“They don’t want to just clear opposition. They mean to repopulate the world. Make it stronger and defend what they take by force.” The words, incongruous on the lips of such a young girl, stilled the grief and anguish.

  Daniella pulled away and stared at LV. “What do you mean?”

  “We are taught that our generation will be stronger than the last. It’s our birthright. We are chosen, enhanced, and trained. Your kind is weak and unsuited to governing, particularly given your outburst. My kind will take and build. Create a whole new world. One suitable for those such as us. Then we’ll take to the stars and populate planets.”

  Daniella tugged away from Jonah and staggered to LV. “Why? I mean, there was no need for this kind of action. Why do you want to do this?”

  LV hugged herself, arms wrapped around her slight body, elbows and wrists shining white with pressure and strain. “It’s not what I want. None of this is about me. It’s what they taught us. But I don’t know how…” The child faltered, and Daniella felt her heart crack for a young girl, far more knowledgeable than any child should be in the art of war. “I don’t know how to be like you. Like any of you.”

  Daniella pulled the child into the room and closed the door. “What do you want, LV?”

  LV lifted miserable eyes to Daniella. “I want to be normal. I want to make friends. I want to be something different and do something that helps others. I don’t just want to grow up and have babies.”

  Daniella wrapped her arms around the child. LV held herself stiff, clearly unused to this sort of interaction. Daniella persisted. “Help us, LV. Let us help you.”

  A hiccup, loud and clear, echoed in the room as the child started to shake. “I… I don’t know how.”

  “Let’s start with your designation. We can get rid of it. We don’t use designations, but names. You need one. Let’s get rid of LV, and you can be something else. What about Liv?”

  The scalding dampness of tears soaked through Daniella’s clothes, and she stepped back, retaining hold of the girl’s hand.

  “Come on. Let’s do something now, Liv. Help me. We’ll send a message out. Tell people that—”

  “No!” the girl shouted and hurled herself out of Daniella’s grip.

  Confusion washed over her. “What? What’s wrong?”

  “You want to use me, like everyone else. You want me to go on camera and—”

  “No, Liv. She’s not aiming to use you. If you don’t want to do that, it’s fine. You don’t have to. The senator wants to help you. Let her find a way.” Jonah spoke quietly, and Daniella glanced at him, willing him to see the appreciation in her gaze.

  She turned her gaze back to the girl. “I don’t want to use you. I tell you what. I’m about to do a broadcast. You sit there, watch me. You don’t have to do or say anything, Liv.”

  The child shot a disbelieving look in her direction as Daniella turned, tugged on her official robe, and stood before the camera, hand extended so the remote would turn on the record function.

  “This is Senator Daniella Villede. This evening you were addressed by Senator Delspar. He calls himself Prime Senator, but that’s because he knows his position is not truly that of President of the Republic. What he’s proposing is merely Government Lite. There is no substance. The children roaming the streets in gangs are his to control. Whether he pulls strings or someone else, my people are investigating and coming closer every day.”

  She took a long breath her gaze sweeping over the destruction before she turned back and looked into the camera.

  “It is true that I’m in a secure location. As the last senior officer of the true republic, I have assumed the mantle of leadership, but though I am in a secure location, I am not so far away that I do not understand and feel the deprivations and fears of the ordinary people. My people are working tirelessly, seeking to overcome the tyranny being forced on you. Every day we grow closer to the point of resolution. Hold fast. Teach your children. Protect yours, because we will not give up until we are once again free.”

  She clicked the screen off and sucked in a deep breath.

  “Well done, senator. As far as gauntlets go, I think that one was a winner!”

  “I hope so, Jonah. I hope so.”

  * * * *

  The night closed in, and Jonah stripped his clothes off, then stepped into the shower cubicle. He felt grimy and gritty, as if the explosion in the office, the high tensions, Daniella’s fury and subsequent explosion had scoured his skin.

  He stepped beneath the stinging spray, letting it hit his body and scalp, washing away his cares. His eyes closed. What am I going to do with her?

