The Choice (The Gamble Series Book 2)

by Kathryn Jacques

  “In theory, if we bring a few horses from our compound, we could move Jax as well as Colton and Prae,” offers Camrie. “I checked on them this morning and they’re probably stable and strong enough to ride that distance.”

  Nole shakes his head, standing to his full height. “That still leaves five who can’t and I’m not leaving anyone behind after they were brave enough to face the League. The best place for those people is here and the best place for Kelsey is back at our compound where far more armed guards can watch out for her in a building we know how to defend.”

  “No,” I say with as much command in my voice as I dare when addressing Nole.

  “Kelsey,” he says, “it’s the safest place for you. There’s nearly seven hundred people there, almost a hundred of them trained as guards. You’ll be well protected.”

  “I’m not leading Elijah there to Nadia and all of those other people and children trying to live their lives. For all we know, he’s waiting in the woods planning an ambush the moment we set foot into the forest. He might be nuts, but he’s highly trained and I’m sure has a number of weapons and various traps at his disposal. He managed to get past our security, into this house and back out again without anyone noticing. He could be hiding in trees or under large rocks with a whole arsenal to take us out one by one."

  “She’s not wrong,” mutters Jax with a shrug.

  "So you suggest we wait here for him to pick us off one by one?" someone, a man with freckled skin and hair almost as vibrant as Elijah’s, asks. "Like you said, he got into this house. Given how massive this place is, he could still be in here.”

  The idea makes my skin crawl and my eyes dart over the darkened corners of the room as if Elijah hides in one of them, watching me and waiting for me to be alone.

  "Well," says Ryder, thick arms folded over his chest with his dirty boots propped up on the table, "this discussion can go round and round all day and get us nowhere, givin’ Elijah more time to enact whatever that kid is plannin’."

  "Agreed," admits Nole.

  Ryder lowers his feet back to the floor with two thuds. Standing, he paces around the table with his hands clasped behind his back, muscles in his arms rippling. "We know he's after Kelsey and wherever she goes, he'll follow. We know he's got access to weapons; guns, grenades, whatever; and he may even have a person or two left from the League still standing beside him and helping. But we also know that he knows he’s outmanned and out armed no matter which way he looks at it or how many weapons he's got at his disposal so whatever he plans, he's gonna be cautious. An ambush in the woods is a good idea, but at the end of the day, once we find that worm's hidin’ spot, his game's over."

  Nole scratches at his chin in thought. "Alright, what do you propose?"

  "Tonight? Probably don’t need to worry much. If he were gonna kill anyone he woulda done it while he was in here. Tomorrow? We take Kelsey back to the compound.”

  “I already said no!”

  Ryder focuses his gaze on me, eyes like steel. “You’re going. We can’t protect you here and you’re doin’ nobody any favors by stayin’. We can take our risks in the woods, but I doubt he’ll attack if we’re in a large enough group. He wants to screw with your head first, then he wants to kill you. He can’t do either of that if he ambushes us and risks the likely chance of gettin’ himself killed.”

  “Doesn’t matter, I don’t want-“

  Ryder’s fist slams onto the table, cracking against the wood and causing everyone to jump. “This isn’t about what you want! It’s about keepin’ you safe, the people here safe and endin’ this once and for all!”

  Whatever objections I had on my tongue, I clamp my mouth shut, startled by Ryder’s outburst.

  No one speaks for several seconds until Jax fake coughs. "When do we leave?"

  "You aren't going anywhere," says Ryder. "You're not well enough."

  Jax snorts. "Like hell."

  "Jaxon, he's right," says Camrie. "I know you feel better, but that kind of travel, plus a potential fight with Elijah isn't safe for you right now."

  "A fight with Elijah isn't exactly safe for anyone. Especially Elijah once I get my hands around his scrawny neck."

  "You know what I mean."

  Jax clenches his jaw, eyes narrowed. “Charlie has me in charge of security, so I feel like I get a say.”

