We get to the back door and Ciaran steps out first, then nods right as another figure steps in front of him. I recognize the new person as Matt, who motions for us to follow in between the main house and a set of cabins. We make it to the trucks and Saylor helps me get into Ciaran’s. I’m sandwiched in the back with Matt and Reed, neither of whom look as worried as I feel. My head turns to the side, just in time to see Kai and Silas jumping into Silas’ truck with Bentley and Silas’ dad, who is carrying a bundled-up Mila in his arms. I take a deep breath when they start following us. And I hear a choked sound coming from Saylor. Ciaran reaches over to grab her hand.
“Why is no one else coming with us?” I ask, turning to look at Matt. His face is hardened, but his eyes soften when he looks at me.
“No one else is a target. The Saffrans are safe house providers and members of Rogue, but no one is after them. You, Reed, Bentley, and Saylor are technically active targets. Plus, the world thinks Mila is dead, and we need to keep her safe with us,” Matt answers and explains.
“What is the threat level?” Ciaran asks his uncle, who is now looking out the window behind us, keeping eyes on Silas’ truck.
“I haven’t checked yet,” Matt answers him. “I’m assuming high since Randy put the alarm out.”
Everyone goes quiet after that. I’m not sure what I was expecting or where we would be going, but I’m surprised when Ciaran crosses over a back road and onto a dirt trail, going deeper into the woods. Every few yards, a green light blinks in the trees, the neon glow in the dark is ominous. I lean my head against the window and that is when I can see lines of barbed-wire fence along the path. My brow quirks. We aren’t heading into an unknown, open area. In a few more minutes, my suspicions are confirmed when we pull up to an iron gate, which open when Ciaran flashes his light. Both trucks pull through, the gate closing behind us, before we exit the trucks.
“We’re ready for you.” A woman steps out the front door of the small, cement and brick building that is completely covered in green moss and tree branches. From an aerial view, this building would not be detected.
“Where are we?” I hear Saylor murmur under her breath.
“The compound,” Silas answers, my head turning to the side to find he’s suddenly next to me. “We have it set up to manage the northern part of the state and they help with any cases that might involve the Canadian border.”
I blink at him in disbelief. I knew Rogue was big, but not that their reach was so far and wide. He gives me a small smirk before they all start heading into the building, and we follow. The inside looks more like a cabin, with bedrooms and a community kitchen, until we’re led down the stairs behind a vaulted door.
When my feet hit the bottom step, it feels like I’ve stepped into a blockbuster spy movie. A huge screen covers the wall and I see a woman’s face on it, she’s having a conversation with another man standing in front of the screen. Desks are set up where people are busily working, making calls and scanning over a United States map on the other wall. Little lights on the map flash from red to green in waves.
“Erika,” Matt greets the screen, walking up to it. We all form a semi-circle behind him. Heat sears my left side and I realize that Silas is next to me, his eyes also trained on the screen. Even though he doesn’t appear to be aware of how close he is to me, I am grateful for the body heat he puts off.
“Everyone secure?” Erika asks, her eyes only fixated on Matt. She’s beautiful in a porcelain doll way. Cold. Distant.
“Everyone is accounted for,” Matt answers, his tone almost biting.
The woman on the screen sucks in a breath, her fingers tapping on her forehead, before looking at the screen again. “A Rogue home in Michigan was breeched. When the nearest employee got there last night, they made us aware. It appears the target had been dead for over twenty-four hours. Craig and Julie are missing.”
Matt’s head lowers and Jason swears under his breath, stepping away, his arms over his head. “What are the chances they might be heading this way?” Matt asks and the room turns quiet.
Erika tilts her head. “If we’re running on the theory that Craig and Julie are responsible for killing their own target…it’s a possibility. Michigan is close to Minnesota.”
“What would another theory be?” Silas asks, next to me. Everyone glances at him before turning back to Erika.
“They could have been taken by the same person who killed their target,” Erika answers, her eyes narrowed slightly.
