The Alliance (18 page)

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
47

I was a guest at the first wedding last night. I watched as two strangers pledged their lives to each other happily. The groom was another high-­ranking official in the current regime. The bride seemed of little importance to anyone else in attendance.

—­The journal of Isaac Ryland

The rising sun and noise from Andrew's companions made it impossible to sleep any longer. He remained on the ground and let out a long stretch, his back sore from the rocky floor.

“I have to relieve myself,” Agent Quillian said. “You need to untie my hands.”

“Carter just took you,” Zack said. “What, you feel like you missed your opportunity to escape and now you've formed a better plan? It will have to wait until the next bathroom break.”

“We survived the night without being attacked,” Andrew said. “Zero points for Agent Quillian's theory.”

“He's awake,” Carter said. “So glad you could join the land of the living.”

“How long have you been up?”

“Twenty minutes,” Carter said.

Andrew pulled himself off the ground. Zack was using his good hand to reload the suitcases. Andrew started to join him. He left a pile of clothes on the ground and instead filled a canvas bag with the cell phones, water, and food they took from the car. He paused and opened one of the bottles, taking a long gulp.

“We have more in the car,” Zack said. “Don't think you have to conserve.”

“I need a shower,” Agent Quillian said. “We all stink.”

“I thought that about you the moment I met you,” Carter said.

“Want to hear what I thought of you?”

Andrew ignored the two men arguing and used the opportunity to speak with Zack alone. He walked closer to the tall blond man and spoke in a whisper.

“The agent was right about some things,” Andrew said. “We have to ditch the SUV. The moment someone spots it we are all dead. We should probably ditch the suits too.”

“That is number one on my list today,” Zack said. “The second we spot another car we're taking it.”

“Then what?”

“We meet our contact outside the capital,” Zack said. “Execute our mission and wait for extraction.”

Andrew nodded and went back to packing.

“Wait,” Zack said. “There is a timeline to this thing. I know Mia said three days, but if she doesn't show we're moving forward regardless. Do you understand?”

“She will be there,” Andrew said. “I bet she's already called. No ser­vice out here though.”

“You know, she is a female driving alone across America in a stolen government car; there is a chance she was picked up.”

“Mia's smart,” Andrew said. “She is safe. I know it.”

“I want you prepared,” Zack said. “This mission is bigger than all of us, including Mia. I don't want to leave you behind.”

“You won't have to leave anyone behind,” Andrew said.

Zack nodded and bent back down. Carter and Agent Quillian continued to speak and Andrew tuned back in to their conversation.

“I bet you would do good with the ladies,” Agent Quillian said. “They would all go nuts for your crazy eyes. One blue one green, right?”

“You think so?” Carter asked.

“Carter,” Andrew said. “Stop making friends with our prisoner.”

Carter straightened his shoulders and started to help pack up the camp. Some of the wood was smoldering from their fire last night. Andrew stopped and emptied his water bottle over it.

“Why are you bothering with that?” Agent Quillian asked. “It will go out on its own.”

Andrew shrugged. It didn't seem right to leave the fire smoking. He took a small victory from hearing the embers burn out.

“Let's get going,” Zack said.

Andrew checked his pockets. He had his newly acquired RAG identification and cell phone. He patted under his coat and felt his gun in its holster. Carter grabbed Agent Quillian by the elbow and started following Zack down the trail. Andrew brought up the rear. He couldn't wait to get back to a spot that afforded him phone calls. He would dial Mia immediately.

What would he say? Of course he would start with an apology and a promise to never keep anything from her again. He knew she was angry with him, but she still loved him, and that was enough to keep him going. Andrew focused on his thoughts too much and only stopped walking when he slammed into Carter.

“Ugh,” Andrew said. He lifted his hands to cover his nose, which had slammed into the back of Carter's head.

“Why did you stop moving?” Andrew asked.

“I told you guys something bad would happen,” Agent Quillian said. “Nobody listens to me.”

Andrew ignored the pain in his nose and tried to see what the other men were looking at. The road was empty. Then it dawned on him. They weren't looking at anything. The SUV and the rest of their supplies were gone.

