50. The Volunteer
THE VOLUNTEER
I asked Austin not to take us directly to the meeting spot.
I needed a minute for the rest of my plan and I wasn’t sure I wanted the others to know how powerful I was.
He brought us a safe distance from the mountain, no questions asked.
Still close enough to hear the alarm blaring but far enough that we would be safe from what I was about to do.
I took my first breath of fresh air in weeks, enjoying the moonlight on my skin for a few seconds. He came up behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and kissed my temple.
“I missed your smile,” he whispered, moving his lips to my cheek. “Don’t get me wrong, all those sadistic grins really got me going, but this smile is my favourite.”
I laughed, leaning against him, finally letting myself relax.
I got out. He got me out.
“I love you. Thanks for coming to save me.”
“You’re kidding, right? You totally saved yourself. I was just along for the ride. Power over all four elements.” He blew out a breath. “You didn’t need me.”
“Yes, I did.”
I wouldn’t have held strong for as long as I did if he hadn’t been there. I wanted to throw up while I watched those rocks hit Amber. But he was standing at my side, gripping my hand like an anchor.
And when I saw Dickhead I’d wanted to coil into myself, back into that corner of my mind I ran to every time I saw him. But Aus was holding me in his arms so tight, I felt like I could do anything.
So I pushed through it.
He detected the way my voice wavered right away and spun me around.
“No, you didn’t,” he said softly, running his thumb over my cheek.
“I don’t know what was running through your mind while we were down there, but I can tell you right now you could have done it without me.
I have never met a single person in my life who’s as strong as you are; who could go through what you did without making a sound; who could smile and laugh after everything you had to endure; who could look down at the people who put you through hell and end them. You did that.”
Every tear I’d held back for the last twenty-eight days poured out of my eyes.
God, I wished I could see myself through his eyes.
See the strength he was talking about when all I really wanted to do was curl up and cry.
Would he still think the same if I let him in?
If I showed him everything? If he felt everything I had, heard every thought in my mind?
“I know you went through something unimaginable, and I’ll probably never learn the full extent, but I don’t need to because it doesn’t change how strong you are.
Even if you don’t feel it, even if you don’t see it, I do.
I will spend the rest of my life reminding you of your strength.
And if you feel yourself breaking, I’ll help you put the pieces back together.
Because there is absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do if you asked me to.
” He paused, a small smile ghosting his lips. “That’s a lie. There’s one thing.”
“What is that?”
“Leave you.”
I meant to laugh but I was still crying so hard it came out more like a sob.
“I would never tell you to leave.”
“Good. Then we’re in agreement.”
I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. I would never get over how lucky I was that this man with a heart of ice melted for me. That I got to call him my husband.
“What do you say we finish this thing so you can take me home?” I mumbled into his lips.
“I say fuck yes. Let’s do this.”
I turned back to the mountain, watching the chaos—maybe even revelling in it for a minute. The alarm was still going off, flashing red from every crack in the stone, guards running around shouting orders no one was listening to.
“I’m going to have to tunnel into myself a little, you have my back?”
“Always. Do your thing, baby.”
I smiled, closing my eyes. I had to focus on the ground beneath my feet.
I needed to tunnel into it, use it to see, make sure everyone I needed in the bunker was there.
My mind raced through the halls, passing guards and scientists on my way down and down and down.
The levels blurred past me until I finally hit the bottom.
I slipped through the steel door and did a head count.
Fifteen, just like Niko said there would be. Seven senators, the police chief, the ERT captain, the lead scientist, and five members of the House of Commons. The leaders of New Dawn—a.k.a., the people trying to end the world as we knew it, one city at a time.
They were all drinking, chatting, and laughing. Trying to kill off half the population must be fucking hilarious. Too bad I was about to ruin it.
The mountain began to tremble and silence fell over the room. I watched with glee as the lights began flickering, and the bunker shook with the force of the mountain breaking down around them.
“This place is meant to hold up even if the mountain collapses. Don’t worry, we’re safe in here,” the police chief said.
Untrue. You’ll all die in here.
More chunks—bigger chunks—of mountain hit the steel. One even managed to dent the ceiling. Their screams were music to my ears.
“Get to the tunnel. We’ll escape through there.”
Ah yes, the tunnel. It was already blocked off, I made sure the steel collapsed the second the mountain started shaking. I could have done that in here as well, but I wanted them to suffer a bit before I put them out of their misery.
The ERT captain was working on getting the emergency exit door open when I decided this was taking too long. I began slowly flooding the room, diverting water from the river into the mountain.
That was when the panic really started. They began pushing each other out of the way to get to the door.
Banging on the metal when it wouldn’t budge, screaming for help.
Stupid, everyone outside the steel was already dead.
The rest of the mountain was nothing more than rubble, no one was coming to save them.
The water was waist-deep when I began sucking the air from the room. Watching them choke with no oxygen in the room was beautiful. The scientist went down first, then three member of the HoC, Eric Ericson III, the senators, the remaining HoC, and finally that stubborn prick—the captain of the ERT.
