Ben sat on the reception desk as he continued reading.
I trust this letter finds you well, and that the information I provided you helped in the tour you took of the Crescent facility a few weeks ago. I was beyond relieved to see that the information you gave to the authorities about the state of things inside the medical center there was actually acted upon. What a change!
Your hard work and selfless pursuits on behalf of the Conditioned warm my heart. Although I worry that perhaps you are spending too much time on it. Do you ever do anything just for fun? Not that I’m much better. I think it’s been five years since I spent a day simply doing nothing at all. Maybe I should take my own advice for a change.
I’ve never spoken to you about my organization, the group I am affiliated with that helps me in my endeavors. We, like you, find the treatment of the Conditioned within the Institutions to be horrifying, and we are determined to find a way to eventually release all the Conditioned from their unfair captivity. We cannot thank you enough for all you have done. I know that numerous Conditioned have had their lives spared at Crescent due to your unwavering efforts on their behalf. The last injunction you filed to stop the executions still holds fast there, but Madame Joan is, I understand, quickly losing patience.
I fear for your wellbeing. That is why this is the last letter I will be sending you.
Ben’s heart sped up. No. That was unacceptable. He wouldn’t be able to continue without her.
But fear not. I believe the time when we can all see each other is coming. I believe this with all my being.
Gratefully,
Shiri Roberts
Ben kicked the desk hard. “God damn it.” He didn’t need Shiri fearing for him. He could take care of himself, and his girls were well protected. He needed vengeance. It was all that drove him.
Seven deserved vengeance. Despite what society said, she had mattered. Madame had even claimed that Seven had never existed and, as far as the law was concerned, she hadn’t. Even though they’d had such a short time together, he had loved her deeply. He wouldn’t—couldn’t—rest until he’d made sure that what had happened could never happen again.
Ben closed his eyes. If only he wasn’t so tired. He rubbed his forehead.
“Good note? Bad note?”
Gene’s voice made him snap out of it. He opened his lids. “Bad note. It will, evidently, be the last one. Although she did still send a check.”
He pulled it out of the envelope. “Now I’m apparently being paid for doing nothing for her.”
“You’ve done a lot. More than anyone else could. The Institutions are impossible to bring down. I’ve told you a million times. I’d rather go in guns blazing, but you found ways to use the law. Ben, it’s not a small thing. Your lady would have been proud.”
He shook his head. “It could never be enough. I failed her.”
“They pulled her out of the boat using some kind of specialized tornado. How could you have prepared for that?”
Ben could barely answer. Fatigue drained him. “I shouldn’t have taken her out on the boat. I had this idea that we could spend a normal morning together. I should have packed her away and run. She knew. She understood how dangerous it was.”
“How dangerous it still is. If Madame Joan gets her way, they’re never going to find your body.”
“I know.” He nodded his head in agreement. It weighed on him. The girls needed him, but how could he look at himself—or them—if he let this go? Daphne might need someone to fight for her someday.
“If you had gone on the run, they would have found you eventually. They would have gotten to her. That’s what they do. Trust me, I understand. I’m exactly the same as they are. You don’t get to be powerful by turning back and not getting what you want.”
For the first time in his life, Ben felt he could really relate to his brother, because he would never stop. Ever.
The door banged open, and they both whirled around. For a second, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Standing in front of him was a person he’d thought never to see again. Five years had aged him, as it had all of them, but there was no mistaking Roman Lewis, the Fury who had showed up during his time with Seven.
“Roman Lewis?”
Gene looked at Ben. “You know this person?”
Ben didn’t miss the way Gene’s hand had reached into his blazer, ready to grip the revolver Ben knew to be hidden there.
“I met him once. He’s a Fury.”
Gene shook his head. “That doesn’t fill me with confidence.” Roman put his hands out in front of him. “Relax, both of you. If I was here to hurt you, you’d never see or hear me coming.”
That was probably true. Ben nodded to his brother, and Gene took his hand out of his coat. It used to bother him that Gene had most likely killed people. Now… well, there were lots of people in the world who deserved killing. It bothered him less, and if feeling that way made Ben a bad person, then so be it.
“So what are you doing here, Roman?” As casually as he could, he slipped the letter from Shiri underneath the organizer on the desk. He really didn’t want Roman finding it.
“I came because a mutual friend of ours asked me to make sure you were both all right.”
Ben shook his head. “We don’t have mutual friends, Roman. I’m devoted to bringing down the people who keep you in those expensive clothes. I don’t want anything from you.”
Roman smirked. “You’re going to eat those words someday. Trust me on that.”
“If that’s it, you can leave as you came in.”
Gene cleared his throat. “Don’t you want to hear what the man has to say?”
“No.” Ben didn’t know where his hostility toward Roman came from. Maybe he somehow blamed him for not saving Seven. It was irrational, but Ben didn’t really give a shit.
Roman looked at his watch. “Turn on the television.”
“What?”
Roman nodded at the set that hung on the wall. “Do it, or I’ll turn it on myself.”
Gene turned around as he picked up the remote to turn on the screen. Ben couldn’t remember the last time they’d used the thing. He wasn’t even sure why he had it. Maybe Gene had insisted five years ago. The whole time was a blur.
