29. Fiona
Chapter 29
Fiona
Clay’s powers cushioned most of the fall, so I should be thankful I’ve only dislocated my shoulder, but I groan as pain rockets through the entire left side of my body. Clay helps me sit, crouching over me in a protective stance as we wait for Garrett to teleport back onto our side of the weird invisible barrier. Everything’s happening so fast I barely have time to process. Garrett’s face turns hard and I hold back a gasp as Elijah appears.
“Well done, Fiona. Edgar will be pleased.”
Indignation roils through my fear, but before I can tell him where Edgar can shove his pleasure, Clay’s eyes roll into the back of his head and he pitches forward.
“Clay!” I reach for him, but agony shoots through me and I resort to shallow breathing.
Elijah faces Garrett who stands with clenched fists, glaring at the man. “I don’t care how long it takes. You’re going to get yours,” he snarls.
Elijah turns to a man who has his arm bent at the elbow with his hand raised towards the sky. “Hold the barrier until he leaves.”
“Shouldn’t we bring him in?” another man asks.
“He’s too quick for my abilities. If we drop that barrier, he’ll kill us all.”
I stare wide eyed at Garrett, who pounds his fist against the barrier. It makes a dull thud and the super soldier holding it up twitches his hand.
The men go about their tasks and Elijah kneels in front of me. “Let me help,” he says, holding out his hands toward my arm. I hesitate, glancing at Garrett, who continues to glare at us. This isn’t helping my case, but I need help.
I place my hand in Elijah’s and he guides me into position. “On three.” I nod and brace myself.
“One–” Excruciating pain lasts for a second and I scream, but it fades away and my arm is back where it’s supposed to be. Elijah looks towards his men, who speed away with Clay. Only the man holding up the barrier remains. Elijah removes a small, dime sized disk from his watch and drops it on the ground. He glances at Garrett, who narrows his gaze, then he helps me to my feet.
“Your time is coming,” Eli says to Garrett, who frowns, glancing at the disk on the ground.
“Tell the team to report to Dr. Chen. I’ll join you soon,” he says to the super soldier, then grabs me around the waist and speeds away without waiting for a reply.
We appear on the top of a mountain overlooking a small village in the distance. The air seems to tighten around us.
“You may speak freely,” he says.
“How did you find us?”
“Edgar has a new pet. He can track super soldiers’ speed trails, even when we’ve cloaked ourselves. He arrived via airplane a few days ago and he’s been following Clay’s trail here. You should have stayed hidden.”
“Did you warn Clay’s family?” I ask, my heart lodged in my throat.
“I left a tracking device on the ground linked to you. If Garrett can pull himself from his rage long enough to realize what it is, the team will be able to find you, Clay, and Paul. It’s the best I could do.”
“Why didn’t you try to stop this?”
He drags a hand down his face. “They were going to follow you. I assumed you were headed wherever Raven and his team are hiding out. I intervened before that could happen. Edgar’s pet won’t be able to track Garrett.”
“What about Paul?”
He sighs. “I’ve already raised suspicion. Any further interference will give me away and I won’t be able to help your friends at all.”
“How do we rescue them?”
“One thing at a time. If you want to survive this, you’re going to pretend you’ve been working for me.”
My eyes widen. “Why?”
“Edgar ordered my men to kill you. I had to think fast, so if you don’t play along, we are both dead.”
I frown, wiping away the tears that refuse to stop falling. “Why would you do that?”
He swallows. “You are important to Clay.”
“I didn’t realize you were close.”
“We are not. I know what it’s like to have everything you hold dear ripped away from you. He should not have to go through that twice.” He looks out over the valley again. “No one should.”
A general with a heart. No wonder he hates Infinitum.
“I can’t just abandon him to be tortured.”
“Trust that I have a plan. We need to get our story straight before I take you in.”
“Take me in?”
“Edgar wants to speak with you alone.”
“Shit.”
“How is your poker face?”
I tap my fingers against the wooden chair leg as people in lab coats enter and exit through the frosted glass door next to the reception desk. There are about ten cushioned chairs lining the wall, with high top tables near the coffee bar.
It’s clean and crisp, reeking of wealth and privilege, but somewhere deep inside, or perhaps below this building, some of the worst crimes against humanity take place. I can’t dwell on the fact that Clay is down there right now or I’ll go insane.
