Randolph backed up a few steps, dragging Prudence with him.
“And the night I killed your brother, there was no security. No armed guards. No one swept me for a weapon. They let me walk in, dressed in a Marine’s uniform carrying a sidearm.”
“I don’t w-want to hear this.” He seemed to remember he had her in his grasp and pressed the muzzle of his weapon under her chin.
Griffin held up his hand, stopping. “She’s innocent. She’s done nothing to you.”
Prudence cleared her throat. “Randolph, what I said about Alfred planning to ship you away. It was true. I saw the documents. Had Alfred not died, you would’ve been shipped out on the same flight I took.”
“He wouldn’t. Alfred created utopia for me. He made everything right, orderly. He did it for me.”
Prudence slipped her hand into her pocket, gripping the shard of glass she’d kept from the torture room.
Griffin shook his head. “That’s why Bronsen let me in. Whether I pulled the trigger or not, Alfred was going to die that night and I was going to trial for his murder.”
“He did it for me, then. Bronsen was protecting me. He must’ve believed these lies about Alfred and—”
Again, Griffin shook his head. “Remember what I said about soldiers being tagged? Think about the rebels. If Bronsen wanted to stop the rebellion, he could’ve. I think he plans to let you die, then take over as PM himself.”
“No. He’s here to help me get Prudence back.”
“For himself. Not for you.”
Bronsen chose that moment to walk in. His gaze shot around the room, taking everything in.
Griffin stepped back, pointing his weapon at Bronsen, holding his hand up to stay his men. “Close the door.”
Bronsen nodded toward Randolph and Prudence. “He’s off his meds, you know. Twitchy as hell. He could shoot her accidently at any time. I’m surprised you haven’t taken him down yet. ”
Behind her, Randolph gasped. “Bronsen?”
Prudence almost felt sorry for Randolph. He sounded lost as a little boy. Here he was arguing in Bronsen’s defense and his lover was urging them to shoot him. Still, she didn’t trust him. He had a mean streak a mile wide. She adjusted her grip on the shard of glass.
She shared a glance with Griffin. This could go sideways fast. She had a gun to her throat, Griffin was pinned in the middle of the room halfway between Bronsen and Randolph, and the three men he had with him were on the other side of the room, armed, but looking a bit unsure of who to shoot and when.
“Bronsen, they’re trying to tell me you’ve allowed all this to happen. That you could have prevented Alfred’s death. That you’re allowing the rebellion.”
Bronsen shrugged. “You and Alfred both have your talents, but neither of you would be a good leader for the long term. The world needs someone decisive. Strong.”
Griffin snorted. “Like you.”
“Like me.”
Randolph shifted, pulling the gun from her throat and aimed it at Bronsen. “Bastard.”
Bronsen swung his weapon around, too. Both fired.
Fire lanced across Prudence’s arm and behind her, Randolph jerked. Bronsen took the shot in the shoulder. Not a lethal wound by any means, but as soon as shot went off, Griffin’s men fired, too. Bronsen’s body jerked several times, before he dropped to the ground, dead.
Prudence jabbed the glass into Randolph’s thigh, grabbed his gun, and dove away from him as the men turned toward Randolph. She rolled onto her back, lifted the weapon and fired. Her aim was true. She hit him dead center in the chest.
A look of shock passed over Randolph’s face before he slumped to the ground.
“Christ. Angel are you okay?”
Prudence got to her feet and pressed her hand to her stomach. Goddess, that was close. She’d been so sure she’d been shot she could even smell burnt flesh. Her ears still rang and smoke filled the room. She stared at Randolph’s face, as his lifeless eyes stared unseeing at the ceiling.
“Are you all right? Christ, you scared me.” Griffin approached her. His worried gaze raked over her before he glanced over his shoulder at the others. “Give me something to tie up her wounds.”
But how? How could this be the same man she’d help load on to the hover-car hours ago? “Is it really you?”
He cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers.
