The vice regent stood. Rowan’s eyes never left her.
“Please, ma’am. Let me retake Maine for the Wardens.”
“Request denied.”
Rowan tightened his jaw. “We cannot claim Earth for the Ekkohs if we do not control it in its entirety.”
“Maine is not important strategically—thus, it is not a threat. Until our internal intel reports declare otherwise, Maine is a non-issue. The CNA can have their spit of land.”
“Vice Regent, it’s a mistake to underestimate this Brigand–CNA partnership. We have more than enough resources in Boston to attack Portland.”
“Rowan, not another word.”
“But—”
“Enough! There will be no retaliation on Maine. You are dismissed.”
Rowan trembled with rage, but he turned and left the vice regent’s office without further protest. Once he and Curtis were well away from Warden officials and anyone else who might overhear him, he exploded. “She’s wrong!”
“Control your anger,” Curtis said in a low voice. “We no longer have the freedom to speak as we wish. That report we put together has kept us within the Warden ranks despite our obvious fuckup in Portland. For that, we must be grateful. You get to stay with your family, Rowan. This could have meant a formal demotion, even jail time. We got off easy.”
Rowan took a deep breath and nodded. “Do you agree with me?”
“Yes, but we’re in Boston now. We have to play by different rules—by their silly, political rules. The only way she’ll change her mind is if she gets pressured by other vice regents.”
“I need to present them our case for attack.”
“No! You can’t go at them head-on, Rowan. The political games don’t work that way.”
“I don’t have patience for games.”
“I know you don’t. Let me work our case discreetly. It needs to be done more subtly than calling our VR nothing short of a fucking moron.”
“Well, she is a fucking moron.” Rowan clenched his fists and then released them. “You will manage the politics of this?”
“On one condition. You must give up this obsession with Dani. She’s dead, Rowan. She is a dead human.”
She’s not dead, and I want her to suffer.
“You can’t have your revenge on a corpse.”
Though he still didn’t believe his friend, Rowan nodded.
“Say it. I need to hear you say it.”
“She is a dead human. You shot her with a quake rifle in the chest, and she did not regen.”
“Good. I’ll work on Portland. Manage your R&D teams and keep your head down with work. Don’t speak to anyone else but me about Maine. You must appear as though you agree with the VR.”
“That won’t be easy, but I’ll do my best. Thank you, Curtis. Things would have gone differently had I listened to you in Portland. Still, you kept me from capture and stayed by my side during the inquiry. Thank you.”
“I’m sure it’s not the last time I’ll save your ass.”
Rowan offered his friend a small smile. “You’re probably right.”
“Go home to your family.”
“Come by for dinner soon. Devon always likes to see you.”
“I will. He’s a good kid.”
Rowan turned to head to his quarters, his mind racing. Dani was an Echo; he had no doubt about that. She hadn’t regenned, so that meant Curtis hadn’t killed her. How she’d survived a quake rifle shot to the chest, he couldn’t explain, but he wanted to know. Rowan would let Curtis play his games while he figured out how to track Dani down and capture her. He would find a way to go back to Maine.
CHAPTER
52
“Yes!” Dani raised her arms in celebration, then lowered them to high-five Oliver.
“That’s your longest one so far today,” he said.
“You’re still beating me. Easily.”
“Stop throwing the heavier rocks. I’ll find the ones you should use.”
Oliver scavenged the beach area for more stones. He picked up several and handed Dani half of his collection. The river was still iced over, so instead of skipping stones, they were throwing them across the ice to see how far they could make them slide.
Dani threw a few more, and Brody whimpered and paced the shoreline. He wanted to chase the stones across the ice, but she wouldn’t let him. This rock didn’t go far; Dani frowned and touched her side where Rowan had stabbed her. The wound and internal injuries were healed, but sometimes her side still ached.
The CNA had chased several leads to find Rowan, but the Warden had reached the safety of Boston before they could catch him. The CNA didn’t bother with further pursuits. Boston was too dangerous for any non-Warden to go near.
“Do you want to stop?”
Dani blinked and turned to the Oliver. “Huh?”
“You’re holding your side. Does it hurt?”
Dani smiled and lowered her hand. “It just aches a little sometimes, like a sore muscle. I’m fine.”
Oliver nodded and left to search for more rocks. Many were stuck to the ice on the ground, so he wrestled with some to break them free. Dani pulled her hat farther down to cover her ears and watched him.
The cloudless sky bathed them in sunlight; it reminded Dani of a time in Portland when she’d stood among the buildings and enjoyed the sun. Her memories continued to come to her in disorganized snippets, but they didn’t startle her like they used to—except the ones with Miles. Those still tended to catch her off guard.
She thought back over her current life. Jace had made a smart decision when he’d taken her to Bangor after fleeing Portland. They’d never lived a life of luxury; meals, shelter, and clothing had only ever come with a lot of work, whether by scavenging, trading, or stealing. But they’d been happy in Bangor.
Dani thought back to the last time she’d stolen something.
