Unremarkable (Anything But) (17 page)

“
I know what I said. I say all kinds of things, don’t I? This is only the beginning, Honor. There is so much more for you to accomplish. When I am done with you—
then
you may see them.”

“
My sister…her…” Honor’s throat convulsed.

“
What did you do to her family?” he said in a low voice.

“
Look at you, standing up for the girl you were supposed to learn about, not care about. I’m disenchanted by you. After everything I told you about her and her father—and
your father
—you’re choosing her. It would appear your betrayal knows no limits. This is a sad day all around.” He shook his head, his features impassive and most obviously not saddened.

“
You betrayed me first,” Ryder spat out. “You betrayed me with every lie you told me, with the deceit you filled my head with. Everything about you...is a lie.”

“
So melodramatic. Teenagers are so angst-filled.”

She swung around, the fracture in her still clear to see. It was widening, each second that passed detrimental to the wound that was growing inside Honor. “What about my father?” Tears led a jagged line down her face. “Tell me what you know about my father!”

“Go on. Tell her,” his former mentor softly mocked, placing his hands on his hips.

Helpless, Ryder drove shaking fingers through his hair. “I don’t know if it’s true,” he murmured, lowering his head toward hers. “I thought it was, at first, but…it can’t be. I don’t believe it anymore.”

As he said those words, a pressure released from his chest, and he realized he believed
that
. August had lied. He had to have. It was what he did.

Honor grabbed his shirt and yanked him forward. “You tell me what you know and you tell me right now. I am
so close
to losing it right now, Ryder, you have
no idea
.”

August chortled and Ryder’s hands clenched with longing to connect with his face. He pretended he wasn’t there, instead focusing on Honor.

“I was told your father…killed my father. I know they died at the same time. I don’t know all the details, I don’t know anything, really—only what August told me. He said your dad attacked mine for no reason and then he…your dad…had to be taken out. Only…I don’t think it’s true, Honor, not anymore. Are you listening to me?” he said slowly, his eyes never leaving her unfocused ones.

She was still, her expression one of insurmountable shock. It didn’t look like she even breathed.

Her hand fell from the fabric of his shirt as a small exhalation left her, the color of her eyes darkening as she turned away. And then…she was diving for August, pounding her fists on any surface of his face or body she could get to. The sounds that left her—horrible, gut-wrenching, and relentless—chilled Ryder and had him racing toward her at the same time; not to save August from her attack, but to save Honor from herself. He knew where she was; where the pain and the lust for vengeance, the inability to accept—it all came crashing together and nothing but revenge made sense. He’d been there. He had been wrong, but he’d been there.

“
My father wasn’t a murderer!” A fist struck August’s chin. “You’re
lying
.
What did you do to him?
” She shoved him back. “What did you do to my
mother
? What did you do to
my sister
?” Another clenched hand grazed his cheek. “I want to know! I want to know what you did to them! Where are they?
Where is my family? What did you do to them?
” she shrieked in a high, unfamiliar voice.

Agents jogged toward them, weapons ready as they called out warnings. Ryder moved to grab her, to get her away from the threat of his fellow UDKs, and paused, narrowing his eyes at what he was witnessing. It was strange seeing a five foot nothing young woman who couldn’t weigh much over one hundred pounds beating on a strapping, if somewhat elderly man, although to be fair to August, he was extremely fit for someone who had to be in his sixties. Even stranger than that, enough to cause his stomach to twist and knot up; was that he
let
her. August let her pummel him, over and over, with a little half-smile on his face, almost like he was enjoying her loss of control, like he
wanted
her mindless with rage.

“
Come on, Honor, show me how much like your father you really are,” he said softly, not even blinking.

She froze, and then went limp, as though an invisible arrow of devastation had pierced her heart, falling away as soft cries wracked her small frame. And for that alone—that August turned her to tears—made him hate him more than he thought he could.

Heat shot through him and Ryder moved for August, a low growl rumbling in his throat. He fisted his hand and landed it against the older man’s jaw. His head snapped to the right and August lifted his hand, fingering his lip as he turned his gaze back to him.

“
That almost hurt. Take her.” He looked beyond Ryder, for the first time showing discomfit when his eyes returned to him. “And him. Take them both. Lock them up.” A hint of weariness was the only indication complete composure was not his. “I’m disappointed in you, Ryder. I don’t know if you’re worthy to be called my son anymore. I will think on this and come to a decision about your place in the organization.”

Hands wrapped around Ryder’s arms and yanked him back. “I was never your son! And
screw
the organization!” he shouted, struggling against the agents as they pulled him away.

Something dimmed in August’s eyes as he watched Ryder be dragged down the hall; something that took all the fight out of Ryder. Most truths were easily hidden, but some, like a glance of the eyes, or a glimmer of emotion in an otherwise stoic expression, could not be concealed. And whatever he’d just seen in August’s eyes—it wasn’t good, not for him. If August cared about him at all, it was worse for Ryder than anything else that could come to be. He was poison, a manipulator, a destroyer. August was the
last
person he wanted interested in him.

Honor wildly fought the agents. “My father didn’t kill anyone! I want my mom and sister! Where are you taking me?”

They kept coming, every time one went down, another taking their place. He could have told her there was no use in fighting. They’d just keep coming, until they won.

“
You promised!
You promised,” she ended on a cracked whisper.

The light in her faded as she lifted her head and met his gaze. They were separated at the opening of the hallway, Honor marched one way and Ryder the other. It seemed so final—that moment when their eyes connected and held, like they both knew they’d never see the other one again.

