“Can we continue, please? None of us want to see you two fuck,” Alex says. “Don’t fucking say it, Mikey,” he barks.
Liz turns just in time to see Mikey slowly lowering his raised hand. She playfully slaps his chest.
“We’re no worse than you two used to be,” Riley shoots back. “But, and I am going to get my ass handed to me for this, I didn’t consider Russell as an option. He was our Drill Sergeant when we were in basic. Our platoon was his last before he moved onto Company Commander. Alex and I got assigned to his unit. He’s a mean old bastard, but he took me under his wing. I stayed with him as he moved up the ranks, up until everything went down. I’ve never met anyone more honest than him,” Riley explains.
“So, you want to reach out to him?” Liz asks.
“No. He is running a base a few hours from here. First thing in the morning, we are leaving, and I need everyone to trust me. I’m going to get us caught.”
CHAPTER 40
The days pass in a blur of shopping trips and coffee dates since they made it to town. Each morning the team gathers in Mikey’s room to have breakfast and continue going over the plans and backup plans if something were to go wrong. To no one’s surprise, he and Liz have received backlash every step of the way.
The newcomers had argued that leaving so soon after finally having somewhere safe to regroup and recover didn’t make sense, even after explaining the reasoning multiple times. Then came the fight of staying in the hotel rooms. Even with the knowledge that Riley is their general’s main target, not a single person was thrilled with the thought of him and Liz being the ones to reveal themselves. Even Matt had been against it, insisting that they are a team, and if the two of them can risk their lives for the plan, so can everyone else.
Despite the constant disagreements, Riley has made it abundantly clear that he is their leader, and they are to follow his orders. Not only is their safety his responsibility, but all of them being spotted adds too many unknowns to their mission. It’s notpossible to account for every way it could go down for every person. Liz and Riley are their best chance at being found, and the tip Mikey called in to the military base will assure they are not being picked up by ordinary police officers.
“Does anyone need anything or want anything while we are out today?” Liz asks the group, all lounging on the beds in Mikey’s room. Every day she tries to do something to make their isolation easier, knowing more than anyone how hard it is.
“We’re good, darlin,” Mikey says, smiling while poking Lauren with his straw from breakfast.
No one else speaks up. She receives nothing more than a few head shakes and mumbled nos. Tyler and Alex already have their noses buried in their computers, still trying to get the intel they have out into the world. The soft clack of the keys dancing around the room. Liz fiddles with Mikey’s paper straw wrapper, tearing it into tiny pieces while she waits for Riley.
“I’m sorry you guys are stuck here. I really wish it didn’t have to be like this,” she says, voice low and timid. Anxiety spikes, her heart starts beating out of her chest, overthinking about how that could come off as bragging about getting to leave. “I don’t know why we haven’t been picked up yet.”
“It’s the mask, babe. Reaper was always in a mask. There are no recent photos of him, and outside of a select group of people, no one knows what he looks like. I’m sure even with all the resources Scott has, it’s been a struggle to get his photo out,” Lauren explains, sliding off the bed and meeting her at the table. “And for the record, none of us are mad. We understand, but we also worry about what could happen to you two while you’re out there with no backup. Stop overthinking so much, okay?”
“Thanks, Ren,” Liz says with a soft smile.
Behind her, the door lets out two shrill beeps before the lock loudly disengages. The air around her stills as Riley strides in. Evenwearing simple jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, he is breathtaking. Liz looks him up and down, drinking in every striking detail. She has half a mind to drag him back to their room and forget going out at all.
“Love, keep looking at me like that, and we won’t make it to the elevator,” Riley teases.
“No sex!” Alex barks. “They may be okay crammed in a room all day, but I’m not. Go get your ass caught.”
Riley grabs Liz’s hand, pulling her up from the chair. Not bothering with goodbyes, he leads her out the door and down the hall. After all this time, she still gets butterflies at the contact. Her excitement to spend another magical day with Riley quickly replaces the guilt she was feeling.
After a lazy lunch on the terrace of Liz’s new favorite cafe, Riley leads her to the small local aquarium in the center of town. They wander past glowing tanks of jellyfish and deep ocean exhibits with sharks swimming laps through the shimmering blue water. Liz struggles to remember they are there for a reason, and something tells her Riley is forgetting, too. Every so often, they will remember to spot the cameras, looking right at them as they walk past. After a few more exhibits, Riley pulls Liz into the photo booth next to the gift shop, pulling her mouth to his as the camera flashes. Liz insists on stopping at the gift shop on the way out to get Mikey a souvenir. Just to be on the safe side, Riley leans into the ATM camera like an old man trying to figure out how it works, inciting a melodic giggle from Liz.
Leaving the aquarium, Liz spots an ice cream shop down the road, dragging Riley to it excitedly. Her excitement turns to dread when she sees the tan truck roll through the intersection a few streets down. Trying her best to stay calm, she places her order and grips Riley’s hand while they wait. She doesn’t bother telling him what she saw. If he didn’t see it himself, she has nodoubt he will pick up on her demeanor change and know something is up.
The once intoxicatingly sweet smell of the shop now has her stomach in knots. She sucks in a sharp breath, the rough hand gripping hers starts rubbing back and forth. Steadying herself, she focuses on the feel of his hand, letting it ground her.
“I think they found us,” she says smiling as she links her arm through his, resting her head on his shoulder as they walk and eat. To anyone watching, they are nothing more than a happy couple living their best lives.
“You saw the truck too, huh?” Riley asks, pulling his arm from hers so he can wrap it around her shoulder. “We’re almost back. I know how much you hate it but let me take the lead and stay behind me. I don’t know what we will be walking into and you can be a hot head,”
“Rude,” she sneers, “but fair.”
The moment they set foot in the hotel, Liz feels that something is off. The sprawling lobby is empty, with only the hotel manager manning the front desk. His eyes narrow, locking on them, not even bothering to pretend to not stare. Their boots echo off the smooth tile floor, each one seeming to grow louder. Liz steps closer to Riley, tucking herself against his side. Her heart thumps in her ears as they make their way back up to the room.
“Remember princess, you do not leave my side. We might finally catch a break, or we may be walking into an ambush, but I can’t keep you safe if you don’t listen to me,” he says, gripping her hand impossibly tight.
She gives him a curt nod, staying as close as she is able while they walk to the room. Not a single maid cart is left in the hall. No voices drift from behind the doors. The hotel feels abandoned, lifeless. Riley stops in front of their door. Gently, he takes her face in both his hands, tipping her head back to look up at him.
“No matter what happens, I love you,” he says, looking into her eyes.
“I love you, too,” she says, fighting back tears.
