“Just answer the question. No games. I need to know the truth.”
“I told you the truth,” Carl said with a sigh. “I’ve seen the conditions in the ruin rat camps. I never would have sent anyone back there to suffer. When you made it clear how unhappy you were in my camp, I came to an agreement with Rand about transferring you and your brother. I thought you’d be happier in his camp.”
“Then why didn’t you tell us?”
“I should have,” he admitted, darting his gaze back to the glowing light in the corner. He needed to be careful not to give the Coalition any sensitive information. They’d extracted some information on the underground river, but there was no way to know how much they knew about it. “Nothing was definite until Kayla and I left for the towers. While I was there, I negotiated with Rand for a personnel trade. I had planned to speak with you and your brother once we returned. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out quite the way I expected.”
“I wish I had known,” Lisia whispered, almost to herself. She fell silent for a long moment and glanced over at the corner before focusing on him again. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but the worst is that I’ve dragged Elyot down with me. He never should have rescued me. We’re both blacklisted from OmniLab now. No ruin rat camp will take us in. The Coalition doesn’t trust us either. I don’t know how long we’ll be useful to them.”
“I’m sorry, Lisia. Your brother is a good man, but his actions were misguided. I can’t help either of you anymore.”
She knelt in front of him and pulled something out of her pocket. “I know. You’ve helped us far more than we deserved. It’s time for us to return the favor.”
Before he could reply, she reached behind him, and he heard the audible beep of his wrist restraints releasing. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you,” she replied, jerking her head toward the camera in the corner. The light was gone. “We only have a few minutes before they realize the camera is offline.”
He rubbed his wrists and stood. “What’s your plan?”
Lisia pulled out a knife and drew it across her forearm. Blood welled to the surface. Carl reached for her arm to stop her. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“Saving your ass,” she snapped and batted him away. He watched as she ripped the edge of her sleeve all the way up to the shoulder. She shoved the knife back in her pocket, smeared a streak of blood on her cheek and then pounded on the door.
The moment it slid open, she practically fell into the guard’s arms. With a wailing sob, she mumbled a few words and pointed at Carl. The guard’s eyes narrowed on him. He took a step toward Carl, trying to disentangle himself from the hysterical woman feverishly clutching at him. Lisia, however, wasn’t having it. Carl watched almost in disbelief as she tripped the guard and grabbed his weapon in one smooth motion.
The moment he was on the ground, Lisia pressed the weapon against him and fired. His body jerked and then lay still. She bent down and started removing the guard’s clothes. “Get undressed. You won’t fool anyone up close, but we just need to get to Elyot. He’ll meet up with us once he secures some UV gear and speeder codes.”
Carl pulled off his shirt and tossed it on the bed. This was a side of Lisia he hadn’t seen. He probably shouldn’t be surprised. Ruin rats could be chameleons in their ability to show the world what they wanted you to see. Lisia cut a strip off his discarded shirt and began binding her arm. She gripped the edge with her teeth and pulled it taut.
He finished dressing and pulled on the guard’s boots. Thankfully, they were about the same size. He glanced up at the camera, but the light hadn’t come back on yet. Carl bent down to drag the man’s body onto the cot and then draped the blanket over him. Once the camera came back on, it might buy them a few minutes.
Lisia was already scoping out the hallway. She glanced back at him and motioned for him to follow her. “It’s clear. Let’s go.”
Carl abandoned the guard’s body and trailed Lisia down the hall. Although she moved with confidence, the direction she was taking was opposite from the exit. His entire body tensed as they moved deeper into the heart of the Coalition’s lair. The lack of guards only heightened his suspicion something wasn’t quite right.
“I don’t like this. Where is everyone?”
She shushed him and motioned for him to stay back. They were approaching an intersection, and the low sound of voices echoed through the hall. Carl pressed his back against the wall while Lisia peeked around the corner.
“Dammit,” she muttered. “I thought they’d be finished by now, but they don’t look like they’re moving anytime soon. We’ll have to try cutting through one of the labs instead, but we need to move fast. Those cameras are on a different circuit. We couldn’t cut them without triggering the alarms.”
