Free Uprising by Jessica Therrien Page A

his hand out in front of me. I took it and looked hard back at him. Something about his tone rubbed me the wrong way. “Do me a favor though, and only use it when you need to. Any time it’s uttered, I hear it as a call for my services. People call me Alex.”
    “Nice to meet you,” William said offering his hand. Alex still had mine tightly in his grasp, and I could tell it was bothering him.
    Alex shook it and turned toward the limo without a word. “Don’t go blabbing my call name to anyone either,” he said over his shoulder as we followed him.
    As soon as we entered the limo, I began to sweat. All my muscles went tense, and no matter how hard I tried to relax, my shoulders stayed tight. William smiled at me, and our eyes locked. That was when the ache started in my chest. By coming with me, he was giving me everything he had. They all were, risking their lives for me, for Anna and Chloe. The gripping fear that this might be the last time I saw William made it hard to breathe, but there was nothing I could say to make him change his mind. My love was his burden, and guilt took a swing, hitting me in the gut. There was only one way to keep everyone safe, if it got to that point. I had one last saving grace—a trade. Me for them.
    The familiar white erased my surroundings before I had time to ready myself. I squirmed in the emptiness, unable to breathe, see, hear. Then within seconds it was over, and we were all staring at each other. I had expected to pass out, like before, but I’d been conscious the whole time.
    “Is that unpleasant for anyone else, or just me?” William asked as we all tried to pull ourselves back to reality.
    “No. Definitely not pleasant,” I agreed.
    It was hard to make out what was beyond the tinted windows as we drove through the neighborhood streets of Beverly Hills. The houses hid behind gated driveways, subtle light twinkling through tall hedges. The night made for the perfect camouflage. When the car came to a stop, Mac’s rough voice cut through the silence. “Here goes nothin’.”
    Kara and Mac shuffled out the door leaving William and
    I inside.
    “Would you stay back if I wanted you to?” I asked quietly. He looked at me like he’d been expecting the question.
    “Would you ?” My eyes moved away from his. He knew I wouldn’t.
    “It’s different for me. I have to go.”
    He shrugged. “So do I.”
    As far as I was concerned, he didn’t have to do anything, but I knew he would never let me go in alone. In his mind, he had to protect me, and nothing would keep him from that.
    He scooted toward the open door, and held his hand out for me. “Come on. It’ll be okay.”
    I took it and climbed out behind him. As soon as I was out, Alex drove away, leaving us alone in the street. There was no going back.
    “This way,” Kara said, taking the lead.
    I listened to William’s footsteps behind me as we walked, but my eyes were alert, looking for movement. If they were expecting us, there was no telling when they’d make their move.
    Kara stopped a block away from a tall wrought iron gate. “Riley should be guarding the entrance. You’ll have to approach from the far right to avoid the camera. Once you’re there, William, have her freeze frames to the front gate and left side yard surveillance.”
    “Got it,” he answered.
    I bit my lips as I watched him.
    “Don’t go,” I whispered into his ear as he came in to kiss my cheek, but he ignored me, and tipped my chin up with his finger.
    I watched him walk away, feeling completely helpless. As they turned the corner, he looked back with one last comforting smile and was gone. Immediately my chest caved in, and my mouth went so dry I couldn’t swallow. I watched Kara’s concentrated eyes as she followed William’s thoughts, tracking their progress.
    “What’s going on?” I asked after waiting several minutes. “Are you telling them where to go?”
    “Ssh!” she snapped.
    I sighed and picked at my nail beds,