Chương 129

The phone rang before Louis knew where he was. For a few seconds, he thought the sound was still part of the dream. Then it rang again, and he made out the room: white sheets twisted around bare legs, afternoon light at the edges of the curtains. On the third ring, he opened his eyes and reached for it carefully, trying not to wake the women around him. Savannah stirred first, one eye opening toward the sound with immediate suspicion. Louis picked up the receiver.

"Yes." A woman's voice answered, smooth and professional.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Collins. I am calling from Director Calloway's office. The Director requests your presence in thirty minutes." Louis pushed himself onto one elbow.

"Has something changed?"

"The Director will explain in person."

"We'll be ready," Louis said.

"Please bring your entire party. The meeting will take place in the Director's conference room." Louis looked toward the closed bedroom door. Cherish was somewhere in the suite, still apart from the rest of them.

"Understood." The call ended. He set the phone down and ran a hand over his face. Savannah watched him in silence. Angelique shifted and opened her eyes.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Calloway wants us in thirty minutes. All of us." Gladice sat up, the sheet falling from her breasts.

"He made a deal?"

"Maybe. Or he wants to pressure my father again." Louis stood up from the bed. His muscles were sore, and nail marks showed on his skin. He still felt half asleep.

"We should get ready." Willa opened her eyes and yawned.

"Do we have time for another shower?"

"They said thirty minutes." He stretched.

"There's time." Savannah stood and walked naked to the bathroom.

"I need to wash again. I smell like all of you."

"Good." Gladice smiled.

"You should smell like us." Louis laughed quietly. He found a clean shirt and pants and pulled them on. The others began to rise, pulling sheets aside and reaching for their clothes. He went to the door and opened it carefully. The living room was empty. The dining room still smelled faintly of food and coffee. He crossed the suite and knocked softly on the second bedroom door.

"Cherish?" A pause. Then her voice came through the door.

"Yes?"

"It's Louis. Can I come in?" Another pause.

"Okay." He opened the door. She was sitting on the bed in pajamas, her hair brushed loose. She looked sleepy, but her shoulders were tight.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. We just got a call from the Director. We have a meeting in thirty minutes." She nodded, but her eyes went to his bare chest.

"You... slept with them."

"Yes." He kept his voice calm.

"I am sorry if it made you uncomfortable." She looked down.

"It's not my place to judge you."

"But it's hard for you." She nodded once. He crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Cherish, I know your parents raised you differently. But where we come from, this is not wrong. It's... a choice." She swallowed.

"A choice to be with so many?"

"To love and be loved by many people, yes." He watched her reaction.

"It's not about lust only. It's about connection. About trust." She looked at him.

"Do you trust all of them?"

"With my life." She was quiet for a moment.

"And they trust you?" Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"I hope so." He smiled.

"I try to earn it." She sighed.

"I want to understand. But it feels strange."

"That's okay." He reached out and touched her hand.

"You don't have to understand right away. Just know that we are still your family. That hasn't changed." Her eyes grew wet. She blinked and looked away.

"Okay." He squeezed her hand.

"We need to get ready for the meeting. You should get dress ed." She nodded.

"Okay." He stood and walked to the door.

"See you in a bit."

"Louis," she said. He paused at the door.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for... talking to me."

"Of course, Cherish." He left the room and returned to the master bedroom. The sound of water came from the bathroom. Angelique stood by the closet, already dressed in a clean T- shirt and pants. She turned as he entered.

"How is she?" she asked." I talked with her," Louis said.

"She's... processing." Angelique nodded.

"That's all we can ask." Willa found one of her socks and sat on the bed to pull it on.

"I hope this meeting means we can leave soon."

"I hope so too." Louis sighed.

"I don't like being a bargaining chip."

"You're a valuable one," Gladice said.

"That's why you're still alive."

"True," he said.

"But I'm ready to go home."

"Aren't we all?" Savannah said.

"I've seen enough of West Virginia." They packed their bags quickly. Cherish joined them in the living room with her bag. Her face was calm, but she glanced at Louis before looking away. They left the suite together. The corridor outside was empty. It looked less like captivity than an expensive office floor after hours. Two men in Authority uniforms stood at the elevator. One nodded and swiped his card to call the lift.

"Floor 18," one of them said.

