Free The Cure by Teyla Branton Page B

breeding experiments. Emporium agents might try to keep Spencer and Kathy alive during an attack, but the children were small and untrained and could be easily hurt in a direct confrontation. As new Unbounded, Mari and Oliver would also need protection, placing Ava, Stella, and Ritter at a severe disadvantage if they had to defend the palace.
    “They should be okay. The palace has alarms, and our people have weapons,” Jace said, though the worry emanating from him screamed the opposite.
    “Let’s go.” Keene tossed a few bills onto the table as I reached for my phone. “There’s no time to waste. I’ll help if I can.” Pulling on his knit cap, he strode toward the door, with Jace and me close behind.
    I dialed Ava, but she didn’t pick up. Hurry. I pushed myself to run faster, the outside cold piercing my lungs with icy needles.
    We were halfway down the street before I began to question Keene’s intentions. What if he had returned to the Emporium and this whole scenario was a setup? If we took him to the palace, we could be leading the Emporium Unbounded straight to the heart of our operation.
    As if coming to the same conclusion, Jace choked out, “Our phones didn’t signal an emergency.”
    “Maybe they don’t know yet. No one’s answering.” I wanted to believe Keene, but before I did, he’d have to drop the barrier on his mind so I could make sure.
    We rounded the corner, ignoring the stares of a couple we passed. Two more steps and the phone in my hand let out three sharp beeps and began vibrating. Jace’s did the same.
    The emergency signal. We were too late. Keene had been right.
    I put in my password—the real one, not the one that would erase the information on the phone—and pulled up our GPS app that would locate any of our Renegades within range. No one registered on the map, which meant all our people in Portland were at the palace where the disrupters were still in place.
    All our people, including Ritter. His combat ability would even the odds considerably, but my worry cranked up a notch. We hadn’t even talked. He hadn’t explained where he’d been and why he’d left me.
    We were about to cross a small intersecting street when the emotion hit. Tingling. An almost imperceptible change in the air. Excitement. Hate.
    Just as quickly, the sensation vanished.
    But I knew someone was out there. I could feel the life force high on a roof where no life force would normally be.
    “Cover!” I barked, throwing myself against the nearest building, my eyes scanning the darkness. I unholstered my trusty Sig.
    Jace dived into the shadows next to me, and Keene, with only a second’s hesitation did the same. “Don’t tell me,” Keene said, drawing his own weapon, “you came here in the same vehicle you used at that park.”
    I nodded. The things you overlook when you’re worried about those you love.
    “Your shield,” I reminded Jace. I didn’t want any sensing Unbounded who might be out there tracking us by his fear—or picking up any plan we might formulate.
    Something small and deadly slammed into the building not a foot from where I crouched.
    “Sniper,” Jace grunted. He aimed his pistol at the roof of the building opposite us, but could see nothing to fire at.
    “Let’s make a break that way,” Keene motioned down a side street. “It rounds back on the main. My car’s there.”
    I nodded. We really didn’t have a choice. The one who’d be taking the most risk was Keene, since a bullet would hurt Jace and me but wouldn’t be fatal.
    Maybe that was worse, knowing what the Emporium planned for us.
    “Now,” I muttered, launching myself into the open. Another silenced shot crashed into the building.
    The men ran after me, Jace soon far ahead, though I could tell he was holding back for my sake. I wanted to yell at him to forget me and get to the palace, but I couldn’t find breath.
    Ahead of me, Jace suddenly stopped.
    “What—” My protest silenced as three figures