“You want to wash my hair? After that?” How he could think of anything after what had just occurred astounded me.
“Of course. I like taking care of you.” He opened the bottle of shampoo and poured some into his hands. I closed my eyes as he massaged it into my hair. “Everything’s going to be okay now, Kayla. You’re done hiding, you’re done living in fear.”
He led me under the water so we could wash out the shampoo. Minutes later he turned off the water and toweled me off. He didn’t seem to mind that he was dripping wet. That was the second time he’d seen to drying me before himself. Mason was not the man I’d originally thought he was, but did that excuse the way I felt about him? Did that make it okay to fall in love when Quinn and Bailey were still at risk? Guilt gnawed at me as I got dressed.
“I don’t want to leave you, but I made you a promise.” Mason buttoned his shirt.
“You’re going today?”
“Yes, now. I have a meeting, it’s the only idea I have.”
“But you’ll turn back if it’s too risky, right?” I was a mess. I was desperate to save Quinn and Bailey, but I didn’t want Mason getting hurt. That was the problem with falling for him. I was beyond conflicted.
“You’re not going to be happy until you see them again. I wish I could be enough, but I know I can’t be.”
“I just don’t want them going through all that. It’s not fair for me to be here, experiencing this…” I gestured between us, because it was far easier than trying to sum it up in words.
“We’ve already talked about the lack of fairness in life, but I understand you. I am only going for a meeting. Either it’s possible or it’s not.”
“How long will you be gone?” I pulled on a shirt and pants.
“No more than one night at the most. Jarrett will be close by at all times.”
I slipped on my boots. “Thank you. Thank you for doing this for me.”
“You don’t need to thank me.” He pulled me into his arms. “Just try to stay under the radar while I’m gone. Jarrett is going to stay close, but make his job easy if you can. I’m more nervous about leaving you than I am about this meeting.”
“I will. I don’t have to go to work if that would be easier.” He was making a tremendous sacrifice. I could make a far smaller one if it put him at ease and simplified things for Jarrett.
“It’s fine. Jarrett has never spent much time at the Hydros. It will be a learning experience for him.”
“He’s going to have to stay and watch me?” I didn’t actually mind, not in the way I would have a few days before, but it didn’t seem fair to Jarrett.
“He doesn’t mind. It’s a better assignment than others he’s had.”
“You’ve known him a long time?” They seemed exceptionally close, and I didn’t believe his lack of attraction to me was the only reason Mason kept him close. He had real trust in Jarrett, and trust was something Mason didn’t seem to have a lot of in anyone.
“I met him not long after I left Central. He was in the old branch of Central out west that’s closed now.”
“There were more than one Central branch?” That was news to me. As far as I knew there was just one Central.
“They existed in almost all cities until the population didn’t warrant it. This last generation hit us hard, but you already know that.”
“I do.” I knew it all too well.
“You can trust Jarrett. I won’t tell you that about anyone else.”
“What about the person you’re meeting? Can you trust him?”
Mason’s expression darkened. “I hope so.”
“I’ll never forgive myself if you don’t make it back.” My gut clenched. He was doing this for me. He was risking everything—his life, his club, everything just to help me.
“You asked me to do this for the right reason. You’ll forgive yourself.”
“I was hoping you’d promise me you’d be back.”
Mason put his hands on my hips. “I don’t want to make promises I may not be able to keep. I’ve already backed myself into a corner on this one.”
“This shouldn’t be so upsetting to me.”
“You admit it’s upsetting?”
“I admitted I loved you. That was a bigger thing to admit, wasn’t it?”
“Maybe, maybe not.” He brushed his lips against mine. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Miss me because of last night?” I asked.
“Miss you because despite myself I’ve grown attached.”
“You’re not the only one.” I looked down.
He lifted my chin with his hand. “I hope you’re right about that.”
Twenty-Three
Kayla
“You don’t have to stay with me the whole time,” I whispered to Jarrett.
“Sure I do.” He kneeled next to me with a trowel. “I am under explicit orders to keep you within my sight.”
“But that doesn’t mean you have to get your hands dirty.”
“You think I can’t handle getting my hands dirty?” He raised an eyebrow. “Because that’s a little bit insulting, Miss Rurals.”
“I didn’t use the words can’t handle. I was simply reminding you that this part isn’t required.” I shrugged off the nickname he used. I decided it wasn’t in a mean way, and I had no problem being associated with the Rurals. I was proud of where I was from.
“I don’t mind it.” He dug another hole. “It’s kind of relaxing actually.”
“Have you worked down here before?” I started a new row beside his.
“No,” he answered. “I’ve never cared to, but I can almost see the appeal.”
“It’s important. You wouldn’t have food otherwise.” That was one of my favorite things about growing up on a farm—the knowledge of where the things we need come from.
“There’s lots of important things I have nothing to do with.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, what do you do here? You mentioned paperwork the other day. What’s the paperwork for?” I wiped sweat off my forehead. The lamps were really hot.
