Advancing ((Advance Industries #2)) (18 page)

Trask, on the other hand, jumps to his feet, a sneer across his face as if I just said something vile which I guess I did. “Did he hurt you?” He demands.

“No, he was alone, unarmed and to be honest he looked broken.” Kye opens his mouth and I interrupt him, “It’s okay I’m not falling for it, he’s pulled that act too many times. I don’t care if he is remorseful, he has to be stopped and my sisters need to be found. I know they’re still in the city, their chips have been removed and they’re in an underground lab but... we could search forever and not find them. Before anything happens to Fraser we need to get him to talk, to give up their location and verify it before disposing of him.”

Kye looks at me and says, “It’s your call baby. Tell us how you want this to play out. I’m with you.”

I smile at him. I adore this man.

What should our plan of attack be?

I take another sip of whiskey. The burn as it travels down my throat reminds me that I’m alive though I’m not really living. I’m sinking, drowning in pity – for myself. I’m not crippled but my leg is weak, mangled by the metal that embedded in it. Red, raw scars snake up most of my calf and thigh. My confidence is at its lowest, it took a beating too and now all I do is sit and think. The same questions have been driving me crazy for days and now I’ve been presented with a new one to mull over. I still want to know how they escaped that day without a tube. What did he do to his Comm to get them out? I meant to ask her when she appeared in the girl’s room but I was so elated that she was back everything else melted away. Her eyes were throwing me daggers leaving me under no illusion that her feelings towards me haven’t changed, and she was different. I can’t put my finger on it but she was... stronger? Less fearful?

I’m desperate to know why she’s back and why she’s alone. I suppose it has something to do with her sisters but in my bleakest moments I wonder if she came back for me? I’ll never win her around in my current state. I’ve never dressed so appallingly before, even when I was living with the homeless I had some pride in my appearance.

I’m being urged to step up, Franny and several senior AIG are begging me to make the announcement, to tell the city about Johnson’s death and prepare them for new leadership – my leadership.

I wanted this, I chose this and I can do it but I don’t have the motivation currently. I don’t have the burning need or the desire to address the city. I’ve done what I can, for now, the girls were moved along with a secret research team and I instructed the guards to build numbers by any means possible. They’ve built an army by all accounts but still they keep pushing. Franny thinks I’ve slipped into depression but that’s laughable. Am I not entitled to feel slightly sorry for myself? The city needs a leader and I’m the natural candidate. I have to snap out of this... melancholy?

I want this, I keep telling myself but I want her too, she’s become an itch I just can’t seem to scratch. I’ve never been unsure of anything. I’m a doer, I make things happen but with this I feel sorely lacking and it’s tedious and draining.

And now I find myself presented with an option, a way to lure her to me now that she has a Comm and is reachable. But what am I willing to sacrifice in return?

The person helping me would be a risky asset, she has the skill and I have the numbers but why would she offer this?

She can’t stand this city after being outcast by Johnson, she’s been building her followers ever since. Is she helping Faith or aiding me?

She can’t be trusted; she’s always working an angle but she’s my only chance at getting what I want. I should forego this drinking as my mind is struggling to think clearly, she may be devious but I’m intelligent, I can figure this out. I will get what I want without too much disruption from her.

My girl made the same call I would have. It was actually thrilling watching her step up and command the team, command their attention and do it right. She’s a born leader once she gets over her trepidation. I doubt I was the only one impressed and who knew she’d manage to get Charlotte of all people on our side. We might want the same thing but Miss Bennett isn’t known for her tactfulness or kindness. I still wouldn’t put it past her to have an ulterior motive but for now, I have to admit having help from her in the way of Comms makes things easier. This way we can plan a countered attack.

