by R. D. Brady
“Well, I promise, Nyssa will arrive safe and secure at this hermit’s home.”
Laney smiled. “His name’s Dom, and he’s a good man.”
“Who lives in a bomb shelter.” He raised an eyebrow. “You have some odd friends.”
“I have the best friends.”
He leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “That is true as well. I will be back before you know it.”
“Okay.” She held him tightly, part of her not wanting to let him go. But she needed Nyssa safe, and she needed to be here for her uncle. But she simply could not split her herself in two to make both of those things happen. She stepped back. “Be careful.”
“You, too.” He headed to the chopper, where Cain was carefully adjusting the straps on Nyssa. Drake gave Laney one last wave before climbing in. Cleo was already curled up next to Nyssa’s car seat.
Cain made his way to Laney’s side. The two of them took shelter in the overhang by the elevator, waiting while Yoni started the chopper up. Cain breathed in deeply. Laney placed her hand in his, but neither spoke as they watched the chopper lift off and fly out of view.
Laney called up the elevator, and the two of them stepped inside silently. They rode the three floors down, also without a word. Stepping out onto the eighth floor, they walked along the hall, maneuvering around machines, unattended stretchers in the hall, and the occasional patient or member of the medical staff. Finally they pushed through the doors leading to the surgical wing, leaving the hustle and bustle of the hospital behind. Now as they walked, their footsteps echoed off the halls.
“She’ll be all right, won’t she?” Cain asked.
“She’ll get to Dom’s. And Yoni’s right—that’s the safest place for her right now. Tiger and Snow will stay there as well as an added layer of protection.” She glanced over at him. “You could have gone.”
Cain nodded. “I could have, but Patrick was there when I was injured. I plan on being there for him.”
Laney squeezed his arm. “How’s your arm? Your leg?”
“They’re fine.”
“You were shot, Cain. I don’t think they’re fine.”
“They’re healing.” Laney studied him. Cain healed faster than a human, although not Fallen fast. But he still looked a little pale from the blood loss.
He caught her concerned gaze. “I’m fine, Laney. It’s Patrick we need to focus on.”
“I can worry about you as well. Worrying about him does not preclude worrying about you.”
Cain was quiet for a moment. “Your uncle, he wouldn’t let me shield him. He could have. It would have kept him safe. But he wouldn’t do it. Why didn’t he let me?”
Cain’s voice was full of pain and confusion, and Laney realized he truly didn’t understand her uncle’s motivations. He had spent so long on his own, he’d forgotten what people did for those they cared about.
“Why did you offer to be their shield?” she asked.
“To keep them from getting hurt. Why?”
“That’s exactly what he was doing for you. You didn’t want them to get hurt any more than my uncle wanted you to be hurt. He cares about you just as much as you do him. Maybe you’d heal quicker, but you’d still be in pain. And we’re not sure you can’t be killed. He wouldn’t take that chance.”
“I don’t deserve that. Look at all your uncle has done. If anyone deserves to continue to breathe, it’s him. Look at the pain and suffering I have caused.”
Laney stopped, pulling Cain to a halt as well. “You need to stop that.”
“What?”
“Thinking you don’t deserve to be treated well. Yes, you’ve done some things. We’ve all done some things. But you’ve also paid for eons for those crimes. And that long life, I think it had been a burden, a further punishment. You’re right about my uncle, though, he is a good man. And he sees good in you.” Laney linked her arm through his. “And he’s pretty good judge of character.”
Cain patted her arm. “Selfish as it is, I’m glad you’re here.”
“Selfish as it is, I’m glad you’re here, too.” The two of them made their way to the waiting room, which was empty. The OR was right down the hall. They sat for an hour and a half, flipping through magazines, pacing the room. Laney was torn. She wanted to be in Baltimore. Drake had texted her thirty minutes ago that he and Cleo were on their way back.
The OR doors ahead of them cracked open. A doctor in blue scrubs stepped out. She walked over to the waiting room. “Are you the family of Father McPhearson?”
