Chapter 74: Taran

Despite Manuel's bad attitude, he can't quite contain his excitement over the new greenhouse, though he makes it quite clear he still disapproves of me and my involvement in what he considers his project. I try to thaw his reticence by deferring to him almost entirely, only making suggestions here and there when I see something that can be improved. And even then, I stop and ask questions first, working out the logistics of everything before making any changes.
True to his word, Diogo made sure we have every resource readily available at our fingertips. Manuel snorts his derision. "If I was prettier and a woman I might've gotten this done a lot sooner."
I turn to look at him, giving him my best death stare, which is quite effective when backed by a stony-faced Grayson. "My husband is a busy man, Mr. Sharp. Security is his number one concern in this city. And by that, I mean making sure we aren't overrun by Primitives, taken over by competing Sanctuaries or blown up from the inside by rebel forces."
"I might point out that you belonged to the exact group your husband fights." Manuel's dislike is palatable, and I wonder why his attitude has taken such a personal turn.
"There is nothing wrong with my memory, Mr. Sharp. But I am forced to wonder why you've taken such an interest in my background."
"I don't trust you." His face flushes with ire as he judges me harshly. "You were a rebel and now our lovestruck Warlord has seen fit to give you access to our precious food resources. You could easily poison us all."
"Don't be stupid. There is absolutely no political or moral reason to poison a food supply. The rebels don't go in for such extremist behaviour," I snap scathingly.
"You blew up the wall," he points out.
He's right about the wall, but wrong in his logic. "One man was responsible for the wall destruction and he's dead now. The rebels don't want to hurt people, they want to promote fairness and equality. Building an extra greenhouse, expanding our food production is a big step toward easing those tensions."
"I still don't trust you," he says stubbornly.
I'm done with coddling this man. "And I think you're a narrow-minded disagreeable man, but I'm still willing to bow to your expertise and work with you."
He doesn't say anything for a moment, seething his annoyance and then he jerks his head in a short nod. "Fine." He turns on his heel and strides away. I sigh and rub my forehead wondering if I've taken a step forward, or backward with the man. I should've held my tongue, not told him what I thought.
"You have me convinced."
I jump at the sound of Grayson's voice and turn around to look at him. His expression is more thoughtful and less stern than usual. "About what?"
When he speaks, his words are slow, as though he's thinking out loud. "I used to think of the rebellion as a nuisance at best, and a dangerous cult at worst. I think when you're not in the heart of a thing, you miss the philosophy and see only the actions. I saw the riots, the illegal activities. I didn't understand the reasoning behind it."
"Are you turning into a rebel?" I tease, smiling at him as I pick up my notepad and continue toward the site of the new greenhouse.
He smiles tightly and falls into step beside me. "No, something more important I think. A rebel's bodyguard, protection for the Desert Wren. So she can help our Warlord fix the issues in this city and raise it up stronger and more united than ever."
I look at him, shocked. His words are surprisingly passionate. Grayson has always been aloof and stoic with me. I'd begun to suspect he'd forgiven me for Garrett's death, but I hadn't realized his regard had risen to this point.
"That's a big responsibility for one person."
"You aren't alone," he assures me.
I stop and take a good look at him. Though I try to see all people as individuals, I'm guilty of writing Grayson Truss off as just another annoying security measure trailing after me. But he's definitely more. And he's correct. In order to end the rebellion without bloodshed we all need to work together.
"Thank you," I say and turn back to my task.
We work for the better part of the day, measuring space and going over the list of supplies Manuel gave us. We make several amendments and then head toward the first greenhouse in search of the Production Manager. I'm hot, sweaty and tired. Ready to go home for a meal and a shower. Ready to see my husband and thank him once more for this incredible gift.
"Manuel Mr. Sharp?" I call out into the space. I glance toward Grayson, my constant shadow. "He said he'd be in here."
"Check the office," Grayson points the way and we head toward the back, to Manuel's office.
"Manuel?" I call as we enter the cluttered space. I don't see him at first and I'm about to turn away when something odd strikes me. His office, though stuffed full of supplies, is usually tidy and neat. Now there's a stack of papers on the floor in front of his desk as though they were swept off the top.
I go toward his desk and that's when I finally see him, or his shoes, sticking out from underneath. "Oh no!" I yell and drop to my knees, crawling around the side. Manuel is laying on his side, his eyes open and staring at nothing. Even though I know he's dead, I still press my fingers to his throat, still shake him, trying to get a response.
"He's gone, Mrs. Fuentes, and we need to get the fuck out of here." Grayson grabs my arm and drags me away from Manuel. "Get behind me, hold onto my shirt and don't let go until we reach the car. Got me?"
"Yes, I understand." I blink away tears and grab his shirt as Grayson starts moving. "Do you think someone attacked him?"
"Yes," Grayson says shortly, holding his sidearm out in front of him and scanning the corridor before moving forward.
I don't understand, it looks like Manuel fell and hit his head on the edge of the desk, but I guess Grayson knows what to look for. I'm about to ask him if we should call for help, when I'm knocked to the side so hard I slam into a row of plants, rocking the wooden platform. I try to catch myself but end up on the ground. I look over, completely dazed in time to see a man standing over Grayson's prone body, a pipe in his hand. He lifts his foot to stomp on Grayson's head.