Eyes large with sorrow, she didn’t blink, didn’t look away until she was forced to. His chest tightened painfully. Ryder let out a ragged exhalation when their gazes disengaged, every part of him taut with wrongness.
No. I can’t do this. I can’t let her go again.

“
Honor!” He fought the human manacles around his biceps, frantic to get back to her. He couldn’t see her. He had to,
needed,
to see her. “
Honor!
”

Ryder tried to twist around, swinging his head back and forth to catch a glimpse of her. Then he heard her. Desperation clung to his name as it left her lips, making him fight harder to get away.  

“Punk kid. I am waiting for the day August wipes his hands of you for good so I can beat your smart ass, and lucky for me, I think the day might be today,” an agent he didn’t recognize muttered.

He looked over his shoulder at the man, noting his features a second before he jabbed his elbow back into his face. The man released him with a cry and Ryder slammed his heel down on the other agent’s foot, effectively disengaging his grasp. He sprinted toward Honor, reaching her just before she was shoved through a doorway. He slammed the open door into an agent’s face and pushed another so hard the back of his head bounced off the wall.

“What are you doing?”

Ryder grabbed her hand and tugged. “I’m rescuing you. Something I should have done the moment I saw you a few years ago. I could have saved you from all of this.”

She was silent, allowing him to pull her along down a set of stairs.

“
I wanted to, you know.” He glanced at her. Honor briefly met his gaze. That look on her face—he wanted it gone and he didn’t know how to make it happen. “As soon as I saw you, I knew nothing would be the same for me.”

“
I doubt this is what you had in mind.”

He flashed a grin as they passed through a doorway that led to another flight of stairs. “It’s been interesting, I will say that.”

She hung back at the third set of stairs, shivering. “You know this is where they were taking me, right? Do you really think this is the way we should be going?”

“
Of course not. But it was the only option.”

“
Ryder. Stop.” Urgent voices and hurried footsteps could be heard above them. Honor took his hands and squeezed. “I appreciate that you want to help me, but…it’s too late.”

“
Don’t be stupid,” he responded roughly.

Honor smiled sadly. “I just killed someone. Someone I knew. I didn’t want to—it was me or him, but I did it. I can’t go with you, wherever you intend to take me. He has my mom and sister somewhere, and I think they’re hurt, and I can’t go, not if there’s any chance I will get to see them again.” She blinked and tears waved down her face. “I’m going to stay.”

“No. You’re not.” Ryder gripped her shoulders and leaned his head down so she couldn’t look away. “He’s lying, okay? Whatever he said about your dad, whatever he told me, it has to be a lie. And how do you even know he has your mom and sister?”

“
How do I know he doesn’t?”

“
No
, Honor. I don't think you
get
it.” He gritted his teeth as he glared at her. “I don't care about people. I don't care what they think; I don't even care about
them
. Never have, not since my dad died. But you—you I care about. And I'm not leaving you here.”

She opened her mouth and he squeezed her shoulders, holding her in place with the ferocity of his eyes. “There may be a bigger picture to you. A greater deed, a goal; you feel like you have to sacrifice yourself for the good of mankind or whatever crazy talk you tell yourself, but I don't have that problem. My goal is narrow and singular. It is to keep you safe. That's it. Nothing else matters to me. I
mean it
.”

“
You don't understand. There’s something…wrong with me. I feel it, inside. He did something to me while I was unconscious and I am not the same.” Her eyes pleaded with him to comprehend. “He took my blood and he put it into Scott Everson and it turned him into a
monster
.”

Her voice shook. “
My blood
. My blood turned a normal boy into something inhuman, something terrible. That blood is inside me, running through my veins. I can’t go with you. It wouldn’t be safe for you. Or anyone else.” 

“
I don’t care, not about any of that. I’m not leaving without you.” Ryder glanced up, the sounds of approaching agents getting louder and closer. “We need to get moving.” He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and unceremoniously yanked her after him, playing tug-of-war with her as they went down more and more steps, purposely ignoring all words that left her mouth.

One sentence pulled him up short: “You always surprise me.”

“It’s all part of my plan, so you don’t get bored with me.”

Something close to a snort left her and his lips lifted and lowered in a quick grin.

The stairs ended and they were in a cool chamber with cells on either side of them. The lights were dim and the scent of bleach was heavy. Murmurs and whimpers traveled through the air, chilling Ryder. At the end of the long, narrow hallway was a door. He strode for it, not even glancing to see who or what was in the cells. He didn’t want to know. He only wanted to save Honor, especially since she was incapable of saving herself. She could. But she always chose someone else over herself, always. Someone needed to choose her—and that was Ryder.

“
We have to help them.
Look at them
. We have to help them, Ryder!” she cried, trying to tug her hand out of his grasp.

He dropped her wrist as he spun around, glaring at her, refusing to even glance in any direction that would pull his gaze from her. “
No
. I don’t care about them. I don’t care about
anyone
. Except for you. I will
always
choose you. You’re all that matters to me. Understand? I am flawed, selfish, and arrogant. I am not that good. I am not noble and I don't always do the right thing like Nealon. But I'm here and he
isn't
. Do you get it now?
I’m here.
”

He paused, taking a steadying breath. “
Do you understand now?
This is me, Honor.” He slammed a fist against his chest and held it there. “
This is me.
Accept me. Take me as I am, imperfect and all. Realize what I am, the kind of person I am, and want me anyway.”