Laney nodded, holding tightly to Cain’s arm. “Yes.”
The doctor nodded, glancing between the two of them. “He survived the surgery, which is a miracle. We had to replace five pints of blood—that’s almost his full body’s worth. He is still in critical condition.”
“What are the next steps?” Cain asked.
“Well, we’ll see if he makes it through the night and if his blood pressure and heart rate stabilize. If they do, well, that would be a great sign.”
“And if they don’t?” Laney asked.
The doctor sighed. “His body’s been through a huge trauma, and although he appears to be in good shape, in these situations, your body reacts to your age. So at his age, it’s tougher for the body to repair. I’m afraid I cannot give you much better than we’ll need to wait and see.”
“And his legs?” Cain asked. “Will he have use of them?”
The doctor shook her head. “I’m sorry, but the nerves were completely severed. He will not regain the use of them.”
Laney took in a trembling breath.
“Look, he won’t wake up tonight. Why don’t you two go home, get some sleep—”
“We’ll stay,” Laney said quickly. “We’d like to stay.”
“Okay. He’ll be in recovery, and then they’ll move him to the ICU. There’s a waiting room there.”
“Can we see him?” Cain asked.
“Once he’s on the floor, yes. But it will be at least another thirty minutes.”
“Okay. Thank you, doctor.”
She nodded, heading back through the OR doors.
Laney collapsed in the chair nearest her. Cain sat down heavily next to her. Laney felt numb, her mind empty. Actually, not empty, but she couldn’t seem to grab on to any of the thoughts racing through.
She wasn’t sure how long she and Cain just sat there, but eventually he nudged her shoulder. “Come on. We should get some coffee. I think it’s going to be a long night.”
Laney nodded, heaving herself to her feet. God, everything felt tired. Two cops stepped off the elevator as Laney and Cain stepped out of the waiting room. Laney groaned, knowing they were looking for her. They probably needed her statement about the cabin attack. She knew she needed to come up with a cover story, but honestly, her brain was fried. She couldn’t think of what the heck to tell them. Right now, she really missed her old SIA badge. It had managed to get her out of these types of conversations in the past.
The officers headed straight for them. “Delaney McPhearson?”
Laney nodded wearily. “That’s me.”
The taller officer glanced at Cain. “We need to speak with you privately.”
Laney gave a tired wave in Cain’s direction. “You can say anything in front of my uncle.”
Both men stared at Cain, or more accurately, the sunglasses he was wearing. They probably thought he was hiding a drug problem.
“It’s fine, really. What do you need?” Laney asked.
“Right, well, the Springfield police have been trying to track you down.”
Laney frowned. “Springfield? Illinois?”
The officer nodded. “There’s a double homicide that needs your attention.”
“Look, it’s been a really long night. So if this is a Fallen incident, you should contact the SIA. I haven’t been officially reinstated with them anyway.”
The shorter officer shook her head.
“This doesn’t involve the Fallen, at least not to my
knowledge.”
Laney frowned. “I don’t understand. Why then do you need me?”
“Because the surviving victim asked for you by name.”
Laney darted a look at Cain before turning back to the officers. “I don’t think I know anyone in Springfield. Who’s the victim?”
The female officer spoke. “It’s a child. His name is Max.”
Chapter 33
Laney felt the world tilt. “Max?” She clutched onto Cain’s arm as she swayed. “The woman, the man, who—”
The officer referred to his notes. “Um, both are late twenties, early thirties. Tentatively IDed as Maddox Finley and Kati Finley.”
Oh God. Laney’s vision began to shrink at the edges. Kati. Maddox. “What? How?”
From the corner of her eye, she saw Drake step off the elevator. He met Laney’s gaze as he hurried toward her.
The officer plowed ahead. “Preliminary indications seem to suggest it was a home invasion. The child was found a few miles away.”
Maddox, someone killed Maddox. It had to be a Fallen. “Where is he? Where’s Max?”
