“Do you realize what you’re saying?” His voice echoed with pain.
“Meg, her brothers and the other metas have decided they can’t let this opportunity slide. They want to proceed with the original plan. I’ll be leaving with them. When we return—if we return—I’ll help make arrangements for you to move closer to Cole. He’ll probably need to stay at the hospital for a while.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me after everything we’ve been through, Margo.” Theo’s voice was hollow, completely distraught to the point of detachment.
“Maybe you’ll find it better not to be involved with me, Theo. Let’s face it; I haven’t exactly been the best influence in your life over the last year.” Margo turned to walk out of the room, hating herself for the callousness she was forcing herself to wear.
“This isn’t you Margo,” Theo called to her back.
“My children are my world. Nothing comes before them except my God. And to be honest, I didn’t know what it was to truly believe in God until I saw Him in the eyes of my children.” Margo still hadn’t turned to look at Theo, afraid if she did, she’d go running into his arms. “Goodbye, Theo.”
Her hand was shaking so violently when she reached the elevators, she had to try three times to push the down button before she saw it light up properly under her finger.
As she waited for the elevator doors to open, she found herself chanting. Walk away soldier. Walk away soldier. Do what you have to do to live another day. Just walk away.
The soldier in her refused to cry instead flipping the switch so by the time the elevator doors did slide open and she stepped into the cramped elevator, the shaking in her hands was gone. She pressed the button for the ground floor. Her hands, and the rest of her for that matter, were as steady as the slab of cement Cole hit.
Chapter 41 Rise of the Youth
They had to commission another flight. It’s not that they were against flying public airways. It’s just that airlines don’t look too kindly on passengers who are packing, and this bunch was definitely packing.
They had six cases full of guns and ammunition, night vision goggles, communication equipment, explosives, detonators and oh, so much more. None of which would have been allowed on a commercial aircraft. The metas were ready for war.
Everyone was dressed in black from head to toe. The first couple hours of the flight they used to talk through the whole plan for the umpteenth time. It was tight. Everyone was absolutely clear and ready to end Kenneth Williams and the hell he created here on Earth.
Looking out the window, Meg saw what looked like dark shadows in the distance and realized it was land. They were very close. Inwardly, she prayed for everyone; none of them wanted to die tonight. At her feet, Maze snorted loudly before standing and stretching his front paws forward and lifting his behind into the air. He looked at Meg with his smart yellow eyes.
“Well, big man?” She cooed softly to him, scratching his ears just the way he liked it.
“This time, you’d better darn well stay put when I leave you with mom.” She stared him in the eyes as she spoke. He let out a soft whine.
“Don’t give me that,” Meg scolded.
His thick paw reached up and rested on his best friend’s knee.
“I know you saved my butt back in California and I’ve said ‘thank you’ hundreds of times—in the form of steaks!” Meg grinned at her best friend. “But this time is different.”
Maze clamored up into the seat beside her and looked directly into her eyes, as if he really wanted to discuss this.
“Do you realize you’ve been shot by tranquilizers twice? And you’ve had wooden shrapnel exploded into your flank.” Meg’s hands gently ran down his shoulder where the injury had long since healed. If she searched through his thick coat, she could still find the scars, though.
Maze pranced in his seat then decided he wasn’t close enough to her. He climbed into Meg’s lap and licked her face.
She pressed her lips closed tight, not wanting to get tongued by her coyote and giggled at him before pushing his nose away and wiping her face with the back of her black sleeve.