Carl straightened, curiosity getting the better of him. Keeping his voice in a low whisper, he asked, “What do you mean? What’s going on?”
Lisia looked around as though trying to decide which direction they should go. “I don’t know. After Lars took me to see you, he got into a big argument with Sergei. I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but Lars was pissed. He took off with some of the Coalition’s men, and Sergei disappeared into one of the conference rooms. I asked one of the guards what was going on, but he wouldn’t tell me.”
“Wait,” Carl interrupted. “Lars left? Do you know where he went? Did he find Kayla?”
Lisia shook her head and motioned him back down the hallway in the direction they’d come from. “I don’t know. He just took off. Something’s going on though. After he left, a large squad of armed men rolled out of here like their asses were on fire. That’s why we were able to cut the camera feeds. We wanted to get you out of here before everyone returns. Elyot might know something else.”
Carl fell silent and continued to follow her, pausing at various intersections while she surveilled their escape path. They finally stopped at a nondescript door, and Lisia slid a keycard over the panel. The light on the panel turned green, and the door slid open.
The room was small, but the wide variety of equipment and beeping machines was indicative it was some sort of monitoring room. Carl scanned the space, his gaze falling on a large map displayed on the far wall. It depicted the entire area surrounding OmniLab, with shaded areas representing all four trading districts. Peppered throughout the map were markings that appeared to identify ruin rat camps. He took a step closer, noting they’d also marked areas of potential resources. The entrance to the underground river was clearly identified.
A moment later, a loud alarm echoed throughout the camp. Lisia grabbed his arm, pulling him forward. “Come on, we’re out of time.”
Before they could make it to the door, it slid open. Elyot rushed in and dropped the bag he was carrying on the floor, jostling a nearby box of electronic devices with his elbow. It fell to the floor with a resounding crash.
“Hurry,” Elyot urged, kicking fallen equipment out of the way and opening his bag. He pulled out some UV gear and tossed it to each of them. “The cameras are back up and they know you’ve escaped.”
“What’s going on?”
“Sergei just got out of a meeting with some of the higher ups in the Coalition. He ordered the remainder of the guards to get ready to leave. They’ve got a shitload of weapons. Something’s going down. It’s not just this camp either. They’ve got at least four other locations, and they’re mobilizing everyone. We’ve got to get out of here now.”
Carl pulled on a jacket with the Coalition emblem and tucked the helmet under his arm. “Where’s Lars?”
“I think he’s got a lead on Kayla.”
Alarm coursed through him. “Do you know where he’s headed?”
“You should be more concerned about yourself,” a woman’s voice spoke from the doorway. Carl spun around to see Miranda pointing a weapon at them. Her eyes narrowed on Lisia and Elyot. “Do you have any idea what we risked to help you? And this is how you repay us? La
rs offered you both freedom from OmniLab, and you’ve done nothing but spit in our faces.”
Lisia stepped forward, her blue eyes flashing with fury. “You self-righteous bitch. You and Lars lied to us. You promised me no one in Carl’s camp would be hurt, but you killed Zane. You tricked my brother into helping me escape and threatened to torture Carl. You’ve taken everything from us. Everything!”
Miranda hesitated for a moment and then shook her head. “Zane was an accident. He wouldn’t have gotten hurt if he had listened. Carl wouldn’t have been hurt either. We just wanted information.”
Carl took a step forward but froze when Miranda turned the weapon in his direction. “Is that really what you think, Miranda? Look at all the harm Lars and the Coalition have already caused. You have an entire camp arming themselves. For what? To attack OmniLab? How many more lives are going to be destroyed? There will be casualties on both sides.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” she snapped. “We’re doing what needs to be done.”
Carl lifted his hands in a passive gesture and took another small step toward her. “Lars isn’t trying to do what’s best for your people. He’s only out for revenge. Think about your people, Miranda. Is killing us going to help them?”
