The other little boy—Zavi—was close on his heels. “You won’t get lost. I’ll show you around.” He turned to Owen. “Can we go see the puppies, Uncle Owen?”
Owen checked with her, but she didn’t know anything about where the puppies were or if it was safe to do that, so she deferred back to him. He nodded and said, “But only if Eddie says it’s okay and one of the team goes with you.”
“Yes!” Zavi took Troy’s arm and pushed him to the door.
“Mr. Tremaine’s your uncle?” Troy asked.
“Yeah. They’re all my uncles. And one aunt. They can be yours, too! Uncle Owen’s the chief, so…” The rest of Zavi’s words faded away as they rushed off to find the puppies.
Addy felt alone and off-kilter. She’d selfishly wanted Troy to stay with her so she had some grounding, but he needed to be a little boy. She was a stranger in a crowd that was its own community. Children and animals. Wives and husbands—or at least committed couples. She was an outsider. An untrusted interloper.
“If there’s anything you need, just ask for it. Jim’s our housekeeper. He does our shopping, so let him know any regular supplies you’ll need. Russ is our cook. Both of them came from the same unit I was in. They’re not active warriors, but they’ve been read in and stand ready to fight. You’re welcome to use any public room in the house. And we have a gym wing. We also have a private meeting space in a bunker below the house. That’s off-limits unless one of us is with you. I’ll be happy to show you around, but I need to check in with my team first.”
Addy nodded. She was a little afraid that, like Troy, she’d get terribly lost until she figured the place out. “Thank you.”
“Our numbers are all on the list there.” He nodded toward her nightstand. “Max or Greer will bring security necklaces for you and Troy. Everyone is required to wear one so we can know where you are and so that you have a way—besides your phone—to send out an emergency call for help to the team.”
“When will I get my things back?”
“Greer will bring them up in a bit. We usually eat around seven; I’m sure he’ll have them back before then.” He looked at her, pausing as if there was something else he wanted to say. “You’re safe here, but I would recommend you don’t leave the grounds. At least, not until we put Edwards down and figure out who King is.”
She nodded. A few minutes after he left, there was a knock on her door. It was Selena, the fighter she’d seen in the crowd that had greeted them.
“Hi,” the woman said.
Addy nodded. “Selena, right?”
“That’s me. I came to see if you would like to take a tour. This place is big and spread out—you might feel more at home if you know where everything is.”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
There was a big shadow between them. Addy didn’t like it. Maybe it was just that she’d been isolated for so long that her social skills had evaporated. It couldn’t be jealousy, could it? She hadn’t felt that in a long time. What an ugly emotion it was.
Selena frowned at her. “Are you bringing trouble to us?”
Addy was surprised by the frank question. Maybe Selena was feeling the same thing she was. She considered her answer before nodding. “Probably. I was deep in the Omni world for ten years. I thought I’d gotten out, but Owen thinks I’m still in. I don’t know. The Omnis don’t let go of their own. I have to get my oldest son back from them. Then I want freedom for my boys and me. I want to live a quiet life in total obscurity.”
“That’s too bad. I get the feeling that Owen was hoping for a different outcome.”
That made Addy’s heart jump. “Do you think the Omnis can be ended?”
“Not sure. I think it might be like trying to end a country.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask,” Selena said, implying she might not answer.
“Is Owen King? My husband said he was. My brother believed it at one time.” Jax had amended his view, but Addy wasn’t quite there yet.
Selena didn’t blink. “Owen isn’t your enemy.” Selena folded her arms then leaned against the doorjamb. “Owen may not know this yet, but we have another group of watchers here—it’s the one your son was in.”
“Was in?” Addy’s jaw dropped as her breath caught in her chest. “Is Augie here?”
“No. But you might like to talk to the pride’s leader.”
Tears filled Addy’s eyes. “Yes. I do. Can we go now?” She hurried over to stand near her guard then paused. “I need to get Troy back, first.”
