She stared at my hand in hers. “My sister.”
“Show me. Show me what happened.”
Frei tried to pull her hand away.
“Show me.”
She nodded and closed her eyes.
The dorm was quiet. The students asleep. Heart
pounded. She sniffled. She whimpered. They’d sell her for prostitution. The men
who came in, the doctors they brought. They wanted her for her body.
Not her. Never her.
“Hurry . . .” Along the silent corridors painted blue with
moonlight, down the stairs, through the door.
“Where are we going?”
She didn’t know. She couldn’t know what they had in store for her.
“Trust me.”
She nodded. She never doubted.
Her shoes clipped along the stone floor, the tiles, the wood.
Quietly, quickly, the dust filled the air, the groan of the main door.
“We aren’t allowed out.” She never stopped. She’d follow anywhere.
She trusted in the bond.
“No.”
Guards in huts, some patrolled, easy to slip around. Easy to slip
away to the fence. She’d be waiting, ready to help. She’d take her away, safe,
hidden.
“Suz?” She knew her the moment she saw the limp. “What are you
doing here?”
“We need to get you out. You’re going to stay with me.” Suz held
out her hand. Burn marks covered it, shining in the moonlight. “You’ll be safe
with me.”
“What about—?”
“I have to stay.”
She tried to pull away. She could never understand. Something
triggered. Red lights pulsed from the guard hut close by.
No.
“You have to go.” A brief hug. “Go.”
Suz didn’t give her time to think. She picked her up and threw her
into the back of the car. They screeched off in a dust cloud.
Go. Go!
“Don’t move!”
Guards. Needed to cover tracks. Roll, turn, sprint.
“We’ve got a runner!”
More lights. Lights in the building. Guard boots, footfalls.
Run. Run.
Keep them distracted. Keep them away from Suz. She needed time to
get away.
“It’s one of Huber’s,” one of the guards shouted. “I can see his
tag.”
Through the doors, run, up, up the stairs. Run. Run.
Smack.
“Nice try.”
Jäger.
So tall, so terrifying. His face etched in shadow and moonlight.
“Musician is gone!” Harrison. She would
check, such a hawk.
Jäger narrowed his eyes. “You think you can hide her?” His grasp
painful, agony. His gaze flicked to the guard. “Find her.”
“She’s gone. There’s tracks next to the fence.” The guard panted,
his face dripping with sweat. “We’ll never catch them now.”
She got away. Thank God, she got away.
“You lost me money, slave.”
Smack.
“A lot of money.”
Smack.
Cover up. Take it. Buy her time.
I flinched at the blows and snapped open my eyes. She had gotten
her sister out. She’d taken the punishment. She would have been the age the
groups were now. Her sister was younger.
“Why would they do that when she wasn’t sixteen?” I asked, trying
to steady my voice.
“Her looks.” She blinked a few times as if shaking away the
memory. “During that year she developed into a woman, at least in body. Her
skills were second to that. Jäger wanted to milk both and get more for her.”
“Instead you became a hero and he got nothin’.” I didn’t know
where to start. How could I tell her just how much respect I had for her? At
her age I was stealing cars, copper, and covering for Sam. A freak of a kid,
yeah, but I was lucky compared to her.
There she was, the same age and I could feel how much more mature
she was, how much more aware of everyone else. All I could think was,
what a
woman.
“
I mean it,” I whispered to her. I wanted her to see the intensity
of it. “You’re a hero. If anyone can get them out, it’s you.”
Frei sighed, leaned forward, and rested her head on my upturned
palms. “They should bottle you and sell you.”
“Big bottle.”
Frei chuckled so hard that I swear she snorted. “Let me check
something.” She went back to her laptop and her fingers tapped away at
lightning speed.
My hands still reverberated from her need for comfort. I wished I
could comfort her. I wished I could show her how cool, how courageous, how good
she truly was.
