Red Dawn (21 page)

“We will strike when they are at their weakest,” the female voice says. Her tone is sharp and laced with malice. It sounds like she has a personal vendetta to repay, but don’t we all? “Come forward,” she commands, “and receive your orders.”

“Bloody hell!” I scream, throwing Jacobs roughly to the ground. I’ve seen enough. I wipe his blood from my lips with the back of my hand. No time to congratulate myself on a job well done. Blood pours over the collar of Jacobs’ jacket, staining the once pristine shirt underneath. He stares up at me from the floor with vengeance in his eyes.

Jacobs begins to scream for help as two guards burst through the door. I’m already on the move. I crash through the window and am greeted by the bone chilling cold of a February night. Once again I am soaring through the air. I spread my arms and float gracefully to the ground bringing with me a shower of glass. Even with the threat of death nipping at my heels, it’s exhilarating. I feel free. Free of my past, free of guilt, free of responsibility. I wish it could last forever. When my feet hit the pavement, I sink into a crouching position to absorb the impact of the landing.

I am aware of Nik’s presence even before my senses register the motorcycle. The engine roars as he skids to a stop in front of me. When I look up, his outstretched hand is there, pulling me swiftly onto the back of the bike.

“Drive!” I scream even as I pull on my helmet and slide my hands around his waist. We rocket forward and I tighten my grip on Nik, molding my body to his. I don’t have to look back to know we’ve left a trail of burnt rubber in our wake. “Don’t stop,” I shout over the rushing wind. The guards from The Brownstone have given chase, but as the speedometer crests 100mph, we leave them behind easily. They’re fast, but they’re not that fast.

Hell’s bells! Nik’s right. We are
so
in over our heads. This whole thing is much bigger than I could have imagined. My head is spinning as I try to make sense of what I saw in Jacobs’ blood. We need to get the cure back to The Dwyer Group, and I need to talk to Aldo, but first we have to get to safety.

“Don’t stop until we get to Crossroads.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The trip back to Crossroads is uneventful. Nik handles the bike easily. Once we exit the city and start north, he rarely eases up on the gas pedal. We cross into Vermont, trading the open highway for the winding roads of the Green Mountains. Nik has no trouble navigating the mountainous roads in the dark. Moonlight shimmers down, reflecting off of the pavement and lighting our path.

I relish the feel of the harsh wind clawing at my exposed skin as we tear through the night. Our bodies rock gently in unison, pressing against one another, leaning with the bike at each curve in the road. It would almost be sensual if it weren’t for the urgency with which we ride.

We make it to the school in record time. Not three hours later we roll up to the gates of Crossroads. We don’t bother trying to sneak back onto campus. Nik gives our names to the Pazitor in the gatehouse. Much to my chagrin, he calls Pratt to confirm that we should be readmitted. It seems Pratt’s put the Guardians on alert. They’ve been waiting for us to return.  The hulking guard buzzes us through with a stern look. The gate swings wide and I brace myself for the worst.

Pratt meets us at the door. He doesn’t wait for us to get inside and starts bitching us out right there on the front steps. Just what we don’t need right now.

“I’ve warned you Miss Lescinka!” he rails, waving his bony finger in my face. His voice is an octave or two higher than usual and his beady little eyes look as though they might pop out of his head at any minute. Pratt’s approaching a hysterical rant. “I’ve given you every opportunity and this is how you repay my leniency? Sneaking off campus? Did you really think you’d get away with it?” he asks. His face is inches from mine. His breath is sour. Saliva coats his fangs. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that he’s using all of his self-restraint to keep from putting his hands on me.

I weigh my options and remain silent.

“You think you can make a fool of me like this?” he spits. Pratt doesn’t look at Nik once. All of his pent up rage is directed solely at me. I guess it’s all my fault, which it sort of is, but Pratt doesn’t know that. Pratt grabs my arm, digging his nails into the thick leather of my destroyed jacket, and I’m done accommodating his ego. “This is the last time you’ll cross me, Miss Lescinka.”

Nik and I exchange a sidelong glance and shove past Pratt. It’s not like we can be in any worse trouble. At least I can’t.

“You are expelled!” he screams, following us up the stairs and through the front door. “Pack your bags, Miss Lescinka!”