  Michael was sure Daniella loved Jonah, then the outburst made him think that any hope he had there was smashed. His feelings confused him. He felt a deep attraction for the woman. It felt a lot like the word he was avoiding. She made him feel—he hunted for a word that he could stamp on his emotions, something that explained it all and clarified his fascination. He felt more. More than himself, more than fulfillment. Was this love?

  He jerked up a container of hair cleanser, squirted it into his hand, and the scent of wildflowers invaded his senses.

  “Dammit, wrong one.”

  “Well, not if you want to wash my hair.”

  The echo of her voice tantalized his whole being. Pulse rate suddenly spiking to the now-familiar rhythm he associated with physically wanting her. Jonah felt the slide of silken skin against his own as she joined him, wound her arms around his waist and held on.

  “Would you wash my hair, please?”

  He opened his eyes and glanced down, took up handfuls of golden tresses, the ones he’d slid his fingers into during times of sensual pleasure. The beat of arousal heating him through.

  “What do you want from me?” Jonah controlled the growl of self-reproach, wholly unsure where that request had come from.

  “I’m not sure what you’re asking, exactly, Jonah—but being with you? It makes me feel not just secure and wanted, but it also feeds my soul. I love you.”

  That rocked the last of his senses, and all that remained was to turn her in his arms. He slammed her body against his and crushed her lips with his own. Feasted on the bounty that was Daniella.

  His hands slid down her body, gripped her waist, and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as the hunger roared, met and found its mate in her eyes.

  “Fill me, Jonah. Make me whole. Love me.”

  He did, shoving himself deep within her, felt the glorious milking of her orgasm while her nipples scraped against his flesh.

  He kissed her, deep and starving, as if he’d not seen sustenance in so long. Their tongues danced as his fingers bit into soft flesh, hips flexing until she tore herself away, the cry echoing in his ears. The sensation of rhythmic clenching, and he let go, filled her with every drop of hunger inside himself.

  They stayed there, suspended as muscles cooled, then he released her so she slid down his body.

  “Jonah?” The lack of assurance in her voice tore at him. “We’re going to be okay, aren’t we?”

  Jonah took a moment, turning to cease the flow of water as he muddled through an answer to her question, then he sighed. “I hope so, Daniella. I really do.”

  Deep in his mind, he wondered if they had met as ordinary people and a relationship formed, how it would have worked out. Not the time, Jonah. He dismissed the thought and reached for a towel and folded it around her, then slung another about his hips.

  Chapter 19

  Daniella tugged at the bulletproof suit that covered her from head to toe. Jonah had refused to allow her to make this appearance without being swathed in the ballistic-stopping outfit.

  Heat radiated from the dark material, so she felt as if she were dripping buckets of perspiration. Dark clouds gathered above them as they rode into town in the back of an unmarked vehicle. Her earpiece squawked imperiously.

  “Once you’re there, follow every instruction given. If they move to pull you out, do as you’re told,” Jonah growled through the earpiece.

  McNally sat beside her, cradling her rifle, a snub-nosed piece of equipment that weighed very little but was highly effective. Or so Jonah had informed her.

  Her attention splintered as McNally thrust a similar rifle into her grasp. “Now remember, it has an immediate acquisition mode. Before you engage it, make sure it’s not one of us or a civilian. Depress the trigger—”

  “Slowly and respectfully. A sharp jerk could cause a misfire, and that leads to an opening for the bad guys. Got it,” Daniella finished the phrase McNally had drilled into her.

  McNally gave a small nod. “Okay, remember to stick close to me. Jonah is antsy enough that you’re going out of the base without him to protect you. Let’s make my job easy, yeah?”

  Daniella inhaled. “Of course. Me glue, you the thing I’m sticking to.”

  McNally loosed a tinkling laugh and settled back in her seat “She’ll do fine, Jonah. Daniella reminds me of myself on my first mission. Nerves controlled but not stupid enough to think it’s a walk in the park.”

