by Maira Dawn
Sunny screamed and ran toward him, slipping from her mother's slackened grasp.
"I'm sorry, Edinara," Ian murmured as he used desperation to push her away as hard as he dared given her injuries.
Sonora groaned and fell to the ground. Azurine dropped beside her, smoothing her hair back as Sonora held a hand to her head.
Ian spared one glance for Sunny before turning back to Devon. The only ease he'd had during his time as a prisoner was the knowledge Sunny was safe. Keeping her alive and well had always been Ian's first priority, and nothing about that would change now.
Forty-Two
Turns Out
Chapter Forty-two
Ian pushed himself tall despite his bullet wound. Mike looked from him to Blake, clearly shaken by Devon's revelation that his father-in-law was a killer. Still, Ian gave him credit as Mike examined Devon. The man wasn't down yet, he was looking for some way to help.
Claire still stood beside the open passenger door, clenching the side. Mike glanced at her. "What about Claire?"
Devon's gaze swung to Mike, but he left the gun trained on Ian. "What about her?"
"If you let them have my family, what about her?"
Devon's gaze softened. "I'm so sorry, Mike. I know this is going to be hard on you. The easiest thing is to accept it as quick as possible and move on. Get yourself a new family. A human one. You had to know this one would be a problem someday."
"Did you?"
"Oh, yes. I did. But I fell in love with Claire, even though I tried my best not too. Once that happened, I did whatever I needed to make her mine."
Mike went back to his original question. "So, I ask again. What about Claire?"
"Claire is, of course, coming with me. And perhaps, she would like to tell you the rest."
Claire's eyes widened at Devon, and she shook her head no.
"Yes, my wife. I think it should be you."
Claire glanced from her father to her sister with teary eyes. When her gaze went back to her husband, she shook her head again.
"Tell them!" Devon's voice cracked hard as a whip.
Claire pulled in a sob and held her bottom lip between her teeth. She threw one more glance at Devon, and let his hard stare dictate her actions. She stared at the ground as she started to speak. "I'm sorry. I never meant—I didn't want you all to ever know. But Devon's told me what their kind can do, the danger they are."
"What we can do," Azurine said. “What we are."
Claire frowned at her sister. "Not me. I can't do those things."
"Really? Have you ever tried?"
"Of course not. Those abominations are dangerous and against nature." Claire's voice became stronger. "I'm not one of them!" She looked at Sonora. "Sunny, I'm so sorry. But I had to turn him in. I wanted you safe. You didn't understand the danger you were in."
Azurine looked at her sister in horror as Sonora started to sob in her arms. "You turned in Ian? You knew what Devon was doing?"
"Please understand. It was for her own good. For everyone's." Claire waved a hand toward them. "Devon doesn't hurt them any more than he has to. The information he gets is important. It can help people."
"Claire!"
"I couldn't let Sunny become like me. Remember what happened that summer? How beautiful Bay was, how beautiful it all was? Dad told us who we were, and it all seemed so perfect."
Claire wiped a tear from her cheek. "I loved him so much. The Atlantian connection we shared was so deep, unlike anything I'd felt before. He said we'd be together as soon as he came back."
She shook her head. "But then he didn't come back. He just sent me that stupid little note that said, "Not coming" with the little shark on it. Do you remember that, Azurine? How I hated him then, hated them all."
Azurine cried for her sister. "Oh, Claire."
"But after all these years, I can't forget him, can't forget what we had. I never got rid of that note. I can't stop carrying it."
Claire reached into her pocket and pulled it out, smoothing the paper. "It was the last thing he touched."
"Claire, honey, look at me," Blake said to his daughter. "Clarion, look at me."
Her gaze slowly made his way up to her father's. "I'm so sorry, Dad! But Atlantians are horrible people. I had to help Devon. I had to."
"Forget that for now. Your boyfriend did not leave you, he was in danger. That is what the shark means. I suspected as much, and I should have told you."
Claire scoffed. "What danger could he have been in, Dad?"
