Page 87 of Land of Shadow

The emotions inside me are soaring in a million different directions. Fiery and fearful, elated and terrified. The fact that any of the people here—let alone all of them—are willing to stand up for me, might be what finally breaks me.

“Wyatt, you’re not fighting anyone.” Gretchen’s tone is calm. “Georgia, can you call your sister? Tell her you want to stay?” As always, she’s the voice of reason.

“I, yeah, I think I can.” I stand and scoot past Evie. “But I’ll have to use my cell. Hang on.”

“No sudden moves, dude.” Wyatt shakes out his hands. “I’m a grappler. I’ll take you to the mat if I have to. You’ll be tapping out in no time.”

The major simply watches, taking everything in. I would wonder what he’s thinking, but I find that I don’t give a shit. He showed up late to my execution. If I had to rely on him, I’d be dead.

I hurry to my nightstand and pull out my phone. “I don’t know if she’ll answer.” Fuck, I hate just saying it out loud.

I dial and put the phone to my ear. After two rings, Fatima answers. “Georgia? Is that you?”

“Yes. Where’s Juno?”

The phone gets muffled, as if Fatima’s pressing it to her clothes and walking.

“Fatima?”

“Georgia?” Juno’s voice, the tenor of it frantic. “Georgia, are you okay?”

“Yes, but?—”

“Oh my god.” Her voice breaks. “I thought … I thought … Georgia.” She sobs. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Juno!” I snap far more angrily than I intend. “Listen to me. There’s a major here, and he’s trying to take me away from the lab. Tell him I can stay.”

“You can’t.” Juno sniffs hard. “You can’t stay there. It’s not safe.”

“It’s not safe anywhere, but here is where I can do the most good.”

“No.” Her voice has that familiar iron in it now. “I never should’ve brought you here. I have a secret location for you. I’ve been working on it ever since?—”

“Ever since what?” Something rattles inside me, like the lid of the box where I hide everything I don’t want to think about. Things about Juno, about what got us here. “Ever since you sold me out to the v?—”

“Don’t!” she yells so loudly I have to hold the phone away from my ear. “Georgia, please. Please don’t.” Her voice quiets, shaking now. “Don’t say anything.They’re listening,” she hisses.

“Tell the major to leave.”

“Georgia, if?—”

“Tell him!” I’m too overwhelmed, too damn mixed up after what happened in the atrium. I can’t be her little sister right now. I can’t give in and follow whatever she says like I’ve done for most of my life. “I’m not leaving. The only way is if he drags me out of here by the hair, kicking and screaming.”

The line is silent.

I take a deep, shuddering breath. “You owe me this, Juno. Let me have it.”

“I owe you more than this. So much more.” She sounds tired now, beaten. “Hand the phone to Major Barker.”

I take him the phone, and he handles it like it’s a live grenade.

The others crowd around me, forming a new wall as Major Barker mutters a few “yes ma’ams” and “I understands” before ending the call.

He hands the phone to Evie.

“Well? What’s it gonna be?” Wyatt’s fists are up again.

“My men will establish a wider perimeter outside the DC safe zone. Anyone entering the area without authorization will be shot on sight, no exceptions.” He speaks directly to me, his stony gaze unwavering. “You will be safe here. All of you. You have my word on that.”

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