Gage and Damian take a knee on either side of us.
“Are you two okay? I mean, I saw you kissing, so I’m sure you’re all right enough if you’re able to—” The three of us collectively glare at Gage.
Cameron shoves him back on his ass. “Shut up,” he bites out, but there’s a hint of a chuckle behind it.
Gage grins worriedly. “Why’d they let us go? Why did Mavestelli’s right-hand man kill him? Is there some grand plan that I’m not in on?” He swallows dryly.
“We’ll fill you in, but not here.” It’s all I can offer him, pressing my lips together flatly. I’m still not sure how he’ll react so I don’t want to tell him too much until we’re in a more stable environment. Gage firms his lips but reluctantly nods.
Damian helps me up, and then both of them get Cameron tohis feet. His knee is really fucked-up and he can’t stand very well on it. It looks like his thigh bone and shin aren’t connected anymore with the way his lower leg is tilted to the side. My chest curls with dread.
“Shit, I think his patella tendon is ruptured.” Gage has a grave tone as he feels around on Cam’s knee. “Yeah, he shot right through it. There’s no way he can walk on this without?—”
“A cane?” I say absently as I stare at my father’s figure. My lips press together in a flat line, and I glance down to his hand. His fingers are still clasped tightly around the gilded cane.
I swallow the knot in my throat and kneel, carefully taking the cane from Greg’s already stiffening hand. I take in his dull eyes and how little I feel for him. In a way, I think I grieved my father a long time ago. He’s been dead far longer than just these past few minutes. He’s been dead for years. My mother might as well be too.
“Goodbye, Greg Mavestelli, your empire will finally crumble,” I whisper, taking a few moments longer to remember him in death before slowly standing.
Cameron is already at my back, Damian and Gage beside him. They wrapped his knee up tightly so it’s more stable without the tendon being attached. Hopefully the cane will give him enough support to walk. My chest warms at the sight of the three of them.We made it this far.
I grin and extend the cane to Cam. He stares at it for a few seconds, considering something unknown to me, but he slowly reaches out and takes it, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Thank you, love.”
I take a few steps back and look him up and down. The cane is perfect for his height. It looks out of place with his tactical gear, but once he’s dressed in civilian clothes, it will be perfect. “It suits you,” I say warmly.
Cam shrugs. “It’s not bad.”
Gage remains on his side in case he needs the support. I return my attention to Reed, who’s ordering his guards around. He has something big planned, I can tell by the way he excitedly taps his fingers against his thighs.
Reed must feel my eyes because he turns and flashes a grin at us before walking over. “Excellent work, Emery.” He makes it sound like I planned on crying my eyes out in front of everyone and I didn’t think Cam was actually going to die. “My surveillance crew let me know that your dear lieutenant hasfinallyarrived and is waiting on the outer rim of the city where Fury is to exit.” Reed’s pupils are blown wide and a manic grin spreads over his lips. “He’s going to tell you all that you’re free and then walk you a mile out where the Riøt Squad is waiting to execute you.”
Silence stretches out among our group. I take in Reed’s gear again.
“What if we’re actually earning our cards out, though?” Damian says hopefully. I shut my eyes and shake my head. He knows that’s not what’s happening.
Gage looks at all of us like we’re insane.I hope he takes this well.
“What the fuck is he talking about?” Gage looks at Cameron, his brows pinching with trepidation.
“Gage, we don’t have time to explain everything, but you have to trust us on this. Erik and Nolan are planning on having the Fury Squad executed.” Cameron pauses to cough. “We need to listen to Reed.”
Damian nods silently, looking worried that Gage won’t believe us.
“Why would Riøt just execute an entire squad? This makes no sense!” Gage fists his hair, a hysterical laugh creeps up his throat. “Who the fuck is this guy anyway?”
I gently set my hand on Gage’s forearm and give him a sympathetic look. “Reed is my childhood friend, mentor, and trusted comrade. He’s the smartest man I know. We can trust him,” I sayfirmly, staring into Gage’s eyes until I see him give in. I leave out that Reed is a world-class sociopath and will kill anyone if it puts him in a place of power—where he wants to be.
“Riøt is going to do whatever the fuck they’re told because they believe they’re only hunting down and executing soldiers who’ve turned and are integrated in bad shit. The underworld,” Reed explains, kicking Greg’s slick shoe for emphasis. “Nolan dishes out whatever list of names he wants, and then they do his bidding.”
Gage’s face drains of blood. “No questions asked?”
Reed laughs.As if any of this is funny.I glower at him.
“Think about it. Have you ever argued with your superiors? Do you have any clue whether the information they’re feeding you is accurate or not? Or are you just doing it because you’re ordered to? Just because you made it out of the godforsaken Under Trials you think you’re safe now? News flash. You’re all just guinea pigs.” Reed’s voice turns vile. I guess this stuff really does make him angry.
I knew there was good in him, even if it’s wicked and corrupt and hidden behind an agenda.
Reed pulls out a syringe and grabs Cameron’s forearm, injecting him with a clear liquid. Cam doesn’t even blink. “This one is the anti-agent. You’d be dead in an hour without it. You see the black veins that keep spreading through your arm? Once that hits your heart you would’ve been dead.” Reed sounds nonchalant.