Faith decided that we should move out and set up camp closer to the city’s wall. We will be the first wave and Charlotte won’t be far behind with her larger numbers. It was discussed quickly and shot down by me that we use Faith as a lure, as bait to bring Fraser out. No fucking way, only over my dead body would that ever happen. She’s chosen teams and lucky for her I’m on hers, along with Saunders and Cal. She has the Comm-rec because I’m enjoying seeing her leading, she’s revelling in it and seeing her confidence is like a balm for my soul. Trask has the Comm for his team which was the only decision I wanted to argue over. Jonah should be in charge of team two but I trust her and no one kicked up a fuss, they’re joined by Arlen, Palmer and Walker. We had a hearty brunch of packets to go and I’m missing Grans cooking badly. I wonder how they’re coping, I just took off with no goodbye, no warning. I just left and I know she’ll be worried. I shake my head – they’re not real but they were excellent stand-ins.

We packed up, got changed, cleaned ourselves the best we could in a small stream the other side of the clearing and now we’re trekking again. Faith is ahead of me, I’m trying not to smother her and let’s face it I have a great view of her arse from back here. I don’t know if the sway of her hips is intentional or natural but I have to keep snapping away from the hypnotising motion. Maybe I should move up front? She hasn’t been sick at all so far today and I hope that’s a good sign, she’s smiling, showing no signs of tiredness or exertion. She’s enjoying being in charge, she’s never been good at taking orders but giving them... Yeah, she loves it.

We’ve passed the rougher terrain which always heralds the fact we’re close to reaching the wall. Faith stops and looks around, I’m guessing to pick the best stop for us to rest at.

We all shrug off our backpacks as she signals us over to the left and I start putting the tent together again. I’m eager to get tonight out of the way so we can start living the way we always should have been.

We have surprise on our side, they have no idea tonight is the night we take a stand. Every possibility has been planned for and dissected to within an inch of its life but the fact remains – we’re going in blind. Exact numbers aren’t known but the new AIG can’t be much of a problem, they were plucked from the streets or their cushy homes and handed weapons. On the one hand, their inexperience is a benefit, on the other that means they might just get trigger happy when panicked and faced with a battle they never envisioned happening.

My Comm vibrates and I check I’m alone before peeking at the message. Only one person has the details so I know it’s Charlotte.

I read the message:

‘I know your sisters’ location’

I tap back:

‘
Where are they?’

Charlotte:

You know information is valuable. In exchange, I need something from you.

Me:

Figures. What do you need?

Charlotte:

For you to stay out of this fight!

Me:

Why?

Charlotte:

ye is a damn good fighter but if he’s too concerned with your well-being he’ll let us down. He won’t focus. The first wave of fighters will be the newly signed up guards, they will be easy to apprehend, so therefore your team can handle them, but when I arrive they’ll bring out their longstanding guards and contrary to what Kye believes, I am not heartless. This has to play out without any disruptions so when I arrive I will Comm you with the location and one of my followers will meet you to take you to your sisters.

Me:

I can’t just slip away; he’ll lose concentration even more if he can’t see me.

Charlotte:

He will be too busy and you will only have one shot at leaving. I suggest if you agree to my terms you don’t dither when the message comes.

What happened to people helping others just to do the right thing, to be kind? I forgot that that doesn’t happen in this city, everyone has an agenda. I don’t know whether she’s being honest but I know I can’t tell Kye and that sucks as I’d promised myself there’d be no more lies. I was going to be upfront and honest with him from now, after all he is with me, why wouldn’t I give him the same courtesy? I peek out of the tent to see if he’s close and breathe a sigh of relief when I can only spot Trask, he’s reading his Comm too as if it’s something important unless he’s just checking final details for tonight. I pull the flap back again and chew my lip. Can I take off in the middle of a fight? Just desert the team I’m meant to be leading? Of course I can’t! But I also can’t ignore the fact that I’ve been here for days and have got no closer to rescuing my sisters. Who knows how this will play out tonight, Fraser could be killed by a stray bullet before I get to question him. I could be hurt, unable to go in search of them and Kye wouldn’t go, he’d be glued to my side. I don’t believe her reasons for wanting me gone at all. Does she think I can’t fight? That I can’t hold my own? Because I can, I’m nowhere near as good as the guys but I can look after myself. They made sure of it. Does she just want me away from him so she can make her move? Is she really trying to help me and helping herself at the same time? Argghh! She’s so annoying.

