She swings out of her spot, stepping in front of me. Her stance is perfect; she’d have a clean shot if I didn’t have this guard in front of me.
A clean shot wouldn’t be enough, though, because my aromium allows me to pull the trigger on the guard’s gun before she can pull hers.
The bullet lodges in her forehead, finally wiping that condescending sneer from her face.
She drops, her gun clattering to the floor.
“Fuck you, Ingrid.”
I let go of the guard, checking the gun to make sure I still have ammo. There’s enough.
Now that I’m safe and the job is done, my connection relaxes, allowing me to breathe easier.
I go over to the ramp, pain still spiking through my head. It’s bad, but I can walk.
There’s just one more thing I need to do, and then the people I love should be safe, at least for now.
I start up the ramp, gun ready for anyone who comes into the Sub. I’m almost halfway there when an agonizing shot of pain blinds me again, sending me to my knees.
“Two more minutes,” I beg.
Flavius howls, desperate to reach me. The Sub shakes again, my fear of dying before I get to the top making my emotions spiral.
I cry out, forcing myself back to my feet. I’ve never felt pain like this.
“Mom.” I take a single step. “If you can ... hear me, I miss you.” Another step. “Wish you were here. Maybe not here exactly ... Still alive, though.” Two steps, the Sub shaking harder now. “You’d love Briar. She ...” I take a deep breath in and out, putting a hand on the tunnel’s wall. “She reminds me of ... you.”
I think I’m still walking. I can’t feel my feet anymore.
“Help,” I plead with the universe. “Just get me there.” My head is on the verge of ripping apart, the pressure too intense. “That’s all. Just ... get me ...”
The door. I feel the Sub’s door. My hand goes to the keypad, punching in the code to open it.
I drop to my knees as the door rises, heaving up nothing again.
There should be guards standing there. I can’t see anything, so all I can do is hope.
“The air in here is poisoned.” I force a breath in and out. “Seal off the Sub. No one goes in. Commander Voss ... wants the kids released. All New America forces to return to Island Three.” I heave again. “She wants ... Tyrone Matheson sent here. As punishment. This whole island’s?—”
My cheek strikes the ground and finally, the pain stops.
45
“Am I missing out on undercover agent BBQs or anything? I can’t talk to anyone about what I’m doing but you, and no offense, but dead-dropping encrypted messages isn’t really talking.” -- Decoded message from ILF undercover operative Nightingale to ILF handler Hiro Tanaka
Briar
“You handling Stella?” Nova asks me.
We’re crouched behind bushes in the jungle, watching Stella and Niran. They’re hiding on the other side of the jungle, waiting for their moment to board the boat.
With four armed guards protecting the wide ramp that’s the only entrance and exit from the ship, it won’t be easy. I’m going to be pissed if they rush the guards and one of them kills Stella.
That bitch is mine.
“Yeah, but you have to cover me,” I whisper. “Niran could be an issue.”
I still haven’t fully processed what Niran almost did back there. It didn’t completely shock me that Stella turned on us, but Niran? I thought he loved Marcus like a brother.
