by Nina Croft
“Stay here,” she said to Ethan. “I’ll be back.” She waited, holding her breath until both of the soldiers had their backs to her, and then she sprinted around the edge of the room, keeping low behind the cover of the tables.
She found Ethan’s father, lying behind the table. He’d been hit several times, and his white shirt was soaked crimson. His eyes widened as he caught sight of her. She knelt beside him, tore back the shirt, and knew there was nothing she could do for him.
“Bad?” he asked, pain contorting his features.
She didn’t attempt to lie. “Yeah.”
“Is Ethan alive?”
“He was knocked out, but he’s coming around.”
“Tell him to be strong. That he can be anything he wants to be.”
“I will.”
She peered around the edge of the table. They were still crisscrossing the room, right now facing her direction. She couldn’t move until they looked away, and she turned back to Ethan’s father.
Blood bubbled up from the corner of his mouth. He choked, spluttering, and she knew she had to silence him. But something stopped her. This was Ethan’s father. But there was something she could do. Reaching across, she made to slip the reflector device from his head. At the last moment, she hesitated. How long would she have? Long enough?
“What happened to Ethan’s mother?” she asked as she slipped off the device and slid into his mind. She saw the answer straight away. But he was losing consciousness fast.
“Shit,” she said. Not what she was expecting.
“Will you tell him?” he asked, his voice fading.
“I don’t know.”
And then he was gone. Not yet dead, but thankfully unconscious, though, he wouldn’t last for long. As she crouched beside him, fingertips at his throat, she felt the last flutter of his life force leave him. She reached beneath his jacket, found the pistol in a holster at his shoulder, and tugged it out. She checked to see that it was loaded, and then held it at her side while she waited for an opportunity to get back to Ethan.
Finally, they turned the other way and she sprinted across. Ethan was sitting up now, back against the wall. It occurred to her that she might have been better to leave him unconscious. But it was too late now. Beside she wanted out of there. She wasn’t leaving without Ethan, and she doubted she could carry him, so he had to stay awake.
“My father?”
“He’s dead. I’m sorry, Ethan.”
“Are you?”
Not really. The Conclave had so much to answer for, and Ethan’s father had been in charge. Whether directly or not, it was down to him.
She thought about what she’d learned from him, whether to tell Ethan. But that was something to think about later. Right now, she needed him to concentrate. His eyes were still slightly unfocused and tinged with sadness. Whatever else he had thought of the man, he’d loved his father. Would that love survive if she told him the truth about his mother? Again, something to consider later. Now, they needed to get out of here. And get her sister out of here.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Like I’ve been hit with a truck.”
“Can you run?”
“I’ll have to.”
“Rose?”
“Yes?”
“I need a diversion. How long?”
“Two minutes.”
“Good, I’ll be ready.”
“Two minutes,” she said to Ethan. “Be ready to go. We get Josie on the way, and then we’re out of here.”
…
“I can’t reach her,” Jake said. “What did you hear?”
“I’m not sure.” Kaitlin concentrated hard, but Sadie had gone silent. “But I think I heard her call out. She’s in trouble, and we need to get to her. Do you know where she is?”
“Yes. Rose is backup. Wait, I’ll contact her.”
He pulled his cell out of his pocket and punched in a number. He was silent for a minute, a frown forming between his eyes. “There’s something wrong, I can’t get hold of her.”
She blew out her breath. What to do. “Let’s get out of here.”
Jake turned and headed down the corridor at a run, and she followed, the others behind her. Fergus brought up the rear—they’d given him the choice to tag along or to stay here. He’d decided to come with them.
It was slowly sinking in. They were all safe. There was a chance that they would get out of there alive.
Jake paused where the corridor split as an alarm screeched to life, and a flashing red light turned the corridor to an eerie crimson. “I guess someone has noticed we’re here,” he muttered. “This way.” He swerved and ran back the way they’d come and then took a right, skidding to a halt at an open door. Inside, she could see a bank of screens along one wall, most lit up, and she recognized the inside of her cell. This was the control room. Two guards lay unconscious or dead in the middle of the room.
Jake stepped over the bodies and came to a halt in front of a keyboard. “Stefan?”
The other man stepped up close and leaned down, tapping the keys, swiping his hand across the screen. “The exits have all been sealed. And there are guards on the outside.”
“We need to find another way out,” Jake said. “Can you pull up the plans for the place?”
“Of course.” Stefan was a technical wizard. He could literally talk to computers, and a minute later, the plans were up on the screen. “What am I looking for?”
“Anywhere we can blow through.” Jake tapped his backpack. “I came prepared.”
Stefan studied the layout then enlarged an area of the screen in front of him. “That’s the weak spot. There’s access into the old maintenance tunnels.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They slipped out of the control room and made their way downward and through a corridor of cells.
“Shh,” Jake said. “I hear something.”
Someone was coming the other way. They backed up against the wall, guns ready as a figure hurried around the corner. “Don’t shoot,” Kaitlin said.
It was Walker. He skidded to a halt as he caught sight of them, his eyes widening.
