* * *
“You’re looking good, Hawke,” Shane said, slapping Hayden’s back.
Hayden ignored him, walking on into his office. It had been hard leaving Livvie after what they’d done, but he couldn’t put this off any longer. He hadn’t suspected she’d begin to recognize him; how would she? He was thought to have died when she was a small child.
“How are plans coming?” he asked, sitting behind his desk. He was thinking of Livvie, of how she was trusting him more and more. He checked his watch.
Shane closed the door and sat down across from him. “According to Marc, good. What about the girl?”
“What about her?” Hayden asked, sounding sharper than he intended.
“I don’t want her hanging around so much with Jenna. We don’t know her.”
“She won’t hurt Jenna. From what I gather, she considers her a friend and I know Livvie could use one.”
“We’re not here to make friends with the enemy,” Shane cut in.
“I already told you, she’s not the fucking enemy. The leaders of Magnus are the enemy. Period. Everyone else is a victim.”
“I’m sorry, Hayden, I’ve got my baby to think about now.”
Hayden looked away for a moment. “I know, Shane,” he began, the need to defend and protect Livvie too strong to ignore. “I understand…” A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
“Come in,” Hayden called out. This wasn’t going to be easy, but the sooner he got it over with, the better.
Marc opened the door and walked inside, glancing at Shane and then ignoring him altogether. “Commander,” he greeted.
Hayden nodded in acknowledgement, not liking the competition between the two men, knowing it could put their mission in jeopardy.
“Have a seat, Marc,” Hayden said. “There’s something important I need to talk to you two about. Something I should maybe have told you sooner.”
The two glanced at one another before returning their attention to Hayden.
An uncomfortable silence descended and Shane finally spoke up. “What is it, Hayden?” he asked.
Hayden looked at the two men, his expression deadly serious. There was only one way to do this. “Olivia Jenkins, my prisoner, is Simon Jenkins’ sister.”
There was a moment of silence before both Marc and Shane reacted and Hayden could just imagine what was going through their minds.
About six years ago, Hayden had met Simon when Simon had been on what Hayden had thought was a mission from Magnus One. The fact that Simon was a double agent he hadn’t known at the start, but once he’d learned to trust him, they’d become friends. Simon, however, hadn’t been as well received by the rest of the crew, Marc and Shane included, and Hayden could understand why. What had happened the day Simon had been killed had been a tragedy—they’d lost fourteen of their men along with Simon.
Even after Simon’s death, Marc and Shane had accused him of being a traitor—of infiltrating their camp only to expose them to Magnus and Hayden had never been able to confirm otherwise. But Hayden knew in his heart that Simon was one of the good guys.
“What the fuck, Hayden?” Marc said, standing. “Simon Jenkins is the reason our friends and brothers were killed and now you’re harboring his sister—likely another spy? No, I won’t have this.”
Marc looked around for a moment and Shane and Hayden rose to their feet.
“I think it’s time you stand down, Commander. I think your judgment is skewed. You’re compromising the safety of everyone in this camp. And for what? To dip your dick in that little spy-whore?”
Hayden grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the wall so fast that he didn’t register he’d done it himself until he stood staring down at Marc.
“Hayden!” Shane pulled at his arm, but it was no use.
“If you ever—ever—call her a whore again, I will fucking kill you!”
“Fuck you, Commander!”
“Hayden, let him go. Hayden!” Shane said.
Hayden stared at Marc, his gaze icy, but slowly released him. Marc took one look at Shane, straightened his collar, and walked out the door.
“That wasn’t the reaction I’d anticipated,” Hayden said, looking out the window at Marc’s retreating form before turning to Shane.
“Look, Hayden, he lost his best friend during that attack and Simon’s loyalties were always in question. It’s the nature of being a double agent.”
“Simon was a friend,” Hayden said, his lips narrowing as he tightly reined in his emotions.
“I know he was. But Marc…”
“I get it,” Hayden said.
“Look, this doesn’t change anything with our mission. Give him time to cool off, he’ll come around.”
“I don’t know, Shane. He’s got so much fucking anger.”
“I’ll let him pound on me over Jenna,” Shane said, both men sitting down. “Does she know about Simon? Olivia?”
Hayden shook his head. “I’m going to have to tell her. I just hope it doesn’t cost me the trust I’ve been building with her.”
“You have feelings for her,” Shane said.
Hayden just looked at him.
Chapter Seven
The next two weeks passed quickly. Hayden had secured a job for Livvie at the school to work with the three- to five-year-olds. It was more babysitting than anything else, but she found she liked it very much, especially if now and again a baby was brought in for a few hours while the parents attended to their work. Although she could feel the lack of enthusiasm at her presence from the school’s director, she was beginning to get to know a few of the other teachers.
Hayden walked her in every morning. She knew he did this to ensure the others at least tolerated her, even if they didn’t welcome her with open arms, at least not right at first.
