Chapter 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

I’m stitched back up and pumped full of a drug cocktail that instantly makes me feel better. I overheard the scientist say that what they did was to test my healing, but that’s bullshit. It was a warning through and through, and it has only made me angrier, but I have to play this smart. Even though I want to tear through them, I have to stick to the plan, which seems stupider the longer I’m down here.

I should just make my move, but I worry I will fail.

I hear Louis’s voice in my head, telling me to be smart and plan.

Jonas tells me to gather weapons.

Dimitri advises me to gain access to their systems and tear them apart from the inside.

Isaac’s voice says to allow myself to heal.

Nico tells me to use their weaknesses against them.

The only problem is, I don’t know their weaknesses.

I’m escorted back to my room where I lie on the cot, debating my thoughts. They have to have a weakness, and I have to find it, which means action, because today taught me that they won’t be happy until I’m ripped apart. I need to end this and soon.

Tilting my head, I see the door lock is off-kilter, so I get to my feet thanks to the drugs and I hurry over, sliding my nails between it until it catches. The dumbasses didn’t even lock it properly. I could have gone through the tunnel, but it will hurt more, and honestly, they don’t even seem to care. Surely, they have to know it’s me fucking with them by now.

What else could they possibly do to me?

I need to find a weakness, which means going deeper into the facility than I ever have. I can’t use the elevator because it requires a key card I don’t have—I heard them mention it once. They force the guards to use the stairs, and I know they are for emergencies and will no doubt register if I open them.

I hesitate before rounding my shoulders and stepping out. When no guards come running or alarms go off, I walk down the corridor. Maybe they don’t see me, or maybe they are just curious about where I will go. Either way, I have time.

I don’t bother going down to the security room or the labs, since they hold nothing I want. Instead, I move to the elevator and press the button. It opens. Once inside, I look at the cameras and grin. It wouldn’t surprise me if Father was watching as another test.

Determined to find something before he cuts me off, I jump and catch the ceiling tile. Pressing my feet to the wall, I push up and slide it to the side, and then I swing up into the elevator shaft, hoping there are no cameras. There’s no way out that I can see. The cables for the elevator go all the way up, but there is only darkness. However, there are metal beams to the left and they go down, so I leap onto one. Ignoring the pulling in my stomach, I begin to climb down. I really hope the elevator doesn’t move and crush me while I’m doing this. I have to walk across to the end of one beam. There’s a gap where the elevator goes and then the door. Judging the distance, I step back and leap, catching the lip and forcing the door open. The weight makes me sweat, but I manage to get it open far enough for me to roll through and out onto another floor.

This one seems empty, and even the lights are off until I step farther in and they flicker on. The first two doors are locked, but I peer through their windows to see sheet-covered objects inside, clearly not in use.

Worried I won’t find anything, I hurry down the corridor. I need to find a weakness to make this worthwhile. The farther I go in the corridor, the weirder this floor gets. There are no labs, bedrooms, or experimentation rooms that I can see, but at the end of the corridor, there is a huge glass window, and a terrible feeling starts deep inside of me.

Flashbacks of a similar window, of a dead kid in the middle of a blood-soaked experimentation room fill my vision. The guys were with me then, so I had their support. I was on the right side, and I had the power to stop it. Still, I am fearful of what I will find, but fear won’t stop it from happening or make it better. Burying my head and pretending I don’t see anything won’t stop the truth. It just makes me weak, and I refuse to be weak.

On slow, unsure feet, I step closer to the glass, alarm bells screaming in my head, but I ignore them. I ignore it all. I am so focused on the glass that I don’t even notice anyone else is here until a hand catches my arm.

I react on instinct, turning and smashing that person into the wall, snarling into the face of the man in the guard’s uniform. He has a hat pulled low over his face, but when I get a good look at him, I freeze. “Nico?” I whisper, unsure if I’m seeing things or if I’m high or finally dead.

“Hey, baby,” he murmurs, but he doesn’t touch me.

