God, if I have to listen to musac one more time... Well, Rachel wasn’t sure what she’d do, but it wouldn’t be healthy for her or the Order, that much was certain.
Rolling to her side, Rachel faced the wall of her bedroom cell as she let her tears of frustration and self-pity roll down her cheeks and nose. It was so hard to keep going since nothing had changed. Nothing would ever change. She’d live out the rest of her lonely days stuck down here in the basement, far from everyone.
Forgotten.
Ignored.
Unwanted.
She couldn’t do this anymore. Just as soon as she had the energy, she’d find something sharp and…
And…
Well, death was preferable to this… this… limbo life she was living.
There was a knock at her door. Rachel ignored it. The knock-ie rapped again before entering. The rattle of a cafeteria tray announced her visitor’s intention without any investigative effort expended on her part. Rachel sniffed, and her stomach roiled. The food smelled foul. She covered her nose with her hand and tried to breath shallowly.
Thank God and the Heavenly bodies, she wasn’t hungry.
An hour later, someone returned for her untouched meal. Rachel kept her eyes shut, willing herself to sleep, and perchance, to never wake up.
Rachel jerked awake sometime later, curious as to why.
After a moment of silence, the door creaked open.
Ahh, a knock then. Rachel closed her eyes. Whoever it was could go fuck a duck for all she cared. She wasn’t in the mood to entertain visitors.
Someone approached her bed. Their steps a whisper on the carpet. “Go away,” she mumbled.
“Good. You’re awake.”
Adam?
The mattress dipped as Adam sat beside her. His fingertips brushed the hair from her face. He tucked the strands behind her ear. Rachel refused to respond. He could go to hell. It was because of him that she was here. She’d lost everything: her family, her friends, her job, her freedom... Her life was in shambles because of Adam, and— She took a deep breath, and let the anger wash over her and fade away, leaving only lassitude behind.
“Sit up Rachel. Talk to me.”
She opened one eye and grumbled, “Why?”
Silence stretched between them. Adam’s expression was hard to read, but he seemed—sad. Pity? She didn’t need his pity on top of everything else. “What?” she asked in annoyance. Adam opened, then closed his mouth. With a sigh of frustration and beyond weary, Rachel returned to the darkness behind her eyelids. “If you have nothing to say…”
I will not cry.
“Rachel, I—”
She cut him off, her voice wavering, “Just go away.”
“No,” he said. “They tell me you haven’t eaten in at least three days.”
Three? Had it been that long? She shrugged, hoping it would be enough to get him to stop speaking and to go away.
It wasn’t.
“You need to eat. I need you strong.”
“Fine.”
“Rachel…”
Oh, for the love of Pete… “What? I said I’d eat!”
“I’m going to Istanbul.”
Rachel sat up so fast the world spun as the blood rushed from her head. “Istanbul?”
“For a hearing.” He nodded. “I’ve been summoned by the Supreme Commander of the Order. You have been as well. As a witness.”
“Witness? A witness to what? Why? What for?” she asked.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “My actions in St. Louis.”
She frowned and shook her head, “The fight in your loft?” Adam nodded. “That was self-defense,” Rachel said. “Why would they investigate you about that?”
“Well, the attack by the Org is a part of it but not the whole reason.” He took a deep breath before continuing, “You, Rachel. You are the reason I am being investigated.”
“Me? Why me?” She’d done nothing in that loft but hide in the closet and fear for her life.
“Because, I have yet to follow any rules where you are concerned, and especially not that night. And the one time I try—”
“Yeah,” Rachel snarked, cutting him off. “You expected to do something you’d regret.” Not that anything had come of the kiss they’d shared the night before her capture.
Adam winced. “Rachel, I had to keep you at a distance. If we’d crossed that line, Isaac would have sent you away, but now that you’re are not my trainee anymore, I can formally petition Istanbul.”
She didn’t understand. “What do you mean, petition?”
Adam took a steadying breath, as if bracing himself for a fight. “Historically, the Order has always encouraged its members to look for partners inside our own ranks. It’s easier for everyone and, in some cases, allows lineage families to endure. Occasionally though, one of us will meet someone outside the Order.” He paused and frowned. Rachel stared at him, willing him to continue. She wasn’t sure what he meant to say, but she felt as if she were finally getting some answers. He gave her a tight smile. “Although one-night stands can be overlooked—usually—they are frowned upon. It’s not practical to get involved with a civilian. That’s why… At first, I… I couldn’t—”
“I see,” Rachel replied flatly. She didn’t, though. She simply hoped this wasn’t some convoluted way for him to reject her again.
Adam stood and paced the small room. His hands rubbed his forearms and Rachel noticed his missing bracer. “Arranged marriages are quite common, especially for Hashashin, but before any member can enter a relationship with someone outside of the Order’s ranks, he or she must first formally ask Istanbul for permission. Once the petition has been accepted, we are free to proceed.”
