Huxley

There’s a celebration going on when I enter the compound. Music plays from the stereo, and there’s a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne open on the living room table. Emerson has Caroline on his shoulders and the toddler is full-belly laughing as he dances around with her. And even Beth, who’s more reserved than her younger sister has a big smile on her face watching Fallon blow bubbles in the air.

Tia wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me.

“I can’t help but chuckle at the fierceness of her affection. “What’s going on?”

She pulls back, tears in her eyes, and a huge grin stretching her face. “Banks found it.”

“What?”

“A cure,” Tia says, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. “It was in Em’s flower all along. Grace was right.” Her hands flutter to her belly. “Everything is going to be fine now. Our babies...” She chokes on the last word.

I pull her back against me and kiss her forehead. “That’s incredible.”

And a little too easy, my brain warns. But I push the thought away.

I glance around the room, all the men are here, except Banks, but as I meet each of the gazes, I see the tension under their smiles.

“Where’s Banks?” I ask when Salinger hands me a glass of champagne.

“In the lab, where else?”

“So, this is real? He’s found a cure?”

Salinger nods, and I watch Tia sit down on the couch and pull Beth into her lap. I hate to bring a gray cloud on such a happy day, but there are things I need to discuss with the men.

“You know this doesn’t change anything?” I mutter. “I mean with Thorne. He won’t stop just because Banks has found another cure.”

“I know,” Sal says, his gaze trained on Tia. “We’re also aware that if he finds out about the flower, he and the government will stop at nothing to sabotage our efforts.”

He’s right.

Billions of dollars have been thrown into Thorne’s research. They won’t sit idly by and let an unknown scientist get recognition for saving the world.

“Banks will need to watch his back,” I say as I remember how easy it was for me to sneak into that damn lab. It would take nothing for one of Thorne’s men to break in.

“Which is why we’re keeping it quiet until Banks has patented the drug and we’ve cultivated the flower.”

With Caroline still on his shoulders, Emerson walks towards us, and the toddler reaches out her tiny hands for me.

“Hey, darling,” I say, tossing her up in the air then tickling her.

She laughs and claps her hands for more.

“Isn’t it past your bedtime?” I ask as she tries to wiggle free.

“I’ll take them up,” Tia says, holding Beth’s hand.

I don’t argue with her, because there are things I need to discuss with the men.

“What’s wrong?” Giles asks when Tia and the girls are out of earshot. The man can always sense everyone’s moods.

“We weren’t wrong when thought Helene’s bodyguard was with Thorne. I did some digging and the man has been employed with him for two years.”

Just then, the door coming from the garage opens and Banks enters the house, carrying a large box, his eyes bloodshot with fear.

“What’s going on?” I ask, standing. Last time a box like that was carried into the house, it was in my hands. And it contained secrets that sent a shock through our home.

“Things at the lab are…” Banks is rattled, shaking. He drops the box on the kitchen table. “People came, asking questions. Scientists that I’ve never seen before, dozens of them. They had official papers and are from Thorne’s laboratories. I didn’t think I could get out, but I had a gun.”

“What the hell?” I ask. Every one of us is on edge. “What happened, Banks?”

“I shot at them, so I could get out. It was a fucking madhouse, chaos. A coup.”

“Fuck,” Salinger says, terror in that one word. “Everything is compromised then, is that what you’re saying?”

“Yeah.” Banks runs a hand over his jaw. “I got everything of mine out of there, knowing what they were coming for. Someone else knew. Someone must have told them. They knew what they were after. The fucking cure.”

Salinger is already on the phone and we stand in silence, waiting for the call to end.

“What do you mean, he’s been found?” Salinger barks. “What? No… You’re sure it’s… No. I will call her now,” Salinger’s anger is obvious, and Banks is leaning against the wall, still trying to catch his breath.

Fallon, Giles, and Emerson are on their phones, and I see them all take a sharp breath as they all begin receiving military alerts.

Wasn’t it just minutes ago we were drinking goddamn champagne, celebrating and now… now no one is safe.

Were we ever?

When Salinger ends the call, he runs his fingers over his temples, and I can see him physically shaking. “My father has been found,” Salinger begins, his breath ragged. “The Director is dead.”

“Oh, my God,” Tia says, entering the kitchen, moving toward Salinger.

He’s already back on the phone, and all of us stand there listening as he calls Miriam.

“Mom, just listen.” Sal leans against the wall, and Tia goes to him, resting a hand on his arm. “Warren’s team came to the laboratory. Dad was there and… Mom, he’s been shot.” Salinger closes his eyes as Tia pulls herself to him, wrapping him in her arms. “We don’t know who pulled the trigger. But...” He swallows hard. “It was fatal.”

When the call ends, we stand in shock, the truth of what this means running through the room.

But I do my best under pressure. When the stakes are high. When my back is up against a wall.

“We need to get the fuck out of here,” I tell them. “We have to go to the bunker. Now.”