“Are you real?” I whisper, my arm still pressed to his throat, pinning him to the wall.

“I’m real, baby. I want to fucking touch you so badly to prove it, but if they see on the cameras, I’ll be useless and they’ll know who I am. I have a role to play, so make it real, baby, and knock me out or some shit.”

“No.” I start to back away, and he snarls.

“I’m not leaving you alone here, baby. We have a lot to talk about. The others are close, but right now you need to make this look real. Smash me in the balls and then I’ll escort you back.” His eyes are telling me to play along, while my heart is leaping in joy. I want to collapse into his arms, sob, and let him make this all better, but he’s right.

He winces. “Sorry. The guys are blowing up my ear trying to talk to you. She cannot fucking hear you, idiots,” he hisses.

I grin, ducking my head to hide it. Tears form in my eyes, but the longer I stand here, the weirder it looks. “Sorry, babe,” I whisper as I drive my knee up into his balls.

I step back, smirking like I’m happy as he crumples to the ground, cupping his cock and groaning. I want to help him, but I quickly step to the window like I’m worried about him stopping me. It’s all about appearances now. We were caught before, but we won’t be ever again.

Despite how angry and worried I am for what their presence means for my plan, I’m also relieved and happy that they came for me.

But that all fades when I get a look into that room.

Hundreds of bunk beds fill the room, with perfectly fitted white sheets and one single pillow. A lot of them are empty, while some have kids sitting atop them—kids of all ages, sizes, and races. Drawings are scattered on the walls, and some are even sketching now. One is reading in the corner, and one is asleep. Two are playing chess. I count fifteen altogether.

Fifteen innocent children are locked up in a gilded cage.

Is he experimenting on them?

Oh, God.

I cover my mouth as I look, my hand going to the window. They wear the same jumpsuits I do, but smaller. They seem clean and healthy, but that doesn’t mean anything. I know how looks can be deceiving.

A hand grips my arm.

Nico.

I feel him freezing next to me as he gets his first look in the room. “Fuck, we have a problem,” he mutters to the others.

“Nico!” I gasp in horror.

He shudders next to me, his grip tightening. “I know, baby, I see, but we have to get back. We’ll help them, I promise, but we can’t if we are caught.”

He’s right, I know he’s right, but I’m also a zombie as he leads me back to the elevator, knowing my father wanted me to see this. I feel overwhelmed, and sickness claws at my throat. The pain starts to seep back in a little, the bone-deep, soul-wrenching pain. I was so dumb to think he would stop now that he had me.

I was going to blow this place up, and they would have been killed. I’m so thankful something stopped me. Maybe deep down, I knew, but this changes everything.

“Nico,” I whisper in the elevator, and he tightens his hand, lowering his head so the camera can’t catch his lips.

“Not yet,” he snaps.

Knowing I’m pale and probably in shock, I let him drag me from the elevator.

A guard approaches. “Boss wants her back in her room.” He looks at me and smirks. “Saw what you wanted, did you?”

I was right. He let me find that.

It was all another game.

I simply stare through him, my brain overloaded.

He will do what he did to us to those kids.

I have to swallow back my vomit, but then I think fuck it and heave forward, spilling it on the other guard’s shoes. He yells and stumbles back.

“That’s my girl,” Nico mutters before tightening his grip. “I’ll take her back and remind her to behave.”

“You do that before I do,” the guard snarls. “Fucking animal. Make it hurt, but not where they can see, if you know what I mean.” He picks up his radio. “Turn off the cameras in her room. It’s time for payback.”

Payback, right. At least this works in our favour, but holy shit.

Nico smirks. “Thanks, man. Don’t want to get fired too quickly, you know?”

Without waiting, he drags me back down the corridor to my room. Once there, we both glance at the cameras before he looks at me. “Fuck it, let them catch me.” I’m in his arms in a minute. He turns me and presses me to the wall, his lips descending on mine. One hand comes up and rips out his earpiece, and he tosses it away—even I can hear shouting coming from it. Groaning, I grip his hat and rip it off, only to freeze at his shaved head. Pulling back, I gawk and he winces. I can see the worry there, so I rub my hand across it and grin.

