“The last time one was broken it took two months to get a new one replicated,” she told him.
“Let’s get the camera in the fourth floor common room broken to start with. Once our numbers start to grow we may need more room. We’ll do it strategically,” Jack said.
“Why not the sixth level? I know more people,” I pointed out.
“Which is why we should stay away from this level. They’ll expect you to return home,” Jack said.
“He’s right. They’ve already done a preliminary search here and a camera being knocked out on this level might raise suspicion,” Bron agreed with him. “I should tell you that we do expect a more thorough search of the Pit within the next day or two.”
He thought about it for a minute. “Can we arrange for Liberty guards to conduct the search down here?”
“I don’t know. Domers are carrying out the searches, not us. I don’t personally know any of them,” Bron said.
“May I see your communicator again?” Jack asked her, and she handed it to him. He typed a lengthy message out and handed it back to her. “Please send that after you’ve sent the first message,” he instructed.
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“Can I have you arrange for the fourth floor common room to be secure by tonight? Camera gone and only Liberty guards on duty in there?” he requested.
“I’ll make sure it happens,” she assured him. “And might I suggest, sir, that after your unfortunate episode yesterday in the mines that I assign Liberty guards down there as well?”
“That’s not a bad idea, Bron. If there are only Liberty guards in the mine that could give us another place to train. Start phasing them in and let me know when it’s all friendlies down there.” Jack shook her hand. “You’ve been extremely helpful.”
“I’m honored to be a part of this, sir. It’s been long time coming,” Bron assured him. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“Actually there is. Sunny and I could use a change of clothes – is there anyway that’s possible?” he asked.
“I’ll see to it,” she smiled.
“Thank you, Bron,” I said sincerely. I was amazed by her willingness to help.
We left and went to the sixth level common room for breakfast. I realized it would probably be the last time I came here to eat now that we were securing the fourth level room. I looked around for Summer and felt disappointed when I saw her parents sitting alone. If she were here, she would be eating with them. I saw Reyes, Mica and Raine sitting together and they noticed us too, but Reyes turned his head away from me. It was fine with me if he wanted to be that way. Jack and I picked up our food and water and found a table in the corner where we could sit alone together. I deliberately sat with my back facing Reyes.
“You should talk to him,” Jack informed me when we sat down. “Make peace.”
“I don’t have anything to say to him,” I said in a voice that didn’t invite argument. I opened my container of food and began to eat.
“Really? After four years of being together you have nothing to say?” Jack asked incredulously.
“He hates me. He’s not going to listen to anything I have to say,” I said. I absentmindedly looked around the room and my heart almost leaped into my throat when I saw her walk in. “It’s Summer!” I declared excitedly.
She didn’t look like my happy Summer. She looked tired and worn out. I noticed a bruise on her upper arm and wondered who gave it to her. Was it Holt? I still couldn’t imagine my best friend in the clutches of that monster.
“Put your head down!” Jack barked at me.
“What?” I questioned, but did what he asked because I heard the urgency in his voice.
“The man who walked in behind her is Desmond - Leisel’s guard. He’s watching her,” Jack said.
I snuck a peak in the direction of the door and saw him. He wasn’t dressed in his Domer uniform, but he still looked out of place - too clean and well dressed. I remembered Summer told me Leisel was having her followed.
“They’re looking for us,” I informed him.
“I know,” he said. “I’m going to block his view of our faces.”
Jack casually got up and pulled his chair next to mine, which strategically put his back toward Desmond. Desmond cast a glance our way, his attention caught by Jack’s movement, but quickly returned to watching Summer. Then Jack surprised me when he put his hand under my chin and tilted my face toward his and kissed me on the lips.
“What are you doing?” I asked uncomfortably. I tried to ignore the thrill that went through me at the touch of his lips on mine.
“We’re just a young married couple madly in love and sharing breakfast together, okay? We can keep our heads close together and out of view of him,” he whispered. He laced his fingers through mine and I marvelled at how soft and warm his skin felt.
