Since I had nothing to lose, I asked, “Do you know where Davin Kinder is?”
The two guards shared a look. The driver met my gaze in the rearview mirror. “Yeah, we know where he is.”
“Will you take me to him?”
The soldiers again shared a look. The woman muttered under her breath, “They said to do whatever she wanted.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that comment, but I wasn’t going to ask. If they wanted to bequeath me with unquestioned power, I’d take it.
The soldiers drove to a building very similar to the one I’d been kept in. It was large with double doors and a domed roof over the oblong shape. Several buildings that looked identical to it lined the street.
“What are these buildings used for?” Hair flew around my face in the cold wind when I stepped out of the truck. I once again wished I’d brought my winter hat.
“A variety of things. Some are used as officers’ barracks and quarters, some are used as exercise rooms, others have little shops in them, some have offices. When this town was built, simplicity and functionality were the driving factors. As you probably remember, we were on a tight schedule. We had to construct buildings quickly. These are easy to put together and serve their purpose.”
“So Davin is kept in one of them?”
She led me to the door and called over her shoulder, “Yes, Dr. Roberts had the contained Kazzies kept here.”
The female soldier marched down the hallway. Similar to the building I’d been in, it was lined with doors. She stopped at the third one and inserted a key.
The sound of the key sliding into the lock echoed in the hallway.
I held my breath.
When the door swung open, I searched frantically within. It was a room exactly like the one I had been in. A bed, dresser, and a small window that was too narrow to crawl through.
My eyes alighted on the figure sitting on the bed. His shoulders were hunched over, his head in his hands. Tawny, strong forearms rested on his knees. Unruly, black hair sprang through his fingers as he held his head.
My heart rate sped up. I took a step forward. My voice barely worked, but I managed to get out one word, “Davin?”
Davin lifted his head. His bright blue eyes, the eyes that I loved so much, widened. “Meghan!” He shot to standing.
I ran to him.
It didn’t matter that I hadn’t seen him in months. It didn’t matter that he never thought a future for us was possible. I flew into his arms as if it was the last time I’d see him.
He caught me and crushed me to his chest.
His face buried in my neck. I heard him inhale. “Meghan! What? How . . .”
He held me tightly, his heart pounding against mine. Minutes passed before he pulled back and cradled my face between his hands. Emotion blazed across his face.
“How is it that you’re here?”
Tears filled my eyes. I loved feeling him against me. His hard chest, his lean build. It all felt so right. It felt like I had come home.
“Dr. Roberts isn’t in charge anymore.”
His eyes widened even more. “So it’s true then? Sara told me he’d be removed, but I didn’t believe it.”
I nodded vigorously. “He was removed last night. Word has spread around the country about what’s been done to you and the other Kazzies. It’s going to stop, Davin. This time, I promise. It’s going to stop!”
He pulled me back into a hug. I felt his heart galloping within his chest. It beat as quickly as my own.
“So what happens now?” His words were muffled in my hair.
I kept my arms wrapped tightly around him, cherishing his unique scent. It hadn’t changed. Soap, aftershave, and the tang that was all him.
“I have no idea. But it’s time that you’re all set free. It’s time that the country understands that you’re not a risk to them. And I’m going to make sure that happens.”
18 – DAVIN
The soldiers escorted us out of the room. Davin walked by my side. The feel of his hand brushing against mine, and the weight of his presence made my steps feel lighter than they had in months.
He kept glancing my way. His expression oscillating between disbelief and wonder, as if he couldn’t believe he was out, that he stood beside me, that he was no longer contained.
As we passed the remaining doors in the hallway, I eyed them curiously. “Are there other Kazzies kept in these rooms?”
“Some of them.” The female guard pointed at one. “Another one of yours is in there.”
I stiffened. “Another one of mine?” I could only assume she meant another Kazzie from Compound 26. “Who?”
“The one who throws electric bolts.”