  Daniella rolled her eyes as she heard Jonah swearing through the headphone. The vehicle jerked to a stop, and her grip tightened on the ML571 weapon.

  McNally thrust two more clips into her hand. “If we get separated, make your way to the old factory and make sure you engage your placer device now.”

  Daniella tapped the tiny bracelet that wound around her left wrist, activating the locater. If things went really bad, Jonah and a strike team were prepared to follow the tracker to her location. She just hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.

  The door at the rear of the vehicle opened. Daniella shrugged on the tiny backpack she’d carried with her from the base. The filming should only take a few minutes, then they’d make their getaway.

  Jonah had argued hard that it was a foolish risk to go to the site of the ruined Republic Assembly, but Daniella had countered that the people needed to see that she was there, on the ground. That she wasn’t dead. They would use this new vision of her as a device to encourage people to fight if hope was exhausted into the future.

  Her gaze took in the mounds of rubble. Several older people picked through the remains as she surreptitiously took up position by what remained of the entry to the public gallery. She dropped the bag on the ground, swept up the camera, and engaged the feed so it beamed live. Daniella hadn’t explained that part of her plan to Jonah. She was taking a huge risk but felt it was necessary.

  “I’m standing outside the remains of the Republic Assembly building. I need to share with you, the people of the republic, my horror and anger at what has passed. Delspar has indicated this was my doing. I’m going to say categorically right now, that’s not true.” Daniella lifted the visor of her helmet as McNally swore. “I know he’s made threats, and those who assist us face the full weight of his troops, but without your help, this form of martial law he’s imposing is all there will be. This is not what the republic was meant to be. Join us. Help us.”

  The roar of incoming vehicles captured her attention, and she quickly turned the camera off and stashed it in the bag as McNally hauled her away from the site of the earlier explosion.

  “We gotta get out of here now!”

  They hurried, stumbling over smashed masonry, feet pounding as they moved in the opposite direction of their vehicle. Daniella’s breath came in jerking pants. “Where… Where are we…going?”

  McNally didn’t answer, merely towed her into a dark alley. A door opened when McNally pushed on it, and they dashed within. “What the hell were you doing out there? You put us both in extreme danger. Jonah only agreed to this because you were going to tape then air later today.”

  McNally’s words scalded her, every word crashing into her with force. She shrank back. “I didn’t think they’d find us so quickly.”

  She genuinely hadn’t. Her calculations had led her to believe she’d have maybe another five minutes before Delspar’s people arrived. Her contacts hadn’t been aware of combatants hiding nearby.

  “I’m sorry. Jonah?” She tapped her finger to her earpiece, frowning as she realized that the connection had disappeared at some point she hadn’t noticed. “I can’t reach him.”

  McNally cursed. “They’ve probably got a blocker on it. We should get rid of these in case they can trace our transmissions.”

  McNally tugged her earpiece out and threw it to the floor before grabbing Daniella’s. Then she stomped them. Hard.

  They crackled as they smashed, and McNally snarled. “We can’t stay here. There’s a small tunnel in the building next door. It was used when this area was full of hotels and part of the access way for deliveries. If we can get there.” She sidled to the window, peeked through the curtain and let it drop back. “We’re surrounded. Upstairs now.”

  They pushed past a startled woman and scurried up the old, wooden staircase. Their feet were clattering as the banging started on the door. At the top, they shoved through a doorway and into a guestroom.

  McNally fished about in her pockets and tugged something out. “Okay, this is going to be quick and dirty. And dangerous. If we don’t get out of here though, they’ll have us.” She shoved the window open and fastened the tiny implement to the muzzle of her rifle while disengaging the clip. McNally aimed, and the projectile landed with a twang and a thud. “Swing your rifle over your shoulder. We can’t afford to lose it.”

  Daniella did as instructed. Meanwhile, McNally fumbled with the end of her rifle, lifting the tiny attachment with the long, thin metallic line and started securing it to the window.