“This isn’t going to help calm Reyes down,” I said looking into his blue eyes. My voice had a low, husky quality I’d never heard before. I cleared my throat. Jack was smiling at me.
“Do you have a clear view of him behind me?” he asked, still smiling. To anyone else in the room that cared to look our way, Jack probably looked like a lover showering his wife with compliments.
“He’s watching Summer. He barely noticed us,” I said almost breathlessly. My eyes had wandered down to his lips and I wanted him to kiss me again.
“Don’t forget to eat,” he said looking down at my container. Eating was a good idea. It gave me an excuse to unlace my fingers from his and get my emotions under control.
“I wish I could remember what Summer looks like,” Jack said, leaning forward to whisper the words in my ear. He kept his head nuzzled to the side of my neck for a moment. I think he was scanning the room behind me. His warm breath was sending shivers down my spine. I needed him to stop, but wished he wouldn’t.
“She’s hard to miss. She’s beautiful,” I said wistfully. “And I miss her a lot.”
“There’s a pretty girl who just sat down with an older couple,” he said.
Jack stopped nuzzling my neck concentrated on eating his breakfast. I was glad he put some space between us. The effect he was having on my senses was unnerving.
“Her parents were sitting in the back corner. She’s probably with them,” I said.
With our faces safely turned away from Desmond, we ate our breakfast. I could still see him if I peeked over Jack’s shoulder. He was staying by the door. The few people I could see in the room were nervous with his presence. They knew he didn’t belong. I emptied my container of stew and sipped my water.
“She’s leaving now,” Jack said.
Summer came into my view then and was looking our way. I made eye contact with her and she looked a little startled when she recognized me. I saw her eyes widen for just an instant and then she put her head down and continued walking toward the door. But it was enough to make Desmond suspicious, because now he was looking in our direction scanning faces. My face was in full view and I needed to hide it. Without hesitation, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to Jack, wrapping my arms around his neck.
My kiss caught him off guard, but then his hands travelled up my back, pressing me closer to him. At his touch I felt the fluttering of desire rising up threatening to cut off my breath. I breathed in deeply, inhaling his scent and I saw a look of surprise in his eyes. My breathing was laboured and my heart was pounding. He must know I wanted him. I blushed, pulling slightly away to put some distance between us. I needed to focus on the crisis at hand. Desmond.
“Is he looking this way?” Jack asked against my lips.
“Yes,” I whispered back.
I narrowed my eyes to just slits so I could observe him inconspicuously. A bolt of panic went through me when I saw him looking right at us. He started walking in our direction. If he pulled Jack’s head back and saw his blue eyes, he’ll know for sure he’s found his target. Somewhere behind me I heard a chair being scraped roughly across the floor. Then Reyes came i
nto my line of vision as he stomped from the room, nearly knocking Desmond over.
“Hey, Summer wait up,” I heard him call out to her.
Desmond did an about face and followed Reyes. I watched them go until they left the room.
“That was close,” I said. “Desmond was walking directly toward us when Reyes almost knocked him out of the way.”
“You can let go now, Sunny,” Jack said, gently pulling at my hands. I became conscious of the fact that I was clutching his t-shirt.
“Sorry. That was a little intense,” I apologized. The heat of my blush still radiated from my cheeks. Jack gazed at me thoughtfully, a smile playing around his mouth. He was making me feel even more self-conscious. Should I try to explain the kiss?
“I saw Reyes staring at us. I’m surprised you don’t have two holes burned into the back of your head,” Jack said.
I hadn’t been thinking about him when I kissed Jack. Now I wondered what it had just cost Reyes. I felt ashamed.
“He looked upset when he left,” I agreed.
“I’m sorry he had to see that,” Jack said sincerely. “Talk to him later. Try to explain you had to do it because of Desmond.”
