“Well, they’re not entirely inaccurate, though many of the people they’ve arrested haven’t committed any major crimes.”
“Any crime is a major crime to Ryku,” said Zira.
“So it would seem. And that’s the problem. Things are getting worse.”
“We knew that would happen,” Tripp said.
“Not like this,” Chase replied. “Not so soon. There’s no room in the prisons and labor camps for all these new detainees, so he’s making room. Unit E-1 is reviewing old case files for anyone who has a violent charge on their record. Most of them are being executed.”
Tripp swore under his breath. Zira had no sympathy for the worst of them; any murderers, rapists, or child abusers who ended up in E-1’s review process deserved it. But the justice system was far from perfect. Any number of things could be classified as a violent crime, even accidents, and innocent people were bound to slip through the cracks to be executed with the others.
Mei’s son was in a labor camp, working back his debt to society for speaking out against the Project’s injustices to his family. As far as she knew, Sonny might have been taken to a labor camp. How long would it be before Ryku decided they deserved to be executed as well? On another note, it seemed far from ethical to sentence someone for their crime, then come back years later to deliver a much harsher, more permanent punishment.
“This has gone too far,” said Chase. “He hasn’t been in power for long, and he’s already tearing this country apart. There have been riots—just a few, isolated outbreaks, but it’s something. We can take advantage of that momentum.”
“It’s too soon,” said Tripp. “We don’t have the numbers or the resources.”
“We’re closer than you think. More and more people join our cause every day. If Ryku were removed from the equation, we’d have a real chance.”
“Sure, if he were removed from the equation,” said Tripp. “And how are you planning to do that?”
Something warm and nauseating swelled inside Zira’s stomach. She knew now why Chase had contacted them, but she wanted to hear him say it first.
“Together,” said Chase, “the two of you are perfectly suited for this job. You know the compound. You can get inside. And Zira has a unique skill set that—”
“Please don’t tell me you’re asking us to assassinate the chairman,” said Tripp.
Chase raised his chin. “That’s exactly what I’m asking you to do.”
The nausea in Zira’s stomach continued to simmer. When she’d left the compound and removed her black armband, she’d stripped herself of being an assassin forever. At least, that was what she wanted to believe. She never expected she would be asked to step into that role again, and certainly not like this. Not by the people who claimed to be the new hope and freedom of this country. Assassination was something the Project did, something Ryku did. Something that had once been a defining part of Zira’s life, but that she no longer wanted.
And yet, it was a part of her. It always would be, no matter how far she ran from it or how hard she tried to shut it out. She was an assassin. The Project had made her one. They put a gun in the hands of a child and taught her how to kill. She’d never been given a choice—not until she’d put the walls of the compound behind her. But she had one now, and it was a simple one.
If Ryku wasn’t stopped, his version of the PEACE Project would continue. More people would be arrested, more would be executed, more children would become orphans, and more would be trained to fight and kill and die for the lies the Project told them. If Ryku was dead, the rebels might have a chance to change all of that.
Chase and Tripp had said nothing, watching Zira expectantly as conflicting thoughts fought for dominance in her mind. “I’ll do it,” she said at last.
Tripp frowned. “You don’t have to. This is insane. Breaking into the compound, killing Ryku—it won’t do anything but create total anarchy.”
“The chaos will allow us to step in, take control, and fill the leadership void,” said Chase.
“And what about public support?” Tripp asked. “You’ll never be able to do anything unless people back you up.”
“Given the chairman’s recent actions, I feel fairly confident in predicting we’ll have support from the majority of the population. A slight majority, perhaps, but that’s all we need for now.”
“It’s too risky,” said Tripp.
“I realize that. It’s a desperate, dangerous plan, but I think it’s our best option right now. We can end this before it escalates any further. Before anyone else dies.”
Tripp gnawed on his bottom lip and glanced between Zira and Chase. “I don’t want to go back there,” he said, and it was only then that Zira noticed the terror in his eyes.
