The End of Tomorrow (13 page)

At the first room we were shown by the mousy brunette maid, Luce stormed in and slammed the door behind her.

The hall shook a bit.

“Sorry.” I winced and offered an explanation. “She’s very tired and cranky.”

The girl cocked an eyebrow so I said it again in French. Her lips widened into a smile. “Cranky.” She laughed, clearly never having heard that word before. “I like cranky.” Her accent was thick like English might have been reserved for television watching only.

She showed me the next room. I gave Janice a look. “Don't try anything.”

She smiled, but I couldn't miss the tears in her eyes mixing with the exhaustion. “Where would I go? I have no money, no passport, and everyone wants me either dead or in a cell.” She sauntered into the room and closed the door slowly. It clicked like it had been locked the moment it closed.

“Fucking diva,” I whispered and followed Este to the last bedroom door she opened. Inside was a magnificent bedroom. Something I was getting accustomed to seeing. The smirking arms dealer was the only thing missing from the space.

I dragged my tired ass into the room, went straight for the en suite, and started pouring a very deep tub in the large corner bath. I added salts and bubbles from the basket on the counter. I had been awake for a horrendously long time and was ready for some sleep.

The room was a little dusty, but that was about the only thing wrong with it. The king bed was made military tight and the window was clean and cracked slightly so the crisp mountain air could filter in.

I sighed and stared at the scene, wondering if anyone else was humming
The Sound of Music.
A door slammed and I contemplated hurrying out to the hallway to stop whatever bad things were going on, but I didn't care. Come hell or high water, I was taking that fucking bath and sleeping. Fuck everyone.

Bad Evie

The bath had been a type of ecstasy but the bed was a whole other ball of wax. I moaned as I slipped into the soft sheets, so high in thread count they were nearly silk. My feet ached, my back throbbed, and my ribs burned. Everything hurt, but the moment my head hit the pillow I was out.

Dreams plagued me, fueled by worry and separation from my kids. Every thought was survival and betrayal and getting fucked on another pool table with no orgasm.

I woke tired and uncertain of how long I had actually slept when I noticed it was sunny again. The light shone through the blinds that someone else had closed for me, but I could see the bright day in the outline of them.

“Did you sleep well?” a man’s voice asked softly from the corner. I blinked, curious if I was still dreaming or if somehow a man was actually in my bed.

“I imagine it was hard to sleep, knowing so many things were going wrong all at once. Did you worry about your kids?”

My eyes popped open and my heart instantly thumped. Coop sat in the far corner, staring at me as a silhouette.

“What are you doing?” I asked, annoyed and groggy. “Where are my kids?”

“They’re downstairs, totally fine. And I am watching you sleep. Waiting for you to wake so I can kill you.”

“Well, get it over with; my head hurts and my entire body is on fire.”

“It’s probably left over from letting him touch you.” His tone was mocking, but there was a measure of hurt in there.

“Oh God, can we not do this? I am in agony. I’m pretty sure Servario and my dad and the fucking Burrow have screwed us over, yet again. I trust no one. We rolled up and Jack started his rendition of Louis the Hundredth and while Luce is ready to kill him, all I could think was holy shit, he’s betrayed us too. And you know what I did with that paranoia? I went to sleep. I had a bath and went to sleep. I didn't even care. So if you want to judge me for doing my job and hate on me for doing a good job, then go ahead, but take that shit out of this room. This is my room. Este gave it to me.” I coughed and winced from the pain in my broken ribs. “It’s a drama-free space.”

Coop got up and walked to the drapes, pulling them back and letting the midday sun in. I had slept for a whole day. I sighed, seeing him in his jeans and tee shirt looking all cute and muscled. He was exactly what I needed in that moment of weakness and self-pity.

He sat on the bed, as far from me as he could get and cocked an eyebrow as he lifted one of his large fingers at me. “You screwed up. Admit it.”

“No, I didn't.” I shook my head. “Have you talked with Jack yet? Or Luce?”

He bit his lip.

“Right, well let me fill you in on something. We are being screwed with brutally. The Burrow is the one who bombed Saudi Arabia.”

“Bullshit!”

“It’s true. Dr. Drusack is the name of the man who sat next to the creepy lady when we were being sworn in to protect the world and blah, blah, blah. He sat there stone-faced, treating us like we had violated something sacred by showing up there and knowing too much. Well, he also happens to be the same doctor who took just enough nanobots off of Janice to bomb the hospitals.”

