How easy it was to slip into the callous, heartless man he’d been years ago, but he didn’t have time to think about the ramifications now. Jake had once told him that good and bad were just words. Who was to determine what was good and bad? The consequences were what mattered in the end.
Will was counting on that.
***
Antonia had fussed over Jake from the moment she saw him get out of the car at the airport. She stood next to the waiting plane, her lips moving without sound, her hand in her pocket. He walked to the steps and she approached, tsking in her nervousness, the rosary beads clinking in her skirt. She tried to wrap an arm around his shoulders, but he jerked away. He didn’t want anyone to touch him. Not even her. Especially her.
He didn’t want her love. Love never helped him. Love had only hurt.
The plane took off within minutes of their boarding. Jake and Antonia sat in the back row by the restroom and Aiden and Raphael sat in the front, just like last time.
The plane flew past the smoke that covered part of the city, flying far, far away and leaving the ugliness of the afternoon behind. Jake had watched a Superman movie once after Mommy fell asleep on the sofa after working late. Superman had flown so fast around the world that he made the bad thing that happened to his girlfriend not happen. Maybe their plane could do that too. Fly faster and faster so that the buildings didn’t fall and the wind didn’t blow and the people on the streets weren’t covered with blood.
But that was a movie and this was real life. Besides, even if the plane could do such a thing, Aiden would never let it happen.
Jake hated Aiden.
He kept the thought buried deep in his mind, so deep it dug a tunnel to his heart. He kept it hidden close to the mark on his chest. The spot that was always cold, no matter how hot it was outside.
Antonia fretted next to him, mumbling under her breath and driving him crazy. He ignored her and stared out the window. The fires were gone, but now there were squares of land that reminded him of a mixed-up quilt. He leaned closer to the glass and saw tiny houses and trees. Jake imagined he was a giant and stomped on the houses, smashing them into the ground.
That was what he’d done this afternoon.
He hadn’t done it with his feet, but Raphael’s earthquakes made the buildings collapse and Jake’s wind had destroyed the rest. Maybe Jake was looking at this wrong. He wasn’t weak because he did what Aiden made him do. No. He was like a giant. Jake could do things most people couldn’t. Not even Will.
Jake was powerful.
Marcus had told Jake that he was special, but he didn’t believe it. Not really. Grownups were always telling kids they were special, but they didn’t really mean it. But Marcus had meant it.
What else had Marcus said?
He’d said that Jake was the key to winning the game. Jake was the king. He liked the sound of that.
We can help. The shadows tickled his ear as they whispered.
Marcus had told him that too.
Antonia tried to shovel a spoonful of food into his mouth. To Antonia, the answer to anything was food or hugs. Jake wasn’t hungry, but he couldn’t stand the thought of her hugging him right now so he opened his lips. Soup slid down his throat, warming everywhere in his chest except for his mark.
As if reading his mind, Antonia reached over and brushed some crumbs off his shirt. She jerked her hand back when she touched the place where his mark was.
Her eyes widened with fear. “Demonio.”
He shook his head. “No, Antonia.”
She lowered her face to his, tears in her eyes. “Let me see your chest, Señor Jake.”
What would she do if she saw his mark? Tell Aiden? He couldn’t let that happen. He looked deep into her eyes, his mind reaching into hers. “You are going to forget about the cold spot on my chest. You aren’t going to ask about it anymore.”
Her eyes glazed over. “Sí, Señor Jake.” She sounded like a robot.
Jake grinned. “It is nothing.”
“No es nada.”
But it was everything.
***
Emma had resumed pacing. The guards had taken her back to Alex’s room and soon after someone had brought her a tray of food. Her anxiety made her too nervous to eat, but she forced herself to choke down some of the sandwich. She needed her strength to fight for Jake. She needed nourishment for the baby.
There wasn’t time to think about the baby. She had nothing but time to think at the moment, but she needed to figure out Will’s sudden change of mind. Had he really decided to let Alex help him? Should they actually trust Alex to help them?
She needed to be productive. No harm doing a little snooping as long as she didn’t get caught. She flipped through a stack of papers on a table, finding nothing but information on Senator Warren’s campaign and poll results.
There was a knock at the outside door and a moment later, it opened. A maid entered the bedroom, ignoring Emma as she placed a suitcase on the bed and began to pack Alex’s clothes.
She watched the maid folding shirts. Alex told the truth. A maid is packing his clothes.
But no sign of Alex.
No.
Any sign of anyone else?
Human or elemental? Other than the maid and the man who brought me food. No.
The fundraiser is wrapping up. Alex should be back soon, so be ready.
Ready for what?
Two seconds passed before he responded. Ready for anything.
What did that mean?
We don’t know what Alex is really up to so you should be ready for anything he throws at you. Will paused. He just left the ballroom. He’s on his way up.
And then what?
Be ready.
Be ready. She would never be ready for any of this, even if she had a hundred years to prepare.
Several minutes later, Alex came through the door, loosening his tie. He stopped several steps inside the room and studied her. “You’re really still here.”
“You keep saying that.”
