“Of course you would. You’re a cop.” Sloan shrugged and looked out her side window.
“There’s another saying that applies here: ‘If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to keep getting what you’re getting’.” Greg shook his head.
“Let’s run this hypothetical,” Sloan looked back at the detective.
“Okay, so you all come into the office with me. They’ll want to get a statement from each of you. Then there will be the interview.”
“You make it sound so simple,” Farrow said shaking her head.
“It can be. Just tell the truth.”
“What about you?”
“I would be putting my reputation—hell, my career on the line.”
“And you’d be willing to do that?”
“You’re willing to give up your lives to protect those you love, right? That’s why you joined the family?”
“The Winters are good people—the best people I’ve ever known. Yes, I have chosen to fight alongside them.” When Farrow spoke of her adopted family, she raised her chin naturally and pulled her shoulders back. Her body language spoke volumes about her devotion to the family and Greg Burns was excellent at reading body language.
“Same here,” Sloan nodded decisively.
“I couldn’t agree more. Theo is the best guy I know—my best friend for nearly forty years. I’d do anything for him. Now, I need to get him and the rest of you in protective custody until we can bring Arkdone and Williams to justice.”
“Protective custody is a bad idea,” Sloan said bluntly.
“Why?”
“Because not only will it not work—these monsters have more money and power than anything your office can protect us from—but anyone who stands in their way of acquiring the original three will be killed. Leveled—completely and absolutely leveled.” Farrow spoke with such assurance; it gave the old detective pause.
“Farrow’s right, Mr. Burns.” Sloan looked straight into the rearview mirror, delivering her determination through the glint in her gray eyes. “The only hope we have of stopping those two from continuing to torment humans and pursue their plans to create the ultimate soldiers and candidates is in that SUV right in front of us.” She nodded toward the SUV carrying Meg, Alik and Evan.
“Our job,” Farrow continued, “is simple. We must protect them at all costs because it will be those three who will figure out a way to end this.”
“If we keep doing what we’re doing, Mr. Burns, we will prevail,” Sloan said with certainty. “But I think you’d better decide if you’re willing to sacrifice all that you say you are. Our survival is not guaranteed. Those of us who chose to fight alongside the Winters are pawns in this game: useful, necessary but expendable.”
Burns continued the drive to the hospital in stunned silence. The girls had said their piece and though they knew he was torn by what was said, they’d needed to set the record straight. The two teenagers spoke with wisdom brought on by their difficult lives. Their words made Greg realize he had a lot to think about—that, and the girls’ passionate resolve made him feel useless and old.
Chapter 23 Surprises
The SUV was quiet. Meg watched Danny sleep in his booster seat and felt her heart tighten exquisitely with pure love for him. Their connection was strong, like a series of unbreakable tethers wrapping her to the little boy however near or far their physical bodies. She frowned slightly as she thought about the danger he was in being one of them. Just being a metahuman, he was already at great risk. But he was just a toddler and not physically strong enough to protect himself.
Evan broke the silence. “Why would Arkdone want to turn against Williams and take us for himself? I mean, we’ve always known pretty clearly why Williams wanted us. He wanted revenge against Mom for taking us and he wanted to duplicate that first generation, original formula. Nefarious plans explained, check. So why does Senator Arkdone want to get in on the act? What’s in it for him? Isn’t he powerful enough?” Evan asked no one in particular.
“Power is all-consuming to the evil heart. There is never enough.” Theo pulled up to a red light and waited, watching the pattern of traffic with an automatic eye.
“He makes metamonarchs. They do his bidding. He’s into politics. Is anyone else getting worried about the pattern we’re seeing here?” Cole looked around the SUV, brows raised.
“Which should we worry about more, Williams or Arkdone?” Alik rolled his head, popping the tightness from his neck.
Meg was still watching Danny when she felt it.
The light turned green.
Theo started to accelerate.
And all kinds of warning bells went off in Meg’s head.
Oh God, no. “Watch out!” she screamed and leaned her body over the startled Danny to shield him.
CRASH!