"The Director is waiting." They entered the elevator. The doors closed, and the elevator carried them up in silence. Moments later, they were back in Calloway's conference room. The director stood when they entered.

"Mr. Collins. Ladies." He looked them over one by one. He gestured to the chairs.

"Please sit, if you wish. This will not take long." Louis did not sit.

"What's the decision?"

"Your father and I have reached an agreement." Calloway rested one hand on the folder.

"That means I will ensure you and your friends reach Morgantown safely." Louis breathed out.

"What did he agree to?" Calloway smiled faintly.

"That is between governments." Louis nodded.

"When do we leave?"

"Immediately. A convoy is being prepared. You will depart within the hour." Calloway tapped it once.

"Authority escort will take you north. If the road behaves, you arrive before dark."

"And after that?" Angelique asked.

"You will be transferred to Iron Rain Security. Your father has contracted them for the remainder of your journey. They will take you to the local airport." Calloway looked at Louis.

"Your flight will be waiting." Gladice said, "And how much does this service cost?"

"More than you can imagine." Calloway did not elaborate. Louis stepped forward.

"I hope this means we are free to go."

"You are." Calloway picked up the folder.

"But your technical will be retained by the Authority." Louis raised an eyebrow.

"We need that."

"No. You don't." Calloway opened it and took out a printed sheet.

"We have arranged a transport vehicle and a driver. It will be safer and quieter than your truck." Louis glanced at the paper, but did not reach for it.

"And the MG?"

"It stays. Consider it part of the fee." Calloway's expression did not change. Savannah said, "That's theft."

"It's called asset reallocation." Calloway did not look at her.

"You are getting out of West Virginia alive. That is worth more than a machine gun." Louis looked at Angelique. She gave a small nod. He turned back to Calloway.

"Fine."

"Good." Calloway folded his hands.

"Then let's not waste time. I hope you have enjoyed our hospitality."

"Are you going to miss us?" Gladice asked. Calloway laughed once.

"I will miss the money you brought me. Beyond that, I wish you a safe journey." Louis asked, "Did my father recognize you?" Calloway smiled, but gave nothing away.

"Your father and I reached an understanding."

"That isn't an answer."

"No, it's not." For a moment Louis wanted to push. He wanted to demand the number, the clause, and the concession made in his name. He wanted to know what his safety had cost in language. But Calloway watched him calmly. He must have expected the question and had already decided what it was worth. Louis let it go. Angelique's hand touched Louis's wrist once under the edge of the table.

"We're leaving," she said.

"That's enough." Louis looked at her, then back at Calloway.

"Let's go." Calloway turned toward the door.

"Mr. Smith." Smith opened it from outside.

"Take them down to vehicle hold. Transfer their bags. Then release convoy two."

"Yes, Director." Louis and his group followed Smith out of the conference room. The elevator took them below the lobby and opened on the vehicle level. The air was cooler downstairs. Louis smelled fuel and saw the vehicle bay beneath the tower. Painted lines marked the concrete floor. A black-and-yellow minibus waited ahead. Steel mesh covered the lower windows. The glass was thick. The tires were new. The front grille had been reinforced, and black armor panels covered the lower sides.

An Authority driver stood by the open door. Another man waited inside near the front seat.

"Your vehicle," Smith said.

"You may board." They walked to the minibus. Louis stopped by the door. The driver looked them over. Louis glanced at the others. They were waiting for him. He nodded, and they boarded. He got on last and sat halfway down the bus. The seats faced forward in pairs, each with a heavy safety belt. Cherish sat beside him. Angelique, Willa and Donya sat behind him. Savannah and Gladice sat across the aisle. Ahead of the minibus waited the plow truck and an armored pickup with an anti-aircraft gun mounted in the bed.

Another armored pickup with the same gun waited behind it.

"Are we really leaving now?" Cherish asked.

"Looks like it." Louis buckled his belt. She stared at the floor between her feet.

"Do you think my parents are still alive?" Louis did not answer at once. He had no way to know.

"Yes," he said.

"They're alive." She looked at him for a moment before nodding. The driver got in and shut the door. The engine started with a low rumble. The plow truck rolled out first. One of the armored pickups followed it. Their minibus followed them up the ramp. The other pickup followed behind. Louis looked out the window as the convoy left the tower behind. The sky was clear and the sun was bright. They were going north. They were going home.