Scarred by Vengeance (Titanium Book 2)

by Valia Lind

  "Do you want something to eat?" Logan's question breaks through my thoughts. A smile curls on my lips on its own as I look up at him.

  "Doesn't this feel a little like déjà vu?" I ask. His answering laugh is too brief.

  "Yes. We really are quite the party animals."

  He leads me to a table, before signaling one of the waiters our way. The man brings over a tray of appetizers and suddenly, I'm famished. Grabbing several, I eat one after the other.

  "Someone's a little hungry." Logan comments, but I notice his plate is just as full as mine. Raising my eyebrow at him, I take another bite.

  "I don't—" I begin, but the words die on my lips. Calen? I swear I just saw Calen.

  "What is it?" Logan turns to scan the crowd behind him, much like I'm doing. I study the faces, but don't see him again.

  "I thought I saw Calen." I whisper. Logan spins around, training his eyes on me. "Is there something I should know?" I ask. For some reason, I don't think he looks surprised.

  "Why would he be here? How would he even know about this?" Logan replies, keeping a steady gaze on me. "You're tired and you miss him. It might've just been someone who looks like him."

  I hear the words, but they're not registering. The overwhelming urge to go find Calen suddenly hits me and I'm on my feet. Logan stops me with a hand on my arm.

  "Don't."

  Just one word and I know something isn't right. Logan may be an amazing actor, but it's like my inner voice is screaming at me that something is going on. I sit back down, watching Logan for any tells. But there's nothing. He's a pro at this. So why do I feel so unsettled all of a sudden?

  "Logan. Miss Snow," Foster is suddenly by our side and I have to swallow the panic down. Turning my attention to the man standing beside us, I do my best to smile. "I would like to introduce you to Barbara Walton. She's a head of a prestigious research company, and a close friend."

  "It's nice to meet you," I say, standing up to shake the woman's hand.

  Age: Late 50s.

  Dress: Expensive.

  Eyes: Cold.

  That's the only impression I get from her, before my brain stops spitting out information. A little taken back by the fritz, I try not to show it as I smile. She studies me with a calculating look, before turning her attention back to Foster.

  "She is something, alright." Barbara says, and the alarms already going off in my head start ringing even louder. Logan is standing beside me and I can feel him move just a tiny bit forward at her words.

  "Miss Snow is one of a kind. There's a lot we can learn from her," Foster says with a glimmering smile. Why does it feel like I'm being sold off like a car at an auction? Foster is like a proud father and Barbara is like a slithering snake. Any minute now she's going to wrap her hands around my throat and squeeze. Then, she'll take me to her lair to open me right up and see what's inside.

  I’m not exactly sure where those graphic images are coming from, but I don't hear them say anything else. After another minute or so, Foster moves away and I turn to Logan.

  "Tasia, are you okay?" He asks, concern plain on his face.

  "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

  "Because you just—"

  Whatever he was going to say next gets drowned out by a huge boom, as the building around us is shaken by an explosion.

  24.

  The screaming is coming from all around me.

  I'm surrounded by panic and tears. Getting up is a lot harder than it should be. Logan is beside me, crouching in the debris, as he pulls me to my feet.

  "What happened?" I shout over all of the deafening noise and commotion.

  "A bomb. It must've been a bomb."

  He's hard to hear, but I concentrate on the movement of his lips. But I must not read them correctly because he said it was a bomb. I look around me, noticing that parts of the building are caved in on one side, while even more of it is falling down all around us. There's dust, dirt, and rubble.

  So many people.

  From where we're standing, I see hands, feet and partial torsos sticking out from the debris on the other side of the room. The side of the room Foster was heading toward. Instantly, I pull out of Logan's grasp and head in that direction.

  "Tasia, stop! Are you crazy? What are you doing?" Logan intercepts me before I can get any farther. Grabbing me by the shoulders, he tries to steer me away, but I'll have none of it.

