Page 53

MARA

W e all sat around the long rectangular table, watching Giza present at the screen.

My mother and Javier sat on the left side, along with Sasha.

Marissa and Krous sat on the other side of the table, while Wes sat at the opposite end, and me just to his left.

Krous and Marissa seemed surprised to see me, whereas Giza and Sasha just shook their heads, much like a grandparent when a grandchild does something obstinate but endearing.

My mother smiled, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a flicker of pride in her eyes, which was…

different . I wasn’t used to receiving approval from a parent before.

Javier was the only one that spoke to me. And when he did, all he whispered in my ear was, “It’s about time, primita.”

“Better late than never,” was all I said back to him.

And now we were reviewing parameters for a mission they’d been planning. Giza explained the whole thing, breaking down the mission into four stages.

Stage one was capturing a maintenance vehicle, which would be leaving Telvia at eight in the morning and trekking the 100 miles to Apex. We needed to capture it around the halfway point—roughly fifty miles from Telvia. Far enough away from either location to make some noise and not draw attention.

Stage two was the part where we gained access into Apex and found our way to the computer terminal and the transmission tower.

Stage three was rigging the tower with explosives and uploading the virus into the computer mainframe.

Stage four was getting the hell outta there before anyone figured out we were rebels.

Unlike our mission to Bellfire Tower, we had no schematics of the building itself, at least not in its current state.

Javier had worked with Krous and Giza to have sketches drawn up of Apex before the riots two years prior.

They suspected the layout would be similar, but the facility on the top of Apex peak was all new.

So that was going to be a challenge for the team to determine the location of the computer terminal, as well as where to gain access to the transmission tower.

The virus itself had been created already. Northern computer scientists had been working diligently to craft something that had a delayed reaction to its installation. Forty-eight hours was the magic number. Two days.

After being installed, the virus would wait two days before wreaking havoc on the system.

That gave the team enough time to get back to the North, regroup, and prepare for an all-out assault on Telvia.

The computer virus would destroy the tech from the inside, making the transmissions useless.

This would give every individual who’d been modified back their minds, creating confusion for the Telvian army.

If our forces attacked at this critical point in time, there was a good chance that many of the retrofitted soldiers would fight for us.

The confusion, combined with our sudden increase in numbers, would turn the tide of the war in our favor.

We only had a few weeks left before the Apex tower was due for maintenance, and that meant a team needed to be selected ASAP so they could begin training for the mission.

“It only makes sense that Javier takes point,” Nora argued. “He’s the only one with any firsthand knowledge of the facility.”

Giza nodded, rubbing his goatee. “Are there any concerns that he’ll be recognized? Either by other REG officers or just in general?” He pulled on a peppered strand. “He is Raúl’s nephew, after all.”

“I doubt anyone from the original institute is still working there,” my cousin reasoned. “But it is a concern, nonetheless.”

“I still think that his presence on the team is vital.” My mother jabbed a finger on the table. “Without actual schematics of the facility, he’s our best chance of getting soldiers up there to begin with.”

Krous leaned on the table. “I hate to admit it, but I think she’s right. If anything is slightly off, Lieutenant de la Puente is our best chance of navigating Apex.”

“Seria un honor…it would be my honor,” Javi translated.

“Done,” Sasha said, poised as always, with her graying braid resting over her left shoulder. “How many individuals are typically on these maintenance teams?”

“Intel says anywhere from three to four, depending on the size of the tower.” Giza turned to face the aerial photo of the transmission tower, giving it a scrutinizing eye. “Apex is one of the largest.” He turned back around. “I think it’s safe to say that we can do four soldiers.”

Nora sat forward once more. “I have several soldiers that are primed and ready for this mission. Jada and Peter are outstanding in hand-to-hand combat—”

“No offense, Nora,” Marissa’s voice was as smooth as silk, “but I would prefer to see a Northern soldier added to the team.”

“None taken,” Nora remarked with a cool gaze. I got the feeling that she definitely took something away from Marissa’s comment.

“Pardon me, First Commander,” Giza stepped in, swinging my attention back to him. “Matias Alvarez is exceptional in hand-to-hand and is known for maintaining his composure in less-than-ideal combat situations. He’s also adept at managing explosives, which is key for this mission.”

Marissa shrugged her shoulders. “That’s fine by me, Sergeant Major, but he’s a Dissenter, not a Northern soldier. He can be on the team, but I would like to see a Northerner assigned to the mission.”

“I would like to add,” Krous spoke up, resting both elbows on the table now, “we need a computer specialist. Someone who can manage the Telvian system and ensure the virus is installed, probably.”

My ears perked up. “I can do it.”

Everybody faced me, looking at me like I’d grown a third arm. Wes’s entire body tensed at my side.

“I can do it,” I repeated. “I’ve already completed two Telvian missions requiring work with their computers. I know their system.” I looked at each face, but I completely avoided Wes. “I can do it.”

“Absolutely not,” Marissa spoke. “You’re the future First Lady of the North. Allowing you to go would be no less ridiculous than suggesting I go.”

I pursed my lips, narrowing my gaze. “Well, I don’t think that’s your call, Marissa.” Her eyes narrowed, cold and disapproving.

Yup…there’s the disapproving parent look I’m so used to.

“But it is mine.” My heart plummeted at the sound of Wes’s voice. “I say no .”

You have got to be kidding me. I twisted in my seat with a slackened jaw, facing him. “Excuse me?”

His bullshit, stoic mask was in place. And the look he gave reminded me of those days back at the rebel camp—straight, hard lines, and no room for arguing. But I was never good at not arguing with him.

