Page 147 of I Will Mend You
“Underground passageways.”
I glance at Amethyst. “Is this familiar?”
She nods. Charlotte’s comment about bringing in supplies underground also makes sense. In the four years Jynxson and I lived in the facility, they never let us out for anything other than missions. When they did, we traveled mostly through tunnels.
Eventually, the road evens. Amethyst moves to my side, and we look out through the windshield into a clearing. Beyond the stretch of lawn, the headlights illuminate snatches of a gray building hidden within the trees.
Trucks park on either side of us, and a swarm of drones hover around the building. Charlotte assures us that most instructors don’t live among the child assassins, but we’re monitoring heat signals in case her information is out of date.
I turn to Amethyst. “Stay here with Charlotte. Make sure she doesn’t slither out and escape.”
Her pretty features harden. “She doesn’t need a babysitter, and I don’t need coddling.”
“Amethyst,” I snarl.
“I need this last chance to face my past.” Her voice breaks, and my heart splinters at the sound of her pain.
A lump forms in my throat. I swore to protect this woman with my life, but facing her pain is something even my promises can’t prevent.
I cup her cheek. “What if coming here triggers another flashback?”
“Then I’ll handle it,” she says through clenched teeth.
I study her features for any signs of hesitation. The past few days have been tumultuous. Less than an hour ago, she almost got blown to pieces. Amethyst is strong, but everyone has limits.
Her jaw tightens, and her eyes blaze with an intensity that cuts through the tension. “Let me get this closure.”
I take a deep breath, and what’s left of my resolve crumbles under the weight of her gaze. “Fine, but at the first sign of trouble, I’m sending you back. Understood?”
She nods.
“All units in place,” Jynxson says. “An EMP blast already took out their electronics. Ready whenever you are.”
I hand Amethyst a sedative strong enough to knock out an elephant. She turns to Charlotte, who whimpers and trembles in her seat. Without a word, Amethyst injects her former abuser and places the syringe back on the table.
Exiting the truck with Amethyst at my side, I step into the cool night air. Team leaders, clad in body armor, gather by the front doors. I signal them to spread out and find entry points.
My protective instincts rear up to shield Amethyst, but I shove them down, needing to trust her skills. The lives of those children depend on my ability to lead this mission, but it’s hard when all I want to do is keep her safe.
The Spring brothers remain by the front doors, awaiting instructions. I direct them to the nearest window. One rushesforward with a crowbar to pry at its edges, while the other cuts through the metal grating with a portable electric saw.
“Any movement inside?” I ask into my Bluetooth.
“Negative,” Tyler replies from wherever he’s stationed. “Heat tracking detects twelve motionless bodies in the rear.”
“And the basement?”
“The drones are showing it’s heavily shielded or insulated—could be the concrete or some other materials. I’m picking up something, but it’s faint and inconsistent.”
“Does it matter?” Amethyst asks. “Charlotte already confirmed that’s where they keep the boys.”
The Spring brothers open the window, and we climb into a small gymnasium. I rattle off instructions for them to follow our lead. Nodding, they slip into position.
With Tyler guiding us by tracking heat signatures, Amethyst and I navigate through the dimly lit facility, encountering locked doors at every turn.
Her steps falter, and she stops to point toward the far end of the hallway. “That was Delta’s office. Our dormitories were on the left and right.”
Her voice is strained, as though she’s holding back a torrent of painful memories. I squeeze her hand in silent support, then motion for our team to split up and approach the room on the right.