She turned to Chase. “I’m not doing this if he’s not.”
Chase nodded. “I understand. You’re easily our best option here, but we have a backup team who volunteered for the job if you don’t want it.”
“Who?” Tripp asked.
“Alma and Javier.”
“They’ll never get in,” Tripp said.
“They won’t be on their own. Seth and Aubreigh will be assisting from the inside.”
Zira kept her eyes fixed on the floor. She didn’t want Tripp to see her expression and be swayed one way or another. Now that she knew Aubreigh was involved, though, Zira had to go. If she didn’t, Alma and Javier would take her place, and they didn’t know the compound like she did. They might get caught, and that could lead to Aubreigh getting caught. Zira couldn’t let that happen, but she didn’t want to force Tripp into accompanying her if that wasn’t what he wanted to do. After spending so much time deliberately avoiding anything and anyone related to the Project, this was an important decision for him. He needed to make it on his own.
She could feel his eyes on her face but maintained a neutral expression. “We’ll do it,” he finally said. “Tell Alma and her brother they’ll have to find another way to get their adrenaline rush for the week.”
Chase nodded. “Thank you. Make whatever arrangements you need to and coordinate your plan with Aubreigh and Seth. I’ll do the same on my end. Let me know when you’re planning to go in.”
“You realize this may not work, right?” Tripp said.
Chase nodded. “Aside from you and a few others I trust, no one else knows about this. We’re going to set up a drill that day. As far as everyone else is concerned, it’s just a practice run for what things might look like when it comes time to take the compound. If we get word from you that the chairman is dead, we’ll start moving out there. If not…” he shrugged. “We could always use the practice.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Tripp muttered.
“It’s just a precaution,” said Chase. “I don’t want to get everyone’s hopes up. It doesn’t reflect my belief in your ability to succeed. Contact me again when you have a solid plan in place. And good luck.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Zira and Tripp sat on each side of the trunk in one of unit C’s vans with their knees tucked into their chests. In front of them—over two rows of seats and an infant carrier—the vehicle’s autopilot emitted a familiar warning. “Caution. Restricted area. Please reset destination.”
From the front seat, Aubreigh responded, “Override restriction. Unit C, Aubreigh.”
The voice recognition system chimed acceptance of Aubreigh’s command. “Authorization confirmed. Continuing to final destination.”
The van began to rattle slightly as it rolled onto the unpaved road that led to the compound. Zira and Tripp locked eyes, but neither of them spoke. “This is it guys,” Aubreigh said. She tried to sound cheerful, but it seemed forced. “Seth is supposed to be on duty at the gate, so we shouldn’t have any trouble getting in.”
They’d been making the plans over the past week and a half, ever since Chase had contacted them. Infiltrating the compound would have been an almost insurmountable challenge if they hadn’t had allies on the
inside, but so far, everything had gone smoothly. Seth had been in the guard rotation since being permanently stationed at the compound, so he’d managed to work himself in on tonight’s shift without any trouble. Aubreigh had gone to inspect birth records at a hospital near Austin, where she’d picked up Tripp and Zira. While Zira was busy taking care of Ryku, Tripp would access the compound’s surveillance system from the guardhouse with Seth’s help to erase any trace of their presence.
They had backup, too. Alma and Javier were waiting in a car about thirty miles south, supposedly in case things didn’t go well and Zira and Tripp needed a quick escape. At least, that was the reason Chase had given for their being stationed nearby. Zira suspected the rebel leader had sent them to step in and finish the job themselves if something went wrong or she decided not to go through with it. Not that she was having second thoughts. This was what needed to be done. Or at least, that was what she kept trying to tell herself as the van rumbled along the dirt road, taking them closer and closer to the compound.