“You’re staying, Mara. There are plenty of soldiers more than capable. There’s absolutely no need for you to be on the team.”

I gawked. He wasn’t wrong. And I knew going on the mission wasn’t necessarily practical. But I wanted to do this.

I needed to do this .

This was about my family. My father. My faction. And, dare I say it, my people. I narrowed my gaze at him. “I’m going, Wes.”

Those eyes…those forever captivating eyes burned like liquid gold. “No. I’m not allowing you to put yourself in unnecessary risk.”

I clenched my jaw as the heat of adrenaline coursed through my veins. “Wes—”

“Perdóname, Senor Presidente, pero tengo una pregunta…”

I turned to face Javi, as did everyone else, and we all looked equally perplexed...except for my mother.

Javier gave a warm smile, the kind that takes over your mouth when you taste smooth, melted dark chocolate. He translated, zeroing his gaze on Wes. “I’ve got a question. Is Mara de la Puente a Northerner?” He looked at every person at the table.

Nora cleared her throat, a curl of a cocky grin at the right corner of her mouth. “No, Lieutenant, I don’t believe so. She’s Telvian.”

He glanced at Nora with a teasing look in his eyes. “And they didn’t get married without inviting us, right, General? I mean, that would be so rude to not invite family, ?verdad?”

“I couldn’t agree more,” my mother said, turning to face me.

“What’s your point, Lieutenant?” Wes looked like he was about to throat punch Javier. The line of his jaw was so tight, it could have cut glass.

Javier tipped his chin to his chest, glaring at Wes under hooded eyes.

“I’m saying that Mara de la Puente is Telvian , Senor Presidente.

And that means she doesn’t answer to you or to your First Commander.

She’s a Dissenter, and that makes her commanding officer Sergeant Major Giza.

” Javier turned to face him, and I watched as Giza’s back straightened.

“So, compadre, tell me…do you believe Mara de la Puente is not fit for duty?”

My chest tightened like it was being pressed between slabs of unforgiving steel. I looked at Giza, rubbing my lips together, mentally pleading that this went in my favor .

Sasha stood up, her fingers splayed on the table to support her. Slowly, she faced Giza. “Well, Sergeant Major? Is Miss de la Puente ready for this mission?”

Her expression was unreadable to me, especially since I could only see a portion of her face.

Looking at Giza, I caught the silent exchange between him and Sasha before he finally faced me.

His eyes were warm, and the glint in them made me feel like…

well, like he was proud of me. The thought led to a knot forming in my throat, and the stinging in my eyes told me I was on the brink of tearing up.

Giza cleared his throat and rolled his shoulders back, lifting his chin. “It is my opinion,” he began slowly, “that Miss de la Puente is more than adequately trained for this mission. She works well with Alvarez and, I assume, she is willing to work under Lieutenant de la Puente’s leadership?”

I nodded vehemently.

The corner of his mouth twitched, as if fighting a smile, but he quickly gained mastery of it. “Then it is my recommendation that she be the third member on the team.”

“I concur,” Nora said immediately, casting a sly smile my way.

“Very well,” Sasha said with a gentle tip of her head.

“Then as the leader of the Dissenters…” She looked at me.

Her brown eyes were framed by little crow’s feet, and her mouth formed a warm smile that actually felt like one I would receive from a grandparent.

“I approve of her participation on this mission.”

Yes!

“No.” It was just one word, but said with such commanding authority that it left no room for arguing.

That wasn’t going to work for me. I whirled on him and glared. “I’m on the team, Wes, whether you like it or not.”

His brows drew forward. An older version of myself—the version of me lost in those woods so many months ago—would have cowered in fear. But I wasn’t afraid of Wes anymore, and I loved him more than anything else. But I was not going to back down to him.

“I’m not having this discussion, Mara. Especially not here—”

“It’s not your decision, Wes. So there is no discussion,” I argued. “I’m on the team whether you like it or not—”

“Sasha,” he set his narrowed gaze on her. “I’m going to ask that you reconsider. This is—”

“Out of your hands, I’m afraid.” Sasha cut him off with such elegance and grace, somehow showing him respect while also telling him he could go pound sand.

“If the North would rather not be part of this operation, I am happy to assign another Dissenter to the cause. But who I assign from my own forces, Mr. Calvernon, is of my choosing. And Mara is a Dissenter—Western blood. And I am assigning her to this operation.”

“Fuck,” he growled, hands clenching on the table. After one breath, he looked at me once more. “Mara, please…”

God, his voice was laced with ache, and I knew Wes well enough to know that he was begging me.

“I’m asking you,” he said, all anger swept away. There was nothing but shimmering flecks of green in sunlit meadows in his concerned eyes. “As your promised …don’t do this.”

The look on his face broke my heart, but I couldn’t give him what he wanted. Not this time. I pressed my lips together and shook my head softly. “I’m sorry, Wes, but I’m doing this. I don’t expect you to be happy with me, but I am going.”

He closed his eyes, jaw tensing as he appeared to work on muscling his temper into control. I understood his frustration. I couldn’t blame him at all.

But I had to do this. I had to finish it…for Jacob.

His chin tipped to his chest as his hand curled into a fist on the table. The intense stares of everyone around us had my skin crawling, but I refused to look at them. I kept my steady gaze on Wes, watching for what he was going to do next.

After a moment, he inhaled briefly, looked up at me, and nodded.

Only an idiot wouldn’t see the fear echoing in his eyes, the subtle frown and concern etched along his brow.

“All right, Mara.” He reached across the table, taking my hand—warm and firm, but gentle—and then looked back at Giza.

“Add me to the team. I’ll represent the North. ”