Worry swept over me. “Henry… I don’t want to go find Gunther. I mean, what good would it do? You’re just going to kill him, and then what?”
“I’ll have the upper hand.”
“The upper hand of what? There’s nothing out there.” I motioned toward the old cornfield.
“What happened to saving the world? All that positive talk from you?”
I sighed. “I don’t know.”
“Killing Gunther means I’ll take out another one of Roger’s main men. We already got rid of Kellan. If we get rid of Gunther, then I’ll be able to show Roger that I’m not fucking around with this, and that I mean business. He has to be freaking out seeing that Kellan’s tracking device isn’t signaling to the satellite anymore, and mine and Sophie’s have been stagnant for ages.” My sweet Henry was speaking like he was a killing machine.
“How will he find out? It’s not like there is any way to communicate with him.”
“He’ll find out, at some point, and when he does, it will be a kick in the bollocks to his program.”
“Please excuse my stupidity, but I don’t understand how it will hurt Roger.”
Henry was becoming flustered. “Look, with Kellan gone and when I get rid of Gunther, I’ll only have one more person to go through to get to Roger.”
“But what about the other recruits? Will they all side with you?”
“Probably not. But it’s not anything I can’t handle. Trust me, I have it all worked out up here.” He pointed at his head.
I didn’t have anything else to say. My worry would have just taken over completely and we would have gotten into an argument. I didn’t want that so I just looked back out at the sunrise and took it all in.
“I’ve been thinking. I want to rise up like you encouraged me to do. Get people together. Rally up. Maybe we could form a new society.”
I whipped my head around at him. “Are you out of your fucking mind?!” I snapped. “You do understand that you would be killed if they found out your life status, right?”
“But if I can prove that we won’t harm them, and if I convince them that Nick and I will continue drinking willingly donated blood, versus making more like us, then maybe I stand a chance. Maybe I can live freely with what I am and not hide anymore. I’m sick of living in secrecy, and sick of worrying about what the reaction will be if someone finds out.”
“Finds out what?” Henry and I both jumped up with our Sigs drawn.
“Julianna! You cannot sneak up on people like that,” Henry scolded her. “And eavesdropping on other’s conversations is terribly rude!”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Henry.” She looked deflated.
I kneeled down to her level and asked her, “Does anyone know you are out here?”
“No,” she murmured.
“You shouldn’t wander outdoors alone.” Henry threw Julianna a quirked brow. Her eyes filled with tears because she knew he was angry with her.
“We need to get you back inside before someone freaks out.” I grabbed her hand, and Henry went down the ladder first.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Elaina.” Julianna’s hand rested in mine. “But what did Mr. Henry mean when he said ‘live without secrets’?”
I stopped abruptly, and Julianna almost fell over. “You need not repeat anything you heard! You have misunderstood what Mr. Henry was saying.” I was as angry as he was, but I tried not to scare her, although I think that I did.
Henry grabbed my arm. “I’ve got this.” I nodded and let go of her hand. Henry knelt down and looked in her eyes. “Julianna, listen, there are some things that are not to be heard by children. To be honest, Ms. Elaina and I were speaking of troubles in our relationship. It’s hard to understand, and it’s been hard on us. We hope to work out all of our problems before we are to marry.” Henry grinned tenderly at Julianna. “So I would greatly appreciate it if you wouldn’t say anything. I don’t want anyone to worry about our relationship. Okay, little love?”
“Okay,” she replied shyly.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Pinky swear?” Henry held out his pinky. Julianna examined it momentarily, then hooked her delicate pinky finger around his. Julianna smiled. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he stood up, carrying her toward the door.
Then she said, “I wish you were my daddy.” Henry was taken aback, as was I. I felt guilty for scolding her. “You’re nice like my daddy was.”
“Now that is very sweet.” Henry tapped her on the nose with his index finger. Julianna giggled. Henry set her down and took her little hand in his, then they walked back inside the house. It was the sweetest thing I had seen in a long time. Rosa met us at the door, looking completely frazzled.