Ian had carefully watched Devon during the exchange. "Yes, Devon, what danger could he have been in?"
Devon shrugged. "How am I supposed to know?"
"I think you had him."
Devon's finger moved to the trigger of the gun. "I think you need to shut up, or you will get bullet number two."
A sliver of fear cut through Ian so deeply that he felt Sonora shudder. The threat was all too similar to those he'd heard through the last weeks. Devon always acted on his threats. Now was not the time to provoke him. Ian let his gaze fall to the ground.
Devon glanced at his wife. "Now is when you say you loved me best all along."
Claire's eyes widened, and she quickly reassured him. "Of course, dear. I've given you everything, done whatever you wanted. I know you didn't hurt him."
Dylan scoffed, "I cut my teeth on him. It was a pleasure to do so."
As the full force of what her husband said hit her, and Claire wavered on her feet. Her face drained of color, leaving only her large, green eyes. "I let you take everything!"
"You gave everything."
Claire put a hand on the car to steady herself. "What a travesty my life is," she muttered. "How did I give you such blind obedience?" Claire backed away from the vehicle and screamed, "I hate you! I have hated you for so long!"
Claire stared at Devon. Their eyes locked, and they read each other as only those who have been together decades can. She closed her eyes in resignation. "Why not? I have given everything else. I have never loved you as much as him, not remotely close. And whatever I had for you, turned to hatred long ago. You have to know that."
Rage covered Devon's face, and he swung the gun toward his wife. Claire bit her lip and closed her eyes. Ian rushed toward Devon with the other two men close behind.
The gun recoiled.
Claire fell to the ground, the small round hole near her heart filling with blood.
"Claire!" Azurine shouted as she ran to her sister.
Devon swung the gun back toward Ian, and another shot rang out. Ian stumbled and fell to the ground. He slapped a hand to his leg. It had gone through the skin, but not much else. Still, its stinging heat made itself known.
Devon turned the gun to Blake, and the older man raised up his hands in surrender before moving toward Ian.
Azurine fell to her knees beside Claire, trapping the little note fluttering to the ground. She picked it up and put it in Claire's hand, folding it over the paper. Claire sighed. Closing her eyes, Azurine whispered, "Oh my sister, I didn't realize how it was for you."
Claire's long sleeve fell back, and Azurine saw what Devon had taken from her. Old dark scars ran up and down her arms.
Azurine gasped. With trembling fingers, she pushed Claire's top above her stomach. Red, rope-like lines crisscrossed what was once smooth skin. Azurine whipped toward the scientist, her eyes blazing. "What have you done to her?"
"What I had to do, what she let me do. I assure you, it will help a person, a human, one day."
Azurine lowered her forehead to Claire's. "I'm so, so sorry."
Claire managed a smile despite her pain. "Don't be," she gasped. "Not now. When I wake up, Bay and I will be together again. It will be perfect." She gripped Azurine's hand. "Tell Sunny that I'm sorry if I was wrong."
Devon lifted his head at the sound of tires crushing gravel. A line of black SUVs raced down the long lane to their houses. He let out a laugh. "My people are here now. You will all be put where you belong."
He motioned with the barrel of the gun for Ian and Blake to get up and move toward the vehicles.
Ian grunted as he rose and limped. "It got out, you know. Your disease is covering the earth as we speak."
Devon froze for a moment and looked to Blake for conformation. When Blake nodded, Devon said, "They will fix it. The History Group will fix it. I haven't seen a challenge yet they couldn't overcome."
"Not this one. It was told long ago what would happen."
"Shut up!" Devon snapped. "Do you like pain? You always want more." Devon's fingers tightened on the gun.
The chill finger of fear Ian sitting at his core evaporated. He looked from the evil man to the dark, menacing SUVs. Better death than another cage. He couldn't survive that. Or he would and be there for years, decades.
He wouldn't let that happen to Sunny. The image was more than he could handle. He had one chance at this. He would not fail.