“Sage?” My voice rose. “Why in the world was he contained? I thought you restrained his hands with mitts?”
The surprise on her face made it apparent the soldiers thought nobody knew about the mittens.
“I saw the videos.” I made sure to keep my tone in check. It wasn’t her fault the Kazzies had been mistreated. “Can you let him out?”
The soldiers shared a look. The male inched closer to his companion and said under his breath, “I’m not sure if we can. We need authorization. None of them are to be removed until tonight.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry, but right now we have to leave him. Our orders were to accommodate you, but I don’t believe we can release him too. It was assumed you’d want Davin out, so that was approved.”
I stepped closer to them. “If your orders were to accommodate me, then let him out. There’s no reason he needs to be restrained. He’s not a danger to you, me, or anyone else.”
The authority that rang in my tone was so unlike me. But the anger and injustice that had been committed against my friends sparked a fierce life inside me. I was not afraid of the soldiers, and I would not remain quiet anymore. I pushed my remaining anxiety down as far as it would go. Right now, my friends needed me.
The male soldier radioed his superior. After a brief discussion, they agreed to release Sage.
When they opened the door and the large Canadian saw me, his eyes turned to saucers.
“Meghan? What the hell are you doing here?” Sage wasn’t wearing rubber mitts. Sparks flew from his fingertips. His gaze turned to Davin. “They let you out too?”
Davin stepped forward. “Dr. Roberts doesn’t work here anymore. They removed him.”
The sparks from Sage grew as his brown eyes widened. Sage’s dark hair was longer than when I’d last seen him, but everything else about him looked the same. He had dark hair, brown eyes, and angular features. At six-three with broad shoulders and muscular legs, he was more physically intimidating than Davin.
Sage shook his head. “So Sara was right.”
With Sage out, the soldiers resumed walking.
“Wait!” I called. “What about the other Kazzies. When will they be released?”
“Tonight.” The female guard said over her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Dr. Forester. They’ll all be released soon.”
The three of us followed the soldiers out of the building and climbed into the truck. I sat in the middle. Sage and Davin flanked my sides. Despite my shoulders being squished between the large men, a grin plastered across my face.
“Will you take us to their house?” My voice carried to the front of the cab.
The male soldier put the truck into drive and nodded. “Sure. But you’ll need to stay indoors. There’s no exception to that. The new Sergeant Major in charge is concerned about the crowds forming outside of the perimeter. He doesn’t feel it’s safe for anybody to be out of their homes right now.”
Considering how unruly the crowds outside were, he had a point, but I sincerely doubted those crowds wished the Kazzies any harm. The truth was, the new Sergeant Major probably couldn’t handle more than the perimeter right now—that was why the Kazzies were being locked inside.
Blowing a strand of hair from my face while I rolled my eyes, I tapped into my connection wit
h Sara. She opened readily. Are you okay? Have you found them?
Yes, I’m with both Sage and Davin. I rearranged myself, and Sage tried to scoot over to give me more room. I gave him a brief smile before returning to Sara. We’re currently riding back to the neighborhood. They told us we have to stay indoors, so I don’t know if I’ll be able to see you tonight. But I will definitely see you tomorrow.
She breathed a sigh of relief. I’m just glad you’re all okay. Hopefully, we’ll see you tomorrow, but I’m not sure if they’ll let us out.
I suppressed another eye roll. Hopefully, we’ll find a way.
As we drove down the snowy road, I couldn’t see the perimeter from this far inside the reservation, but I thought I heard the faint sound of a megaphone. My gaze drifted to Davin’s hand. It rested on his thigh. He had large hands. Big. Strong.
He met my gaze, the wonder and disbelief still there. Reaching over, his large palm closed over mine before he squeezed.
The guards took us to the third street, block two, house six. Davin and Sage’s home looked like every other house on Reservation 1.
When we pulled to a stop at the curb, Davin stepped out of the truck. He held his hand out to me as his bright blue gaze found mine.
