Into the Fire (Flame in the Shadows Trilogy #1)

22. Mel

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

MEL

Horror freezes my blood.

They shot him!

The way he’s lying there, so still. Our bulletproof vests are far from perfect…

A ferocious, agonized scream claws its way up my throat, hot tears streaking down my cheeks.

I’ll tear their limbs from their joints, I’ll rip out their throats, I’ll gouge their eyes from their sockets!

Yowling madly, I sprint at the guards. I’m on the nearest one before they look my way.

We fly back into the same wrecked shelf Tommy struck. The momentum of my attack carries me too far, and I roll off the murderer as we hit the floor. Adrenaline burns in my veins, bringing everything into sharp focus, including the gun now clattering away across the floor, jolted from the guard’s limp hand when we fell.

I lunge for it.

“Don’t move.”

Stretched out on my belly, I turn my masked face up. The second guard towers over me, his features swathed in shadow.

Is this it?

I wait for fear, but I feel nothing. Because of me, Tommy’s … he’s…

My heart shatters into a thousand razor-sharp pieces. The shards scrape. Tear. They rend my soul to bits. They shred my sanity to nothing.

I grab my head, an animalistic, keening wail ripping from my lungs. Through streaming eyes, I watch the disarmed guard retrieve his gun, both attackers studying my grief, their weapons trained on me. Behind them, a shadow crawls on the floor. Struggles to rise.

Dark and dangerous and beautiful beyond imagination.

I can’t control the sobs that choke out of me now. The guards glance at each other, then back at me as Tommy inches forward.

I need to keep their attention.

Mustering all my strength, I push up to my knees, spit a vehement “fuck you”, and flip them off with both hands.

The beefier one raises the butt of his gun, his lip curling as he steps forward. “You little?—”

Tommy’s on him, wresting the gun from the man’s grip as he simultaneously sweeps the feet out from under the second guard, who crashes to the floor.

I throw myself at the downed guard, making a swipe for his outstretched arm, for the weapon in his hand. Next thing I know, I’m on my back, the guard’s heavy weight crushing my hips, his gun pointed straight between my eyes.

My pulse thunders as I stare down the barrel. Death stares back.

Thunk.

The man slumps sideways, knocked senseless by the butt of Tommy’s pistol. I release a shuddering breath.

“We have to move,” Tommy grates out.

Not dead. Not dead.

Uncontrollable tremors roll through my body. I try to speak, but the words are warped, senseless. I can’t spit them out past my chattering teeth.

Kneeling next to me, Tommy takes my hands in his. His green eyes are glazed, his breath coming in shallow pants. “Focus.”

I drag in a deep breath. Another.

I can’t believe he’s okay. I can’t believe it.

With a sob, I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his neck. “I thought … I thought…”

Tommy rubs my shoulders. “Shh. I’m fine. I promise. But we have to get out of here. We don’t have time to waste.”

It’s hard to pull away, when all I want is to feel Tommy’s heartbeat, to breathe in his woodsy scent and reassure myself he’s alive.

For now.

We might have survived this fight, but we’re still deep within Levett’s campus. We need to move.

I’m slowing us down.

“Let’s go,” I murmur.

“Follow me.” Tommy takes my hand, and we thread our way around the bodies on the floor.

Out in the hall, he picks up the pace. Seeing him switch his earpiece back on, I follow suit.

“What’s the layout?” he says shortly.

Several relieved voices sing his name.

“Don’t ever do something like that again, either of you,” Lisa snaps.

I wince. By making the choices I did, I almost cost Tommy his life.

We race down the stairs, Lisa chirping in our ears. “Police will arrive in less than two minutes. No remaining guards on-site.”

Hunter curses. “You took out all ten?”

“Beat that,” Tommy says dryly.

Hunter barks a laugh.

“Can it, you two. Tommy, Mel, I want you out of there ASAP. The team will wait at the car. One minute.”

“We’re on our way.”

Tommy shoves through the back door, then we’re sprinting across the quad, our hoods flopping against our shoulders. Sirens wail from the street.

“Fence still disabled,” Lisa reports.

“Don’t slow,” Tommy tells me. “Up and over, right away.”

I scramble up the fence, Tommy hot on my tail. On the other side, he grabs my hand again and drags me into the trees. I stagger behind him, far too loud. I can’t help it. My legs are numb.

The sirens blare closer.

As the light from campus fades, I trip along worse than ever. Tommy slows.

“Quieter. And faster.”

“I can’t see.”

“They’ll find us.”

I stare into the dark. Even though I feel his hand in mine, I can’t see him.

“Tommy, I-I can’t?—”

“Now, Mel.”

Without waiting for my reply, Tommy yanks me forward. I sprint after him, clinging on for dear life.

