No!
With a massive effort I backed away, putting space between us. I made a humming noise in my head, the same one I’d used as a child when my brothers were teasing me. I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you.
Her touch was gone, and I smiled in triumph. Her lips grew white with rage. “You will have to choose sides, Erin. Everyone must choose. The point is choosing wisely.”
“I think I just did,” I said with far more calm than I was feeling. “Though that will remain between you and me. Your word against mine.”
“Your father will not believe you. I will tell him the truth.”
“That’s okay. Because I’m going to tell him the truth, too—that you wanted to use me against him and Tihalt.” I turned and started toward the door.
Her frustration slammed into me like pummeling fists, stealing my breath away. Each step I took felt like a thousand, as though I struggled through waist-deep mud. One, two, three, four. My progress was achingly slow. Pain hammered at my head. I forced one foot in front of the other, pushing outward with my mind, though I had no idea if this did any good. Silently, I cursed Ava for not better preparing me.
Somehow I reached the door. Delia laughed, and with a soft buzz, the door unlocked, though no one had used the hand panel by the door. Apparently, Delia’s talent was stronger than I’d guessed. Either that or she had a remote. The power that had held me vanished, and I nearly fell.
“Run, little mouse,” Delia called after me. “For now. There’s no place you can go inside this building that’s out of my reach. The minute you relax your guard, I will be there. You will not be able to resist me long. No one can.”
I was shaking as I opened the door. Keene pushed himself off the wall where he was lounging in the hall, one brow arching in surprise. Inclining his head at Delia who was glaring at me from across the room, he pulled the door shut.
“A little early, aren’t we?”
“I didn’t like what she had to say.”
“You don’t seem to like anyone around here.” He started down the hall, and my weary muscles rebelled as I followed.
“Except for you.” Relief crept over me at the increasing distance from Delia, but I didn’t dare let down my mental barriers yet.
“Me? You hate me most of all.”
“At least you tell the truth.”
He met my gaze. “Well, then here’s another. You look like hell.”
“That’s better than I feel. She’s a tough old bird.”
“Vulture,” he agreed.
Keene nodded at the two Unbounded guards as we entered the elevator, jabbing at a button, while I staggered near the wall. My head throbbed, and I didn’t feel I could take another step.
“Look, I haven’t been totally honest about Justine,” Keene said into the silence. “Stefan demanded a name, and I thought of one. I couldn’t do anything else with Delia there. She would have taken the true information, and used it to her advantage. I gave up the obvious person.”
“What are you saying?”
He crossed the two steps that separated us. “Justine was responsible for your sister-in-law’s death, but what you have to understand is that she would not have acted without approval from the Triad, especially from Stefan.”
“Why especially?”
“Justine craves power more than anything else. At present, Stefan is the only Triad member strong enough to stand against Delia, and it’s no secret that Justine wants into his bed. Creating a child with Stefan would give her power in the Emporium, especially if she’s lucky enough to have a child with a sensing ability—which could happen, given that she has a weak variation of the ability herself. Getting such a child from you and Tom would be every bit as good, and a lot more likely given your genetic relationship with Ava.”
I must have reached my surprise limit, because I didn’t even feel shock. His explanation fit with Justine’s near worship of Stefan on the plane and her plans for Tom and me.
“If Delia had tried harder to get the truth from me,” Keene continued, “she would have been able to pin the attack on Stefan and put a wedge between you. I didn’t want to be responsible for that. Or for causing more instability in the Triad. So I focused on Justine. I’m telling you now because I decided you have a right to know.”
“Why would Stefan order my family killed?” My voice sounded strangled.
Keene’s gaze was gentle. “My guess is that he wanted to be sure you had nothing pulling you away from him.”
“What he’s done is given me no reason to stay. There can never be a relationship between us now.” Had a part of me hoped for such? I didn’t know.
“I reported to my father after the attack,” Keene continued. “Told him that his orders to bring them in alive had been overridden by Justine. Because he knows Stefan so well, he knew exactly what that meant. He was furious at the effect the attack would have on you and your willingness to join us. Besides a few useless variations, all of our sensing Unbounded are well over a thousand years old—when the ability to bear Unbounded children starts to diminish. Paired with men who have the right genes, you could have very powerful children and grandchildren for the Emporium.”
I felt sickened at the idea of being used as a breeder, possibly for centuries, and at the thought of having as many children as possible to help those who gave so little value to human life. My father didn’t care about me as a person. He never had. “At least Justine didn’t hurt Chris and the kids once she caught up to them.”
“My father convinced Stefan to spare their lives. He agreed, but only if they were brought here. He thinks they might also be useful.”
So I’d been right about the Emporium’s plan for the children, and Chris as well. As long as my brother or his children were prisoners, I could be made to do anything the Emporium wanted.
Keene reached past me and hit the stop button on the elevator.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you a little time to recover.”
“Thanks.” I sagged against the metal wall of the elevator. His arm was still there in front of me, stretched out toward the controls, but it felt good to touch another person. For a long moment we stood motionless, looking into each other’s eyes.
