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“That’s right,” Jacob confirmed. “We’re attacking the eastern border, so they’re going to shift everyone to the west side.”

“That shouldn’t impact us,” Wes said, brows pinched. “We’re approaching from the southeast.”

“Right,” Jacob replied as he pulled out his stunner from his bag and turned it on. “The traffic’s going to be moving west,so stay clear of it.” I reached into my coat and pulled out my stunner, hearing the whirring sound it made as it powered up.

“Stay clear of it?” Jay asked, brows pinched. “I don’t get it. What does this have to do with the mission?”

“Nothing,” Jacob replied matter-of-factly. “I just wanted to make sure you understood so you know what to avoid when you head back.”

“What?” Geo muttered. “I thought we were heading to the REG?”

“We are,” I responded as I looked to face my brother and our eyes met briefly before Jacob turned back to face the group.

“But you’re not,” he added. He moved so quickly, I almost missed it completely. He fired off two shots from his stunner, one hitting Geo and the other hitting Jay, sending them both collapsing to the ground.

“Hold it!” I shouted as I aimed my stunner at Wes, who had moved like a viper, retrieving his own weapon, and now had it aimed at Jacob before I caught him.

Edith’s eyes were enormous. She, too, had reached for her stunner, but never got it in time. Jacob had his pointed at her, and she slowly raised her arms in surrender. “Mara?” she called, her dark brown eyes searching me.

Wes kept his stunner fixed on my brother, while Jacob kept his fixed on Edith, and I kept mine aimed at Wes. “What the hell, de la Puente?” I wasn’t sure if he was talking to me or my brother, but it didn’t really matter. Wes was mine to take care of.

“I’m sorry, Wes,” I whispered, swallowing the hurt and angst clawing at my throat. Wes slowly shifted his gaze to look at me while his body remained still as stone.

“What’s going on, Mara? Why the hell are Geo and Jay down? What the fuck is going on?”

I took a deep breath, mustering my courage. I had to remember this was for his own good. I couldn’t risk involvinghim or Edith more than they already were. There was no telling what Charles would do. This was the best for everyone. “Just remember what I told you, okay? No matter what happens, I care about you. I—” I faltered, afraid to admit this to him like this, triangulated between him and my brother and what was best for everyone.

But I wanted him to know. Because if I didn’t make it, I wanted him to know that I didn’t betray him…not really. That there was something else at play, something bigger than us both. But there was no time. No time for explanations, for truths, for the declarations of love I had failed to make to him.

I pushed back the tears that threatened to fall, and I shoved down the knot in my throat even further. I looked at Wes’s golden eyes, praying that what he saw in my face was sincerity, truth, and love. “Whatever happens, whatever they say about me…just remember, it’s not what it seems.”

It was brief. A shift in his brows, a slight parting of his lips, and a widening of his eyes as my words registered within him. And just as he was about to say something to me, I shot him…right in the heart.

76: Ready or Not

Wes dropped to the floor, limp and out cold, just as Edith screamed out. “Holy shit, Mara!” she said. “Are you freaking insane? What the hell are you doing?” She still had her hands up, but her gaze was right on me, and she looked pissed.

I hurried. “Edith, remember when I told you I needed your help? This is it.”

“Oh hell no! Are youcrazy?”

“Just listen to me,” I said as I walked up to her, pulling her arms down. “Jacob and I have to do this. We’ve got to destroy these things—”

“That’s what we’re doing, Mara!” She was screaming at me now, annoyed and pissed off like a predatory cat.

I waved my hands at her, trying to shut her up. There was no time to explain. “It’s not what it seems! None of it is what it seems!”

“What the hell are you talking about?” She looked like she was getting ready to bitch-slap me into next Tuesday.

“I’ve got the virus,” Jacob muttered as he stood up from Jay.

“Don’t touch him!” she snapped.

“Edith!” I grabbed her by the collar and forced her to look at me. “I need you to protect them. Request an emergency evac and keep them safe. Get yourselves out of here as fast as you can.”

Jacob started moving, making sure his weapons were armed and accessible before coming to stand next to me. “Go back the way we came if you can,” he started. “The roads should remain clear for you all the way back. But if that doesn’t work, just stay clear of anything heading east or west.”

“Telvian soldiers will be heading east toward the battle,” I added, making sure she understood. “Evacuees will be heading west.”