Ignoring Pratt’s instructions, Nik and I go straight to Blaine’s room. I pound on the door and don’t let up until he answers. When the door swings open, he looks pissy.

“What?” he barks. His face softens a touch when he sees Nik. He leans into the door jamb trying to look more casual and less prick-like. “So you’re back. Did you get it then?”

“Yeah, and we need your help one more time,” I tell him, consumed by the knowledge wrested from Jacobs’ mind. I can hardly think straight. I pull the hard drive from my bag and press it into Blaine’s hand. He needs to get started right away. “I need you to decrypt this and transfer the contents to The Dwyer Group.”

“Anyone in particular you want to send it to?” he asks. I nearly die of shock. His words drip with sarcasm, but at least he’s not arguing. That’s a first.

“I don’t know. Call them and find out,” I suggest. He’s a smart kid. I’m sure he’ll figure it out. “Just start working on the encryption.” He starts to shut the door and my hand shoots out involuntarily, holding it in place. “Thanks, Blaine.”

He gives me half a smile and closes the door.

“On that note.” I turn and head for my own room, barely aware that Nik is still following me.

“Want to talk about it?”

“About what?” I ask, not even sparing him a glance. There’s nothing to talk about, at least not with him. I’ve got to get to Aldo.

“Whatever it was you saw back at The Brownstone?” he prompts. “Judging by the dramatic exit, I have to assume you were successful.”

“I was,” I tell him as I unlock the door to my room. I’m torn. My first loyalty is to Aldo, but Nik has been with me all the way. He put a lot on the line to help me, to help Shaye.

“Want to talk about it?”

“No.” Oh, man does this suck. He’s not going to understand. I wouldn’t. “I mean… I
can’t
.”

“Whatever you saw, it must’ve been very important.” He rests his hand on my shoulder and when I look at him, it cuts to the core. He thinks I don’t trust him. Not fully, anyway. The hurt is written all over his face. I see it in the flash of his eyes, in the arch of his brows, in the way the corners of his mouth turn down. I even hear it in his voice. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

I draw a deep breath, heaving my shoulders in frustration. There’s no time to sort out my emotions right now. I’ll have to rely on my instincts, and they say I can trust Nik to the ends of the earth. I can trust him with my life. Only it’s no longer just my life that’s at stake. What I saw, it puts us all in danger.

“Might as well come in then,” I relent, unable to bear the idea of hurting Nik.

The room is dark. The curtains are drawn, blocking out the night sky. Shaye’s in bed snoring softly when we enter. She’s got the covers pulled up over her head, but she stirs as we sit our bags down. I go to the side of her bed, feeling the urge to check on her. I want to see for myself that she’s okay.

“You’re back.” She smiles sleepily. She doesn’t look any better than she did when we left. Without treatment, her days are numbered. I choke back a sob, relief flooding through me at the knowledge that we now have the cure. She’s going to make it. She has to. “How was your trip?”

I know what she’s asking. Did we get the hard drive? Has Philips’ research been recovered?

“We got it.” She sits up, clasping my hand. I’m moved as her eyes well up with tears.

“Really? You got it?” The look of gratitude on her face makes everything we’ve been through worth it. Especially the expulsion.

“Yes,
really,
” I say, giving her a quick hug. I draw back and smooth her hair down tenderly. She has a wicked case of bed head. “Get some rest. I’ll tell you all about it in the morning. I’m going to call Aldo and see what he can do about arranging treatment for you.”

It’s not a lie. It’s just not the whole truth. She has enough to worry about right now. Besides, the less she knows about the rest, the better.

By the time Aldo’s phone rings, Shaye’s once again well on her way to dreamland. I don’t envy her snores, but I do wish I could fall asleep so easily.

“Katia?” Aldo sounds upset. Pratt’s clearly gotten to him. “You are in big trouble, young lady!” he bellows. Eesh. Maybe I should have returned one or two of his phone calls.

“I can explain,” I plead, “if only you’ll listen.”

“Katia! There is no excuse for what you’ve done!” He sounds exasperated. I tend to have that effect, but not usually on Aldo. “You are going to be expelled from Crossroads Academy! Not to mention the fact that I was beside myself with worry. Even Anya didn’t know where you’d gone and you weren’t answering your phone!”