“He’s fine with Zavi.”
“I’m sure he is, but we’re new here. I have to see him.”
“Follow me.”
They walked out of the sitting room connecting all the rooms in that wing to another long hallway then up a back stairway. Owen’s base of operations was bigger than the place where she’d been living, though it was nowhere near as elegant.
At the far end of the hall, they entered what had to be another bedroom wing, for it had a sitting room just like hers. She could hear boys laughing. For a jarring moment, it was almost like hearing Augie and Troy playing together. God, was her boy safe? Why had Augie left the watchers? Where was he?
Selena sent her an odd look. Addy stopped that line of thinking. She’d have answers soon enough…she hoped.
In the room with Troy and Zavi, were two women, one young and a little heavyset, the other pregnant and with copper-red hair. Both looked up and smiled.
“Hi, I’m Mandy,” the redhead said as she came over to greet her. “You must be Addy. I’m Rocco’s wife and—”
“And my mom,” Zavi said as he came over to lean against Mandy.
“I made a friend, Mom,” Troy said.
Addy smiled. “I see that.”
The other woman stood and shook hands with Addy. “I’m Wynn, Zavi’s nanny and tutor…and teacher to a whole bunch of watcher boys, too.”
“I was just about to go see them.”
“It’s Saturday, so no classes,” Wynn said. “No telling where they might be. Selena, maybe give Lion a shout to see if he can come talk to Addy when he’s free? He may be busy with Owen.”
“We were just on our way to go see him. I’ll give him a buzz.” Selena took out her cell and stepped into the sitting room.
“How about we go with Selena to give Troy and his mom the tour, Zavi?” Mandy asked.
“Okay. Can we show them Aunt Eden’s puppies first?” Zavi asked.
Wynn smiled. “How about we do the house tour first.”
“Lion’s free,” Selena said as she came back into the room. “We can head out that way after the house tour, if you’re okay with that,” she said to Addy, who nodded.
“Thank you.” She wanted to rush through everything so she could get right out to talk to the leader of the watchers her son had been with.
Mandy caught her arm and held her back as the others moved out of the sitting room. “I can’t imagine what you must be going through with your son. Zavi isn’t my biological son—he’s Rocco’s from his first marriage. Even so, if something happened to him…”
Addy blinked. “It’s been almost three years.”
“God. I know we’ve only just met, but believe me, we’re all here for you. And now that Owen knows he has a son, there’ll be hell to pay if he can’t get him back for you quickly. Nothing stops Owen.”
15
Addy was feeling overwhelmed by the size of the team’s headquarters. Her castle had been a simple V. This one was an X with a long middle. She learned that the compound supported the careers of at least two of the wives here—Mandy’s horse therapy center and Eden’s dog-training business.
Addy hated that she was suspicious of everything. It was something she was going to have to heal from now that she was out of the Omni world, but in it, no one did anything for another when there wasn’t something to be gained. She mistrusted kindness most of all, and everyone here seemed kind.
It didn�
��t surprise her that two of the women were given space for their work. Anything for the appearance of independence. It fit that these men, consumed by this secret war, would want to keep their women happy…and quiet. Fiona and Hope worked for the team in their capacities as an assistant and mechanic. Wynn worked and lived here.
What did surprise her was that two other women worked outside the home—Ivy at her diner and Remi at the university. And Ace was, apparently, part of the team, like Selena.
Addy hadn’t met everyone, but her mind absorbed all their pertinent details, tucking them away as if her life depended on it—because it did. Everything—on the surface, at least—seemed normal…as normal as could be for the circumstances, and that was something Addy knew nothing about.
She didn’t have enough facts yet to determine if one, some, or all of them were Omnis…or if they were truly fighting them, as they claimed. It was hard to know who was in and who was out. The Omnis had people everywhere—governments, royal families, society’s glitterati, all the way to the working classes. Many of the world’s powerbrokers were owned by Omnis. It would be naive to think some of those here weren’t also owned.