“I like it. You look meaner,” I murmur.

“I’ve missed you so much, baby,” he says, dragging his lips across mine again as if he can’t decide if he’s going to kiss me or talk, so he does both. “So fucking much. I’m so angry at you for leaving, and when we blow this joint, I’m going to spend the rest of our lives proving it. But fuck, I’m so fucking happy to see you.”

“I missed you too,” I reply, but it cuts off as he kisses me again. I whimper when he pushes me back and my stomach protests. He pulls away immediately, dropping me.

“Nova,” he says, his voice shaking.

“It’s fine. I’m okay,” I promise, but I wince as the pain slowly trickles back in. Before I can grab my shirt, he pulls it up and hisses. He goes to rush out of the door, but I stop him.

“Breathe, big guy, and think smart. I promise I’m okay.”

“You have a massive fucking wound on your stomach, and you are covered in bruises. How is this okay?” he snarls. “I was so happy to see you, I didn’t even notice your hair or how skinny you look. Nova, I’m going to fucking kill them. Tell me who did this, or is it all of them? Either way, they are dead.” He rushes to the bed, picks up his earpiece, and puts it in. “Yeah, I’m here. Get in here, we are killing all of them.”

Laughing, I take the earpiece. Luckily, he lets me, clearly worried about fighting me. “Hi, guys,” I say nervously. It’s silent for a second, and then there’s a rush of voices all at once. Tears form in my eyes as I smile. “Okay, one at a time.”

Louis’s voice comes first. “What does he mean you’re hurt?”

“I’m okay, just a procedure. I’ll tell you later.” I worry then, eyeing Nico. They came after me, but what if they are too angry at me?

Even just looking at Nico reminds me of that night, the one that stained my soul.

Ana.

“Fuck, I missed you so much,” Jonas says.

“Talk more, I need to hear your voice,” Dimitri murmurs.

“Are you okay?” Isaac asks.

“Tell us everything,” Louis says before his voice softens. “We’ve missed you so much. We haven’t stopped looking, not even for a second, and after this, we will be sitting down to discuss you sacrificing yourself for us and the appropriate punishment.” I shiver from his tone and the promise in the words, and a spark of desire forms in me despite everything.

Sitting heavily on the bed, I sigh when Nico wraps himself around me, his big arms feeling like home. We don’t have long, we need to use the time wisely, but I ache to hear their voices too. Seeing him and hearing them made it all real, and I just want them here with me, but that’s foolish.

“Before I forget, there’s a hole in the cupboard on this level. It leads to the ducts beyond to get in and out. I blew it a few days ago. I turned the cameras to avoid it and I will make sure to note some access points.”

“Clever fucking girl,” Dimitri purrs.

“I dropped a bug so Dimitri could access their systems and give us control,” Nico explains, making me nod. Of course they did. Of course they planned.

“Louis, there are kids here. Whatever you have planned, it has to change, okay? They come first. We need to save them.”

“Nova—”

“No, they come first, promise me. I can live with pain or staying longer or being punished by them, but I can’t live with knowing kids are being hurt or worse. Promise me.”

“I promise,” he responds reluctantly, and I slump in relief.

“We don’t have long.” I grip Nico tighter, not wanting to let go. “It’s not usual for them to punish me like this, and if Father finds out, he won’t be happy, even if he will let it happen. There’s a soldier here who survived the experiments. Avoid him at all costs. He’s good, very good, and completely on Father’s side.” I have so much to tell them, but some of it won’t even come out. I choke on my words. Right now, those kids have to be our first priority. “Whatever you have planned, I want in. I have access to the ducts through this bathroom, and I’m pretty sure they are watching me. Whatever timeline you have thought out needs to be moved up. He’s losing his patience with me, and I don’t know how much longer he will keep me alive when he can’t get what he wants.”

