Underground 4 (16 page)

Her friend didn't look convinced. “Maybe I should come too, just to be safe.”

“Come where?” Pete asked, coming down the stairs.

“She's going back to the Upper section,” Vi explained.

Pete's gaze flew to hers. “What? Why?”

This was exactly why she had never confided in them about where she went. Things were a bit more dangerous now, but she really wasn't worried. Before she could defend herself, the rest of them walked in, including Seamus who had been impersonating a soldier over at the NWO headquarters.

No one seemed overly worried about him, and yet letting her go was a big deal. Sam sunk down on the coach, while Bridgette, Roman and Seamus looked between them, sensing something was up. The only one missing was Charlotte, who was probably the only one who would understand.

“Is there something wrong?” Bridgette asked.

“I want to go out,” Lake replied before either of the other two could.

“To the Upper section,” Pete added.

“That's probably not a good idea,” Seamus said. “Ludwig sent a shit-load of men there to secure the community center. You'll be hard pressed to get through undetected.”

Tears pricked at her eyes in frustration. “I have to go,” she insisted. If Garrett were there he'd understand. They'd just found out that they both frequently snuck away to the Upper section in order to see someone. She, her aunt, and him an older man he cared for.

“Guys, let her go,” said Charlotte as she descended the stairs. The poor girl still looked exhausted, the skin under her eyes more purple than usual, and her pallor pale. Their eyes met and she could see the understanding she’d expected there.

“I need to check on my Aunt,” she said to the others. “She's the only blood family I have left. And she's elderly.”

They didn't look completely convinced but she could tell they were bending.

“Maybe I should stick close by just in case,” offered Seamus.

Lake really didn't think it was necessary, but if it was going to get her out of there she'd agree. It was better to have Seamus than Violet. If they did run into trouble, she'd never forgive herself if something happened to Vi.

“Okay,” Lake said, giving in. Seamus gave her a satisfied grin.

“You better get your uniform on then,” Pete said reluctantly. He didn't seem pleased at all but he would just have to deal with it. Seamus left to get ready. Pete and Phoenix's dads came in then. The two older men often kept to themselves in the study, leaving the younger group to fight the battle they were too old for. As they entered now, Lake could tell something had them concerned. Her shoulders dropped. She prayed she wouldn't have to argue with them over this now too.

“There's a van coming slowly down the street,” Michael McKay said.

They all froze.

“Are you sure?” Pete asked as he and Charlotte both moved to the covered window.

“I know what a van looks like, Son,” he replied.

“What colour?” Roman asked.

“Black.” It was Pete who answered.

“Get back from there,” Bridgette said.

They both listened. Everyone kept still as they heard the crunch of tires over dirt outside. To her horror, the slight squeak of brakes sounded from just outside the door she was still standing in front of.

“Lake, come here,” Vi whispered.

Lake moved instantly to the far side of the room. The sound of a van door sliding open came next as they all waited with bated breath. When the doorknob turned, she thought she might be sick. No one was armed except Roman, who now slowly took out his pistol, clicking back the safety.

The door opened, and before any of them could react, a familiar voice called out.

“Don't shoot, we come in peace.” Garrett stepped through with a wide grin on his face. A collective sigh of relief went through the room. “Y'all miss me or what?”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Garrett and Tyler sat on the couch while the rest of the group looked at them in shock.

“Right, so,” Garrett said slapping his hands together, “let's everyone get their stuff together and get out of here. A van in these parts isn't going to remain unnoticed for long.”

Pete could hardly move, his mind still trying to keep up with everything they had just told him. The news was good, almost too good. The suspicious side of him was still deciding whether or not to believe it.

“I wouldn't be worried about that, mate,” Seamus said.

“Why's that?” his brother asked. Then his eyebrows narrowed as he took in what Seamus was wearing. “Why the hell are you dressed like that?”

Seamus grinned. Now that Pete thought of it, this had been the happiest he'd seen him in months.

“I'm masquerading as a soldier,” he explained. He turned right and left. “I look good, yeah?”

“If you say so,” Garrett muttered.

“Everyone is getting off topic,” Lake said, clearly agitated. He'd almost forgotten she had been trying to leave right before they’d arrived.

“There aren’t any soldiers here right now,” she told them. “Everyone's been sent to the Upper section.”

“Why?” Tyler asked.

Pete didn't miss the way his brother's face suddenly went pale as his focus zeroed in on Lake. She told them about the attack and how the General was holding all the survivors hostage.

“What’s he playing at?” Garrett asked, moving behind the couch to pace.

“He wants Ludwig to step down,” answered Seamus.

“And...people are dead? You saw it?” he asked Lake. She nodded sadly. “Fuck!”

“Easy,” Pete said. “We all knew this shit was bound to happen. Douglas wasn't going to sit idly by forever.”

Garrett didn't calm down, his face flushed with anger. “I need to go there. I have to see for myself.”

What? Pete didn't understand why his brother was so worked up. Why did everyone want to go back to that damn place?

“Why, Garrett?” Charlotte asked.

He stopped, his breathing harsh as he stood with his hands on his hips. “I need to check on someone who was probably there.”

“Who do you know in the Upper section?” Pete asked. As far as he knew, there was no one. They'd lived in the ghetto since the city was divided.

His brother took a deep breath, looking at him. “Mr. Samson.”

Pete scrunched up his brows, searching his brain for why that name sounded familiar. “That miserable bloke who played chess with you?”

Garrett nodded.

“How do you know he's there?”

“Because I still go and play with him. I'm the only person he's got.”

