Chapter 66
Chapter Sixty-Six
Claudia
Anna’s words hit like a detonation.
Zac staggers back like he’s been hit. Kayla’s hand flies to her mouth. Jordan curses, low and vicious, and Riley shakes his head, turning away from the table.
“What?” I manage to utter.
Anna’s still trying to catch her breath, but she barrels on anyway, her voice wheezy.
“I heard them. They know about Kayla, and they know it was Emilia who helped her flee the area. They were going to interrogate her, to find out where Kayla is, but Germain doesn’t think it’s worth it.
She thinks they’ll find Kayla without her, and that Emilia is just a liability. ”
Zac sucks in a breath, practically shuddering before he collapses onto the seat behind him. His face pales, and his eyes empty as he stares at the map on the table.
“They…” Anna trails off. She swallows, reaching for the table and peering down at the map. “They called her a traitor. Said it was treason.” She looks up, eyes meeting mine. “There’s only one punishment for treason.”
Jordan curses, moving to stand behind Zac, his brow furrowed.
“I really think we should reconsider turning me in—”
“No,” Zac snaps, cutting Kayla off.
“That won’t help,” Anna retorts. “They’d just kill you both. Did you not hear me? They believe Emilia committed treason.”
“Enough,” I snap. “Anything else, Anna?”
“Yeah. They’re leaving City Hall at three, going to take her out of the city to do it,” she says. Her eyes dart to Zac. “As soon as I heard, I got someone to cover for me, Zac. I came straight here to tell you, to—”
“Did they say anything about the route?” Zac asks, voice low. Slowly, he stands once more, pouring over the table. “Or where they plan to do it?”
Anna flinches ever so slightly, but she quickly shakes her head. “No.”
It’s Riley who plants both hands on the map, face taut, and jaw clenched tight. His eyes are dark—as if he already hates what he’s about to say.
“Four years ago,” he says, voice gruff. “They favoured Hackett Lakes.” His finger lands on a cluster of blue pools.
“I have it on good authority that that’s where they got rid of most of their bodies.
” He pauses. “I have no idea if they still use it. But it’s the last place I know for certain they dumped anyone. ”
“It’s all we’ve got,” Jordan mutters, glancing up at his best friend. “Zac?”
Zac stares at the map, eyes practically burning holes where those lakes sit, halfway between here and Killmoor. “I’m going to get her,” he vows before looking up and turning to Riley. “We can use both trucks?”
Riley nods. “Yeah. If they work.”
“Good.” Zac shifts on his feet, eyes trailing back and forth as they plan. “My shift starts in forty-five minutes. I can get another.”
My eyes widen. “Zac, you can’t go to work. If they suspect you helped Emilia—”
“Zac, no—” Anna exclaims.
“I don’t care!” Zac’s voice cuts over both of us.
“They’ll probably arrest you at the gate.”
“As far as they’re aware, I don’t know about Emilia,” he retorts. “I just think she’s at work.”
“You can’t steal a truck. We need your insight; we need you in transport—”
Zac’s eyes snap to Anna, vicious and blazing. “I don’t care what you need. Any of you. Emilia’s life is on the fucking line.”
Anna’s mouth falls open. “Zac—”
“If stealing one of their fucking trucks is what’s needed to get her back, I’ll do it.”
“You’ll be a traitor, too—”
“Do you think I fucking care?”
“You always said the Resistance was the most important—”
“My wife needs me,” Zac snaps, voice blunt, brutal, and so, so final.
Anna looks shaken, like she wasn’t expecting that word to leave his lips.
Her mouth opens, then closes, and her eyes pan to mine, then Jordan’s, full of panic and laced with fear.
The weight of her gaze settles beneath my skin, and I shift on my feet, understanding flickering through me, even if she is going about things the wrong way.
“Zac,” I say softly. “You understand that by doing this, you’ll have to go into hiding along with Emilia? Just like Kayla? And Riley?”
“I know,” he mutters gruffly.
“You won’t be able to—”
“You’ll be useless!” Anna exclaims, cutting me off.
“Riley works from the confines of fucking secrecy, and he’s doing fucking fine.”
Anna scoffs softly. “That’s different.”
Riley bristles, frown deepening, but he doesn’t say a word.
“And anyway, you’re talking about stealing a truck from the State whilst they’re on high alert. That’s mad!”
“It’s the only way,” Zac bites out. “Two small trucks might not be enough to stop a State convoy. You need force. You need weight. Something they can’t shove out of their way. I’m the only one who can get that.” His eyes flicker around the table. “And I will.”
Jordan’s jaw tightens, but he blinks, clearing any trace of worry from his expression. Kayla shrugs, whilst a daring, accepting smirk paints Riley’s lips. I blink back the tears that threaten to fall down my cheeks and nod weakly.
Only Anna refuses, staring down at the map, her eyes glassy and hands trembling.
Zac’s gaze turns to Riley, then me. “You two, find as much support as you can. Get Red and anyone else from the Armoury. Get whoever the fuck will stand with us and get those trucks ready.” His brow furrows. “Riley, have you got any of those comms to spare?”
Riley nods, lifting his hand to his ear. “Take mine. I’ll get another back at base.” Zac takes it, just before his gaze snaps to my husband, fierce and unwavering.
“Jordan. You’re with me.”
And just like that, Zac’s decision is made.
It’s dangerous and reckless, and set to change the course of Zac and Emilia’s lives no matter the outcome.
For better or worse.
For richer, for poorer.
There’s a small, hopeful smile on my lips as I leave the Safe House, jogging as fast as I can back to the Married Sector.