My eyes flew to Jack’s face when he said that. Did he really believe that kiss was all about Desmond? Maybe it was initially, but for me it had turned into something else.
“He’s not going to listen and I don’t blame him,” I said glumly. I really did feel like an awful person. After all Reyes and I had been to each other, I just hurt him. If I were him, I’d hate me too.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You did what you had to do to stay alive,” Jack said. Then he picked up my hand and kissed it. “And on the upside, I enjoyed it. Thank you.” He gave me a wicked smile.
I could feel a blush creeping across my face and I snatched my hand away from his. I had never deliberately kissed anyone like that before and it felt exhilarating.
Chapter Twenty-One
As usual, Crystal was waiting for the doors to be unlocked so she could start work. As I came up beside her I noticed the bruise on her upper arm again and it made me think of the bruise on Summer’s arm. Now I wondered if Crystal was being used by a bourge too.
“Good morning,” I said cheerfully.
“How is your husband?” she asked me.
Something in the way she said husband made me question again if she recognized Jack.
“He had a headache last night, but he’s fine today. Thanks for asking about him,” I replied.
“I didn’t see the two of you at breakfast this morning. I thought maybe he was in trouble,” she said.
“In trouble?” I asked. That was an odd word to use.
“With his head injury. When I didn’t see you at breakfast, I thought maybe it was serious,” she explained.
“Luckily it wasn’t serious at all,” I assured her.
“Six guards,” she commented. “I wonder where he learned to fight like that?”
My inner alarm was starting to go off. Now I’m almost positive she knows who Jack is, but before I could question her any more, Madi made her presence known.
“Well what do we have here?” Madi asked in a sarcastic tone. “You two conspiring on how to run the laundry room again?” she demanded.
“No ma’am,” I replied.
“No ma’am,” Crystal echoed.
I looked down at the floor and hoped Crystal did the same. Madi unlocked the door and went through. We mutely followed, heading toward the scanner.
“I don’t want any crap from either one of you today. You both hear me?” Madi yelled at us.
“Yes ma’am,” Crystal said first. I echoed her.
Crystal and I went to our respective stations. I grabbed a cart full of laundry as I went and pulled it along to the table. I was half way through sorting when Di came in.
“Good morning, all!” Di said cheerfully to Crystal and me. Crystal ignored her.
“Good morning, Di,” I responded.
“So you’re making a habit of coming in early like Crystal,” Di remarked. “You’re going to make me look bad!” she laughed.
I was trying to think of a witty response when my hand wrapped around something cold, wet and sticky in the cart. I smelled the vomit before I actually saw it. I felt my gag reflex working and tried not to get sick. Madi would be all over me for that. I pulled the piece of clothing out of the cart. It was a man’s pair of pants and the vomit was the same color as the blackberry wine Leisel had fed me. The pants were probably ruined. I wondered if Madi was going to blame me.
“Oh dear,” Di said when she saw it. “What a mess. I told you there are some pretty disgusting things lurking in those carts! Give it to Crystal,” she laughed.
I remembered Di told me she took pleasure in giving Crystal the really soiled clothing because she thought Crystal was stuck up. But I think I knew Crystal better now. She wasn’t stuck up. She kept to herself because she was humiliated by what the bourge were doing to her. She was misunderstood and it wasn’t fair.
I picked up the pants and took it over to Crystal. She looked a little apprehensive when she saw me coming her way, so I held up the soiled pants so she could see my visit was legitimate. I had no intention of bringing Madi down on her again.
“Thanks,” she said sarcastically when she saw the vomit. “You can wash your hands before you go.” She stepped away from the sink to give me access.
I turned on the tap and reached for the bar of soap.
“Are you kidding me?” Madi was screaming at us. “Are you two going to act up again today?”
I saw Madi raise her hand to strike Crystal and with reflexes I didn’t even know I had, I stepped in front of Crystal and took the hit myself. Madi’s eyes widened in surprise. She didn’t even see me move.
