Tris paled. “What? Shit, that makes sense given what we know about him. You think Ben is a distraction.”
Kenzie sighed and let her brain go through all the scenarios. All the ones that made sense. This was all a plot and Ben fell for it because deep down he wanted to play this game with Huisman. He needed to win, so he was open to manipulation. Kenzie wanted Huisman dead, but she didn’t care who did it. She would happily go into hiding if that made things easier on whoever could take the fucker down. “I think he wants to humiliate Ben and wants him so wrapped up in trying to convince me this was all a lie that he doesn’t notice Kala slipping off to meet Huisman. If I’m right, this phone will get a text with explicit instructions on how to get Lou back.”
“But only if she trades herself,” Tris surmised and sat back. “Kenz, he’ll kill you.”
Like she hadn’t thought that one through. “He’ll think he’s already damaged me. I think he’ll go easier. He won’t want to kill me right away. He wants to break Lou. He’ll take me to the place where he has Lou since I’ll be used to get Lou to do what he wants. Pain won’t break her, and honestly, he needs her sharp to do what he wants. So what’s the quickest way to get her to comply?”
“Hurt someone she loves,” Tris agreed. “Why wouldn’t he go for… I was going to say TJ, but he’s being practical. He has to know he’s got one shot at this, and he wants Kala.”
“TJ would go to my dad. Kala wouldn’t. She wouldn’t even tell me or Cooper. If she thinks she’s the only way to save Lou, she’ll do it no matter the cost.” She knew how her twin would feel.
And that was precisely why she intended to take her place, and she couldn’t think of a better partner than Tris. He wasn’t afraid of Kala, and he would see the logic.
“You’re going to do it.” Tris stood. “You’re going to walk into the lion’s den for your sister’s best friend.”
It was more than that. “I’m doing it for all of us. Lou’s my friend, too.” She looked to the CCTV monitors, and Kala was wrapped around her husband. She’d held it in until Coop showed up, and now shesobbed while he held her. TJ looked lost. He was on his cell. Likely calling his parents.
She couldn’t let this end in tragedy. They had their whole lives ahead of them. They were happy. That fucker didn’t get to take it from them.
Not while she was on duty.
“Kenz, you can’t walk in. He’ll do the same thing to your tracker that he did to Lou’s.”
“Which is why I need another…” It hit her suddenly. Damn. Necessity really was the mother of invention. Though Lou hadn’t thought of this application yet. “Lou’s been working on a way to split the nanites.”
“Yeah, she wanted to be able to separate them in case someone needed clothes or a blanket. She’s working on a bunch of stuff with those little fuckers. I’m kind of afraid of them since they could become sentient and take over the world,” Tris complained. “You’re going to wear the suit? It could help. I could lock it on, and it’s got some defensive utilities.”
And then she would be locked in a suit, and she didn’t want to think about the bathroom impossibilities. “Back when Lou was working with them as a beta project, didn’t she lose a couple and figure out a way to track singles?”
“Yeah, but that was because she hadn’t figured out how to keep them… Shit, you want to leave a trail of breadcrumbs, something Huisman won’t recognize as a problem. He likely wouldn’t even notice if we figured out a way to peel single nanites off.”
Fate. That was what it felt like. “Lou solved the problem earlier. Her laptop is downstairs. I need you to reprogram the suit. She’s been working with colors and fabric styles. I need all black, something that looks like I’m working.”
Tris stood. “One Black Widow cosplay coming up.” He sobered. “Kenzie, this is dangerous. If he figures out you’re not Kala…”
She knew what could happen. It didn’t matter. Huisman knew there were two of them, but they were careful. They’d spent years perfecting being each other. Kala knew how to plaster on a smile and look like the world was a party. Kenzie knew how to shut down her brightness and get serious and very sarcastic. They’d worked hard to ensure every scar matched. Every one except the burn mark on Kala’s leg, but Huismanhadn’t seen that and there were no medical records.
She could do this.
She had to do this.
“Your parents are going to kill me,” Tris said with a sigh. “Maybe you’re wrong. Maybe this isn’t his plan and we need to look for them both.”
She was certain. There was zero reason to send her that video.
Huisman had played Ben perfectly. He’d set Kala up perfectly, too.
She would bet he wouldn’t consider her a player at all. He’d sent her the video so she would cry and rage and either walk away from Ben or find him because she wanted to hurt him.
What if she did neither? What if she changed the game altogether?
She would need to plan it carefully, and she needed Tris as her accomplice because if the rest of the team found out, they would likely do something to stop her.
She didn’t want to be stopped.
She looked on the security cams, and her parents walked in the door with the Knights in tow. Her mom wrapped herself around Kala so she was surrounded by her and Cooper.
Her sister deserved a wonderful life with Cooper and Lou.
