by Lucy Smoke
Oren's fist connects with my face a split second later and I grunt under the impact, my lip splitting. He shoves me off and makes a break for his gun. I dive for his legs, catching him before he can stand, and it plummets back to the ground. Tanks yell in the dark, trying to get the lights back on. I hear Haze's grunt somewhere in the obscurity and Kida frantically searching for the gun. I don't know what they are going to do if the lights come back on and they're still cuffed.
My worries are cut, and my hopes met when the doors to the main room slam open and I hear the deep baritone of Vincent's voice met with Tilde's excited and crisp timbre. They direct their agents around the room and the emergency lights finally flicker on. I can finally see much better, just in time to see Oren bring his elbow back into my chest, sending me backwards. The back of my skull slams into the floor and stars dance before my vision.
"Fuck!" I gasp, one hand shooting up to the sharp throbbing at the back of my head. My fingers come away wet with my own blood.
One of Vincent's agents—Levi, I see through a blurry haze—unlocks Kida’s and Haze's cuffs. Once Haze is free, he grips the nearest Tank and slams his face straight into his fist. Kida takes a taser gun from her godfather and like the badass I'm used to seeing, starts picking off the most resistant Tanks—which is all of them.
I stand on shaky legs, searching the room for Oren. I recognize the tattoos on the strong hand that comes down on my shoulder. Aaron stands a head above most of the normal agents now spreading throughout the room like fire over paper, taking down everyone in sight. His other hand comes up to my face and I flinch when he makes contact with my bloody lip. He pulls away and frowns at the blood.
A Tank barrels forward and without blinking, Aaron sinks his fist into the man's face. The cartilage breaks under the force of the blow. I still don't see Oren anywhere. I search the ground for his gun and it, too, has disappeared.
"It's my brother!" I yell at Aaron over the noise. "My brother is the Tank's leader!"
Kida jerks to a stop alongside us, trying to yell over the cursing and grunts around the room. "Vincent said–"
"You think this is it?!"
The whole room continues with the mass chaos, but the strong, frenzied voice screaming across the room has all of my attention. I turn away from both Aaron and Kida as Oren stands, feet firmly planted on the cushioned seat of his throne, gun cocked, but not aimed.
"We were only the beginning Vincent Diamond!" Oren's face is flushed red and there's a mark along the side of his face. His shirt is ripped on one side as though someone had caught him as he was trying to move away. Across the room, at the doors, Vincent's dark expression is zeroed in on my brother.
Oren smiles gleefully. "You have no idea what you're in for," he laughs. "What you're all in for. It doesn't matter if we go to containment, it still continues."
"You're not going to containment, Oren," Vincent calls over the crowd. "You're not going into exile either."
"Well then," Oren says, not perturbed by the obvious death sentence staring him in the face. "I better make the last of it count, shouldn't I?"
And with that, he points his gun at me and fires. The blow to my chest shoves me off balance and I stumble into Aaron, Kida's scream echoing through the room and my mind. Red bleeds into my vision as I hear several more shots fired over my head as if from somewhere far away. My legs can't hold my body up anymore and my strength disintegrates. Somehow, I'm still awake, but there's no air in my lungs. My mind races.
Shouldn't I feel the bullet?
Shouldn't I feel the pain?
Shouldn't I feel anything?
Aaron's arms catch me as I fall. He and Kida sink to the ground with me, wetness pooling beneath my body. Kida's voice is harsh and shrill, her fingers on my face both burning hot and freezing cold. I can't decide which. Her lips move, but I don't hear the words. In fact, I don't hear anything anymore. I blink once, twice, three times and after every blink it's harder and harder to reopen my eyes. I keep blinking until I can't anymore, and then there is nothing.
Thirteen
Impossible Love
"Stand back, give her some room!" the sharp voice of Commander Tilde intrudes into the silence of my mind, pulling me back to the surface.
"Cass!" I hear Levi call.
"She will be fine," Noaz says. "You need to let Tilde work."