“What the hell?” Madi demanded.
“I’m sorry Supervisor Madi!” I interjected right away, holding up my hands to ward off any more blows. “We weren’t up to anything. I have laundry that needs to be cleaned by hand first.” I reached over and picked up the vomit soaked pants and held it up for her inspection. “I was just washing my hands so I didn’t get vomit on anything else in the laundry.”
“That’s disgusting,” Madi complained and covered her mouth with her hand. She turned and walked away.
“Thanks,” Crystal whispered when Madi had left.
“It was my fault,” I said and left it at that. I quickly washed my hands and returned to my station.
I finished sorting the clothes and knew Madi was watching every move I made. A few times she came over to inspect my work and then went to inspect Crystal’s. I remembered Di told me that Madi wasn’t right in the head and now I understood exactly what she meant. Madi was cruising for a fight. She was looking for any excuse and I knew it was just a matter of time before I did something that provoked her. I just wasn’t that experienced at laundry.
I managed to get through the morning without further incident, but when the lunch bong bongs rang out, Madi informed Crystal and me that we had to work through the break. The food I could go without, but I was so thirsty. The heat of the laundry room with this vest on was unbearable. Di tried to slip me her water ration, but I refused to take it. Madi would want to know who had given me the water if I got caught. I wouldn’t do that to Di.
I was feeling dizzy toward the end of the day, but I forced myself to focus on my work. I saw Madi give Crystal a hard time when she accidently splashed water on the floor. I didn’t think she hit her hard enough to leave a bruise though. I was folding my second last dryer full of clothes when I saw Kai coming toward me. I was glad to see the swelling in his lip had gone down, although he still had a scab where his lip had split.
“It’s almost the end of the day, Miss Autumn. It’s best not to start another cart,” Kai said kindly.
“Thanks Kai. I’ll try to take my time with this one and see if I can draw it out,” I said.
I cast a well concealed glance at Madi. She wasn’t lo
oking at me for a change so I slowed my pace. All I could think about was getting water and taking this vest off. It was getting hard to breath. I was halfway through folding my last load when the bong bongs rang. I finished the load and stacked them in the bin for Kai to take. I was relieved to see Crystal was finished too. I didn’t want to scan out and leave her alone with our mad supervisor.
“Well look at that. The two conspirators arrive at the same time and leave at the same time!” Madi accused in a mean voice.
Neither Crystal nor I said anything back to her. We just scanned out and left, hoping Madi wasn’t going to follow us. I was relieved when she didn’t
“Are you alright, Autumn? You don’t look very good,” Crystal told me.
“I just need water. I’m so hot right now,” I said. I needed to get this vest off, but I couldn’t tell Crystal that. “I’m sorry about everything. I should never have asked you to show me how to do the hand washing. Madi’s never going to let it go.”
“You’re new in the laundry room. You didn’t know what she was like,” Crystal shrugged it off.
We walked together in silence until we came to my apartment and I said good night. As soon as the door was shut, I took my hat off, whipped my t-shirt over my head and almost ripped the vest off my body. I could barely breathe. I ran to the faucet and turned it on. I didn’t bother getting a glass. I just stuck my head under the stream and started gulping. I heard the apartment door open and knew Jack was home. Somewhere in the back of my mind I realized I had stripped down to my bra, but I didn’t care at that moment. I had to drink. I had to cool off.
“Sunny?” I heard Jack say. Then he was right beside me. “What happened?” I couldn’t answer him. I was feeling too dizzy. “My god, you’re burning up,” he said when he touched my arm.
He left for a moment and came back with a towel. He lifted my head out of the sink and soaked the towel in cold water and rung it out. He wrapped it around my shoulders and back, and then picked me up and carried me to the chair.
“Put your head down between your legs,” he instructed me.
He went back to the sink and poured me a glass of water. I drank it all.
Sunset Rising Page 22