“Don’t come any closer,” Miranda ordered, gripping the weapon even tighter. “Lars is doing everything for our people. He’s willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and sever the bond between Alec and Kayla. Once Alec is out of the way and the other councilors are punished, our people will finally be able to go home.”
Carl fell silent. From the almost feverish look in her eyes, it was apparent there would be no getting through to her. For whatever reason, Miranda needed to believe what she was saying was true. Unfortunately, that also meant Elyot and Lisia were now liabilities. Miranda and Lars might still view him as having some use as a way to manipulate Kayla, but not for his companions.
Lisia seemed to come to the same conclusion and reached for the weapon in her pocket. Miranda spun toward her, firing the weapon before Lisia could raise hers. Carl shouted out a warning, but it was too late. Lisia’s body jerked. She staggered, clutching her chest and gasping for breath. Miranda stumbled backward, her back hitting the wall behind her, but she didn’t release the weapon. Instead, she turned a shaking hand toward Carl and Elyot, as though warning them away.
Elyot ignored her and dropped beside his sister. “Don’t move, Lisia. Just stay with me.” He lifted his head to meet Miranda’s gaze. “We need a medic. You can’t let her die. Please, I’ll do anything.”
Lisia coughed, struggling for air and shook her head. Her eyes met Carl’s, and he saw the plea in them. “Elyot... You have to…”
Carl swallowed, unable to deny her unspoken request. “I’ll take care of him. I promise.”
“No!” Elyot screamed and gripped his sister’s shoulders. “Dammit, Lisia. You can’t die. Breathe. Just breathe. Please... I can’t lose you...”
She gripped Elyot’s hand tightly, unable to speak or even take a full breath. The raspy wheezing echoed throughout the room, barely heard over the din of the humming machines. When her hand went limp and the light extinguished from her eyes, a sob escaped Elyot. He gathered his sister in his arms, rocking her back and forth. Tears streamed down his face as he wept.
“I’m sorry,” Miranda whispered and aimed the weapon at Elyot.
“No!” Carl shouted, leaping forward to knock the weapon out of her hand. Before he could reach her, Miranda’s body jerked. The weapon fell from her fingertips, clattering to the floor. Miranda collapsed in a heap. Carl spun around to find Sergei in the doorway, along with another soldier. The tall Russian lowered the weapon and placed it back in his side sheath. Several guards entered the room behind him, weapons drawn and trained on Carl and Elyot.
Carl glanced down at Miranda’s limp body. “You killed her?”
“She lives. For now,” he replied, motioning for some of his men to remove Miranda from the room. “Never trust emotional women with weapon. Foolish mistake.”
Elyot looked up at Sergei, anger and hatred etched on his face. “That bitch killed my sister.”
Sergei shrugged. “Your sister paid the price for her disloyalty. Nothing more. Your price has yet to be paid.”
Carl moved to stand in front of Elyot, shielding him from the armed men. “I won’t allow you to hurt him.”
A small smile traced Sergei’s lips as though he were amused by Carl’s declaration. “I see. Perhaps you wish to negotiate for his life?”
Carl’s eyes narrowed. “I won’t betray Kayla.”
Sergei tsked at him. “I would not ask such a thing. No. I have something else in mind. You see, I believe we share same goals.”
“What goals?”
“Desire to protect our people,” Sergei replied, moving forward and gesturing to Elyot. “You say you want to protect this man… this… traitor. I want to protect my own men… loyal men. You can help me with this.”
Suspicion filled Carl, but he was at a profound disadvantage. “How?”
“With Kayla’s help, of course.”
Chapter Eleven
After Felix left to speak with Mack about arranging their escape, Kayla spent the next hour unsuccessfully trying to locate Carl. The idea of using his boots as a focal point was sound, but she couldn’t figure out how the energy threads were supposed to work. The more she tried to force it, the harder it was to make sense of the energy. Alec had made it seem so easy when he’d shown her how to locate the glass globe. Now she had the suspicion he’d guided the energy without her realizing it.
