“Let’s run then,” Lethal said, getting to his feet and holding a hand out for her to take so he could pull her up.
As they turned from Acker’s grave and toward the direction that would lead them back to Alliance, Nina was startled to see Two, Scorn, Steel, Feral, Valor, and even Brutal, all standing patiently, waiting for her to decide to leave.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were still here waiting,” she said.
“We got you. It’s all good. You just do your thing and we got you. You’re one of us,” Scorn said firmly.
“I just want to run now. I don’t want to think anymore,” Nina answered.
“Then we run,” Feral answered.
“I’m going to head over to the cafeteria, I think,” Brutal said, starting to walk away. “Let me know if I can do anything at all,” he said.
Lethal nodded at Brutal but didn’t speak as he guided Nina through his team where they stood waiting for Lethal and Nina to walk past them before they fell in behind them on their way back to Alliance and the house Lethal had claimed for them.
Two grinned and elbowed Scorn when Lethal paused in his stride and swept Nina up with one arm, holding her against his hip as he walked so she wouldn’t have to struggle in heels all the way back to Alliance.
Nina’s right side was pressed against Lethal's hip and upper body, his left arm curled beneath her, holding her up and tightly against him. She leaned her head over on his shoulder and allowed herself to close her eyes and let him take the lead, carrying her back home rather than insisting she do so herself.
Thirty minutes later General Ferriday, Roscoe and Brutal watched as Nina and Lethal, accompanied by all Lethal’s team, left their house in the still pouring rain at a brisk run.
“He can’t even give her a damn break on the day she buried Acker,” Roscoe said.
Brutal glanced sideways at Roscoe. “She asked him to take her running. He’s doing exactly what she told him she wanted to do. And his squad is right along with them to show their support. It’s the biggest stride I’ve seen from Lethal or his team yet. Don’t criticize what you don’t understand,” Brutal responded.
Roscoe looked at Brutal with shock on his features.
“He’s not one single time mistreated her. What he’s provided, she not only asked for, she needed,” Brutal commented before walking back into the cafeteria before he said something he’d regret.
“You believe that?” Roscoe asked after Brutal walked away.
“I do. And I’ll tell you something else I believe,” General Ferriday said, still watching the retreating figures of Lethal’s team in the distance.
“What’s that?” Roscoe asked.
“You need to let it go. She’s not available. I understand you grew close to her, but her life has changed. Even if it hadn’t, she still wouldn’t have been available.”
Roscoe just looked at the General, his expression showing the fact that he was completely caught off guard that his intentions had been that easily read.
“Look, I know it’s difficult. It’s still hard for me to accept that Maddox doesn’t know me, likely never will. He doesn’t remember that I was like an uncle to him. But we’re slowly building a new relationship. One of trust and friendship. And I’m proud to be a friend to the man that he is today. Maddox is gone, but Lethal is still here. I’ll take his friendship and his happiness in any way I can. You need to do that with Nina. She’ll never be who she once was, and she’ll never be available to you. But she can be a friend.”
Roscoe just clenched his jaw and watched the General try to make him understand.
“You’re a good man, Roscoe. Wouldn’t have included you in this operation if I didn’t believe you were. And there’s a woman out there for you, it’s just not the one you hoped for. Set your sights elsewhere and see if maybe you can salvage a friendship with Nina when she’s finally ready. And understand that when she is, it’ll be only on her terms. They come from something we will never understand. It’s us that have to adjust, not them. We made that choice when we freed them and brought them into Alliance,” General Ferriday said. He patted Roscoe on the shoulder before going back inside to join the others who were laughing at something Findley was telling them.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
One day blended into the next, and every day Nina pushed herself harder. She was often the first one up, and the rule was first up makes breakfast. So it had become a usual routine for her. She’d cook, then she’d go out for her run. All day, every day, she pushed herself to the point of exhaustion. She ran in the mornings — usually with Lethal joining her — swam in the evenings, and in between she’d rest, eat, and take instruction from different males that Lethal felt could offer her anything of benefit.
Her swims had turned into grueling sessions in which she was not allowed to touch the bottom or the sides of the pool for any reason. If she did, the pool skimmer would come in contact with any part of her body Athena could reach as she walked around the perimeter of the pool looking for a reason to whack her. Every session was always overseen by Brutal who’d often take on the role of coach and yell at her until she pushed herself to reach the end of the pool more quickly than she had before in order to break her own records. But even when he was yelling at her, if Athena reached out with the pool skimmer to pop her on the head or the arm, he’d always snarl at Athena. Though he pushed her, he didn’t like Athena to strike out at her.
Law was worked into her schedule a couple of times each week to spar with her with the Bo. He kept it light because though she was learning, she wasn’t fully skilled in martial arts yet, but he did expect her to pay attention and mimic his movements while he taught her balance and agility with the Bo.
Steel taught her to disassemble and reassemble a rifle and then how to shoot it.
