Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“We have to leave,” Zach urged. “Holly is waiting for you. Once you talk to her, you’ll see that Abel’s Army isn’t what Major made it out to be.”
Tanner came into view, the display of a phone glowing in his hand. He searched the area around him until his eyes settled on me. In the distance I could hear the sound of helicopter blades.
“Tessa, quick!” Zach hissed.
I gave Devon a pleading look. I needed to do this. I had to find out if it was true. If a family had been waiting for me all those years, if everything I knew about Abel was nothing more than a web of carefully constructed lies.
Devon gripped my hand and gave a nod. “Okay. I’ll come with you.” He glowered at my brother. “But I want answers. I want to know what really happened in Livingston. You had spies there. You must know more than you’ve let on.”
Zach glanced at Tanner who was now joined by Kate; she had a wound on her forehead that was dripping blood over her left eye.
“I’ll answer all your questions,” Zach assured Devon. “But we need to go. Now.”
Before I left, my eyes were drawn to the stairs. I hoped Penny was taking care of my mother. I wasn’t sure if Zach knew about our mother being here.
Tanner was stumbling over the remains of the aquarium to get toward us. “Devon, Tessa, don’t!” he shouted, despair ringing out in his voice.
Guilt stabbed through me. I knew I was betraying the FEA, but they’d made their choice and I’d made mine. I’d been longing for this all my life; for a family to call my own. Even Devon couldn’t possibly understand how strong my desire for parents like his was. And now I had the chance to live my dream. No matter the risk, I would never forgive myself if I let it slip through my fingers. And it was my only way to get to Holly. Devon and I followed Zach past the remains of the aquarium.
“Tessa, don’t!” Tanner tried again, but I didn’t stop. Zach led us into the narrow hallway between the bar and the parking lot. Neither Finja nor Benny were in their spots. But Jago was there, peering outside.
“Two helicopters on the way. They’ll land in a couple of minutes. We don’t have much time.”
“Get my sister away from here,” Zach ordered. My body filled with warmth when he called me sister. He pulled me into a quick hug. “Jago will bring you to safety.”
“But what about you and Devon?” I asked in panic as I heard the first helicopter touch down. Before Zach could answer, Jago had gripped my arm and I felt like my body was split in two.
My surroundings started slipping away and my hand was ripped from Devon’s. His face distorted, worry still etched into it. Then my vision started to blur.
The ripping sensation was worse than anything I’d ever felt before, but then it suddenly stopped and I landed on black leather seats. My vision was still blurry and my stomach felt upside down. I pressed my eyes together and waited a few seconds before I dared to open them again. Jago sat beside me. He didn’t seem disoriented in the least but his face had paled and red blotches dotted his cheeks and neck. A myriad of pale freckles dusted his nose. Close up, I realized with a start that he wasn’t much older than me. His light red hair was plastered to his sweaty forehead. He leaned forward, perching between the front seats to talk to the driver.
“Drive! I’ll go pick up Zach.”
“What about Devon?” I asked, but Jago disappeared from my side without another word. Hadn’t he heard what I’d said?
I tried to catch a glimpse at the man behind the steering wheel, but I was thrown back into my seat as he floored the gas pedal and the car shot forward. I glanced out of the window, clutching the seats to stay in place. Outside the car was an unfamiliar street and a big motel sign which bathed me in a pink glow. This wasn’t the bar parking lot.
“Where are we?”
“A few blocks from the bar,” the man replied. “Jago transported you here.” He had a gruff voice, like a few too many cigarettes had taken their toll. It reminded me of a voice I had heard before.
“Why didn’t Jago take me to Abel?”
“Because that might kill him. He can transport himself over long distances, but not a second person. For a double transport to work, he has to be within a mile, better yet, in view of the object.” He shook his head. His hair was black and curly, and his skin very dark.
“Who are you?” I asked, more to distract myself than anything else.