Advancing ((Advance Industries #2)) Read online

  “What the hell was that?” I whisper, scared of drawing attention our way.

  Kye lets his head drop then pierces me with fierce hazel eyes. “That was a gun! And... An execution!” He says it quietly but with the authority he’s been lacking for a while.

  “A gun?” I question having no idea what that is.

  He nods, then says, “Let’s go, I’m suddenly not in the mood for shopping!” He strides ahead of me and I have to jog to catch up.

  I start walking beside him and say, “You were never in the mood for it!” Nothing, not even a crack of a smile. Sullen Kye is back! “Babe?”

  He looks at me but his eyes are wide and displaying conflicting emotions. “You go back, but I really need a change of clothes, underwear, and shoes. And I’m not just being girly, look at me!” I move my hand from my neck to my legs “I can’t wear these things a minute longer, I’ll buy something you’ll appreciate.” I smirk at him.

  Nope no coaxing, flirting or promises of sexy underwear will bring him back, he simply huffs and starts pulling me along the sidewalk. “No fucking way am I leaving you here to shop alone after what I just witnessed.”

  “But...”

  “Just move it Faith. I don’t want you here a second longer than is necessary!”

  Okay then! Sullen I can deal with but angry and demanding, nuh uh!

  “Kye, babe. Don’t take this out on me. What we saw was awful, I know but...”

  He spins around as I’m now lagging behind him. “But what? Let’s ignore it and go shop? Really Faith?”

  “That’s not what I was going to say! Stop shouting at me!”

  “You can get clothes another day. We’re leaving now!” He tries to take my arm but I shrug away. I will not take orders. Never again will I be made to do something I don’t want to. I’m not his hostage, he’s not my team leader, he’s my boyfriend and I won’t let him take his frustration out on me. I do have a say, finally, I get to decide who controls my life. It’s not Advance Industries and it’s not Kye – it’s me!

  “Screw you Kye. I am shopping now and I’m doing it without you. I’m happy to be in your presence again when you’ve calmed the fuck down!” I turn around and bolt down the street, praying I get away with this. He doesn’t deal with insubordinance well but I’m not trading one dictator for another. I turn the corner avoiding looking across the street, I don’t want to see that lifeless man again. I don’t want to see all the blood sticking to his top. I’ve never seen anything like that before and know the image will stay with me for a long time. I decide I don’t like that colour – red. The colour of anger, blood and the devil. I slow my steps so I can look at the shops I’m passing. I spot one that looks pretty and lady like and walk to the entrance. I stop and stare at what I’m wearing, I’m dirty and don’t fit in here wearing my t-shirt, jeans and lace up guard boots. I chew my lip wondering if I should just seize the day and ignore any staring from other customers. I need new clothes so I decide it’s worth being the butt of people’s jokes and I take a step forward. Before I can enter I’m lifted from the ground and slung over Kye’s shoulder. He slaps my arse and starts walking down the street like this is completely normal and acceptable.

  “Put me down!” I hiss.

  “Sorry babe, if you’re not gonna listen then I have no choice!”

  “Kye, you can’t just do this, it’s ridiculous. Put me down!” I demand this time.

  “Nope!” He says cheerfully, I can hear his bloody grin and though he’s pissing me off his playful side seems to be back so I let him win this round.

  Kye

  I can think of nothing other than my need to get Faith away from here. Guns exist, the AIG are in charge and they execute people on the street as simply as if they were ordering coffee. What is even more disturbing is the city residents seem unconcerned with the behaviour, almost as if it’s a regular occurrence. No one is even interested in the fact that I have a woman thrown over my shoulder, her delectable arse in the air. I could be taking her against her will... Well, I am but they don’t know otherwise. I just wonder what is classed as a crime here? What is the scale? Or does every crime result in the same form of punishment? More importantly how the hell did the President introduce guns back into the mix after shoot-to-kill was outlawed? This was clearly Fraser’s doing. I witnessed the stockpile, maybe that was the plan all along. Get himself named as President and overrule any laws he saw fit?

