Pawn (17 page)

All of them had come to see Lila, not me. To hear her words, to cheer as she encouraged them to keep fighting. I wasn’t her, though. I was a nobody trapped in the body of a Hart, and if they knew the truth—

I inhaled sharply. Lila would never have won me over because she hadn’t known what it was like to be a III. She’d lived with her cushy mansions and private jets, and even though being a Hart couldn’t have been easy, especially after what Daxton had done to her father, she’d never known what it was like to want for basic human rights and necessities. The entire world laid itself out before her, ripe for the picking. These people didn’t know what that was like, and she had no idea what it was like to be them.

I did. And I knew what I was going to say.

Pushing my worries about Greyson from my mind, I took a breath, opened my mouth, and began.

* * *

The applause was deafening. The stage shook underneath me, and security guards fought to keep the audience from spilling onto it. Even if they did, I didn’t care.

Lila had always spoken about the founding fathers of the country and wars none of us had ever heard of. She treated everyone in the audience like an equal, and that was her charm, but she had access to information that we would never have the chance to learn.

So instead I spoke about things everyone who wasn’t privileged lived with day in and day out. Hunger, discrimination, looking in the eyes of our so-called betters and knowing their lives were worth more than ours simply because of the tattoo on the back of their necks. Having to give up children they loved because they couldn’t afford the fines, and what those children went through—what I’d gone through, abandoned and growing up never knowing who I really was. I couldn’t tell them I knew firsthand what it was like, but I could paint a picture so vivid that they all understood exactly what kind of shame and worthlessness Extras experienced every single day.

I talked about change; real change, not just returning to what the United States had been like before the ranking system. Lila thought a complete overhaul of the country’s political structure would lead to utopia. I thought a world where I could walk into a market and buy an orange without risking my life would be a good start. And as I relayed the news of the attempt on Daxton’s life and how he lay in the infirmary in a coma, I dared to hope that it was time for our country to be placed in the hands of someone who valued every life, not simply the ones who could make his better. Someone like Greyson, if he wanted the job. And if he didn’t, then someone who had everyone’s best interests at heart, not just the Vs and VIs.

The platform lowered me beneath the stage amid the roaring applause, and I could barely breathe. For the first time, having Lila’s face felt right. If this was the kind of work I could do as her, then losing my identity was worth it. I was just one person, but there were thousands counting on her to spread the word—counting on
me.
I’d never been needed before, not like this, and it was exhilarating.

Beneath the stage, Knox met me with a warm embrace and congratulations, and I hugged him back. “Did I do all right?” I said once we were winding through the hallways underneath the stadium. His arm was still around my shoulders, and for once I didn’t mind.

“More than all right. That was the best speech Lila has ever given.” Despite his enthusiasm, there was something behind his smile that I didn’t understand.

“What?” I said, but he shook his head.

“Later.”

My mood dampened, but I still felt like I was glowing. As we wound our way through the corridors, the crowd’s cheers didn’t fade, and I clung to them as if they were my lifeline. These were people who knew what it felt like to be considered less than someone else. They understood, and they wanted change as badly as I did.

It wasn’t until we were safely tucked back inside the limousine that Knox’s good mood seemed to deflate, and when I looked at him, he refused to meet my eye.

“What is it?” I said. “Did something happen?”

Knox grimaced. “I got a message from Somerset while you were talking. Greyson’s gone missing.”

XV
Underground

The sun hung low in the sky by the time we returned to Somerset, but within the brick walls the day showed no signs of ending. Guards flocked to me and Knox when we stepped out of the car, and we were ushered inside, where Augusta stood rigidly in the center of the sitting room. A servant was sweeping up the remnants of a shattered vase.

“Celia did this,” I said the moment we entered the room. I half expected Knox to elbow me, but he didn’t say a word in her defense.

“Yes, I realize that,” snapped Augusta, and she sat down stiffly in an armchair. Knox set his hand on my back and led me to the nearest couch. “Do tell me how
you
can be so certain.”

“I—” I stopped, and instead of looking at Knox and giving him away, I focused on the intricately patterned carpet. “I overheard her talking to someone about hurting him last night.”

“And you didn’t think to come to me about it?” said Augusta, her voice like venom. I winced.

“I told Greyson. He said that Celia wouldn’t hurt him or try to take him or anything crazy like that.”

