26. Reyna
CHAPTER 26
Normally, the last week before school starts is one of my favorite times. The halls are still empty, but there are fresh decorations on the wall and an entire year of hopeful days ahead.
I’d been so ready to resume my normal life, but now that I’m here, I’m longing for a lazy morning, sitting on the Redding’s couch with Michael as we watch cheesy movies and pretend the danger outside doesn’t exist.
Now that they know we’re alive, I’m back at the school, Jaxson and Silas at my side as Michael, Lance, and Elijah are headed to Boston with Carter. They’re planning to let Michael sit down with the men who shot him, and the idea of him staring them down terrifies me.
Which is irrational, of course, since the men will be unarmed and handcuffed. Though, I guess if I’m being truly honest with myself, it’s them I fear for, not Michael. He’s been silent since Kyra was nearly killed three days ago.
I’ve barely seen him since I’m staying at Lance and Eliza’s—at their insistence—and he remained at the Redding’s to protect them.
I check my cell for the hundredth time, hoping he’s sent a text letting me know he’s all right, but there’s nothing here. Nothing but radio silence. I finish sending off a mass email to all the teachers welcoming them to the new school year, with a schedule of special events we have planned attached. As soon as it’s out of my outbox, I get to my feet and stretch.
My muscles are still sore, and I’m not sure they’ll recover until I’ve spent at least a week in bed sleeping off the stress from the past few weeks.
There’s a knock at the door, and after glancing through the glass pane, Jaxson pushes it open. “Lilly delivered lunch.” He offers me a Styrofoam container, then sits across from me as I open the lid and stare down at a cheeseburger and fries.
The woman knows the way to my heart, that’s for sure.
“Thank you, God, for this meal. Thank you for blessing our each and every day, Lord. Amen.” After the quick grace, I open a ketchup packet and squeeze some onto the tray. “Is Silas not eating with us?”
“He’s the silent type,” Jaxson says. “He’s eating out in the entry hall.”
“He definitely seems quiet.”
“Lance says he’s always been that way.”
“They knew each other first, right?”
“Yeah. Lance met him when they were in the VA hospital together for a time. Silas had been messed up pretty bad, though Lance has never said how it happened. They hit it off, as anyone who meets Lance does, and he introduced him to the rest of us. Elijah and Michael first and then me a few years later at a veteran’s retreat we did in the woods.”
“You were a Marine, right?”
“I am.”
“I remember Margot telling me about Michael’s Army buddies and their Marine tagalong.”
Jaxson snorts. “They followed me around.”
I laugh, appreciating the genuine comradery he shares with the others. It’s refreshing to see men as close as brothers in a world where people have never been so distant from each other. “You met them in the hospital, too?”
“Yeah.” Jaxson shakes his head. “I’d already been there for a time, but I’ll never forget them being wheeled in. I’d already met Lance before, so seeing him on that stretcher, so many holes in his chest—I actually prayed. And I’d never been a praying man before that.”
“Lance seems to have that effect on people. Michael grew up in the same church as me, but he’d always had some distance. Not sure why, though I assume some of it had to do with his dad. But Margot told me that he found Jesus when he’d almost died, and that his friend Lance was part of the reason.”
“Lance Knight knows how to guide people. It’s one of the things that made him such a great OIC.”
“OIC?”
“Officer in Charge. Sorry.”
I pluck a fry from the tray and stick it in my mouth. “It’s fine,” I say as soon as I’ve finished it. “You guys all seem to work really well together.”
“As I said, we each have our own skill sets, and no one tries to overstep the other.”
“You said Lance leads, Elijah is the computer skills, Michael is the bodyguard, and you called yourself a—what was it—spotter?”
“Yeah. I was a sniper.” He takes a bite of his burger. “I do better from high vantage points, and Michael excels at hand-to-hand. Most of the time. Guy did get shot recently.”
I snort, nearly choking on a fry. It’s dark humor, but somehow given everything we’ve faced, I can appreciate it. “And Bianca? Did you know her before?”
“No. Not really. I’d heard of her, sure, I think most of us stationed overseas had, but I didn’t meet her until Lance called her when Michael was in trouble.”
“Thank you for coming for us, by the way. I know that Michael is your friend, and it’s your job, but thank you.”
“We didn’t come just for Michael,” he says. “We care about you too, Reyna. You’re our people just as much as Michael is.”
