Renegades

by Joanne Sexton

  She spun around to discover barred off, minuscule cells, and the realisation he would be placing her in one of the cramped spaces hit her like a punch in the stomach.

  “You can’t put me in there.”

  “Watch me.”

  She studied him in the brighter light. The low lighting on the streets masked exactly how gorgeous he was. Mackenzie stood frozen, stupefied for a moment before astonishment replaced her whimsical thoughts, and reality hit again. He really planned to lock her up.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “You don’t need to know.”

  With his strong hand, he nudged her forward towards a cell, shoved her in, and shut the door.

  “Wait,” she called out as he moved to leave. “What do you want with me?”

  “Negotiation.”

  He left her then and dismay overwhelmed her. What now? Dismay swiftly became fury. She used it to control the fear rising in her chest. She couldn’t show fear or weakness. How dare he drag her here against her will? Who did he think he was? This brought her back to the fact that she had no idea who he was.

  With a resigned sigh, she slipped to the floor, and touched her hand to her sore forehead. What on earth did he mean by negotiation? Negotiation for what?

  If she co-operated he might let her go. The whole situation confused her and she couldn’t for the life of her work out why he had brought her here. He didn’t appear to want to hurt her. He would have done that already, wouldn’t he?

  His face flashed through her mind again, and an involuntary smile tugged at her lips. If only he wasn’t so damn appealing. For some reason she couldn’t fathom, she didn’t feel scared. Annoyed, but not scared.

  Mackenzie couldn’t get her head around exactly why that was.

  4

  Enemies

  With confusion as his companion, Ryan stormed to his room and slammed the door with a resounding bang before locking it behind him. Rage and bile for the Edwards family burned his throat, clouded his mind, and caused him to pace his small chamber.

  Mackenzie Edwards’ name on the scanner had Ryan seeing red. Blind fury tore through his body. Coming face to face with the sister of evil sent instant thoughts of redemption, revenge, an eye for an eye and more surging through his mind.

  Was it fortune or terrible luck that brought her to him this evening? The realisation of her usefulness in negotiations became apparent standing in that alleyway, so he put the wellbeing of others before his rage. Holding the sister of Cody Edwards could prove invaluable.

  Now that he had her here, he didn’t know what he was going to do with her. Negotiations, sure; he could use her for bargaining. Or he could kill her instead. Revenge would be sweet.

  He reflected over their walk to the compound. The feel of her soft skin as he guided her through the streets had caused his skin to tingle. The cast of the street lights on her pretty face when he checked for GAPs caught his breath each and every time. Then he’d been astounded by how easily she kept up as they ran across the desert.

  There was a quiet bravery about her. No doubt it was in the blood. She came from callous kin.

  His frustration and confusion tormented him as he thought of her face cast in the lamp light of the prison. Her dark chestnut hair was long and wavy. Her hazel eyes were large and warm, despite her situation. Her buttermilk skin held colour high in her cheeks from exertion and, something else - annoyance? She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen and he hated her very existence.

  His sudden fascination overpowered his desire for revenge. She’d appeared surprised by his incarceration of her, his contempt for her. Was she really oblivious to what the government did to the families of the so-called rogues? Perhaps cold calculation was another inherited trait.

  Regardless, something niggled in his mind. Did she believe he didn’t know who she and her family were? Perhaps she was too involved with the government and their quest for control to realise exactly how much contempt they had for her cause and the people involved.

  Let her stew in a confined cell for the night, see how she enjoyed losing her freedom, as he’d lost his many years before. Every day they had fought for their lives, rebelling against being controlled.

  Ryan flopped down onto his bed and fought the urge to seek out the beautiful Mackenzie and ask the unanswered questions burning in his mind.

  Being in the cramped cell and sitting on a hard, dirt floor sent needle pricks through Mackenzie’s limbs. Her stomach growled out a protest, which was her only indication of the late hour. How long she’d been here she couldn’t guess, but the empty feeling in her stomach indicated a while.

  She rested her head on her knees and allowed quiet tears to flow. She was frustrated, confused and tired. Why had she been forced to accompany this handsome stranger? Who was he and what did he want with her? He was a rogue, a rebel, and was probably just as bad as the men who had accosted her in the alley. Why save her from them to bring her here? So many questions, and he’d abruptly left before fulfilling any of her queries.

  Angry with herself and the rogue with the dark hair, she wiped fiercely at her tears. In the light she’d discovered his eyes to be a deep blue, but filled with ferocity and hate. Mackenzie was certain she’d seen more than one emotion in his pretty sapphire pools. He masked hurt and confusion.

  A long, thin white scar ran along his left jaw, doing little to tarnish his handsome face. Under different circumstances, Mackenzie would’ve been pleased to meet whoever he was. These thoughts only caused hot tears to dampen her cheeks again.

  Confusion left her feeling foggy. Hunger left her weak, and her forehead still stung. She could feel dried blood in her hair. At least it had stopped bleeding. It didn’t appear they were going to offer first aid, food or water.

  It was going to be a long night.

