16. Cade
Cade
I climb into the back seat of the Hummer, deciding to let Kai drive his car for once. Really, I’m too nervous to drive. My focus is turned inward, on what I’m about to do with Ellis and thoughts of my family.
How are they? Are they healthy? How will this affect them mentally? What if we can't even rescue them?
All those questions, and then some, cloud my mind and take the forefront of my attention. I'll probably crash the Hummer if I drive. Through the open door, I watch Sterling approach Ellis.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me not going?” He asks, cupping her cheek. “I’ll risk it. For you, I’d risk anything.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise. Go help your mom. Allie texted me and told me her and Connor are there already. She has everything she'll need, medicine wise. And Connor is laying down some wards. He figured both you and Cade would appreciate the extra protection for your families.”
Sterling hesitates a second, but Ellis stands on her tiptoes and kisses him. Without giving him a chance to say anything else, she climbs into the backseat with me, scooting over until she can clasp my hand tightly in hers. It's not a lot, but to me, it's everything. Just knowing she's here, willing to sacrifice so much for me and my family, it makes me all warm and wiggly feeling inside.
Kai climbs into the driver's seat and glares in the rearview mirror. “I feel like a fucking chauffeur with you both back there.”
We drive through the city and I notice Ellis staring in wonder. It's been awhile since we've been here. She's been cooped up on that mountain for a long time. When this is all over, we'll have to plan a date night downtown.
The buildings look the same to me. Gray. Tall. Imposing. Suffocating. I never realized how much I hate the city until now. After spending so much time on the mountain, I'm not sure I could return to city life. It's too hectic. Too fast. It's too easy to lose sight of the important things in the hustle and bustle.
"Wow," Kai says, tugging his hat lower over his eyes. "I don't miss this." A car pulls in front of the Hummer, causing Kai to slam on the brakes and lay on the horn. "Motherfucker! I'm driving a fucking tank! I'll destroy you in your fancy sports car."
"Road rage much?" Ellis mutters.
"I think I hate the city," Kai says, ignoring Ellis's barb.
I snort. "I was just thinking that."
"I don't mind it," Ellis says, looking out the window. "At least for short periods of time."
I clear my throat and turn to face Ellis. "I was thinking, when all of this is over, we could have the cabin renovated. Update it, add on some rooms. As long as it’s okay with Sterling. It’s on pack lands so he’d be set. Kai can commute to work, it’s not that bad of a drive. We could all live there ... if you wanted.”
Ellis's eyes light up and she sucks in a hopeful breath. "Really?"
I nod and smile. "Yeah. Obviously we’d have to clear all of that with Sterling, since it’s technically his family’s."
"I would love that," she breathes, her fingers tightening around mine.
By the time we pull up to the Kennedy building, silence has once again settled heavily atop us. Oppressive, almost, in the way it makes it difficult to breathe. The severity of what we're doing, the impact this could have on Ellis, hangs thick in the air.
Kai pulls the Hummer to the side of the road and cuts the engine. "Okay, I’ll wait in the car. You know what to do if you need help."
Before Ellis can climb out, Kai reaches back and grabs her wrist, tugging her between the front seats. "Be careful, Ellis. Try to keep your powers hidden, but if you or Cade end up in trouble, don't hesitate to use them to save yourselves."
"I won't." she promises. With a quick kiss for Kai, she hops out of the Hummer, and I follow her.
"Nervous?" I ask, taking her hand and climbing the steps.
"Actually, I'm not. I'm looking forward to bossing him around for once."
I chuckle. "That's my girl."
We push into the lobby of the Kennedy building and turn toward the elevators. My fingers shake as I press the button for the top floor, and Ellis squeezes my hand tighter. The ride to the top seems like it takes forever and no time at all. My foot taps restlessly on the marble floor until the door opens and the elevator dings.
"Here we go," she mutters, dragging me out and into the hallway.
The elevator opens into a small lobby with a secretary and a few chairs in a waiting room. The secretary sits behind a large desk and smiles. Before she can say anything, Ellis storms past and heads straight for Kennedy's office, ignoring the woman's protests.
I'm amazed at Ellis's determination. I see no fear, no worry, no trepidation on her face. Her shoulders are pulled back and her chin is lifted. I wouldn't be surprised to find her eyes shining with her golden fire.