She’d thought her brother was fighting them, but after talking to Owen, she wasn’t so sure. She was in over her head, trying to stay afloat, keeping very, very calm and still so the sharks wouldn’t eat her.
She went with the women and boys to do the outside portion of the tour. She was interested in what they were showing her. Everything she learned about the lay of the land and its people might come in handy sometime. Owen had said there was a bunker underground. She wanted to get a tour of that as well.
Outside, the yard was as beautiful as the rest of the estate. Manicured and well maintained, she could tell, even though winter had browned and desiccated everything. The wide lawn was broken into two areas, an upper portion close to the house and a lower portion farther away, which was now occupied by a noisy bunch of young boys who were engaged in some sort of guided sparring lesson. They were laughing, grunting, yelling.
Troy looked up at her. She knew that lonely look in his eyes. She smiled and ran a hand over his head. “Are those watchers?” she asked her tour group.
“They are,” Selena said.
“They’re the group my son was with?”
“Yep.”
She stopped to observe them, her heart in her throat. One of the young men in the group separated from the others and jogged over to them. He was tall and lanky. His dark blond hair was just a little curly and a tad too long. Tawny brows covered some sort of tattoos, not fully obscuring them. His eyes could tell stories, but right now, they seemed happy. Addy sent a look at Mandy, trying to quell the odd mix of panic and gratitude she was feeling.
“Hi,” he said to the group, then held out his hand. “You must be Addy. We were told you’d be moving in. I’m Lion.”
Addy went cold at the touch of his hand. This young man had seen her son—recently. He’d worked with him, fed him, kept him safe. “I’m Augie’s mom,” Addy said. What an odd name Lion was.
He looked a question at her, one Selena resolved for him. “Beetle’s mom.”
Lion’s distinctive brows lifted. “He said you were dead.”
Addy pressed her lips together. “I’m not.” She forced herself to breathe. “How long was he with you? Was he okay?”
Lion’s face went blank. Why? Was he trying to hide something from her? Did he have bad news? She reached out to touch him, which seemed to startle him.
“Please. I need to know.”
“He came to our group this summer. He wasn’t with us very long, but he was a loyal member of the pride.”
“Why did he leave? How did he leave?”
Lion looked sick. “There was a fight. He was taken from us.”
“By whom?”
“Mr. Edwards.”
Addy gasped. A cold, clammy sense of panic took over her gut. She grabbed Troy’s hand and started back toward the house. Troy was struggling to keep up, but she couldn’t slow down.
Selena came even with her. “What’s the rush? Where are you headed?”
“I have to see Owen.”
“Owen’s busy.”
Addy stopped. She wiped a tear from her face, unaware she’d been crying. “Does he know Cecil took him?”
“Maybe not. He just got back.”
“Then I need to see him.” Addy continued toward the house.
Selena tapped her ear, then said, “Boss, Addy needs you. We’ll be in the den.”
The others caught up with them, their faces filled with concern. “What’s going on?” Mandy asked.
“We’re going to talk to Owen,” Selena said. Mandy looked shocked.
Wynn gave Addy a calming smile. “Why don’t you leave Troy with us? He can play with Zavi while you meet with Owen.”
Addy grabbed Troy and pulled him close. “No! He stays with me.” She sent a panicked look around at the group. Lion was there. A leader of watchers. The kind of group Troy would disappear into.
Wynn put her hands up slowly. “All right. We’ll all go back. We’ll wait with you in the living room.”
Addy gave Selena and Lion both a narrow-eyed look as she picked up Troy and started toward the house at a fast pace. They would not have both of her sons. Even if it killed her…which the coming confrontation very well might. Her hold on Troy tightened, as his did around her neck. Did he remember when his brother had been taken? He’d only been a toddler. God, she hoped he didn’t.