  The shuffling sound of someone approaching sent Mackenzie scrambling to her feet, hopeful of release or at least something to eat. Her attractive captor appeared and his expression, although still fierce, appeared mingled with uncertainty.

  “What’s your name?” she asked, hoping her voice held the bravado she didn’t feel.

  He surprised her with an answer. “Ryan.”

  Two long strides brought him over to stand close to the bars, their faces only a short space apart. His deep blue eyes penetrated hers before searching her face as though looking for answers.

  “Why did you bring me here?”

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know.”

  “I’m not pretending.”

  His brow furrowed and he bit his rutted bottom lip. “Your brother is the General of the army. You’ll be useful.”

  “For what?”

  “Bargaining for our freedom. Maybe ending this ridiculous war.”

  “I doubt Cody has that much influence.”

  “You’d be surprised. He’s only one step down from the government.”

  His face became a blank canvas. All his emotion swept away like turpentine on an oil painting. She didn’t quite know what he meant and wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear his rebellious lies.

  “You should have thought about that when you decided to rebel against the government.”

  “You think we started this?”

  He sounded surprised and it was Mackenzie’s turn to be confused. “Yes, by rebelling against order.”

  “You’re either a really good liar or totally naive.”

  His cool stare was disconcerting.

  “I hope I’m neither.”

  “This all started because of what the GAPs did to us when our parents and families voiced their concerns.” Bitterness peppered his words. His stern, wary eyes studied her again.

  “What did they do?”

  “You really don’t know?”

  His tone sounded incredulous. What was he playing at?

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about. It was rogues such as yourself who attacked the GAPs because you didn’t want to follow the new government regime.”<
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  “I think you got it all wrong, princess.” His words spewed out like machine gun fire.

  “Why don’t you enlighten me then?”

  Ryan placed both hands on the bars, his frustration turning his knuckles white. Was this a ploy or did she really believe her brother and the GAPs to be innocent law enforcers? When she gasped and ran a finger over his wrist, a spark shot up his arm as though she stung him, so he pulled back.

  “What happened to you?” she asked, her pretty eyes wide in horror.

  “I removed my BIT, as all of us rogues have done so.”

  “How? Why?”

  Her bronze eyes searched his, genuine interest and concern in the warm depths. Ryan’s heart lurched. How was this seemingly kind and beautiful girl related to Cody?

  “I burnt it off so I can’t be identified if captured.”

  “Why do you do this? Hurt yourself and live down here? Life really isn’t that bad as a citizen.”

  “Do you enjoy working for the government? Invading people’s privacy? Having none of your own? Conforming to a way of life that suits a tyrant? Having no freedom of choice?”

  “No, but it has to be better than this.”

  “What would you know?”

  He grunted in frustration and annoyance. He needed to get out of here, away from her. His thoughts were too jumbled to continue conversation.

  “Wait, please don’t go.”

  He ignored her and went to find the sanctity of his rooms.

  Mackenzie became overwhelmed with her own bewilderment. Cody told her the rogues had started the war by refusing to be tagged with a BIT, by refusing to work for the government, or join the army. Gangs and renegades attacking, assaulting and robbing had prompted the government to line their streets with troops.

  Hadn’t looters and rebels destroyed all the buildings and houses in Artinean? They shot first, according to her brother. Was he lying to her?

  She sat with despondence on the floor, folded her arms across her knees, lay her head down, and waited for sleep.

  5

  Cody

  Simmo located Ryan in the dining hall eating breakfast. When he returned from the salvage the previous evening, Ryan was locked away in his room and ignored his knocking. His curiosity about the Edwards girl enticed him to search out Ryan instead of enjoying a sleep in before his shift began.

  He slammed into the chair across from his best friend, who flicked his eyes up at him, and then back down to his breakfast.

  “What gives?”

  “What?” Ryan asked.

  “Where’s the girl?”

  “Sub level.” Ryan focused on his breakfast.

  Why wouldn’t Ryan meet his eye? Something wasn’t right. “In a cell?”

  “Yeah. Where else would I put her?”

  “What are you going to do with her?”

  “I haven’t decided.” His voice remained even.

  Simmo couldn’t decipher what was going on in his mind. “Maybe we can use her to buy our freedom.”

  “The thought crossed my mind, but is the sister of the General enough to dismantle a whole government? Do you really think she’s that important? Do you think the government would care enough about Cody? Everyone is collateral damage.” Ryan then shrugged and remained intent on his breakfast.

  “Then what? Revenge?” This sent anticipation rippling across Simmo’s skin.

  “The idea of killing her is appealing, but it would only make things worse for us,” Ryan said with little conviction.

  Something had changed his mind. “You’ve always said you would take great pleasure in redemption.”

  “I’ve changed my mind.” His best friend followed his words with another shrug.

  “I always knew you didn’t mean it. You aren’t the same as me. You never have been. Me, on the other hand, I’m beyond saving.”

  Ryan lifted his eyes and Simmo offered a sardonic grin.

  “Anyway, there’s no harm in trying negotiations. We might be able to get something for her return,” Ryan suggested.

