Plenty of daylight left to make it to the rendezvous point, even if they kept up the slower pace.
Trying to make sense of the night they’d spent together was like trying to count raindrops. Every memory brought a downpour of more thoughts, each more confusing than the last. Her light laughter, the flick of her hair when she turned her head too fast, her mouth around his dick, her soft lips pulling. God, even his memories teased him.
Allana smiled and moved past him, water sliding down her skinsuit and plunking to the ground as her hips swayed. He blinked.
It had really happened hadn’t it? He hadn’t dreamed it? He forced out a shaky breath and followed her through the thick mist.
They’d been walking for over two hours and they’d barely said a word to each other. Maybe that was for the best, pretending that nothing happened. Soon, he’d turn her over to Verity and that would likely be the last time he’d see her. And she knew that, too. They’d whisk her off to briefings and post-mission analyses and then to wherever they kept their high-profile members.
Somewhere safe.
Away from him.
He’d be left alone to return to his mediocre life in the city, mixing chemicals to cure the ailments of the masses. His own boring little slice of life—devoid of assassins and tunnels and romps in darkened tents. He’d be a little richer, but with nothing else to show for the work he did till the city government toppled entirely. Unless Verity needed him again. Maybe they’d put him to work as a medic helping the addicts. Or, maybe they’d never contact him again.
He’d be alone.
The way he’d convinced himself he liked it. He did like being alone, didn’t he?
Yes. No attachments, no disappointments.
The forest thinned ahead and he glanced at his screen to check the map. Yes, they were headed the right way. The rendezvous point flashed on the map like a heartbeat, promising a new life for Allana, and the status quo for him. Alone. No Meera. No family at all. He adjusted the pack higher on his back and picked up his pace.
He knew what he’d signed up for.
The morning, gray like all mornings, and laden with the moisture of incessant rain, held a freshness that he couldn’t place. A newness. Invigorating. Maybe it was the great sex, or maybe it was getting away from the city, or maybe it was a bit of both. Allana. Whatever the newness was, it made him feel more alive than he could remember being in a very long time. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, relaxing as they walked. Pushing her from his mind with each step.
Trying to.
He settled into an even pace and gradually relaxed. Something about the fresher air outside the city filled him with serenity.
I could get used to this.
The crunch of wet leaves under his boots set the rhythm they walked to, a pattern of steps leading them to their destination and away from the craziness of the city.
He yawned. He’d need another stimshot soon, or he wasn’t going to make it through the hike. A combination of the escape and the sex had liquefied his insides and weighed down his muscles. Exhaustion pressed on him. It’d been worth it. If only they’d had a little more time. He’d wanted to make sure she kept her promise to let him make love to her, but fatigue had won out. He wasn’t even sure who had fallen asleep first.
Allana slowed to climb over a large tree trunk that lay across the path. He wanted to ask if she needed help, but breaking the silence felt wrong. Once she was on the other side, he pulled himself up and over. The other side looked exactly the same. More trees, more leaves, more rain.
At breakfast, she’d acted like they hadn’t even been in the same tent, or naked, much less lovers. Maybe she, too, was worried about the rendezvous and what that would mean for the both of them.
He scowled as the thoughts rushed back.
Verity would take her, pay him, and leave.
The end.
They broached the edge of a large clearing and she paused. “Which way now? We must be getting really close.”
He started at her voice, then checked his screen again then pointed. “That way. About three miles. Shouldn’t take long, and the terrain isn’t grueling. The hard part’s out of the way.”
“Good. Let’s get going.” With a flip of her hair, she set off across the grassy clearing.
The rain had flattened most of the grass in the meadow, and they headed across the soggy ground. Maddox took larger steps to keep up with Allana’s quick pace.
What’s her rush? Did she regret their night together? He didn’t, and he needed to find out how she felt. No more silence.
“Allana?” He edged beside her. “I wondered—”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Maddox. You know they aren’t going to let us see each other again.” She walked faster. “No point in making things any more awkward. Don’t you agree?”
Maddox glanced back at the city, growing smaller as they walked, but still occupying a part of the horizon. “Maybe if they knew—”
“They won’t care. Not part of the job. Or the plan.” She stopped and turned. “You know that. You work for Verity, too.”
She was right and he knew it. He’d have to let her go, and the one night in the tent would remain the only memory of their time together.
Dammit.
What could he do about it? Nothing. Verity controlled everything he did. In some ways, it was no different than the Confessor and his Sentinels. The idea chilled him to the core and he stopped a moment to ponder. Before meeting Allana, he’d never had such thoughts. Before Allana, he’d never questioned Verity and their rules. Now, when he wanted something Verity didn’t allow, he realized they didn’t always have the perfect solution like he’d always believed. Like he’d been trained to think.
Verity took care of Verity.
“I see the strain on your face. What’re you worrying about?” She moved closer.
He avoided her gaze. “Nothing.”
“We knew the rules before we played the game, Maddox.”
He nodded and started walking again. I did know the rules. I didn’t think they applied to me.
He wasn’t in control of his life. I never have been. The realization smacked him hard.