When he’d first suggested she work at the school, she’d been surprised. She had zero experience with kids, wasn’t even sure she liked them all that much. Or at least she didn’t really know what to do with them. But he’d explained his reasoning—the fact that kids would be less judgmental, more tolerant of an outsider (specifically of her) than adults. The parents would come around after getting to know her, to hear their children talk about her. He wanted to build trust between her and the members of the camp.
Livvie wasn’t sold on his idea though, and she certainly hadn’t given up on Katie. Hayden wouldn’t talk about what was going to happen to her, claiming he didn’t know more. Being around the kids made her even more aware of her sister’s situation.
It was late afternoon on the Friday of her second week at the daycare. Livvie lifted Sarah up from the changing table and set her on her feet.
“There you are,” she said, fixing Sarah’s skirt. “Not a problem at all and no one will know you had an accident.”
“Thank you, Miss Livvie,” Sarah said, not quite able to pronounce the “v” sound so her name sounded more like “Liwwie.”
Livvie smiled and took the little girl’s hand. “You’re welcome, baby.”
“I’m not a baby.” Sarah stopped walking to correct her, her huge brown eyes chastising Livvie.
“No, you’re right, you’re not a baby. You’re a big girl. I just like calling you that, but I won’t do it anymore. I promise,” she said to her, squeezing her hand.
Sarah, who was a few days shy of three, seemed to accept that and they returned together to the classroom. Livvie found it strange but also endearing how Sarah clung to her over the other teacher in the room. Well, maybe not so strange, given the fact that her colleague berated Sarah who, at her age, still had quite some accidents when most of the other kids in the group were potty trained. Livvie had stood up to protect the little girl and carried her off to change her the first time she’d seen it happen, almost feeling the shame she imagined Sarah would be feeling. Ever since then, Sarah gravitated toward Livvie, seeking her protection and, in a way, her approval.
“Olivia,” the director’s voice came fro
Startled, Livvie turned. The woman was severe and unfriendly and Livvie had no doubt she only tolerated her presence because Hayden made her.
“Yes, Jayne?” she asked the older woman.
“Commander Hawke won’t be able to take you home today. He was called to an emergency.”
“Is he…I mean, is everything ok?” she asked, suddenly worried. She was getting used to Hayden, to having him take care of her and to being around him. That thought alone was unsettling—she should be trying to escape, shouldn’t she? She should go back to Magnus One, expose the camp…
“Miss Livvie?” came Sarah’s little voice at that precise moment.
Livvie looked down at Sarah’s face and out of nowhere, tears filled her eyes. She knew in that moment that she couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t. Not if it meant hurting this little girl along with all the other children here. They were innocent and they weren’t different or contaminated. There was nothing wrong with them and they were only trying to live a normal, happy life.
“It’s ok, Sarah. Go back inside and I’ll be right in,” she said, opening the classroom door and urging the little girl inside. Sarah disappeared, quickly distracted by the singing the group was doing. Livvie looked at her as she joined the circle of kids and smiled briefly before turning a more serious face to Jayne.
“Is everything ok?” she asked again, more calmly this time.
“There’s been no alarm, so I assume so. However, he won’t be able to take you home tonight. He sent the key to the house and said you were to go directly there after school.”
“Unescorted?” Livvie asked, surprised. She touched her collar briefly.
Jayne nodded, her expression leaving no doubt that the woman thought Livvie should be walked home under armed guard.
“Where’s the key?” she asked, annoyed with Jayne and her absolute unwillingness to accept her, to even offer her the smallest chance.
“Here you are,” Jayne said, retrieving the ring of keys from her pocket and handing it over.
“Thank you,” Livvie said.
Jayne grunted with a nod and walked away. Livvie pocketed the ring and returned to the classroom. He was trusting her to be alone. Her mind raced at the possibilities, but at the forefront was the knowledge that tonight, he’d told her he had a surprise and that she should be ready for him when he got home. And he’d explained exactly what he meant by ready: naked and kneeling at the foot of the bed. The disappointment she felt at the chance that this emergency could potentially make that not happen was unsettling.
* * *
Walking home alone was strange. Most people went about their business, but she didn’t miss the curious glances that turned her way. She took the long way, looking down streets and into windows as she went. She wondered if his letting her walk home alone was a test, wondered if he was watching her from somewhere himself. She brushed her fingers over her collar, knowing he wouldn’t need to watch her at all. He could track her easily via the GPS.
It didn’t matter anyway, at least not this time. She’d decided to go home and wait for him. She wanted to pass his test, if that was what this was. And if it wasn’t, she didn’t want to jeopardize the trust that was growing between them.
The sun was disappearing behind the high mountains when she slid the key into the lock of the front door. The street was deserted, his house the only one standing on this road. She walked inside and closed the door behind her, then locked it. She wasn’t sure why she did that. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. She did it because without him, she didn’t feel as safe as when he was there.