It was such an achingly familiar gesture. As my cool palm slid into his warm one, a memory surfaced from the Compound. When we’d been in the Inner Sanctum, and I’d been in my hulking biohazard suit, Davin would always hold my hand, steadying me when I walked.
Sage followed behind us as the soldiers led the way. We all trudged through the deep snow to the front door. The male soldier unlocked the door and swung it open before reaching inside to flip the light on.
Bright light flooded the room as he stepped back out. “We’ll be back tomorrow to give everybody an update.”
The soldiers bid us a good evening before the key slid into the lock, the bolt sliding into place, effectively locking us inside. So much for seeing Sara today.
Regardless, all of us grinned when we were alone in the house. Sage kicked his shoes off. Davin and I did the same. Wet snow covered the bottom of my pants making my socks damp.
Sage grinned and spread his arms. “Welcome to our humble abode!”
I laughed at his grand statement.
Davin chuckled. “It’s not much, but it beats the Compound.”
The house was identical to the one I’d stayed in months ago. The living room was small and sparsely furnished. There was a couch, coffee table, and chair. A cold fireplace took up a third of one wall. Beside the living area was a kitchen. It held the basics: a stove, sink, oven, and a kitchen table with two chairs. A hallway in the corner of the room led to the two bedrooms and bathroom.
The houses on the reservation weren’t large, but they had the basic necessities. It was better than many homes on the outside.
I shrugged my coat off and draped it over the chair. Now that we were alone, it hit me that I was actually seeing them, and I hadn’t seen them in over three months. “It’s so good to see you both.”
Sage wrapped me into a hug before I could protest. Since he towered to six-three, he lifted me off the ground and chuckled into my hair. I was crushed in his embrace.
“How the hell did you manage to get in the reservation and get us out of isolation, Meghan?” He set me back down.
I shrugged as a blush stained my cheeks. It seemed like too much work to explain about Cash, the videos, our meeting with the president, and everything else that had occurred in the last few days.
Instead, I said coyly, “I have my connections.”
He laughed loudly. I felt Davin watching us. When I turned to him, a small smile covered his face.
It took everything in me to not reach for him. I’d loved the feel of his hand covering mine during our walk to the house. More than anything, I wanted his arms around me again, to feel his heat and strength envelop me. My gaze drifted to his mouth. The one kiss we shared seared my memory.
His gaze grew hooded as he stepped closer. It took all of my self-control to not touch him.
Sage cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair. “I . . . uh . . . Well, I think I’m gonna take a shower. I could really use one, and you two, you know, probably want to catch up.”
Sage lumbered off to the bathroom. I had a feeling his disappearance wasn’t entirely related to a shower. The energy strumming between Davin and me was electric.
When Davin and I were alone, we continued to stare at each other. I loved that I could see him again, in the flesh, standing only inches away. It was so much better than seeing him in my memories.
“How have you been?” he asked softly.
I shrugged. “Okay. It’s been a crazy few weeks, and I won’t lie, it’s been hard. I’ve . . .” I glanced up at him through my lashes. “I’ve really missed you.”
He nodded, his bright eyes glittering like sapphires. “I’ve missed you too.”
A moment of silence passed. Neither of us moved. My heart was beating so fast it felt like a fluttering bird rattling against a windowpane.
Davin waved at the couch, and said in a husky voice, “Do you want to sit down?”
My legs felt like gelatin when I walked to the couch. I sank onto the cushion as Davin sat beside me. His hard, warm thigh pressed against mine. I didn’t pull back.
It was a bit surreal. Just a day ago, I’ve been in Washington D.C. fighting for Dr. Roberts’ removal. And a day before that I’d been breaking into the reservation. Now, I sat in Davin’s home, on the reservation, beside him on his couch. Dr. Roberts was gone. Protesters wanted the Kazzies freed, and I’d re-established my link with Sara.
So much had changed in such little time.