  “Technically, I’m in charge of security. Charlie and I let you be in charge because I’m not gonna be around forever and need someone to take over, and you needed somethin’ to keep you focused before you self-destructed. Right now, however, you’re too emotionally involved and you’re too injured, so I’m pullin’ rank.”

  "But we need him," says Rey and I'm shocked he's actually vying for Jax to come with us. "He knows these woods better than almost anyone else except maybe you, Ryder. And he can fight well, even injured."

  "Nice to see you both gettin’ along, but you aren’t comin’ either, kid," Ryder announces.

  "Wait, what?" I sputter.

  "They're stayin’ here," the giant man repeats, his tone daring anyone to defy him. "Jax is too injured and Rey is needed here to continue to plan our infiltration of ROC with Charlie. World doesn't stop just cause Elijah's threatenin’ you."

  "I can plan the ROC stuff anywhere," says Rey. "Or it can just wait a few days. It's not like they're going anywhere any time soon."

  "Not up for negotiation."

  While he brings up valid points, especially with Jax's health, I question if there isn't more. I stare at each person in turn, Jax and Rey included. "Can Ryder and I have a moment?"

  Camrie and the people whose names I still don't know, all seeming grateful for an excuse to escape, rise from the table and file out. Nole follows, sharing a knowing glance with Ryder before slipping into the hallway.

  Jax and Rey don't move, both glaring at me with their arms crossed and faces marked with defiant challenge.

  "Yes, of course, the one time you both actually get along is when you're arguing with me. Look, can Ryder and I just have a couple minutes alone to discuss all of this? I promise I'll come find both of you when we're finished."

  They exchange a glance out of the corner of their eyes, Jax's jaw tight and Rey chewing on the inside of his mouth.

  "Please?" I plead with a tone of frustration.

  "Fine," grumbles Jax, pushing to his feet and stomping from the room.

  "Rey?"

  "I am going with you," he says, pointing a finger at me for emphasis. "So whatever you both discuss, that better be part of the plan."

  "Ok."

  "Ok. Then I’ll be upstairs in your room." He follows Jax's footsteps, shutting the door behind him.

  I turn my attention to Ryder. "What's going on?"

  "What’d you mean?"

  "I mean, why don't you want them going?"

  "Already told you."

  "Sure. But I don't think that's the full truth and considering I'm at the center of this insanity, I want to know what's going on and why."

  He sits forward in his chair to rest both elbows on the table. "Cause you love both of them and they love you. And right now, we don't have room for any of that. Jax got himself shot to impress you. I can't have that."

  I balk. "Jax got himself shot to save Rey!"

  "Yeah, cause he knows you love Rey and Jax loves you and now he's done somethin’ noble and chivalrous or whatever. I've known that boy longer than you, he don’t jump in front of bullets cause he wants to save lives."

  "How can you say that?" I growl in disgust.

  "Cause I know it's the truth."

  "You're wrong about him."

  "No. I'm not sayin’ he knows the real reason behind his actions, colorful world, remember? But whatever the motives for that, I can't have those two riskin’ their lives or the lives of others when we need to end this. And I need you focused cause Elijah's gonna have a good plan to get you and you need to be fully aware. If those boys are with us, you'll only worry about them and I don't want any of y
ou doin’ somethin’ stupid."

  "I'll worry about them regardless."

  "You'll have less reason to worry with them here and safe."

  "They'll follow us anyway."

  "I'll put a couple guys here on watch. Have both boys locked up if we have to. Jax isn't gonna make it as far as he thinks he can anyway."

  I stand, wandering to the row of windows overlooking the weed-choked front yard and into the woods beyond. The firelight from the lanterns behind me dances across the panes of glass as I gaze at the silent trees and dark sky. I wonder if Elijah's there now, watching the house, waiting for me to come out so he can put a bullet in my head. Or carve me up into tiny pieces.

  I need to trust Ryder, probably more than anyone else right now. He's strong, smart, ready for a faceoff with a lunatic, and he's ruled purely by logic rather than emotion. I wouldn't say he's cold or careless, but I don't get the impression he has a lot of feelings to wade through before making decisions.