“So either way, whether Craig and Julie acted on their own or were coerced into going with someone, the final destination could be here. Finding us.” Silas walks everyone through the conclusion, and I swear a pin could be heard dropping to the floor. No one speaks. Matt and Erika are having a silent conversation, staring at each other through the video. I see as Saylor moves closer to her sister, at the same time Reed shifts toward Mila too.
My eyes find Silas and I take in the way his posture tightens, his eyes darkening to a forest green. He can probably sense my eyes on him, but he makes no move to look at me. He’s so serious and not at all the almost laid-back, broody guy I usually see. I realize now, that there are many sides to Silas, my new friend, and I strangely find myself wanting to know him more.
“We need to put Savage Lakes on lockdown.” Jason speaks first, his head lowered. “Casual except for our houses. Tell Randy to start pulling surveillance at major highways entering the state and any air traffic in the past few days.”
“What do we do here?” Silas turns to his dad.
“Act normal. No one in the agency knows we have the cabin. We’re still safer here than if we had stayed in Savage Lakes,” Jason answers, his mouth puckering slightly, like it hurts him to say.
“This is messed up,” Kai adds to the conversation, his head lowered as his shoulders shake.
“You can communicate with your family, Kai,” Matt reassures him, “but Jason is right.”
“Is Saylor with you?’ Erika asks, and everyone turns to her again.
“Both girls are here,” Matt grits out, and Saylor moves to stand closer to Matt so Erika can see her.
“I’m here.” Saylor lifts her chin toward the screen.
Erika’s lips turn up in what looks almost like a smile. “I want you to hear it first. Calvin officially accepted our position. He recently met up with a cousin and an uncle from his family. He’s going to be staying there. We may lose contact with him periodically, but what we gathered from the meeting was that they promised him something on your mom.”
“She’s alive?” Saylor says, as if it’s something she isn’t sure is real or not.
“From what we know,” Erika nods her head, “it appears that way.”
“How will we know for sure?” Matt asks, his eyes sliding to Jason, who looks pale, his jaw clenched tightly.
“Calvin has strict instructions what to do when he finds her or finds information. He may not reach out until then though,” Erika warns them.
Everyone in the room is silent. My eyes dart around, taking in looks of grim acceptance, hopefulness, anger, and tears. I find Saylor, who sways slightly, before Matt puts an arm around her shoulders. I realize I’m missing a piece to the puzzle and I wonder if this has anything to do with Nash and why he wants information on Saylor. My heart races in my chest and I suddenly want out of this room.
“We’ll wait to hear from you,” Matt tells the screen. Erika nods and her end goes black. “Jasmine, call Randy,” Matt orders the woman who let us in. She nods her head and sits down at a desk.
“Let’s head back.” Matt motions us all to head back upstairs. Everyone moves just as quick as earlier, but I notice the boys almost move more lethally, in quick, sharp movements, using more of their bodies to usher us between them. They’ve obviously had practice at this, training that is evident in the way their faces lose any traces of emotion, eyes roaming everywhere, using hand signals to gesture.
We move quickly. My butt barely hits the seat o
f the truck before we are taking off and heading back into the woods. The cab of the truck is thick with tension. Even Saylor is less relaxed than earlier, her face expressionless. She looks lost in thought, her mind taking her on a journey away from us. Reed is next to me, his fingers digging into his legs, and I wonder briefly if it’s nerves or if he’s scared. I’ve gathered that he and Bentley are targets in Rogue, just like me. I have not asked them nor do I know anything about their pasts. I’m assuming since they are here and were not left at home that they must be high priority just as Saylor and Mila are.
By the time we get back to the house, I’m exhausted, both mentally and physically. The place is still dark. Mrs. Saffran walks out of the home and gives Matt a signal, which apparently means we can go in. Ciaran walks Saylor, Reed and me into the main house. I follow behind, trying to find Silas. He must sense me looking for him, his eyes finding mine in the darkness. He gives me a nod, and for now, I feel better. It’s such a small, simple gesture, but just knowing he cares enough, lessens the tightness in my chest. I give him a small smile and hurry after the others. Matt, Mrs. Saffran and Ciaran are having a discussion in the living room. Saylor slides up next to me and tugs my sweatshirt for me to follow her. We sneak back into the room, only to find that Oaklynn is still sleeping hard. Saylor smiles and shakes her head, the room briefly illuminated by her phone’s light.
