by Jaci Wheeler
Silence. Ivan smiles wild.
“I have been looking forward to today, you know. When you cut into smooth perfect flesh there is something beautiful, almost poetic, about it,” he whispers in her ear, making me want to jump through the window and strangle him with my bare hands.
“But when you cut over scars, over the raised and angry flesh,” he shivers with excitement, “that precise control is gone, and you can let your animal instinct take over. Shall we see?”
His words are affecting her but she takes a long, slow breath and closes her eyes for just a moment. When she opens them again she stares right at him with more hate than I thought was even possible for her to possess. Even Ivan looks taken aback for a minute.
“Tell me, where did Aria go? She was your best friend, right? She must have told you.”
I’m legitimately surprised by this. Not by how low they would go, but that they are torturing her for real information. They think it’s a possibility she knows something and they are using the training to get it.
“Edward,” I growl, piercing him with my accusing stare. He says nothing and doesn’t take his eyes off the room.
“This is inappropriate and you know it,” I yell.
“Don’t make me remove you, Cameron,” is all he replies. Ezra shoots me a look to calm down and I don’t say another word, but I’m seething.
“Last chance, Tali. Where is Aria?”
When she says nothing, he approaches with the knife and I tense, as does Tali, but instead of using it he places it on a tray behind her.
“Too messy. We can’t be scaring you up even more now, can we? But don’t you fret; I have just the thing.” He pushes a button on the wall and the door opens a moment later. I about swallow my tongue. She can’t see who it is yet but it’s going to crush her when she does.
“Come on in, son. Tali, I believe you are acquainted with my helper today.” As soon as he comes into view her mask slips and she turns ghost white.
“Keller,” she slips and he closes his eyes for a moment. She isn’t the only one being tested today.
“Tali I’m so-” Ivan clears his throat and shoots Keller a warning look. He immediately stops what he was going to say and takes Ivan’s seat.
“This box contains several needles. Think acupuncture, except these needles have been tipped in a compound that burns on contact.” Keller is trying to sound matter of fact but he’s failing miserably. He breaks out in a cold sweat and looks like he’s going to be sick. I look over at Ezra who, as luck would have it, was Keller’s old handler.
“He’s too compassionate. He’s smart as a whip and stronger than most, but they don’t like how empathetic he is. This is to break him just as much as her,” he leans over and whispers in my ear.
“Tali, do you know of Aria’s whereabouts?” Keller practically pleads. All signs of defiance and hate are wiped from her face. Tali is also one of the kindest, most compassionate people I’ve ever met and she feels for Keller. She doesn’t want him to hurt so she gives him a sad smile and shakes her head. Keller’s face falls. She looks him right in the eye and nods her head once then looks directly at the box. She just gave him permission to torture her.
Keller looks over at Ivan with anguish and Ivan’s smile only brightens as he opens the box and hands the first needle to a trembling Keller. He closes his eyes for a moment then ever so slowly sticks the needle into her hand. The sound that is ripped from her throat will forever haunt me. She screams until tears are running down both of their faces and she is horse. Ivan chuckles and hands Keller another one.
“Tali, please, just give me something.”
“Do it, Keller,” she rasps out. I don’t know if she’s just wanting to get it over with or trying to encourage him but he takes the next needle and puts it right above her knee cap. Again, the scream is torn from her throat; the anguish that resides in it goes straight to my heart. Ezra has his head in his hands and is pulling at his hair.
Thirty-seven of the longest minutes of my life were spent watching her being tortured by one of her closest friends. Several times, even though she could barely speak, she encouraged Keller until she blessedly passed out.
“Thank God,” Ezra, Hayden, and I all breathe out.
“She passed phase two,” Hayden says. The words are caught in my throat and I only nod. Yes, she passed the hardest part and will for sure become and agent, but I’ll never be the same.
EPILOGUE
Edward
I make my way from the interrogation to my office with my emotions in utter turmoil. There are too many conflicting feelings battling one another. For one, I’m damn proud of Cameron. I never thought in a million years anyone could improve that girl the way he has. It was like looking at a new person.
Deep down, though, she is the same girl and if she has any info on Aria, I would have seen it. She might not have broken thanks to Cameron, who I both curse and bless in my mind, but I would have seen a tell.
I unlock my office and make my way to my desk, but stop half way. Some fortification wouldn’t hurt. I pour myself a drink and then pull up the feed from the interrogation room. I marvel again at the creature before me. I can almost picture an agent now when I look at her.
Well, that is if she wasn’t so hideous looking. I could tell by his outburst that Cameron has some attachment to her, but for the life of me I can’t think of how unless the lights were always off. I smile at my own cruel joke and continue to watch.
I freeze each frame and zoom in on all her features. I go back over it twenty times and I’m still just as convinced as ever that she doesn’t know anything. The interrogation wasn’t just for Tali. That was my brilliant plan as well. I know that Cameron, Tali, and Keller are her closest friends outside of Hope, who has already been interrogated. She broke before I was even fully in the room. The pathetic girl knows nothing.