“He’s with social services—”
“He needs to be in protective custody immediately. I believe the Fallen may come for him. God, does Springfield have the capability of fighting them?”
“All police departments across the country have been brought up to speed on the abilities of enhanced humans. And yes, Springfield has a S.W.A.T. team.”
“Get them to Max. He’s in danger, and anyone he’s with is in danger as well.” Her gaze met Drake’s down the hall, and she knew he’d heard enough to understand what was going on. She looked over at Cain.
He nodded at her. “Do what you have to do. We’ll be fine.”
“Tell the Springfield police I’m on my way,” she said to the officers before striding down the hall. Drake changed directions, joining her as Laney bypassed the elevator, pushing open the door to the stairwell. “Laney, what do you need?”
Need? She needed to scream, cry, hit something. She needed to do something to protect those she cared about instead of just sitting back waiting to get more bad news.
“Cleo. Where is she?”
“In the car.”
“Good.” Laney hurried down the steps. “I need to get to Springfield, Illinois.”
Drake pulled out his phone. “I need a plane to Springfield. I’ll be at the airfield in twenty minutes. Have it ready to go.” He disconnected the call without waiting for a reply. “You okay?”
She shook her head. Kati and Maddox were dead. She couldn’t say the words. Not yet. Because if she said them out loud, she was going to lose it. And she couldn’t do that until the plane was on the way to Illinois. “I need to go get Max.”
Drake pulled her to a stop, looking into her eyes, then he nodded. “Okay. Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“You should stay. My uncle, Cain, Nyssa. They all need to be protected. Cleo will go with me.”
“They are all being looked after. You know as well as I do that your uncle and Cain are not top priorities. Samyaza’s already hurt them. Besides, with the security Matt sent, they’ll be fine. There are agents all over the place. And you need me by your side.”
“I can handle any Fallen that appear.”
“That’s not why you need me.”
She grasped his hand, and he kissed the back of it, making the tears she’d been forcing back press even harder against her eyelids.
“Where you go, I go, ring bearer,” he whispered against her forehead.
She leaned into him for a just a moment, just enough time to regain her strength. “Thank you.”
But even as she felt Drake’s arms around her, she wasn’t really there. She was back in her old house with Kati, pacing the floor with Max when he’d had colic, clasping Kati’s hand in joy as he took his first steps, sitting with Kati on their back deck in the early morning light, enjoying their coffee together. Movie nights on the couch, birthday parties for Max, laughing so hard they could barely breathe.
A lifetime of memories flooded her brain. Pictures of a life before the Fallen, before their destinies changed everything. Back to a time when their family was smaller but no less loved.
She shuddered, tears rolling down her cheeks as she clung to Drake. Newer memories replaced the old with Maddox in the mix. He’d been the father Max had never known. Then they had left to keep Max safe and away from all of this.
But it hadn’t worked. Kati and Maddox were dead. And Max was now a scared little boy on his own. Where had it all gone wrong?
Chapter 34
Yesterday
Springfield, Illinois
The Monopoly game was getting brutal.
“Ah-ha!” Maddox yelled as Kati landed on Maddox’s Boardwalk with its two hotels. Maddox snatched his card from the rows of property he’d picked up. “Let’s see. That will be $4,000.”
Kati blanched, looking at the pitiful amount of play money in front of her. She pushed a stray lock of her brown hair to the back of her forehead. “I don’t suppose you’d take an IOU?”
Maddox shook his head, his long dark ponytail swinging with the movement. “Nope, cash only.”
With a sigh, Kati slid all of her money over to him. “I’m out.”
“You can have my money,” Max said, sliding his own money toward her.
Kati kissed him on the forehead. “You are the best son ever. But no, keep your money.” Then she leaned closer to him, whispering in his ear. “And beat the pants off Maddox.”
Maddox kept his attention on combining Kati’s money with his own. “I can hear you.”
