Without Hesitation, Talia Jager [warren buffett book recommendations txt] 📗

Chapter Twenty-One

Akacia

Everleigh was holding something back. I just didn’t know what it was and I didn’t want to pester her. She’d tell me when she was ready.

As we walked down the corridor, I noticed Ever stiffen. Following her gaze, I saw a couple uniforms walked toward us. They didn’t look to be after us, so I took her hand and squeezed it as we kept walking. She let out a sigh of relief when they passed.

At the hostess desk, Ever asked, “Can we sit at the bar?”

The lady nodded and pointed to the back of the room.

We sat on stools and the bartender asked what we wanted. Our drinks arrived quickly along with a bowl of pretzels. We talked while munching and sipping our drinks.

A calm, relaxed feeling came over me. My body felt warm and tingly. I put my hand on Ever’s arm and traced her tattoo.

“My crew really likes you,” she said.

“I like them, too. They feel like family. Besides Bristow, there’s nobody back on Valinor that I really hang out with. It’s always learning and leading. There’s nobody who wants to be my friend or likes me for me. It’s nice to have that. Is it hot in here?”

She grinned. “It’s the alcohol.”

“Right.” I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Glancing at her neck, I could barely make out the hickey in the dim room. I thought about how I’d like to make more marks on her body.

“I have feelings for you,” she muttered.

“I gathered from all the kissing.”

She shot me a look that told me this was not the time for sarcasm.

“I have feelings for you and I know I can’t be with you. It’s too dangerous. Between being a criminal and being on the run from the Authority, it’s not a life I want you to have.”

“Shouldn’t I have a say in this?”

“There’s no way out. Not one I can think of and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I just wanted you to know.”

We sat there in silence for a while. I blinked to keep the tears away. I understood what she was saying, though I didn’t agree.

“We have today. That’s what matters. Tomorrow’s not promised for anyone. So live for today, without hesitation.” And with that, I leaned over and kissed her.

“We should go.”

Picking up my glass, I swallowed the last bit of my drink. “I’m going to go to the bathroom. Meet you up front?”

She held up her glass, which was still a third of the way full. “Be there in a few minutes.”

I was waiting for Ever at the front of the restaurant when I heard, “The crew of the Nirvana.” My ears perked up and I took a step closer. “A male in the casino, female here.”

“Is she still here?”

“Yes.”

I slipped away and back to the bar where Ever was finishing her drink. I leaned down. “You need to come with me now.”

She met my eyes and then stood. I led her away from the wall until the Authority passed by. Then I hurried to the side door and pushed her out in front of me. “Is the ship docked under a fake name?”

“Always.”

“Good. Go. Get back to the ship. Get ready to go.”

“What is going on?”

“They know we’re here. I’ll get the others.”

“Kaci, no. I’m not putting you in danger.”

“I’m the only one they’re not looking for.”

She knew I was right, but I could see the war raging inside her head.

“You have an earpiece, right?”

“Yeah, but they probably have them off.” She tapped her ear as we kept walking. “Hux? Zabe? Bri?” She shook her head. “Nothing.”

I knew where Huxley and Briar were so I asked, “Where’s Zabe?”

“I’ll get him,” she said. I opened my mouth to argue, but she kept talking, “I know where he is and I know who he’s with. It’s too dangerous for you to go. You get the others.”

I didn’t want to let her go. I was scared she’d get caught. “Ever…”

“I’ll be okay, Kace.” She turned and rushed off. My heart lurched and I chastised myself for not opening up more to her about how I felt. What if I never got another chance?

Looking at a map, I made my way to the casino. I was about to do things I never imagined myself doing. First, I stopped at a wig shop. When the salesperson wasn’t looking, I put one on and walked out. I could return the wig when I was done, but right now, I needed a disguise. Not that anyone was looking for me, but so I wouldn’t be identified when they went back and looked at the recordings.

Two guards stood at the entrance of the casino. Holding my head high, I walked right past them. I scanned the room as I weaved in and around people and the betting machines. Finally my eyes landed Huxley. I didn’t go to him right away. I had to assess the situation first. There were four uniforms watching. I wasn’t sure what they were waiting for, but I devised a plan in my head and hoped it would work.

