Page 89

I nodded again, not trusting myself to speak. We sat in silence, watching Claire sleep.

“You have to go,” Ayanna told me, and her voice made it clear that saying it was painful. It surprised me a little, if only because she’d always been reluctant to let us leave before. “If there’s a chance she can be treated at home, then you have to go. Kimmy, too. I’d give you a vehicle, but one of them got totaled, and we can’t spare another.”

I waved that away. “Doubt I’d know how to drive one of those things anyway. My truck at home is pretty basic.”

“We’ll give you what we can. But I think your time here is coming to an end. You did what I asked of you, even when it seemed impossible. I want to thank you for everything you’ve done.”

I let out a long breath. “I just hope it wasn’t for nothing.”

She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “Do you know why we’re called the White Rose?” When I shook my head, she went on. “Because my mother loved them. She told me that in the Old World, white roses symbolized purity in the face of evil, and resistance to oppression and violence. I’ve never forgotten it.”

She stopped to clear her throat; talking about her mother was obviously a sore spot. I wondered what had happened to her.

“You helped us when few others would’ve,” Ayanna continued. “Your efforts won’t go to waste. With Julius gone, it’ll be much easier to rebuild. We’ve already had a huge number of soldiers defect and join us just today, based on Claire’s speech and the video she showed—including that bodyguard of hers. I’m hopeful for the future.”

“And what about the Order?” I asked, my voice hollow. “They’re way stronger than you thought.”

“Yes,” she admitted. “But with the collapse of the Delta’s military, we have more people to help us than ever. All we can do is hope it’s enough. In any case, you still have to go. With the Order now freely roaming the streets, it’s not safe for Claire to be here anyway.”

Kimmy approached us with her medical kit to do her hourly check on Claire. She froze at the sight of Ayanna sitting with us, and at the sad smile Ayanna gave her.

“What’s going on?” Kimmy asked slowly, looking back and forth between us.

I inhaled sharply, decision made. “We’re bringing Claire home.”

Kimmy opened her mouth to speak, but Ayanna cut in.

“The hospital is heavily blockaded, Kim. It’ll take us days—at minimum—to break their hold on it. Probably longer.”

Kimmy’s eyes got misty, but she nodded. “I think you’re right. I just—I’m worried. It’s a long trip for someone as injured as her.”

Ayanna stood and walked to her, and I was surprised when she took Kimmy into her arms.

“It is,” Ayanna murmured, in a way that felt way too intimate for an audience. “All things are a risk. But this is her best chance. So, you should go. All of you.”

She leaned down and kissed Kimmy, softly and sweetly. “I’ll miss having you with me. But you don’t belong here, either. You’ve earned the right to go home.”

Kimmy’s tears spilled over, and I was surprised when she threw her arms around Ayanna’s neck and kissed her again, deeper and more passionately this time. I cleared my throat and looked away, trying to give them privacy in a place with none.

Claire stirred a little in her sleep, and I smiled. She’d be thrilled for Kimmy.

If she survived this.

Chapter 31

John

At dawn, despite my injured shoulder, I carried Claire through the tunnel and out of the compound. Ayanna must’ve told Hamilton we were leaving, because he met us at the tunnel to say goodbye to Claire.

“Andrew,” she murmured, still sleepy, “what—what about your niece? If the hospital—”

She winced in pain and didn’t go on, but he seemed to understand what she was asking.

“I don’t know,” Hamilton said, sounding strained. “It’s been chaos, and there’s no way to get to her right now. I can only hope.” He ran a hand through his cropped hair. “But don’t worry about me. We’ll be fine here without you. I’m sorry that you ended up mixed up in all this. Sorry I ever saw you on that beach.”

A muscle jumped in my jaw; I hadn’t realized Hamilton had been one of the people who abducted her. But Claire gave a weak smile and thanked him, so I let it go. With any luck, we’d never see him again anyway.

Once we made it outside the compound, we saddled up with bags packed with spare food and supplies that Ayanna gave us, and I mounted Ghost with Claire riding in front of me. Her body was limp against mine; she was too weak to hold herself up. I’d fashioned a harness out of rope, tied under our arms, securing her to me to stop her from falling off the horse. Her head lolled back against my collarbone, and she drifted quietly in and out of consciousness as we rode. Mostly out.