Page 13 of Echos and Empires
Liam’s shoulders sagged with relief, a flicker of gratitude warming his gaze as he stood up. “Thank you, Alex. I knew I could count on you.”
Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that they were on the precipice of something dangerous. Something that could change everything. And though the prospect sent a chill down his spine, he knew that together, they’d survive this just like they’d survived everything.
Because that’s what brothers did.
Liam’s voice steadied as he delved into his rationale, though an undercurrent of concern threaded through his words. “I’ve been hearing whispers, Alex. Whispers about Victor and this island. Whispers that make me think he’d connected to this, which cannot be safe after the attack on the ship. I didn’t want to believe it at first, but the pieces are starting to fall into place. It was more than just that one night, I may have gone digging…” Liam let his sentence trail off, daring Alex to pressure him for more information.
Alex leaned in closer, his brow furrowed in concentration as he studied the maps spread out before them. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the worn parchment, lending an eerie atmosphere to their clandestine meeting.
“What kind of whispers?” Alex pressed, his hazel eyes narrowing. “And why haven’t you brought this to Chris yet?”
Liam shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “You know how Chris is, always shouldering the weight of the world. He’s got enough on his plate keeping everyone safe and provided for. I don’t want to add to his burdens, not until I’m certain.”
Alex nodded, understanding the delicate balance their leader maintained. “But you think there’s enough to warrant an evacuation plan?”
“I do,” Liam confirmed, his tone grave. “The peace we’ve found here…I’m worried it’s only temporary. The attack on the ship that somehow knew where to find us, the secrets the council must keep, it all points to something brewing beneath the surface. Something that could tear this paradise apart.”
Alex a growing sense of unease settled in his gut as Liam’s words sank in. He trusted Liam’s instincts implicitly, and if he believed there was a threat looming on the horizon, then there was a damn threat on the horizon.
Leaning over the stump-turned-table, Alex studied the meticulously charted evacuation routes, his mind racing with the implications. If Liam was right, if someone truly had nefarious intentions, then time was of the essence. They needed to be ready to act at a moment’s notice, to protect the lives that hung in the balance.
Alex’s mind raced. He knew that Liam wouldn’t propose an evacuation plan without good reason, but he needed more information to fully understand the gravity of the situation.
“Liam,” Alex began, his hazel eyes searching his friend’s face, “I trust your judgment, but I need to know more. What exactly did you hear about Victor that has you so worried? If he has a hand in this island, maybe it’s just because he stumbled onto it and wants to be safe to. Why would he want to destroy it now?”
Liam sighed, running a hand through his messy brown hair. “It’s not about destroying the island, Alex. It’s about control.Victor’s always been obsessed with power, even before the bombs he ran for congress. Our freedom, I think it could be an illusion, one the council lets us have when we arrive and then removes when no one notices. The comms I’ve heard, Victor is doing something, he’s been quietly gathering resources, making deals with the outside world. I think he plans to turn this place into his own personal fiefdom, with all of us as his subjects. I just don’t know how he found out about this place other than that a look in the records showed many wealthy men and women sending supplies here right after the bombs.”
Alex’s brow furrowed as he absorbed Liam’s words. The thought of Victor manipulating them, stripping away their hard-earned autonomy, made his blood boil. But he knew that confronting the man directly would be a foolish move. They needed solid evidence, a plan of action that would ensure the safety of their people.
As he stood there, the weight of responsibility settled heavily upon his shoulders. Liam was entrusting him with this knowledge, this burden, because he believed in Alex’s strength and loyalty. And though part of him wanted to doubt, to cling to the hope that their peace could last, he knew in his heart that Liam’s instincts were rarely wrong.
Meeting Liam’s gaze once more, Alex nodded, his jaw set with determination. “Alright. I’m with you, Liam. Whatever it takes, we’ll get to the bottom of this and protect our people. The council may think they hold all the cards, but they underestimate the strength of our bond. We won’t let anyone win who wants to control others. Chris will agree.”
A flicker of relief passed over Liam’s face, his shoulders relaxing slightly at Alex’s unwavering support.
“What do you need from me?” Alex asked, his voice low and determined. “How can I help?”
Liam’s blue eyes shone with a mix of relief and gratitude, the weight of his secret visibly lifting from his shoulders. “Keep your eyes and ears open in the medical wing. If anyone knows the inner workings of this island, it’s the doctors. I heard them whisper that Victor has found a way to enhance fertility and multiple pregnancies. If it’s real, if he’s doing something to us, you’ll find information long before I will in the command center. And Alex?—”
Alex met Liam’s gaze, a silent understanding passing between them.
“Be careful. We can’t afford to tip our hand too soon. Not until we have all the pieces in place. I swear I’ll tell Chris, I just want to make certain this is real before I drop it in his lap. I know it’s a lot to take in, Alex. But we have to play this smart. We have to make certain I am not going crazy from staring at monitors all day and making up scenarios because of what I think I heard one night.”
Alex straightened with a curt nod, his resolve hardening like steel. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever truths they uncovered, he knew one thing for certain, he would stand by Liam’s side until the bitter end, even if it meant riding a damn raft of palm leaves in the middle of the ocean.
Because in this twisted paradise, loyalty was the only currency that mattered.
A heavy silence descended upon them, broken only by the distant call of a night bird. Alex’s mind raced with the implications of Liam’s revelations, the weight of secrecy pressing down upon his chest. Could he keep this from the others, from Emma, without cracking under the strain? The thought of their hard-fought peace crumbling once more, of everything they’d built blowing up in their faces, made his stomach churn.
“Please, Alex. A week. We’ll search for a week and then if there’s something to share, we share it all.”
“You’ve always been so damn logical. Not that you couldn’t snap, but it doesn’t seem likely Liam. I don’t think my access as a paramedic lets me get into systems, but I can try my luck at swiping a badge.”
“Good thinking,” Liam agreed, his eyes sparkling with approval. “Don’t print or screenshot anything. If Victor is why this island is so damned advance, he’s tracking fucking everything.”
“It’s not really proof if I hand write it, is it?”
“I just need confirmation. Chris will believe it if we both bring it to him. The last thing we need is someone thinking we know something and getting in the way.”