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
48

I received another visit from the GC. This time I told him I would not run; he laughed and left the room. I wonder if this is my punishment for escaping, or if all woman are now subject to this mental breaking.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

Schuyler, two miles.
Mia repeated the phrase in her head and almost cried out when the sign appeared. She pushed the accelerator down and sped closer to her destination. Neither of her traveling companions seemed to notice. Mia glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Corinna's eyes were closed. Mia shifted her gaze to her mother; the woman was staring out the window, and tears stained her cheeks.

“You should try to get some sleep,” Mia said. “I'm sorry about Father.”

“My tears aren't for him,” Mia's mother replied.

“I know you're scared,” Mia said. “But things will work out.”

“How is it you're so young and have so much bravery?” she asked.

“Brave” wasn't a word Mia would use to describe herself. A building appeared off to the side of the road. It was at least a mile away, but in the flat, dark landscape it stood out. Mia sighed with relief; another landmark she was familiar with. Mia remembered Andrew's stories about being paid to kill other roaming youths for money. That was no doubt what was taking place at that establishment right now.

Mia debated telling her mother the real reason she had shown up at the house. Her original plan was to hold the woman at gunpoint until she received information verifying her sale to Grant. Mia thought it was pointless, and without that justification she had left Andrew for no reason.

“I ran away from my friends because I was angry with them,” Mia said. “That's not bravery.”

“You didn't run away, you came home,” Mia's mother said. “Your father had been so sick for such a long time. I should have handled him; instead I let you walk into that room and I put you in danger.”

“He thought I was a ghost,” Mia said. “I don't think he was aware of what he was doing.”

Mia felt her shoulders shake when the smell of the burning room came back. For all her father's faults, he did not deserve a death so violent. Mia let the tears well up.

“Don't you dare cry for him,” Mia's mother said. “In all my years I never bothered wondering what happened after death, but I'd thought about taking that shotgun upstairs and ending his suffering for months. I wasn't strong enough. Whatever pain that man felt tonight, it was not your fault.”

At her mother's urging Mia willed her eyes to dry before the tears touched her cheek. The two sat in silence again. Her mother's words echoed through her head. Mia had come home, but at what cost? She would have loved to hear Andrew's voice, but even that desire felt selfish. Her concern should have lain with taking down the Registry and continuing Affinity's mission, but all Mia wanted was her friends back with her.

The sun was rising fast and Mia felt like she was driving in circles, but she knew it was the opposite. There was only one road she had taken to and from her destination and Mia hadn't detoured. Her hope was starting to falter; maybe her memory was playing tricks on her, maybe the house was the opposite way from the tavern. She didn't want her family to share in the tension Mia was feeling. She needed to keep things positive.

“You taught me about bravery,” Mia said.

Mia's mother snorted. “All I taught you was how to cook and clean,” she said.

“And read and write,” Mia said.

“I only did those things to please your father and raise your worth,” she said.

“That's not true,” Mia said. “Maybe that's the rationale you gave yourself, but it was a lie. You taught me because you loved me. Grant Marsden is a horrible man, but if things had gone differently and I was his wife right now I would still be alive—­and that is saying a lot—­because of the things you taught me. Every little piece of advice and instruction you gave me over the years is the only reason I'm still alive today.”

Mia's mother didn't have a response. Mia continued.

“Do you remember when I was a little girl and I decided Bailey should sleep in my room?”

“How could I forget? That barnyard dog brought fleas into you bed. It took months to break the egg cycles.”

“You were so mad at me,” Mia said. “I remember getting yelled at and spanked.”

“Looking back now I suppose you just loved that dog,” Mia's mother said.

“You were right to punish me,” Mia said. “But once it was all over and done, do you remember what you said to me?”

“No.”

“You said thank you,” Mia said.

“That doesn't sound like me.”

“ ‘Thank you, Mia. I hate the way I found out, but if you hadn't brought that dog inside he would still have fleas.' ”

“Well, that's the truth,” Mia's mother said. “Your father didn't think it was a big deal since he was an outside dog, but I was so disgusted by the whole thing that I convinced him to start medicating the poor animal.”