Getting through the gate would be easy compared to what came after. She wasn’t worried about having to make her way to the chairman’s quarters without being caught, or about having to sneak past or even kill his bodyguard. She was worried about the part where she pointed a gun at the man who had once been a respected mentor to her—even a father figure. Would she be able to pull the trigger? She thought she could. After all, he’d tried to kill her first. But what would it feel like afterwards?
She’d never killed anyone she knew before. When she’d been an E-2 operative, her targets had always been just names and photos in a file. A job. A mission. A set of orders. In some ways, they hadn’t even seemed like real people—not completely. This was different.
The van rolled through the parking lot, onto the sidewalk, and stopped right in front of the gate. Aubreigh got out to let the security system scan her and verify her identity. She’d left the door ajar, and Seth’s voice came through loud and clear on the speakers. “What’s going on with the car?”
“I wanted maintenance to have a look at it. It’s been acting up all day.”
“They’re done for the night. You might as well leave it in the parking lot and file a report tomorrow.”
“Another team needs it tomorrow. If maintenance can’t get to it tonight, I want to make sure they see it first thing in the morning.”
Seth muttered something indistinguishable. He sounded convincingly disgruntled. “Fine. Bring it in.”
Aubreigh got back inside and tapped the screen of the navigation system a few times. They rolled through and the gate closed behind them. “Welcome back,” Tripp said to Zira with a teasing grin. “We’ve officially reentered hell.”
The van slowly made its way to the compound auxiliary staff building where the maintenance garage was. It parked itself under an open bay and Aubreigh shut it off. She turned to Zira and Tripp. “Mic check?”
Zira pulled the tiny earpiece out of her pocket and slipped it into place. Tripp did the same with his and they took turns speaking to make sure they could all hear each other. “Seth?” Aubreigh said.
His response came back soft but clear in Zira’s ear. “I can hear you. There are still a few people wandering around the compound, so the two of you should just stay put for a while. Aubreigh, the sooner you get out of there, the better.”
“Right,” she said and got out of the van.
Tripp and Zira sat motionless, trusting the darkness and the cover of the maintenance bay to keep them hidden. They stayed that way for what felt like hours. Zira’s muscles were already stiff from the drive here, and the stump where her right leg had been amputated was starting to throb. She extended her legs as far as she could and massaged the area below her knee. “What’s it look like out there now, Seth?” she asked.
“I think this is as good as it’s going to get,” he replied. “I don’t have a clear visual on Ryku’s office, but Revolver left the area earlier this evening. I don’t think he ever went back.”
“You don’t think?” Tripp hissed.
“It’s all right,” Zira said. “I can figure it out when I get there. Seth, make sure Tripp doesn’t get lost on the way to the guardhouse.”
“I’ll be fine,” Tripp said. “Just don’t get yourself into any trouble out there.”
“When have I ever gotten myself into trouble?”
Tripp laughed. “Ever since I’ve known you. Good luck.”
“You too.”
“You’re all clear, guys,” Seth said. “I’m not sure how long that will last, so get moving.”
Tripp opened the back of the van and darted out into the shadows. Zira took a few moments to stretch her legs outside. Then she checked the magazine in her pistol and slipped between all-too-familiar buildings as she made her way to Ryku’s quarters.
* * *
Jared yawned as he leaned against the cold wall of Ryku’s office building and stared into the night, trying to shake the drowsiness that seemed to have seeped into his very bones. He’d just returned from an assignment on the East Coast earlier that afternoon, and Ryku had called him in for bodyguard duty almost immediately. Even Revolver needed to sleep sometimes.
The shadow he’d been absentmindedly staring at for the last five minutes shifted. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, sure it was nothing, but years of training prodded him to investigate anyway. He walked over to the recessed corner of the building the Project used for temporary holdings and interrogations and peered into the darkness. Nothing. Why would there be? This whole bodyguard routine was a complete sham.
As he turned and walked back to his post, something scuffed against the concrete somewhere up ahead. There was no one else in sight, and it was too late for anyone to be awake and wandering around the compound. He paused, waiting for the sound again, but heard nothing.