Eli left me with a nod, which I think he intended to be reassuring, but it did little to calm my nerves. I played the part of an obedient servant for most of my life. But everything is different now. I’ve tasted the freedom of making my own decisions. I’ve experienced the love of a man who would never dare try to control me. A man who understands the difficulties of overcoming years of abuse better than anyone else I’ve ever met. He gets me, he’s my person, and the idea of going back to that subservient mouse makes my skin crawl. But for Clay, I’d do anything. Even that.
“Ms. Edgewater? Edgar will see you now,” the receptionist calls, sneering at my arm in the sling. I swallow hard before I make my way to the door. The receptionist buzzes it open for me. “Take the first right and follow the hall to the door at the end. Knock before you enter and wait for permission.”
I practice my fake smile on her before I make my way down the carpeted hallway. It takes a few minutes to get to the door, and I take a deep breath, repeating the story Eli and I came up with in my head as I raise my fist and knock twice.
“Enter.”
I open the door and force my face into a mask of neutrality when I’m greeted by not only Edgar, but Dr. Chen and Andrew as well. I can lie to Edgar and Dr. Chen, but Andrew? He’s known me for years. I remind myself that he only knew the old version of me.
Andrew seems happy to see me, so I put all of my guards up and add a few extra just in case. Eli told me to be ready for anything and never act surprised.
“Fiona, my dear. Thank you for joining us. Please, have a seat,” Edgar says, like he didn’t order men to kill me a few hours ago. He sits like a relaxed king in his oversized armchair. There’s a window on one wall but the curtains block out any sunlight. A thick wooden desk sits to the side and there is a door which most likely leads to a bathroom. I take the only open seat next to Andrew.
“It takes a lot to surprise me, so consider me impressed. Your father failed to mention what a valuable asset you could be, otherwise I would have denied his request to excommunicate you.”
“It’s a recent development. When he excommunicated me, I wanted nothing more than to prove myself. I may have made a mistake,” I glance at Andrew, “but I am forever loyal to the Church. It’s the only life I’ve ever known.”
“Eli has always been an excellent judge of character. I should learn to listen to him more. Tell me, how did you two connect?”
I step into my old role, forcing the cringe away and reminding myself that it might just save my life, and Clay’s too.
“I ran into him at Reilly Tech and pleaded my case. He offered me the chance to prove myself when Emilia brought in the Maddox team. He told me to join the team and seduce one of them to get information.”
Andrew clenches his fists beside me, but I ignore him.
“And you got much more than you bargained for,” Edgar says with a chuckle.
I smile and nod. “Witnessing the abilities of a Chosen, no matter how far off the path he’s been led, was a miracle.”
“And this Clayton believes you’ve fallen in love with him?”
At least I don’t have to lie about everything. “He does.”
“Remarkable. We’ll be using those talents of yours in the future.” His gaze travels down my body and Andrew goes rigid beside me while I do my best to keep the bile from flying out of my mouth.
“I’d be honored, sir,” I say, dropping my gaze and clasping my hands in front of me.
“You see? Not marrying Fiona worked out for the best, didn’t it, Andrew?”
Andrew checks himself, pressing his lips together before he offers a curt nod.
“Good boy,” Edgar says with a condescending smirk, and Andrew drops his gaze.
“Tell me everything you witnessed with Clayton,” Dr. Chen says, his voice clinical as pulls out a voice recorder.
Eli said it was best to tell the truth as much as possible. There’s a good chance they already know the answers to the questions they ask, and any deviation will give me away. Clay was smart to keep some details from me. I’d never forgive myself if I put Clay’s family in danger. Eli told me everything they already know about Raven and his team, so I can spew that information without risk.
“Did he mention anything about a man named Raven, or where he’s operating from?”
“He didn’t tell me where, only that Infinitum are the true terrorists, not Raven.” I scoff, rolling my eyes for good measure, which seems to please Edgar.
“Is he aware of your family lineage?” he asks and something noxious forms in my gut.
“What do you mean?”
“Did he discuss his time with us?”
The room seems to shrink, and I squeeze my hands together, proceeding with caution. “He mentioned you were his handler.”
“Did he mention his previous handler was your aunt, Maria Edgewater? Clay would know her as her alias, Candace.”
Somehow, I keep my composure, even as my stomach threatens to implode.
