His feet moved. He wanted to be with her and couldn’t wait. He needed her closeness. Wanted to hold her, to give some solidness to his life, to tie him to this place. His emotions were too out of order, and he needed an anchor.
Arden looked exhausted, perhaps a little broken. Her gaze was alert, but the pockets of her eyes were bruised. Sadness felt like a deep part of her. It had been growing for a while. He knew she struggled with it. But perhaps after whatever had happened tonight, she no longer could hold it back.
He realized he hadn’t seen Niall yet. A quick glance around confirmed he wasn’t there. Dade frowned and gave her a questioning look. She rolled her eyes in response.
They met in the aisle. He opened his arms, and she fell into them. Holding her was a balm to his soul. He was oblivious to everyone and everything, savoring the moment. He breathed her in as he tucked her closer. When he felt like they’d both regained some modicum of peace, he leaned down and kissed her.
It was a kiss of reassurance, of connection. More deepness of feeling than passion. His hands gently wound through her hair as she tipped her head back to meet him. Kissing her was like finding his other half, the mingling of breath and souls.
He pulled back.
She pressed her forehead against his chest and breathed out. “I want something different.”
Dade wasn’t sure what she meant, though he understood the sentiment. He wanted something different too.
He squeezed her tight and kissed the top of her head. Then he turned to lay his cheek against her crown. His head was turned now, toward the bench where he knew they’d laid out Kallow, and he realized that there was more than just one girl lying on the pew.
Kallow was still passed out, her eyes closed, her face tormented. He could see the bite of pain between her brows as if she were trapped in the nightmare of her mind. He wondered if she’d ever wake up.
It surprised him to see Annem on the pew just beyond her. Her body was twisted, so he couldn’t get a good sense of how she’d been hurt. Coco leaned over her, her face pressed close to Annem’s, whispering soft words, while her hand stroked Annem’s hair.
Emotions clogged his throat. That could just as easily have been Arden lying there. He asked, “What happened?”
“What always happens.” There was a deep bitterness in her words.
Dade was glad Arden had been spared, even if that made him selfish. He remembered how broken she’d been after the joint refinery, and he didn’t want to live that over again. Not now, and not ever.
The struggle at the other end of the church stole his attention. Nakomzer was shouting now.
Dade sighed. “I suppose we should go.”
Arden nodded and pulled away.
Hand in hand, they walked to where the others held Nakomzer on the bench. Arden and Dade stood in the main aisle near the group. Neither of them wanted to get involved in the interrogation.
The others hadn’t removed Nakomzer’s blindfold. Most likely wouldn’t. And they waited him out until he calmed down or at least realized he wasn’t about to be rescued.
“Thank you for coming,” Mina finally said when there was silence.
Nakomzer tilted his head to the side. “I know you.” The words were muffled behind the hood.
She snorted. “Probably.”
Dade was impressed that she didn’t care whether he could place her. Her ability to navigate the city was unparalleled, and she clearly had no concern that Nakomzer could ruin that. She was one of the better-known dealers. Often shifting from being “legitimate” to deal in the more nefarious side of trade. She had access to public places like the skyport. Nakomzer would hunt her once he got away. She wouldn’t be so careless unless she had another plan.
He swallowed. No, he’d never allow that to happen. Not that he had a particular fondness for Nakomzer, but he didn’t believe in cold-blooded murder either. He’d probably feel the need to rescue Nakomzer. And he didn’t owe that man anything.
“What am I doing here?” Nakomzer demanded. His tone was the same as always, dripping with authority, even if he was trussed up.
“You have something I need,” Mina said.
Nakomzer shook his head. “I won’t help you. You will get nothing from me. Nothing. And when I find out who you are, you’re dead.”
Mina gave a rare, genuine laugh, bright and throaty. “Such lofty threats. But it’s all right, we don’t need your cooperation.” She pulled her knife out from the sheath at her side. “We just need your blood.”
“Couldn’t we have done this without him?” Venz looked a little sick.