The day before I met Oliver, she thought.
She’d almost been killed a few times rescuing him. And he’d been a colossal pain in her ass afterward, until she’d accepted his stubbornness. He, of course, had accepted her on sight; he’d even trusted her to get him out of the mess with the Standpipe falling apart around them when he didn’t even know her.
Good kid.
Her thoughts shifted. He was the one who’d annoyed her into taking action and creating the Brigand–Commonwealth merger. He was also the only person that had known the truth of her sometimes suicidal thoughts after Jace’s death. She’d made him a promise to not hurt herself, and she was determined not to break it. That revolver needed to stay with Hattie, permanently. She didn’t want the reminder of how close she’d come to killing herself.
Tears burned her eyes as she remembered the very dark places she’d gone to after losing Jace. Oliver bringing her Jace’s journal was the only thing that could have brought her back from those depths.
She watched him throw a few more rocks across the ice and smiled. He’d shown her how to skip rocks. The happiness she’d experienced that day was something she’d never felt before.
He caught her watching him, and he walked over. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah. Just thinking. Oliver, people have been giving me credit for the partnership forming and for us taking Portland, but I’m not at the root of this thing. I never was.”
“What do you mean?”
“You started it all. Meeting you at the Standpipe changed everything. You called me out for my bullshit when I blamed the CNA for not merging with Brigands and taking the fight to the Wardens. I was so mad at you that day, but I always knew you were right. Everything that’s happened to retake Maine started because of you.”
Oliver shook his head. “You’re forgetting the part where you saved Mom and Dad.”
Dani frowned. “You’re missing my point.”
“No, I’m not.” Oliver smiled. “We’re out here freezing and throwing rocks because you don’t want to be at the meeting in town. Right?”
Dani
narrowed her eyes. “Maybe.”
“The day I taught you to skip rocks, Jace thanked me for teaching you how to live. He said you’d spent your entire life surviving, and that wasn’t the same as living. I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant at the time, but I think I get it now.”
“Good. Enlighten me.”
“You laugh more now than you did the day I met you.”
Dani nodded. “Yeah, that’s probably true.”
“It is true. You have friends who love you as family, and you love them. You’ve even learned how to hug. You used to suck at it.”
She adjusted her winter hat and turned her eyes to the river. “You’re right. I guess I’m just saying that … you’re important to me, and you’re a factor in other, bigger things happening around us.”
“You’re important too.” Oliver took her hand. “You’re my best friend.”
Dani turned to him and tried to swallow. “I am?”
Oliver nodded. “I never had a best friend until I met you.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Oliver giggled. “This is the part where you relax and live, Dani. Stop stressing so much over everything.”
“Okay. Don’t stress. I’m trying.”
“Here.” Oliver turned her gloved hand palm up and placed a stone in her hand. “You like to think when you’re occupied doing something else. Like when you tinker with cleaning or building stuff. So start throwing.”
Dani threw the stone, and Oliver passed her another one.
She threw that one and nodded. “Yes, this helps. You’re right. How did you get so smart?”
Oliver continued to pass her a steady supply of stones. “My parents, I guess.”
“I wish I could’ve met your mom. I mean, I did, but I don’t remember. I’d like to have that memory back.”
Dani tossed the stones Oliver gave her, and her mind and body relaxed. She wondered if that was what living was like: just being somewhere and not worrying about other things or about being someplace else.
Peace, she thought.
Hattie had used that word to describe Jace before he died. Her brother had been so happy on his final day of life.
Dani had lost count of how many stones she’d thrown, but Oliver didn’t break her supply line. Since he seemed to have a lot of answers she didn’t, she asked him the most pressing question on her mind: “If someone is at peace—not like rest-in-peace dead, but alive and at peace—what does that mean?”
Oliver thought for a moment. “Are you happy right now?”
“Uh, yeah. I am.”
He put another stone in her hand. “Throw. Do you want to be here at the river chucking rocks?”
“Yes.” Dani threw her rock.
Oliver gave her another. “Mom said it was important to be content—happy with what you have, not worried about what you think you might lack, and happy to be where you are. I think that’s the same as peace.”
“Your mom was really smart.”
“She didn’t want me to always be afraid of the war and all the things that were happening. She said she couldn’t shelter me from the horrible things that happened, and she was right. Almost every kid in school has lost at least one parent. Some have lost both.”
“Too many people have died in this war.”
“Can I tell you something?”
“Of course.” Dani halted her rock throwing and faced him.
“When I turn seventeen, I’m required to join the CNA.” Tears formed in his eyes. “I don’t want to.”
Dani discarded her stone and pulled him close. “You won’t have to become part of the army, Oliver. I won’t let that happen.”
“The law—”
“Screw the law. Damn thing won’t matter anyway if the war is over, right?”
“When will it end?”
Dani knelt so she wasn’t looking down at him. “I don’t know, but sometimes having a deadline helps speed the process.”
Oliver frowned with confusion.
