Chapter Thirty-one
Hayes
M y stomach is in my throat as we kneel in the underbrush of the forest surrounding the compound. I'm not ready for this. I know I need to be because it's happening in mere moments, but I can't seem to get out of my head.
What if one of us gets hurt or worse? We could die tonight.
That's the thought that keeps echoing around inside my head, and I just want to take the people I love and hide them away. I know we have to do this, but I just can't seem to keep myself from thinking the worst.
"Hayes?"
I glance down to find River staring up at me with wide eyes. "Yes, bunny?"
"Are you alright?"
Turning my head, I see the others aren't paying us any attention before I shrug. "I'm scared."
"Me too." She cuddles into my side. "We've never done something like this before. Plus, Aaliyah…"
I pull her in for a hug, kissing the top of her head. "Aaliyah will be fine, bunny. She can take care of herself. She's also the only one who stands a chance at killing her parents. She can do it."
"Promise?"
"I promise." When she pulls back to look at me, I see the smile on her lips. "You little vixen. You weren't actually scared, were you?"
She snorts. "No, I definitely am. But I could see that you were struggling. I figured you could make us both feel better. It worked for me. Did it work for you too?"
"It did, bunny. It did. Thank you."
I might still hate that Aaliyah is going to be on her own, but I have to believe in my own words, don't I? I know she's a badass, but that won't keep me from worrying about her just as much—if not more—as the others.
"Does anyone have any questions or concerns before we get moving?" Aaliyah takes the time to meet each of our eyes, but no one speaks up. She nods. "Stay close as we move across the compound. We won't separate until we're inside."
We all move in as she closes her eyes. I can feel the magic as it flows over us, hiding us from enemy ears and eyes. As one, we move forward at a slow but steady pace. I push away all thoughts of anyone dying who isn't Aaliyah's parents and ready myself for what's to come.
As always, we're wearing comms, and this time Aaliyah has agreed not to turn hers off. We've all agreed to keep the line clear of any unnecessary chatter, and they've been set up so we have to press the button in order to be heard by the others. River and Reid have a way to override it so if anyone doesn't answer, they'll be able to hear what's going on.
I tense as two guards pass in front of us, causing us to pause where we are. They stop and chat about who the fuck knows what while sweat beads beneath my shirt. At least we know they can't see through Aaliyah's illusions since they're less than five feet from us and bullshitting with one another.
It's another five minutes before they say their goodbyes and we continue our path forward. This time we don't have to stop, only pausing outside the door long enough for River to be sure the security system is still down.
"Good to go," she says, looking up from her tablet. She has a sword on her back and a gun at her hip that she knows how to use, but I hope that neither she nor Reid have to use their weapons. Tyson and I trained them on weapons to make sure they can use them, but neither of them ever wanted to be in the field. If we could've kept them out of it today, we would've.
We continue down the hallway as quietly as we can until we reach the room that's most likely the security room. Aaliyah didn't want any of us exposed until we had Reid and River in place in there.
There's a window in the door that's marked security, and I snort. They sure made that easy for us. Nodding toward the door, I grab the knob while Tyson and Aaliyah move to the other side. As soon as the door opens, the guards inside look up, obviously confused, as they see nothing.
They continue to see nothing as Tyson snaps the neck of one and Aaliyah pours poison into the other.
"This room seems to be able to turn into a panic room of sorts," I say as I check out the door. "Once we leave the two of you, I want you to activate it. Don't open it until one of us tells you we're outside the door."
"Absolutely, pookie. I promise doodlebug and I will be safe. I want the rest of you to be careful and make sure nothing happens to you." River's hands fall to her hips as she looks at each of us.
"Doodlebug?" Naomi mouths when I catch her eye, but I just grin. I guess she hasn't heard that one yet.
Stepping over to them, I pull River and then Reid in for a kiss. "Be safe. I love you."
We lose a few minutes as everyone shares kisses, hugs, and words of good luck before we separate.
As requested, the minute we step out of the security room, a solid steel door slides down between us. Part of me hates that door because it's keeping me from two of the people I love, but I also know it'll be keeping them safe when I no longer can.
"I'm going to drop my magic in just a second. Does everyone know what they're doing?"
I nod. "Tyson and I are going to find Cecelia, killing any guards we come across. If there are any others being held prisoner with her, we'll set them free as well."
"Noami and I will find the lab Alistair was working out of. We'll destroy any physical proof we can find of the drug while River and Reid erase anything virtual." Archer squeezes Aaliyah's hand before releasing it
"And I'm going to find my parents and kill them." There's no doubt in her voice, and that eases me more than anything else could.
There is no other option. She will kill them.
With one more look at the five of us, I feel the magic fall away, and then she's gone.
"Let's do this." I grin at Tyson, ready to finally rescue his sister. I wish we could've done it sooner, but I'm grateful that we're here now.
"Be safe," Naomi calls as she and Archer take off in the opposite direction as us.
This is it. This is our last stand, and we will come out victorious—no matter what.