I walk around my desk and pour myself another drink. I’m going to need it to get through this conversation. After downing it in one go, I set the glass down on the desk and dial the number before I can talk myself out of it.
“Tell me you have something useful?” is how he answers. Lord, I’m not drunk enough yet to deal with this man.
“They know nothing.”
“None of them?”
“No. I watched first hand, I dissected every single micro movement. I went over all the tapes twenty times. If they knew anything I would have picked up on something.”
“Even the handler? I thought you said he was unbreakable.”
“He is, but everyone has a weakness. For some reason the burned girl is his. He about tore through the glass and killed Adam with his own hands. If he knows anything, he would have given it up; I’m certain.”
“Well, Edward, what in the hell are we going to do now? She knows too much; she’s too smart not to have told someone. If nothing else, she would have needed help escaping.”
“If it was anyone else but Aria, I would agree. She’s always worked better solo. She’s alienated herself from everyone. The Elite Squad hates her and feels betrayed. I’ve checked everyone else. All we can hope for is that she got scared and protective and ran off. She could have done a lot, but all she did was take enough money to live on.”
“You are positive there’s been no other fallback? No changes to the other accounts? No movement on the organizations?”
“None. I’ve been keeping watch too; no new people coming in, nobody hanging around. I think we are in the clear, Senator.”
“Don’t speak too soon. She’s still a loose end and loose ends need to be cut.”
My spine stiffens and I squeeze my hands so tightly I pierce the skin. I wait a beat until I can get my temper under control.
“She is still my daughter, and I put way too many years of training into her to eliminate her now.”
His laugh is bitter and cold, like the man himself.
“Oh, please. Save the caring father act for someone who doesn’t know you. I’ll agree with the
amount of time and training, but she’s still threat.”
“But why eliminate her? That undoes everything we worked so hard for. Why not manipulate her into doing even more than before? Think about it, we wouldn’t even have to lie or hide our true intentions anymore. She could be the perfect assassin, Senator.”
“And how do we get her to comply? You’ve obviously failed at that before.”
“That’s because we couldn’t use the best tool we had.”
“Which is?”
“Her son.”
I could almost hear his smile on the other end of the phone. I hate that I have to put up with him. Everything is built on my ideas, my brilliance. But without his power and money, I’m nothing and he makes sure I know it.
“You really are a cold bastard, aren’t you, Edward? It’s brilliant. Find them. I don’t care how long it takes, you find them and bring me that boy.”
“It will be done.”
“It better.”
The line goes dead, as does the remaining piece of my humanity. She isn’t my daughter; he isn’t my grandson. They are pawns in a game that I will win, that is all. So why does the numbness I feel have nothing to do with the whisky?
THE END
***
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Turn the page for a chapter from the next book in the Academy Series.
CHAPTER ONE
Aria
I look down at my sweet boy while he sleeps. Edward is a monster but I could never regret Bastian. He is the only good and pure thing in my life. I sneak out of my son’s room and shut the door behind me.
It’s time. If I were honest with myself it’s been time for a while now but I’ve held off. I won’t find another opportunity like this again to make the call. Nix told me he was sent out of the country on a rare mission. She was able to join the mission and told me that if I wanted to do this myself this is my one shot.
I take a deep breath and pray I’m doing the right thing. Should I just stay gone? Keep my son safe? Part of me wanted to leave and never look back but I will always be looking over my shoulder wondering who else he might hurt. He needs to be brought down and I know I need to be the one to do it. Now is the time. I pick up the phone and dial.
***
Cameron
I have just finished my first overseas mission in a long time and it was a success. I can finally breathe. Ever since Tali and I got together she’s been able to take some of my fear away. I used to hate missions, but now I find myself enjoying them. When Edward approached me after Tali passed her final to offer me a promotion I was dumbfounded. The guy had some major balls after what he just put her through asking me for a favor, but he didn’t get it for free.
“Cameron, we need to talk, son. Please meet in my office in an hour.” Edward pats my back and exits the room. Tali has just come back from the final phase and she’s exhausted in every way possible, but she is also happy. I’ve never been prouder of anyone in my life. I sweep her up in my arms and swing her around until we are both laughing.
“We did it, Cam, we did it,” she whispers, nuzzling closer to my neck
“No, baby girl, you did it. That was all you. I’ve never been angrier or more proud before in my life. You about killed me, do you know that?” She smiles shyly.
“I’m so glad I passed, but I’m worried, Cam. I only did well because you were there with me; I felt your presence. What happens when I have to go on missions and you aren’t there?” I can hear the concern in her voice and it guts me because it’s the same thing I’ve been thinking about for the last year. You are always assigned a new handler once you make agent and, even though Tali is going to be placed as a very low-level agent, I still can’t handle the idea of her not having me there.
“We will figure something out, baby girl.”