He shook his head. He was far past the point of exhaustion; his eyes and ears were starting to play tricks on him. In an effort to keep himself awake, he leaned his head back against the wall and looked up at the night sky, trying to draw shapes and patterns between the stars. It brought back bittersweet memories of Zira and how they used to lay staring at the sky overhead as they talked late into the night.
Jared blinked. It seemed like he’d only closed his eyes for an instant, but when he opened them again, the stars had shifted a little.
He rubbed a hand over his face and shook his head again, trying to clear away the grogginess. Sham or not, Ryku wouldn’t be happy if he found out Jared was sleeping on the job. He decided to circle the building, just for good measure.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he rounded the last corner and saw the window to Ryku’s office up ahead. It was open, and he was sure it hadn’t been before. Cursing under his breath, Jared drew his gun and ran to it. He leapt up and over the windowsill in a silent, fluid motion, then darted to the opposite wall and flattened himself against it. Quiet and cautious, he opened the door and looked down the hallway.
The intruder knelt in front of the door to Ryku’s living quarters, completely focused on picking the lock and oblivious to Jared’s presence. Jared took aim at his leg. Killing him outright would have been easier, but once he was incapacitated, they could interrogate him. Ryku would want answers. His finger was already moving to the trigger when he looked closer and noticed something that made him hesitate.
The intruder was small, probably just a little over five feet tall, though it was hard to judge from the way they were crouched. A woman, not a man—a small woman. A few strands of blonde hair stuck out from the edges of the hood of her jacket. Her right leg rested flat against the floor, and the foot was turned out to the side in a manner that should have been uncomfortable if not impossible—unless it wasn’t her real foot.
Jared slid his gun back into the holster under his jacket. Not wanting to wake the chairman, he bolted down the hall on light feet. The intruder whirled, and Jared’s dark eyes met her blue ones. Now he was sure, though he could find no e
xplanation for whatever irrationality had brought her here.
Zira reached for the knife she always kept in her boot, but Jared was faster. He clamped one huge hand over her mouth and seized her wrist with the other. She struggled, but he twisted her arm behind her back and forced her to walk in front of him. At first, it seemed like she was going to cooperate. Then her heel smashed down hard on his toes.
She almost managed to free herself, but Jared pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her neck in a sleeper hold. She tried to slip out of it, but he anticipated the maneuver and held her fast. He was easily twice as big as her and much stronger. She didn’t have a chance. Within seconds, she was unconscious. He lifted her and carried her out of the building, leaving Ryku none the wiser behind them.
It only took a few seconds to get to the unit E-2 training facility that stood next to Ryku’s office, but by then Zira was already stirring. Jared set her down, removed her weapons while she was still disoriented, and held her at gunpoint.
She blinked several times as she glanced around at her surroundings, but the moment her eyes fell on him, her dazed expression turned into a glare. “You knocked me out.”
Hearing her voice again, seeing her there in front of him with the same fierceness in her eyes he’d always loved—his chest constricted, like he couldn’t get enough air. He tried not to let her see his vulnerability and played off her comment with a shrug. “You were going to kill Ryku. Walk.”
He marched her into one of the trainer’s offices and pushed her into the desk chair. Her eyes followed him as he paced the floor and weighed his options, the pistol still clutched tight in his hand. Every possible choice seemed wrong. He should kill her. Ryku had told him she was a threat, and despite Jared’s unwillingness to believe it, the fact that she had just tried to assassinate the chairman proved he’d been right. But Jared was no more capable of pulling the trigger now than he had been before. “You shouldn’t have come,” he growled.
She didn’t answer. If she was scared or nervous, she didn’t show it. Maybe she thought she was safe, or if not safe, at least not in any immediate danger. Not from him. He wasn’t sure if the idea made him feel better, or just pathetic.
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