"Hey!" I yell, drawing his attention. He looks up and I gasp.
Talon!
The Outsider Xavier took me to meet. His big, bushy beard and tattooed skin are immediately recognizable. Somehow he's gotten out of police custody. But why would he attack me and my bodyguard? He throws the pipe away and strides toward me, bending down to grab me.
I roll over onto my stomach and scramble under the rows of plants, crawling as fast as I can. He tries to come after me, but this is one time my smaller size gives me an edge. His big body doesn't fit under the tables. He shoves the one behind me, knocking it over. Plants crash to the ground, but I continue to scramble forward, glancing quickly over my shoulder. Just as he reaches under my table, I roll to the side and crawl across the aisle underneath another row.
"Get the fuck out of there!" he snarls angrily, throwing a table to the side and coming after me. I'm about to roll again, zigzagging under the tables toward the exit when he shoves the table I'm under. It crashes to the side, barely missing me. Plants and dirt smash to the ground all around me.
I look up at his massive form, hulking over top of me. He reaches down and grips me by the throat lifting me from the dirty remains. I yelp and grab hold if his arm, trying to pull myself out of his grip.
"Stop it!" he snarls, giving me a shake. "Or I'll snap your neck."
Though it goes against instinct I force my body to go limp. As soon as I do he lowers me to the ground until my feet touch and eases his grip on my neck.
"Let me go!" I gasp.
"Not happening," he says and starts dragging me back toward Grayson. "You're my ticket out of here."
"Please, what are you going to do?" I stumble against him, caught in the net of his fingers wrapped around my neck.
"Car keys," he grunts.
Shit, I don't want him anywhere near Grayson. I've already lost one bodyguard, I don't want to lose this one too. Not when he's just starting to like me. "I'll get them, they're in his pocket."
Talon raises an eyebrow and then hurls me toward Grayson's prone body. I hit the ground hard and grab hold of Grayson's arm, dragging myself up his body to look at his face. There's blood soaking the side of his head and his eyes are closed. I have just enough time to put my hand over his mouth and check that he's still breathing when Talon reaches for me again.
"The keys, girl."
"I'm sorry," I whisper and start searching pockets until I come up with the car keys. I turn toward Talon and toss the keys. "Here, take them. Just go!"
"Told you," he says, grabbing my arm and dragging me to my feet again. "Not without you."
He reaches down and picks up the gun Grayson dropped and points it at Grayson's head. I try to jump in front of the gun, but he pulls me back. I slap him repeatedly, everywhere I can reach but he ignores me.
"Why?" I yell. "Why kill him? You have the car, you have me!"
"Can't call for help if he's dead."
"He already called for help," I lie desperately.
He looks down at me, his blue eyes sceptical. "Any good bodyguard will secure the package and then call for help. He wouldn't have taken the extra time and distraction to call for help."
"It's true." Instead of slapping him I switch tactics and try to pull him backward, away from Grayson, using my entire weight. He shifts, my pulling dragging him slightly off balance. "He called back in the office before we left. And and there's lots of other people in the area, workers in the other greenhouses. They'll come searching any minute."
I'm not lying, there are other people working the greenhouses, but the houses are huge and noisy, there's no telling when someone might stumble on this scene. Apparently, I've managed to convince Talon though. He readjusts his grip on my arm, turns away from Grayson and drags me toward the entrance.
As we walk, he presses the gun into my side. "You call for help when we're outside I shoot you somewhere incredibly painful but non-lethal and then I start killing anyone and everyone that responds."
"I understand," I say faintly. I'm just grateful I'd managed to stop him from killing Grayson. Of course, it might've been for naught if he doesn't recover from the head wound. Manuel certainly isn't going to be recovering.
As we leave the greenhouse I look around, desperately searching for another person. There's no one close by and even if there was, I couldn't get their attention and risk us both getting shot. We walk rapidly toward Grayson's car. Talon opens the passenger door and climbs in, dragging me with him. He manages to maneuver his big body over the console while keeping his gun pointed at me.
He starts the engine and then turns to me, pressing the gun against my cheek. "I need you to get me out of the city. If I can't get out, then you are of no use to me. Understand?"
If I don't get him out, he'll kill me. He's probably figured out that if he's recaptured, Diogo will have him killed. Probably swift and extremely brutal.
I close my eyes for a second and then open them, giving him a blazing look. "I'll get you out, but then you let me go."
He laughs grimly and shakes his head as he grips my chin, squeezing painfully, the barrel of the gun pressed hard under my jaw. "No princess, I came here to collect you. I'm not leaving without my prize."
He lets go of my face and straightens in his seat. Resting his hand on top of the steering wheel, he pulls out of the farmyard.
"I don't understand, why did you come back for me? It's suicide if Diogo finds us."
He floors the gas, heading toward the nearest checkpoint. "I'm an Outsider, suicide is my favourite game." He throws a tight smile my way. "Let's go for a ride, princess."