It was over. New Dawn’s leadership was dead—this branch, at least.
“I get it now,” Austin said as my eyes fluttered open.
“What?”
“Why you stared at me the way you did when you found out about my shadows. Holy shit, you’re fucking incredible.”
I smiled, surveying the damage—which was surprisingly minimal. I’d tried to make it as controlled as possible, but I’d still been worried about the people living nearby, that some of them would get hurt.
“Violet! Avalanche! Jesus Christ, will one of you answer us? What the fuck is happening?” Hemlock was panicking in my ear.
“We’re okay, we’re coming to you.” I turned on the transmitting part of the ear piece.
“Thank fuck. You scared the shit out of us!” Eva exclaimed.
Austin took my hand and a second later, I was crushed in a group hug. Whisper, Hemlock, and Eva were holding on so tight, I thought I might pass out, but it was worth it.
“Thank you, guys, for coming for me.”
“You’ve gotta be shitting me. There’s literally nowhere else we’d rather be,” Whisp said shaking his head. “You scared the shit out of us. What was that? How did the mountain come down?”
They all stepped back. I just shrugged. “Nothing, it was just an inchident,” I said in a terrible French (Monégasque) accent then immediately slapped my hand over my mouth. Oops, that was an inside thought.
Eyebrows were raised all around me until Hemlock burst out laughing. “I didn’t know you were an F1 fan.”
My cheeks flushed. Yes, I watched that interview way back and it made its way into my usual vocabulary. Honestly, it was a miracle I’d never call the incident, the inchident before this moment. “Well… I… Shut up. Stop picking on me I’m fragile right now.”
“I’m not picking on you! That interview lives rent-free in my head too. We should watch a race together some time.”
I smiled. “Sure, I’d like that.”
“Speaking of sports, Eva told me you’re a Leafs fan? We have to watch the season opener together next season! I can’t believe you never said anything! Ugh, there’s so many Jets fan, it’s so nice to finally hear someone around here has taste!”
I laughed. “I would absolutely love to.”
Austin scowled. “I would not, just for the record.”
I turned my smile up at him. “You’ll get over it, I’m sure.”
He grumbled something about death, but I was being dragged into a one-on-one hug with Eva. “I’m so fucking glad you’re okay.”
“I’m glad he finally brought you in.”
“Me too.” Her voice cracked. “Thank you for looking out for him when I couldn’t. I don’t think I’ll ever fully forgive myself for what happened, but I’m so grateful he had you watching his back while I couldn’t.”
“Damn it, you’re going to make me cry again.”
She laughed, pulling back. “Sorry.” Her own tears were starting to flow. “I’m just so happy he finally found someone. And I’m fucking ecstatic it’s you.”
I grinned, looking over at Austin, where he stood with the guys filling them in a little bit on what happened. He caught my eye right away and smiled back.
What would you say to getting out of here? I asked him.
I thought you would never ask.
I watched him (not so politely) excuse himself from Hemlock and Whisper’s incessant questions and clear the distance between us in two seconds.
“We’re leaving now. Thanks for coming, watching our backs, but you probably won’t hear from us for a couple days.”
“But—”
Austin’s glare stopped Hemlock in his tracks. “But nothing. I’m taking my lovely wife home to pack a bag and then we’re going on vacation. If she feels like it, she’ll call and check in, if not, leave us the fuck alone.”
Eva was beaming. “My wife,” she squealed. “So cute. I’m obsessed. I never thought I’d see the day my brother fell in love. I could literally die I’m so happy for you.”
“Brother?” Hemlock and Whisper exclaimed together.
I laughed. “Have fun dealing with that revelation, boys.” I turned to Austin. “Give me one sec.”
He nodded after following my gaze to where Weave was standing off to the side. He’d been giving us the space for our reunion, but I wanted to make sure I talked to him before disappearing to god knows where.
“Thank you for coming, John.”
“Of course Miss—Mrs. Winterhayes.” He smiled. “I wouldn’t have let them come without me.”
“Good call, these crazy people definitely need adult supervision.”
“Indeed. Before you take off, I have something for you.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a phone. “It’s been updated with new encryption, if you decide to come back and continue working with us villains.”
“I absolutely will be. And who knows, maybe we can work together on something a little more villainous going forward.”
“I would like nothing more, Violet.”
I took the phone and gave him a big hug before I headed back to my husband.
“Ready?” I asked.
“I’ve been ready for four weeks.” He kissed my forehead before turning back to everyone else. His team. Our team. “I mean it, we better not hear from a single one of you until we’re back.”
“And when will that be?” Hemlock asked.
Austin looked at me to answer. I met his gaze, mischief probably sparkling in my eyes. While I was torturing Dipshit, I’d felt Aus thinking about how much time he’d need with me and I thought that sounded perfect.
“Two months. At least.”
His grip around me tightened. For real?
Three might be better. I think we earned that, don’t you?
God, I fucking love you.
“No, make it three,” he said to the group before we disappeared—leaving their protests behind us.