Avenged (Altered #2)(55)

Fuck.

Not that Martins wanted to hear any of that. It wouldn’t help his cause. He remained silent.

After a long moment studying him, Martins finally spoke. “I’ve always liked you, Degrassi.”

Okay… Nick had no idea what to say to that. “Thank you, sir.”

“That’s why I’m going to ask you to sit this one out.”

“No.” Nick didn’t need to think about it. There was no way. He wasn’t going to stay behind. No way. He had no idea how he’d get to her without Martins, but he wasn’t going to stop.

It was Kitty.

Martins sighed. “I won’t expand on the obvious reasons you should steer clear. Like that you’re too close. Too involved. Or that you should be cleared by a medical professional before you do anything else.” He grimaced. “What you should think about is that your girl—this girl that you believe you love—left you behind. She looked right at you, told you to stay like a damn poodle, and then she did what she wanted to do, your wishes be damned.”

Nick’s throat worked. Damn that hurt—worse, because it was true. That’s exactly what happened. He glanced over Martins’s shoulder and scowled.

“I know that’s hard to accept, but you need to think about how you’ll feel if she pulls some stunt like that when we go to get her.” Martins lowered his voice. “This girl can control people, in the most basic way. I have no idea what happened between you two, and I don’t want to know. It’ll piss me off that you’ve broken about a hundred basic rules. But you need to consider that some of what you’re feeling has been manipulated by her.”

“You think she’s made me love her?” His hands clenched at his side. “You think she’s forced me to care about her?” He wouldn’t even consider that if he knew Kitty.

Then again, he wouldn’t have thought she’d use her power on him, either. He squeezed his mouth shut. She had her reasons.

In the moment, her reasons didn’t matter. Whatever she was thinking, whether she loved him or not, he loved her. He was going to get her out.

Martins lifted his hands. “I think you shouldn’t underestimate her. She left you behind. She forced you to do something you didn’t want to do. That isn’t the mark of someone who loves you back.” His gaze became sympathetic. “You need to keep that in mind. I’m about to undermine my superiors to authorize her extraction. I’m already risking a lot. I need to know you’re solid.”

They were going to get her. Nick couldn’t help the grin on his face. “Thank you, sir. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” Martins snorted. “You’re right. Goldstone cut Fields off. Fields is erratic, unpredictable. Pike, the man who had been in charge of the operation, came to us to cover their asses. I’ve made it clear that if he doesn’t help us contain this mess, he’ll take full responsibility. He’s been quite cooperative.”

“I bet.”

“He’ll get us to Fields. But even with the few drugged soldiers he brought with him, we’re going to need help.” Martins’s mouth thinned. “Let’s call your friends.”

…

Seth returned to the living area in their barracks at Fort Bragg. Not much of one—looked more like a hospital waiting room to Luke.

Seth ran a hand over his buzz cut. “They’re in Wyoming. Martins sent his people to get them.”

Luke sat up from where he’d been slouched in an uncomfortable military-issue chair, flipping channels. “We got them?”

“Thank God.” Blue breathed. She threw herself into Seth’s arms, and Seth folded her against him. Luke glanced away from the cozy scene.

Oh, he was happy for them. He’d watched Blue and Seth dance around each other four months ago. He was glad to see that they’d found some happiness in the middle of this insanity.

They’d spent the last few months with Blue’s mother on some commune somewhere, and even though their coziness made him uncomfortable, Luke was relieved to see them. After being the third wheel to Parker and Jack for the past months, it was nice to feel less like an outsider.

God…four months. Had it only been four months? It felt like another lifetime.

As Seth held Blue, his face remained grim. That wasn’t the face of a conquering hero. Luke stood, his stomach sinking. “What happened?”

“They didn’t get Kitty.” Seth met his eyes over Blue’s head. “The chopper arrived to pick them up, and Kitty went back.”

“What?” Blue bristled. “What the hell? How could they leave her behind?” It had never been a secret that she didn’t trust the military. Apparently that remained true.

“They didn’t leave her. She went back.” Seth glanced down into her face, still holding her against him.

She shook her head, confused. “Nick… He said he would get her…”

“She made him leave her.” The words hovered into the air, like the smell of burned eggs.

“No. That’s impossible…” Blue looked stricken.

“She can control people’s minds,” Seth said, his mouth a thin line.

Blue tensed. Luke could only stare.

Control minds.

“No way. It’s Kitty. No way.” Luke stood and began pacing. Kitty Laughton had to be the most passive person he’d ever met. Luke had never even seen her angry. She didn’t swear, didn’t raise her voice.