The den. Where was the den? Selena touched her elbow and pointed down a hall. Addy followed, painfully aware that a leader of watchers was close behind. By the time they reached the den, all of her swirling emotions had coalesced into anger. Troy’s weight no longer seemed significant. Heat coursed throughout her body.
She closed her eyes, fearing she was starting to hyperventilate. Warm hands pulled her close to a body of steel. Owen. She knew his scent. His arms went around both her and Troy.
“Breathe, Laidy. Sloooowly. I got you.”
She did, through her nose so she could take in the hint of cloves from his skin. Her eyes felt a little less like they were burning.
She leaned back and looked at him. “I know where Augie is. Cecil took him.”
“I know.”
That took her aback. She stepped out of his arms so she could get a better look at his face. Of course he knew. He was King, wasn’t he?
“Honey, I think you should sit down.” He tried to lead her over to the leather sofa that was next to French doors leading out to the patio, but she shrugged him off.
“You knew.”
He frowned at her, tilting his head a little as he stared into her eyes. “I just learned when the guys came to pick us up.”
Nice recovery. She didn’t buy it. Her simmering anger built into a boiling rage. Her mouth was dry. Her eyes burned. She had to be breathing too fast, for she felt a little lightheaded. She didn’t resist when Owen again tried to draw her over to the sofa.
His team members were coming into the room…from a closet. They took one look at her and froze in horror. Troy looked up at her, then gasped. He caught her face in his hands, his eyes and mouth opened wide. “Mommy. Your eyes.”
Owen knelt in front of them. Worry covered his face. What was wrong with her eyes? She rubbed at them until he caught her chin and turned her face to one side, then the other.
“What are you doing?”
He took out his phone, set it to front camera, then showed her as he took a pic. Oh my God. Her eyes were…glowing. They looked like animal eyes reflecting light, but the light was coming from her eyes. She set Troy on the sofa and made a beeline for the bathroom she’d seen next to the closet.
Owen looked at the picture he’d taken of her. He frowned at Kit as he handed his team lead his phone, then followed her into the bathroom.
“What is this? What kind of trick is this?” she hissed, turning to glare at him.
He held her face s
o he could better examine her eyes. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this. Has it happened before?”
She blinked, then looked at him sideways. “Am I hallucinating?” She shut her eyes and covered them with her hands. “Tell me this isn’t a dream. Tell me I got out of that house.”
“You’re out. Good and out, and never going back.”
“My eyes are burning.” She looked up at him.
He nodded. “We all see what you’re seeing. Does it hurt?”
“A little.” She drew a ragged breath. “Make it stop, Owen.” She put her hands over her eyes again. “Make it all stop. All the changes in me. The time we lost. The hell with Cecil. Losing Augie. I want to go back. I want a do-over.”
“I can’t set the clock back,” he whispered, touching his forehead to hers. “Our do-over is now and forward.”
“What changes is she talkin’ about?” Max asked. The whole group had turned to face the bathroom. He was the closest to it.
“I don’t know all of them. Something is different, changing her.”
“No shit,” Blade said.
Owen gave him a quelling look. “She heals strangely fast.” He faced his team, blocking her from view.
Addy rested her head on his back. How did he know just when she most needed his big shoulders? “I can see in the dark like it’s daylight,” she said. “I can remember things with high precision. Words. Things I hear and see. I can smell…more. I can distinguish faint scents from heavier ones. Now this. I’m a freak.”
The room was silent, but she knew they heard her.
“Hey, cuz,” Val said, breaking the silence. “We don’t discriminate against aliens here.” Air whooshed from his lungs as Ace elbowed him. “Ooof!” He winced and, protecting his ribs, he said. “As long as she’s on our side… She is on our side, right?”
Owen didn’t laugh. “She’s not an alien. The Omnis did this to her.”
“Did what, exactly?” Selena asked.
“Changed her,” Owen said. “It isn’t anything the doctors who examined her can identify. They tried treating it with chemo, but that only made her sicker.”
Forsaken Duty, The Red Team Series, Book 9 Page 14
