Chapter 53

 

RENEE HAULED OPEN the door and carried Jessie into the garage. The kid staggered and Jed rushed over to them.

“What happened?” he muttered as Jessie pulled her mask off and took her pump again.

“Sawyer.” Renee lifted up Jessie’s top and felt along her ribs and stomach again to be sure. Nothing broken. Nothing too worrying. Maybe she’d cracked a rib.

“I’m okay, Professor Worthington,” Jessie mumbled, her eyes still bright, even though they were watering. “You need to go get Miroslav, please?”

Renee smiled down at her. “Just stay close to Jed, okay? Tell him if you are feeling unwell.”

Jed gripped Jessie in a hug and led her to the bus. “Franny said you were awesome.”

Jessie grinned up at him. “Not half as cool as Professor Worthington. She hit Sawyer’s hand with one shot . . . on the run!”

“Cool.” Ty was ready with a hug at the steps to the bus. Renee was pleased to see Franny wave from inside.

Back on track.

Renee opened the door. Ducked. Rolled forward.

Clang.

An iron bar hit the stone where her head had been. Not so back on track.

Renee sprang to her feet and faced a very groggy looking guard. Dodged another swing.

Clang.

No weapons.

Clang.

Parried a lumbering attack.

Clang.

Thankfully he had no radio. “Urs, we have a problem. The guard is awake.”

Clang.

“Do what you need to do Renee. There are kids on that bus.” Frei wasn’t in the mood for compromise.

Clang.

Renee’s stomach rolled at the thought. She’d had to fire in the line of duty before but she’d go through every other option first.

She ducked again.

Clang.

Options, right. She pulled her pistol.

The guard dropped his bar.

It would do. “Inside.”

Renee shoved him into the garage.

“Whoa, it’s Miss Worthington,” she heard Jed shout.

Frei’s group lowered their hockey sticks and appeared from either side of the door. Guess the gym was missing some stock.

“Complication,” she offered as she took the guard to the bike rack.

She grabbed the cable tie from her pocket—an addition Frei had added to their mission equipment—and secured him to a solid post.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You won’t get away—”

Renee shoved tape over his mouth—another Frei addition—grateful that one of them was sneaky.

“You’re leaving him here?” the boy, one of Jones’s group, piped up from through the window of the bus. She felt his fear ripple over her. 

Renee put on her best patient smile. “Yes, he’s in nothing but boxer shorts and socks. He’s not hurting anyone.”

“But he can see what’s going on.” The boy hugged himself. The others looked to him and she could tell they were as worried.

Renee pulled the cover off one of the motorcycles, winced at the dented paint work, and threw it over the guard.

“Better?”

It earned her a few nervous chuckles.

“Stevie, if he moves,” Jed said, “I’ll knock him out myself. How’s that?”

The boy’s fear evaporated.

“Let’s hope you don’t have to do that,” Renee said, fighting the urge to chastise him. She was getting like her mother. The thought made her smile.

“Professor Worthington,” Jed called as she reached the door.

She turned, trying not to let her worry show. She needed to move not talk. “Yes?”

“You can do it.” He nodded to her, the students each nodding with him.

She felt a wave of support crash over her and her shoulders relaxed. Her throat tightened and all she could manage was a nod.

Aeron was right. These teenagers were incredible.

She pulled out her necklace, kissed it, and headed into the storm.

The same St. Christopher’s Aeron had placed around her neck. The St. Christopher’s that had once belonged to Aeron.

Her armor.

She needed to focus on her armor.

 

URSULA ROUNDED THE corner of the corridor and typed the code into the keypad. It opened the first time. Jessie’s notes made things far easier.

She turned to Huber. “Make it quick.”

Huber strolled through and went into Kevin’s room. Ursula placed the second earpiece to her ear and smiled. As if she wouldn’t have bugged him.

“Good evening, Kevin,” Huber began. His charm flowed through his voice. “I hear you’re quite a handful.”

“You the buyer?” Kevin sounded unsure, afraid. “I haven’t been to auction yet.”

So Kevin knew he was a slave. How? He’d been near none of the students. He’d been in confinement since Owens’ attempted rescue.

“I don’t need to put you through an auction. What I’m interested in is that nasty streak of yours.”