“That’s because I’m surprised every time I walk in to find you.”
“Why would you be surprised? You said you’d help me get Jake.”
His mouth twisted into a frown before he walked into his room. “So I did.”
Emma followed Alex and stopped in the doorway. “Does that mean you’re not going to help?”
He released an exaggerated sigh. “No, Emma. It’s a reminder that I shouldn’t expect anything more from this arrangement than getting Jake to safety.”
Her back knotted. “What else do you expect?” Sarcasm hardened her words.
He unbuttoned his shirt, shaking his head. “Not what you’re thinking. I meant at the battle. I hoped we could work together.”
“So that’s why you’re helping get Jake?”
His fingers stopped and he squinted in irritation. “Why can’t you accept the fact that I want to save Jake? I took him from the Cavallo and kept him safe until Aiden found him in Montana. He’s my son, Emma.”
Confused, she didn’t answer. Her head told her not to trust him, but he seemed so sincere. He was dropping everything to go find Jake. But surely he knew that keeping Jake safe now wouldn’t guarantee anything in the final battle. Only two would survive. Maybe he planned on himself and Jake being the survivors and he was using Emma to make that happen.
Would that be so bad? If Jake survived?
Alex looked down, his fingers resuming their task. “I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that I don’t want you to team up with me, but why can’t we treat this as two separate things? Jake’s safety first, the battle second.”
“So we’re leaving tonight?”
Alex pulled a dark t-shirt out of his suitcase and shrugged out of his dress shirt. “As soon as I finish changing, we’re flying to Louisiana. I have my team checking for a location. Aiden and Raphael have been targeting downtowns, so we’ll stay in a hotel in that area.” He glanced up. “In adjoining rooms, just like Kans
as City.” His gaze lowered to his suitcase as he pulled out a pair of jeans. “We’ll register under different names, of course. But I still wouldn’t be surprised if Aiden figures out we’re there.”
“And then what?”
“Then we wait.”
“Can’t we try to find them first?”
“Sure, if you have any ideas how to do that, I’m all ears.” Alex unzipped his pants and started to pull them down.
Emma turned her back and went into the other room. We’re getting ready to leave.
Leave to where?
Why did he sound so surprised? Shreveport.
A pause. Stall him.
Why?
Trust me.
Trust him. It worried her that he had a plan and wasn’t sharing it with her. But in the past she hadn’t trusted him and it had nearly killed them both. Okay.
She felt his relief before he shut off their connection.
Alex came out of the room carrying a suitcase.
She pointed to his bag. “Somehow I expected you to have someone else do that for you.”
He set the case down and packed his laptop into a messenger bag. “I usually do, but I decided the fewer people who knew about our departure, the better.”
She watched him gather a stack of papers and stuff them in his bag, thankful he hadn’t noticed they were out of order. “Do you have the book?”
He looked up in surprise. “Is that why you’re here?”
“I don’t give a damn about the book. But I presumed you would keep it close.”
He gave her a tight smile, but his eyes were cold. “Don’t worry about the book. It’s safe. Somewhere else.” Alex slung his laptop bag over his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
Will had said to stall Alex, but how could she do that without looking suspicious? Especially after she’d been so eager to go get Jake since the moment she’d walked in the door hours ago. Will, he’s ready to go.
Go with him.
Did Will expect her to go to Shreveport with Alex?
Alex’s eyebrows lowered in confusion. He looked suspicious.
She resisted the urge to tense. “What?”
“I asked if you have a bag somewhere that we need to pick up. You showed up without one.”
“Um…yeah.” What was she going to say? The truth. She was sick to death of the lies. “It’s in a hotel a couple of blocks away.”
“We can swing by and pick it up. I should have had someone go get it for you. I wasn’t thinking.”
She tried to hide her surprise. “That’s okay.”
He released a derisive laugh. “You think I’m incapable of thoughtfulness?”
She scoffed. “Do you really have to ask that?”
Alex opened the door and motioned for her to go into the hall.
Emma expected to find the two guards incapacitated and Will waiting, but they remained on watch and there was no sign of Will. She wasn’t sure whether to be anxious or relieved.
Alex led her to the elevator and they waited in silence until the doors opened. Alex motioned for her to step inside.
The guards remained at the door to Alex’s room.
She eyed them and raised her eyebrows. “We’re going alone?”
Walking into the elevator, he motioned for her to follow him in. Alex lowered his voice. “They work for my father. The less they know the better.”
The doors closed and Alex pressed the button marked B.
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. “The basement?” Was this a trick? Had he made her think he was going to help her, intending to kill her somewhere they wouldn’t be discovered?
“I have to get out unnoticed.”
We’re going to the basement. Alone.
No guards?
None.
I’ll meet you there. She heard the smile in his voice.
Was Will still planning to kill Alex or use him to help find Jake? She wanted to ask but was afraid of the answer.
Alex stared straight ahead, adjusting the strap over his shoulder. His gaze shifted to her and he smiled.
If Will carried through with his original plan, the man standing next to her would be dead within a few minutes. And she would be an accessory to his murder.
