*
“You’re out of your goddamn mind!”
I exhale. The room has an open window with a nice view of a nearby field, but I still feel like I’m struggling to breathe. “It’s the only way.”
“Finn, it’s definitelynotthe only way,” Dino says through the radio transceiver.
“Okay, then it’s the only way that won’t take months.”
“There are thousands of people living in Denver. The city is massive.”
“But there is only one captive Defender there, so it shouldn’t be impossible to find him. I told you about the substance we found—I can use it for communication.”
“And what if you get captured?”
“I’m willing to take that risk.”
“You are my right-hand man, Finn, which makes you much more valuable than almost anyone in Unity.”
I realize what he’s saying.I know things.Like where our outposts and supply routes are, the names of our spies in the Free Cities, the secret ways to get in and out of Unity, and much more. I try to think of what to say, but I’m lost. If I were Dino, I would also be furious right now. His trust in me might backfire because of my determination to save Caden. I open my mouth to take back my plan, yet every part of me insists this is theonlyway.
“I’m sorry for abusing your trust, sir.” My throat tightens. “I swear I’ll kill myself before I let them get anything out of me. I’ll never jeopardize Unity.” Before Dino can reply, I say, “I resign effective immediately.”
As he shouts my name, I turn off the transmission.
*
“How did it go?” Josh asks when I step outside. River and Timothy must have gone somewhere else in the meantime.
“It went fine.”
“Liar.”
“I resigned.”
His eyes grow wide. “Why the hell for?”
“I shouldn’t do this as an employee of the Assembly. It’s not fair to Dino.”
He doesn’t argue, though I can tell he’s conflicted. “You’re putting a lot on the line.”
I can’t think of a better way to explain my determination than by saying, “He’s my River.”
Josh nods. “I understand. That guy Buck wanted you to meet is waiting. I’ll go with you.”
“Thanks.”
We walk back to the mayor’s house, where we’ve been staying since we returned to Florence four days ago. I waited to speak with Dino until the last moment, but I never expected to end up unemployed. Yet somehow, it feels right. I’ll be returning to Denver as a nobody, the same as I’ve been for most of my life. I’ll fight with my nails and teeth to get what I want, with no protocols or diplomacy to get in my way.
We enter the mayor’s house, which is pleasantly cool despite the warm day. A thin man in black clothes sits on the couch, drinking beer. I recognize him as the one we met outside Molly’s Burgers. He turns to watch me with his single eye. “Hello again. Did you find who you were looking for?”
I’m about to say I didn’t, but I did find Josh. “Partly, but I plan on changing that.”
“I guess that’s why I’m here. Sit.”
Josh and I grab chairs and sit in front of the man. “You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Zachariah, but you can call me Zac.”