“Maddox.” Her footsteps picked up behind him. “I’m sorry. Maybe we shouldn’t have…”
He set the pack on the ground and then stared at her. At the assassin. The woman. His lover. He took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “I’m not sorry. I did exactly what I wanted to do, and I think you did, too.”
He pulled her into a hug and her rain-wet cheek slipped against his and then he kissed her, firm, passionate. His tongue sought hers and he drew close.
I don’t want to be alone anymore.
Maddox stepped back. Where had that come from? His heart thumped and he wiped his mouth.
“Why did you stop?” she asked, her eyes wide.
Why did I stop? “We’ve got a rendezvous to make.” Goddamn it. Make up your mind.
She looked down. “We do.”
“Let’s go.” I’m not being fair to her.
“Fine.”
They crossed the wide meadow and headed into another stand of trees, these tall and thin with bark as pale as bones. Maddox paused to touch the paper-thin shreds peeling from the trunks. So delicate, and fleeting. He closed his eyes. Like life. When the wind slid through the branches, clearing the light fog, the slender leaves shuddered and sent tiny showers of water down onto him. He shivered in the chill.
If only they had more time together, they might be able to figure something out.
He walked on, kicking at the leaves on the ground. Life wasn’t long enough to wait for second chances. Meera was proof of that.
They came to a stream flowing directly across their path, its banks sloping and rocky, the water swirling and frothing with leaves dancing on the surface.
Allana stopped and turned. “Where to?” She scanned the gray sky.
He looked at his screen. “We’ve gotta cross this somewhere.�
�� He scanned the bank, picking a natural stepping stone bridge where rocks peeked from the water. “Here, maybe. Looks stable, but a little slippery.”
“Compared to the tunnels, this is easy.” She balanced and hopped, rock to rock, until she’d crossed the water. “See?” she called from the opposite side. “Easy.”
He followed, careful not to slide. His balance wasn’t as good as hers, but he made it across without falling. He stepped onto the ground, unaware that he’d been holding his breath. He inhaled deeply then blew out. “I need to stop a minute,” he said. “Get something to drink and maybe a stimshot.”
Allana nodded. “Okay.” She bent beside the stream.
What would Verity have her do now? Now that her purpose was served? Maybe they would train her for another, lesser target? Or, as she’d mentioned, let her live out her life in luxury since there was no need for assassins anymore.
“Allana?”
“Yes?” She turned to him, her eyes bright.
“Never mind.” He dug in his pack for the injector.
She wouldn’t be with him, and right now, that’s all he could think about. He should be talking to her instead of himself in the little time they had left together, but he couldn’t bring himself to broach the topic again. She clearly didn’t want to discuss things.
“Okay…”
He injected himself with the stim, closing his eyes as the cold drug flashed through him. Felt so good and was just the right amount of a jolt. He’d helped develop the formula a few years ago, but the Confessor banned it. Thank goodness Verity supplied it, otherwise, he’d need a nap. Too many nights with too little sleep. His heart rate picked up and warmth surged through his skin. He’d be able to go on for hours now.
Allana crouched and washed her face.
“You need one?” He held up the stim injector.
“No, thanks.” She shook her head and splashed water on her cheeks. “This water is cold enough to wake the dead.”
“Okay.” He dropped the injector into his bag and removed his clear-water flask, then knelt and filled it with creek water.
“You drinking straight from the creek?” she asked. “You could get sick.”
He shook his head. “No, of course not. Watch this.” He put the lid on the bottle and shook it, the contents swirling inside turning deep purple then clearing.
She smiled. “Another Verity engineering feat?”
“Yes.” He took the cap off and drank. He guzzled most of the bottle then refilled it. “Each bottle is good for about a thousand fills of moderately dirty specimens. As long as the water turns purple then clear, you know it is purified. Both chemically and biologically.” He put the lid on and shook the bottle again, then removed the lid when the water turned clear again.
“Wow.” She took the bottle and drank. “That’s amazing. And the water tastes great too.”
“Yep.” He topped off the water again, tightened the lid, and stuck the bottle in his pack. “And it’s practical.”
“Pretty cool. I wouldn’t mind having my own.” She stretched. “Not that I’ll need one.”
“No, I’m sure your every need will be met, and then some.” He smirked. How could he even think that she would give that life up to be with him?
“You make it sound like I’ll be royalty.”
“Something like that. At least a princess.”
She snorted. “No, don’t be ridiculous. But I am looking forward to sleeping in a real bed tonight. Not in a tent in a rainy forest.”
He ducked his head and zipped up his pack. “I’ll bet.”
“Oh,” she touched his arm. “I didn’t mean—Oh, that came out all wrong. Last night was amazing. I just mean—”
“I get it. You’re ready to be done with this part of the job.” And me. He adjusted his pack onto his shoulders. “I don’t blame you. I’m ready for this job to be over too.”
“No, Maddox, don’t be ridiculous. That’s not what I meant at all.”
“If you say so.” A bird shrieked somewhere deep in the forest. Maddox looked toward the sound, and then shook his head. A bird, nothing more.