“Greyson has always thought the best of his family, despite significant evidence to the contrary,” said Augusta. “The Shields are investigating, but she has already fled the city.”

“So now what?” I said. “How are we going to get him back?”

“
We
are not going to do a thing. I will find my grandson, and in the meantime, you will remain here in Somerset. Until Greyson is found, you are the heir apparent, and I will not have anything happening to you, as well.”

My mouth dropped open, and I turned to Knox for confirmation. His mouth was set in a frown, and he nodded.

With Daxton incapacitated, it was Greyson. After Greyson, it would have been Celia. And after Celia—Lila.

Me.

“I can’t do that,” I blurted. “I can’t—”

“You won’t,” said Augusta sharply. “Greyson will be found, and Daxton will wake up. Now, I have no more time for this. Go to your suite and stay there. There will be guards posted outside, and if you need to go somewhere, they will accompany you. You are not to go anywhere without them, do you understand?”

Her entire body trembled, as if she were moments away from exploding, and I nodded numbly. Even if I wanted to, I had no idea where Celia and Greyson could possibly be. And it would only be a matter of time before Augusta discovered I hadn’t given her speech in New York. When that happened, I needed as much goodwill as I could get.

Knox led me out of the room, and we were joined by half a dozen guards. We walked silently to my suite, and when we reached it, Knox bent down to kiss me on the cheek. As he did, he whispered, “Come see me.” Before I could ask why, he shut the door, and I was alone.

I scurried into the vent so fast that I almost beat him to his room. As soon as he sat on the couch, I dropped from the ceiling, and his eyebrows shot up.

“You weren’t kidding,” he said. “You really fit up there?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” I crossed my arms. “Why did you want to see me?”

Before he answered, Benjy came out of the room adjacent, and relief washed over his face. “Oh God, you’re all right. I heard about Greyson.” He pulled me into a tight hug and buried his face in my hair. I wrapped my arms around him, too scared and worried and a dozen other emotions to speak. Benjy was warm and real and solid, and I needed that. I needed him to remind me that this wasn’t all some crazy nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.

A few moments later, Knox cleared his throat. “As I was saying, I asked you here because I think I have a way of getting Celia to give Greyson back with as little bloodshed as possible.”

I tucked myself underneath Benjy’s arm. “How? She’s irrational, and we have no idea where she is.”

“You’re going to have to trust me on this. If I’m wrong...” He hesitated. “It’s better you don’t know the details.”

“If you’d just listened to me on the plane, we could have warned Augusta before this happened,” I said. “I’m not stupid, you know.”

“Yes, I realize that. You can say ‘I told you so’ as much as you want later on. Right now we have bigger issues to tackle.” He looked at Benjy. “Can you cover for us for a few hours?”

Benjy blinked. “I, uh—”

“The correct answer is yes.” He looked at me. “Go put on a pair of boots and something that isn’t a dress. And a hat. Benjy, while she’s changing, I’ll fill you in on what you need to do.”

“Do I get a choice?” I said.

“I thought you wanted to help Greyson.”

“Of course, but—”

“Then put on a pair of boots,” he said. “Now. We don’t have any time to waste.”

I stood on my tiptoes to give Benjy a long, lingering kiss so Knox couldn’t miss it. With one final glare in his direction, I climbed on his desk to reach the vent, making a point of stepping on his embedded monitor and leaving shoe prints behind.

* * *

The trip through the underground tunnel was as dark and dank as last time, but now Knox and I hurried. We didn’t talk, and the only sounds we made were our muffled footsteps on the dirt floor.

It was dark outside when we exited into the alleyway, and Knox led me away from the crowded streets. “Where are we going?” I said as we ducked around a trash bin that smelled worse than the sewers.

“We can’t take the main streets,” he said. “Someone might see us.”

I followed him through the winding alleyways, noting each turn in case we got separated. Knox was careful to make sure I was with him, though, and we hadn’t gone more than a mile when we reached a lone metal door. As Knox punched in a nine-digit code, faint music caught my attention. I glanced around the corner, and across the street was the club we’d visited the night I’d caught Knox with the gun.

“In here,” he said, pushing open the door. I followed him into a narrow hallway with only a few bulbs lighting the way. The ceiling was so high that it was obscured by darkness, but I heard a faint rustling above us.