“I was told she moved back to Portugal after she divorced my uncle decades ago.”
Dr. Chen shakes his head. “We drafted her into a top secret assignment. I’m sorry to say she passed away last year.”
I press my lips together, digging my fingers into my palm to keep the tears back. “We weren’t close.” If she wasn’t dead already, I’d be the one to kill the vile bitch.
If we survive this, will Clay ever be able to look at me the same? Maria wasn’t my blood relative, but will he even care?
“Clay only mentioned her alias,” I say. “I was unaware of the connection.”
“Probably for the best. I can assure you he wasn’t her biggest fan.”
Rage boils in my veins at his flippant comment. There’s no way he was unaware of her cruel and insidious methods of abuse and torture. And he let it happen.
“If you don’t have any other questions, I’d like to tend to Fiona’s wounds, if that’s alright?” Andrew asks, distracting me from my temper.
Edgar, looking bored as ever, dismisses us with a hand gesture before he stands. “Of course. We’ll be in touch, Fiona.” He nods at me, and Andrew and Dr. Chen escort me from the room.
“Don’t take long,” Dr. Chen murmurs to his son before he continues down the hall without a backwards glance, leaving me and Andrew alone.
He takes my elbow and guides me down another hall. We stay silent as we walk in step and descend two separate elevators before we enter a dark, tiled hall. He stops a few doors down, looking both ways before he unlocks it and shuts it behind me.
He stares at me for a long moment, his face unreadable, and my eyes widen when he yanks me into a hug. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers.
“For what?” He releases me, and gestures for me to sit on the cushy exam table in the small room. This is just another test. I wasn’t born yesterday.
“I should have given you a chance to explain what happened the night of the bachelorette.”
His wedding ring gleams on his ring finger. “Sorry I missed the nuptials. Congratulations.”
He sighs and opens a small freezer, handing me an ice pack, which I place on my shoulder. “You don’t have to pretend with me,” he says. He takes off my makeshift sling and replaces it with a medical grade one.
“I wish you nothing but the best, Andrew.”
“Deanna says she didn’t know Travis drugged you.”
I press my lips together, but remain silent. He hands me some painkillers and a glass of water. I take them and return the glass.
“If you give her a chance, I’m sure you’d be great friends again. But the connection we share is special, and I’m glad things worked out this way. I’m not trying to make you feel bad or rub my happiness in your face, but you have to admit there was never anything but friendship between us.”
“I agree.”
“So, as your friend, I’m telling you to watch your back. This place…” he looks to the side. “It’s not safe for you here.”
I search his face and find sincerity. “Nowhere is safe.”
“Has Eli treated you well?”
I nod, and he pulls out an alcohol swab and dabs it against a scrape on my cheek.
“Just be careful with him. Deanna says he’s unstable.”
I scoff. “Of course she would say that.”
He sighs as he rubs ointment into the wound. “Are you two…”
His unspoken insinuation catches me off guard. “Why do you ask?”
He tosses the used items into the trash before he meets my gaze. “He was in the office before you and he seemed…overprotective.”
I shrug. “He knows how dangerous this place is, too.”
“So you’re not together?”
“He’s my boss.” Eli also said to keep questions about our involvement vague. The more we keep them guessing, the more power we have.
“What about the Chosen you spent the past couple of weeks with? Clayton? I can’t imagine someone with as big a heart as yours wouldn’t sympathize with him.”
And there it is. Tell the truth as much as you can. “Some things he said raised questions. But I remain loyal to the Church.”
He frowns, waiting me out. “You fucked him, didn’t you?”
I shrug to hide my shock and imitate Edgar’s bored expression from earlier. “Does it matter?”
“Did you fuck the general, too?”
“How long after our break up did you fuck Deanna?”
He drops his gaze.
“Was it the next day?”
“She was there for me in my time of need.”
I bark a laugh. “I’ll bet she was. Congrats on the promotion. I’m sure that wasn’t a coincidence, either.”
He frowns. “I’ve earned my place here.”
I bite back my snark. Andrew isn’t the enemy.
His phone buzzes, and he glances at the screen. “You better hope for your sake that you didn’t develop feelings for The Chosen. Or the general, for that matter. It will only get you killed.” He pockets his phone and stands. “Father wants to see us.”
I follow him down the hall, wondering if I’m living on borrowed time.