Her courage and strength when it comes to her Shields is heartwarming.
She knocks three times on the office door, then shoves it open. Inside, Thomas Kennedy sits at his desk, reigning over the room like a corrupt king. His eyes widen and he jerks back as Ellis and I enter.
"Hello father ," Ellis says, voice thick with sarcasm. "I hope you're doing well."
"What are you doing here? Why did my secretary let you in?" He pushes up from the desk, but Ellis stops him.
"Sit down." Her tone is firm and unyielding, and a pulse of something—magic maybe—makes her words even more powerful.
I blink at the ferocity of her tone. A fucking lioness indeed.
Kennedy gapes for a moment, then smiles. It's twisted and dark, but he sits with his arms crossed over his chest, leaning back in his chair. With a raised brow, he asks, "What can I do for you today?"
"You can release Cade's mom and sister," Ellis says. She widens her feet like she’s preparing for a fight and I have to bite back a smile.
Kennedy snorts. "Sure. What are you going to give me in return?"
This time, Ellis scoffs. "Like I'd ever give you anything again. Sick bastard."
"Then we are at an impasse," Kennedy shrugs. "I'm sorry you've wasted your time."
Ellis says nothing. She motions to me, and I take the flash drive out of my pocket, holding it between my pointer and middle fingers.
"I think we have something that might change your mind," I say quietly, forcing the nausea down. This is it. The moment that could break Ellis.
"Camera footage, pulled from the security system at your house. Footage from my bedroom, containing every horrific thing Sam did to me." Her voice trembles slightly, but her shoulders remain straight. Pride courses through me. I never once doubted her strength, but she always surprises me. Just when I think she couldn't handle any more, she does.
Kennedy's eyes narrow. "And I suppose you will threaten to release that footage if I don't release Cade's family?" Neither of us respond, but our silence is answer enough. Kennedy barks a laugh. "I don't see how that will affect me at all. You have no proof I had anything to do with that. Go ahead and release it."
I give Kennedy a small smile, one I know doesn’t reach my eyes. "The footage might not affect you. But I'm sure Sam Morris won't be too happy to hear you've leaked it. Ruining his pristine reputation." I tsk and shake my head.
Kennedy's gaze shoots to me, suspicion and a tiny bit of fear shining through.
"Go ahead, check your email drafts." I nod toward his computer with a smug grin.
Kennedy pulls up his email and frowns. In his drafts is an email to all the news stations, tabloids, and gossip mills. An email with the footage ready to be shared with the public.
Before he can move the mouse an inch to delete it, I freeze his hand with my magic, giving it a little extra zap in the process.
"This isn't the only copy we have of this," Ellis says. "Even if you deleted that email, we'd get it out there. And I just know how pissed Sam will be when everyone finds out how much of a jackass he really is. And to think, it was all your fault the world found out ..."
Kennedy grinds his teeth together, muscles flexing in his frozen hand. "6428 Mercer Street. Room 3. 928834 is the code to the door."
Ellis smiles sweetly and nods her head. "I knew you'd see it our way."
I toss the flash drive on the desk and turn to follow Ellis, saying over my shoulder. “It’s blank, by the way. There is nothing on that drive.”
Kennedy’s growl makes me chuckle, and I follow Ellis into the hallway, pulling out my phone to delete the unsent message in Kennedy’s email before I release my magic.
"Did you get the address?" she asks, peering up at me.
I nod numbly. "Yeah."
She wraps her arms around my waist and lends me her strength as we return to the main floor.
"Hey, can you do me a favor?" I ask as we walk through the lobby to the main doors. A curl has fallen forward and is hiding her eyes from me. A strand of my magic creeps out and tucks it behind her ear before I can stop it. "Can you please let Sterling take you back to his mom's?"
She slows, pulling me to a stop with her. "You don't want me to help you rescue them?" The hurt is evident in her voice, and it breaks me.
"It's not that I don't want your help." I take her face in my hands and rub my thumb along her cheeks. "There is just going to be a lot going on. I'll have not only your safety to worry about, but my mom and sister's as well. Not to mention, I'm sure they are going to be overwhelmed. It might be easier for them if it's just me and Kai."
She bites her bottom lip, scanning my face like she thinks I'm lying. "Okay," she says quietly. "I'll help Allie and Shari."