A newscaster was shouting into her microphone. Behind her, a building burned brightly. Ben narrowed his eyes. He knew that place.
“That’s right, Penelope, I’m standing in front of the Crescent holding facility that houses and controls the Conditioned population for the southeast sector of the United States, where, just minutes ago, we are told, at least ten bombs exploded simultaneously.”
A female voice spoke. “Can you tell us what the damage is,Sabine, and if any of the Conditioned escaped the facility?”
“We aren’t sure. As you can see, things are in upheaval here, but we are being told that at least some of the Conditioned did make it out of the facility before the fires rapidly spread. Madame Joan Martin, the proprietress of Crescent, seems to have escaped the blasts.”
Behind him, Ben heard Roman swear. He stared at the Fury. Joy and horror mixed inside Ben. Joy that somehow someone had managed to blow the place to smithereens. Horror that Madame had still managed to get away.
“Shouldn’t you be off helping to collect everyone, Fury?”
Gene sighed. “Ben—”
Roman interrupted. “Listen to me, Ben. It would make my life a great deal better if you were dead. You have to trust me on this. Something I have wanted badly for many years could actually be mine if only you died. And yet—”
“I don’t know what game you’re playing, Roman, but—”
He never got to finish, as Roman shouted over him. “Here I am to save your ass because, as it turns out, you are actually a worthy person. In about ten minutes, the police are going to be here. You’ve made quite a name for yourself as a Conditioned advocate. They are going to want to question you.”
Gene stepped forward. “How do you—”
“B
ecause I do. That’s all you need to know. I have to disappear. You need to know nothing.”
“I don’t know anything about this.”
“Ah, but you do.” Roman took a step in their direction. “Both of you do. Or at least you know a name you can no longer remember—temporarily at least. Shiri Roberts.”
Rage threatened to overtake Ben. “What do you know about her? If you’ve hurt her, Fury, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Roman laughed, a cold sound. “It’s because of Shiri that I’m even bothering with you. The police will have mind readers with them. Fury who can know your deepest secrets.”
Gene cursed. “Then how do you expect him to handle this?”
“You’re both going to forget. Temporarily.”
Ben finally understood. “You’re going to take the memory of her from us.”
“And all correspondence that you’ve kept from her, including the letter you just put underneath the organizer on that desk.”
He swallowed. It made sense. “How do I know you aren’t going to take other memories, and that you’ll give me her memory back when this is over?”
Roman looked at his watch. “You don’t. But think of it this way. I could have taken your memories and you never would have known. I did you the courtesy of telling you. That must mean something.”
“But—”
A noise on the screen got his attention. He turned to look. A man sat in a chair, his face and body concealed by shadows that made it impossible to see him clearly. He began to address the television audience. Ben glanced at Gene. He rubbed his head. What was going on? Oh yes, there had been explosions at Crescent. What else had happened? A slight feeling of confusion assaulted him, but he didn’t really care. He felt remarkably calm, and he couldn’t shake the song Tomorrow from the musical Annie from his mind.
The man on television spoke. “My name is Guy McKidd.”
Ben turned to regard his office. Something was missing, but he had no idea what it was. Other than Gene and himself, no one was there. Weird.
The door to his office banged open as five armed police officers rushed in. He should have been surprised to see them, but he wasn’t, and he had no idea why.
Calmly, he raised his arms to show he was unarmed.
Gene reached for his gun even as Ben called out for him not to. He pulled his hand out without his weapon. “Ben,” he whispered. “What the fuck happened to my revolver?”
Twelve
“It’s done.”
Shiri exhaled. “Thank you.”
She hit the end button on her cell phone and tried to concentrate on what was happening. Guy needed her total focus. If any of the Fury were able to get through their wards to send damaging energy to harm Guy, she would need to defuse it. Gone were the days when she’d just let the energy manipulation happen. Now, she could actually sense it coming and control it. It was pivotal that she not lose all her hard-won control.
But she couldn’t help but feel utter and complete relief after Roman’s phone call. Ben knew nothing that could get him in trouble, although the Fury and the Institutions would still try.
Her phone vibrated. She looked down as she walked quietly away from the room where they were filming Guy’s announcement. It was a message from Addison Lewis, her beautiful friend who had started the Conditioned movement’s recent momentum when she’d run off with Spencer Lewis, the man who was now her husband. Before that, she’d been the formidable Addison Wade. Shiri shivered to remember that she hadn’t known about any of that when she’d been locked up in Crescent.
As her hands shook, she read the message twice, a skill she’d quickly learned in the last five years. They had confirmation.
Madame Joan had lived. The bombs that should have taken her out hadn’t gone off. They’d brought down Crescent, but not Madame and her sick ministrations. The woman was still around to cause hell to those who didn’t deserve it.
She looked up as Tara walked into the room. Tara Finley had befriended her the moment she’d stepped foot into Guy McKidd’s compound. The woman had once been in the Safe Dawn Institution before Addison and Spencer Lewis had broken her out. She was a very powerful fire-starter.