  "I have to get—"

  Once again, my words are cut off by a noise. This time, it's gun fire. Logan pulls me to the floor, shielding me with his own body. I twist my head just in time to see two of Foster's henchmen firing at a couple of waiters by the main entrance.

  Logan moves off me, but continues to tug me to stay down. I wait for my survival skills to kick in, but nothing comes.

  "Come on, Princess. Let's get out of here."

  Logan pulls me away from the rubble and the shooting, while I try to process everything that's happening. It must be the same people who attacked Logan and me at that garage and on the street. But what did they want to accomplish with this? What was the point? Logan tugs on my hand again, trying to bring me back to my senses, but I'm not leaving.

  "I'm not leaving!" I shout at him, pulling out of his grasp and scrambling toward fallen victims. Another pair of waiters appear, this time closer to where we are.

  One of them sees me, and rushes over with his gun out and and ready to fire; I don’t wait for him to reach me. I push off the floor, flying at him with my body.

  I tackle him to the floor, punching him in the face before he can realize what's happening. My hand gets twisted behind my back, but I don't loosen my grip on his hand. The other waiter tries to get me off his companion, so I let him pull me up. When he does, my heel connects with the first waiter’s face, knocking him out. In the same motion, I fall into my attacker, taking us both to the floor.

  His arms are holding me around my middle, trying to keep me from moving. I reel my head back, jamming it into his nose, and his arms instantly fall away. Scrambling off him, I grab the fallen gun, brining it around and smashing it into his face.

  When I twist around, my hand is steady as I point the gun at Logan.

  "Tasia, what are you doing?" He asks, keeping his hands up in front of his body. I'm breathing heavily, the adrenaline pumping in my veins. It takes me a second, but then I drop my hand.

  "I have to get to Foster." I say, turning back around.

  "Tasia, we need to get out of here." Logan says from behind me. "If he's not dead, we'll get him. But there might be another bomb. Or more people coming and you're hurt."

  His words make me pause. I don't feel any pain. I look down at myself and see that my side is bleeding, the red seeping into the green of the dress. I run my free hand over the blood, staring at it like I've never seen it before. But instead of reaching out to Logan, I keep going.

  "Tasia, leave it alone."

  "No!" I shout, spinning on him. "I have to—" I'm breathing hard, trying to keep it all together in my head, but no control comes.

  I push.

  I turn.

  I twist.

  Nothing. No control. No solid ground. Just an overpowering urge.

  "I have to save him." I say, meeting Logan's eyes. There's absolute shock there, but for some reason, I don't feel shocked at my own words. I think I'm supposed to, but I don't. Instead, I stand up straighter, gripping the gun a little more firmly.

  "Princess, no." Logan's cry sounds incredibly pained when it comes from his lips, but I suddenly don't understand why he'd call me princess. That's not who I am. And he's in no position to call me that anyway. He takes a step toward me, reaching out with his hand, but I jerk away before he can touch me.

  "Tasia, fight it. Please, fight," Logan says, and I don't understand his meaning. Isn't that exactly what I'm doing? And once I make sure Foster is okay, I'll hunt down the bastards responsible for this and take them out too.

  "Anastasia. Come back to me." He's pleading with me, calli
ng me the name I've learned to despise. It's only a reminder of a family that abandoned me, of the hurt I suffered as a child. Logan moves to stand in front of me, but he doesn't reach for me again. "Fight, Baby. You can do it. You can."

  Images flash in my mind of us together. Of him holding me. Of us watching birds, sitting under a tree. The pain in my head smashes into me like a sledgehammer. I stumble where I stand, grabbing my head with my free hand.

  "Tasia, come on. Fight."

  I listen to his voice as it battles with another one inside of me. I'm so tired of this. I'm so tired of this battle. Why should I be the one fighting all the time? Why am I responsible for so much while I'm still so young? Foster gave me a home. Foster gave me a place to belong. I had to trust that.

  I open my eyes through the pain, glaring at Logan.