She tries to turn away but I stop her. "Hey. I can't wait for you to meet them. I just don't know how things are going to go or what state we'll find them in."
"I understand. Just please be careful."
I nod and send a quick text to Sterling, asking him to come pick up Ellis. And then we wait.
I stand outside the house—well, more like an apartment complex—and take deep breaths. Looking at the building, you'd never guess there was anything nefarious going on inside. It matches the rest of the buildings on the street. Lower income, could use some work, but normal. If I were to guess, there is a ton of spell work on the building to keep people away.
"Ready?" Kai asks, squeezing my hand.
I appreciate having him with me. I know he'll support me, protect my family, and make sure everything goes smoothly while I try my hardest to focus.
I exhale and nod. "Yeah. Let's do this."
As we approach the front door, it opens, revealing a guard dressed in gray and black fatigues. He scowls at us, but lets us through. Kennedy must have notified him.
I throw a protective shield around me and Kai so we don't have to spend so much energy watching our backs. It will drain me quickly, though, so we have to move fast.
"What's the number?" Kai asks, looking around with a frown.
"Three."
We stop in front of a solid wooden door with an electronic keypad next to it. My finger trembles as I punch the code in.
Kai pushes through first, head swiveling back and forth, blocking my view with his body. He doesn't move until he determines there is nothing for me to see that will hurt me.
My heart beats a mile a minute as I step inside. It's a small apartment, the kitchen and living space one area. A door to the left probably leads to a bed and bathroom. It's sparsely furnished, dust on every surface, and cobwebs hanging from the ceiling.
A rattling cough sounds from the bedroom, and I take a step in that direction. Time seems to slow down, like I'm walking through waist deep mud but also speeding along on a moving walkway. It takes forever and no time at all to reach the entrance. The door has been removed, and I distantly realize the rest have as well.
Huddled on the bed, wrapped in a comforter is my sister. She hovers over my mother, who is bundled in so many blankets I can barely see her. Another rattling cough, and the figure under the blankets jerks with each one.
“Mom? Chloe?" Their names are mere whispers, but they sound loud in silence.
Chloe's head whips in my direction. Blue eyes widening in shock. "Cade?" Her voice is hoarse, like she's unused to talking. Or has done a lot of screaming.
Tears blur my vision of her, and it doesn't take long for them to fall down my cheeks. I shakily step into the room, each breath I take harsh and uneven. I've imagined this moment for so long, but I never actually thought it would happen. I'm in the same room as my mom and sister. I'm going to get them out of here.
"Are you guys okay?" I rasp.
She shakes her head. "Mom is really sick. They won't give us any medicine."
My heart sinks, but I fortify my resolve. I can fall apart later. Right now, I need to get them to Allie. "I'm getting you out of here," I say and walk to the bed. "Come on."
Chloe is skin and bones under my arm. I help her stand, trying to ignore the way her body trembles from cold and weakness.
"What about mom?" she asks, voice shaking.
"Kai, can you carry her?" I ask.
Kai is already scooping my mom into his arms, careful to keep her wrapped in the blankets. A breathy whimper, followed by more coughing, makes me grit my teeth.
"Got her," Kai says. "Let's go."
We hurry through to the front door as fast as Chloe can manage. I'm supporting her more than she's holding herself up, and we make slow progress.
The guard continues to scowl at us, and we brush past him and head for the Hummer. My chest is tight with my held breath, and I don't release it until Kai takes off down the street.
"Am I dreaming?" Chloe whispers.
I look behind me and my eyes fill with tears again. She looks so haggard. Her brown hair dull and matted. She looks around, her mouth trembling and hands clutched in front her. When was the last time she saw the outside world? 83 years ago? So much has changed since then, I can’t imagine how overwhelming this must be for her.
"Chloe," I say. "You're safe now. I'm taking you to a friend’s house. There is a nurse waiting, and she'll take care of you and mom."
"I'm not dreaming?" she repeats.
I shake my head, swallowing thickly. "You're not dreaming."
She covers her face and sobs. I resist climbing in the back seat to comfort her. It's been 83 years since we saw each other. So instead, I give her a small smile and turn back around.
We did it. We saved my family, and Ellis didn't have to release that footage. I exhale and Kai reaches over the center console to squeeze my thigh.
"Thank you, Kai."
"Anytime."