She moved in front of him and put her arms around his waist. “I’m serious, last night was great.”
Maddox nodded. “But nothing special.” Goddamn it, why did his mouth always insist on saying things better left to thoughts? He felt used, and it hurt.
“I never said that.”
A sudden burst of rain sent a shiver through him. He pushed his hair out of his eyes. “We should go or we will be stuck spending another night out in the woods. And you don’t want that to happen again, remember?”
He could feel her gaze on him, but he refused to look. Yes, dammit, she’d hurt his feelings. He wasn’t a one-night-stand kind of guy, no matter how much he pretended he could be. Apparently, Allana had no issue with casual sex, and he guessed that was okay, her choice, after all. Too bad she’d made it with him.
He wanted all of her, and not just last night, today or tomorrow.
“Fine. You’re right.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Let’s go.”
He didn’t respond, but headed toward the rendezvous point.
* * * *
THEY CAME TO THE CREST of the hill and Maddox peered at the scattering of temporary buildings and vehicles below, Verity’s base camp of sorts. Of course, it looked high tech and mechanical, but it was their provisional home used for staging the rendezvous, nothing else. Two buildings, nothing more than glorified tents, really, and a parking area. Verity could probably pack up the buildings and their contents and haul them off in a matter of hours, if not less.
Not many people knew where Verity really operated. Maddox had heard rumors, but had never been to anything resembling headquarters. They had always come to him, and training had been out in the city and in the storm sewers.
Several people milled about the complex. Vehicles parked to the west, including a few scootcycles. There couldn’t have been more than twenty people total, visible at least.
Maddox wiped the rain from his face and messaged his contact at Verity. Soon, they’d send a welcome party up the hill to meet them.
“We made it.” Allana’s breath came in shallow, excited bursts. “It’s over.”
“I told you we would.” He clicked his screen off.
“You did.” She put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. “And I believed you.”
“Come on.” He grunted and headed downhill, Allana following. The grasses were taller in this area, miles from the city, and the rain much lighter. Still, the sky was gunmetal gray with puffs of lighter clouds, like bursts of cleaner air. She reached for his hand and held it tightly and he rubbed her fingers with his thumb. Maybe this won’t be the end.
Halfway down the hill, a couple of helmeted Verity guards in their white skinsuits with the jagged golden “V” logo on their chests met them.
“Identity, please.” The shorter guard held out his extra-large wrist screen. “Confirm.”
The other guard kept his hand balanced on the Lancer in his belt.
First Maddox, then Allana, touched the screen and then waited for verification. The guards’ helmets were streaked with droplets, and Maddox wasn’t sure if it was even raining any more. He couldn’t see the guards’ faces at all through the opaque visors.
“I have orders to take you to the Director.” The taller guard motioned to Maddox. “Debriefing.”
“After you,” Maddox said, touching Allana on the elbow.
“No.” The other guard spoke. “You go see the Director. She goes with me.”
“But…” Allana started. Her eyes wide, she leaned in to Maddox.
He put his arm around her. “We should talk to him together,” Maddox finished. “Surely he wants to hear about our escape?”
“Orders first. Come.” The guard took Allana by the arm and pulled her away.
She tensed, then followed, glancing back at Maddox briefly.
“You come with m
e,” the other guard said. “The Director is waiting.”
Fear had shone in Allana’s eyes when she looked back. Something was not right, but what? Why wouldn’t they keep them together until after the debriefing? What is going on?
“Will I get to say goodbye to Allana after I meet with him?” he asked the guard.
“I don’t see why not. But right now, she, the Director, wants to see you.”
Maddox cinched the pack higher. “Take me to her,” he said. “Let’s do this.”
* * * *
The Director leaned back in her rolling chair, the folding kind that only gave the appearance of luxury. In reality, the chair was as transitive as the rest of the camp. Maddox rubbed his damp palms on his pants. How many times was the woman going to ask him the same questions? Did she really think he would change his answers? He studied her face for any sign of humor, but found none.
She steepled her fingers. “What else did Verity agent, Allana, tell you about the assassination?”
Maddox sat up straight. The same question. The Director’s hair was so tightly curled against her head, he wondered if she had a headache. That would explain her scowl. And her mood.
“As I’ve said…” he kept his voice even. “She told me the job was complete. That’s all. We escaped the city and came here. She didn’t mention anything about the actual assassination.”
“Nothing?” She leaned forward. “You are absolutely sure?”
Maddox nodded. Why is she pressing me?
She closed her eyes, as if lost in deep thought, or holding her temper. He couldn’t tell which. He looked around the small, windowless room. The modular building was efficient, if nothing else. And warm. Too warm. Ventilation wasn’t very good. He stood and paced.
“Are those all your questions?” he asked. “May I see her now?”
“That’s all.” The Director opened her eyes and stared at him. “You won’t see her again, I’m afraid.”
“What?” Maddox slammed his palms on the desk and leaned in to meet the Director’s gaze. “What the fuck do you mean I won’t see her again?” He swallowed the bile that leapt into his throat.
Come Undone: Romance Stories Inspired by the Music of Duran Duran Page 28