Tara could also be a mega-bitch, which meant it was a really good thing that she liked Shiri as much as she did. “Did the Fury manage to protect your friend?”
Shiri nodded. “The Fury has helped us tremendously over the years. He’s Spencer’s brother. He has a name and you know it.”
“Roman has his own agenda and you know it.” Tara rolled her eyes as one of their people operating the camera shushed her. She took Shiri’s arm and moved her farther out of the room. “He’s in love with you.”
“We’re friends.”
Tara shrugged. “Maybe. But he’s in love with you.”
“It’s not important today. None of the personal stuff matters today. Today is about freedom. Our brothers and sisters are gaining freedom. As soon as the bombs go off in Ashes, they’ll know they have to release the others.”
Tara pulled her into a hug. Her voice was barely a whisper. “Even our Seers can’t predict what will happen. Shiri, they’re never going to just let them go. Ever.”
She shook in Tara’s arms. Amongst themselves—the group of Conditioned who had managed either by luck or with help to get to the safety that was Guy McKidd’s private island—they were split almost straight down the middle about what the future would bring. As Tara had said, even their very gifted Seers didn’t know.
Tara, Guy and some of the others thought outright war was inevitable. Ultimately, they’d won on the bombing vote. But Shiri believed in her heart of hearts that there were peaceful ways to win the day. Ben Lavelle had found methods to keep the Institutions partially in check, and over time things could get better.
Tara shook her head as if she’d read her mind, even though that wasn’t one of Tara’s talents. “Too many people would die in the meantime. I can always read your thoughts right on your face.”
“I know.” She pulled Tara tighter before she let her go.
Touch was hugely important to all of them. Other than meaningless sex, most of the Conditioned had never gotten to touch just for the sake of it. Everyone was always embracing each other.
“So how did I do?”
They both turned to look at Guy. With his bald head and the gold hoops he always wore in his pierced ears, he looked like a pirate. The first time Shiri had seen him, she’d wanted to run away and hide. But he was kind, most of the time, and when she’d finally gotten over her panic, she’d remembered hearing his name. It had been his mother who had bought her clothes at the mall, the first nice clothes she ever remembered wearing. Guy had loved that story when she’d told it to him. Or at least she thought he had. Guy didn’t share his feelings all that often.
She stared at him blankly, knowing Tara was doing the same thing.
“You ladies didn’t watch me, did you?” He rolled his eyes.
Tara laughed. “We watched you do it a million times.”
Guy held Tara’s eye contact a moment longer than was appropriate. He always did, and the only one who didn’t seem to notice was Tara. Shiri tried not to grin and almost didn’t. She managed to make it last only a fleeting second, but it was long enough that Guy noticed and glared at her.
No one could blame Guy for his infatuation. Tara was gorgeous. Even though most of the Conditioned had no idea where their heritage lay, Shiri thought that Tara’s family had been Armenian. She had high cheekbones, black hair and brown eyes that men seemed to fall into.
Shiri sighed. Roman might or might not have been in love with Shiri. It didn’t matter.
“Did Roman take care of your friend?”
Shiri smirked. “Reading my mind, McKidd?”
“Am I touching you, Shiri? No, I’m not reading your mind.”
She stared down at his covered hands. She’d never seen Guy without gloves and probably never would. Even with the blockage, he could pick up thoughts a
nd memories.
“Yes, Roman took care of it.”
“Shiri.”
She knew what he was going to say and stopped him. “I know. Not yet. He can’t meet me yet.”
For years, she’d maintained her patience on this subject simply because she didn’t want to put Ben and his family in danger by associating with her.
“Come on. I’m tired of being inside.” Guy gestured for them to walk in front of him.
She smiled. Being able to determine when she did and didn’t want to go outside was one of the treats of getting to live a self-determined life. They stepped out together into the sunlight, which felt different here than it had back in Louisiana.
The Caribbean sun warmed her pale skin.
“Don’t get burned, sweetie.” Tara laughed as she strolled down toward the water. Guy stood still, watching Tara’s movements.
“Your first week here, you got scorched. I thought we were going to have to fly you to a hospital somewhere for sun poisoning.”
Shiri smiled at Guy. “Yes, I remember. I was the one living through it, if you’ll recall. You’re all sorts of sentimental today. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this before.”
“If we’ve made a mistake, a terrible mistake, then this place we’ve built will all come to an end.”
“Guy.” She touched his shoulder, making sure to keep her hand on the cloth of his shirt. Still, he flinched. She’d long ago learned to disregard the way he reacted upon initial contact. He still needed to be touched, maybe even more so than anyone else. “We’d follow you to Hell. You know that.”
“I do and that’s why it’s so hard.” He cleared his throat as he looked down at his watch. “It’s almost time for Ash. We should hear from Spencer any moment, Shiri.”
She smiled. “What is it?”
“I hate that you couldn’t bring them.”
Her grin fell, and she fought the tears that wanted to spill. “It made sense. You didn’t know him. He was an un-researched person, too connected to vanish. There’s so much here that’s more important than my silly heart.”
Illicit Connections (Illicit Minds Book 2) Page 12