  “Get your gloves on. This’ll cut your hands otherwise. And whatever you do, don’t look down. Treat it like one of those training exercises we’ve been doing.”

  Daniella slipped on the gloves and watched as McNally swung her feet through the window. They were at least five stories up and dread gathered. “But what if we—”

  “We don’t have time. Come on.”

  She followed McNally, arms quivering and her mind filled with terror as they slid over, gripping onto the cord. Hand over hand they moved, dangling in the air. Every movement felt like her arms were being ripped from their sockets. The sway of the line with each action sending another dart of dread through her.

  McNally crooned, “Follow me. We’re almost there. Eyes up,” until they reached the edge of the building. In a single, graceful move McNally grappled her way over the edge to safety.

  Daniella gripped the line. “I can’t.”

  McNally sighed, reached down, and hauled on the suit. It moved, and Daniella squeaked.

  “Almost there.”

  The woman tugged, her face scarlet with exertion as Daniella released one hand and gripped the overhang, her foot searching for purchase, and McNally towed Daniella over to safety. The need to flop down was pulled short as McNally grabbed the tiny, metal clamp and released the high tensile metallic cord. “Don’t want to make it too easy for them. Now come on!”

  Daniella hurried behind McNally, and they’d just rounded the corner of the stairs when they heard shouts behind them.

  “Help me!”

  As one, they crashed through the door, the wood rotten with age, and McNally called, “We’re going to have to move. Quickly now!”

  They ran, pelting down the stairs, one flight followed by another until they reached the basement, and once again, McNally pulled something from her belt. She inserted it into the lock, and it turned.

  They slid into the tunnel, and McNally closed the door, locking it with a loud click. “We need to hurry down here. It’ll bring us out by the factory.”

  They clattered down the tunnel, and the further they moved the louder the two women became.

  The tunnel led off in multiple directions. “Each of the hotels had their own entrance. We need to keep going straight ahead though.”

  Daniella’s heart raced in her chest, thudding as if it were going to jump out when McNally raised a hand and waited for silence. The gloom of the tunnels took on an eeriness now that their wild flight was over, and McNally turned off the tiny torch she wore.

  “What are we—” Daniella started to question, but McNally stopped her.

  “Shhh.”

  Daniella waited. Shuffling footsteps echoed, and cold sweat broke out on Daniella’s brow.

  “McNally? Is that you?” a voice called through a small communicator in McNally’s pocket.

  McNally pressed the key to answer. “Yeah.” She closed her hands around Daniella’s. “We’re safe. Ready to go?”

  “I need a minute,” moaned Daniella, and they slumped to the floor. She gratefully accepted the water pressed into their hands as they panted.

  McNally grabbed the communication device. “Someone needs to tell Jonah—”

  “Already done. He’s on the warpath and wants you back on base, ASAP.”

  Daniella sighed. She’d have to face his anger, given she’d caused the mess that nearly had them both captured.

  A soldier appeared out of the gloom, his face in tight lines of fear, motioning to them. “We need to move now. Our location’s compromised.”

  Daniella shoved to her feet seconds behind McNally.

  “The trackers. Lose them now.”

  She complied, shoving the bracelet from her writt, then following McNally’s lead by smashing it under her boot. They followed the soldier out of the tunnel and to a small van and climbed inside.

  McNally slid into the front seat. “Turn the lights off and run dark. It’s dusk, so we’ll be harder to see in a dark truck.”

  It moved, accelerating as Daniella peered through the back plasglass panel.

  The light that illuminated their path flickered off, and they drove for a good five minutes, silence overlaid by the whine of the engine.

  “Why didn’t we just get into the car?” Daniella’s voice came out panting as she stilled the frantic race of her heart.

  “There wasn’t time to get to the car, start it and get out of there before they would have surrounded us. We would have been sitting ducks, Senator.” McNally’s spoke absently and Daniella watched her eyes darting to and fro, as if looking for someone to detect them before they reached safety.