CHAPTER 31

For some time after Mineko’s announcement, Lachlan kept silent, though the glint in his eyes suggested his mind was working in a frenzy. Kade had learned to both admire and fear that look.

“What are you going to do?” said Kade.

“I’m…” Lachlan rubbed his forehead. “I’m thinking.”

“You have to admit, it’s clever of her.”

“I’m swelling with pride, believe me. But the part of me that doesn’t want either of us to be Reintegrated is very pissed off.”

Lachlan pressed a button on his mobile-comm. “Agents, listen. Do not interact with any students. Keep your distance, even flee from them if necessary. Try not to let them harm you, but if you value your careers, do not under any circumstances harm them.” He switched off the comm and exhaled. “Hell.”

“You’re taking her threat seriously, then?”

“Very much so. She’s astute. The Code encourages ambition even as it stifles competition, allowing for very few routes to the top. So when these students see a golden opportunity… Well, let’s just say I’m lucky we don’t keep pitchforks and flaming torches anywhere on campus.”

“What’s your plan?”

“Short of whimpering and running? I’m not yet sure. I could call Gaspar and tell him what’s happened, but that would be the first step to forfeiting my memories and personality. Still, I’ll figure something out.”

“You can’t seriously believe you can cover this up.”

“Of course I can, at least to an extent. The challenge will be doing so while protecting Mineko. As I told her yesterday, she’s my queen, and I’m very reluctant to sacrifice her. Though she didn’t appreciate the remark.”

“Most people aren’t pleased to be compared to game pieces.”

“I think it’s a compliment. Without them, the board is meaningless.”

The mobile-comm buzzed. With a weary look, Lachlan reached for it. “Reed here. Talk.”

“The students are mobilizing, sir,” said a nervous voice. “They’re behaving strangely. One of them saw me and made an aggressive gesture. Should I talk to them?”

“Did you not hear me before? Keep your distance.” Lachlan put away the comm and opened the door. Callie and Turani blinked at him. “Get inside, you two. And for God’s sake, agent, put that gun away.”

Turani frowned. “But sir, how will I stop Roux escaping?”

“I don’t give a damn if she does escape. The worst she can do is steal more confectionery.”

“With all respect, Commanding Agent, enforcing the Code is our duty. And this woman is a murderer and a criminal.”

Lachlan sighed. “Agent Turani. Forget whatever they’re teaching you now in the academy, leave the law enforcement to District Affairs and focus on your priority, which is to maintain social cohesion.”

“But we should at least subdue them.”

“Then go ahead and tie Ms. Roux up. She might well enjoy it.”

Turani’s mouth fell open. “Sir!”

“Don’t be so distressed. I’m permitted a sense of humor. It’s a liberty I’ve earned from loyal service.”

“Whatever you say, sir.” Turani matched his mocking gaze. “Why did Mineko Tamura tell all those lies?”

Lachlan’s smirk vanished. “I expect somebody forced her to express those absurd sentiments. Our responsibility now is to take her to safety.”

“So that’s our objective? Find Mineko Tamura?”

“Yes, but I’d rather handle it myself, if you don’t mind. This is a delicate situation that only I’m qualified to deal with.”

Turani lowered her dark lashes, turning her eyes into suspicious slits. “Because of your augmentations?”

“That’s a little insubordinate of you, but yes, if you like. Because I’m a terrifying cyborg.” Lachlan said the word cyborg with such theatrical emphasis that Kade was unable to keep back a chuckle, much to Turani’s obvious irritation.

“Look down there,” said Callie. At the base of the hill, a group of perhaps fifteen students had gathered. “This kinda fucks you over, doesn’t it, Reed?”

“I wouldn’t myself have found such a poetic way of saying it, but yes.”

“May I suggest something?” said Turani. “We could strip the uniforms from these two. You wear August’s and I take Roux’s. Then we force them to wear our old uniforms. The students will target them instead.”

Callie grinned. “You just want to see my panties, don’t you?”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion.” Turani flushed, clenched her fist and impotently opened it again. “Mr. Reed, your thoughts on my plan?”

Lachlan shook his head. “It would only feed the possibility of violence, not to mention disrespect our uniform codes.”

“I see.” The chastened Turani hung her head. “I apologize for my inappropriate suggestion.”

“Cheer up, Jasmine,” Callie said. “I thought it was clever.”

“Don’t talk to me!”