“I don’t talk to thieves.” Kevin’s tone made something pulse into life inside her.

She heard footsteps, ducked back, and pressed the button to make Huber’s pocket whistle.

“First thing we’ll do is teach you manners.”

Ursula wasn’t surprised to hear Kevin shriek with pain. Huber wasn’t someone to mess around.

A few moments later Huber appeared beside her. She shut the door, locked it, and led him down the stairs.

“He is really worth your time?”

Huber smiled at her. “Ah, Locks, he’s not you. Not every jewel is as precious as you are. The boy’s brain is worth his fire.”

“Are you sure of that?”

Huber nodded. “Quite. Jäger had him in a simulation machine. He kept his owner safe and his money. Megan won’t like him. He thought nothing of using a mistress for a shield.”

Aeron had been right about Kevin. Ursula was glad she’d listened.

“Sounds like you’re looking for a locksmith and commander?”

“I doubt he could ever be a locksmith but I lost mine when she ran off to play policewoman. Your other abilities were a bonus and I’m in need of both.”

“He’d turn on you.” Why she was bothering to worry, she didn’t know. But she did. Huber was the closest thing she had to a parent.

“Not by the time I’ve finished with him.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to the side entrance door. “You forget how persuasive I can be.”

“You never laid a finger on me.” Her voice sounded quiet to her own ears.

“Because you love me. You still do, which is why you will take those children and leave Kevin to me.” Huber ruffled her hair. “Put on your mask. Go, play the hero.”

She felt like a child around him and couldn’t explain it. “Jäger won’t like it.”

“No, I don’t suppose he will but I do enjoy flattening an ego.” Huber slapped her across the bottom, making her wince.

She disappeared into the dust. She’d done her duty to him. Now she just had to get a load of kids out.

 

LIGHTS. HEAT. THE lone sound of my violin next to my ear. My heart had slowed. Sweat still present, nerves still present but calming. Music hummed through me.

My arm felt weaker than could be accounted for with my own nerves. I glanced at Miranda, her face pale. Nausea whirled in my stomach. She shook with nerves.

I looked back at my violin, tried to shut off from it.

If she fainted I would just play on because if I stopped and the music kept going, I’d need more than Renee and Frei to get us out.

Breathe. She needed my strength. She needed me to help her. I shut my eyes and focused on every warm happy thought I could find.

 

Thump. Thump. Thump.

His heart burst into a rhythm against my palm. His gasp in my ear. I held on. He gripped me back. My legs buckled with the effort. Love pulsed back from him. Energy bounced to and fro, back and forth, building. We were healing each other.

“You scared me half to death,” he rasped in my ear. I could feel his joy.

I buried my head in his shoulder, holding fast, every desperate need being answered. He didn’t hate me. He’d risked everything to get me back. He loved me.

“I thought you didn’t want me.” Tears dribbled into my mouth. “I thought you hated me.”

My father gripped me so tight that I felt like a precious treasure. He’d risked everything for me. “I love you, baby.” He rubbed my back. “I love you, baby girl.”

 

The memory pulsed through me. Heal each other. That was it. Miranda and I. We needed to do this together. I focused on every single person I adored and opened my eyes.

The bar before the switch.

I shone every ounce of love I felt, picturing it flowing to her. I fixed my eyes on hers. Every breath, every thought urging her on.

You can do this. You can do it.  

Something rippled through her. Had she felt it. Could she feel it. Either way her chin rose. She took a breath. She hovered her bow above the strings . . .

The changeover was seamless.

I didn’t let my focus drop. I kept my eyes on Miranda. After she’d finished her part, we’d play the coda together.

I had no idea where Renee was but I hoped she was ready. I hoped the students and Frei were okay. Miranda was clinging on with the energy I was sending her but it was draining me. 

I caught Owens leave out the corner of my eye. Great. Where was she going? I hoped Renee had figured out a way to keep Owens busy. There was nothing I could do. I had to keep focused on Miranda.

I had to trust Renee and Frei to do their thing.

I felt another burst of warmth roll through me. I did. I trusted them. I loved them. They could do it. I met Miranda’s eyes, willing her to hold on. We could do it.