  I could see his lies in the election film and now more than ever I know I have to do something. Upholding the law was my life’s passion before Faith. I have to go back; I just don’t know what part I’m meant to go back to. I need time alone to think this through without Faith’s eyes burning into me, reading my deepest, darkest thoughts and softening my soul.

  I have to stop letting her induce my guilt. I can’t even let her be a team player on this one because she’ll point blank refuse to listen to reason and I can’t say I blame her. I’m on my own and the first thing I’m going to do is go to work tomorrow with Gramps... uh Jack, and find out as much as I can about this Advance Industries.

  “You going to behave if I put you down?”

  Silence.

  “Faith?”

  More silence.

  “I’ll leave you up there if you’re going to do the silent treatment!”

  Still nothing. Stubborn woman. I swat her arse again to teach her a lesson, plus I love the sound it makes.

  “You can’t just manhandle me when you don’t get your own way, Kye!” She mumbles.

  “Oh but I can Sweetheart. I can and I will, anything to ensure your safety. If you don’t like it – tough!”

  “Okay put me down. I’m capable of walking! You win. Happy?”

  I slide her down my front and kiss her nose. “Ecstatic Sweetheart! You know how I love it when I win!” For good measure, I swat her arse again.

  She bats my hands away trying to maintain her displeasure but I know I’ve weakened her with my boyish behaviour. Good. I’ll need her to believe my head is in the right frame of mind if I’ve any chance of investigating without being rumbled by her.

  I summon a hoverride with Jack’s Comm-rec and when it arrives I hoist Faith up into it, just resisting taking a bite of that arse as she waggles it in my face. I’m sure she did it on purpose. Focus! That’s what I need to do! I can’t resist it though so settle for pinching it, that’ll teach her a lesson! She yelps and gives me a butter-wouldn’t-melt smile, then shakes it again! Temptress!

  Chapter 4

  Faith

  The last few weeks have been wonderful. Kye has been attentive, playful and oh so fricking sexy. He’s re-explored every inch of my body like I’m his own personal treasure map and he’s desperate to find the loot. He’s worshipped me but I can feel he’s holding back. He often gets a faraway look on his beautifully rugged face whenever he thinks I’m not paying attention. To make up for the ruined shopping trip he ordered me to shop via Jack’s Comm and have everything delivered. He’s been bonding with Jack and Lizzie and I hoped he was more at peace. Unfortunately, for him his eyes give him away, one look into them and I can see everything he’s trying to hide which is making me question myself and how much I love him.

  Should I sacrifice my wants, needs and expectations in order to surrender to his? Probably! But I’ve emerged as a new woman, in charge of my own destiny. I don’t want to be forced anymore, I don’t want to stifle my feelings and needs. Can I do it for him? Maybe. Is it worth making him happy again if I won’t be around to witness and enjoy it? More than likely. So what’s holding me back? I know what he needs to do. All I need to do is tell him I’m on board and I’d see the weight dissolve from his shoulders. So why am I not doing it?

  I’m sat in the garden, alone, pondering all these stupid decisions that always need to be dealt with. Kye is with Jack at his new favourite place - Advance Industries labs. I know he’s scoping them out, he thinks I’m a fool but as long as he plays nice, I haven’t the heart to tell him
he’s been rumbled. Lizzie appears from nowhere or I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t notice her approach. She sits next to me and regards me with that familiar thoughtful look.

  “What’s wrong Lovey?” Straight to the point. I love this woman.

  “I’m not really sure.” I shrug as if that answers everything. I don’t know how to explain Kye and I skirting around our issues. Both of us acting and hoping that the other hasn’t noticed.

  She nods and twirls her pearl earring. Something she does often. “He loves you very much, you do know that, don’t you?”

  Wow, how perceptive is she? “I know, but... He loves you guys more. I can’t compete with that.”

  “Why do you need to compete?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Maybe talking it through will alleviate some concerns. You’re obviously not making any headway mulling it over in your head.”