Mina smiled at him. “It has to be fresh from the source. There’s a temperature requirement, and it counts the nano-bite particles in the cells. I’m sure he takes nanites to counteract a correct reading if we stored a blood sample.”
Nakomzer started to thrash again. He moved so far down the pew that Roan had to step in to shove him back into place.
“There’s no way you’ll keep it.” Obviously he knew that they needed his blood to open the sphere, and that they had the sphere in the first place. “They’ll find it. They’ll find you. And when they do, you’re all dead.”
“I’m shaking,” Mina said dryly. Then she instructed Roan and Nastasia, “Hold him.”
Nakomzer really started struggling then. He shifted and swore. Yet he couldn’t get away from the hands grasping him. They pushed him down onto the bench so that his chest rested against it while the palms of his hands were upturned in the electro-cuffs.
Venz had stepped back from the action, his eyes wide and his mouth open.
Mina took the knife, slicing the fleshy part of Nakomzer’s palm. The blood welled up, liquid scarlet dripping off the side of his flesh. Dade could tell that she cut deeper than necessary. To let Nakomzer know that she could do whatever she wanted and he couldn’t stop her.
Nakomzer yelped.
This wasn’t the real danger he faced, though. The cut could easily be med-sealed. It was the after, whatever Mina’s plan turned out to be, that he should save his strength for.
Mina wiped the blade on her pant leg and then returned it to its sheath. Then she brought out the small silver sphere. Dade wanted to get a closer look at it, but he stayed back.
Gripping Nakomzer’s hand, she rolled the sphere in the blood, coating it.
Then Dade stepped forward. His breath quickened.
The others had crowded around as well. Nakomzer, all but forgotten, gave up and slumped onto the pew.
Mina held her palm out flat, the sphere resting in the center. Its surface appeared solid. The blood pooled in its deep grooves, red turning to black before it soaked into the sphere and disappeared. There were two clinking sounds and then a mighty crack along the seam between the symbols, splitting the sphere into two.
Dade had expected something hidden inside that would change his world. Not this small black square. It looked like a piece of broken plastic. Like something he’d throw away if he didn’t know better. Nothing he’d ever seen before, a tech-chip of some sort.
Venz’s eyes gleamed. It was the first time Dade could remember him looking somewhat close to predatory.
Arden held out her hand. “May I see it?”
To her credit, Mina didn’t hesitate to hand over the bit of plastic.
Arden squinted at the small black square. She held it up in front of her and twisted it this way and that.
A gust of wind from the vestibule pulled away Dade’s attention. The front door had opened. From where he stood, he couldn’t yet see who’d entered the church.
Arden turned as well, lowering her hand. She was the closest to the door and stepped forward to intercept the visitor. She stopped near the archway, and her body went rigid. Then she moved her hand to the side for her phaser.
Dade groaned as Crispin strolled in.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Dade couldn’t fully wrap his head around what he saw. He’d known that they’d have to deal with Crispin so
on, but he hadn’t expected to do so tonight. Perhaps he should have. This was the perfect place to ambush them, especially if Crispin knew they had just pulled off the job.
Crispin swaggered into the church and down the aisle as if he owned the place. He looked happy—jolly even. He held his hands wide in greeting. “Hello, my friends.”
An icy chill slid down Dade’s back, and he found himself frozen. The others, aside from Arden, didn’t go for their weapons. He understood why they couldn’t fight here. The reasons for him were personal. He could never use a phaser in this sacred church. He owed Father Benedict everything. To destroy this church would hurt him, and Dade would never do that.
The others were more pragmatic: it wasn’t good business to fight on neutral ground.
Which left them defenseless.
That didn’t mean that Crispin was without weapons. He was dressed in a flashy burgundy tunic with a single phaser on his hip. It looked as if he’d just come from a party. He wore no fighting attire, not even a synth-vest. But then, he didn’t need to. His other weapons followed behind him.