  “How are you going to contact them?”

  “Let’s wait and see if they come to us first. Surely it won’t take them long to work out she’s gone.”

  Cody Edwards paced his office. What was the best course of action? One of the troops sent on assignment to test the rebels’ defences didn’t return the previous day. He assumed him dead until he turned up this morning mostly unharmed.

  It confounded him. This wasn’t what they would do if they caught a renegade. The naive citizens thought the government imprisoned rogue captives, but they couldn’t be further from the truth. All were killed upon capture, or so he’d been told by government representatives; Cody didn’t participate or attend the executions.

  He couldn’t work out why the sewer rats let the trooper go until the man gave his report. The answers he received simply puzzled him more.

  Staring out over the barracks from his office window, he mulled over what to do next, and about past events bringing them to this point.

  Over the years Cody had become hardened by the world they lived in. After their father was killed in a street battle, the last of his compassion faded.

  In the early years, when the war first began, Matthew had instilled in him the importance of the law and the government, and convinced him the rebels deserved the harsh treatment they received. They shot first, his father told him. The retribution they received thereafter had been brought upon themselves.

  At the age of twenty-one, fresh to the army, his father began to take him on raids. Matthew led one of many squads that stormed the houses of rebel families, destroying their homes and taking their lives. On that first day, Cody watched as they raped, pillaged and shot dead anyone thought to be conspiring against the government, anyone involved with the renegades that shot first. It was permanently etched in his memory.

  Not long after that first day, Matthew assigned Cody his own troops to lead on similar raids.

  During the first year, war had raged on the streets. The ineptly trained rebels were no match for the GAPs and soon burrowed underground like cowards. Cody’s contempt for the sewer rats brought bile into his throat, even now, when he thought of them.

  For almost seven years the rats and rogue gangs continued to fight against the cause and the government in which he, and his father before him, believed wholeheartedly in and served with precision. Though he was young to be General, he was given this assignment due to the large numbers of captives he’d brought to justice and because of his unwavering loyalty. He basically had taken the position his father held before he died.

  Cody brought his thoughts back to the soldier who surprisingly returned earlier. When he’d briefed Cody of his reasonable treatment and the mundane line of questioning, Cody laughed to himself. Those rebels had been underground too long and their convictions waned pale like their skins.

  He smiled at the thought again now. It wouldn’t be long before they came up from their burrow and surrendered. Then absolute control would be theirs.

  When his intercom buzzed, he sent a voice command to the system to engage and answer the call.

  “General Edwards, Ryder is here to see you.”

  “Send him in. Door.”

  The frosted sliding doors opened to await his brother’s arrival. He’d seen him the day before, so Cody wondered why Ryder had returned. Had he changed his mind and decided to join the army instead of going into politics?

  “Cody, something’s happened,” a distressed Ryder said as he entered.

  “What is it?”

  Although Cody’s heart had become malevolent over the years, a tiny portion still had feeling for his family.

  “Mackenzie didn’t come home after work yesterday,” Ryder responded with his brow furrowed.

  His worry was no doubt unnecessary, as usual. Ryder had always been a little sensitive, and Cody considered that a government position would better suit him. Ryder didn’t have the fortitude to be a soldier.<
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  “Perhaps she’s with friends.”

  “Don’t you think I checked that out before coming here?”

  His creased forehead indicated his undisciplined ways. Ryder’s apparent concern for their sister was part of the reason he was soft. Cody wondered if he could condition him.

  “Maybe she’s seeing someone.”

  “Like who?”

  “How would I know? Hopefully a government trooper; it wouldn’t hurt for her to become more enthusiastic about our cause.”

  “Is that all you care about? Do you know what gangs do to girls they … find?” Ryder grimaced.

  “Of course I do.”

  “She could be …”

  “I’ll send out a team to look for her. Will that appease you?”

  “Yes, and it should appease you too.”

  Cody turned his back. Ryder was dismissed.

  As he left, Ryder shook his head. His brother had been lost to them years ago. The government controlled his every thought, along with his soul. Mackenzie and their mother never saw this side of Cody, and Ryder was glad. Cody disguised his true character in their presence.

  Ryder had long ago stopped believing anything his brother told him. The idea of joining the army and becoming like Cody disgusted him. This was why he’d dragged his feet about enlisting. The irony was, if he wasn’t Cody’s brother, he would have already been consigned. Cody had allowed him to take his time making a decision between the army or working for the government. Ryder didn’t want to do either.

  Thankful for the first time of her short stature, Mackenzie stood to stretch out her cramped legs. Any taller, and the restricting cell would have been unbearable. She brushed the dirt from her pants as she tried to force blood into her limbs. The pins and needles in her feet ached, so she wiggled each foot in turn until the pain subsided.

  Her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten since lunch the previous day. Would her captors allow her some breakfast? With the palms of her hands she rubbed at tired eyes and waited for someone to turn up, secretly hoping it was the elusive Ryan, and then chastised herself for being ridiculous. His contempt for her, and probably all citizens, had been obvious. Besides all that, she was a captive.