“Who is he?” Jake asked.
“My doctor.”
“You want to kill him?”
Jake had changed. He was more ruthless than he had been before. Maybe he’d had to be. “No,” she said. “Don’t kill him.” She turned to Walker. “Just make sure you bring your daughter up to be a better person than you are.”
He didn’t answer. He still wore the reflector device.
She thought about taking it off, but she’d seen enough of the inside of his head to last a lifetime, and she waved a hand at the nearest cell. “Get in.”
Once he was inside, she slammed the bolt. “Let’s go.”
Five minutes later, she didn’t even cover her ears as the walls exploded around her. The dust cleared, revealing a jagged hole in the wall. She stepped through.
She was free.
…
An explosion sounded somewhere outside, and the two soldiers stopped their search. They swung around to face the door. For a minute, they didn’t move.
“Come on, come on,” Sadie muttered under her breath.
Finally, they turned as one and headed out the main doors.
Sadie exhaled, then focused on the spot where Josie lay. Her sister still wasn’t moving.
“Let’s go,” she said to Ethan.
He pushed himself to his feet, swayed a little but steadied quickly. She straightened, holding the gun out in front of her, then crossed to Josie and crouched down. She still couldn’t believe her sister was alive. Except she wasn’t sure there was anything left of her sister inside this body. What had they done to her?
Could it be reversed? Not likely. She suspected that something had been taken from Josie that could never be returned.
She couldn’t think about it now. At some point in the future, she would have to mourn her sister all over again. But right now, she had to get them
all out of there. Reaching out, she shook her sister’s shoulder. “Josie.” Nothing. “Joelle?”
Her lashes flickered open and she sat up. There was no recognition in her eyes as she looked at Sadie. “What’s happening? Where am I? Where’s—” As she turned her head, she caught sight of Travis, dead on the floor, and she screamed.
Shit.
…
A scream pierced the fog filling Ethan’s brain.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind.
This was not good.
Bodies lay everywhere. Sadie had said they were unconscious, not dead, but no one was moving. Who had done this? Was it Sadie’s people? He didn’t think so.
His father was dead. His mind couldn’t process it. Later. He had to get out first.
Sadie grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her to her feet. She fought against the pull, her gaze fixed on Travis. His cousin was clearly dead, his eyes wide and staring.
“Travis!” Jerking herself free of Sadie’s hold, she ran to her husband, and fell to her knees.
Sadie strode after her, jaw locked, hands fisted at her sides, and Ethan followed.
“He’s goddamn dead, and we have to go.” Sadie’s voice was quiet but her tone fierce. Her sister took no notice. Ethan crossed to her, grabbed her upper arms, hauled her to her feet, and tossed her over his shoulder.
“Lead the way,” he muttered.
Nodding, Sadie glanced around. There was an emergency exit at the rear of the room. She raced across the space, dodging the bodies, and Ethan followed, the struggling woman still in his arms.
Sadie opened the door, peered through, then shut it softly, shaking her head. No way out that route. The only other option was the French windows leading out into the garden, but they would have to cross an open expanse of grass before they reached any cover.
They had no choice. There was still no sign of the two soldiers. Maybe they’d get lucky. But he didn’t believe in luck.
She opened the French windows, stood staring outside for a second, then looked back and gave a nod. They exited onto a tiled terrace. Then a stone staircase led onto a lawn. Light from the ballroom behind them illuminated the area.
“Go,” he said as she hesitated. They couldn’t stay here. Who knew how many more of them there were. She was silent for a moment, with that faraway look she got when she was communicating and not bothering to hide it.
Then she was off, running across the terrace. He stayed close. Then they went down the steps and onto the grass. They were going to make it.
The bullet took him in the shoulder, spinning him around, and the woman dropped from his hold as he crashed to the grass. More bullets whizzed past him, and Sadie flung herself down beside him.
He felt no pain. Just a numbness seeping through him, and a dampness. He was losing blood. A lot of blood. They were pinned down. This was it.
And he realized he didn’t want to die. That was a new thought.
His mind was growing numb, but he forced his brain to keep functioning. Raising his head, he caught sight of two figures in black striding toward them, guns in hand.
Something touched his arm, and he looked to see Sadie beside him, staring into his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“What for?”
“I don’t know. But something.” Her hand slipped into his.
Darkness encroached on his mind. Ice froze at his core, spreading outward, coldness seeping through his veins, his bones…
Then gunfire thundered behind them, and the two figures dived for the cover of a small wall. Beside him, Sadie scrambled to her feet. “Goddamn it, get up.” He realized she was talking to her sister. “Josie! Now.” He was vaguely aware of the woman getting up, running into the darkness. Sadie shook his shoulder.
“Come on, Ethan. Just a little farther. You can do it.”
He wasn’t sure he could. “Go.”
She gritted her teeth. “Not without you.”
“I can’t make it.”
“I know about your mother.”
Shock reverberated through him, pushing back the darkness.
“I know what happened to her. And I’ll tell you. But not here. So if you want to know, get on your goddamn feet and move.”