The Twins flanked his side. Their eyes glowed with bloodlust, and they wore daggerlike smiles. Not far behind them, another three mercenaries entered the church.
There was rustling in the back of the building, and Dade turned to see yet more armed mercenaries enter from the back of the nave.
They were boxed in.
Pressure built inside Dade. He nearly screamed with it. Whatever Crispin wanted couldn’t be good, not with the backup he’d come with. He’d stacked the deck in his favor.
Dade swallowed back his frustration and tried to breathe. Breathe, focus, and wait. It was all he could do.
Arden looked pissed. Her mouth was a slash across her face, and her brow a thundercloud. Her body had gone preternaturally still, her expression promising Crispin she’d gut him where he stood.
A discordant note struck in Dade when he realized Mina wasn’t surprised to see Crispin. Or at least she didn’t appear to be. That could mean many things, for she was adept at hiding her thoughts. Still, if she had any idea this would happen, she should have warned him.
Mina said smoothly to Crispin, “I said I’d bring her to you.”
No, no, no. Dade wasn’t prepared to do this now. He needed time to plan, to figure out how to keep Kallow away from him.
Crispin’s tone was still cheerful, and the smile never wavered. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d save you the trip.”
It was difficult to tell who the most dangerous person was in the room. The tension ratcheted up with each lethal smile and well-placed word. Yet all Dade felt was sickness wash over him. His mind swam with it.
Crispin’s gaze slid to the front of the church where Kallow lay. He made no move to retrieve her, and no emotion broke his genial expression. The question of who Kallow was to him, someone he cherished or someone he hated, was not answered. Dade wanted to know—needed to know. Knew that would make the difference in everything. That he might be willing to chance this if she was dear to Crispin.
“What do you want with her?” Dade forced himself to ask.
Crispin smiled, though it wasn’t his usual jovial facade. This one was softer. “We have unfinished business, she and I.”
That didn’t sound good, but it didn’t sound terrible either. Dade was torn. He had no way to stop this.
Crispin flicked his hand for a mercenary to retrieve Kallow. The big hulking man moved gracefully in spite of his size.
When he reached the pew, Coco moved aside silently but kept her body in front of Annem, blocking her from view. Her gaze remained level, and her body coiled. Her lips pulled slightly back from her teeth.
The man picked up Kallow. It was a gentle movement, as if she weighed nothing. She was still swaddled in the blanket that the priests had given her. Her body looked infinitely tiny. The man tucked her close and then walked past them all as he carried her out of the church.
Dade watched his every step, wanting that last glimpse of his sister. If only he’d known who she was. If only he had a plan to save her. But he was trapped by circumstance.
“What does that mean, that you have unfinished business?” Dade pressed. He barely dared to breathe. He felt his body grow colder as the minutes ticked steadily on.
“It means she will be a guest. I will take care of her and bring her back to good health. Provided she wakes.” There was a frown on Crispin’s face that Dade had never seen him wear.
The others watched, transfixed. All of them waiting for this farce to get to the point. Each of them unsure of Crispin’s next move.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Dade,” Mina said softly, “I told you, he won’t hurt her. They were together.”
The words should have calmed him. Instead, they struck like a bolt of electricity through him. Dade heard the “were” in that explanation and the caution in Mina’s voice. He’d come to learn her subtle cues meant much more than the words she said. Crispin and Kallow may have once been lovers, but it seemed that a falling-out had happened. It did little to ease Dade’s suspicion of Crispin. “I won’t let you take her.”
Crispin ignored Dade until the girl was outside the church. Once the front door slid shut, he addressed him. “Then it’s just as well you’re coming with us. After all, two Solizen in my power are better than one.”
“What?” Arden growled beside Dade.
“I’m here for my collateral,” Crispin said. “There’s still a debt owed, after all.”
“What are you talking about?” Dade asked. He should be more concerned, but honestly, he wasn’t. This was his way to watch her. Kallow needed him. Whatever else, he could make sure she wasn’t hurt and figure out a way to break them both out.
