فصل سی و هفتم

Chapter 37: You Call This Trust?

A few minutes later I crept into Ostin’s room. He and McKenna were asleep next to each other. I turned off their alarm. Then I went back out to the couch and lay down next to Taylor. I couldn’t sleep. For nearly an hour I just looked at her.

My heart ached. I didn’t regret agreeing to Jack’s plan—I would never regret saving Taylor’s life. I just knew how slim the chances were that I would see her again. My world had changed in the last year in no small part due to Taylor. Having someone care about me and believe in me like she did was as much a power as my electricity was. I thought of writing her a note, but I really didn’t know where to begin. Instead, I just cuddled up next to her. It was probably close to noon when I fell asleep.

Jack woke me. It was dark again. I looked up and he put his finger over his mouth. I lifted Taylor’s arm from me, then slowly rolled off the couch to my knees. I paused to look at her one last time. I wondered if I would ever see that beautiful face again. I pushed the thought from my mind. At least I can guarantee that she will see her home again, I told myself.

The villa was dark and quiet as I walked out the front door and shut it behind me. Jack was leaning against the porch wall. It was overcast, as Dodds had said it might be, and there were no stars or moon visible.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“One thirty. They’ll be here any minute.” He looked at me. “You ready?” “As ready as I’ll ever be. You?”

“I’m ready.”

A few minutes later the lights of the van appeared at the end of the driveway. “Let’s stop them before they get close enough to wake anybody,” Jack said, walking toward the light. We met the van partway down the lane. Jaime was driving and he stopped the van next to us. Jack slid open the door and we both got in.

“Where’s everyone else?” Dodds asked.

“It’s just us,” Jack said.

“That’s not the plan,” Dodds said.

“This is a better plan,” I said. “Two can do it. The others will just get in the way.” “Everyone agreed to this?” Dodds asked.

“We don’t have time to argue,” Jack said. “Let’s go.” Dodds looked upset but relented. “All right, it’s your plan. Let’s go.” Jaime started to put the van into gear then stopped.

Dodds looked back at us. “Where’s everyone else?” “We just told you,” Jack said.

He squinted. “What are you talking about?” “It’s just the two of us,” I said. “Come on, let’s go.” Again, Jaime started to pull the van forward, then stopped.

Dodds turned back. “Where’s everyone else?” Jack scowled. “What the . . .”

“It’s Taylor,” I said.

I looked out the window to see Taylor storming down the driveway. When she got to the van she threw open the door. “Really? After all we talked about, you still tried to go without me?” “I just . . .”

“Lied? Conspired?”

“He was just trying to protect you,” Jack said.

“You zip it,” Taylor said. “I already know this was your idea.” She spun back at me. “Really? This is trust?” “I’m sorry I tried to leave you out. But I’m not sorry.” “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means he loves you,” Jack said.

“I said zip it,” Taylor said.

“It means I love you,” I said.

“And that’s why we stay together. We’re not just a couple, Michael, we’re the Electroclan—at least what’s left of it—and that means we stick together through good and bad times. We’ve gotten this far because we’ve stuck together. I know you were trying to protect me, but I didn’t ask to be protected. I asked to be with you.” “I thought it was the right thing,” I said.

“I know, and part of me loves that you did this. But the right thing is us working together. All of us.” She turned to Jack. “And that means you, too. You don’t have to prove you’re a hero. You’ve proven that so many times I’ve lost count. We all admire and love you, just like Wade did. Don’t take that away from us. Please.” Jack looked stunned. Then his eyes welled up with tears.

“All right,” I said. “Let’s go wake Ostin and McKenna.”