As did others.It’s been happening more and more lately, almost as if the Raiders are baiting us to react.
Dino rubs his short beard. His hair is a mix of gray and brown, and even in his fifties, he’s a handsome and impressive man. I don’t like thinking of where I’d be today if he didn’t allow me to stay in the Hive and offered me a role as his assistant.
“The general claims they are doing everything they can to keep the roads to Unity safe,” Dino says, “but we all know we don’t have enough Defenders to cover everything. These attacks might be the catalyst we need to convince some of the settlements to stop acting alone.”
The phone on the table rings, and Dino picks it up. “Yes?” His eyes narrow before his face falls. “Are they bringing him in? Okay, I’ll be there soon.” He hangs up and rises to his feet. “Caden’s back. Something happened.”
I stand up as well, my stomach churning. “Is he injured?”
“No, but he returned alone.”
Alone?
*
By the time we reach the main gate, General McCoy is already there with two of his officers. Caden is another subject for the general and Dino to have tension over. As captain, Caden is the general’s man, but his history with Dino makes things complicated, and I know he feels torn between the two men.
“What do you know?” Dino asks.
The general gives him a frosty look through his single eye—the other one is made of glass, a result of a battle years ago. “Something happened to his squad three days ago. He only reached one of our outposts this morning. They’re bringing—”
Caden walks in through the metal gate. He doesn’t seem injured, but he’s clearly exhausted, his black uniform dirty. He doesn’t have his rifle with him.
Our eyes meet, but he looks away to salute the general, who asks, “Do you need medical treatment?”
“No, sir. We’d best go speak at HQ.” He tells Dino, “You too.”
I’m not invited to join, so I watch them walk toward the Defenders’ headquarters, telling myself that whatever happened, at least Caden is okay.
Timothy raises one of his hands to hold mine. “We’ll know more soon.”
I squeeze his hand. We must look ridiculous to anyone who’s watching, but I don’t care. “I’ll feel better if I can wait next to his apartment.”
“Then we have our destination. But first, let’s get you something to eat. You’ve skipped lunch.”
I don’t bother denying, since Timothy can sense things like hunger. We take the elevator down one floor and exit into the Central Hub, where both Caden and I live. It’s right between the other two main floors, which are called the Heights and the Depths. Caden’s building is nicer than mine, and his apartment is bigger with a small garden he hates taking care of. Dino can get me a better apartment, but I’m not in a hurry to leave the first place I ever called my own.
I stop to buy noodles, but I’m too distracted to appreciate the taste.
“Finn, is it true? Did Caden return without his squad?”
I take a breath before I turn around on my stool to face Otto. We have similar roles, though his is under Assembly Member Lock, who competed for Dino’s position before losing the vote.
“I’m not discussing that with you here.”
Otto runs a hand through his oily dark hair. He’s stocky and always breathes fast, as if he’s running even when standing still. His skin is even paler than the average Hiver, the exact opposite of my dark skin. “Then let’s go somewhere else to talk.”
“Any information about what might have happened will not be shared by Finn or me,” Timothy says.
“I was talking to the human.”
I slam my fist on the table. “Say that again.”
Otto glares at me, but there’s fear in his eyes. People may look down on the ex-Raider who rose above his station, but nobody likes the thought of what he’s capable of. Dino taught me early on to use it to my advantage, and I took that lesson to heart.
“Didn’t mean anything by that,” Otto says stiffly. “I’ll go speak with Assembly Member Lock. I’m sure he knows what’s going on.”
“Sure he does.”
