I took a deep breath, the overwhelming excitement coursing through my veins slowly beginning to fade. During that fight, my life on the line, I’d felt so alive, so powerful and free. My only goal had been to survive and to defeat my opponent, and I thrived on that shit.
I sheathed my blood-covered knife, retrieved my gun, slipped it back into my belt, and knocked on Tara’s door.
Inside, I could hear someone moving. Mason was crying, and I realized he must have been crying this whole time and I hadn’t even noticed in the excitement.
“It’s me,” I said. “It’s Emory.”
Slowly I heard the door unlock and then push open. “Emory?”
“It’s done,” I said. “They’re gone.”
“It was them, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Bastards must have caught us when we were out. I thought we were so careful.”
Her face dropped. “Emory, I’m so sorry.”
I wasn’t thinking. I just took her and pulled her against me, kissing her hard. She didn’t resist or struggle, just kissed me back.
This was what I fucking wanted. Fighting and fucking Tara were the two things I was best at, and I couldn’t want anything else in the world at that moment.
Finally, I pulled away. “It’s not your fault,” I said, “but we have to leave.”
“When?”
“Now,” I said. “Who knows when they’ll send more men. I’m guessing this was just supposed to be a scouting party.”
“Okay. Let me pack.”
I watched her gather her stuff and then moved into my own room to grab my bag. I was already packed and ready to go, since I was trained to always be prepared. I helped Tara finish up and then I called up Travis.
“We’re leaving,” I told him. “Come grab us.”
“Got it,” he said, and hung up.
As we moved downstairs, I didn’t know where we were going to go. There was no safe house to run to, no destination at all. The only thing I knew was that we had to get out of there, and tonight. We couldn’t wait a single second.
Mason was still crying, but softer now, less insistently. That wasn’t ideal, but it wouldn’t matter once we were in the car. My mind moved fast, planning our next steps, trying to figure out the best moves.
I was too close, but I was going to accomplish my goals. I was going to keep them safe, no matter what.
Fuck The Network, those terrorist bastards. They couldn’t have the people I cared about, and they never would.
Chapter 23
Tara
I’d never felt more relieved in my entire life than when I’d heard Emory’s voice.
Before he showed up, I heard the man walk up the steps. He was trying to be quiet, but the steps creaked under his weight. I heard him search around the upstairs, going through Emory’s room, and finally standing outside mine.
He tried the knob once, twice, and then nothing for a moment. I stood there, my heart pounding, and I knew what was happening. I knew it was The Network coming for me, and all I could think about was how I could get Mason out of there.
And then a thump, a grunt, and more loud noises. It sounded like a bear was tearing through the hallway, smashing everything, until I heard a wet gurgle and it was over.
It was easier this time to ignore the dead bodies on the floor as I packed and carried Mason downstairs. It was amazing how quickly I adapted to that reality. Just a couple of days earlier and the sight of those bodies, all that blood, would have sent me into a fear spiral. Instead, I ignored them and kept moving, because I couldn’t stand still.
As I stepped over the man downstairs, I noticed something hanging out of his pocket. Emory wasn’t around and must have missed it, so I bent over and snagged it. I shoved it into my pocket, not bothering to look too closely. I was too focused on getting out of there to worry about what it was.
Emory was silent when we finally got into the car with Travis. We drove, heading toward the edge of town.
“I’m sorry I missed them,” Travis said finally. “I fucked up, captain.”
“Not your fault,” he said. “You’re just one guy trying to keep watch all day and night. The Network has too many resources. You didn’t have a chance.”
“Still, cap, I should have been there.”
“Stop,” Emory said.
“I’m just saying, it was my responsibility.”
“No. Stop the car.”
Travis pulled over and Emory opened the door. It was the middle of the night and nobody was out on the streets. “I need to get a new car,” Emory said.
“Where?” I asked him. “Nothing is open.”
Emory grinned at me. “I’m going to fucking steal one.”