  I hate the idea of going back to the Risers’ compound without Jax and Rey, especially because we have no idea what Elijah will do next, but I can't deny the truth to Ryder's words. I've already sacrificed myself to save Jax and I'd do the same to save Rey. Who knows what either of them would do if my life were on the line, but it wouldn't necessarily be rational.

  I close my eyes and face the facts. The best place for them, for anyone really, is as far away from me as possible right now. I need to do what is best for those I care about, which means, like Ryder said, I can’t stay here.

  Placing a hand on the dirty window, I rest my forehead against it. "When are we leaving?"

  “First thing in the mornin’, before Elijah can make a next move. You should probably get some more sleep if you can.”

  "I want to kill him,” I say.

  "We will. We’ll figure out a way.”

  "No. I want to be the one to actually do it."

  He scratches at the stubble lining his jaw as a shimmer of candlelight reflects of his bald head. "Whatever happens, happens. I'm not gonna risk Elijah escapin’ just so you can kill him."

  "Fine. But promise me, if there's a way, I want to kill him."

  Ryder stares at me long and hard, his deep- set eyes glittering as they narrow. "You understand what you're asking to do? What you want? That's not-"

  "I know what it is and I know what it's not and I know it's what I want."

  He stares at me long and hard, face a façade of stone but eyes scanning me from head to toe.

  "I am choosing who I become," I announce.

  He gives a slow nod expression taunt. "Ok then. I'll see what I can do.”

  I say nothing, holding Ryder steady in my gaze.

  “I need you to trust me, poppet.”

  I still say nothing, forcing myself out of the room and upstairs to find Jax and Rey and convince them of… whatever I need to convince them of at this point. Or convince myself because there are no good choices anymore.

  They’re both in my bedroom, waiting for me in silence. They’ve hauled Jax’s mattress in from his room, where he now rests on my floor. Rey has thrown himself onto the sofa on the far wall. Even in the darkness, I can see the heavy circles under both their eyes.

  “We’re going with you?” Rey asks.

  I lick my lips. “Yeah,” I lie. “We’re leaving in the morning. Ryder says get some rest.”

  The thing is, I’m not leaving in the morning. I’m leaving tonight. If I go to the Risers’ compound, it will only delay the inevitable and draw this out longer. I don’t know how much more of the anxiety I can take, living each moment in fear, wondering if Elijah hides in the shadows or around the next corner. Never knowing if today will be the day he kills me or kills someone I love. And with that fear, he’s getting exactly what he wants, to continue to torture and terrorize me for as long as possible before he puts a bullet through my temple or chops of my head like those mannequins in the forest. I can’t live this way but this war will only end with one of us dead, and that won’t happen any time soon once I’m back at the Risers’ under constant guard like some sort of prisoner. Again. A prisoner again.

  When both Jax and Rey have fallen back asleep, their snores deep and steady, I slip from bed, padding across the room in my bare feet to grab my boots and head for the hallway. I wish I could say goodbye, but I have no energy for another argument that will just go around in circles and waste whatever precious time I have left until morning. One last look at them will be all I can have and I’ll need them to trust me enough to know I’ll come back.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  As I creep through the house, avoiding creaky floorboards and main halls where I might run into a night guard, my first stop is the kitchen. It’s not really functional save a brick, wood burning oven installed on one wall that is now the only useful thing in the space. But it’s a central enough location to store our food and supplies in the safehouse. An overgrown garden in the back provides some fresh vegetables and the property has a well to gather water, several buckets of which line the kitchen’s quartz counter.

  A spare leather backpack rests beside the buckets. I shove two canteens of water inside, followed by a loaf of bread, fresh apples and tomatoes, some candles and flint rocks, a knife and a few other items and food packs I might need. I hope I won’t be more than a few days or I’ll have starvation to add to my list of problems, but I also can only carry so much and need to leave enough supplies for everyone else in the house.

  I still have a handgun Ryder gave to me earlier, but I grab a semi-automatic from the stash in the corner of the room, swinging it onto my shoulder.

  “What are you doing?”

