“Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
“Good.”
He reaches down and takes Rosie from me. I smile as he holds her tight, and Rosie doesn’t seem to mind. She snuggles into his chest as we step into the main section of the Fortress, angling toward the elevator.
We make it ten steps before the alarm begins to blare.
Mass stops dead and looks around. Guards hustle past him, running to their stations. Fear snaps into me as I remember the last time something like this happened. “What’s going on?”
He gives Rosie to me. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” He snags one of the guards nearby and orders him to take me to a safe location.
“Wait a second.” I clutch onto Mass’s arm, terror ripping into me. “The last time this happened, Satya took Rosie.”
“It’s different now. My men will watch you.”
“Mass, I don’t want to be alone.” I don’t let him go. The idea of being separated right now kills me. “How is this still happening?”
“Medved’s not dead. His ship’s still out there.” He gently pries my hand away. “Trust me, Allie. Go with my men. They’ll keep you safe.”
I want to argue. I think if I begged, he’d let me stay with him.
But I know that will only be a distraction. If Medved is assaulting the island right now, he needs to focus on handling the problem. I’d only get in the way.
Despite my instincts screaming at me to stay right by his side, I nod once and allow myself to be led away.
The whole fortress is in chaos. Men and women run across the lobby in tight, panicked knots. Lady’s voice comes through the intercom, calling names and codes, all of it gibberish to me. I follow the guards, feeling like a total mess.
Until they deposit me into a room I’ve never seen before.
We’re deep in the center of the building. The door is reinforced steel. I blink into the gloom for a moment as what looks like a fancy jail cell resolves itself.
And a voice grunts at me from a couch pressed against the wall.
“Did he finally arrest you too?” The figure sits up, pushing a blanket away.
“Gabe?!” I run to my older brother. He hugs me and Rosie, wincing slightly when I squeeze him too hard. “Oh my god, your ear. What happened to your ear?”
I reach back and touch the ugly, torn stub. It looks like someone sliced the top half off. He flinches back and lightly presses my hand away.
“Nothing important.”
“Who did this to you?”
“Don’t worry about it. Honestly, I’m fine. I’m just happy to see you. Last I heard, Rosie was missing, but here she is.” Gabe grins and accepts my daughter. He holds her but puts her down when she squirms. “Little beast just wants to explore.”
“Mass didn’t tell you?”
He shakes his head. “I’ve been in here all this time.”
“God, Gabe, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s nothing. It’s fine. I fucked up and this is the price I have to pay. I’m just happy my niece is okay.”
I hug my brother again. I’m happy to see him, but I’m going to have to have a chat with my husband about the missing ear and the bruises all over Gabe’s face.
That’s forgotten a second later when the entire fortress seems to rumble.
“What the heck is that?”