“You set the bar,” she mumbled, then met my eyes. “You are the one
who sets the levels. Slaves can’t do it . . . but you, Renee, Owens, you can.”
“Great, so we tell Renee to do the same.” I wanted my guys to stay
safe. I knew if Renee failed any one of them, I’d pile as many of them as I
could in Frei’s car and hope I could figure out how to drive.
“I don’t think she’s in a good place to listen right now.” Frei
rubbed the bridge of her nose.
“Why?”
She sighed. “I lost my temper.”
Although I’d seen Frei display more emotion here than before, she
didn’t seem like someone who lost their cool often. Which meant that when she
did, a lot of pent up anger burst through. “What happened?”
“Nothing. She was out of line. I wasn’t focused. She caught me off
guard.”
Well done, Renee, again. She was gunning for friend of the year.
“Am I getting any more or a mind your own peanuts?”
Frei blinked a few times. “Peanuts?”
I shrugged. “Nan. Don’t ask.”
She shook her head with a wry smile. “Renee baited me. I pinned
her to the stonework. I doubt she will want to talk to me for some time.”
That picture hurt me. One, because Renee was being so mean. Two,
because the thought of anybody laying a finger on Renee made my stomach hurt,
and three, I cared so much for them both. I wanted to fix it. Somehow.
“I shouldn’t have healed her.” I knew Frei was watching me like
she thought I’d pummel her. “If I’d just got her out of her head and let it go
. . .”
I hated it. I hated thinking about leaving all that emotional pain
inside her. Maybe it had been necessary, maybe it had made her who she was. Without
it, maybe she just didn’t get why people hurt, why they were vulnerable. Why
they needed her to be nice, to forget the letter of the law and remember people
weren’t facts and figures.
“This argument would have happened eventually, trust me.” She sighed.
“That’s the problem when you are close to someone, it makes being their boss
hard.”
“So step back and be that, her boss.” I shrugged.
Frei cocked her head at me.
“Her attitude stinks. Whatever her problem is, she’s acting in a
way that jeopardizes what we’re trying to do.”
That sounded Frei-like, go me.
“I don’t know what has gotten into her but if you want to knock
her out then what hope am I gonna have?”
The fact she’d pushed Frei to that point worried me. I had a
temper. Renee was one of those people who could hurt me enough for it to erupt.
I didn’t ever want to be in that position with her. Not again. In Serenity,
she’d ignited my temper and I’d ended up pinning a guard against the wall in my
anger. I weren’t proud of that, even though the guard weren’t very nice.
“By the way, I didn’t mean that like you
have
to yell at
her or anything . . . I just mean . . .”
I sighed.
“I just meant you gotta do what’s right and . . . well . . . I’m
supporting you on it.”
She smiled. “I’m relieved you don’t wish to knock my teeth out.”
She flicked her eyes away. “Regardless of her words, I should not have acted in
that way. I was unaware of how much I was struggling here.”
“I’m not here to judge you. I don’t like you guys falling out any
more than I like falling out with her. It sucks.” I sat forward, leaning onto
my knees. I needed to talk to Renee, I needed to get through to her somehow.
“You’re facing every fear you have. It don’t help.”
I got up. Frei needed my support, she
deserved
every bit I
could give her. If anyone could break through that big barrier of Renee’s it
was me. I didn’t know why but I could reach her. I
had
to reach her. I
had to do it for Frei and for Miranda. For all the students.
“I’m gonna go to her, tell her we need her to help protect the
kids. We need her to be the Renee we know again.”
“She may not listen.”
I nodded, strode to Frei, and gripped her into a bear hug. I
wanted to cuddle her until she couldn’t breathe for being so brave for her
sister. “I got to try and we care about her too much for you to fire her butt.”
Frei sank into my hug then squeezed my shoulder. “Thank you.”
For the hug or for my words, I didn’t know. “Don’t thank me, just
remind me that
I
care about her when I want to throw pickles at her.”