I strip back into my pajamas and climb in bed. Despite the warmth in the room, I feel cold. The night’s events are finally catching up to me, many of which I barely understand. I was not aware that there were people after Rogue. I turn to look in Saylor’s direction at the same time I hear her shuddered breathing.
“Are you okay?” I ask, hesitantly, my voice barely a whisper.
Her bed strains as she turns to face me. “I’m scared. It’s probably stupid, but I am. Whoever took my mom is also responsible for Mila’s shooting and why she’s in a wheelchair. I almost lost her and we still don’t know for sure if my mom is alive.”
“And this Calvin is your dad?” I ask, trying to remember everything Erika was saying.
“He’s Mila’s dad by blood,” she tests out her words, “but I grew up thinking he was my dad too. Everything changed last year when he destroyed our family and millions of others. My dad was a Rogue target when he was my age. That’s how he met my mom. She lived here and worked with Matt and Jason. Apparently he’s the son of a wealthy crime family and is related to whoever is trying to dismantle Rogue.”
“How did anyone even find out about Rogue?” I ask, confused as to how this is happening.
Saylor breathes out a frustrated breath. “A lot of people are unhappy about what Calvin did. Some of those people are, apparently, also in Rogue. I’m not sure all of the details. I think there are some things Matt and Jason keep from me. I’m so mad at him.”
“Calvin?” I gather from what she’s said. I’m starting to realize Saylor and I have things in common in the parent department.
“Yeah,” she says quietly, and I ignore the way her voice is raspy. The girl needs some time to grieve, where she isn’t always being watched.
I grimace at my own thoughts, guilt churning in my gut. I’m watching her too. And reporting to a person from her past whose intentions are unknown to me. I feel small. Pathetic. I don’t get the feeling he wants to hurt her, but I’m also looking for any silver lining, knowing I’m providing information to save myself. These people are too good for me. I don’t deserve to be here, under their protection.
Silas
Morning comes way too fast. I barely shut my eyes and the sun was up, and Ciaran was after us all to get moving. I’m exhausted and wired at the same time. The alarm in the middle of the night only serves to prove that something big is coming and it has the power to destroy everything we’ve built, if we aren’t ready. We need to step up to this thing head-on and after hearing from Erika last night, I think Matt and my dad are finally seeing this too. They headed back to the compound earlier today and took Reed with them. Before they left, my dad reminded us to act normal. There is nothing more normal than letting off some steam on the lake.
“Ready?” I ask Kai, throwing the last strap over to his side and securing it in the jet ski.
“Just waiting on the girls.” He gives his head a shake and tilts his chin toward the front porch. Saylor is sitting next to Mila and talking with Mrs. Saffran. Concern is etched over Saylor’s features and Mila looks like she’s comforting her. I start to walk over there until Ciaran steps out and wraps an arm around Saylor. I step back, not understanding my own reaction anyways, and hop in my truck. Oaklynn and Lux head toward us and jump in the back.
“Everything okay up there?” Kai asks Oaklynn and she nods.
“Saylor just feels bad leaving Mila here, and was trying to talk her into coming. Mila wants to do her physical therapy though and just come to the games later,” she explains.
I feel my chest relax a little, realizing where Saylor’s worry is coming from. My eyes hit my rearview at the same time Lux looks up and our gazes collide. It could be my imagination, but I swear she gives me a small nod of encouragement. I throw my shades on when I hear Ciaran finally start his own truck behind us. I drive away from the house with a wave to Mila, who smiles wide and waves back.
“Oooohhhh, I love this song! Kai, can you turn it up?” Oaklynn announces from the back, and with a smile on his face, my friend reaches forward to turn up MGK’s “My Ex’s Best Friend.”
