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Angelo and Havoc sit towards the back with her. Nessa is near me while Lev, Damien, and Alexi stand at the front by the main board of information. It takes a long two hours of catching everyone in the room up to date on what we know. I’ve filled in the gaps for them with details I think are important. Havoc backs me up anytime I have to talk about how I betrayed the guys.
They all know about the tracker. Doc came in with some scans and told me he must have placed it just beneath the dense scarring under my rib cage. It was the only open wound I had when Adrik found me in Syria and he thinks that’s when it was inserted.
Doc’s been in and out of the room, attending to a few other students who are here because of the ambush and shootout. Six students were caught in the crossfire, those that didn’t choose sides. One died and the other five are now out of the woods from critical condition, but still not in the clear. From the reports Alexi has given me, those who chose Bryce’s side did not survive.
“Laney,” Nessa says, getting everyone to quiet down while they discuss their ideas over one another, “I think you need to tell everyone your idea.”
She stands up but looks at me first, almost like she’s asking permission. The fact that Nessa knows she has a plan is already enough to tell me she’s been trying—still working on my side even though I sent her away. Laney hasn’t been a fan of Nessa’s so if she went to her, then it’s worth hearing her out.
I nod, and she walks toward the front of the room and clears her throat.
“The tracker is a problem. We need someone to take Evie’s place while she’s gone. Someone who can follow her routine and not deviate too much. This way, when they are in Russia, they can roam freely while finding a way for her to escape Adrik’s control more permanently.”
“I’ll do it,” Nessa offers without hesitation. I look at her in shock. She shrugs as she stands. “I told you I chose you, Evie. I plan to prove it.”
Laney continues with her idea. She’s really thought about everything. She lists details about the best ways for us to leave. She has ideas for how to keep me hidden while traveling. We even find out she’s talked to Boris to get some specifics down as to the location, and see if he has any safe houses we can utilize while on the run.
This way we have a safe place to hide out while we plan our next steps. I’m relieved to know we will be somewhere that I don’t have to worry about the guys being attacked. The island should be that place for us, but we never know what to expect now that so many people have gotten through the barriers. Alexi had The Society set up a patrol out on the water. We now have sensors surrounding the island to make everyone aware if any unwanted guests attempt to dock here.
“Adrik didn’t send all of those men,” Havoc says, causing us to all look at him. “You told me what happened during the ambush, every detail. Think about it, E. You know these men; you know their training and their skills. That whole job was a sloppy mess from start to finish. There’s another player here. I’m not sure it’s safe for you to leave until we know who that is.”
There’s a voice telling me in my mind that he’s right. The way I was carried and set down, not tied up even though I was unconscious. The fact that I was able to get the jump on them as they tried to flee and had no one running the perimeter around the gym for cover.
These weren’t the Shades. But that just means someone else is out there, and I don’t have the mental capacity to think about that now.
“Did he send Bryce after me?” I question.
Bryce seemed to be the leader of a lot of the chaos, but he was also clearly answering to someone.
“He initially had him under his thumb, but about a month back, the kid went radio silent. I dug through all of that information specifically because I needed to know where you were and how far he had gone. When Bryce cut contact, that seemed to be when his plans escalated, and he began drafting ideas to take you out or hurt you bad enough that you were on the edge and willing to give it all up.”
“But they wore the same masks,” I say, knowing that is a normal tactic, but also confused as to how they are so similar. “And the guys that came after me all disappeared as well. Who else could this be?”
We all take time to think, Alexi staring at the board so hard I swear he believes it will submit to him if he only looks hard enough. I move to him and take his hand in mine, whispering just for him to hear while everyone around us talks about their theories.
“We will figure it out,” I say as I squeeze his hand.
He squeezes mine back, and I can’t help the small smile that comes to my face. The man I never wanted to touch me now has a special language with me simply by squeezing my hand.
“What if I can’t keep you safe? What if I lose you too?” he whispers back.
I squeeze his hand again because I honestly don’t know what to tell him, but I offer him the only thing I can think of, “My mother once told me that darkness can be a friend to those who learn to harness its power. We’ve harnessed it. We’ve come out on the other side of the dark together. Let’s put it to the test. The Shades hide in the dark, so let’s use that against them.”
He looks at the board again, cocking his head ever so slightly, like he understands exactly what I’m saying. I don’t have to spell out war strategy to this man, he already gets it. So when he turns around, switching our hands and pulling me closer, I feel more relieved than I have in days. Because my dark knight has come to play, and there’s nothing I trust more than the fact that he will keep me safe.
???
“Are you ready?” Doc asks me, holding out my phone. We have to make sure my uncle believes I still have no idea what’s going on. Our plan to get out is solid, but to actually get away has proven to be trickier. We are all going home and Laney is coming with us. Lev is sitting in front of me looking like he could throw the phone across the room, but I take a deep breath and hit call.
Lev is staying out of sight but wanted to be here to hold my hand if needed. Doc is going to go over what happened and inform him of my medical status. Then, I’m going to lie.
I feel more in control tonight. I haven’t been shaking most of the day, and I was able to stand during most of the meeting earlier. They removed all the lines and larger bandages and replaced them with smaller ones, but Doc wrapped a large bandage around my head. We are going to try and make him think it’s not safe for me to travel so he understands why I won’t be coming home for this break.
I hit the call button and slip on my mask. One of pain and anger. I let my mind fall into the idea that I was just attacked by Boris’ men, that I’m afraid they will get to me again. I force my mind to clear and to be convinced that my uncle is my family who will protect me. Then, I add on the determination.
Doc is standing by me, the screen pointing at us both when he answers. The fake shock on his face is almost enough to make me laugh, but Doc helps me stay in character with a squeeze of his hand on my shoulder. It looks like he’s taking pity on me to my uncle, but that really he’s lending me his strength to get through this.
“Good evening, Mr. Petrov. We are calling to inform you of an incident…”