  "Get out of my way and let me do my job." I grind out between my teeth, the anger seething through my blood. He recoils back, sadness so real that I almost reach for him. But I don't. He's nothing to me. Pushing past him, I rush to the rubble.

  I have to save Foster.

  25.

  Fear.

  Panic.

  Exhaustion.

  Cold.

  Empty.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Shut down.

  26.

  LOGAN

  I lost her.

  That's all I can think as I watch her stumble through the debris and bodies. She looked at me with all the hatred in the world, just because I stood in her way. Even when I hurt her, when I betrayed her, she has never looked at me like that. The drug is stronger than we imagined. But she's stronger still. I have to get her out of here and get her some help.

  As I move toward her, I feel my pocket vibrate. Whipping out my cell, I see a text message light up the screen.

  Got her. We need to move.

  I breath a sigh of relief. At least something good will come out of this. Without replying, I shove the phone back into my pocket and take off after Tasia. When I reach her, she's on the other side of a huge pile of the wall that came down. Even dirty and bloodied, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.

  "Tasia, we need to go," I yell, hoping my voice can snap her back to herself. Just long enough for us to get out of here. The team will be here any minute and I can't risk any of us getting into the crossfire. "Tasia." I reach out, meaning to drag her out by force if necessary, but she's always been faster than I am.

  Spinning around, she slams the butt of the gun against my head. I trip over my own feet, barely keeping my balance. I don't want to fight her, but if that's what needs to be done, I will. There's so much anger and determination in her eyes, she looks fierce. I know just how skilled she is and she's about to unleash all of that on me.

  She charges me, bringing her arm out to punch me in the face, but I block it. She kicks, but I grab her around the waist, pinning her to me.

  "Come on, Princess. You know this isn't you. You don't want to hurt me," I say quietly into her ear. Her body goes rigid for just a split second before she tries to ram her head into my nose. I dodge it at the last moment.

  Pulling out of my arms, she manages to deliver a kick into my stomach before I can swipe her legs from under her. Fighting her is hurting me on a level completely separate from physical. My soul will never be the same after this.

  "You're such a nuisance!" Tasia shouts at me as she gets back up on her feet. However, before either one of us can move, the team is here. I have no choice, but to leave.

  Looking over at the door, I see half a dozen men spill into the room. They all carry themselves in that familiar way and my attention is diverted just enough for Tasia to deliver a good blow to my back. Spinning around as I land, I kick out, pushing her back against what's left of the wall. Without another thought, I jump to my feet and race out of the room.

  Her shout follows me to the back door.

  I race through the kitchens and out, running the best I can the moment I'm outside. Two blocks away, I turn into an alley. When I stop in front of a car, the drivers door opens and Calen steps out.

  "Where is she?" he looks behind me, as if expecting Tasia to come around the corner. The hope and fear mixed on his face add another punch to the fact that I failed.

  "She's gone."

  * * *

  "We have to go get her!" Calen shouts, ready to race past me. I grab him, stopping his progress as Freddie gets out of the car. There's pain in his eyes, but he takes Calen by the shoulders and pulls him back.

  "Not right now, Calen," he says. "We need to get Blake back to the house. Then we'll deal with Tasia."

  I know it's hard for him to say the words, but he knows what needs to be done. He's the voice of reason here because everything in me wants to go back for her.

  "No, I won't take that for an answer." Calen yells, shrugging out of his uncle's grip. I'm ready to go after him if he tries to run. I don't like the crazed look in his eyes.

  "Calen, we have to get Blake to safety before she wakes up. Think about her. She's your sister." Freddie tries again.

  "So is Tasia!" Calen screams in reply. Dejected, he tries to catch his breath. "Logan, you understand." He's pleading with me and I hate myself even more for leaving her behind.

  "If there was a way—" I begin.

  "Why isn't there a way?" Calen interrupts, getting in my face again. He's a big guy, but if I have to, I will subdue him. Freddie moves toward us, but I wave my hand, telling him I can handle it.