Walking into the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of water and drank it down while leaning against the counter and surveying the place. She looked at the keys in her hand. In the weeks she’d been here, she’d investigated every inch of the house and there had only been one place she hadn’t been able to enter. It was the trap door hidden beneath the carpet on the living room floor. She rinsed her cup in the sink and walked toward it, figuring this was her best opportunity. Pushing the carpet up, she knelt by the lock and tried the first key. It was the third one that slid perfectly into the lock and she turned it, feeling the latch release as she did. Her heart raced as she pulled the heavy door upward. It was pitch black below, so she picked up a flashlight and pointed it into the opening.
A ladder much like the one to the bedroom led the way down and she began the descent. It wasn’t that deep and once she was below, she shone the light along the walls until she found a switch. She flipped it and a brighter-than-expected light bulb lit up what looked to be a storage space. She switched off the flashlight and set it on one of the rungs of the ladder so she wouldn’t forget it. She then began her search of the contents of the first box.
* * *
Hayden made his way home earlier than he’d thought he would. The emergency that had come up had been Mary—again. He’d been putting her off for weeks and today she’d shown up at headquarters upset at being ignored, wanting his help with Billy. Although Hayden knew that was an excuse, he couldn’t not acknowledge her this time, especially with the gossip that was circulating about him and Livvie.
Could you call it gossip if it was true? He wondered. And why hide it or try to hide it from the others? He wasn’t doing anything wrong. And it wasn’t any of anyone’s business anyway.
Lights were on in the house. He wondered what she’d been doing, if she was looking forward to tonight’s surprise as much as he had been all day. Since the first time he’d made love to her, she’d wanted him every night. She was insatiable, as he thought she would be. And that suited him just fine. He gathered up the box on the passenger seat and climbed out of the car. Tonight he’d introduce her to a new sort of pleasure.
* * *
Livvie exhaled, disappointed. The first few boxes didn’t contain anything interesting. It was when she got to the fourth one that her curiosity was piqued. This one was unmarked and that was why she’d left it alone at first. When she opened it, however, she found it stuffed with files, old-looking, worn and yellowed pages. She picked up the first one, which was titled H. Daniel Hawke.
She tilted her head to the side, her mouth beginning to form a word but not. She sat back and opened the file on her lap, turning page after page, reading name after name.
She barely registered the closing of a car door as she put the folder aside and delved deeper into the box. Inside was a bundle wrapped in plastic. She pulled it out and tilted the bag to drop the contents out. The old uniform spilled out and when the metal badge hit the floor, it made a clanking sound as it landed.
The front door opened and closed, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from what she sat looking at. She picked up the uniform and looked at it, read the name written across the chest. H. Daniel Hawke, Commander.
“Olivia,” came his stern voice from above her.
She turned to look up at him, her expression empty while his was a mix of emotions. Understanding dawned on her in those moments, things falling in place, finally making sense.
“Hayden Hawke. H. Daniel Hawke. You’re H. Daniel Hawke. The hero.” Her eyes filled with tears that spilled over when she lowered them to find the badge. She picked it up. “They didn’t have the explosive set inside it back then, did they?” She half laughed. Goose bumps made her cold, her skin prickling.
He stood staring down at her as she looked through the rest of the box. More folders, files, but she didn’t need to read anymore. There was nothing to see.
Hayden descended the ladder and knelt next to her. She turned to him, searching his eyes, not sure what she was looking for at all. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what? There was nothing to tell. Nothing you would have believed anyway.”
“I see it now,” she said, pushing his hair away from his face. “God, you must have thought me the fool.” She laughed at herself, but it wasn’t a laugh, really.
“No, Livvie. I’ve never thought you a fool. Come upstairs with me,” he said quietly.
She pulled her hand out of his. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ll tell you now. I’ll tell you everything now, Livvie.”
“You’re supposed to be dead. They said you were killed on a mission fighting the resistance. They teach us that at school, you know. But you are the resistance. I trusted you, Hayden.”
“You can still trust me; this doesn’t change anything.”
“What else are you keeping from me?”
Hayden took a moment and she knew what he would say next would rock her world.
“I knew your brother, Livvie. He was one of us.”
Chapter Eight
“No! No way!” Livvie jumped to her feet and tried to push him away when he gathered her into his arms. “My brother was not a traitor!”
“No, he wasn’t. He was one of the good guys.”
“He died on a mission. Like you were supposed to have. Oh, my God, is he alive too?”
“No, Livvie, I’m sorry. Simon is dead. He was killed by the soldiers of Magnus One. He was ambushed.”
“Why are you doing this?” she said through her tears. “I can handle you being who you are, but why are you saying those things about my brother?”
“Livvie, come upstairs with me. You need to calm down,” he said, taking hold of her arms tightly now.
“Let me go. You’re a liar and a fraud. I trusted you!” She tried to hit him but he had her arms so she began to kick.
“Damn it, Livvie,” he said, shifting his hold on her so he trapped her back to his chest, holding her tight, allowing her minimal movement.
“It was almost six years ago when he joined with us,” Hayden said, forcing her to listen.
“I don’t want to hear your lies!” She struggled, but he kept her pinned to his chest.
“It was after they’d taken his friend Lisa to be an egg donor, a contributor you call it. But she didn’t survive, did she?”
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