Ian glanced at Blake, nodding toward Sunny. "Old friend, I have to. She can't suffer."
"I know," Blake said. "We need to save them all from this."
Blake and Ian turned toward the black cars as Devon started sputtering behind them.
Ian eyed the distance he would need to go. He could make it. Ian stepped out of line with a glance back at Devon.
Devon fired one shot.
Ian grunted as fire ripped through the same leg, deeper this time. He struggled, keeping Sunny in his sights. She raced to him, falling to her knees in front of him.
He wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her sweet scent. Putting a hand to her face, Ian ran a finger over her soft skin. Her hands moved over his injuries then she buried her face in his neck.
Ian wished they could stay locked in each other's arms forever. Instead, he tipped her face to him, his gaze demanding hers. "Edinara, I love you so. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me."
Sonora sobbed. "I love you!"
"I do everything for you. And this so that he will never touch you."
Sunny snuggled deeper into his tightening embrace, giving him permission for what he needed to do.
"I understand," she whispered. "Do not be long behind me."
Ian inhaled, steeling himself to do what must be done.
"Ian! Stop!"
Ian turned toward Blake's voice. Mike held the gun on Devon as the evil man cowered on the ground. "I'll shoot him dead if he moves one inch. I thought this might be a better way of saving everyone than what you two had in mind." Mike shook his head and chuckled. "Atlantians. You are all so dramatic."
Ian loosened his grasp on Sunny but didn't let go. "And them?" He nodded at the SUVs coming to a stop in front of them. The police officer from the hospital jumped out.
Blake waved to the vehicles. "Turns out they're our friends, not his."
Forty-Three
The Larger Good
Chapter Forty-three
Ian didn’t move, which meant Sonora wasn’t moving either. The officer looked from them, to Sonora’s dead aunt, and to Blake as he held a gun on Devon. His gaze flicked back to Sonora. “Well, Ms. Reeves, you seemed to have gone from the frying pan directly into the fire.”
That was an understatement if she’d ever heard one. Sonora pushed at Ian, who groaned but held tight.
Instead, he glared at the officers, still not convinced they were friends, and said, “Can we trust you, officer? Or are you part of the larger evil residing in this land?”
The officer scratched his head. “I prefer to think I’m part of the larger good.”
“Devon expected you to be his cohorts.”
“Then Devon is sorely disappointed. We came because of a call from a Ms. Azurine Reeves.”
Ian released Sonora and stood, eager to explain. After glancing at Blake, who still held the weapon, she said, “Devon shot his wife, and Ian multiple times.” Sonora dropped back to the ground beside Ian and applied pressure to the wound nearest her. “Grandpa didn’t do this. Please, help us.”
As one officer called for an ambulance, Blake handed his gun over to the lead policeman and submitted to handcuffs. When Sonora and the others opened their mouths to object, he assured them all this was standard procedure, and everything would be straightened out at the station.
“You have a vehicle upgrade, I see,” Blake said as he ushered to the backseat of one.
“Yeah, we have a major donor. They always make sure we have the best.” He gave Blake a wink.
Blake chuckled, acknowledging his role in helping the local police force. “Thanks for being here for us.”
“No problem, Mr. Karras. That is what we get paid to do.
The group was still as they watched a policeman haul Devon off the ground and handcuff him. As he was led to the cop car, Devon couldn’t stop talking. “I’m innocent of any crimes against the citizens of this country. I will be free within the day. The people I work for will not stand for this! They run this town.”
Sonora angrily swiped at the tears that fell. She didn’t want to feel anything for her uncle anymore but was unable to turn her emotions off. Ian practically growled as Devon walked by him.
“Animal,” the scientist taunted.
The officer pulled Devon along. “The thing is we already knew about a worldwide ring of human traffickers specializing in medical torture. And it was suspected one part of it operated in this town. We expect Mr. Shade can fill us in on the operations.”
“He won’t do so easily,” Ian said.
The lead officer gave a sharp nod. “Oh, I hope not. There is a lot of payback owed him.”