"How come she gets to be in there with her and we don't?" Levi asks.
I assume he means Kida and not Tilde, because as I open my eyes Kida's face is the first thing I see. She gasps when she sees that I'm awake and her hand touches my cheek.
"Baby," she whispers, bending down to brush her lips against mine. "Don't worry, Tilde will fix you. She's an emergency medic. She's dealt with things like this so many times."
Considering that I haven't asked a damn thing, I figure she's trying to reassure herself more than me. It takes a lot of work to nod, so I just open my mouth and croak out a weak, "Okay."
"What the fuck?" I hear Levi ask. "She's a lesbian? I thought..."
Kida turns and flicks a deadly glare over her shoulder. "Can you go fuck off somewhere else? You're disturbing her."
Instead of heeding an angry Kida, Levi bounds up into the back of the square, medical, hover vehicle, peeking over her shoulder at me. "Why didn't you say anything?" he asks, likely recalling when he kissed me.
"No chance," I croak. "Besides..." I grip Kida's hand in mine, holding it weakly. "It doesn't really matter to me."
"Come on, man," Thayer's gruff voice sounds close by as a big hand grabs Levi's shoulder and pulls him out of the vehicle.
Tilde ignores all the chaos and hooks a bag of clear fluid to the top of the vehicle. "Alright," she announces. "We're heading to the medical center. Only one more can come with us the rest will have to catch rides elsewhere." Her no nonsense tone is met with quiet, but the hover vehicle dips as a big tattooed body crawls into the back and settles next to Kida.
Aaron's enchanting blue eyes rove over me with concern. When he meets my tired gaze, his eyes catch fire. He glances at Kida's figure hunched over me, clutching my hand as if it's the only thing keeping me here and he realizes exactly how I knew he liked Levi and exactly why I understood so well.
Neither of us speak, but he inclines his head ever so fractionally and I do the same before the car starts. I close my eyes once more, letting exhaustion pull me back under.
When I wake next, I feel much better. The area of my chest where the bullet broke skin is sore and covered in bandages that wrap around my entire upper body. There's an odd tugging at my back under the bandages when I attempt to rotate my shoulders. An exit wound, I guess.
There is a gorgeous bouquet of colorful flowers on the nightstand to my side. Flowers are expensive since they are only grown on the sky villages, so whoever purchased them spent a fortune. They are the first flowers I've ever received. I admire them as the sunlight pours in through the square window of my medical center room and hits their vase, sending a brilliant cascade of iridescent colors around the room.
The door opens and Kida backs in, carrying a tray. "You're awake," she states as she comes to sit in a cushioned chair, one of the only other pieces of furniture in the room aside from my bed. She places the tray in my lap and pulls away the cover, setting it on the ground at her feet.
"Where is everyone?" I ask, coughing when my voice comes through my throat wrong.
She grabs a glass of water from the nightstand and quickly hands it to me. I gulp down half of the glass before I feel like I'm finished dying and can hand it back to her without my hands shaking.
"I asked them to give us time to ourselves," she answers my question, setting the glass back down.
"And they were okay with that?" I ask.
"Not exactly," she says, inclining her head towards the elaborate bouquet.
"Why did you want time to ourselves?" I take a sip of the soup on my tray, realize how hungry I am and shovel more in.
"I can't spend time
with my girlfriend after she's been hurt, and we haven't seen each other in weeks?" she asks defensively.
I pause with a scoop of soup in front of my mouth and lower the spoon back to the bowl on the tray in my lap. "I didn't say that." I push the tray back and turn to her, hiding my inward flinch when my chest and back start aching. "I am happy to see you. What's wrong? Why are you acting like this?"
Kida's eyes bounce around for a moment or two, refusing to meet mine for several seconds. Then, with a great sigh, she meets my gaze with angry eyes. "Those guys really like you," she says. I wait, keeping silent, knowing there's more bubbling beneath her surface. I can tell by the way she taps the tips of her fingers against her leg and watches me as if waiting for a reaction. When I don't offer any, she continues. "They were all over you when you first got here. I could barely get in the door." She frowns and looks to the side, biting the inside of her cheek.