Scorn taught her Jiu Jitsu, which she really enjoyed. She looked forward to the lessons that usually started out on the ground and taught her how to break control another may have of you and how to escape that person and take control of them no matter how small you were. As she learned, Scorn elevated the amount of force he used to make her excel as time went on. Lethal hated these sessions and often ended up leaving the house in a snarling fit.
Feral taught her to use both a cross bow and a classic bow, then he taught her how to field dress the animal she hunted.
They all took turns jumping her when she was out and about and making her fight them off as part of teaching her to battle her way out of a surprise attack.
On the occasions that Lethal and his team were called away for a mission, there was always someone willing to step in. Usually it was Brutal, but, she’d also been trained by Two, who drove his side-by-side behind her as she ran and sang songs at the top of his lungs to keep her entertained while she ran.
Nina never complained. She was training for her new life. Her new focus was taking out every sonofabitch that had ever caused her pain, and one day, she had no doubt she’d get there. She was gaining self-confidence. She was gaining pride in herself. She was learning self-respect and dignity. And she liked who she was becoming.
Every night she went to sleep in the bed across from Lethal’s, and every morning she woke up in that bed alone. He never pressed his edge over her, but she’d have been a fool not to notice the way he snarled at any male who bothered to give her more than a passing glance. And she’d begun to notice little things he did for her that he never said a word about. Not the least of which was the wooden bench with a matching wooden canopy that had been at Acker’s grave the last time she’d gone to visit. She’d walked up to the grave anticipating leaving in tears as she usually did, and instead she left with a smile on her face, looking back over her shoulder at least twice to admire the bench and shelter Lethal had built her.
And finally, her body didn’t hurt anymore. She was strong and lithe. She could feel the muscles of her body working with every move she made and it made her feel powerful. She was becoming the person she aspired to be. When she wen
t to sleep at night, it was because she was tired, not because she passed out from exhaustion. She liked the feeling. And she’d learned a lot since she’d become more relaxed and aware of her surroundings. Like tonight, when Lethal came into the bedroom, thinking she was asleep. He’d walked over to her bed, and stood over her for a few seconds before smoothing her hair away from her face. Then he’d run his thumb over her bottom lip. “Sleep well, my Nina,” he said quietly before getting in his own bed and falling asleep. She’d lain there in the dark, with her eyes closed because she knew the Variant could see in the dark, and thought about what had just happened. She thought about Brutal telling her that she’d been more than just a reward to Lethal. And she thought about the way Lethal had claimed her as his despite the extreme animalistic tendencies all the Variant had had back then. He’d taken her for his even though he’d had to face off against one of his own males to do so. Nina turned over in her bed and lifted her fingers to her lips where Lethal had touched them. Maybe, just maybe, Brutal was right, and she was more than just a reward to Lethal.
Chapter 49
Nina awoke to the smell of bacon cooking. She rolled over and glanced out of the bedroom window, momentarily disoriented by the fact that the sun was up and she was not. She hurried to get out of bed, go to the bathroom and brush her teeth, and then dress in the clothes that Lethal had apparently left out for her on the foot of her bed. She pulled on the hiking boots he’d gotten her a couple of months ago and practically jogged into the living room.
“I’m so sorry! Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked.
“Not a problem. You must have needed the sleep,” Lethal answered.
“But I’m behind now. I have to run, then I have to train with Scorn, and then…”
“We’re doing something different today,” Lethal said, interrupting her. “You ready for breakfast?”
“Sure,” she answered, wondering what he could possibly have planned that was different from all the training she’d been getting.
“Come on, then. We have a long day ahead,” he said, setting two plates on the table and taking a seat before one of them.
Nina sat down at the table and looked at the bacon, eggs, toast and smothered potatoes and onion piled on her plate. “I didn’t know you could cook,” she said. Nina picked up her fork and began to eat. “And it’s good, too,” she said surprised.
“You think all I know how to do is hunt people and kill them?” he asked.
“Kinda,” she said honestly.
Nina reached for her orange juice and sipped it. “You didn’t squeeze this, did you?” she asked.
“I’m not Suzy fucking homemaker. I just happen to know how to cook enough that I won’t starve,” Lethal said with an irritated tone in his voice. But she knew Lethal, and the sparkle in his eye told her he was amused despite the tone in his voice.
“But we didn’t have any juice last night,” Nina said, watching him for a reaction.
He surprised her when he went for full disclosure. “No, we didn’t. I went to the supply this morning and got some because I knew you were looking for it last night. Is that okay?” he asked.
Nina was shocked. This whole day was off kilter so far. “Yeah, I suppose it’s okay,” she finally managed to answer.
“Good, then eat.”
“I’m eating,” she answered.
He surprised her when a short while later he huffed a huge sigh and got to his feet. He walked into their bedroom and came back with something in his hands. He reached out, holding his closed fist over the table and let whatever he was holding tumble out and onto the table, then he handed her what he was holding in his other hand.
Nina sat spellbound, looking at her father’s medals that lay beside her now empty breakfast plate, and holding the photo of her father on the day he received most of the medals, gently in her left hand.