“What is this place?” I said.

He didn’t answer. As we passed underneath a light, I looked up again, hoping to catch sight of whatever was making that noise, but all I saw was the glint of something metal.

At the second light, I tried again. Squinting upward, I could just make out the shape of another metal object, but this one looked like—

A rifle.

Blocking the light with my hand, I stopped, giving my eyes a few seconds to adjust. As they did, the silhouette of a man standing against a rail came into focus, and he was pointing his weapon directly at me.

“Knox,” I said. He set his hand on my shoulder to keep me moving forward, but I planted my feet on the floor. “There’s someone up there.”

“There are a dozen people up there,” he said. “They make sure no one comes in who shouldn’t be here. Now come on. We don’t have much time.”

A dozen, undoubtedly all armed. I was so dizzy I could barely see straight, and Knox guided me forward through the seemingly endless hallway. The urge to turn around and bolt was overwhelming, but even if I did, Knox would catch me, and this was important. This was for Greyson. If they hadn’t shot us yet, chances were they wouldn’t unless I did something stupid. Like run.

Finally we reached the end of the corridor. It was another door, and this time there was a twelve-digit password. Knox punched it in effortlessly, and I purposely looked away, not wanting to risk the wrath of the guards above us.

Once we were inside, the hallway was much wider and brighter than the first. Doors lined the corridor, and when we passed a few that were open, I noticed that there was a bed, desk, and chair inside each room. Individual living quarters.

“Am I allowed to know what this place is now?” I said, but he smiled wanly and pressed on. The floor was concrete and the bedrooms weren’t fancy, but many of them looked lived in. As we passed another open door, however, there was no bed inside. Only rows and rows of weapons, bullets, helmets, and other things I couldn’t name.

We turned the corner, and I stopped when I saw a large common room area with a brightly lit kitchen that reminded me of my group home. A few people lounged on shabby chairs, and they all waved hello to Knox. None of them gave me a second look.

“Colonel Sampson,” said Knox to an official sitting behind a desk. On the screen in front of him was a map I didn’t recognize, but I was sure I’d seen him somewhere before. “Is she still here?”

Sampson stood hastily and saluted. “Yes, sir.”

I stared. The black uniform, the silver lining—

My eyes widened. He was the official who’d come to the group home with the Shield to arrest me.

No, not arrest me. They’d wanted to take me to Daxton.

“And no one leaked it?” he said. Sampson shook his head. “Good work, Colonel. Thank you.”

Knox took my arm and led me down another corridor, this one with the doors spread farther apart.

“Am I the only person in D.C. who didn’t know about this place?” I grumbled, and Knox ignored me. We turned again, and I began to figure out the pattern of the rooms. Even though the corridors were long, we were only walking the length of the building over and over again as the hallway snaked around itself.

“Who’s still here? Celia?” I said, but once again, Knox didn’t answer. Instead he stopped in front of a door that blended in with the others. When he knocked, I held my breath. Would Celia have taken Greyson someplace only a mile from Somerset when the entire country was looking for him?

The door opened a fraction of an inch, and no matter how I craned my neck, I couldn’t see around Knox. “I need to talk to you,” he said.

“I figured as much,” said a soft female voice on the other side. Celia. I narrowed my eyes. “What’s it about this time?”

“Can we please talk about this inside?” said Knox. “I don’t want anyone to overhear.”

“Did I not make myself clear when I said I didn’t want to be bothered?”

“This is important.”

“It’s always important.” She sighed. “What is it this time?”

“Greyson’s been kidnapped,” said Knox. “I need your help getting him back.”

The door opened immediately, and he stepped inside, motioning for me to follow. The room was bigger than I expected, with a dresser and a few colorful accents, and it felt much homier than the others we’d passed.

“God, Knox, you brought
her?
”

I whirled around, fully prepared to tell Celia that I hadn’t exactly wanted to come, but my retort died on my lips when I saw who it was. Her blond hair was cropped to her shoulders, and she wore the kind of shabby clothes only IIs and IIIs were given, but her eyes were still the same ocean-blue as mine.

“Of course I brought her,” said Knox, and he made a vague gesture toward me. “This is Kitty. Kitty, this is—”

“I know who she is,” I said. “She’s Lila Hart.”