The Girl Who Kicked Ass (Death Fields 3)

Realization sinks. “She wants to change me into a Hybrid so she can control me.”

He nods sadly. “She doesn’t want to lose you but she can’t accept you the way you are.”

“You mean my humanity? My independence? Or she can’t accept the fact I have a conscience.”

I don’t want to have to hurt my father, like physically harm him, but with the way this conversation is going it may be unavoidable. With Wyatt outside the door, even if I slit his throat I wouldn’t get far, and there’s no way I’d make it to the others. I’m trapped, and from the heavy bags under my father’s eyes, he knows it.

“So you picked me up to administer the EVI-2?” I ask, watching him as he reaches into his bag and pulls out a small case. It’s stainless steel with a latch and a number locking mechanism on the side. He shows me the code, 091898.

My birthday.

Sweat prickles on my neck and the air in the room seems too thin. The lock springs with a click and my father reveals six vials.

“Don’t do this,” I say.

“She knew you were going to attack the outpost today and she asked me to intercept you. I haven’t left the confines of the laboratory or The Fort since I got there. I think Jane wanted me to see the world she created, thinking I would be impressed and proud. It’s terrible. I don’t think she recognizes that. She can’t see the destruction—just the future.”

“Jane’s crazy, you know that, right?”

He doesn’t seem to hear me, because he keeps talking. “That big guy outside the door? He helped me find you. He knew exactly where you’d be—down to the minute. Jane thought we were going on to the medical center, that I’d give you the EVI-2 there, but he suggested something different.”

I swallow and give it everything I have. “Daddy

, please don’t do this to me. Please.”

He leans forward and in a low voice says, “Take these to General Erwin. Together, you’re our only chance.”

I blink, slow on the uptake. “What?”

The echoing sound of car doors slamming breaks the awkward moment between the two of us. My father snaps the box shut. I watch in pure confusion as he moves quicker than I thought possible. A blade flashes in the light and within seconds the binds are cut. “Stay here. Don’t move. Pretend you’re still tied up. I’ll take care of the guard outside.”

I snort. Sure, he’ll take care of Wyatt.

“What about the others? My friends.”

“I can’t save everyone, Alexandra.”

The sound of glass breaking and heavy boots sound from down the hallway. We both jump at the sound. It’s unexpected. And Wyatt’s quick footsteps move away from his spot guarding the door. My father tucks the knife in my pocket and says, “Lock the door behind me. There’s a porch overhang and trellis outside that window.” He smooths my hair with his hand, and I see the kindness and love in his eyes that I’ve known my whole life. “Stay safe. I love you.”

His words are a punch in the gut but he’s gone before I can reply. I wait for one confused beat before I jump out of my seat and race to the door, locking it quickly. Shoving the vaccine case in my cargo pocket, I go to the window and open the sash slowly.

Shouts echo down the hall. Loud, southern, and brash. Furniture crashes against the walls and floors, each bang closer than the next.

“I told you I’d kill you if you came near me and mine again. After everything you did to me. You took everything. My family, my health,” the man cries, anger rippling down the hall. The voice is familiar and I’ve got one leg over the window sill when it connects. It’s Trucker Hat. They must have come after us. After all, we’d made a deal and he made it clear he was going to watch us while we were with the Hybrids.

I hesitate. I don’t owe Trucker or Josie or any of their crew a thing. In fact, they owe us our weapons and half a day’s travel. I hear a yelp from a female and Josie’s scarred face and body come to mind. I can’t let this happen to anyone else again.

With a heavy sigh, I climb back in, slip the knife out of my boot and head into the hallway.

Chapter 5

I turn away from the fighting downstairs and down the narrow hall toward the closed doors I hope my friends are behind. I shake the handle on the first one and curse when it’s locked. Stepping back, I take a breath and kick at the door. It’s loud, and I flinch at the sound but quickly do it again, this time rewarded with a loud crack as the door flies backwards.

Jude waits, gagged and wide-eyed on the other side. I race to him, removing the gag. He coughs and says, “Thank God.”

“You okay?” I ask, fumbling with the ties. I use the knife like a saw and the threads finally break. I hand him the blade. “Do your feet.”

I’m back at the doorway, looking down the hall. Nothing but shouts from below. I don’t hear my father or Wyatt in the fray, though.