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“No. Just us.”

“Clear!” someone yells from my bedroom, then others yell the same.

The soldiers finally lower their guns.

“Sorry for the theatrics.” A stout man strides through the soldiers, his wide shoulders and no-nonsense expression matching the stiffness of his gait. “Everyone, head out to the rendezvous and reinforce Delta Company.”

The soldiers file out neatly, the entire apartment clearing with remarkable speed.

“Dr. Clark, I’m Major Barker. The president gave us orders to come extract you.” He holds out his hand. “Please come with me.”

Extract me? I can only stare at him. Extract me to where? What the hell is he even talking about?

“See?” Aang sinks onto the sofa, his arms crossed. “This is what nepotism bullshit gets you. She gets extracted. We’re left here to do what, exactly? Fend for ourselves?”

“I’m not going anywhere.” I shake my head. “And you’re too late. If it weren’t for—”Valen. I start again. “If it weren’t for my friends getting me the hell out of that bloodbath, I’d already be dead. So, thanks but no fucking thanks.” I scowl at him.

“What exactly happened down there?” he asks, his piercing gaze on me.

I can’t tell him the truth. I’m not even sureIknow the whole truth of what Valen did. The horror of it, and worse, the sick sense of appreciation I feel. As if that carnage was deserved, though the ethical part of me cringes at the notion. But the primal heart of me—it’s pleased. It sours something in my soul to admit that, but it’s there no matter how uncomfortable of a truth it is.

“Doctor?” Major Barker presses.

“I don’t know. We weren’t there.” The lie is weak, so thin it’s practically see-through.

“You weren’t?” He looks pointedly at my bloody clothes.

“She just said we weren’t.” Evie kicks her chin up. “So you can go now.”

The creases on Major Barker’s forehead deepen even more. “I’m afraid the president’s orders aren’t something I can ignore. Dr. Clark, let’s go.”

“Who were those people?” Aang asks.

“Militants, people who have the wrong idea about the work you’re doing here.” Major Barker sounds a little too nonchalant for my tastes.

“I saw a few of them. They all had patches on them with an emblem that looked like a halo. What was that?”

“Dr. Clark, I can explain in the chopper. Let’s go. No more stalling.”

“That’s cute.” I pull my legs under me and wrap my arms around my shins. “But I’m not going with you. This is where I belong. You can leave the way you came.”

His bushy eyebrows curve downward in a frown. “As I said, Dr. Clark, I’m duty bound to follow the chain of command. I’d prefer not to have to take you against your will, but?—”

“Excuse me?” Aang is on his feet and standing in front of me in the space of a breath, and the attitude he’s wielding is just as cutting as any blade. “You think we’re going to let you takeanyoneagainst their will?”

Evie scoots over so she’s standing in front of me, too. Then Wyatt moves to stand beside Aang as Gretchen wheels herself to my side.

“She said she’s not going. That’s final.” Gretchen takes my hand.

“If you think it’s a good idea to manhandle the president’s sister …” Wyatt shakes his head. “I mean, look man, it’s your ass on the line. Not ours.”

Given the shade of red that creeps up Major Barker’s neck, I get the feeling that he’s not used to being spoken to like this. And he’s certainly unfamiliar with being told no.

“There’s your answer.” I glare at him.

He pins me with a stare. “I suggest you reconsider this course of action before someone gets hurt.”

“Going to be honest, I’m not much of a fighter, but I did some jujitsu, a little Krav Maga back in the day.” Wyatt whips his hair up into a messy ponytail and pulls the elastic from his wrist to keep it in place. “You’ll probably beat my ass, but it won’t be the first time that’s happened to me.” He puts his fists up. “It’s never stopped me from trying.”