Redemption (39 page)

Emma had watched him during the conversation, her face guarded. “He knows where it is?”

“He saw it at the Vinco Potentia compound.”

“There is no way he can go to South Dakota, break in and get it, then get to Chicago in eight hours.”

“If anyone could do it, James could. But he doesn’t have to. He says he already stole it from them.”

Her mouth twisted as though she held back a retort.

“Do you want to practice more?”

She shook her head. “No. I’m not going to find a magical new source of power. I think that our best hope is the pendant. I say we go back to the hotel.”

To stop practicing felt like giving up, but she was right. They’d worked with her power and its source for weeks. It was highly doubtful she’d suddenly find a new one in an hour or two.

After they got back to the hotel room, Emma sat at the desk with the notepad and pen she found on the desk. She told Will that she wanted to write down her thoughts. As he walked behind her, he noticed it was a letter to Jake. He almost protested, but understood her need to write it.

He only hoped Jake never had to read it.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Emma was amazed that she could sleep, as anxious as she was. But between writing the emotional letter to Jake and the hormones raging through her body, she couldn’t fight her drowsiness. When she woke a couple of hours later, Will lay next to her, watching her.

She gave him a lazy smile. “I think that’s officially the sign of a creepy stalker. Watching a girl while she sleeps.”

He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Sorry I fell asleep.”

He gave her a light kiss. “No, I’m glad you rested.”

“Any word from James?”

His mouth pinched tight before he swallowed. “No.”

She hadn’t given much hope to James showing up, but a small sliver of it was there all the same. “Aren’t you tired of being cooped up in here all afternoon?”

“No, I got to spend the afternoon with you. There’s no place I’d rather be.”

She grabbed his hand and looped her fingers through his. “I had the most wonderful dream.”

“You did?” He smiled, happiness radiating from his face. She’d seen too little of this side of him. She added it to her list of regrets.

“Yeah, I dreamed we were normal. No running. No powers. We lived in a house with Jake and the baby. And we had a dog.”

Will’s voice lowered. “I bet Jake was thrilled with that.”

“Yeah.” She smiled. “I have no idea what you did for a job, but you came home every night.”

“Princess, there’s no way I’d take a job traveling without you with me.”

“Good.” Sadness permeated every part of her, her bones aching with it. “Thank you. You’ve given me more than I could have ever asked for. More than I ever dreamed of having.”

“Emma, don’t do this.”

She put a finger over his lips. “No. I need to say this. I think people don’t say these things enough and then they’re sorry when it’s too late.”

He grabbed her hand and held it to his chest. Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks and he swallowed, giving her a nod.

“I’d prepared myself to live the rest of my life alone. But then you showed up…” She laughed as her eyes stung. “You were such an ass.”

He choked on a laugh. “You really know how to flatter a guy.”

Her finger wiped a tear that fell from the corner of his eye. “But then you let your guard down with Jake, and I could see the man you really are, not the man you wanted the world to see. And I wondered, if maybe, just maybe…”

She couldn’t stop her tears from falling, and she brushed them away. “Then you saved us, saved me, time and time again.” She shook her head, grief burning in her throat. “I thought you were crazy when you told me you loved me. You hardly knew me. But I get it now. When you know you love someone, you know. You were worth the risk, Will. I’m just sorry it took me so long to figure it out.”

He shook his head. “You make it sound like it’s an amazing thing to love you. It’s not. You saved me, can’t you see that?”

“And you saved more than just my life. You gave me hope. Your love filled the empty places in my heart. As dark and cold as my heart was, that itself is magic, more powerful than any trick you can do with water. You made me whole.”

She kissed him gently, and he wrapped an arm around her back, pulling her close.

He lowered his mouth to her ear. “We need to eat something. We have to leave in less than an hour.”

“I’m not hungry. My stomach is in knots.”

“Try anyway.”

Will ordered room service, and they sat at the desk, eating in silence. Emma glanced around the room. “You packed up while I slept.”

Will stabbed a vegetable off his plate, refusing to look at her. “I figured we’d want leave town as soon as this thing is over tonight.”

Her stomach clenched. This was real. This was really happening. The fork in her hand shook.
Get it together, Emma
, she told herself.
You can’t afford to lose it now
. “I have to go to the bathroom.” She walked across the room, Will watching her with worried eyes. She hated that the most. That he worried so much yet there was nothing he could do.

She shut the door and sat on the side of the tub, twisting her fingers in her lap. If only she was stronger. If she’d tried harder. Or if she’d trusted Will sooner. Or admitted she loved him before it was too late. Would any of those things have made a difference? Did it really matter now? All she had was this moment. She needed to make the best of it.

Will knocked at the door. “Emma? Are you okay?”

She needed to be strong for him. And for Jake. If she fell to pieces, it would be harder for the both of them. This was the next to last gift she could give them.

She opened the door and gave Will a tight smile. “I’m fine. I just needed a moment.”

His hand rested on her arm, his eyes full of concern. “It’s time. Are you ready?”

Ready to face her certain death? She needed the old Emma for this. The part of her that was hard and bitter. “Let’s go kick some ass.”

Will brought their bags to the car, and they drove in silence to the park. He pulled out his cell phone but hung up without talking to anyone. She knew who he was calling and knew it was a wasted call. They were really on their own.

Will grabbed her hand, and she almost pulled away. Feeling close to Will weakened her. She lost the bitterness she needed to be strong. But she had a choice. Choose Will or choose the animosity that had drenched most of her life. Then she remembered her words to Aiden. “If given the choice, I’ll always choose Will.” If she ever needed to choose him, it was now.