“Pickles again?”
I pulled back and nodded. “Don’t know why. I’d blame Nan but I
ain’t seen her in a while.” I headed for the door. Now to take on Renee, or
Professor Worthington, or whoever she was.
It seemed a familiar situation, me trying to talk sense into her.
Me preparing for a battle with her. I sighed as I stepped out into the wind.
Round one hundred and whatever.
Chapter 35
RENEE’S PLACE WAS a villa between her teaching block and the
garage. Perfectly kept lawns stretched out on either side with a smooth pathway
that led away from the back of her main building to two villas plonked
together.
It was odd because you could see the boys’ dorm behind to the left
in the distance. Behind to the right were hedges in the parts that got shelter
from the wind. Maybe they were meant to conceal the bottom couple of bricks of
the main garage. You know, because the first couple of bricks were so
unsightly. With the wind here, I didn’t think it was all that good for trees.
The overall effect was as if the Romans had took a wrong turn,
ended up in Texas, and figured they’d start a suburb. Only, there were just two
of them.
Everything on the villas was identical. Same color door, manicured
lawn, and male nude statue shooting water out of his mouth. Together they
weren’t half the size of the place Frei and I were living in.
Go figure how I got the better place.
I trudged up Renee’s path, taking a guess it was her place from
the neat little mat placed outside the door. If Professor Worthington was
anything like Doctor Llys then she didn’t do dirt.
I shook my head at the memory of Renee covered in mud, hair
jutting out with her fake nails ripped off back in Oppidum.
Renee was way cooler than Llys or Worthington.
I knew I was delaying. I didn’t want another fight with her. I
needed to tell her why we needed her onside. I hoped she’d at least hear me
out.
I sighed. Better get it over with.
After I knocked, I stood staring down at the mat. I didn’t get why
her cover identities had to be quite so anal. Renee could run a mountain rescue
operation, hang from a roof, and shoot like a sniper.
She was funny, smart, quick witted, and full of heart. She filled
me with warmth. Her laughter made my heart smile. Her eyes twinkled and her
aura danced. I missed Renee. I missed her something awful.
What was wrong with her being those things and just changing her
name? Why did she have to hide everything I loved about her?
I knocked again. I could feel she was inside, so I leaned against
the wall and stared at the perfect lawn.
For want of a better word, her alter-identities were persnickety.
Doc Llys for instance was a vegan or a vegetarian or the one that didn’t eat
fish. I could never remember.
Why would her liking a BLT reveal her identity?
Worthington so far seemed like she was into soya or soy or
whatever those bean things were. She had nut bars she snacked on when I watched
her from the gym and always water. Doc Llys had been a big drinker of green tea
but I’d never seen Worthington with so much as a mug.
Renee did coffee. Strong black coffee. I wondered if she even
liked the stuff she shoveled down her neck as Worthington? Mrs. Squirrel
wouldn’t have been happy. She’d have been disgusted with how they’d mashed up
nuts and smothered them in some weird sticky stuff.
Now I missed Mrs. Squirrel too.
I scowled at the door. I knew Renee was awake. Why weren’t she
answering?
I tried the handle and the door opened. I strolled in. It looked
like a mini-version of my place without the weird hole in the floor.
“Renee?”
I glanced at the coffee table, two wine glasses. I cocked my head
and wandered to the table. I knew from the scent it wasn’t the red wine she
liked. There was lipstick on one. I picked it up and saw the flash of a bottle.
Wine, but not red. Professor Worthington was a white wine lover.
I picked up the other glass. It smelled off. I couldn’t explain
why. I saw the flash of a small bottle being poured into it. Whoever it was
took some kind of addition to their drink. After seeing how the CIG team could
put alcohol away, maybe a chaser or whatever they called them.
“Ren—”
“
What
are you doing here?” Her sharp, flustered tone made
me turn.
