Page 97 of Fractured Memories

“What is he⁠—”

I realize the answer to my own question before I even finish the sentence. He was pressing a small detonation device there. One that explodes as he rushes away, snapping several of the supporting cables and severing one side of the bridge from stable land.

With us still standing in the middle.

CHAPTER 32

EDEN

The day Eden went missing…

“If you can’t get out of that hold, then I should put a bullet through you now, Milo!” I bark at the newest trainee. Till isn’t even breaking a sweat as the kid fights against him.

Behind me, I hear the crunch of footsteps. I turn my head enough to see Larkin speaking with Jude. My stomach twists, knowing that there have been more and more problems lately. If Larkin is here, it’s likely to pass on more information from Caius. Which probably isn’t good. The rebels are pushing too hard, and sometimes I fear Kieran is seconds away from setting the entire city on fire out of frustration—if only to keep them from doing it first.

“Let him go.” I don’t even look back as I instruct Till, but a thud and a cough tell me he did as he was told. Rising to my feet, I tell them, “Go get water and hit the weights. We’ll pick this up later.”

Then I’m stalking toward Jude as I watch Larkin walk back to his car. Jude doesn’t even turn his head as I come to a stop next to him, though I know he heard me. Instead, he watches the car take the winding path back to the road that leads down the mountain.

The training compound is built on a somewhat flat plain further up the mountain than the city itself. It is still nowhere near the compound, but it gives us enough space and privacy while staying at a higher elevation.

“Did something happen?”

Finally, Jude’s icy eyes meet mine. “Of sorts.” I lift my brows, and I can tell Jude is weighing his options. Ultimately, he must decide that I can learn the news before Kieran because he says, “They caught a rebel.”

“They?”

“Caius. Or his guards.” His jaw works. “I guess their latest attempt got sloppy. They tripped a silent alarm in the system that told Caius that someone was messing with his wiring again.”

It wouldn’t be the first time. The rebels have been targeting the cages a lot as of late. Interrupting broadcasts. Cutting the lights. Whatever it takes to keep us all off the mats.

“And where is the rebel?”

“Larkin says they’ve got him tied up and under heavy security in the underground rooms.”

I nod. The underground rooms aren’t used for challenges or betting. They are where someone is beaten, threatened, or tortured if they aren’t brought here. It’s a neutral location that keeps everyone away from the compound but allows the guys a secret place to work. Few even know they exist.

“Are you going to get Kieran?”

Jude nods. “But the three of them are with Miles right now. It could be a while.”

I know he doesn’t want to interrupt and raise Miles’s suspicions. Jude will want Kieran to decide what Miles learns, which means we can’t tip him off.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t get to work early.

“Send Till to wait for Kieran.” Jude arches a brow. “I want to go to the cages now.”

He stiffens. “Eden…”

“We don’t know how long we have before they realize someone is missing. Come on, Jude.”

“No. There’s no way. Kieran would⁠—“

“Kieran trusts my judgement and knows that I can handle myself.” I give him a knowing look. “He’ll have no problem with me going to bloody up a bastard who has been causing far too much trouble.”

Jude huffs. “I’m not so certain. He doesn’t like you in the city without him.”

“And yet I survived twenty-eight years there just fine.” I cross my arms, more than ready to go toe-to-toe with Jude. “You’ll be with me, and the rebel is tied up. I won’t be in any danger.”