“We’ll find a way to end this shit before you’re seventeen. I don’t know how, but we’ll figure something out. Okay?”
Oliver nodded.
“Best friends don’t let each other get stressed out of their minds, right?”
He smiled, nodded, and wiped at his tears with the back of his mitten.
She hugged him again before standing. “Now, we have a competition to continue. You’re beating me, and that’s not allowed either.”
Oliver gathered more stones, and they continued to talk as they bounced rocks across the iced-over river.
CHAPTER
53
“Dani!” Miles scrambled down the rocks toward the frozen, sandy area where Dani and Oliver were still skipping stones. “The CNA is meeting with the council. Now. You’re supposed to be there.”
“This is more fun.” Dani winked at Oliver, and he grinned.
“Hattie has threatened me with bodily harm if I don’t bring you back.”
“She was probably joking,” Dani tossed another rock on the ice. It bounced several times before sliding to a stop—well short of Oliver’s record-breaking stone. She frowned.
“I assure you, she was not,” Miles said.
Dani rolled her eyes.
“You should go,” Oliver said.
“Fine,” Dani said. “You hold the record for distance, but don’t plan on keeping it for long.”
Oliver grinned again.
Dani gave him her rocks and started up the slope with Miles.
“Can I come to the meeting?” Oliver called after them.
Miles shook his head. “I don’t think—”
“Sure!” Dani said.
Oliver discarded the rocks. “C’mon, B.”
Whatever injuries Hattie had threatened him with, Miles seemed to believe the woman would follow through, because he kept urging them to walk faster. Dani obliged so he would calm down.
They made the final turn up the last hill and walked up the steps to the old courthouse. Their footsteps echoed in the halls as they moved through the building. Miles opened the door and allowed Dani, Oliver, and Brody through before he followed and closed the door.
Every set of eyes in the room turned to see who’d come to the meeting so late.
Hattie sat with the rest of the Brigand council at one half of a long table; Commonwealth leaders were seated along the other half.
“It’s about fucking time,” Hattie said.
“Happy to see you too,” Dani said.
The room was full of many of the volunteers who had fought for Portland and the remainder of Maine. All seats were taken, so Dani took a place along the wall among several others who were also standing. She leaned against the wall, wondered why she had to be here.
Dani spotted Mary seated among the group in attendance. She was wearing the yellow dress Dani liked. When Dani smiled at her, she pointed at her wrist and mouthed, “You’re late.” That only made Dani smile wider. She was with her friends, and she was happy. She could do without the meeting, but she remembered Oliver’s words and tried to be content.
“We wanted all the Bangor Brigands that took Portland here so we could formally offer our thanks and congratulations to you,” Houston said.
“Is that it? Can we go now?” Dani whispered to Miles. She gave him a mischievous grin, and he tightened his jaw and glared at her in reply. Dani sighed and realized she wasn’t going to get out of this meeting. Oliver covered his snickering laugh with his hand.
Brody sat patiently next to Dani’s leg. She scratched his head while the people seated at the table made various announcements she ignored.
Dani noticed an insignia change on Houston’s uniform. She leaned close to Miles. “Promotion?”
He nodded. “Full colonel now.”
“Huh. Good for her.”
Several commendations were presented to CNA troops and Brigand volunteers. Dani’s mind wandered while everyone clapped. Then Gavin’s name was mentioned as a
recipient, and her attention snapped to the present. She glanced around the room but didn’t see him.
“Good thing he’s not here for me to pummel him,” Miles said.
Between herself, Miles, and Mary, Gavin would receive more bruises than awards if he returned to Bangor. That thought made her smile again.
“Still can’t believe that asshole left you,” Miles said. “I just shoot my girlfriends when I’m done with them.”
Dani snorted a laugh that her hand was too slow to conceal.
“Shh!” Oliver hissed at her.
She glanced at Miles. “You’re going to get me in trouble.”
He shook his head. “You don’t need anyone’s help to do that.”
“Captain Marcus is on an assignment in New Hampshire and couldn’t be here today, but I know he was a long-term member of the Bangor community and has friends here,” Houston said.
Fewer friends than before. Dani leaned closer to Miles so it was easier to talk to him and not be too disruptive to the proceedings. “Captain? That was a quick promotion.”
“He’s an Echo; he has more years of military experience than I have of being alive.”
“What’s in New Hampshire?”
“You’d know if you’d been here when this thing started.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but he shushed her.
Houston continued talking, and Dani resumed rubbing Brody’s ears. Her middle grumbled with hunger, and she shifted her stance when one of her legs started to cramp from standing still for so long. Oliver, also bored with the announcements, dropped to his knees to pet Brody. With all the extra attention, the dog’s tail didn’t stop moving.
“In retaking Portland, we have acquired major quantities of food, munitions, tech, and other equipment and supplies,” Houston said. “The shipments designated for delivery to Bangor will start arriving tomorrow, and Brigands and the CNA will receive equal portions of the spoils.”
Several in the crowd cheered.
Echoes of War Page 32