Horrible pictures flash through my head as we run. The guards’ throats grinning scarlet as they fall. The mist of blood hanging in the air. Tommy dropping to the floor. The barrel of the loaded gun, inches from my face.

Hideous fear edged with hysteria closes in. I see enemies all around, shifting in the black woods. Everything looks the same, feels the same, and it’s like we’ve been running for hours, maybe forever, without getting anywhere, Levett Tech a ravenous monster at our backs.

Suddenly, we explode onto the moonlit dirt road, about thirty feet from the Veloster. Its door is thrown open as Tommy wrenches me forward and shoves me into the back. He climbs in after, and we’re bumping away.

When we hit the freeway, my tears return full force. Shivering, I cringe into Tommy’s side. His arms wrap around me, holding me close while I cry.

“How is Cait?” he asks over my head.

Hunter answers from my other side. “She’ll be fine. Damn, but she can fight. I had no choice.”

Confused, I glance toward the front of the car. Vik’s driving, not Cait. Cait’s blond head lolls in the passenger seat. She’s unconscious.

Time stretches and warps. I cry myself out, then stare numbly at the back of Cait’s head. At long last, we pull into the cavernous garage, where a small knot of people waits to welcome us.

Lisa, eyes steely. Bill and Jess Accetta, rushing toward the car. Aaliyah Young, the dark-haired doctor, with a med kit. Sam, drawn and pale, brown hair sticking up in every direction, hovering behind her.

Vik parks and the others climb out of the car. A heavy fog presses down on me like a thick blanket.

Gently, Tommy pushes me away. I grab his wrist.

“Are you okay?” Tommy’s gaze is soft.

Brain chugging along too slowly, I can only stare at him.

Hands pull Cait from the front of the car. Bill cradles her in his strong arms while Jess fusses over her and Aaliyah tends to the wound on her head. For a moment, I’m intensely jealous.

Cait is loved. If she doesn’t come home, she’ll be mourned. Deeply.

Not me. Who would care if I got hurt? Or died?

Only ghosts.

With a jolt, I remember the paper in my pocket. My only tenuous tie to my parents.

“I’m okay,” I rasp, releasing Tommy’s wrist.

He watches me for another second, beautiful eyes full of sympathy. Then he exits the car without a backward glance.

My excitement mounts as I slide out after him. Everyone’s crowded around Cait, everyone but Sam, who’s standing on his own, puffy eyes on Hunter. When he sees me, he dashes over and folds me into what is possibly the biggest hug of my life.

Tenderness fills my heart. This. This is who cares. Sam, who’s always been there, even in my worst moments. And Tommy, who went so far as to risk his life to save mine. They’re my family now.

I hold Sam tight. His warmth radiates out through the tips of my fingers and toes.

“Don’t you ever do something like that, ever again.” Sam’s words are thick. Pulling back, I’m stunned to see fresh tear tracks glittering on his cheeks.

My stomach twists. I’ll be forever grateful Tommy didn’t pay for my misstep with his life.

“I’m sorry,” I say earnestly. Despite the guilt, a smile slowly spreads across my face. “But it was worth it, in the end.”

Turning away, I stride toward the knot of people around Cait’s family. Lisa’s in the middle of reprimanding Tommy.

“…could have compromised the entire Resistance,” she barks, eyes blazing like hot coals.

“Um,” I interrupt.

Lisa falls silent. Turning, she glares at me with such potent fury I stumble back a step. “I’ll deal with you in a minute.”

Her words are so frightening I nearly shut up. But I think of all I went through tonight, all Tommy went through, and I square my shoulders instead.

“No. You’ll deal with me now.”

Both Tommy and Sam gawk, identical expressions of astonishment on their faces. Lisa’s nostrils flare. “Excuse me?”

With shaking fingers, I pull out the bill of lading. All eyes follow as I shove it at Lisa.

She takes it, smooths it against her thigh. Her eyes widen.

I can’t stop a broad smile from curling across my face as she stares, a glimmer of pride leaking through her shocked expression.

“This changes everything,” she whispers, and for the first time, I hear warmth in her voice. Gratitude. “With this information, we have a chance to save many lives. Thank you, Mel. We still have to discuss your actions tonight, but that can wait until tomorrow.”

Holding a hand out to me, Lisa grins, her eyes twinkling. The effect it has on her is unbelievable; she’s a different woman from the one I’ve known. Not cool and distant, but warm. Kind.

As I shake her hand, the others gather around, all except Bill and Hunter, who turn away, Cait still senseless in Bill’s arms.

They don’t matter. I beam at the smiling faces of the others, my heart filling until I think it might burst.

I’m one of them.

I belong.