She and Carter exchanged a long look. She could see in his eyes that he knew it, too.
‘Yes,’ Allie said after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper. ‘I agree.’
‘And I agree,’ Carter said.
Lucinda accepted this without comment. ‘The last Rule is this. I expect something to happen. I expect violence. Any one of us could be hurt. We have done all we can to prevent such an outcome but pure practicality and bitter experience indicate no amount of preparation will prevent Nathaniel from violating all the parley rules and attempting something … unnecessary. If anything happens to me or to Carter, Allie, you must promise to run. You must leave that person, whichever one of us it is, and you must get out of that park and to the safe house. You must not hesitate. I will need your agreement.’
Cold with horror, Allie stared at the laptop. A sudden brutal memory jabbed into her thoughts like an ice-pick. Jo lying in a pool of blood on an icy road. All alone.
Pressing her lips together tightly she shook her head in mute disagreement but, before she could speak, Carter reached across the space dividing them. Prising her fingers loose from the chair arm she’d been unconsciously gripping, he took her hand in his.
Still shaking her head she looked up at him, already knowing what he would say.
‘Say yes,’ he said.
‘No, Carter.’ Her eyes pleaded with him to understand. ‘I can’t.’
‘Allie, Lucinda’s right. Whatever happens, you have to run. I’ll be fine. I promise. Say yes.’ His gaze was steady and his hand was warm on hers.
But how could she do it? She couldn’t just leave him or Lucinda hurt. If they needed her …
‘Allie.’ Her grandmother’s haughty voice shattered her thoughts. ‘I need your commitment or the deal is off. You stay at the school and I meet Nathaniel alone. You know what that will mean for the school and your friends. You know what Nathaniel is capable of.’
On the other side of the desk, Isabelle made a small sound of disapproval but Allie didn’t look at her. Her eyes were on Carter.
His gaze never wavered. ‘Say yes.’
Her thoughts in turmoil, Allie tore her gaze away and let her head fall back against the cool leather of the chair. She couldn’t look at him and do this.
‘Yes,’ she whispered. A tear escaped from beneath her lashes. ‘Fine. Yes. I’ll do it.’
‘Good.’ Lucinda’s voice held no emotion.
At that moment, Allie loathed her grandmother almost as much as Nathaniel. That she could make her agree to leave Carter alone to bleed to death like Jo. And for what? For power she didn’t believe in? For money she didn’t want?
No. To stop Nathaniel from hurting other people.
Even then. Even for that. She knew she’d never do it. Not really.
Lucinda wasn’t finished yet. Her voice emerged from the computer, cool and distant. ‘Carter?’
Still holding Allie’s hand, he looked at the computer as if he’d expected this. ‘Yes. I’m here.’
‘I will also need an agreement from you. Your Rule is slightly different from Allie’s. I am told you are strong, reliable and determined, and that you care for her very much. So your Rule is this. If anything happens to me or to Allie, you are to get her out of the park. Get her away from Nathaniel at all costs and to the safe house. Do not leave her at any point for any reason. If I am injured, do not let her try to help me. Do I have your agreement?’
Allie’s fingers tightened around Carter’s.
He turned to meet her gaze. His eyes were dark and endless, warm and trustworthy. As familiar and loving as family. As necessary as oxygen.
Jump.
‘Yes,’ he said.
‘Good.’ Lucinda’s brisk, authoritative tone betrayed no emotion. ‘Then we are agreed. Now, let’s go over the plans again …’
36
Thirty-six
The gleaming black Land Rovers arrived just before seven the next evening. They sat outside the front door like a glamorous funeral procession.
Allie noticed them as soon as she walked down from her room.
Raj had told the students to dress like ‘normal’ kids their age would on a Friday night, so for the first time in weeks she wore street clothes – they felt strange on her body. The jeans were stiff and itchy. Over them she wore a long, black T-shirt. Her red Doc Marten boots were laced up to the knee. To complete the picture of youthful normality, she’d encircled her eyes in heavy eyeliner and mascara. Her hair hung loose over her shoulders.
Night School: Resistance (Night School 4)
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