  That’s all the go ahead I need and the words start tumbling from my mouth, “Kye believes that by coming to save me and in succeeding in doing so that that’s what caused this change. He wants to make it right but to do so we’d have to go back and do things differently. To return this time and you guys to how you were meant to be it has to be done, but by doing that Kye and I would be apart again. He’s desperately trying to work out who to save. He’s torn between the three people he loves most in the world and I’m being selfish. I want him to choose me. Not just because I can’t be without him but ... I also don’t want to go back. I don’t want to live that life again. I can’t.”

  “Yes Lovey, that was complicated. Have you actually sat down together and tried to work this out? Surely there’s a loophole. And if not... he’ll choose you. As much as I believe his tale I know nothing about him. I never saw his first steps, days at school. If he needs to let us go to keep you he has my blessing if that’s what he needs.”

  “That’s what I mean when I say you guys I mean the other versions of you. The ones that did witness those things. The Grandparents that brought him up and that did know him. He’s breaking over this, he hides it well but I can see it. I can feel it and I’m doing nothing to ease the pain.”

  “Talk to him dear. Tell him what you told me. Stop hiding your feelings from each other. Lay it all out and work together to find a solution. If I know anything after being married all this time it’s that two heads are always better than one. I bet he’s in knots over how this is affecting you just the same as you’re worried how it affects him. Put your heads together Lovey.” She pats my arm, gives me a small smile and walks away leaving me staring at her back. Wise woman.

  I rise from the seat ready to join her inside when Kye comes barrelling around the corner nearly knocking me over. He grabs my hand and starts walking to the front of the building.

  “Where are we going? What’s the urgency?” I ask as I’m dragged along behind him.

  He takes my face in his hands and brushes his lips against my ear, whispering he says, “Not here Sweetheart. Follow me. Trust me.” His warm breath against my ear has my insides quivering. How does he do that?

  He’s acting strange again but I’ll always follow and trust him. How could I resist that husky voice? If there’s a reason he can’t tell me here, then I’ll wait. He starts leading on again and I realise we’re heading to the beach. It’s starting to get dark and I wonder why we have to go there now.

  “Kye we aren’t allowed on the...”

  “I don’t care!” He says and continues pulling me. He’s in a crazy rush and anticipation prickles. Oh no has he made a decision? We walk down the grassy mound, across the pebbles and reach the sand. I’m much more reluctant now I’ve reached that conclusion. He stops and looks around probably checking we’re alone before pulling me to the right.

  “Jonah made contact!” He whispers.

  “WHAT? That’s great!” I beam at him.

  “The team are going to meet us here, clue me in on what went down!”

  “Why so hush, hush and secretive? This is totally secluded!”

  “Something doesn’t feel right, he sounded... worried!” He rubs the nape of his neck and pulls me over to a spot partially hidden by large boulders. He sits me down but remains standing, still scanning the beach. He’s edgy and his nervousness starts transferring to me.

  “Babe I’m sure they’re fine, they made it back. It’s probably a shock to the system. We’ve had weeks to absorb the change, they won’t have and it’s bound to make them jittery.”

  He simply nods in response. Looking every which way for an imagined threat. I hug myself, I’m not dressed for the cold and the worry worming its way into my bones is not helping.

  “Stay there,” he says and starts wandering away. He cuts such a forlorn silhouette. I stand to see where he’s going, is this a trick? Is he just going to go back? No goodbye, nothing that would make it harder, just abandonment? I shake away the niggling doubt when I make out a figure walking to him in the distance. I can’t make out who it is but pray that it’s Jonah. They hug and my relief is huge – no threat! They start walking back towards me and a delighted smile breaks free when I see it is Jonah. Where are the rest of the team?