“That day you taught me that sometimes bad ideas can still have a positive outcome,” Mia said. “And I'm grateful for that.”

Mia's mother reached over to the steering wheel and squeezed her daughter's hand. Mia was about to let her mother know that they were on the road to nowhere, that Mia was unable to remember the way to her safe haven, when the sun started reflecting off a structure on the flat road. Mia's heart skipped a beat. They grew close and Mia recognized the dilapidated-­looking small white house. She saw the giant barn looming behind it and Mia felt a sense of calm wash over her.

“Where are we?” Corinna asked.

Mia glanced in the mirror and saw her sister rubbing her eyes as she awoke.

“With friends,” Mia said.

She turned the car down the driveway and was so excited she didn't think she could put it in park before she jumped out the door.

 

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE

HarperCollins
Publishers

....................................

Chapter
49

Another visit tonight. This time I was shown the results of my escape attempt. Twenty-­seven women fled the gates of our compound. Fourteen were returned immediately; my group of five remained unharmed, but eight are still unaccounted for.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

Thump thump thump.
Mia pounded on the door for the second time. The giant grin she wore was starting to vanish. She told herself maybe they weren't home, but then a memory came crashing back. Mia had spotted a wanted poster in Saint Louis, and the only way Grant Marsden could have known she was there is if the ­people who helped her had told him. That meant Grant had been here before.

Mia put her hand on the doorknob and tried to enter, but it was locked. Her need for safety was replaced by a need to make sure her friends were safe. Mia didn't think she could handle another death on her account. She turned to her side and started throwing her shoulder into the door. It still didn't budge.

Nothing would make Mia give up at this point. She backed away to the edge of the porch and lifted her leg. She would try to kick the door down to make sure the inhabitants were safe. Before her foot made contact the door swung open.

There stood Frank. He wore a bathrobe over his white T-­shirt and flannel pants. His white hair was messed up and one of his eyes was closed. His hands held a shotgun pointed at Mia, but she wasn't fazed. She ran toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist. The gun dropped and he returned her embrace.

“Mia?” he asked. “What are you doing here?”

Frank didn't bother waiting for a response before yelling for his husband.

“
Alex,
” Frank yelled. “Wake up and get down here.” To Mia he said, “We thought you were dead. How did you find us again? Where have you been?”

“I need your help,” Mia said.

“It's yours,” Frank said. “Get in here.”

“I'm not alone,” Mia said.

“Andrew and Whitney?”

Both names stung Mia for different reasons. She released Frank and backed up, shaking her head no.

“I am so sorry,” Frank said. “They were good ­people.”

Mia nodded, not ready to explain her whole story at the moment.

“But who are these lovely gems?” Frank asked.

“I know you said to stay in the car,” Corinna said. “But we heard a lot of noise and wanted to make sure you were safe.”

“Frank, this is my sister Corinna and my mother, Laura,” Mia said.

“What is so important you had to get me out of bed . . . Mia?” Alex said.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a tight embrace. She didn't have a chance to pull away before he had lifted her off the ground and started swaying her back and forth in his bear grip.

“What are you doing here? Tell me everything,” he said, letting her down.

Mia stood back and looked at him. He wore the same outfit as Frank, only instead of cotton his robe was silk. His white T-­shirt was a deep V-­neck that showed off his developed chest. Blond hair that should have looked messy instead was the epitome of handsome. Andrew was Mia's love, but Alex was still the best-­looking man she had ever laid eyes on.

“You haven't changed a bit,” Mia said.

“That's not true,” Alex said. “I've put on about twenty pounds! Pure muscle, you know. Frank loves it.”

“Frank loves you just the way you are,” Frank said.

Alex put a gentle hand on Frank's shoulder and the two exchanged a quick kiss. Mia glanced behind her, expecting to see her family's faces looking as shocked as Mia's had been the first time she witnessed the exchange between the two, but neither Corinna or her mother appeared put off.

“I doubt anyone is about to drive by, but let's continue this reunion inside,” Frank said.

He held open the door and Mia went inside first. She heard Alex introducing himself to Corinna and her mother and for a brief moment Mia felt at peace.