Was she telling the truth? She didn’t lie. He gathered his strength, and pushed himself up. A continuous volley of shots was pinning the two soldiers down. Sadie grabbed his good arm and half pulled, half dragged him along. Finally, they were into the cover of the trees, but she didn’t slow her pace.
His vision was blurring and he stumbled, but somehow managed to keep on his feet. A stone wall ran around the property, over six feet high, but they were heading for a narrow gate. Open. A figure stood beside it, a semi-automatic rifle in her hands, shooting back at the house. It was the brunette he’d seen with Sadie at Forrester’s.
They almost dived through the gate, and she was behind them, slamming it closed. A van was parked at the edge of the road. The back was open, and he almost fell into it. Sadie jumped up beside him and dragged him the rest of the way. Then the door slammed shut.
He looked up into her face.
“Tell me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Later.”
“Now.”
But he knew he wasn’t going to hear anything, because the darkness was enveloping him, wrapping him up in its icy coldness and pulling him under.
Chapter Eighteen
Sadie dragged the first aid kit out from under the bench seat.
They were moving fast, and the road was narrow and winding, so Ethan slipped and slid over the floor at each corner. He was unconscious, but she could see the pulse fluttering at his throat.
Up in the front, Rose was driving, concentrating on the road ahead. Sadie’s sister—or what was left of her—sat in the passenger seat beside her.
After maneuvering him out of his jacket, she ripped open Ethan’s shirt. The wound was a bloody mess, but she didn’t think the bullet had hit anything vital. All the same, he’d lost a lot of blood, and a slow trickle was still running down his arm. She tore open a pad and pressed it to the wound, tying it in place with a bandage.
She sat back and studied him. He had a tattoo over his heart. A gothic C entwined with ivy, no doubt for Conclave. It was faded, as though he’d had it a long time. Branded at birth, maybe? She traced a finger over the lines, his skin was hot, and she could feel the slow thud of his heart.
He still wore the reflector device. Were they far enough away that she could take it off him safely? But they passed other cars on the road, so whatever it was that had knocked everyone out at the party was not reaching this far. She slipped it from his head, tucked it into his pants pocket, and briefly delved into his mind, but he was out cold.
She closed her eyes for a minute, and slowed her breathing.
Back at the house, lying beneath a hail of bullets, she’d thought that was it. The end. And her one regret had been Ethan. She remembered the way he had felt in her dreams, the way his words had touched her soul, the feel of his skin beneath her fingers. The scar. That much had come true.
Resting her back against the seat, she pulled him so his head lay in her lap, preventing him from being jolted. Stroking her hand through his hair, she pushed away the last of the debilitating fear and breathed deeply.
“Are you all right?” Rose asked in her mind.
“Fuck, no.”
Rose chuckled. “You’re alive. That’s more than I hoped for back there.”
“Thank you.”
“I thought I was too late.” She could hear Rose’s fear. They had come so close.
“You were just in the nick of time.”
“Yeah. You really all right?”
“I am. But Ethan’s been shot. He’s lost a lot of blood. We need to get him somewhere safe. Where we can treat him.”
“We’ll go to Dave’s. The garage. I called him earlier, and told him to expect us. I’ll call him back and ask if he knows a doctor.”
Sadie listened while she made the call. “He says yes. They’ll meet us there.” She was silent for a moment, then her voice was tentative. “Sadie, what about Josie? Where has she been? What happened? I can’t get through to her.”
“They did something to her mind. She doesn’t remember me. Any of us.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I keep telling myself that she’s alive and I’d thought her dead. That has to mean something.”
“Of course it does. And maybe there’s something we can do to reverse whatever they did to her.”
“Maybe.”
“Who were those people?” Rose asked. “The ones who attacked?”
“I don’t know.” She pictured them in her brain, but they’d been covered, wearing masks.
Where had they come from? Who were they? And why did they want them dead? She forced her mind to think through the implications. They’d knocked out everyone but the Tribe and those wearing the reflectors, and then they’d shot at anything still standing.
She could only conclude that the attack had been to take them out. And they’d nearly succeeded.
“Have you heard from Jake?”
“Better than that.” She could hear the smile in Rose’s voice. “I heard from Kaitlin. Just briefly, but they’re out. They’re putting some distance in, driving, while we decide what to do.”
That was a relief. They were all safe for now. The others free. Ethan was alive. Josie was alive. It was a better result than she could have ever anticipated. Now, she just had to ensure that everyone stayed alive. And maybe then, she could take a little time out and discover why Ethan haunted her dreams.
He shifted in her lap.
At one point, when he was down, she’d thought she would have to choose between him and her sister. Her sister was a stranger to her now, married to the enemy. More than that—in love with the enemy—if her actions were anything to go by. She wasn’t even sure any part of the Josie she had known was still in there. That hurt too much to think about right now, but she knew, deep down, she would have chosen Ethan.
And then, when he’d been shot, her heart had stopped. Literally stopped, for what seemed like an eternity.
Somehow her dreams had become confused with reality.
Why this man?