Grabbing a drink off a waiter’s tray and downing it—because let’s face it, for what I was about to do, I needed the liquid courage—I walked straight to Huxley with a smile on my face. He looked up, surprise written all over his face. I ran my hand through his hair and sat on his lap.

“Are you almost done? I’m getting very impatient.” I planted a kiss on his lips and his mouth dropped open. I kissed his neck and then whispered, “The Authority knows you’re here. We need to get you out of here and back to the ship. Cash out.”

“Oh darlin’, I’m ready.” He pushed over his chips and the dealer gave him a card, which he handed to me. Standing, he put his arm around me, and I led him toward the biggest group of people I could find. A quick sideways glance and, I saw the guards moving in.

“There’s a side exit. Go.”

“What about you?”

“I’ve got this.” I almost scared myself on how well my plan was working. He split and I took off the wig and tucked it in my shirt. I walked right up to a booth and handed over the card. They gave me money. More money than I had ever seen.

“Do you have a bag?”

“A bag?”

“Shopping bag?”

“Um…” He looked around and picked something up from the floor. “Here.”

It was small, but it would do. “Thanks.” I took the bag, shoved the money in and walked out. Nobody was looking my way. I slipped back in the wig shop and replaced it perfectly.

“Do you wish to try on a wig?” a voice surprised me from behind.

“No, thank you.” I smiled and hurried out of the store to the hypnotist’s office. I stepped up to the counter.

“May I help you?” the lady behind the desk said.

“I’m looking for my…sister. She has pink hair. She said she’d be here.”

“I can’t give out any information.”

I thought for a moment. “Well, can you give her a message from me. Can you tell her that her sister needs to speak with her immediately?”

“But then you’d know if she was here.”

“I already know she’s here. I’ll turn around, so I don’t technically see you leave. Go out the door. You can tell her. She won’t mind.” I placed a coin on her desk.

The lady mashed her lips together and tapped her fingers on the desk. Finally, she reached out and grabbed the coin. “Fine.”

I paced the room as I waited wondering if Ever and Huxley made it back okay. After a few long moments, Briar came out with an amused look on her face. “Hey, sorry I was late.”

“No problem. Did you get what you needed?”

“Maybe. What’s up?”

“Mom needs us.”

“Okay, let’s go.” She turned to the lady behind the desk. “Thank you.”

We walked calmly down the corridor. Briar hit her earpiece. “Ever? Yeah. We’re on our way. Everyone else? Good.” She glanced over at me and said, “Everyone else made it back.”

“Hey! You there!” a voice behind us yelled. “Stop!”

“Don’t turn around,” Briar said. “Keep your head down.”

“Authority!” they yelled. “Stop or we’ll shoot!”

“There’s a store coming up. We can go through it, try to lose them, and get to the ship,” Briar said.

We took off running and a tranquilizer dart whizzed past me. Ducking into the store, we weaved through aisles and came out the other side. Briar led me down a dark, back corridor. I could hear shouting, but no more shots were fired. We got to the bay and boarded the spacecraft.

“We’re here, Ever. Go,” Briar said. Turning to me, she said, “Hang on.”

I grabbed ahold of a nearby railing as the ship shot into space and left the station far behind. Briar and I made our way to the bridge. Ever’s face relaxed when our eyes met. “You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“This girl,” Huxley said. “She’s incredible.”

Heat rushed to my face.

“I’m serious.” He grinned.

“I agree,” Briar said.

Before they said anything else, I asked, “Zabe, did you get what you needed?”

“Yes. I’m going to go work on it right now.”

“Zabe?”

“Shouldn’t take long, Ever.” He strode out of the room.

She nodded. “We stocked up on supplies—”

“Oh, and I got the money.” I tossed the bag on the table. Noticing Briar spreading out her maps, I asked, “Briar, did you learn anything?”

“I think…they may be on one of these planets.” Her hand hovered over an area and then another. “Or these.”

Huxley and Ever joined her and examined the area she was pointing at.

“What did you remember?”

“You could see two other planets from ours. The sunstar was a blue giant. I don’t remember seeing much