Man, there were a lot of new things being thrown at him these last couple of days. He sat down on the bottom step of the stairs.

“We can't wait around while you go there,” Tyler said. “They're waiting for us.”

“He's right,” their dad said. “I'm sorry Son, but if this place you're talking about is as safe as you say, we should leave now.”

“I can't leave,” Garrett said sadly.

“Me either,” Lake said.

“Oh for bloody sakes,” Sam cursed. “What do you two think you're going to achieve by going there, huh? You're going to put us all at risk by making us stay here longer.”

Pete felt bad for the both of them. At the same time, he had bigger things to worry about now. Charlotte and their baby were his top priority. If this underground holding was safe, then that's where they needed to be.

He stood back up. “Sam's right. We need to move. Everyone get their things.”

“Pete, I can't go,” Garrett said, his eyes begging him to understand.

The front door suddenly opened and a man he didn't know walked in. Immediately he pushed Charlotte behind him. She let out a surprised grunt.

The guy looked at them all with an irritated expression. “What the bloody hell is takin so long? Get your shyte and get in the bloody van,” he ordered, his brogue even thicker than Tyler's. He turned right back around and walked out again.

“A friend of yours?” Sam asked.

“The outlanders are a bit rough around the edges,” Tyler said with shrug.

“I like it,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

“Lets go,” Vi said pulling Sam up. They went upstairs. Charlotte told Pete she'd go pack their things, not that they had much. When everyone else dispersed, only him, Garrett, Lake and Tyler were left.

“I really can't go,” Garrett said once their father was out of the room.

“Yeah, you really can.”

“He depends on me, Pete. He could be dead.”

“And if he is, then what? Are you going to bring him back to life?”

“I just need to know, okay? Why can't you get that?”

“Because we have people here that are counting on us!” he yelled, stepping close to him. “You can't put all of us at risk for one person, who might even be dead. It's a waste of time!”

“It's not a waste of time when it's someone who matters. You should understand what that's like.”

“I do,” he nodded, “which is why we are leaving. My girl is carrying our child, and I'll do whatever I need to in order to make them as safe as possible. So you're getting in that fucking van and we're going.”

Garrett's eyes were as wide as saucers. “She's what?” he asked.

“That's right. Charlotte's pregnant. So get your head out of your arse and let's go.”

Pete moved, calling up the stairs for the others to hurry up.

“Look,” Garrett said slowly, calmer now. “I'm happy for you both. And you're right, you should go. But I'm still staying here. Once I check on him, I'll head out that way. I know how to get there.”

“And just how do you plan to get there?” asked Tyler.

“I'll get him there.” Seamus walked into the room as they all turned to look at him. “I'll stay back too and keep watch on things. Leave one of the cells here so we can call each other if we need to.”

“How's you staying going to help?” Pete asked, even more frustrated now that he was going to have to leave two of his friends behind.

“Mate, do you know who I am? I can Hotwire just about anything, and the NWO has plenty of SUVs just begging for me to give it a go. When he's done, we'll meet back here and arrange a time when I can steal one and get us to where you are. Should be easy.”

Pete snorted. “Yeah, easy,” he said sarcastically.

“I'm staying too,” Lake said.

Pete threw his hands up. “Of course you are!”

Trent cleaned one of the shotguns, his eyes glancing up at Phoenix on the other side of the room every few seconds. He couldn't help it. Even when he tried to occupy himself with other things, his mind still went to her. And if she was in the same room, it was as though his eyes were instinctively drawn to her.

He looked back down at what he was doing, ignoring the way her skin glistened even from this distance. Her face had a pretty flush to it as she continued to work out. Everyone seemed to be doing whatever they could, simply to occupy their time as they waited for any word from overseas.

Bastian paced on the other side of the table, which was almost as distracting as Phoenix. He seemed deep in thought, his brows lowered, and his eyes fixed on some invisible point on the floor. Finally Trent laid the gun across his thighs and gave the man his full attention.

“What's wrong with you?” he asked bluntly.

Bastian glanced up at him as if he'd just noticed Trent was there. “I'm thinking,” he replied. “I do better when I keep moving.”

“You look worried.”

He stopped moving, much to Trent's relief. The man was making him dizzy.

“There's just a lot to do, and I don't know when, or if, we'll hear anything back.”

“How long does it normally take for your guy to go there and back.”

He tilted is head from side to side as he thought about it. “Hard to say. Depends on what he's getting for me. If it’s a smaller item, he flies it to a secret location before shipping it the rest of the way. It's usually no more than a week. When I got the generators it took a lot longer because he shipped them the entire way. I haven't asked him to bring me an army before, so who the hell knows how long that will take.”

Months would be too long, Trent thought. It was no wonder Bastian seemed so stressed.

“We need a plan B,” he said, picking up his pacing again.

“What kind of plan B?” Trent asked, his mind racing now too.

“That's the problem. I haven't figured one out yet,” he said, agitated.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Pixie walked in the room then, and Trent saw how Bastian instantly became aware of her. Trent himself had done a double take at the sight of the small girl. The tightly pulled back bun she normally wore was no longer there. Long waves of brown hair hung down around her face, bringing out the blue of her eyes.

“I've never seen you with your hair down,” Trent said as she approached.

Her hand immediately went to it, an unsure expression crossing her face. Bastian shot him a hard look.

Trent raised his hands. “I wasn't trying to be mean,” he defended. “It looks nice.”

For some reason that seemed to piss the man off even more. Trent had the feeling he didn't like him giving Pixie any kind of compliment. Next time he would just keep his head down and mouth shut, he thought as he resumed cleaning the gun.