  I run towards him and hug him tightly. Jonah was never a favourite of mine, we butted heads more often than not but still... he’s one of us. He only accepted my place on the team after many heated discussions with Kye. He knew what would happen, he predicted that I’d soften Kye, make him lose his edge and make bad decisions. We don’t dislike each other but we’re never going to be best friends. He stayed behind to save my sisters and I’ll see him in a new light for that alone. I’ll be more understanding of his gruffness, abruptness, and short tempered ways. He holds me at arm’s length, offers a tight smile then sits next to the boulder. We join him and I’m dying to bombard him with questions. I start fidgeting with my need to know what went down after we left, how the other men are, how my sisters are, how Fraser escaped. I don’t know where to start.

  Kye places a hand on my jiggling knee, his way of trying to calm me and get me to stop.

  “When did you get back?” Is what comes out, civility beating my burning need for knowledge.

  “A few hours ago. We went our separate ways to find our families and let them know we’re back and safe. I quickly realised something was wrong. I... I can’t find May. The others Commed me with similar stories and of relatives having no idea who they are. It wasn’t until I calmed enough to think rationally instead of emotionally that I thought about you guys and if you made it.”

  “Where are the others?” Kye asks.

  “Making their way here as we speak.” He hunches his shoulders and bows his head. He looks so lost that I grab hold of his hand. This is my fault. He had no need to leave his wife to come for me, he did it for Kye and look how he’s rewarded. He must hate me. I feel a guilt so enormous that I feel sick. My mouth starts watering and I swallow down the excess saliva too quickly which starts off a coughing fit.

  I excuse myself. I need to walk off this guilt and I’m sure they’d like to talk without me present. I have to get away from Jonah’s defeatism. It’s so uncharacteristic of him that I feel worse, look what I’ve reduced him to. That great hulk of a man looks broken and I know that feeling. His wife doesn’t exist in this new time, another thing that’s my fault. For God sake, will I ever get anything right? Will my life ever be simple? How many people have the fate of a city’s happiness in the palm of their hand? I guess it’s time to give in, do the right thing. Admit my selfishness was uncalled for and put others first again. The fate of so many versus my own fate trumps everything, right?

  I start trudging back to the men, my heart heavy. Am I really going to volunteer to do this? Will Kye agree? My stomach starts churning again and I take some deep breaths trying to curb the uneasiness brewing within. It’s pitch black now, only the stars to light the way. I stop to stare up at them and ponder how small I really am in the grand scheme of things. So why do I feel like I have the weight of the world on
my shoulders?

  I turn quickly when I hear sand being kicked up behind me. My heart starts racing. This beach is a forbidden territory and although Jack is the watchman I don’t want to chance a face to face with an armed AIG. I don’t know if it’s patrolled and I definitely don’t want to end up like that man from the shopping expedition. I can make out a group all advancing on me and try to find a place to hide – there is nowhere!

  I summon my inner strength and brace myself for what’s about to happen when a hand reaches out and pulls me forwards. Then I’m being hugged, it’s fleeting and oh so confusing until I’m released and look into the face of Trask!

  “Oh my God!” I squeal and fling myself at him again.

  “Alright, calm down Girl!” He says, his familiar grin directed at me.

  I reluctantly leave him be but my face can’t hide my delight. My friend is back; I didn’t even realise how much I missed him until now.

  “Where’s my man?” Trask asks.

  “I think you mean my man!” I correct and grab his hand to pull him to where I last saw Kye. I look back at the others, they look noticeably glum so I offer a quick, “Hey guys, I’m so glad you’re back.” Then keep walking.

  “Hey, Faith?” Callan says from behind me.

  “Yeah?” I throw over my shoulder.

  “What’s with the favouritism? He gets a hug and we get ‘hey guys’? What’s up with that?” He teases.

  “Aww did you miss me, Cal?”

  He shrugs. “Meh!”

  “You need some love?” I tease some more.

  “Well I did risk my life for you, you’d think you could stretch to a kiss!” He taps his cheek, grinning mischievously.

  “Back the fuck off Cal! You’re lucky I’m relieved to see you or you’d be eating sand right now!” Where the hell did Kye sprout from? I wince a little at the aggression in his tone, we were only messing around, getting acquainted again as a team. Talk about overreacting.