Coop paused, making his thinking face for a moment. “So you are trusting a doctor we don't know over a member of the Burrow?”

His question was valid but I was right. “Yes. I saw her face. The moment she realized the bombings had occurred, she put two and two together. I suspect she has a memory like yours.”

“So the Burrow is part of the secret organization known as the Organization? This scientist is innocent of all blame in the deaths of tens of thousands of doctors and sick people in Saudi, and somehow your father and Servario are both guilty along with the Burrow, but she’s innocent?” He sighed. “It’s a bit rich, Evie. Even for Servario.”

“Where’s my mom?” Something told me she might know what the truth was in this mess.

“Downstairs with the kids. They are loving the giant heated pool in the backyard.”

I winced as I climbed from the bed, hobbling to the closet and praying for clothing. “Did you know Jack was rich and French and all that jazz?”

“Of course.”

“Of course.” I mimicked and pulled on a sweatshirt and some jogging pants. It was all a bit big but it was better than nothing.

“Jack doesn't keep women’s clothing here like some international perverts we know.”

I groaned. “Can we stop the childish behavior, please?” I turned, hating that I sounded like a mom suddenly.

Coop cocked a grin but I lifted my finger. “Think about what you are about to say. Think about the fact that I nearly killed Servario two days ago. And he hasn't pissed me off hardly at all.”

“I was just going to say that it’s good to see balls-to-the-walls Evie is back. She’s my favorite.”

“Fuck you.” I turned back to the door and limped out to the hallway.

“Oh come, Evie. Don't be so spicy.” He hurried to my side and lifted me into his arms. I groaned as he touched my ribs. Worry filled his eyes. “What did he do to you?”

“He protected his cover and I protected mine.”

He swallowed, not arguing that fact. He knew the cost of falling for someone. He was the very person who had once told me that loving someone you worked with made you weak.

Instead of talking about it anymore, I leaned my head on his thick shoulder and let him carry me downstairs gingerly.

Luce was stewing in the corner of the massive great room; Fitz was outside with the kids, swimming in the steamy pool; and Jack sat in the corner staring at Luce with a forlorn look in his eyes.

Clearly, they weren’t better.

Jules came up out of the water and waved, causing Mitch to turn and smile. “What did you tell them to get them here without a problem?” I asked.

“Holiday. They believe this is a chateau in France we have on timeshare from Jack’s family.” Coop smiled as he spoke, “They’re jazzed to be here.”

“Where’s Mom?”

Luce’s eyes lifted when she saw me. “She took Janice for a stroll. Said she wanted to talk to her. How are you feeling?”

“Oh Jesus! Really? Did you all forget about Steve and the flesh stripping?” I wiggled to get down from Coop’s arms and hobbled, motioning at Jack. “Come and show me where!”

“To be honest, I did forget about Steve.” Jack jumped up and hurried past me to a huge door down a long, wide hallway. He ran down the steps with Luce hot on his trail. Coop stayed with me as I barely made it down the long winding staircase. At the bottom a scream came from a long ways away.

“How big is it down here?”

“The house is fourteen thousand square feet, not including the basement. God knows how big it is. It was built in the fifteenth century—well, started anyway. When Jack bought it, there wasn’t much left of it. It was in ruin. He spent eleven million euros fixing it up and making it what he wanted it to be. It took the builders two years to get it right. He’s only had it up and running as a home away from home for a little while.

“It’s beautiful but weird he’s so rich.”

“He’s a tech genius; it’s not that weird. He’s like MacGyver. He got to the safe house in Portobello and had it completely safe for you guys within minutes and then back up and running with all the tools you would need. He even had MI6 on standby, using their own system to run an op to come and get you if you didn't get free of Servario within a set amount of time.”

“I guess.” I shook my head. “Lucky he didn't use MI6 though—they think we’re rogue agents.”

“Not anymore. That's been fixed. You aren’t even in the system now. He’s a genius.”

The scream filled the hallway again, making me want to hurry to the poor girl my mom was likely filleting. But I didn't. I turned and looked at Coop. “I’m sorry.”

He paused, looking down and then nodding. “I know.”

I reached up, even wincing when my arms lifted. Everything still hurt. I cupped his cheeks and shook my head. “No, I mean I am sorry for everything. I can’t believe your sister did what she did, and I feel sick for your family. I’m sorry for us and the way things have been.”