“Agent Turani.” Lachlan spoke with the forced patience usually directed at unruly children. “If you’d be so kind as to reconnoiter the ground floor.”

“Sir.” Still scowling, Turani clanged down the fire escape.

“I should ask for her number,” said Callie. “I think she likes me.”

Lachlan chuckled. “That would explain why she seems so determined to pull your hair.”

“By the way…” Callie picked up Kade’s revolver and flicked back the safety. “If I shoot you now, I solve all our problems, right?”

It was such a casual invocation of violence, it took a moment for its importance to sink in. Kade stared at her, mouth open to speak, but not yet able to articulate an objection.

“Hardly.” True to form, Lachlan seemed unfazed by the gun pointed at him. “Anyone else would have hauled you straight to Reintegration. I’m the only Codist who’d prefer you keep smuggling. Spreading the wealth.”

“But you’re hurting people I care about. What if I let you go and you kill Lexi? How would I forgive myself?”

Lachlan tensed. “A fair question.”

“I killed a shut-in yesterday. It was the worst moment in my life.” Callie took aim. “But for Lexi, I’d do it again, because I’m sentimental that way. She’s my friend, and I won’t let you hurt her. So close your eyes and think of something clever to say before you die.”

No. Kade had to act. Whatever his sins, Lachlan didn’t deserve to die here. Nor did Callie need to live with yet more blood on her conscience.

“Put the gun away,” Kade said. “As much trouble as Lachlan has caused for us, he’s the only one who can command these agents.”

“Exactly.” Lachlan visibly relaxed. “Turani is next in rank. Shoot me and she’ll report what’s happening. Your charming insolence inclines me to show you lenience, but it won’t get you any further with her.”

“But still, you’d be dead,” said Callie. “And you’re the kind of guy who can’t imagine a world without himself in it, aren’t you?”

“Why threaten me? What can I do? You’ll find there isn’t any prize available to you. Shall I give you Mineko?” Lachlan held out his empty hands. “She’s not mine to give. She’s out there raising a rabble to overthrow me. Shall I let you walk out? I already have no intention of stopping you.”

“I don’t fucking get it. You keep giving up your advantage, and I can’t figure out why. No matter what happens, you act as if you planned it all along. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were a total lunatic.”

Lachlan shot Kade a quick, knowing smile. “You’re confused only because you believe what you’ve been told, that I’m a bad man. The truth is, I’m not a bad man, and I want what you do. I think Mineko should be happy, safe, and successful. We just disagree on what those words mean.”

“And Lexi? What about her?”

“Honestly, I have no desire to see her hurt.”

“I saw that bruise on her forehead from where you hit her. You stuck a dart in Amity. Your thugs beat up Zeke and Kade.”

“Did I say I wasn’t a savage? You know Foundation is no place for the weak. Lexi built the brutal crime syndicates of Vassago and Contessa. Amity and Kade have killed countless Codists, and unlike you, they don’t lose sleep over it. I’m no different from any of your friends. No better, yes, but certainly no worse.”

“You are worse. How can you say you aren’t worse?”

“Well, I’ve never taken a woman hostage. Nor have I ever tried to trick naïve students into attacking armed agents.” Lachlan’s lips shifted in a faint smile. “And I’ve never broken into a vending machine.”

Callie looked to Kade. Her big, dark eyes expressed heartbreaking doubt. “Do I shoot him?”

“I don’t want you to,” said Kade. It was terrifying how much he meant it.

“Riva wouldn’t want me to either.”

“No. She wouldn’t.”

“But if I can’t shoot him, how can we ever end this?”

“Your mistake is thinking it ends with me.” Lachlan sounded almost gentle. “I’m big, but not as big as you think. If you want to protect Lexi, take her somewhere I can’t find her. Shooting the hunter won’t stop the hunt. It’ll merely ensure they send out a nastier hunter.”

“The way the others tell it, the shut-ins don’t have anyone nastier than you. Kade, you pretty much said so yourself.”

Potentially true, yet the lesser of the truths here. Hadn’t Amity been shunned once, hated by comrades and criminals alike? Kade, Ash, and Nikolas had befriended her and shown compassion, and time had proven their decision to be wise. Kade knew what it meant to be offered a reprieve—an opportunity to try again from a new perspective. Lexi had given him a similar gift once. A new life. A new name. A second chance.

Could that someday be Lachlan? Who knew?

Kade held out his hand. “Give me the gun.”