“Second, did you say you killed fourteen soldiers? Right here at my ranch?”
“It wasn’t the best plan in the world, but we didn’t have much time. Gavil and I had to come up with something during the flight here while not drawing attention to ourselves. At the Facility, Williams has eyes and ears everywhere. We couldn’t risk the opportunity. Even though I don’t remember knowing your family, I was taking a leap of faith that if Gavil and I stopped the siege and protected your family, you would join us in defeating Williams.”
He shrugged slightly before adding, “We would be stronger as a unit and we need all the advantages we can get if we plan to go up against him.”
Meg watched his eyes, her breathing finally slowing, allowing herself a more clear-minded response to the situation. “You have amnesia.” It was a statement, not a question.
He nodded his head.
“You don’t remember anything about me?”
He hesitated briefly before shaking his head. “No. Well, see I get these migraines since the accident and when I finally pass out from the pain, I have dreamed of a dark-eyed girl. I didn’t know you were real until Williams showed me a picture of you.”
“You’ve dreamed of me?”
The deadly, hulking metasoldier strong enough to lift a bus actually looked away from her and blushed deeply, completely throwing her emotions into a whiplash-worthy spin.
Creed’s subconscious remembers me. He dreamed of me!
“We should go back and check on the family.” Creed stood and walked with the grace of a panther toward the barn door avoiding eye contact.
Meg smiled to herself at his gruff reaction. As she followed him, she reached out with her emotions to graze his mind—just a glance. Meg felt his sincerity, his earnestness glowing right there...but his emotional signature wasn’t warm red like it used to be back on the Island. It was blue, a royal blue that warmed her with its strength and determination. It was the same color as his eyes. This Creed was different from the Creed she had left back at Paulie’s house on the hill, but his core was just as beautiful.
Do I trust him? she asked herself.
Her answer was immediate and instinctive.
Absolutely.
When they got back to the living room, everyone was exactly where they had left them. From the kitchen, Meg retrieved a large bowl of water and a handful of washcloths from the laundry room. She busied herself with caring for her family as they waited to see who would wake first. They didn’t have to wait long before Alik began to moan and thrash about.
“Ali, wake up.” She pressed the cool cloth to his forehead, trying to soothe him awake.
He sat bolt upright screaming, “Nooooo!”
“Hey, it’s okay, Alik.” She turned his face to focus on her. “You’re okay and so is everyone else. We’re all right here, but they’re still sleeping.”
Alik looked frantically around the room at the bodies all around him. “What happened, Meg?” His voice was groggy with the lingering sedative.
“Now, there’s a long story, but, do you trust me, Alik?” Meg connected with his dazed eyes and sent him soothing emotions.
“Of course.”
She nodded, “Good. Then believe me when I say Creed and his brother Gavil have come to help us fight Williams. They had to shoot everyone with tranquilizers while they dealt with the fourteen other soldiers still loyal to Williams. The plan worked. Creed is here. Gavil and one other metasoldier who agreed to join the fight have gone to dispose of the soldiers’ bodies but will be back.” She watched his eyes again to see if he had caught all that. “Do you understand?”
Creed stepped into view so Alik could see him.
Alik’s gaze moved from his sister to the hulking soldier standing behind her. “Damn, brother, you got huge.”
Creed grinned widely assuming the meta’s use of the word “brother” was just casual.
Cole, Evan and Farrow woke soon after, each of them groggy and worried about what happened. Meg repeated the shortened version each time another person awoke until finally all the metahumans were roused.
Margo, Theo and Maze were still out. The boys carried them to bed so they could be more comfortable. After clearing the room of the unconscious, everyone reconvened in the kitchen. Food was pulled out of the refrigerator and pantry as everyone talked at once.
“You really don’t remember anything?” Farrow asked Creed.
He still felt funny about talking with the girl he only knew as Dr. Williams’ personal assistant, but if Meg trusted her, then she deserved trust.