Goddess be praised, he tasted like Griffin. She pushed away, searching his face.
“If you tell me you don’t at least recognize my kiss, I’m gonna call you ‘lady’ for the rest of our lives.”
Prudence lunged at him, wrapping him in her embrace. He was whole. Not a mark marred his body. “How?” She couldn’t stop touching him. She ran her hands down his face, his perfect, healed face. “How many med-wands did they use on you?” She couldn’t see him anymore through her tears, but, oh, she was so happy.
“Just your gift.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “All I wanted was to survive so I’d be around for you.”
That was the loveliest thing he’d ever said. She sniffed and wiped away the fresh burst of tears. “I couldn’t kill Randolph. I wanted to. I wanted to make sure he couldn’t hurt anyone anymore, but I couldn’t. And I almost cost us our lives.”
“Shh. It’s all going to be all right now, Angel. You got him in the end.” He gave her a quick kiss.
Griffin took her hand in his, and began wrapping the slice across her palm from the glass she’d stabbed Randolph with. Another man she didn’t know wrapped her bicep with a strip of his shirt; she didn’t pay much attention until he tightened the binding over her arm. She gasped. “I did get hit.”
“Hey, Chief, we stay here much longer, we’re gonna be in trouble.”
“Coming, Grady.” Griffin scowled. “You did. And we’re going to have a long discussion about this later.”
The way he growled she had no doubt she wouldn’t like whatever he had to say. “I love you, baby.”
He winked. “Don’t think for a minute that’s gonna keep you out of trouble when we get home.”
Home. Joy filled her near to bursting. He spoke as if he planned to stay.
“Come on. We need to get out of here.”
Chapter 39
Griffin handed Prudence her gun. “Next time someone points a gun at you, duck.”
She pulled a face. “If I hadn’t been so shocked by your miraculously healed presence, I would have.”
“Christ, you’ve gotten sassy.”
She might have taken exception to his comment but she caught his grin as he turned away.
“Head out the left door, boys.” Griffin turned back to her long enough to give her another quick kiss. He took her hand, ready to go but stopped dead in his tracks as he watched Grady leading the men to the doorway on the right. “Military left, you fucking Gomer.”
Without missing a beat, Grady turned and led the men back to the correct door.
Griffin hustled past them, taking up the lead with Prudence in tow.
“You always this mean when you’re in a fight?” Grady asked.
Behind him, Prudence snorted. “Just to the people he likes.”
Grady chuckled. “Well, that’s all right, then.”
Griffin poked his head out the doorway. The hallway was clear, but he could hear gunfire on the floor below. “Let’s move. The others are pinned down by some Blue Helmets. I’m hoping this will lead us behind them.”
He released Prudence’s hand and made his way down the hall towards the stairs. The sound of gunfire grew louder as they approached the wide staircase. “Line up, boys. Mow down anything wearing blue.”
Together, they went down the stairs to the smoke-filled second floor. The Blue Helmets had their backs to them. As one, Griffin, Prudence and the others opened fire on the soldiers, dropping half their number before the Blue Helmets even realized they’d been ambushed.
Griffin tried to pull Prudence behind him, but she shrugged him off and continued firing into the fra
y.
Merrick and Lucan entered the hallway as soon as the shots pinning them down slowed and within seconds, all the Blue Helmets were down.
Griffin glanced around. “Everyone okay?”
A chorus of ‘yesses’ came back to him.
“Merrick, lead us out of here. I’ll take up the rear.”
Griffin was impressed as hell with the men. They all seemed to be holding their own, alert and reliable. As they made their way through the halls and downstairs, they panned their weapons, shooting any stray Blue Helmets they came across.
Within moments they reached the storage room down stairs. He couldn’t believe their luck. Had the Blue Helmets taken off when they’d realized they were under attack? “I’m pretty sure there’s a sniper watching this door. Everybody haul ass out of here.”
Merrick flung open the door and ran out.
The rest followed.