“How? They will never let you be my handler, will they?” No.
“We will figure something out, I promise.” I vowed to never lie to her and somehow, I will make that the truth.
“I need to go meet with Edward and you desperately need to sleep. Go to my room and take a long nap. I’ll be back to spoil you later, okay? Just get some rest.”
I reluctantly leave Tali and go to Edward’s office. I have no clue why he would want to see me, especially with my emotions running so high after the way they treated her, but he is still my superior so I follow orders like a good little agent.
“Come in.” He sounds like he’s in a good mood, which makes me even more curious why he would want to see me.
“Cameron, please have a seat. Would you like a drink?” I’m surprised by his offer and stare blankly back at him. He’s never been so courteous before; I instantly smell a rat. He wants something.
“I have to congratulate you, son. In all my years, I’ve never seen anyone get the training results you do. You can break them better than anyone.” My temper flairs and I’m shaking with barely-controlled anger.
“I’m sorry, sir, but I refuse to take any credit in ‘breaking them.’ The breaking has already been done by the time I’ve gotten them. They are belittled, beaten, discouraged, and frankly, sir, set up to fail. What I do is build their confidence, and give them back their power. I encourage them to see their greatness and reach for it. If they are successful, that is why; it has nothing to do with me or my abilities. It was always in them, they just needed someone to nurture it and bring it out is all.” I can’t believe it, but he’s actually smiling at me now.
“You are angry with me? You don’t approve of my methods?” Well he asked and I doubt I’ll ever get this chance again so I take it.
“No, sir, I don’t. I respect you, I respect this school, but I think the training is lacking and expectations are far too high, sir.”
“I see. And you think you could do better and increase the productivity of the agents?” This man is unbelievable. He talks about these students as if they are nothing more than workers in a factory. I say nothing.
“I’d like to offer you a promotion, and I would highly encourage you to accept. Not only would you be improving our training experience, but you would have a certain level of control.” By control he means power. Power is what most new up and comings seek, but he’s barking up the wrong tree. I’ve seen what power hungry men can become and I want no part in that. However, he has sparked my interest with the ability to improve the training experience. This might even help me be able to keep my promise to Tali.
“I will revamp your training program, Edward, but I want something first or the answer is no.”
“I’m listening.”
“I’m not asking to be her handler, but I want to be able to accompany Tali on her missions.” I can see the surprise all over his face; he wasn’t expecting that.
“You know you aren’t allowed to have a romantic connection with your agent when you are their handler..”
“I’m not asking to be her handler.”
“She’s only going to be a low-level agent, if that. It won’t be anything glamorous.”
“My reasons are my own, sir. I don’t want glamor; I just want the option to go on any mission I choose. Is that fair?” He eyes me for a moment, trying to figure me out.
“Ok, you may choose to join any mission you please in any capacity as long as you agree to re-join the Elite Squad.”
“Not going to happen. I wasn’t a good fit and you know it, not to mention I won’t have the time to re-vamp an entire program, attend missions, and be on the squad. And you know it.”
“One special assignment with them a month.”
“One a year.” I come back and again he smiles.
“You have yourself a deal.” He puts his hand out and for a moment I have the feeling that I am about to make a deal with the devil himself.
A tapping on my shoulder brings me out of my musings and I turn to see Nix standing there with
a scowl.
“Everything okay? I’ve been trying to get your attention for a while now.”
“Yeah, I’m good. What’s up?”
“Everyone is going back to the hotel and I’m going on a food run. Can you come with? Edward is firm on the buddy system.” It’s true that we aren’t allowed to ever go out alone on a mission, but something in the way she asks makes me think there’s something more to it. Nix is the least social person I know and we aren’t friends. I would think she would take one of the usual members, but then again maybe they are all sick of her attitude by now.
“Sure, I’ll come.” She wastes no time and heads straight for the van as soon as the words leave my lips. I shake my head and quickly follow. She drives to a restaurant nearby that looks like it’s seen better days, but it’s usually the dives that have the best food and she does this much more than I do, so I trust her. We walk in and instead of heading for a table she grabs my hand and leads me right to the dirtiest bathroom I think I’ve ever seen.
“Woah, Nix, I like you and all but I’m with someone and I’m not about to have a quickie with you in this disgusting bathroom.” She rolls her eyes and gives me a look I can’t read, throws a burner phone at me, and walks out, locking the door behind her. That was freaking weird and just when I’m about to follow her, the phone rings.
***
Aria
“Hello?” He picks up after one ring; my legs give out and I slide to the floor. I can’t believe how much emotion just one word from him stirs up in me.
“Cam?” I choke out.
“Ari? Oh my God. Ari, is this really you? Are you okay, Aria? I’ve been so freaking worried about you. Where are you?” He sounds frantic and surprised all at once. I should have told Nix to warn him, but that could have been too dangerous.
“Yeah, Cam, it’s me. I’m so sorry to have left like I did and go silent but believe me when I say it was needed.”