Quietly, while she regains control over her emotions, I examine her. Already her color has improved, and she doesn't look quite as haggard. She's clearly had a bath since I've been unconscious and changed. But she still carries the look of drained sleeplessness. Beneath one sleeve there is the barest hint of white bandages.
"I have to ask, Cassie," she says, finally turning back to look at me. "Are we...not okay anymore?"
"You're asking if I cheated on you?" I clarify.
"I wouldn't blame you if you did," she replies. "I know we've been having our issues and you didn't really know where I was..."
I push the tray away and sit up fully, rather than leaning back into the cushions at my back. "The guys have been really good for me," I say slowly. "I didn't really know if I could trust them when I first met them, and I ran. When I did finally get to know them, and I got used to them, I started trusting them a little more." With every word, Kida's face grows farther and farther away as if she sees a zipcar heading straight for her and she can't step out of the way fast enough. I decide to change tactics.
"Do you remember when we first met?" I ask. She blinks as if confused by the new direction of the conversation, but she nods anyway. "And do you remember what you told me right before you snuck me out of the detention center?"
"I told you that all it takes is a chance for you to change your circumstances," she said. "And that even if you didn't have a family, you could build one."
I nod. "You gave me that chance and then months later, we became more than just friends. And I thought it was impossible, but I love you. I've loved you since you first took my hand, since you became my best friend, since you kissed me under the stars."
Her lips twitch as she remembers the way I had sniffed and cried and told her all of my worries and fears, and how I didn't want her to leave me behind, and then she had kissed me and told me that it didn't matter because I would grow, and she would help me.
"What happened with the Tanks only proves that I was right, and you were right, I can build my family and I started with you."
"Even if I can't be the same as..." Her eyes hold mountains of worry, of insecurity.
"It really doesn't matter to me," I tell her. "I love you because you're you. Do I like the guys? Yeah. They're my friends and you once told me that I needed to expand myself more. I didn't really understand how much I relied on you until you weren't here anymore. I think...maybe if you're okay with it...I think I'd like to join their team."
"You want to work for Vincent?"
I sigh, rubbing my hands down my face. "I think I do," I say. "You taught me so much, and I'll never forget it. I'll always appreciate the skills you gave me to take care of myself, but this is something I think is more important. There are things that I—that we learned—when we were searching for you and I don't think I'll be able to stop looking into it even if Vincent won't let me join the guys."
"You spoke with Arch," Kida says.
"Yeah."
"Vincent already knows about it," she continues. "If you really want to look into it, we can work as a team—you and me—if you want."
I smile. "I think I'd love that, but...I don't know..." I bite my lip, some of the things Levi and Thayer said to me before slipping through my head. "Do you think..." I start. "Do you think that... maybe... we're too dependent on each other?"
Her head tilts to the side, dark caramel hair sliding over her shoulders. "We're close," she replies anxiously. "I thought that's what you wanted."
"I... maybe I did before, but... I think it's better having others to rely on too." At her expression, I quickly rush to explain. "Not that we can't rely on each other, but when you were gone, and I really needed someone, I didn't have anyone. I think it's better if we both have people to rely on and I think the guys can be those people."
"Maybe." Kida stares at me before leaning forward and taking my hand. "I just don't want to lose you and I feel like I am."
I grimace, remembering the kiss between Levi and me. It's not just him either. A part of me wants to blurt out the truth and tell her about it but seeing the insecurity in the depths of her golden eyes keeps the words from spilling forth. Even though I didn't kiss Levi first, it feels like a betrayal none-the-less and I don't want to add to the fear I can already see growing on her face.