He didn’t hear any gunfire, no shouts of warning. Holy shit, they were going to make it out alive.
Griffin took hold of Prudence’s hand and bolted outside.
And came to a dead halt.
There must have been sixty Blue Helmets out here. All had their guns trained on them. The others had already dropped their weapons.
Shit.
With the spotlights shining on the door, Merrick must not have been able to see what waited for them. They’d run right into a trap.
Griffin lowered his weapon and dropped it to the ground. Prudence did the same.
“Nobody fight,” Griffin spoke loud enough for his men to hear. “U.N. law says they can’t shoot us unless we fight.” He stared hard at Lucan until his brother nodded. Then he glanced at Prudence. “Hey, Pru?”
“Yeah?”
One of the Blue Helmets motioned for them to raise their arms. He complied, though he kept Prudence’s hand in his.
“I know this isn’t the best time, but I, uh . . . .”
“Don’t you dare tell me you love me now.”
Griffin jerked his attention to Prudence. She sounded pissed off. “What?”
She frowned. “I’ve been waiting for ages to hear you say it. You will not spoil the moment by saying it now when we’re about to be arrested.”
“Look, lady—”
Prudence gasped.
“Hey, you two.” The Blue Helmet walked their way. “No talking.”
They both straightened, keeping their gazes forward.
Griffin scanned the area, searching for a way out of this. The Blue Helmet collected all their weapons—not that having their guns would do much more than assure their deaths at this point. Why hadn’t they started cuffing them? He shot a glance at Merrick, who appeared just as confused. They’d surrendered. They’d given up their guns. Why were the Blue Helmets still standing there keeping them in their sights?
The Blue Helmet walked off, leaving them all alone in front of the . . . firing squad.
Another quick glance at Merrick told him his brother-in-law had come to the same conclusion.
Griffin pulled Prudence behind him as the rest of their allies gathered closer.
Grady nodded to him. “It was an honor, Chief.”
Shit. “No way, Grady, the honor was all mine.”
Prudence ducked under his arm and pressed her face to his chest. “Say it.” Her arms wrapped around him and held him tight. “Please.”
“Ready.” The Blue Helmet’s voice rang out. A small spacecraft hovered behind them as if to assure him there was nowhere to run.
Christ, they’d been so damn close to getting away.
Griffin looked down into her lavender eyes. “I love you, Prudence Angelica Parnell.”
The corner of her mouth quirked. “You’ve never said my whole name before. I wasn’t sure you knew it.”
“Aim.” The Blue Helmets lifted their weapons.
He smiled and winked. “Political assassins are always known by three names.” Griffin cupped her cheek and pressed his lips to hers, determined to go out with her taste on his lips.
“This is the Rebels. Lower your weapons.”
Griffin lifted his head. That had come from the spacecraft. He looked up, his eyes narrowing. The unmarked craft hovered lower, causing their hair to whip around their faces. The sound of the ship’s gun turrets arming echoed. The speakers on the craft crackle to life. “Blue Helmets, lower your weapons or we will fire.” The Marine’s Hymn played in the background.
Griffin glanced back in time to see the Blue Helmets drop their guns.
The men around them whooped for joy.
Ropes unraveled from the ship’s loading dock and several armed soldiers rappelled down. They lifted their guns, rushing right past Griffin and the others and headed for the Blue Helmets.
Lucan clapped him on the back. “You recognize that music?”
“The Marine’s Hymn.” He pulled his brother into a hug. “You did good, little brother.”
“So did you.”
Merrick shook his head. “That’s not the Marine’s Hymn.”
Griffin tipped his head to the side as he listened and Prudence cuddled up to his side.
“We forged ahead with each decree, killed like your hired guns.”
That was his voice coming out of the speakers.
“From ships at sea to each air base, we died in your bomb runs.”
He shook his head. “Why the hell are they playing that?”
“You banned our kin from life on Earth, but I’ll wash your sins clean.”
Merrick grinned. “They call it, The Last Marine’s Hymn. It’s the Rebel’s rallying cry.”