Her chest tightened and she forced herself to take slow breaths.
“Emma, are you okay?”
Whether she faced him now or in another week, did it matter? Either way, she’d fight him to the death. That fact didn’t make her feel any better. The light over the door flashed fifteen.
When the elevator opens in the basement, I need you to touch Alex.
Panic gripped her. It was the perfect plan. The basement was probably empty. Alex was unprepared and off guard. She would touch him and put him under her control and steal his power. Then Will could kill him.
Ten. Nine. Eight. The remains of her dinner rose and she swallowed it back down, coughing from the bile in her throat.
“Emma. You really don’t look well. Do you need to sit down when we get out?”
“No.” Tears burned her eyes. She had to get herself together.
Three. Two.
If she did this, she crossed a line she could never uncross. When she’d killed men before, she was fighting for their lives. She was protecting Jake and herself.
But wasn’t she doing that now? Protecting Jake?
Except the man next to her said he was taking her to save Jake.
One.
She only had seconds before she had to choose. She had to trust Will.
B.
The doors slid open and the florescent lights flicked. The hallway appeared empty.
Emma froze.
Confusion filled Alex’s eyes. “Emma?”
Touch him, Emma!
She lifted her hand and reached for his arm, her hand trembling.
“Emma…”
Goddamnit, touch him!
Concern darkened Alex’s eyes. He was genuinely concerned about her.
She shook her head.
EMMA! The force of Will’s anger sent pricks of pain into her skull.
“No,” she whispered.
Alex cocked his head, confusion covering his face. “What are you talking about?”
She stabbed the button for the first floor on the elevator panel, then repeatedly punched the door-closed button.
Alex reached for her hand, trying to intervene. “Emma, what the hell are you doing?”
The doors were almost closed when a hand stuck through, wrenching them open.
Dropping his bags, Alex jabbed a button on the panel, freezing the doors in place. Will’s face appeared in the six-inch opening.
“Touch him!” Will shouted, straining to open the doors.
Alex’s eyes bulged as he glanced from Will to Emma. “You set me up? You made it all up?”
Emma shook her head frantically. “No! I swear! I want your help!”
Hatred danced across Alex’s features. “You have a funny way of showing it, Emma.”
A gust of wind filled the elevator car.
“Touch him!”
Emma’s chest involuntarily constricted, forcing the air out of her lungs.
Alex grinned, but his eyes were colder than she’d ever seen. “Granted, having control over air isn’t as handy as I’m sure fire is, but it does have some advantages.”
Fear swamped her as she fought for breath. “Will,” she wheezed.
Hatred oozed from Alex, flooding the elevator. “Will can’t help you now.”
With a gasp, Emma concentrated on her power and grabbed Alex’s wrist, forcing heat into his flesh. Smoke billowed off his arm and pain flashed in his eyes.
Her chest still refused to expand. Her vision faded.
Gathering her energy, she pushed it toward Alex, igniting his shirt. His hold on her lungs vanished and she fell to the floor, taking in deep breaths.
“Blast the control panel!” Will called through the crack.
She concentrated on the control panel. Sparks sho
t into the air and the elevator was plunged into darkness before a dim emergency light switched on overhead.
Climbing to her feet, she watched Will still working on the doors before she was slammed into the elevator wall by an unseen force. A vortex of air spun in the enclosed space, sucking her into its center.
Will was no longer at the door. Will? she cried out to him in terror. He wouldn’t have left her. What did Alex do to him?
The air currents pulled harder and she grabbed hold of the bar on the wall.
Alex stood in the corner, his contempt palpable. “You’ll regret that decision, Emma.”
“Alex, please. I couldn’t do it.”
“But you knew about Will. You knew the whole time. You stood in my room. You let me tell you…”
“I’m sorry!”
The wind stopped and Alex took a step toward her.
“I couldn’t do it. Alex. I swear. I tried to stop him.”
“Where is Will now? He’s run off and left you all alone with me. Coward.”
She backed into the elevator wall. “Alex, I know you’re angry.”
“Am I?” His hand reached for her neck.
She waited for the rush of power she’d felt before when she touched him by the creek, but there was nothing except the pressure of his fingers on her throat.
Alex grinned. “Sur-prise.”
“How can you touch me?” This changed everything, but then again, if she was about to die, it didn’t matter.
Alex laughed. “Lost your advantage, huh? Didn’t you know? Will’s power counters yours, making your control over me neutral. Evens the playing field a bit. The good news is that you’re immune to Raphael, just like you wanted. If you live long enough to see him again.”
She gave Alex a hard shove. To her amazement he dropped his hold and took a step back.
“How did you know that would happen?”
“The book.” He grinned. “See? I don’t need you for anything.”
“I didn’t—”
“Save it for some idiot who will listen,” Alex sneered. “I’m not falling for your help me save Jake act anymore. I can’t believe I ever did. You know,” he rubbed the back of his neck, shaking his head. “I actually believed you.” His hand dropped. “I really did. Bravo, Emma. You fooled even me, and that’s saying a lot.”
Redemption (The Chosen #4) Page 18