Kati stood up, winking at Max. “You were supposed to.” She headed to the kitchen, but Maddox reached out and snatched her before she could go more than two steps. He pulled her into his lap. Kati let out a shriek.
Maddox nuzzled her neck. “Mad?”
“Not mad, just not sure your cutthroat Monopoly playing is the best example for an impressionable boy.”
“Nope, I think you’re just a sore loser.”
Kati laughed. “Maybe a little bit of that as well.” She kissed Maddox, then pushed against his chest. “Now let me go. I need to figure something out for dinner.”
Maddox released her. “I made lasagna earlier. It’s in the back of the fridge.”
“You are the best.” Kati ruffled Max’s hair as she passed him on the way to the kitchen.
Maddox looked at Max. “So what do you say? Do we keep going?”
Max nodded. “Yeah, for as long as we can.”
“You got it.” Maddox cracked his knuckles. “But be warned: I take no prisoners.”
The game went on for another hour before Maddox conceded defeat. Max pulled his pile of money toward himself with a smile.
Maddox crossed his arms over his muscular chest. “You weren’t using your abilities to win, were you?”
Even though Maddox looked about as tough as a guy could look, Max was never scared of him. “They don’t work like that.”
“Hmmm.” Maddox watched him.
“Are you mad?”
Maddox’s mouth fell open. “What? No, of course not. I’m kind of impressed how you turned it all around.”
“Dinner,” Kati called from the kitchen.
Maddox stood up, and Max had to strain to see his face. Maddox held out his hand. “You know you are my best bud. Nothing will ever change that.”
Max nodded, feeling a knot in his throat. Maddox frowned, then knelt down. “Hey, what’s that matter?”
Max stared at the tabletop. “Nothing.”
“Hey, look at me.”
Max turned, looking into Maddox’s face. He wanted to tell him. He wanted to warn him. But it would do no good. And he wanted his mom and Maddox to be happy for as long as they could.
“What’s going on?”
Max just flung himself at Maddox and hugged him tight.
Maddox wrapped his big strong arms around Max. “Hey, hey, it’s all right.
I’m here. Your mom is here. We’ll never let anything happen to you.”
For a moment Max let himself believe that Maddox’s words were true. That Maddox, who’d protected him and his mom time and again, would once again succeed. But he knew fate had other plans. He just hugged Maddox tighter as a tear slipped down his cheek.
Maddox stood, still holding Max to him, and walked into the kitchen. Max felt his mom’s hand on his back. “Max, honey, what’s wrong?”
“The bad men are coming,” Max said into Maddox’s shirt. The words slipped out before he could stop them. But when they were out, he felt relief. Maybe this time would be like all the other times. Maybe they’d be able to get away.
Maddox’s muscles tightened for a second before he pulled Max away, placing him on the counter. He looked into his eyes. “Did you see something?”
Max shook his head. He couldn’t explain it, but he’d heard a clock ticking for the last few days. When he’d woken up this morning, it was louder and ticking faster. And he’d known time was running short.
Kati looked at Maddox. “Should we go?”
Maddox nodded. “Yeah. We’ll leave as soon as possible. I’ll need to get some things set up first.”
His mom’s hand was shaky when she cupped Max’s face. “It’ll be okay. The bad men won’t get us.”
But he didn’t say anything, because he knew that no matter what they did, whether they stayed or left, the bad men would get them this time.
Kati hugged him tight as Maddox stepped away, pulling out his phone. “It’s okay, Max. Everything will be okay.”
Max shook his head, his voice shaking. “No, it’s not.”
The clock ticked all evening. All through Max’s dinner, all through Maddox’s plans and Kati’s packing. Maddox carried Max to bed, tucking him in along with Lamby. Max clutched his old stuffed animal to him, and Maddox knelt next to the bed, pushing Max’s hair out of his face.
“We’ll leave in a few hours, but I want you to try and get some sleep, okay?”
Max nodded, keeping his gaze on Maddox.
“Hey, hey, I know you’re scared, but it’s going to be all right.”