Free Collide (Entangled Teen) (The Taking Book 3) by Melissa West Page B

in every way. I will never stop fighting, but a small part of me wonders how we can compete when they are so much stronger.
    If only we had more Ancients on our side…
    “We’re here,” Dad says finally, and I peer out my window, eager to see the West Coast base, but it looks nothing at all like I imagined.
    Dad lands the hovercraft, and we descend the steps onto a dirt road that leads to a run-down building that looks more shack than base. Most of the windows are boarded up, and the front door swings back and forth like it no longer wants to hang on its hinges and would rather be free. Or dead.
    “Dad, are you sure—”
    But before I can finish my sentence, a tall, lean man struts out of the shack toward us, a woman and a man flanking him. As they near, I realize the tall man is not much older than Jackson and me. Maybe early twenties, but the seriousness on his face says that he’s seen more in those twenty years than many do in a hundred. His dark brown hair is cropped short and it looks like he hasn’t shaved in days.
    He holds out a hand to Dad. “Lead Op Myers,” he says, shaking Dad’s hand. “I’m the commanding officer here.”
    Dad shakes his hand. “Myers? Did you train in Sydia?”
    Myers nods. “I did, sir. I requested transfer shortly after reaching Lead status.”
    “Why did you request transfer?” I ask, unable to remain quiet.
    His eyes fix on me. “Politics. And you must be Ari. I hear you’ve got your own political issues.”
    I run my hand absently over the spot where Law shot me. “Yeah. I guess I do.” His gaze holds mine before shifting to the others. I step back, motioning to each of them. “This is Jackson, Vill, Gretchen, and Cybil.”
    He eyes each of them and then returns his attention to me. “More than half of you are Ancient.”
    Well, this could get more complicated than I’d imagined…
    Reading my thoughts, Jackson steps forward, his expression clear. The xylem running through him has healed his wounds, and now his ripped, six-two body stands tall, all muscle and purpose. “Is that a problem?”
    Myers smirks, but I can feel a hint of fear rolling off him. “I know about you as well. Jackson Castello. Only grandson of Zeus Castello. Future leader of the Ancients. Notorious fighter.”
    Jackson cocks his head. “Then you know what I’m capable of.”
    “I do, indeed. But you can relax. The comment wasn’t intended to be offensive. I’m just curious about your kind.”
    I place a hand on Jackson’s arm to calm him down. “It’s okay,” I say.
    He links his fingers through mine, but his eyes remain on Myers. I glance around in search of Dad, expecting him to voice an opinion about Jackson’s reaction, but he’s by the door to the base, talking to a man with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles, but who’s in every bit as good shape as the rest of us. Myers follows my gaze.
    “That’s Lead Op Wilkinson. He trained with your dad.”
    “Why is he still in the field instead of working back at Sydia?” Then I remember what Sydia is like now and shake my head. “Not that there are many back home.” Jackson squeezes my hand and leans in to kiss the top of my head.
    “It’s different now,” Jackson whispers into my ear. “But different doesn’t have to be bad.”
    Myers clears his throat, bringing us back to the moment. “This is Cassie and Al, two Operatives on our team here. They will ensure you have what you need while you’re staying with us. Now, why don’t I show you around?”
    I cock an eyebrow at Myers. What exactly does he think there is to show? But then he’s leading us into the base, and I realize that the outside is nothing more than camouflage. From the outside, it looks as though the base is just some abandoned warehouse, but once inside, I see the true Engineerness of the base.
    We walk through the main doors and down a set of rusted stairs and then through another door and into what feels like another world. Instantly, I’m brought