We roll the windows down and cruise over to the boat landing on the other side of the lake. Oaklynn keeps the mood light, chatting with everyone and even being brave enough to try and hook me into the conversation as well. I can see why Kai likes her and I side-eye my friend, wondering, again, how he’s going to talk himself out of trouble someday. He’s in deep denial.
When we arrive, I back up the trailer and Kai hops out to push the jet skis in the water. After I park next to Ciaran and lock the doors, I walk back over and see Lux standing awkwardly next to everyone. We’re the only ones not coupled up, so I know how she feels. Changing direction, I head over to her, lifting my chin at her and smirking. “Ready to get your ass dumped, Raina?”
She startles slightly at my use of her Rogue name, but then she smiles, relief flashing in her eyes. “Bring it on, Montgomery.”
We head over to the water toys and I hand her one of the life jackets before grabbing my own. I hop on and hold my hand out to Lux, who uses it to balance while she steps up then slides on behind me. We’re ready to go before everyone else and I waste no time jetting us out to the middle of the lake. Lux’s hands rest on my sides, holding onto the straps of my life jacket. I hear her intake of breath and glance back once. A huge smile plays on her lips, and for the first time since she arrived, the shadows in her chocolate eyes disappear.
The lake is busy and creates perfect wakes and waves to jump across. I don’t actually dump Lux into the water, but we come close. The guys are cruising around too, so we take turns making circles and racing from one end to the other. Lux is laughing and it’s contagious. After the seriousness of last night, this is definitely what I needed today. Sun, water, and distraction.
“This is pretty amazing,” Lux says. I turn to face her and follow her gaze while she takes everything in.
“It gets busier here on the weekends,” I tell her. “Everyone finally gets away from work.”
We watch the different sport boats pulling little kids on tubes and pontoons out booze cruising. Others are jumping off platforms or grilling outside by their docks. The sun beats down on us while we float and I feel my skin tingle under the heat of its rays.
“How are you feeling after everything?” she asks, the words somewhat hesitant.
Truthfully, I haven’t thought about how this makes me feel other than the anger and rage I have toward more possible defectors in the company. I also never talk about any of this to anyone outside of Kai and Ci, yet for some reason, I want to tell her. My eyes travel over Lux’s f
ace, taking in the shyness that radiates from her, until the natural tan of her skin turns a peach color on her cheeks.
“I’m pissed. Angry. This whole program is set up to help innocent people, and it’s being destroyed from the inside out.” I shake my head, my gaze turning back to the water. “I used to be mad about taking in Saylor’s family too. It took me a long time not to lump her in with her father and what he did.”
“And then the family drama happened?” Lux says, more as if she’s piecing it all together rather than making fun of the situation, and I nod. She exhales. “That’s a lot for anyone. You, Saylor, and Mila.”
“Yeah,” I look at her again, “it is. Saylor and I agreed to work on the sibling stuff.” I shrug like it’s not a big deal, even though it makes my insides feel tight. Lux’s knowing eyes assess me, reading me in a way not many people try to or even can. My usual asshole exterior deflects most people from caring.
Lux opens her mouth to comment when another jet ski pulls up next to us suddenly, and I let out an audible groan.
“Hey Silas.” Allie Grant waves a hand, a flirty smile on her lips, while she eyes me over. My lips pull into a grim line, wondering what I was thinking last summer. Sure, Allie is gorgeous, and she was more than willing to dip out on her group of stuck-up friends to meet me in the woods many times, but that was the extent of our knowledge of each other. Her parents own one of the larger vacation homes on Robin Lake, and I’m pretty sure she got her rocks off on sleeping with one of the bad boys on the smaller lake. The fact that she felt the need to seek me out and is eyeing me, lets me know one thing, her intentions are bad and she’s trying to make Lux feel insecure. One thing I hate most in girls is when they are catty.
I slide my hand over Lux’s leg and grip her knee, pulling her into me, ignoring the way my blood races in my veins just touching her, before turning back to Allie. “Hey, Amanda, right?”
The smile fades off her bubblegum pink lips, and her eyes narrow. “Amanda is my sister, asshole.”
#SummerGirl Page 6