“But…”

“No! No, ‘buts’,” he says, cutting me off angrily. “I trust you to behave like an adult and you have let me down. You are too important to be acting so rashly. It is dangerous for you to behave this way. You must think of things other than yourself!”

“We found the stolen research,” I blurt out abruptly. So much for easing into it. I just can’t stand hearing Aldo angry at me. Of everyone in my life, I owe him the most, and he’s usually the most understanding. Not tonight though.

“You? Found it?” he asks, the disbelief evident in his tone. “How?”

“It’s a long story,” I say carefully. “But you can tell the Linkuri to stop looking for Philips. He had nothing to do with the theft.”

“He wasn’t involved?” Aldo doesn’t sound convinced. “Katia, they have him on video.”

“It’s complicated,” I tell him anxiously. I start twisting my hair and Nik grabs my hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “Philips was framed. By a shape shifter, but he was just a hired hand. This isn’t really about the cure for otrava de sange.” It occurs to me that I don’t even know what they’re calling this wonder drug. Not that it matters. All that matters is that it works and that Shaye is cured of the terminal blood disease.

“The theft, it’s just one small part of something a hell of a lot bigger,” I continue. I should focus on the facts. “Have you heard of The Order of the Red Dawn?”

“I’ve heard rumors,” Also admits. “But we’ve never been able to confirm their purpose or even their existence.”

“Well, they’re real,” I tell him. “Real serious about overthrowing the Elder’s Council.” Aldo’s sharp intake of breath confirms his shock. Nik looks equally disturbed. He drops my hand and leans forward balancing his elbows on his knees. He runs his hands up over his face and through his hair. His eyes are grim and his mouth is set in a hard line. Both men are quiet for a moment. I give them time to absorb the news. Perhaps these are the dark days Aldo spoke of last summer.

“How can you be so sure?” Aldo asks eventually, breaking the silence. “My best men have come up empty handed time and again. How did you discover this information?”

“Dumb luck?” I give Aldo a quick download on the last four days activity. He listens quietly and I’m grateful he doesn’t interrupt. I need to get this off my chest and share it with someone who’s in a position to actually
do
something about it. Still, I’m not sure if it’s shock or common courtesy that keeps him silent. Surely he must have a million questions, or, at the very least, a desire to reprimand me again for being so reckless.

“Aldo, they’re planning a revolt,” I tell him breathlessly. “It’ll be a bloodbath.”

Epilogue

“Is this okay?” Nik asks pulling back. No! It’s definitely
not
okay, I want to shout. On what planet is it okay to stop kissing me when we’re going hot and heavy like this? He can be such a tease sometimes.

“Is what okay?” I ask, groaning as I roll back on the bed. Geez, Nik. Overthink much? I grin in spite of myself. His blue eyes shine down on me, dancing with laughter. In the afternoon sun they look warm, almost a cobalt blue. It might be my new favorite color.

“Us? Being here like this?” He leans over me, caressing my cheek gently. His finger trails dangerously close to my mouth and I contemplate nipping at it. I’ll bet he tastes as good as he smells. Mmmm…. Lavender and spice. “Do we have to worry about being interrupted?” His voice is thick with emotion. I think it might be lust.

“Nope. Shaye’s on her way to Europe for treatment.” I place my finger on his chin and turn his head toward her side of the room. “Notice the total lack of dirty laundry?”

“Ah, the animal farm is gone too. How did that ever escape my notice?” he teases. “Excellent news though.”

“Tell me about it,” I reply. “It’s great for Shaye, but Keegan’s having a rough time of it. He really wanted to go with her, but it was totally out of the question. Shaye’s family would go batshit crazy.”

“They really have no idea?” Nik asks, looking skeptical.

“Search me. Shaye says they’re clueless and I have to believe she’s probably right. I mean, if they had any idea, I’m pretty sure Keegan would be out of a job.”

“So he’s back at Crossroads then?” Nik asks as he stretches, arching his back and looking oh-so-sexy. “That’s news to me.”

“Sorry. I meant to tell you,” I apologize as I snuggle closer to him, filling the open space that’s creeped between us. “Everything just happened so fast. Keegan got back yesterday. I guess he wanted a chance to say goodbye to Shaye before she left this morning. He was beside himself. I’m pretty sure that even if The Shadow hadn’t been able to pull herself together, Keegan would have left her to fend for herself once he heard Shaye was heading off for treatment.”