Avenged (Altered #2)(25)

Made sense, even though it didn’t sit well in her stomach. There was none of the “turn the other cheek” thinking of her childhood in that. But there wasn’t much room for that sentiment in her life now anyway.

“We’ll start in the morning.” He sighed. “In the meantime, I’ll try to figure out how to deal with the laundry guys.”

He was right. Tomorrow would be soon enough. He needed some rest. “Let’s get our beds together.”

As they worked in silence, she had to admit how much nicer it was to not be here alone.

Tomorrow, she’d take her first step in learning how to defend herself. When she laid her head on her mattress, she smiled. For the first time in a long time, she was looking forward to something.

They were going to find a way out of here. She knew it.





Chapter Eight


Luke’s feet ate up the pavement as he ran through the streets of Cancun. As he plunged deeper into the heart of the city, the alleys and pathways became seedier. Trash littered the sidewalks, and the haze of poverty lingered over the people he passed.

A year ago, he wouldn’t have considered running in a place like this. Now he knew he was the most dangerous thing here.

Frequently, he pulled the disposable phone from his pocket, checking the signal. When he finally had a respectable number of bars, he slowed his pace. He walked in circles, catching his breath. When his gasps became less labored, he dialed out.

There were a series of clicks and buzzes before his call connected.

“Hello?”

Luke smiled. “Hi, Blue. It’s me, Luke.” She’d sent him an email a couple months ago, giving him a phone number to call, if he ever wanted to contact her. The email had been short and terse, full of her admonishments without saying a word. He knew she didn’t understand why he’d had to leave them behind in San Antonio. She was still pissed about it, he was sure. But even though he wasn’t ready to explain it all, he was glad she’d reached out anyway.

“Luke!” He could almost feel her relief across the line. “My God, it’s good to hear from you. Are you okay?” A shout in the background. Seth. They were both there. They were okay.

“I’m fine. So is Jack.” He smiled, genuinely happy to hear her voice. He’d always liked Blue. He leaned on the side of a rundown building to stretch his calf. “We’re in Cancun. How are you?”

“Christ, Luke. Three months and ‘how are you?’ is the best you can manage?”

He chuckled. Same old Blue. “I know. I should have called sooner. Things are…complicated.”

“No shit, Luke.”

He sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. Parker Sinclair found us. You remember Parker, right?”

“Of course.” She paused. “He found you?”

“Yes. He’s been staying with us.”

“He has?”

“He’s like Kitty…and like you.”

The phone muffled, and he heard her mumble something to Seth. She must have been filling him in. “Both? That’s not possible. Is it?”

“I’ve been reading up about the drug. Parker had a lot of research about it. He spent time with Fields, Blue. He knows about Solvimine.” Luke brushed his sweaty hair off his forehead before putting his free hand on his hip and staring at the sky. “I know a lot about it, too.”

There was silence. “What do you know?”

“There’s no cure, Blue.” He exhaled. “There’s no going back.”

He could hear Seth in the background, his voice full of concern even if Luke couldn’t make out the exact words. “You’re sure?”

“I’m almost positive. The only option is if they create something with the opposite effect that would close brain pathways.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s dangerous to even consider. How would they know which pathways? What sort of damage would that do?” It seemed insurmountable.

“Fields has turned more people,” she said softly. The effects of her words were like a cymbal crash in his skull. “Soldiers, employed by Goldstone. He turned them, at least five, but we think more.”

“How do you know?”

“Nick. He went to get Kitty. Seth and I…we aren’t exactly welcome with the military.” When she didn’t expound, Luke figured there was a story there. He’d have to find out some time.

“Anyway, Nick went in with some other special ops guys. Apparently, he escaped with her, but the soldiers found them. Because they’re like us.” Her voice lowered. “They didn’t have a chance.”

“So Nick is with Kitty? They’re with Goldstone?”

“Yes.” She paused. “We’re leaving in the morning. To go to the Army, to offer our services.”

Luke swallowed hard. They were going to help, and he was here, in Cancun, pretending to be on vacation when he knew he should be with them.

“You should come with us,” she offered, as if she knew what he was thinking. “We’re going to meet Major Martins at Fort Bragg. You and Jack…you should come.”

“It’s complicated, Blue.”

“I know, Luke. But we could use your help. Kitty could use your help. And, if Fields is changing people, making more like us…well, I don’t know what is going to happen.”