She looked like she had been fighting with her bed sheets. Worry
bubbled up inside. Maybe she’d had a flashback or something.
“Are you okay?”
“You’re not meant to be here.” Blunt, cold and . . . panicked?
Her eyes flashed with something I hadn’t seen before. I weren’t
sure I much liked it either.
“I need to talk.” My tone was harder than I’d intended. My worry
clipped my words so I took a long breath. “Please.”
“Samson—”
“What do you want, a special handshake?” I ran my hand through my
hair. What was her deal?
“It’s not a good time.” Her accent was her funny cover one. Her
voice raised.
I glanced around me, wondering who she thought was listening now.
“Can you let it drop for just a second?”
I heard something thud and worry turned to panic. I stormed up the
stairs. Maybe someone was trying to hurt her? Maybe she was in trouble? I
barged into her bedroom and stopped.
Owens.
Out cold.
In her bed.
My stomach did a weird clench and drop. Why I was so shocked, I
didn’t know. I’d bumbled into some situations in my time but I had no reference
how to act in this one.
Renee’s face drained of all color. I stared down at Owens who I
was seeing
a lot
more of than I’d ever wished to.
I looked back to Renee . . .
Then back to Owens . . . until I felt dizzy.
“I can explain—”
“Why, why do you need to? What you ashamed of?” My words were
filled with shock and, what sounded to me at least, anger. Why was I angry?
“How many other things you been lying about?”
Renee hadn’t been expecting my anger. I could see the complete
abject terror in her eyes. She had a choice. Was she Roberta Worthington, the
fake professor I had no time for or was she Renee who would explain why she’d
gone and been so stupid. She didn’t even know Owens. She was meant to be
watching the POIs not . . . She was meant to be on duty.
“It’s not how it looks.” Renee stepped toward me, reaching for my
hand.
A flash of them drinking wine.
I yanked my hand away. I wasn’t holding on long enough to see
nothing more.
“She fails any of my kids and I’ll start acting on reputation.”
Renee scowled. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I know why she’s here.”
Renee put her hands on her hips, oblivious to the snoring Owens. I
turned away from the sight and headed down the stairs. Owens made me feel
nauseous just looking at her.
“You stop right there.” She grabbed for my arm and swung me
around. “What are you talking about?”
“Seeming as you know her so well, ask her yourself.” I couldn’t
figure out if it was the shock or the fact that Renee had lied through her
teeth to me.
Maybe she didn’t know what her truth was anymore?
It rattled me. It shook every perception I had of her and I didn’t
know why. It was better I leave or I’d do something so dumb I’d regret it.
“Wining and dining seems to be your thing after all.”
Smack.
For the second time since I’d known her I stood staring,
dumbstruck, after she’d slapped me across the cheek. I knew I deserved this
one. I’d have slapped myself too. Sanity seemed to have left me. She looked
like she wanted to bawl her eyes out.
“Try focusing on your job,” I spat at her.
“You have another Yannick. You don’t need to be freaky to see that. Open your
eyes.”
She raised her hand to reach for me but I stepped away. Her eyes
flickered.
“And stop sending kids to do your dirty work.” I stomped to the
door not sure why I was so out of control. “You got a problem with me, have the
guts to say it to my face,
Professor.
”
I turned and slammed the door on my way out.
I didn’t know what to think. Owens followed
Renee around everywhere. She was always butting in. Renee always took her side.
I thought it was her cover. I thought it was for show. No, no, when she thought
I was threatening Owens, she protected her, not me.
Owens.
I knew I was wandering, aimless. She was her job, her duty. She
would never jeopardize kids’ lives for some stranger she didn’t know, would
she? Renee wouldn’t.
What about St. Jude’s. She’d put countless lives at risk because
she didn’t want to tell me. She didn’t want to share. That was before I’d
healed her from Yannick but I’d helped in Oppidum too. Had I done something?
Had I turned a hero into someone who didn’t care about anyone but herself.