“I can’t tell you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Come on.”
“I really can’t. It’s the ‘I’d have to kill you’ kind of situation.”
“I’m personally Corded to Mason.” I set aside my trowel.
“I’m well aware.”
“And that doesn’t mean you can tell me?”
“The Cording doesn’t stop you from spilling the details to someone else. Evidently Mason lets you out once in a while.” He cocked his head to the side.
“He isn’t keeping me locked up.” I felt surprisingly defensive.
“Defensive, huh?” Jarrett grinned, easily picking up on my emotion. “You’re falling for him too. I’m glad his love’s not unrequited.”
“Wait. He told you how he felt?” I’d heard it with my own ears, but somehow knowing he told Jarrett made it sound more real.
“Why else would he be doing something as stupid as he is?” Jarrett glanced over his shoulder.
“I feel guilty about it. But then I’m also glad. I’m torn in two different directions on this.”
“Makes sense. Means you’re a pretty good person.”
“How so?”
“You’re not so self-absorbed you don’t care about the risk Mason is taking, but you’re not so tied up in Mason you’ve forgotten the reason that brought you here. You’re torn because you care. That’s not something to be ashamed of.”
“Why are you at Sray?” I wasn’t sure why I felt so bold to ask, but I was curious. Was it only out of loyalty to Mason?
“Same reason as everyone else.” He took a handful of seeds and placed them in each of the holes. Then he smiled. “Access to a handful of girls isn’t the only reason the men are here.”
“Then why are they?” I picked up some seeds and mirrored his motions.
“Safety. Security. I’m sure you’ve noticed how few windows we have here. The men do their jobs, and
in return they get food and the likelihood they won’t get killed. Those are two things they aren’t likely to get out there.” He pointed to one of the walls.
“I don’t think I ever thought about that. That girls aren’t the only ones who aren’t safe.”
“Don’t get me wrong. It’s worse for you. Men aren’t hunted. But there is violence and poverty, and all sorts of crap that only seems to get worse every day.”
“Our world has lost its mind.” And it was only getting worse.
“Our world has lost its way. If we don’t solve the population problem none of this matters though.”
“Is that your way of saying you support Central?” I struggled to keep my anger in check.
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s my way of saying this situation is bigger than any of us. Something has to give. Maybe the answer is to get rid of Central, and let it happen naturally.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Your sister did it without anyone getting involved. Maybe it would happen more if there was a way to keep you all safe.”
“There’s still only a few of us who are breeders. At least it seems that way.” I poured some water into each hole.
“Yet no one knew about your sister. What if there’s lots more in hiding? The fact that you have to hide messes everything up.”
“But we have to hide.” I patted over each hole with dirt.
“Of course you do.” His face tensed. “I just wish you didn’t.”
“You and me both.” He reached for the water.
We worked silently for another half hour, and it was pleasant. Jarrett was good at understanding when I wanted to talk and when I didn’t. I wondered if that was one of the things Mason liked about him.
A loud sound echoed through the room. It started low and then got louder and louder until it was near deafening. I covered my ears with my hands and stared at Jarrett quizzically.
“Let’s go.” Jarrett tossed his trowel and grabbed my arm.
“What’s going on?” I yelled over the blaring noise.
“The sirens are going off. Someone’s broken in.”
“What?” I tried to make sense of what was happening. Men were running toward the elevator.
“No time to explain.” Jarrett tugged on my arm and led me in the opposite direction of the others.
I let him lead me. I had no one else to trust and nowhere else to go. Mason had promised I could trust Jarrett, and I needed to trust both of them now.
Jarrett pulled out a key and unlocked a metal door. He ushered me through into a stair well before locking the door behind him. He put a finger to his lips in the universal sign of silence. I nodded to let him know I understood.
I shook. I was used to hiding, but this was different than the barn. Something was wrong, and I had a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach it had something to do with me. I didn’t have Bailey and Quinn to worry about this time, but I had Addison and the other girls. Whatever was happening likely wouldn’t be good for them either.
Jarrett pulled me down a flight of stairs, and then another. We continued this dizzying spiral down until I’d lost track of just how many flights we’d gone. I held onto his hand as if it was my life preserver. Out of nowhere water started to spray from the ceiling.
“Shit.” Jarrett broke the silence. “I’m sorry, Kayla. I’m sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” I struggled to speak through my chattering teeth. I was wet and terrified.
“Because I have no idea if we are going to get out of this alive.”
“It’s not your fault.” I’d placed enough guilt on myself in life, I wasn’t going to let him do it. “But you have to tell me what’s going on. Why is water spraying from those things?” I pointed to the metal attachments to the ceiling I could barely see in the dim light.
“They are sprinklers, and it means there’s a fire. The sirens mean a breach. Someone is in the club and trying to burn it down.”
“They knew Mason was gone.” And that meant a lot. It meant this wasn’t random. It must have been planned by someone who knew Mason had left.
“Yes, it was an inside job.” Jarrett had slowed but he still continued down steps. “I’m sure of it.”