My heart warms with joy, and I continue eating. Jaxson and I enjoy our burgers in comfortable silence. The beep of my phone increases my pulse, and I turn it over to check the notification.
Michael’s name illuminates my screen next to a partial message. Quickly, I unlock my phone to read and respond.
Michael: Just got to Boston. Carter is getting us into the prison now. I miss you. Stay safe.
Me: I’m not the one currently in danger. I miss you, too. YOU stay safe. I need you to come back so we can finish our conversations about the future.
Michael: I’ll be there.
Smiling, I set my phone aside and take another bite.
So much ugliness has happened, but in the midst of it, God delivered me a partner. True love. And I can’t help but grin despite the fact that nothing is settled yet.
The door opens, and Liam steps in, a smile on his face. “Reyna, it’s good to see you.”
Jaxson sets his food aside and stands. “Where’s Silas?”
“He’s still at the front. I told him who I was, and he let me through.” His gaze remains focused on me even as he addresses Jaxson.
Jaxson steps back toward me, slow movements that don’t seem off until he completely blocks me with his body and his hand goes to his lower back, where his firearm is holstered. “I know Reyna appreciates you stopping by, but she’s not up for company right now.”
“I’m so glad you made it back safely,” Liam says. “I was so worried about you.”
“I appreciate that, Liam, but Jaxson is right. I’m really busy right now. Maybe we can set up a lunch or something later?” Alarm bells are ringing in my brain, a warning that might as well be flashing neon lights.
“I was so worried,” he repeats. “But I knew you’d make it back. You’re too strong.”
“I’m not going to ask you again.” Jaxson steps forward, and a gunshot echoes through my office. I don’t even have time to react before Jaxson is stumbling back into my desk and falling to the floor, blood staining the front of his white T-shirt.
Liam removes his hand from his pocket and reveals the gun he’s carrying. He aims it at Jaxson, and I throw myself over my bodyguard.
“No! Liam, stop!”
“I am tired of people getting in the way of us, Reyna. First Zeke, then Michael, and now these men.”
“Zeke?” My blood ices as I press one hand to Jaxson’s wound and try to slip the other beneath him. He groans and rolls just slightly enough that the movement won’t be noticed by Liam.
Keep him talking.
Keep him focused on me.
Someone else will have heard the gunshot.
“I told him that you were not to be touched. That we were wrong and you wouldn’t have anything to do with Carter.”
“How do you know Zeke?” My hand closes around the grip of Jaxson’s firearm.
“He represented my brother when your brother put him away. This whole thing was his plan. I was supposed to come here and find out what you knew, get to know you, and then—” He trails off. “I couldn’t do it because you and I are meant to be, Reyna. I never wanted anything to do with my brother’s work, either. And now that I know you don’t either…”
I slip the gun from the holster. “You hurt my friend, Liam.”
“I set you free. You’re a prisoner, just like I am. My brother’s goons wouldn’t let me free of them, either.”
“Liam, put the gun down, please.”
“I can’t do that.” He tilts his head to the side. “You’re coming with me, and soon you’ll see that we’re meant to be.”
“Liam, I cannot go with you.” I pull the gun out, but before I can raise it, Liam aims his at Jaxson’s head.
“If you don’t put that gun down, Reyna, I’m going to kill him where he lies. Don’t make me do it. Please. Don’t make me kill for you. I will. But don’t make me do it.”
My heart plummets, and I swing the gun around where he can see it, then set it on the ground.
“Good girl. Now, let’s go.”
“My friend needs help. Please. Let me get him help.”
“We have to leave before the other one wakes up,” he snaps. A brief dose of relief floods my system because if he’s expecting Silas to wake up, then it means he’s still alive.
“Reyna. No.” Jaxson reaches across his body and clings to my arm while he uses the arm draped behind me to slip his phone into my back pocket.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell him, then take his hands and press them to his injury. “Tell Michael I’ll be okay.”
“Let’s go!”
I stand and reach for my phone, just for show, and Liam shakes his head. “Leave it. You won’t need it. We’ll get you a new one when you can be trusted to see the truth. Come on.” He reaches forward and grabs my arm, then shoves me out the door, the gun pressed up against my side, hidden from view.
Blood coats my hands, so I fold my arms as we make our way out of the school. That way if anyone is passing by, they won’t stop and try to help.
I can’t risk Liam hurting anyone else.
Please, God, let Jaxson and Silas be all right, and send Michael to me. Please send me help. I need You.