Revolution (Collide, #4)(58)

She gripped my fingers in hers as we made our way to the van. Everyone else followed behind us, but I refused to look at them. Marissa sat up front with Jeff and the rest of us sat scattered on the van floor. Sherry crawled into my lap and leaned against my chest. Ryan and Ellie were sitting side by side with their hands clasped. I smiled at him. I guess he got all his crap worked out. He'd been a basket case lately and I couldn't help but hear his inner turmoil.

I understood. I did.

I gripped Sherry tighter. But I understood this, too.

Rylee and Miguel glared at each other from opposite ends of the van so nothing had changed there. Jeff must've felt the tension when he turned onto the highway, because he flicked on the CD player. Some song I had never heard before and frankly, never wanted to again was playing.

The words said something about a tear in his beer and he was crying for her, dear. I grimaced and tried to tune it out.

"So," Ryan started and I was grateful to him for taking some initiative. "What exactly are we going to find at the station?"

I explained, "We're looking for something to justify what Chesser said about being able to organize a statewide broadcast. That way we can break the Lighter's compulsion on everyone. It would only be the state, but it's a start."

"I see," he said and I saw in his mind that he knew, he was just trying to get some conversation flowing.

"If we could get the compulsion broken," Miguel continued, "then people would fight back. We wouldn't be alone anymore in trying to take them out. And once the compulsion is broken, they can't be under it again right?" I nodded.

Rylee spoke loud and clear, "Maybe we could find a way to link the state stations and take this thing continental. And then Global."

"Maybe," I mused. "Let's just call that the plan." I smiled at her and she softened a little until she looked over at Miguel.

"Pretty smart, ginger."

"Die, pig."'

He laughed. "You're never going to give me a fighting chance, are you, love?"

"Nope," she spouted sweetly and smiled. "Besides, since Cain's gone, you can just move in on Lillian."

"That's not what I'm doing," he answered calmly. "Don't you just need a hug sometimes?"

"No," she said and gulped. "I don't. I can take care of myself."

"That's not what I asked," he told her softly.

"Whatever," she eventually said. "I don't need anything from you. Or anybody."

"Maybe not," he ventured. "Maybe not."

Billings just rolled his eyes and groaned as he scratched at the bandage on his arm.



The club was jumping, as they say. There were cars and people everywhere and I knew we'd made the right decision to come at nighttime. No one was going to be paying attention to us and what we were doing.

We parked the van on the outskirts of the parking lot and Jeff put it in park. We all sat, as if waiting for a clue that it was time to go.

"All right," I drawled. "Whoever's going, let's go. Jeff," I put my hand on his shoulder, "we'll be back soon."

"Guard you, brother."

"And you, brother." He clasped my fist in a grip. I heard him and Ryan doing the same behind me before I opened the door slowly. I felt Sherry at my back and knew she was eager and anxious about this. She always wanted to help in any way she could, but I almost felt like we were using her.

We heard hear the music from the club out where we were. The van's windows rattled a little from it. I got out and helped Sherry down with a hand. Ryan and Ellie came, then Miguel and Rylee. He tried to help her, but she snubbed his hand and went to the front of us. "How about you guys go stake out the station and I'll going into the club and see what's bouncing in there."

"No," I said and immediately changed my tone at seeing her face. "We need to stay together if we can. This is a delicate situation, Rylee."

She laughed and shook her head. "No offense, Keeper, but I am anything but delicate."

She turned to go toward the club. "Rylee!" I hissed as loud as I dared, but she didn't even look back.

Miguel ran and turned to say, "I'll get her. You do what we came to do. Don’t worry!" And then he turned back to catch up. She had already weaseled her way in the door.

I cursed and banged my fist on the van window. "I knew it was bad to bring those two."

"Just go," Jeff said, leaning protectively over Marissa. I guessed she had changed his mind about letting her come on missions. "We'll keep an eye out. She's just being dramatic, I'm sure they're fine. You don't need them to do the station mission anyway."

I growled and huffed before feeling Sherry's palm on my cheek. "Hey," she said softly. "Let's not freak out. We'll go and see the station and then if they still aren't out, then we'll freak and see what we need to do. Ok?"

I sighed and pulled her close. "Ok." I kissed her forehead and then took her hand. I nodded my head for them to follow us and we lead the way.

It was beautifully strange the normal and simplistic way we walked across the parking lot amongst all the other people from the town. I never thought we'd have a moment like this.