“These were with Acker when we found him. I think he got them from your old home. Are they yours?” Lethal asked.
Nina felt the tears threaten but she choked them back. “I thought I’d never see these again. I thought they were lost forever,” she murmured.
“I don’t know the story of how Acker came to have them, just that he did. I didn’t want to give them to you in case they set you back in your goals, but I think you’re past the point of setback now. Besides, I didn’t know if they were actually yours or not.”
Nina nodded slowly. “He’s my Dad,” she said, lifting the photo slightly. “These were his medals. They’re all I have left of him,” she said, lifting her right hand to finger the medals slightly.
Lethal didn’t say anymore, he let Nina sit with her father’s belongings without his interruption.
Finally, she looked up at him. “Thank you, Lethal. For bringing these back to me. For bringing Acker back to me. For keeping me safe the best you could, when you could.”
Lethal smiled at Nina, and her heart stuttered. The smile he offered her gave her a sense of the man he must have once been. It was warm and kind and caring. “No thanks needed, Nina. I would have done more if I’d been able.”
Nina nodded, then held the photo to her chest and smiled back at him.
“We need to get a move on. We have a long day ahead of us,” Lethal said.
“Okay,” she answered. Then she realized how quiet it was. “Where is everyone?” she asked.
“Checking out the new jail,” Lethal answered.
“Yeah, I saw they finished it early,” she commented.
“Yep. They’re making sure it will hold even one of us.”
“Are you planning on arresting one of the Variant?” Nina asked.
“You never know who we’ll arrest. We’ve managed to trace some of the serial numbers on the equipment left behind where we were held,” Lethal explained, watching her for any reaction. “Most of it came from surplus that belonged to the Army field hospitals. That information has led us to several of Waller’s guards, and we’re hoping ultimately, to him.”
“You’re going after them, and Waller?” she asked.
“At some point. But we have to plan it precisely. We can’t risk him getting away,” Lethal explained.
“Then, I want to go,” Nina said, folding her hands in her lap, and not meeting his eyes.
“Where?” Lethal asked, his heart in his throat as he thought she wanted to leave his house.
“To get Waller. I want to go, too.”
Lethal smiled at her bravery. “It depends on when we locate him and the progress you’ve made. We can’t take a chance on screwing up the mission. Like I said, it’s a one time deal. We miss him, he could disappear forever.”
“I deserve to go, too,” Nina insisted.
“Work hard, and we’ll see when the time comes. It’s likely his guards will be taken first. At least those he let go when he changed location,” Lethal said. “You can come on those, and we’ll work from there and try to track him.”
Nina nodded. “I’m going to go put these medals away,” she said, scooting her chair back and standing up.
Lethal simply got to his feet and started moving their breakfast dishes into the sink to deal with later.
When she came back from the bedroom, he pointed toward two backpacks sitting beside the front door. “One of those is for you. Today we’re heading out on foot. We’re going to see how much you know about survival, and I’m teaching you to track.”
Nina followed him over to the door.
“Each backpack is packed with anything you’d need for one day in the wilderness — we’re staying for three — at least. Let’s see what you got,” he said, hoisting one and dropping it over his shoulder.
Nina mimicked him and lifted the second one, tossing it over a shoulder. She watched Lethal shrug into the one he held and balance it comfortably on both shoulders. She did the same.
Lethal opened the door and walked out of it, with Nina following him. She adjusted the straps of the drab-green, canvas backpack and looked up to find Lethal watching her.
“You ready?”
“Yes,” she answered.
He turned and started a brisk jog.
Nina fell into step behind him, and together they left Alliance behind.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
As Nina ran beside Lethal, she paid particular attention to him each time he’d stop to examine the ground, or a shrub they passed. He didn’t explain every single sign he found, but, when he did explain, she listened intently. And even when he didn’t tell her what he was reading from the signs he found, she got the impression he took his time examining them so that she too could examine them.
They’d been gone for more than three hours. She’d not questioned anything at all, just kept up with Lethal, stopped when he did, and listened when he told her what he was looking at. He began to slow his pace and looked around. Nina did the same. She looked around them, and didn’t see a single thing. Just knee high grasses blowing gently in the slight breeze.
“Do you see it?” Lethal asked.
Nina turned around, trying to see what he did. She looked at the ground near her feet, then at his. The area between her brows bunched together as she turned in a slow circle, not seeing a damn thing. Then, the breeze died down for a moment and she realized what he was talking about. There was a path through the grasses that led off to the west. With the movement of the grass in the breeze, she’d have gone right past it and missed it altogether. “I do,” she answered.
“Lead us. We’re tracking a rogue squad. It’s our job to bring them in,” Lethal said.
“What did they do?” Nina asked.
“Doesn’t matter. You’re ordered to bring them in dead or alive. Do it,” Lethal said.
Nina gave a sharp nod of her head and turned back toward the path she could just barely make out through the grass. She was careful to walk exactly where they did so she’d leave no trace of her own path should they double back. Lethal stayed behind her, allowing her to guide them.
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