Page 31 of Shattered World

“But?” I asked, standing from my spot on the floor with the twins and taking a seat next to her.

“But I cannot risk them. All of you, but you seem to especially, put your lives on the line with these plans. They seem to always work out, but I fear for the day they don’t. From here on out, I don’t want to know. Not if it puts us at risk.”

I swallowed around a denial, wanting to tell her that it would only put her more at risk. What was she going to do if she didn’t know what was happening, if she wasn’t a part of the plan? But then my mind took me back to that dingy room in the basement. The way I had been tortured solely for information. I knew then that was exactly what Elizabeth wanted to prevent. Knowledge may have been power, but it was also pain.

“I understand,” I finally told her, and she smiled softly.

Placing a soft palm against my shoulder, she nodded toward Stephanie and Lucas. “All I ask is that when the time comes, you don’t leave them behind. If you find a way out of this, you save them.”

I gave her my word that I would, knowing it was the easiest promise I would make. Leaving her to enjoy her time, ruffling the twins’ hair as I left, I couldn’t help but think about her words. She was right. We were all reckless. Throwing ourselves into danger, hoping safety was on the other side. Each and every time, we had come out the other side, mostly unscathed.

But what would happen when our luck inevitably ran out?

Chapter Sixteen

Murphy came hurdling into the bedroom later in the evening, a wild grin on his face. We all lazed around the room, waiting for good news. Mina, Sasha, and I cuddled on one of the beds, Warner sprawling across the other.

Aiden and Rainer whispered in the corner amongst themselves, probably talking through plans on how to keep us all safe in case this meeting came to fruition.

“He responded,” Murphy said, plopping onto the other bed, shoving Warner’s feet out of the way.

Rainer immediately went into plan mode, standing in front of Murphy. “What did he say? When is the meeting? Where?” He tossed a look over his shoulder. “You three aren’t coming.”

Immediately, the three of us complained our disagreement, refusing to be left behind, but Murphy shushed us, needing to get his words out.

“Meeting this evening at seven o’clock. Dupree Plaza. I made sure Caroline would be in attendance.” He shot a glare at his best friend. “We are all going. No discussion.”

Rainer grumbled under his breath, but to his credit, didn’t disagree any further.

“How did the message sound? Threatening?” Aiden asked and Murphy shrugged his shoulders.

“I have no clue. He literally just responded with the time and place and when I asked for Caroline to be there, he said yes. I couldn’t get a read off of it if I tried.”

That wasn’t helpful in the situation. For the hundredth time, we were going to walk into a situation completely unprepared. Although, as Rainer started discussing what we were to bring and wear, even where to stand once we arrived, I knew he would do everything possible to prepare us.

Later that evening, when we exited the hotel, bundled up in our coats, the winter chill bit at our exposed skin. The sky was dark above our heads, clouds heavy with precipitation that had yet to fall.

“Do you think it will snow?” Mina asked softly as we passed a crowd of people hurrying toward warmth.

“I hope not. We do not have the proper attire,” Sasha responded, looking at the battered tennis shoes on her feet.

My toes were already frozen a few steps out into this weather and what I wouldn’t give for my fleece lined boots I used to have for Montana winters.

Mina sighed sadly. “I hope we see snow one more time before we’re stuck under ground the rest of our lives.”

Sasha and I smiled at her simple dream, looping our arms through hers as we continued to walk. The walk to the Dupree Plaza was a short one, only a few blocks away from the hotel. I didn’t know if Chandler had chosen the location for that reason or for another we weren’t privy to.

When we entered the building, hot air skimmed over me, my teeth still chattering. A short woman with platinum hair stood at the entrance, not bothering to ask who we were before leading us down a hallway and toward two large doors.

Pushing one open, we were led into a large meeting room. A table spread the length of the room, at least twenty chairs scattered around the perimeter. Six of the chairs on the opposite end of the room were taken, Caroline’s stoic posture in one of them.

Although her expression gave nothing away, her appearance did. She still wore the same outfit as the last time we had seen her, her hair falling in straight strands to her shoulders. Dark circles sat under her eyes, her lips dry and cracked.

Whatever had happened to her over the past month, it was clear she was no longer in the government’s good graces.

A stocky, tall man stood at the front of the conference room, his hands clasped neatly in front of him, a jovial smile on his face.

“Please, take a seat.” He gestured toward the empty chairs, his smile never letting up.

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