Chapter 6 - Luna #2
Gage moves first, planting his boot against Thenton and forcing him back to the floor as Torrin raises his voice.
"Both of you at the gate, stop moving and stay silent."
The pressure in his voice moves through the truck bed.
The young soldier stops immediately. His fingers remain inches from his radio, his mouth half open. He doesn't blink, turn his head or react in any way. Beyond him, the second soldier also becomes completely motionless beside the gate.
Torrin doesn't waste time. "Colonel Ashford’s orders do not control you anymore."
Neither soldier reacts because they can't.
Torrin's fingers tighten around mine.
I turn toward him and watch his face lose even more color. His breathing changes, and a thin line of blood appears beneath one nostril.
My stomach tightens.
"Torrin."
He shakes his head as I reach for his face. "You're bleeding."
"I'm okay."
"No, you're not."
He closes his eyes for a second while leaning into my palm. "The hard part's done."
I want to argue, but he turns back toward the gate before I can.
"You can both move and speak normally now. You will not touch your weapons, warn Colonel Ashford about us, hurt anyone here, or interfere with what we're doing. Simmons, use your radio and tell Colonel Ashford his son has arrived and that he needs to come to the front yard."
The young soldier finally moves. His hand drops away from the radio, and he pulls in a hard breath. His eyes widen as he looks around, clearly trying to understand what just happened. Near the gate, the second soldier bends forward with both hands braced on his thighs before straightening again.
"Holy fuck," Simmons whispers.
Foster comes around the side of the truck and speaks quietly to him for several seconds, explaining enough that some of the panic leaves the young man's face.
Torrin sags back against the slats beside me.
I tighten my grip on his hand. "That was two people, Tor. Two, and now your nose is bleeding."
"It's fine."
"Stop saying that."
He gives me a tired look and uses his sleeve to wipe it away.
"I mean it. If your father comes out and you lock him down, you're done until we know you're actually okay."
"I can make him remove his orders."
"Good. Then make him do it."
His face softens slightly.
"Bossy."
"You like me bossy."
His gaze holds mine for half a second too long. "Yeah, love. I do."
Heat moves through me unexpectedly at the look in his eyes. Of course, this is the time my body decides to notice the way he's looking at me.
Simmons lifts his radio. "Colonel Ashford, sir. This is Simmons at the gate. Do you copy? Over."
There is a brief hiss of static and then silence for a few seconds.
"Go for Ashford. Over"
"Sir, Sweep Team 4 has returned and there is someone here you probably want to see. Over"
"I’ll decide who I want to see, Simmons. Who is it? Over."
Simmons glances at Torrin.
"Your son, sir."
The silence on the radio this time lasts long enough for me to start looking around and see if soldiers are heading toward us.
"Bring them inside. I'm coming out."
The gate rattles fully open, and both trucks roll through.
The yard is bigger than it looked from outside. Military vehicles are parked in neat rows beside stacked pallets, and several loading doors along the warehouse are open. More soldiers move around inside, and the sight of all those uniforms and guns makes my grip on Torrin's hand tighten again.
The trucks stop and Mars gets up first and lowers the tailgate before jumping down. He turns and holds a hand up toward me. For a second, neither of us moves. Then Gage steps past Torrin and drops to the ground.
"I've got her."
Mars's expression changes to frustration, but he lowers his hand without arguing.
Gage reaches up, and I put both hands on his shoulders while he catches me around the waist and lifts me down. My babydoll dress shifts in the process, and I automatically tug it back into place over the shorts underneath before stepping away.
Torrin tries to jump down after me but his legs almost give when he lands.
Mars grabs one arm while Gage catches the other.
"Tor."
"I'm fine."
"You're becoming very repetitive," I tell him.
He pulls free of them, but the movement is slower than normal.
I move straight to his side. "You're done after your father."
He looks down at me.
"Don't argue."
"I'm starting to understand why Gage doesn't bother."
"Smart man."
Gage grunts. "Finally."
People start climbing out of both trucks, and the freed soldiers spread out around us, keeping the prisoner act believable for anyone watching from inside the warehouse.
A metal door slams open and Torrin goes completely still beside me as I follow his stare.
A broad man in uniform walks out of the warehouse with several rows of ribbons and medals across his chest. His posture is rigid, and the expression on his face turns colder as soon as he sees Torrin. I don't need anyone to tell me who he is.
Colonel Ashford walks directly toward us.
"So," he says, his voice carrying across the yard. "The prodigal son returns."
Tor grips my hand tightly and I feel a buzz come to life where our hands are linked. My eyes go wide in surprise at the strength I can feel in his commanding tone after seeing him look so weak only minutes ago. Not the time or place, but…it’s really, really hot.
"Shut your mouth and get on your knees you fucking bastard!"
That buzz is still flaring between our palms as his father drops to his knees on the gravel and his expression fills with rage. Tor steps closer to him, dragging me with him.
"You’re going to order your men to forget every command you gave them since the moon cracked. You’re going to let these people go then you’re going to pay for all the crimes you’ve committed."
I can see his father fighting against the commands as his face turns almost purple with the struggle of it.
Charlie grabs the radio from the Colonel’s belt and hands it to Tor. "Get all the other soldiers out here first."
He takes the radio with his free hand and commands the soldiers through it to lower their weapons and come to the front area. He seems steadier than a few minutes ago, like he’s getting stronger. When the area is crowded with men in uniform, he gives the order to his father again.
"You will release the control you have over all of your men right now. Tell them to forget all of the orders you've given them since the moon cracked and not one other thing."
Still, the man fights against doing what was ordered until Tor screams.
"DO IT NOW!"