In an instant, the mood changed and the air became charged. I saw him swallow, once, twice. His face came close, his intention to kiss me quite clear. After being so honest about my feeling regarding the Emporium, I couldn’t have been more surprised if he’d stripped naked and stood on his head. For a second, I considered resisting his advances, yet shouldn’t I use any opportunity offered me? If he thought I was attracted to him, he might be willing to overlook my loyalties and help me at some point.
His lips met mine. Without thinking, I let my defenses fall and his emotions flooded over me, through me. Sensations rippled inside my body. I didn’t have to pretend as much as I thought I would. In fact, it was pleasant—exhilarating even—to kiss a man who in this moment didn’t want anything from me except what I was willing to give. Not like Tom, who wanted me blindly because of Justine, or even like Ritter, whose wanting made me lose myself.
So completely had I let down my defenses, becoming attuned with Keene’s emotions, that I felt a stab of disappointment when he pulled away.
“Sorry, I didn’t plan that,” he said in a low voice. With one arm still around me, he traced my lip with his thumb. I could feel the slight roughness of his skin. “I know this place makes no sense to you. About as much sense as what I’m feeling now, but I’m glad you’re here, Erin. You—I feel different around you. I know that doesn’t mean anything for the future, and I don’t expect anything to ever come from this moment. For the first time in a long time, I’m seeing what’s really around me. What I’m involved in. For that, I thank you.”
Now it was my turn to grip his arms. “If I don’t do something to stop the Emporium, a lot of Unbounded are going to die tonight, including at least one of my friends—Stella. She’s supposed to be in New York
today. I have to warn her somehow.”
His hands dropped to his sides. “I haven’t heard anything about an attack.”
“Remember Cort talking about a meeting with Halden? Well, he found out what they were negotiating—an identification program that will be able to track Unbounded. He didn’t know where the meeting would be, but he’s given them a location of a Renegade safe house. Delia’s sure to get the location of the meeting with Halden from one of the Renegades there—and right after, she’s going to slaughter everyone.”
Was I trusting Keene too much? I didn’t know. At this moment he was all I had. The idea of all those people dying made me desperate. Especially Stella, who’d been so kind to me.
“Cort usually keeps me in the loop.” Keene shook his head in disbelief, as repulsed at the idea as I was. “This isn’t like him.”
“Well, it’s happening. All those people will die and once the Emporium has the technology to track anyone anywhere, there’ll be no going back. You see that, don’t you? I need your help.”
He considered me for a moment. “There’s a back exit. I can take you there, get you out. Maybe you can find a way to warn them.”
“I need to take my brother and his kids, and Laurence, too. I can’t leave them for Delia or Stefan to use.”
“There’s no time.”
I hissed sharply, “We’ll make time.” A sharp pain flared in my mind and was gone.
He recoiled as if I’d slapped him, uttering an expression of astonishment. “What was that? I felt that. In my mind.”
What was he saying? Then I understood, and my anger melted away. I felt unsteady on my feet. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
He was looking at me with something else in his eyes now, something that made me uneasy. “No wonder Delia is interested in you. This changes everything. Stefan will never let you go once he knows.”
“Look, I don’t want to get you in trouble. I just need a way out—with the others. Chris could fly us, if there’s a helicopter.”
“Stefan and Justine took it out an hour ago.”
“An hour ago? Could they have taken it to New York?”
His eyes grew wide. “They did take a team and were heading for the airport. They didn’t tell me why.”
“Then it’s begun.”
Our gazes met and held. “Meet me by the front desk,” he said. “On the main level where we came in. In exactly thirty minutes I’ll make sure the way is clear.”
“What about the door to the apartment?”
He took something unidentifiable from his pocket. “It’s a glove. It has my prints.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded and kissed me again, long and slow. Warmth slithered through my body.
“What was that for?” I asked. The emotion coming from him now wasn’t the same as before, and it confused me. It spoke more of friendship than of desire of a man for a woman.
“That was goodbye.”
“You could come with us.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t belong.”
“Where do you belong?”
“I don’t know.” He started the elevator again.
Thoughts raced through me, but there was nothing I could say that would help him.
We were quiet until we reached the door to the apartment where Chris and Laurence waited. “Thirty minutes,” Keene reminded me.
“What time do you have now?”
He showed me his watch and I nodded. “You should keep your mind guarded,” he said. “Or she’ll be able to find you once she realizes something’s wrong. At least until we’re away from the building.”
I pulled my mental barriers back into place, berating myself for my laxity. A few pleasant kisses and I forgot everything. What kind of Unbounded was I?
I went into the apartment where my brother greeted me, relief etched on his face. “Thank God, you’re back,” he said, casting his gaze briefly heavenward. I wondered what he’d say if I told him Delia considered the Unbounded gods. “I’ve been so worried.”
“I’m fine,” I assured him. “But I need your watch.”
He gave it to me without explanation. I checked the time to make sure it was the same as Keene’s before strapping it around my own wrist, cinching the leather band as tightly as I could. It was still large on me but wouldn’t fall off.