Frustrated, she slid down to the floor and closed her eyes, resting her head against the wall. She was exhausted. The effects from the metabolic booster and lack of sleep were beginning to cloud her judgment. For a ruin rat, this could be dangerous. She needed to keep it together a little longer until she located Carl. At the same time, the clock was ticking, and they needed to leave the ruin rat camp. The longer they stayed, the more likely Alec would become impatient and raid the camp. Unfortunately, they were still waiting on the diversionary team to finish packing.
The sound of footsteps approached, but she didn’t need to open her eyes to know it was Brant. The absence of energy threads around him was a potent indicator.
“Are you all right?”
Kayla opened her eyes to study Brant in the dim lighting. With the change of clothes and five o’clock shadow on his face, he was appearing more like a ruin rat every day. It actually made him much more appealing and approachable.
“Yeah. It’s just been a long day, and I can’t seem to get the energy to work right. Pull up some floor, Fluffy. We need to talk.” She scooted over and motioned for him to have a seat.
Brant arched an eyebrow, eyeing the ground with trepidation. Whether it was the fact he would be sitting on the floor or in close proximity to her, she wasn’t sure. Kayla couldn’t help but find it amusing that he continued to keep a marked physical distance between them. It made her want to push the limits even more and invade his space. She was a perverse woman, but she really enjoyed poking at him.
He sat on the floor, and she nearly snorted at the look of discomfort on his face. He was trying so hard to retain some semblance of professionalism. It was sorely out of place here.
“You need to learn how to relax a little, Brant. Life’s too short.”
He frowned but tried to emulate the way she was sitting. From the stiff rigidity of his posture, he was clearly out of his element. She had to give him points for trying though.
“I suspect my lifespan has already been significantly shortened simply due to our acquaintance,” Brant observed.
Kayla laughed and bumped her shoulder against his. A slight tingle went through her at the brief contact. Brant stiffened for a moment and then relaxed. It wasn’t as strong as it had been earlier, but there was still a distinctive spark.
“Yeah, we should probably talk about that. Back when we first met, we g
rappled when I tried to leave the towers. I didn’t notice any energy transference then. Why is it happening now every time I touch you?”
Brant fell silent for a long moment. Finally, he admitted, “I suspect it has to do with the energy I took from you. I’ve never used my skills against you until Alec ordered me to do so. The reaction began after I absorbed some of your energy.”
Kayla bit her lip and studied him, trying to resist the urge to touch him again to see what would happen. He was watching her with equal intensity, and she wished she could read him better. “So you’re still holding on to the energy? Do you think the person who attacked me is doing the same?”
His brow furrowed as though he were considering the possibility. “Perhaps. It seems to be dissipating though. While I still feel your energy within me, it’s not as strong as it was.”
Kayla cocked her head, an idea taking shape in her mind. “Do you think you can use the energy? If I were to give you more, could you use it?”
Brant’s entire body went still. “What are you thinking?”
She scooted over to kneel in front of him, just a hair’s breadth away. Brant eyed her approach warily but didn’t move away. “Come on, Brant. You’ve studied energy channeling for years. You know far more about it than I do. If I can give you my energy, you can try to use Carl’s boots as a focal object to find him.”
He shook his head, denying her claim. “Kayla, my studies were theoretical. I’ve learned techniques to negate and subdue energy. Your— Alec is the one you should be discussing this with. He can help you to direct your energy.”
“You and I both know if I go back to the towers, Alec’s going to try to find a way to lock me up.”
The corners of Brant’s mouth curved in a hint of a smile. “You have a point, but I can’t say I disagree with him. I’ve never met anyone so inclined to find trouble.”
She huffed. “Look, let’s just try it. You have far more control than I do. Besides, Alec told me my ability to find missing objects was dependent upon the distance. As long as I’m on the surface, I’m much closer to wherever they’re holding Carl.” She lifted her hand, hovering over his bare arm. “So… are you ready to try this or not? It may not work until we get an idea of the location of the Coalition camp, but who knows? Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
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