I lie back on the sleeping back and try to stop my mind running away with me with all the scenarios that could happen, her mouth on his keeps trying to fight its way to the forefront and I shudder. Are all powerful people evil? Did they start out well-meaning with well-intentioned goals and get swept away with the power rush?

Kye walks in and I try not to look guilty, he sits down next to me, his hair wet.

“You tired baby?” He asks.

“No, just thinking about the plan for later.”

“I don’t want you fighting, Faith.”

“How can I lead if I’m not fighting, you put me in this power position?”

He winces. “I know; I don’t regret it because you’ve been amazing but I wish I could take it back now.”

“Huh?”

“I put you in charge, the only way I can be again is if you voluntarily give it back to me and if I know you, you won’t be doing that until tonight is over. I can’t just say ‘I’m leader again’, you have to name me as the leader.”

“Really? Interesting. You really didn’t think it through did you?” I laugh.

“You were distracting me, Sweetheart, I couldn’t think straight.”

“Kye, just in case... anything does go wrong later...”

“It won’t, just please baby look after yourself, stay close to me and if we get separated stay close to one of the other guys. Give Charlotte a wide berth.”

“Let me finish. I just want you to know that... it’s not that I don’t want to be a mum, I do. It’s just I’m...”

“I know; I get it so you don’t need to say anything. I know you’re scared to embrace it, to be happy and feel excited just in case, but you can’t live like that Faith. What if’s are never ending. You’re not bad baby, you’re the best person I know. You weren’t being punished last time and if something happens, this time, it won’t be your fault. I won’t blame you and you can’t blame yourself. We’re in this together Sweetheart. You’re not alone, I’m with you and for us... the three of us.”

He kisses my head and I’ve lost the ability to talk, my throat has closed up and tears are pricking my eyes. He peppers kisses over my eyelids, my cheek, my nose and eventually plants a soft kiss on my trembling lips. “Don’t cry baby, please.” He wraps his arms around me and I burrow into his neck. He pulls us down and wraps the sleeping bag around us. “Sleep baby, you need to rest.”

“It’s time to go.”

I hear it whispered gently but my mind disagrees. I’ve only just drifted off, how can it be time to leave already?

“Baby, come on. Are you ready for this?”

No, I’m so not ready. Planning it is one thing but actually carrying it out is nerve wracking. I can’t let him know this, though, he put me in charge, he believed in me so I have to follow through. I roll over to face him but looking into his eyes knowing I’m going to leave him to fight my battle for me shreds me. What if he’s hurt when I’m gone? What if he needs me and I’m off doing as I please just as always? I’m too flighty. If I am pregnant I need to consider my safety because regardless of what he said, if I purposely put myself in harm’s way and get injured he will blame me and I don’t want to hurt him again. He deserves his feelings to be acknowledged – it’s not all about me.

“I’m ready babe,” I tell him solemnly.

“You sure?” He squints at me trying to read me as always.

“Yeah, I just need to pee first.”

“Okay, I’ll go and talk to the guys. Meet us when you’re done?”

“You know I will. Go. I’ll be over soon.”

He leaves the tent and I throw my arm over my eyes. I’m being pulled in two. I have to find my sisters and if Charlotte is willing to tell me where they are I can’t ignore it. They’ve been through so much; they haven’t had anyone look out for them. Lying to Kye is my only option, he’ll be pissed but he will get over it. My sisters might not, if I leave them any longer. Who knows what their new home is like, what tests they’re undergoing? The body can take a lot but once the mind breaks there’s no fixing it. If the mind goes, that’s it, it’s gone forever. Except a broken mind is worse because it’s unseen, on first glance everything looks normal but scratch the surface and it’s apparent. Broken bones are visible, people are aware of your discomfort, your pain, but a broken mind is hidden. A snapped mind, a crack in the mind is how it starts but that crack grows, it splinters out, fracturing in larger quantities until insanity sets in. I couldn’t live with myself if they break and it’s all because I got there too late. If it was too late because I put a guy before them.