  "Because The Company came," I reply, looking Calen straight in the eyes. I see the moment my words register, as his shoulders drop in defeat.

  "Did anyone see you?" Freddie asks from behind Calen.

  "I don't think so," I reply honestly, because I was too busy focusing on Tasia to care about anything else.

  "Good. We need to keep it that way for now. We need to go."

  I nod and follow him back to the car, with Calen bringing up the rear. He's in no position to drive, so Freddie gets behind the wheel as I take the passenger side. Calen gets in behind me, sitting next to Blake.

  The plan was simple. Get Calen inside the fundraiser, have him get Blake out during the ambush. No one planned on a bomb going off during the misson. The Company sent word saying they would be there in five minutes and then the world went to hell. I don't think the bomb was set by the company, because they wouldn't be that stupid. Although, General does have his little quirks.

  "You know he'll be looking for you in the rubble," Freddie says once we leave the streets of Chicago behind. Calen has been quiet, keeping one hand on his sisters arm, while staring out the window.

  "I know," I reply, watching the world outside the car. I don't add the part where I don't care, but Freddie hears it in my voice. He's had his suspicions for a long time, and when he came to me after the incident at the docks, he found out the rest.

  I wanted to tell Tasia, but he cautioned me against it. Just like The Company did. Now, I'm angry that I listened to either one of them. I should've just grabbed Tasia and made us disappear. To hell with the mission, with all of it.

  "You can't blame yourself for what happened," Freddie continues.

  "And who am I supposed to blame?" I ask a lot more sharply than I intend to, but Freddie doesn't chastise me. "I failed her."

  "We all did," Calen says from behind me and maybe he's right. But I won't share the responsibility knowing full well I should've had her back. I should've got her out.

  "The Company won't touch her. Not yet."

  "Not if she kills them all."

  "Logan," Freddie snaps, using his dad voice on me. I run a hand through my hair, frustrated beyond all words.

  "I know. I know." I reply. I feel restless inside the car, closed in a space full of the stink of my pain. Nothing could've prepared me for the despair I felt when Tasia looked at me like that. I wanted to believe that I could've brought her back from anything. That we were that much stron
ger together. Now, I don't know what I believe.

  "They won't touch her, Logan," Freddie says firmly. "And neither will Foster. Both sides need her and that gives us hope."

  "How can you say that?" I ask, anger evident in my voice. "That makes us sound just like the rest of them, like we're using her."

  "It gives us hope of getting her out,not bringing the operation down." Freddie clarifies, spearing me a glance. He's hurting too, I have to remember that. "I no longer care about that. I just want both of my girls back safe and sound."

  That ends any discussion for the moment. I turn back to stare out the window, because the argument inside of me doesn't die down. I should've been able to get them both out.

  I was going to lead Tasia away and sneak her through the servers entrance on the outside of the ballroom. The hotel has two, and the one farthest away was going to be our exit. I should've kept her closer. I should've been more prepared.

  I know it's irrational to think I could've known about the bomb or prevented it somehow. But the girl who own my heart is being controlled by a drug, and I left her with two of the men I hate most in the world.

  We arrive at the cabin at about two in the morning. Blake is still out from the sedative Freddie gave her and she'll probably sleep through the rest of the night.

  I follow them in, as Calen carries her to a bedroom they set up in the corner of the house. She'll be confused and terrified when she wakes up and they're making sure she doesn't hurt herself. I leave them to take care of Blake, while I head to the control room.

  I pull up the news channels and online blogs about what happened at the hotel. It's the top story on every channel.

  "I see they're calling it a terrorist attack," Freddie says, coming into the room. Calen isn't with him. I assume he's staying with his sister.

  "Yes. Perfect publicity for the do-gooder." I say bitterly. I don't actually think Foster set up the bombing himself, but it's definitely something he'll spin to his advantage. It looks like it's already working.