“Get the other girls. Addison.” I stopped, trying to pull off his hold.
“I can’t leave you.” Jarrett gave me a stern look. “I swore to Mason I’d take care of you.”
“I’m not more important than them, and we both know this has something to do with me.”
“We don’t know that.” He shook his head. “It could be unrelated.”
“It’s not.” I gritted my teeth. “I know, and if you’d just admit it, you know it too.”
“It doesn’t matter. I have to get you out of here.” He picked me up.
I kicked against him. “No. Not without the others.”
“I am sure the girls are ok. There is a protocol. There is a Circle member assigned to each.”
“But what if a Circle member is behind this?” I stopped kicking, but I wasn’t done arguing. “That’s a real possibility.”
“Shit.” Jarrett cursed again and he stopped.
“Just tell me what direction to go when I reach the bottom, and I’ll be fine. You have to save them.”
“If something happens to you, Mason will never forgive me.”
“Remember what you told me, about being a good person. It’s okay to be torn. You’ve done enough to help me. Help them now.”
He took a key off a key ring. “There are two flights of stairs left. At the bottom, open the door, and it will dump you into the tunnels. Lock the door behind you and keep going. I will find you or send Mason down, but if you keep going you will eventually reach the outskirts of the city.”
I nodded, realizing we had no time for me to ask questions. “Save the others.”
“I will do what I can do, and if I never see you again, I hope you save your sister. I hope you’re a breeder. I hope you save the world.” Without another word he turned and ran back up the stairs, leaving me in the darkened stairwell while the sprinklers continued to spray water on my already soaked form. I started down the next flight of stairs, too terrified to even think about what was going to happen next.
Twenty-Four
Mason
Leaving didn’t come easily. I knew Kayla was safe with Jarrett, but that didn’t get rid of the nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I was making a mistake by leaving the club. I tried to push away the thought by reminding myself I was doing this for Kayla. I wanted her happy, and that wasn’t going to happen unless I pulled off the impossible. I was in over my head, but that didn’t matter. I had no other choice.
I considered turning back several times while heading away from my room, but I eventually reached the lobby.
It wasn’t empty.
“Have a good trip.” Greer smiled broadly. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure things stay in line while you’re gone.”
I hadn’t actually planned to tell him I was leaving, but he’d overheard me giving instructions to the guards. “I won’t be gone long, and Jarrett is in charge.”
“Of course he is. Jarrett is always in charge when you leave.” Greer’s expression hardened.
“Is there something you want to say to me, Greer?” I dared him to actually say what he felt. I knew he wouldn’t. He was too much of a chicken to say anything.
“No. Nothing. There is nothing to say that can’t be said later.”
I nodded. “Good.” I had to leave. I couldn’t let him know how much he rattled me, and I had to make it to my meeting place with Denver on time.
With a nod at the guards I hurried out onto the street.
I boarded a train and headed east. In theory the trip would have been faster by car, but a car made you a target and necessitated going through check points. I had no patience for traffic stops on a mission like this one.
I thought over my conversation with Greer and couldn’t shake it. I was still angry over his treatment of Kayla,
but sometimes politics had to overcome anger. I could only keep Kayla safe if I stayed in power. Putting up with Greer was required for the time-being. Eventually he’d get what was coming to him.
I waited tensely as the train took me farther and farther from the club. I had to stay focused. Things would go more smoothly that way.
The train pulled into the final stop of the line, and I pushed my way off before the doors closed and continued up the stairs to the street.
I reached Denver’s dilapidated brick building. It was leaning heavily to one side, and I wasn’t sure how much longer it would remain standing. If it were anyone else, I would have run the other way, but it was Denver. He was the only one crazy enough to help me.
I knocked on the door using the silly pattern of knocks Jarrett had instructed me to use. Three long and two short.
The door was wrenched open, but no one appeared. Against my better judgement I stepped in, keenly aware I had no idea what I was stepping into. The door slammed shut behind me, and I was surrounded by darkness.
Denver appeared out of the darkness as he flicked on a single naked bulb hanging from the ceiling. “Mason.” He nodded to me as he locked the six padlocks inside the door.
“Denver. You look well,” I lied. He looked even crazier than usual with his unruly long brown hair and a scruffy beard. Who knows when the last time was that he ever showered.
“Thanks, I would say the same to you, but I won’t.”
“That’s fine.” I had met Denver enough times to be used to his strange mannerisms.
“Jarrett said you had a proposition for me?”
I wasn’t surprised Denver made no attempt to offer me a seat. It saved time, and right now time was especially important. “I do.”
“What is it?” Denver put a hand in the pocket of his worn black pants.
“Break into Central and get a mother and child out.” It was better to just lay it out there with Denver. He didn’t do well when you beat around the bush. I suspected he understood, but he liked to pretend he didn’t.
“Break a mother and child out of Central?” Denver asked in a monotone voice.
Corded (The Corded Saga Book 1) Page 16