“I’m sorry, Evie. I’m the one who should be. My sister endangered your kids. She sold you out. I want to say I can’t believe it, but I know it’s true. He’s a psychotic bastard, but I don't think Servario would lie to that degree. I know he would die protecting you. I can’t imagine how horrible it was to hit you, but he did it to protect you. He might be insane but he loves you. His claim that my sister sold us out is a stretch for me to believe, but I have too many memories that are suddenly explained. I also believe she is likely dead as a result of it.” He reached up and cupped my face, running his thumb over my fat lip. “I don't care about anything but you. I’m an idiot for it and I know that, but I love you.”

“I know. I just wish this were all less complicated.” My heart melted and all the bad things that had happened over the past few weeks melted with it.

“We can uncomplicate it. I can say things like I forgive you for the Servario thing, and I don't care if I ever marry or have kids.” He lowered his face to kiss me but the screaming got much worse. He paused and chuckled. “Your mom is a sick bitch.”

“I am aware of that.” I nodded. “But let’s not even whisper that. She won’t hesitate in killing you.” I pulled from his embrace and hobbled down the long hallway. We passed several rooms, all of them seeming to be half finished. “The eleven million didn't cover the dungeon.”

“Nope.”

He hurried ahead as another scream tore through the dank space. I tried to hurry, but my bare feet on the ancient tile floor wasn't a great feeling.

When I rounded a corner I hoped would be the last, I stopped, seeing Luce and Jack peeking in a doorway left ajar. Coop must have already gone in.

“Get out, Cooper! We will know everything we need to in no time!” my mom snapped. I hurried inside the room that might have been a storage space before my mom had turned it into a torture cell.

“No!” I turned, looking at it all, groaning when I saw the blood dripping from Janice’s face. “Mom, stop!”

She turned. “Darling, you’re awake. You look terrible. Go back to bed.” She scowled at my feet. “Are they bleeding?” She grimaced at me—my mom who had blood spatter on her face and arms grimaced at me.

“You can’t torture her. She hasn't done anything wrong.” I looked at Janice and knew immediately that wasn't quite true. “She has secrets, Evie. Everyone has secrets.” My mom sounded like she was reminding me to do my homework or that if I didn't tuck my tooth under the pillow the fairy might not come.

Seeing the cuts and marks on Janice’s skin, I knew this was not my mother. This was the thing she became when she detached. I knew that thing well enough. I too became something in the heat of the moment.

“Can I have one chance to try to talk to her?” I asked softly, staring into Janice’s eyes.

Mom sighed. “Fine, I need to get some other tools anyway. These are really terrible instruments.” She hurried from the room, scolding Jack the moment she got out into the hallway. “You really ought to keep a better torture cell, young man. How is anyone meant to get answers with these? A corkscrew only goes so deep; you need wider instruments. Do you have any thin hose?”

“Gross.” I shuddered and glanced at Coop. “Give us a moment?”

He wanted to say no, I saw that, but he didn't. He nodded at the hall. “I’ll be right there.”

When he closed the door I looked at Janice. “I am sorry. She doesn't trust anyone.”

Janice started to shake and sob as tears streamed her face, clearing away some of the blood from her pale cheeks.

“What have you told her?”

When she didn't speak I sighed. “She is going to tell me everything you told her. That's how we work. So spill.”

“No-nothing. Just that I knew why he wanted them.” She scrunched up her face and shook her head, but the words came out past her tight and trembling lips, “I knew about the Organization and their goal to save the planet from us. I didn't disagree with their manifesto. They came to me with their plan. Dr. Drusack, he said it would be simple. They-they would utilize it only on Third World Countries, already too far gone to fix, and lower the population and crowding. It is only a matter of time before the whole world explodes in sicknesses we cannot cure. The bubonic plague was back this year, in Colorado. They had an actual plague outbreak in Madagascar. The Ebola crisis isn’t over, and it isn’t near to being over, but they have stopped showing everyone in the developed countries the scenes of the rising death tolls in the news. It was making people sad. They were writing in to the newspapers and complaining.” She laughed and cried and made bubbles out of spit and blood as she dangled from the ceiling, barely touching the floor with her tiptoes.

“And you agreed with the culling of the population?” She disgusted me. “There were children in those hospitals, and Saudi Arabia isn’t a Third World Country. It’s the largest oil source in the world. You see the difference, right? Who’s the next target? Western Canada? Very Third World there, let me tell you. All that free health care is horrid.”

She laughed again. “I know what you’re saying is true. And I agree. I didn't know he would use it for evil. I thought he meant what he had said. He would use it to free the people in terrible places, living under horrid circumstances. He lied to me.”