Laurence and the children had come from the other room. Kathy’s eyes looked red and I wondered if Chris had told her about her mother, or if she’d finally began to understand that we weren’t on an impromptu vacation. There wasn’t time to worry about it now.
“Well?” Laurence asked.
“We have thirty minutes,” I said. “And then we’re getting out of here.”
THIRTY MINUTES AFTER KEENE LEFT me, I put on the glove and used it to open the door. “We’ll take the stairs,” I said. “It’ll be quieter that way.”
“Are you sure this is wise?” Laurence whispered, his meaty hand coming to rest on my arm. “They might let us go eventually.”
I placed my hand over his and lowered my voice. “Laurence, the only way they’ll let you and me out of here is in three pieces. Besides, I’m not going to stand by and watch these kids be used by the Emporium.”
He nodded and removed his hand.
“What about the cameras?” Chris asked. “They have plenty of them.”
“We have to hope that Keene’s distraction has taken care of whoever’s watching, or maybe the equipment. I don’t know what he has planned.”
Only my nephew, Spencer, seemed to be enjoying himself as we hurried down the hall in search of the stairs. As Keene had promised, there were no guards near the elevators.
“Here,” Chris hissed. He opened the door to the stairs, and we hurried inside.
Only one flight up and we were on the ground floor where the receptionists had greeted us earlier. “The ladies at the desk aren’t there,” Chris said, opening the door an inch. “But the guards still are.”
“Give him a few more minutes.” I peeked through the doorway and saw Keene talking to the guards, gesturing with his hands. After the space of several more heartbeats, they entered the elevator and disappeared. “Let’s go,” I said to the others.
Keene smiled when he saw us. “Right on time. Come this way.” We were halfway down a corridor when we heard shouting behind us.
The guards were back, and they didn’t look happy.
Keene swore and pulled out his gun. “They must have checked their orders with the radio on the way up. Hurry. Follow me!”
Everyone ran. Down the hallway, through a large room, and out again to another hallway. Keene rounded a corner, and I heard a whizzing from ahead that sounded like a shot from a silenced gun. I hurried faster to make sure he was okay—only to trip over a fallen man in my path. A pop sounded in my ankle, sending sharp pains up my leg.
“Aunt Erin!” shouted Kathy as I fell. Blood seeped from under the body, and she forgot me, staring in fascination. Spencer let out a sob.
“Keep running!” On my knees, I pushed her past the sprawled figure. She grabbed Spencer’s hand and pulled him down the hallway toward Keene.
Chris had bent to help me rise, but I slapped his hands away. “Go on. Take care of the kids. They aren’t safe here. I’ll be all right in a moment.” I gave him a confident smile I was far from feeling.
He stared at me, and then nodded once and ran after the children. I knew how much it cost him because I’d felt the same way leaving an unconscious Jace. But the children had to come first. There was no one else to save them.
Laurence yanked me to my feet, but my ankle gave out again as I stumbled after the others. “Run,” I told Laurence. “Help Chris and the kids get out. They won’t kill me.” We shared a glance that said more than words, both understanding that there were far worse things than dying. Nodding, he lumbered on, surprisingly quick for his massive bulk.
Stupid, I thought. To come so close, only to
fail. Already the pain in my swelling foot was lessening, but I could hear the guards approaching the turn in the hallway, and there was no way my ankle was going to hold up so soon. I could, however, buy Keene and the others more time. I leaned casually against the wall and waited, absorbing as rapidly as I could to help myself heal.
The guards did a double take as they rounded the corner, stumbling over the body as I had, though without such disastrous results. One guard was Unbounded, the other mortal, though he looked young so it was possible he hadn’t yet Changed. The Unbounded pointed his gun at me, while the mortal bent down to feel the pulse of the fallen man. “Alive,” he said under his breath.
I wasn’t sure whether to be glad Keene wasn’t a cold-blooded killer or depressed that the unconscious mortal would live to fight again.
“I couldn’t catch them,” I said with false brightness. “I tried. They had that big Renegade with them. They went in there.” I pointed to a door down the hallway. I had no idea how well-informed the Emporium guards were about my position here, but the bluff was worth a try.
“You stay with her,” the Unbounded barked at the mortal as he started down the hall. The misdirection wouldn’t buy much time unless the door I’d indicated led to a hallway or a suite with possible hiding places, and that meant I had to get rid of the mortal. Unfortunately, he probably had more training than I did.
“I tripped over him,” I said, indicating the sprawled man. “I hurt my ankle.” I tested it, moaning softly, though I thought it might now hold my weight.
“You going to be okay?” the guard asked.
“In a while. Maybe you can help me back to my rooms, or at least to the front desk.”
He holstered his gun and approached me cautiously. I tried another ginger step and this time let my leg collapse as though the pain was too much to bear. As I started to fall, he reached for me. I straightened suddenly and slammed my elbow down on his neck. He fell.
Even Ritter would have been proud.
I started down the hallway after Chris and the others. I hoped at some point they’d be able to wait for me.
The Change (Unbounded) Page 24