“What do you mean?” Isaac asks. “Are you okay?”

I hesitate, and Nico glances at the wound, a worried look in his eyes. “Baby, tell me they didn’t . . .”

“They wanted my kids,” I whisper before hardening my voice. “I stopped them from ever getting that from me.”

There’s silence then, and I wait with bated breath. Nico lifts his eyes, and I see so much pain there it staggers me. “I’m so sorry, Nova.” He grips me tighter, kissing my stomach. “I’m so sorry you had to do that. You’re so strong, baby. We’ll make them pay.”

“Nova,” Isaac whispers.

“Don’t, okay? Please.” I can’t afford to break down now. “I’m okay. I made a decision, one I can live with. I couldn’t live with knowing that they would use my body and my children for his gains. I would never let another go through what I did. I’ll probably break down after.” If I survive, not that I planned to, but I have a feeling they don’t want to hear that so I leave it out. “But for now, I need to be strong, okay? It’s the only way I’m getting through this.”

Luckily, Louis chimes in, giving me the escape I need. “Okay. Dimitri is accessing their system now. Nico, go back to guard duty and give us the information we need. We are coming, baby, just hold on, okay? Just a little bit longer. Then we will stop this bastard once and for all, and then I’m taking you home and never letting you out of my sight again.”

I swallow. “Louis, I need you to promise me.” My eyes are for Nico though. I know they will all fight me, but I need them to hear this. “If it’s between saving me and saving the kids, save the kids.”

Voices explode in my ear again, and Nico snarls, ready to fight me. “No. I mean it. We all make sacrifices. I will never forgive you if you choose me and they die. Promise me that they’ll come first and you will save them. I can’t—” I look away. “I cannot lose anyone else, so I need you to promise me this.”

There’s a moment of hesitation where I don’t think they will. “I promise, Nova.” He seems determined. “Nova, I’m sorry about An—”

“Don’t say her name,” I snap before I close my eyes. “Please, I can’t . . . I can’t, okay?”

“Of course, Nova,” Isaac says, his voice reassuring. “We are right here, okay? You’re not alone now.”

“We’re coming, baby, just hang on, and I will kill every last motherfucker in there for you,” Jonas adds. I can’t help but smile.

“I didn’t want you to come after me, you know?” I hear them responding angrily, so I quickly hurry on. “I didn’t want you to get caught or be in danger. I just wanted you to be happy, to find a life.”

“You are our life, and we can’t be happy without you,” Nico snaps. “Do not ever think otherwise. There is no us without you. Baby, where you go, we go. There is no happiness, no life, and no future without you. I would suffer a hundred years of torture and die a thousand times simply to be at your side. Live or die, we do it together.”

“He’s right. Before you, we were a team, then after you, we became a family, and you are the heart of our family, Nova. We cannot function without you. You beat for us, so don’t you even dare,” Louis warns. “Now give Nico the mic, baby, kiss him, promise him you’re okay so he doesn’t go off the rails and kill everyone for the marks on your body, and remind him we will do that together.”

“Yes, sir,” I tease, handing the mic back over. My spirits are lifted, and love for them runs through me, along with worry. Nico puts the earpiece back in and grunts at whatever they are saying.

“I’ve got to go, baby.”

Leaning forward, I cup his cheeks and kiss him soundly. “We will end this together. Louis is right. No killing anyone yet.”

“No promises,” he mutters, but I can tell he won’t risk me or the kids. Standing, he gives me one last lingering look before turning away, but panic winds through me.

Catching his hand, I tug him back. “Don’t you dare get caught or no one here is safe, do you understand me? I’ll kill them if they so much as think about hurting you.”

“Back at you, baby,” he murmurs, kissing me hard before hurrying out the door like he doesn’t trust himself to stay.

I’m alone once more, knowing they are out there. They are close, and that gives me hope.

It gives me renewed determination.

This isn’t just about me or ending this or even the kids. It’s about keeping my lovers safe.

I will not lose anyone else.