Davin put his arm on the couch back and angled his body toward mine. “Sara said that you spent some time in Seattle?”
His small-talk question helped clear my head . . . a little. “Yeah, Dr. Hutchinson wants me to take her position out there.”
He stiffened. “Oh. Does that mean you’re moving to Washington?”
“No, I told her it wasn’t going to work. My place is here.”
He grunted before sinking back into the couch. “How else have things been? You know, when you’re not breaking the law?”
A twinkle lit his eye as a cheeky smile stretched across his face. I laughed. I thought of the videos Mitch and I posted online.
“If you only knew,” I replied slyly.
A deep laugh rumbled his chest.
I relaxed as all of the tension eased out of my shoulders. Around most people, I clammed up like an oyster. But with Davin, it had always been different. It was as though he understood me, that he got me on a level that nobody else did. I’d always felt comfortable around him, and even though we’d been apart for months, nothing had changed.
He shifted on the sofa causing his shirt to stretch across his chest. Despite being locked away in isolation, he still looked hard and lean. When he’d been a prisoner in the Compound, he’d done exercises daily in his cell. From the looks of him now, he’d probably done the same here.
My heart rate increased as my gaze wandered over his chiseled frame. He looked just as I remembered. Black hair that curled at the ends. Intensely bright blue eyes that veiled deep emotions. A strong lean body. Hard, impossibly strong muscles coated every inch of him. And his hands were so large they spanned a dinner plate.
The sound of a shower starting came from the bathroom. Other than that, the house was quiet. Alone with him like this, my hormones shot into overdrive. Sometimes, the reaction he evoked in me felt so obvious. Like it poured out of me. I felt like an open book, like a storyteller read aloud all of my thoughts and emotions.
I leaned closer to him. My gaze again drifted to his mouth. He groaned before abruptly disappearing.
The air rushed around me.
With a blink, Davin stood ten feet away by the window on the opposite side of the room.
My breath caught in my throat as my heart fell. I slumped into the cu
shions. Of course. Nothing’s changed. That realization drowned me in its intensity. Despite the undeniable attraction we shared, Davin’s beliefs hadn’t altered.
Until he’s free, he won’t allow anything to happen. It had been the same after our first kiss. He’d put distance between us then too.
“Are you hungry?” He raked a hand through his hair and paced in front of the window. His cobalt gaze pierced mine. “You look like you haven’t been eating enough.”
I shrugged. “You know me. I try, but . . .”
“How about we make supper?” His pacing increased. “You know. It will give us something to do.”
In other words, we’ll be in a kitchen, standing and busy. Not on a couch with our bodies pressed against one another.
The clock on the wall ticked steadily. It was early evening. Most people made dinner around this time. Funny how I wasn’t hungry.
“Um, yeah, I guess we can make supper, but I hope you know how to cook.” I held my breath. Davin had no idea how lacking my culinary skills were.
Just as he took a step toward the kitchen, a knock sounded on the door. The sound of a key inserted into the lock came next. With a flourish, the door opened and a soldier appeared with Sharon in tow.
The soldier stepped to the side. “You have a visitor.”
Sharon’s eyes lit up when they landed on her son. “Davin!”
She flew across the room. Davin caught her in his arms as tears poured down her face. They stood holding each other as the soldier discreetly backed out. “I’ll be back in two hours.”
I didn’t think either Sharon or Davin heard him.
Giving them privacy, I inched up from the couch and retreated to the kitchen. Despite the distance, I still heard Sharon pummel Davin with questions about how he was and if he’d been harmed.
Since the house wasn’t big, there was nowhere else discreet for me to go. Instead, I opened a kitchen drawer and leafed through its contents. All that did was make me wonder how to use the items within.
I was holding up some apparatus with two handles and a grind of some kind when Sharon peeked her head around the corner. “Meghan, sweetie? Come join us.”
The Complete Makanza Series: Books 0-4 Page 79