I felt tears sting my eyes. I had no one to ask. No one to come to
my rescue. Nan had abandoned me with my gifts. What if I’d messed up Renee’s
entire life?
“Please, don’t let me have ruined her life,” I whispered up to the
sky. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“You didn’t. You did good. Keep on trucking.”
I turned. Not sure if I’d heard Nan’s voice. I prayed I did. Right
now I wouldn’t care if that meant I was crazy.
“She ain’t who I thought she was.”
“You know better than that. Think on it.”
The words were so
faint they could have been in my mind but I followed her direction.
I wandered around and around the grounds, thinking, trying to
figure out why it hurt, what was going on in my mind until I found myself
outside my villa.
Not surprising, the front door opened and Frei stood silhouetted
by the lights.
“If you tell me
you
pinned her, I know we have a problem.”
Frei strolled up to me, then I guess she must have caught sight of my face
because her eyes filled up with concern. “What’s wrong?”
“She lied.” It was all I could manage.
Frei led me inside and over to the sofa. “Who did, Renee?”
I nodded, numb as I stared into space. “I fell for it. You’d think
I’d have learned after Sam.”
It was clear Frei wasn’t following by the confusion in her eyes.
“I tried to ignore it in St. Jude’s. I tried to deny the obvious.
I ain’t got brains enough to be dangerous.”
Frei dropped to her haunches in front of me. “What was obvious?”
“It’s all an act,” I whispered. The truth cut through me like a
bullet. It lodged inside and pulsed agony through me until I couldn’t breathe.
“I was a POI in Oppidum. I was her focus then. She acted like she cared, played
her role, did her job.” Empty tears dribbled down my cheeks. “In St. Jude’s,
she didn’t have no time for me. She didn’t tell me nothing. The job had
changed, I wasn’t important no more.”
Renee thought Owens was the POI. That much I could see by the way
she was guarding her. The way she protected her and made her feel like Renee
cared about her. Different yet the same.
Owens was controllable if she thought Renee was loyal, that she
was the main priority.
“Aeron, you’re not making sense.”
“Owens. Renee thinks she’s the POI. Her professional distance is
pretty much obliterated.” I shook my head. I was a prize fool. Renee couldn’t
stand me. I got in her way.
I was another checked box, job done, move on.
“I had my suspicions.” Her voice was resigned. “You don’t trust
Owens?”
“No, she’s not who she says she is and she ain’t on our side.” I
wiped the tears away. “Renee has landed herself in it all over again.”
“Was Owens awake?”
I frowned at Frei’s odd question. “No, why?”
She shook her head. Something close to a smile touched the corners
of her mouth.
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I think I called Renee . . . well .
. . you know . . . easy.”
Laughter burst from Frei’s lips. She held up her hand, trying to
control her laughter but a second later she had tears streaming down her
cheeks.
“It ain’t funny.” I pointed to my stinging cheek. “She socked me
one.”
Frei stifled her chuckles and turned my face to the light. She
tested my cheek which stung like I’d greeted a wall with my head.
“It was just a slap,” I mumbled. It felt more like she’d smacked
me with a wrench but I weren’t telling Frei that.
“Renee is stronger than she looks.” Frei squinted and tested the
side of my eye. I yelped. “She caught the corner. It’ll bruise.” She got up and
returned with an ice pack.
“False nails,” I muttered. “Just like the rest of her, false.”
Frei placed the pack to my cheek. “She cares about you. I promise
you that she does. It isn’t a mask for you.”
“She couldn’t even look at me. She just wanted me to get out of
her way. Maybe I was cramping her style.” I felt a wave of relief from the
coolness of the pack.
“Don’t write her off.”
“So you keep saying,” I muttered. I was pretty sure I was still
crying as I leaned back but I felt so exhausted that I couldn’t keep my eyes
open. “Don’t know why
you’re
bothering with me.”