Page 97 of Resistant

We’ve found that the Resistance has done terrible things to motivate their own people, including informing their military that their wives have been forced into prostitution.

That was not the case for everyone, but they led their troops to believe it. The Resistance felt it would be motivating to overcome the Reform and end the war. There’s more, but we can cover that later.

My heart goes out to Brynn and her last phone call with her husband. I know how much his absolution meant to her. I’m disturbed by the fact that she may never know the truth of what happened to her family, to Wyatt, if I’m not able to get her out of Knox’s clutches.

Reisa clears her throat, pulling me from my morbid thoughts.

“This group, Arcadia, was formed to reconstruct our country and eliminate the political powers who continue with the bombings and hurting civilians.”

“Fuck Riesa. That’s a lot to unpack. I don’t know what to say right now.”

“I know, I felt the same way when I arrived here the first time. Let’s get you settled and debriefed and strategize how to move forward. We have a plan, but it requires your cooperation, and of course, none of us believe that Brynn will join us unless you are there to take her.”

“Take her?”

“We believe Knox has her immobilized so tightly that she won’t believe anyone but you. We plan on sending you in personally to get her.”

She shrugs and continues. “Brynn is not overly trusting, in The Before she kept a small circle of friends who are all gone now. You and her children are what remains of her circle.”

“Do you know where the boys are?”

“We know where Nathan is, and that’s part of the plan. To get you there and get Nathan out, if we can.”

“What do you mean, if we can?”

“He’s locked in a military bunker, only the highest levels of the Reform enter and come back out. We’ve been watching them for months. It’s possible even Knox doesn’t know where he is. He’s being experimented on, and we won’t know what kind of shape he’s in until we get to him.”

“Fuck.”

“Get settled, and I’ll come to get you for dinner. I’ll introduce you and we can talk more about how to move forward.”

Riesa steps out and starts closing the door but stops.

“And Declan?”

“Yeah.”

“You did well. I don’t know how everything went down, but there were hits placed out on you and you avoided all of them. We weren’t sure you would make it out alive.”

“That wasn’t me, that was Brynn.”

She smiles cheekily.

“Yeah, Brynn is badass.”

I chuff a laugh.

“If she only knew it.”

“I know right?”

The door clicks behind her, and I collapse on the bed. My thoughts are racing, and I don’t have any idea of where I am or who I’m with. It’s fucked up.

I take a shower and dress in clean clothes. I open drawers and cabinets, and all the usual toiletries are there. I won’t need anything while I’m here.

Compared to the camp, even with my favored status, this is luxurious. I glance at myself in the mirror and the shaggy beard I’ve been sporting over the last few weeks.

I pull out some scissors and a razor deciding that my inner Declan needs to make an appearance. Something about being clean-shaven pulls out the former marine in me, and if I ever needed him since I left the Corps, it’s now.

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