Instead of voicing my thoughts, I lean forward and brush my lips against hers. She angles her head and deepens the kiss, opening her mouth and catching the back of my head with her free hand. Her lips brush against me, her tongue twining with mine. I suck in a breath as she bites down on my bottom lip. Not hard, but it still sends tingles surging through me. My legs rub against each other in anticipation.
"Baby," she whispers, pulling back, "it seems impossible to love you the way that I do, but you're my world."
"And you're mine," I say, panting, our breaths mingling. "But maybe it's better that we don't revolve around each other so much."
"You're my sun, Cassie. I'll always revolve around you. Now you just have other planets as well."
As I'm trying to think of some way to explain that it's not that the guys are new planets to my sun, but that they're the new branches of a family I desperately need, someone knocks on the door.
Noaz steps in, wearing a formal suit and carrying a couple of bags from expensive retailers that don't deliver to just anyone. I frown at his serious expression as he closes the door behind him and Kida breaks away from me, standing up. He hands her the first bag before setting the second at the end of my bed.
"Vincent is giving a press conference in an hour. He has asked that the both of you be present and that you wear these gifts," Noaz states.
"Is he telling people about what Archie said?" I ask.
Noaz shakes his head. "He's only informing the public about the Tanks disbanding."
"He wants to keep what Arch said quiet as long as possible," Kida explains, turning her head. "He wants more time to look into it. Plus, we have to hunt for who the Tanks' mysterious 'Benefactor' could be."
"I suggest you get ready now," Noaz says. "We'll be waiting downstairs."
Noaz leaves and Kida helps me out of the bed and into the adjoining bathroom. She helps me wash up as quickly and as gently as she can. It takes twice as long as normal going down the stairs and by the time we're in the medical center's lobby, everyone else is waiting.
Noaz, Aaron, Haze, Thayer, and Levi are all dressed in similar formal attire with buttoned up suit shirts sans jackets and slacks. Thayer has pulled his wild curls back into a short ponytail at the back of his head and Haze, too, has slicked back his hair. I smile at them as Kida and I approach. Levi stares openly at mine and Kida's clasped hands.
"Where is the press conference?" I ask, breaking the silence.
"Vincent didn't want you going too far from the medical center since you and Kida are still healing, so he's holding the press conference right outside. In a few minutes, we'll join him out there and stand to the side as he makes his announcements," Noaz answers, looking down at a scanner attached to his wrist to check the time.
"Is Penelop
e coming?" I ask.
"Vincent doesn't like Penny coming out in public while she's so vulnerable," Kida replies.
"Oh."
Several minutes of silence go by and then an official looking enforcer opens the front doors to the strangely quiet lobby and motions for us to follow him. Outside, a massive crowd of people, including photographers and journalists for the few sleazy news sites stationed on Tartarus, collect around a hastily erected dais and podium. We all trudge towards the center of the stage and then wait along the back.
Kida stands on one side of me while Thayer stands on the other. Commander Tilde shows up not long after and stops by Noaz. They talk quietly for a moment before Tilde stops by Kida and me, nodding to me before she ruffles Kida's hair.
"Good to see you back, Kid," she teases. Kida growls at the woman and bats her hand away, causing the Commander to laugh and move to the podium at the center of the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she calls, raising her voice and leaning into the microphone positioned there. "Governor Diamond has called this press conference to announce that the street gang known as the Tanks have, in fact, been disbanded."
Several hands go up as reporters cry out questions, shoving their recorders and cameras forward. Commander Tilde raises her hands in a calming gesture. "I am Commander Tilde Devereaux of Tartarus' Enforcement Department and will be available after the conference for further questions. In a few moments, Governor Diamond will be here to provide you with more information."
The doors to the medical center open and as Vincent Diamond makes his entrance, clothed in a striking pinstriped suit and a blood red tie, looking like sin and danger, I realize this is exactly the kind of man who was born to govern a place as impossibly lawless as Tartarus. He ascends the stage, and the rumbling crowd goes silent as he nods to Commander Tilde, and she steps aside. He doesn't even look back at the rest of us.