Sonora scanned the area, her gaze settled on her mother, who still sat beside Claire. An overwhelming sadness filled her as she imagined what her aunt’s life must have been like. As upset as she was by the loss, if Aunt Claire were still alive, she would share her husband’s fate, and that may have been harder to see.
Sonora wasn’t sure she would ever forgive her aunt for her part in Ian’s capture, but after Claire told her own story, she at least understood it better. For now, she didn’t have to think about it.
A strong gust of wind swirled ashore from the ocean, lifting Sonora’s long hair and batting her clothing. Over the water, the horizon was no more than a dark haze.
“There’s a storm coming,” a policewoman told her. “News of it has been pushed aside because of this illness. But it’s likely to be a bad one. Once you get this taken care of, you should hunker down for it.”
Sonora absentmindedly nodded. That could wait for later. There were more pressing issues right now. She pushed Ian’s dark hair off his forehead and locked eyes with him. She saw pain. He must be holding it from her so she wouldn’t feel it along with him. He’d been in pain for so long. It needed to end.
Ian put a hand to hers and squeezed. “Do not fret, Jata Ara. The man cannot shoot well and did not hit any vital organ. I will be fine.”
“You are bleeding. A lot.” Sonora bit her bottom lip.
Ian’s expression became a mixture of pride and torture. “I can be almost completely drained of blood and still survive.”
“You can’t possibly know that.”
Ian turned to look at Devon as he was shoved into the SUV. “I do now.”
Sonora’s eyes widened, and tears flooded her eyes. They fell as she tended to Ian, and as she followed him into the ambulance.
Ian objected, “The treatments here are barbaric. My father will be back soon, and he will treat my wounds.”
She pushed him back on the gurney. “He isn’t here yet, and you need these taken care of. Please, do this for my peace of mind.”
He quieted but turned shades lighter when the paramedic pulled out a needle for an IV. Sonora put her forehead to his, whispering encouragement in the hope it would distract him. Ian’s whole body quivered at the sight of the needle penetrating his skin. His fear and loathing flashed through her before he was able to pull it back. It made what her uncle had done to him even more real.
; Sonora ran a hand over Ian’s stubbled cheek. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry this happened to you.”
Ian grunted, unable to speak.
At the hospital, as doctors conferred about surgery, Ian’s grumbles became louder. “I shall leave now. I will not allow them to touch me.”
Ian rose from the bed, swinging his feet to the side. A nurse in the room sighed and said, “Mr. Orca, if you do not cooperate, we will have to restrain you.”
With a thunderous scowl, he yanked the IV from his arm. He pointed to Sonora and jerked his finger from her to the door.
“Out now!” He stood to follow her despite the nurse’s loud objections.
Ian shared his feeling over the full weight of the nurse’s words with Sonora. The chill still ran through them as they rushed down the hallway. Being here was more than he could handle. If he didn’t leave now, he’d start ripping the room apart.
She took his arm and tried to keep up with his long stride. Now was not the time to scold him. She only hoped Jorah would be here soon.
Forty-Four
Dark Horizon
Chapter Forty-one
Azurine drove the two back to the house. Sonora sighed in relief when she saw Jorah lowering his council staff to fit it through the front door. She helped Ian out of the car. He was fading, needing her help more with every step.
As they came through the kitchen, she yelled, "Jorah! Ian needs you!"
As he rounded the living room door. Sonora went on, "He wouldn't let the hospital staff treat him. He said you could do it. Please, tell me you can. He is getting so weak."
Jorah pulled Ian's arm over his shoulder. To Ian, he said, "Come, son." And to Sonora, "He will be fine, little guppy. Dry those tears. It is time to look ahead and forget the sadness of the past."
Sonora nodded her head, but until she saw Ian up and around, she wouldn't be happy.
Jorah helped Ian sit on the couch and waved in one of the guards. At second glance, Sonora noticed he carried the same kind of instrument the Atlantis doctor had used on her.