He stopped to face her, hands at his side, and chuckled softly. “Don’t you see? Darius knew me better than I knew myself.”
Adam crossed his arms over his chest and resumed pacing. “He preemptively recruited you even though he knew it was a breach of protocol. As you know, normally, you would have been made a permanent ‘guest’ of the Order,” Adam paused to glance at her over his shoulder. “but that would have meant I could never see you again. Ever. Somehow Darius knew I’d break every rule to get back to you.” Adam sighed and sent her a tense smile.
“It took me some time to understand Darius’s reasoning behind your recruitment. But, somehow, he knew what you meant to me—though I don’t know how, since I didn’t know myself—and now I am planning on petitioning—”
“Wait a minute,” Rachel interrupted as she leapt to her feet. “Let me make sure I get this straight. Now that you’ve decided that I would be good relationship material and not a fast fuck”—Adam frowned, but Rachel plowed on—”you’re planning to ask what? For my hand in marriage?” She gritted her teeth. She was furious, absolutely seething, “And when exactly did you plan to ask me how I felt about this? If I even still wanted a relationship with you?”
“Rachel—” he started.
“Don’t ‘Rachel’ me, dammit!” She sniffed, fearing her tears would overflow, “Do I get to choose anything in my life anymore? Or is it all laid out for me by you and whoever is my keeper at the time? Do I have any say in this at all?”
Adam shook his head, throwing his hands up in a placating manner. “That’s not what I meant. I…” His fingers found and fisted in his hair, yanking. “Siktir! This is not going the way I planned.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” Rachel growled. His arms dropped to his sides as she crossed hers over her chest before curling into herself.
They were quiet for several beats. Eventually, Adam reached for her, but she took a step back. He sighed and continued. “I’m sorry, Rachel. For everything. I was planning on discussing this with you first, but things... got in the way.”
She hmphed, not ready to let go of her anger yet. Anger was good, a lot better than her earlier apathy. For the first time in weeks—ever since being locked up down here without so much as an apology—she felt alive again.
“Isaac plans to send me away as soon as Zach is given the all clear by Dr. Campbell. I can choose where to go—as long as it isn’t St. Louis or London—but I cannot refuse the reassignment.” Adam hesitated. “Where ever I go, I want you with me. If you’re willing.”
Silence reigned in the wake of his statement, growing awkward and fragile, but Rachel didn’t know what to say.
“Are you willing?” he asked, his voice small, unsure, and a total opposite of his normally confident swagger.
Rachel sighed and nodded. “Yes.” There was never any doubt that was what she wanted. Only, the lack of forming her own decisions held her back.
A true smile formed on his lips, and his posture firmed as his confidence returned. “There is a bright side to all of this.”
“What?”
“You get to see Istanbul and the Fortress. I hope you love the architecture and ambiance of the place. It is the most secure location of all our compounds, and from the outside, it looks like ancient ruins. But inside... Inside is full of priceless art, history, and secrets. It’s remarkable, and I’m glad you will get to see it.”
Rachel tried to smile at his enthusiasm. Her heart ached. “Did you work there?”
“I was born there, trained there, and lived there for many years until my reassignment to London. It is home as no other place can be and it will be nice to see Cass again.”
“Cass?” Bitterness coated her throat. Who was Cass? An old girlfriend?
Adam nodded and returned to the bed. He patted a spot next to him, inviting her to sit. When she did, he continued, “Cass, Cassandra Haddad-Davis, is my sister.”
His sister.
Relief made her muscles weak.
“She lives there with her husband, Geoff, and her two sons, Ean and Caleb. She is a sympathetic ear for agents or Hashashin in need.” He sighed a soft, happy, sound. “We—Isaac, Cass, and I—haven’t been all together in one place for a long time. She’ll host a family dinner and you’ll come. You’ll like her. You’ll see.”
If Cass was anything like Isaac, then Rachel wasn’t so sure, but she would withhold judgment until she met the woman.
Adam cupped her cheek with his hand. His thumb brushed her lips and Rachel’s breath quickened. Was he about to kiss her? Did she even want a kiss? “You need to... Keep strong. Eat. Drink. Take care of yourself, like bathing regularly and exercise, and I’ll keep working on Isaac. Trust me. This will be over soon,” he said before dropping his hand to his lap. “You will be free. And I promise to do better at including you in all decisions which affect you.”
Rachel nodded. “Okay. Sure.”
Adam stood and moved to the door and Rachel followed, pausing when he did. Adam’s brows furrowed. He shed the expression with a minute shake of his head and leaned in, dropping a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll see you soon, Rachel.” She nodded again as he slipped out the door, shutting it tight behind him.
Comments (2)
See all