“I’m nothing more than you made me, I’m the last U.S. Marine.”
“See, baby?” Prudence gave him an affectionate squeeze. “You did make a difference.”
Chapter 40
“Chief Payne?”
Griffin turned at the sound of his name. A big, heavily scarred warrior strode toward him, wearing a conglomeration of uniforms. He’d have been a good-looking guy but for the slashes over his face. “By God, it is you. I swear we all thought we were seeing a ghost.”
“Why’s that?”
“Word came back to Earth that a fire gutted the Genesis V and left her dead in space. You weren’t listed among the survivors.”
“It was a pretty close thing. Who are you?”
“Chief Donovan Reese.” The scars on his face stretched tight as he favored Griffin with a smile. “I’d like to shake your hand, sir.”
Griffin stared at the Chief’s outstretched hand for a heartbeat before offering his own. “Until a couple days ago I didn’t think there were any other military left.”
“We were scattered all and sundry. When the bases were taken out, those who survived hid. Well, until we all saw you go after Parnell. You gave us the courage to fight back. Several of us started searching for survivors and acquiring weapons. Took us awhile to be in a position to put up a decent fight, but five months after you were transported, we attacked. The U.N. folded two weeks ago.”
“Glad to hear it. Let’s hope whatever government takes over does better this time.”
Chief Reese looked mean as hell when he frowned. “You won’t be returning with us? We could use your help. With the U.N. gone, the infighting back home is getting a little rough.”
“No, sir. As of today, I’m retired.”
“I’m sorry to hear it, but wish you well.”
Griffin nodded and turned to walk away.
“Attention!”
He paused as the soldiers around the area came to full attention, saluting. For a moment, he thought someone important had walked onto the field, but looking back at the Chief, he, too, held himself at attention, facing Griffin.
Swallowing past the sudden lump in his throat, Griffin straightened himself and saluted back.
It was over. He could sleep tonight with the knowledge that, while he hadn’t always made the best of decisions and while he’d made mistakes, he had still tried. And he’d made a difference.
Griffin’s gaze locked onto Prudence, who stood with Merrick and Lucan. Damn, she looked beautiful. Even with her face bruised and her arm bleeding she was the prettiest woman he’d ever seen.
Lucan pulled away from the group and stepped into Griffin’s path. “One month with no decisions.”
Griffin opened his mouth to argue, but Merrick cut him off. “You promised.”
This was ridiculous, but seeing the worry in his brother’s eyes, he knew he couldn’t reneg now. He let out a deep sigh. “Fine. One month. Now move.”
Lucan got out of his way, but not before Griffin saw his smirk of satisfaction.
Griffin pulled Prudence away from the others. He held her hand, worrying her knuckles with his thumb. “Angel, I’ve got a bit of a problem I need your help with.”
Her brows drew together in concern.
“See, in order to get the others to help me rescue you, I had to make this promise . . . .”
Her gaze cut to the side to where the Rebels were loading Blue Helmets into their spacecraft. “I’m not going back to Earth.” She bit her lip. “I know I’m selfish for it, but I don’t want you going back either, you’ve—”
“No, now, I didn’t say anything about that, now did I?”
“No, but—”
“My promise was to stay here and do one month of therapy before I make any more decisions.”
She threw her arms around him. “Baby, that’s great—”
Christ, everybody seemed to think he needed fixing but him. He pulled back a little and rested his forehead to hers. “My problem is, that means I can’t ask you to marry me for a month.”
Lavender tears pooled in her eyes.
“And, see, I was hoping, I might be able to talk you into waiting for me.”
Prudence threw herself into his arms. “I was starting to think my daughter and I would be living here alone.”
Daughter? They were having a baby? His heart swelled at the idea. She’d have to marry him now. If he had to chase her around the planet twice, he’d badger her until she said yes. He pulled away enough to see her face. “Daughter? How do you know you’re not carrying my son?”
The Last Marine Page 29