  My heart leaps into my throat as I spin around to see Rey in the kitchen doorway, the light from my lantern dancing across his face furrowed in confusion.

  “Rey, why are you down here?”

  “Why are you down here. Are you running away? Kelsey, are you insane?”

  “You’re following me around? Am I that much of a prisoner here?” I can’t conceal the defensive tone in my voice.

  “Watchdog, remember? Now, please, please tell me you aren’t planning to sneak off into the woods somewhere by yourself to hunt down Elijah.”

  “I don’t have a choice Rey.”

  “Sure you do. Follow Ryder’s plan, go back to the Risers’ compound tomorrow, let someone else kill Elijah.”

  “You and I both know that will never work. He’s not going to stop threatening or harming the people I care about until he’s dead or until I am. I see no point in dragging this out longer.”

  “He’ll kill you, Kels.”

  “Or I’ll kill him. I’m not that same girl you knew in ROC. Both of us have changed Rey, you’ve said as much yourself. I can do this. I need to do this. I can’t continue to be a prisoner anymore. I can’t live in fear. If those two things are going to remain constant, then I would have been better off in ROC.”

  He’s silent for a long moment, eyes roving over my face. “Then I’m coming with you.”

  “You can’t. I have to be alone or Elijah will never show himself. He’s too cautious knowing he’s outnumbered. And besides, I need you here to make sure Jax doesn’t do something moronic again.”

  Rey mouth falls open with mock shock. "Moronic? Jax? Never. Though I am honored you think I make intelligent decisions."

  "That's not at all what I said, but you can’t come with me either way. I’ll be careful. I know what I’m doing.”

  “What are you doing then?”

  “Luring him as far away from here as possible and when he attacks, shoot him square in the forehead like Charlie did to Sawyer.”

  “I don’t like this plan.”

  “I don’t either, but we’ve run out of options. Elijah will follow me to the ends of the Earth. I cannot continue to live like this, wondering who he will hurt next to get to me. Please trust me. I can do this and I’ll be careful. And look, I need you and Jax to both be careful too, ok? There's no telling what
Elijah is scheming."

  Rey castes me one of his goofy smiles, but the cheer is gone from his eyes, replaced by a mixture of deep exhaustion and frightened anxiety. "Careful is my middle name."

  "Your middle name is Austin."

  "Well, it could be 'careful'. Up here, it's not like anyone but you would know."

  Suddenly overcome with emotion, realizing what I’m about to do and this could be the last time I ever see my best friend, I fling my arms around his waist and bury my face in his chest. He returns the hug, kissing the top of my head and then resting his cheek on my hair. He’s solid and strong beneath me and for a few wonderful moments, it’s as though nothing has ever changed and I can forget the nightmare I am now living.

  "Love you, Kels," he says. Not in the romantic way, but in the way that means we are, and always will be, best friends.

  "Love you too, Rey "Careful" Zuritsky."

  Slipping away, he caresses my cheek with the back of his hand. "Go take care of that red-haired jackass. I'll be here waiting when you get back, and I expect his head on a stick."

  I smile. “Maybe I’ll even put a bow on it. Like a birthday present.”

  His face screws up, nose wrinkling. “Come on, now you’re just being creepy.”

  I laugh softly. Readjusting my supply bag and my loaded gun, I give him the most confident smile my nerves will allow.

  “Promise me,” he says, “that you’ll come back.”

  I pause for a moment and then with my free hand, I unclasp my mother’s necklace, giving it one last longing glance. I extend it to Rey, coiling it into his palm, the silver glittering in the dim candlelight.

  “That was my mother’s. It was one of the last things she wore and requested my father give it to me when I turned eighteen. It’s all I have of her. Keep it safe, because now I have to come back for it.”

  Rey tightens his grip on the tiny silver pendant. “Ok.”

  With a final nod, I slip out the side door of the kitchen, scanning the darkness for any sign of guards before darting across the vacant, overgrown front yard and toward the woods, making a point of circling wide through the perimeter just inside the tree line and heading for the macabre display of mannequins Elijah set up, knowing he prowls somewhere nearby.