Page 118 of The Order

He keeps his stern expression, mirroring my agitated body language.

“You know what they say about Untouchable women. Nothing in their heads, a hot temper, but great in bed,” Aaron says sarcastically. Fallan’s anger flashes down our connection at me.

“Aaron,” Fallan hisses. “Watch it.”

Kai scoffs at the man, dragging me back toward him. I don’t put up a fight, leaning into my brother’s protective arms. Hunter hits Fallan in the shoulder, clearly wanting to grill the man on his sudden attitude change. I give Fallan a long stare before drawing in a deep breath.

“I think it's time for you both to leave,” Jolie says, crossing her frail arms across her chest.

“I don’t want to see either of your faces here again,” Fallan whispers, lowering his eyes at the both of us.

I’m ready to hurl back an insult, feeling my words form in my mind. My brother’s words catch me off guard, his eyes only on Hunter.

“Things aren’t the same anymore. Even if we don’t come back here, you can’t avoid us forever,” Kai mutters, dragging his attention to Valerie.

I set my gaze on her, feeling nothing disgust.

“Lay your hands on my brother again, and I will paint the floor with you,” I say, unable to hold my tongue. She looks put off, Fallan holding her back from getting any closer to me.

“I think she’s good for you, cuz. She matches your level of crazy,” Aaron says with a smile, looking at Valerie with glee.

“Better get going,dove,”Valerie mutters, mocking the nickname Fallan gave me.

I draw my hood up over my head, watching my brother copy my movement. We eye the group, our hands clasping together in solidarity. I turn away from their curious eyes, dreading the thought of how alone we’ll be when we make it back to our sector. Everything will be different now, and I’m terrified of what that means for us.

“Does my heart still beat?”Fallan questions down the bond, his voice low and solemn.

I nod, not needing to say anything else.

“Then you will never be alone.”

Chapter thirty-nine

Forest

Wewaitontheoutskirts of our property, watching the flow of cars working in and out of the busy neighborhood. We offered Mark little detail on what happened today in his sector, not wanting to add to the list of stressors we had piled onto him in such a short amount of time. Realizing that someone might be your family is one thing, but knowing you've spent years treating that same family like they’re worthless and beneath you is another.

By some miracle, we were able to catch one of his last routes to our sector. We begged him to drop us off several blocks away from our regular stop. He didn’t want to let us off the bus at first, pressing us as to why our faces had been showcased on the phone screens of several Officials who had come and gone on his many routes after he dropped us off this morning. We told him as little as possible, unsure how much he could take. He eventually agreed to let us off where we’d asked, mumbling his intentions to speak to Fallan about what was going on.

“How bad is this going to be?” Kai questions, looking to me for some sense of reassurance.

“I have no idea. Whatever happens, I need you to push the blame onto me.”

At least if the blame is thrown on me, any corrective actions they try to take will be aimed at me. With his chip still intact, I’m worried about what they might do to him with a Re-Regulation Device.

“I can’t do that.”

“You have to,” I whisper, no longer giving him an option.

We push past the bushes and make our way to the front lawn. Our eyes meet the gazes of a few lingering Officials. Grabbing our hoods, we reveal our faces, both of us dirtied and worn. The Officials begin pressing their earpieces, talking in hushed whispers the closer we move to our front door. Kai angrily takes hold of the door handle, swinging open the entrance to our home.

Several eyes reach us from the living room. My father’s hand drops from his phone as my mother’s pacing comes to a halt. Xavier leans into the kitchen counter, his face filled with relief. The twins sit at our dining room table, impatiently waiting for us to acknowledge them. My mother’s body collides with my brother’s, grabbing me, too, and dragging me closer. There’s a sudden relieving warmth we get from the embrace. My dad waves away what few Officials linger around the room, letting Xavier stay as he joins my mother in the embrace.

“Where the hell were you two?” my father questions, pulling away from the hug to grab my face, scanning me up and down. My mother’s hands toy with my hoodie, looking over the grime with concern.

“Why are you both so dirty?” my mother pushes, my head unable turn to look at her as I stay locked in my father’s arms.

“We’re fine,” Kai says, pulling away from my father. There’s an obvious shift in how Kai regards him now. An air of disappointment and anger lingers between them, and I wonder how long it will take for Kai to forgive him.

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