Will parked in a lot filled with cars. “There are too many people here. They’re going to get killed tonight.” They got out of the car. Will reached into the bag in the backseat and grabbed his gun, checking the clip before handing it to her. “When all else fails, shoot them in the head.”

“Good advice. Right up there with wearing clean underwear in case you’re in an accident.” She stuffed the gun in the back of her jeans. “So what’s our plan? Tell me what to do.”

He looked up at her with raised eyebrows.

“Why do you look so surprised? You’re the expert on this. I told you back in Oregon that I trusted you to come with the plan.”

“Not knowing all of the rules puts us at a huge disadvantage.” His mouth pursed. “Two people have to be eliminated before this thing even begins, if the final battle really consists of four.” He started toward the fountain and Emma fell into step beside him. “The easy choice of who to eliminate would be Raphael. I suspect he’s the weakest.”

“No, I’m the weakest. I’m going to be the first target.”

“Not necessarily. I don’t think we should focus on taking out the weakest. We should take out the strongest, so we have a better chance in the final four.”

She tilted her head. “You think we should take out Marcus and Aiden.”

“If we can, yes.”

She walked in silence, processing his information.

“It will work if we use the element of surprise. They won’t be prepared.”

“I don’t…” She took a deep breath. “So this is going to be one big free-for-all?”

“Yeah, I suspect so.”

“Do we stand in a field? Are we around the fountain?”

“I have no idea. I wish I did. We could strategize better. I know for a fact that Marcus is thinking with a military mind. He’s got a plan, even if I’m not privy to it. I think he’s going to think like I am—eliminate the harder competition first. That means Aiden.” He paused. “And Jake.”

She sucked in a breath. Eliminating the competition—that’s what this was about. Killing people. She needed to keep her head and think objectively. A difficult task when discussing the possible annihilation of your own son. She nodded. “Okay, so we know who Marcus will go after. What about Aiden and Raphael?”

“Aiden will go after me. And I suspect Marcus. As for Raphael’s plan? Who knows if he’s thinking logically.”

“If it’s revenge, he’ll go after you and me. If it’s logic, Marcus and Aiden.”

“Agreed. But then there are other variables to consider. What about Jake? He might be forced to attack us.”

Emma’s heart seized. She hadn’t considered that. “No. Jake would never hurt us.”

Will nodded. “Marcus thinks killing you will give me your power. He might do it right away if he thinks it will be to my advantage.”

“Will.” Her tongue dried out and tripped on his name. She swallowed. “And if the three of us make it to the final four? Then what?”

He stopped and pulled her to his chest, and looked into her eyes. “I told you I’d defend you to the death and I meant it, Emma. Once I know you and Jake are safe and it’s just the three of us, one of you has to kill me.”

“You know I can’t, even if I wanted to. That means Jake will have to do it.”

“We might be able to…hurt one another in the final battle.”

“No, no, no! I’ll never agree to that!” She tried to pull out of his grasp but he held tight.

He brushed the hair off her cheek. “Emma, don’t you see? It’s been my fate since the beginning. I’m The Chosen One, the one destined to protect you. Mark or no mark, Emma, the job is burned into my soul.”

Should she tell him Marcus’s theory about the prophecy? Or that she suspected he was right? “But I’m the weakest one. I’m the one of the three of us who deserves to die.”

“None of us deserve to die.”

Anger burned in her chest. “I’ve done terrible things since this all began. I’ve become more and more like them.”

He smiled but his eyes were sad. “Emma, I’ve done far worse things than you have these last few weeks. I’d confess them to you now to ease your guilt, but I can’t bear the thought of you looking at me in horror before I die.” He kissed her long and slow. “The mark is gone, but my need to protect you is stronger than it ever was. It’s now branded in love. I don’t deserve the love I’ve found in you, but I’ve accepted it, thanking God for giving it to me.”

“There is no God.”

“I hope more than anything that you’re wrong and he’ll show us some mercy tonight.”

Tears fell down her cheeks. “Will, I can’t let you do this. Please.”

“This is the penance for what I’ve done, Emma, don’t you see? Giving my life for you and Jake is my redemption.”

He wanted to die for her and Jake. How could she accept this? “You’ve planned this all along! You planned to die!” She tried to pull away again, but he refused to let her go.

“No, Emma. I hoped we all could figure out a way to make it through, but yes, this was my backup plan.”

“I can’t let you do this, Will. No!”

He held onto her arms, his fingers pinching deep. “Do you think I would willingly agree to let you die? We both know Jake isn’t an option.”

Her fight left her and she sagged against his chest. “So it’s you or me.”

“Yes. I think it’s always been you or me. Aiden and Marcus planned it this way.”

“What are we going to do? I won’t agree, and neither will you.”

“For once, just once, please just accept my decision.”

She shook her head against his chest. “How do you expect me to live with myself if I let you die? How will I look myself in the mirror?”

He leaned her head back and looked into her eyes. “You’ll do it because Jake needs you, we both know that.
You know that
. He needs you more than he needs me.”

“But you can protect him.”

“Emma.” His voice floated on the night air. “After tonight, Jake won’t need protection.”

The pain in her heart screamed for release, but she would not allow herself to break into sobs. She lifted her chin, glaring at him. She was the one who was supposed to die. “I refuse to discuss this.”

“Burying your head in the sand won’t change things. Don’t hide from this.”

“What do you expect me to do, Will? Do you expect me to just say ‘Okay, Will. No problem. I’ll kill you.’ Are you insane?”

“You don’t have to say any of that. You only have to say one word. Just say okay.”

She shook her head. “I can’t. You can’t ask me that.”

He kissed her again, his love seeping through their connection.
Just say it, Princess.