to watch his back.”
She sighs and bounces her forehead off the steering wheel, but grabs my arm again. “He can handle himself.”
“It doesn’t matter how good someone is, Lilly, no one and I mean absolutely no one is invincible.”
All the color flees from her face leaving it more washed-out than my pale skin. Her hand drops from my arm and, crap, I’m such a cow. Garrett was the best.
Avoiding eye contact, I slink out of the car feeling worse than awful as I jog along the sidewalk. I should have stayed with Lilly and somehow made her feel better, told her how good Garrett was. But nothing can or will erase the pain of his death and right now, I need to watch out for Will. He’s been gone for maybe five minutes, totally out of sight with Manvyke, and that pounds my heart with fear.
Just before I reach the corner, I swerve to the left to avoid people on the street then glance up. Will strolls around the corner with his head down and the black baseball cap pulled low over his face. It’s a near miss when I swerve, but his hands clamp around my upper arms pulling me to a halt and turning me back the way I came. Concern reflects in his eyes. He slips an arm around my waist and pulls me into his side.
“Hi there, sweetheart.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head.
