Page 19 of Ember Rising
“That’s how we end every meeting,” Eli says.
He looks at the doorway, waiting until the last person has walked out and closed it before speaking again.
“I’m really glad you guys decided to join,” he says, looking at the side of the table most of us are sitting on. “All of you come with knowledge and relationships that can help us win this thing.”
Briar has inside details on Lochlan Murphy and his home. Marcus was part of the group Whitman created to engineer the virus that accidentally escaped the lab and also experiments on people, plants and animals to give him an edge. And Pax’s father is the second-in-command of New America now. I don’t bring anything extra to the table, other than having the advantage of aromium.
“Pax, are you willing to use your access to your father to help us?” Eli asks.
Pax’s expression clouds. “I’m not just willing— I want to make him pay. Whatever you need me to do, I’m in.”
Eli’s brow furrows with uncertainty. “Are you sure? It’s easier to say that now, but when you’re face to face with him, will you feel the same way?”
He scoffs. “I’ll feel even stronger about it. He took everything from me.”
Interesting. I didn’t know Pax felt that way about his father. I wonder what he means when he says his father took everything from him.
“Okay,” Eli says. “In that case—”
Pax interrupts him. “I won’t do anything to hurt my mom, though.”
“We wouldn’t ask you to directly hurt either of them. Your mother isn’t on our target list. I want to be clear, though—the people on our list aren’t arrested and tried. We don’t have that luxury. If we don’t eliminate the leaders, they’ll still be a threat.”
“If you need me to, I’ll pull the trigger myself, on my dad. I don’t care if I go down with him.”
His tone is cold; savage, even. I’ve never seen this side of Pax, who is normally lighthearted. Briar has seen his darker side, though, so I know it exists.
Eli clears his throat, still looking at Pax. “We’re sending you north to train with one of our operatives. After that, your assignment will take you to Carson City. Olin will be leaving here with you.”
Pax glances at Olin. “Is he my babysitter?”
Olin shakes his head. “We’re on the same side. And you could squash me like a bug.”
“We like to work in pairs when we can,” Eli says. “And normally, conversations about your assignments wouldn’t happen in a group setting like this. I know you’re all close and concerned about each other, so we made an exception and we’re letting you all in on where everyone’s going. But it’s not to be shared outside this room.”
Pairs. I wonder if Marcus will be assigned with me and Briar. She’ll be devastated if the ILF separates them.
“Marcus and Briar, you’re going to Carson City,” Eli says. “You’ll be trying to make contact with Mae Murphy and turn her.”
Briar’s lips part with surprise. “Mae Hollis. And I’m going to rescue her, not get her to risk her life to get you information. Do you know what Lochlan will do to her if he catches her?”
Eli’s expression stays neutral, like he expected this reaction. I don’t let it show, but inside, I’m reeling. This is how an animal that just got caught in a snare feels.
They don’t want me to stay with Briar. It’s the worst-case scenario I was dreading.
“The first step is making contact with her,” Eli says. “You won’t be able to whisk her away. She has two children.”
“Two?”
A sick sensation rolls through me. Briar endured Lochlan Murphy’s assaults, but she was secretly taking birth control so she’d never get pregnant. Her sister wasn’t as fortunate, and I know Briar feels a lot of guilt. She thinks Murphy took her sister as his wife after Briar was sent to the island as another punishment to Briar.
Briar is crying quietly, a hand over her eyes. Marcus puts an arm around her shoulders, glaring at Eli.
“Not a great way to break that news,” Marcus says.
“Our goals are the same,” Eli says, unruffled. “We want Lochlan Murphy dead and Mae and her children freed.”
“What’s your plan, then?” Marcus asks.
