Fury is four days late.
Mikah and Erik found me as I lay hidden away in the underbrush of the desert after the drone missiles hit. I guessed that Emery must’ve been the one to hide me there.
I coughed up blood as someone shook me awake. What the fuck was happening? I blinked hard and wiped the filth from my eyes.
Mikah hovered above me, Erik by her side with his rifle raised and scouring the area for survivors.
“Mori, we need you to let them take you. They are about to pick up Morphine, so we have to be quick.” Erik’s words were rushed and weren’t making any sense to me. “They’re going to find your neck tracker, but I want you to swallow this one. We’re finally going to have all of their hideout locations and this will be the end of Greg’s fucking games. I’m taking back what’s mine, along with all of the bunkers and ties.”
My throat was already so thick with dust that it was hard to speak. “Sir, what the fuck are you talking about?”
Mikah shoved a small metal pellet into my mouth and tipped mychin up so I’d swallow as she muttered robotically, “We’re going to rescue you in five days. Unless something goes horribly wrong of course.” She said the latter like it didn’t matter.
I looked pointedly back at Erik. “Where’s Emery? We can’t let them take her!” I tried to stand, but he shoved me back down. Cold, amber eyes pinning me. “You’re both being taken by Mavestelli. I’m sorry that it’s come to this, but there’s no other options at this point since Kayden has been lost.”
He was going to have Kayden do this? Why?My brain felt heavy as dizziness fell over me when I tried to get up again.Shit, I’ve lost too much blood.
His gaze returns to the field and the hideout across it. A roar of a truck starts up and my pulse leaps at what’s unfolding.
“Sir,” I said with doubt clouding my eyes. He didn’t seem like the same lieutenant I’d known for years. The one I’ve trusted relentlessly and aimed to make proud for picking me up that day at the bar. “This is insane. What’s keeping them from putting a bullet in my skull the moment they find me?”
Erik grinned and patted my vest twice before standing up. “Nothing. But I know my brother. He’ll want to hold something over the Dark Forces as a bargaining chip. You can do this, Mori.”
Wait, Greg is his brother? He sees the confusion in my eyes.
“We’re half brothers. I’ll explain more when we pick you up, okay? We don’t have time right now.”
Mikah takes off toward the rocks and Erik is hot on her heels.
“Wait!” I whisper shouted, but he ignored my plea. My eyes traced back to the boulders, finding Thomas and Gage staring down at me from afar with the same confusion I felt.
I blink as we’re thrust into darkness.
Emery forces her eyes to open more, and she offers me a frail smile. I still have the ability to see in the dark even after the reversal pills were in effect, so I know she can see me too.
“Make noise,”she mouths at me.
What could she possibly have in mind? I curtly nod and start rattling the chains as hard as I can. Reed, Greg, and the one guard in the room all react to the sound.
Emery winces as she moves as fast as she’s able, snatching the keys from the guard’s belt as he’s distracted. She quickly takes one off before clipping the ring back to his waist. My chains clanking keeps his attention as he fumbles with his phone.
Her breaths are labored from the effort and she seems utterly exhausted. God, she never ceases to amaze me. Even in her state, she hasn’t lost her wit.
Reed immediately turns on his phone’s flashlight while Greg calls his surveillance team.
“What’s going on? Why has the power cut out?” he demands as he paces in the dimly lit room frantically.
A weak grin pulls at the corners of my lips. Mikah couldn’t have hacked into their system at a more perfect time. Though, I would’ve much preferred her to have been punctual. Especially considering that Emery and I could’ve been spared four days of this hell.
Greg doesn’t like whatever information his guard relays to him. He smashes his phone on the ground and curses loudly as he storms out of the room. “Leave them here. Lock the door and secure the building!” he fires off orders rapidly, shouting down the hall and cursing.
My heart skips a beat.
They’re leaving her here alone with me?
The second the door slams shut behind them I whisper, “Emery. Hey, are you okay?”
She remains lying still, but a small whimper lets me know that she heard me. Fuck, I need to get out of this before I lose my mind. She needs me.I need her.