“I agreed to let you help Mina for a price. I never said she could keep you. You made a bargain with me, and that still stands.”
The words hit Dade’s ears, and yet they didn’t make sense. He thought over that day in Crispin’s office. A service for a service, every word echoing in his head. There had never been an agreement to zero out Saben’s debt. He cursed himself ten times a fool. How could he have not realized? No matter. He’d figure out a way to pay off that debt too. Either way, this worked out better for him. He was willing to go as Crispin’s sacrifice.
“You only get one of them,” Mina said. “Dade was paying off Saben’s debt, so you can’t have him.”
“No.” Crispin’s grin spread wider. “Dade negotiated time. I have a signed contract. He’s mine too.”
Dade held his tongue. He wanted to tell everyone it was okay. That he wanted to go. But that wasn’t the right way to play this. Not if he wanted to have the element of surprise, to work his way through Crispin’s defenses from the inside. He had to be smart, pragmatic. Start thinking like a crafty thug—like Crispin.
Arden’s voice was hard when she said, “Too bad both of them aren’t here.”
Dade blinked, the words surprising him. He turned his head and realized that Saben was gone. He felt relief. If he couldn’t be there for Arden, then Saben would. Yes, he felt the lightness enter him. This was truly how it should be.
For the first time since he’d entered the sanctuary, Crispin looked irritated. His eyes narrowed at Dade. “He’ll be found soon enough. For now, it’s time to go.”
“He’s not leaving.” And in a flash, Arden had removed her phaser and pointed it at the center of Crispin’s head.
Seven other phasers pointed back at her in the next heartbeat.
She didn’t look intimidated. “I have no problem dying, because you’ll be dead first. Seems like a good deal to me.”
Mina’s crew members didn’t raise their weapons. They didn’t surrender either, but it was clear they took direction from Mina, who stood relaxed.
Arden wouldn’t back down. She would fight for him. But Dade couldn’t have bloodshed here. And her death was not a consequence he could live with. He wished he could tell her it was okay.<
br />
A fight wasn’t what Dade wanted. Not death, not a phase-fight. Crispin had brought too many people with him. They were outgunned. And Mina wasn’t going to stand with them. Her people weren’t going to take the fall for him. And he wasn’t letting Kallow out of his sight.
Dade felt the world closing in around him. He knew his options were limited. This was the only choice, the one with tactical advantage. He understood what he had to do.
“Arden, lower your weapon,” Mina said. It was a command, but that didn’t make any difference. Arden didn’t follow orders on a good day. And now? Dade didn’t have to read Arden’s mind to tell that she’d put Mina in the enemy category too.
He selfishly wanted to hold her before he left. Wanted to kiss her goodbye. To feel her skin again one last time so that he could remember in the days, weeks, maybe months ahead what it felt like to have her in his arms. To explain to her that this was his decision. It was one he had to make.
Instead of giving in to that weakness, he raised his head and looked directly at Crispin. “I’m ready to go.”
“Dade, no,” Arden said with a gasp.
He looked at her and felt his face go soft. He wanted her to know he loved her. Hoped she could read his love and that she knew that he counted on her to come get him and Kallow.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said.
She shook her head, but pressed her mouth in a thin line, refusing to speak.
“Good,” Crispin said. “Let’s go. We’re done here.”
The Twins came up on either side of Dade. They didn’t touch him. He knew they wouldn’t unless he resisted.
Arden’s face was a mask of fury. “Stay safe,” she whispered as he stepped forward.
Dade kept his head high as he walked out. And didn’t look back even once. He knew it would break his heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Arden didn’t move when they left. She was caught up in a web of indecision and numb anger, and the tension ransacked her body. But as soon as the frigid blast of air from the open door hit her skin, it wiped that web clean, breaking it to dust. Fury burned through her, setting her loose. And with it, all her common sense melted away as well.
The Stolen Sky (Split City Book 2) Page 27