ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 22

━━─── • ───━━━

• Amir •

"Zander?" Amir inhaled sharply and growled.

Titus exhaled and uttered, "Zander."

"The clown who was at your club?" Titus and Luna had found Amir in the faith center, and he didn't like where their plan was going. He despised Zander and his entire existence.

"Mm. Interesting." Titus tapped his cheek when he looked over to where Luna was seated at the table, and then shifted his eyes toward Amir's direction. "There were two clowns present. He was one of them, and so was—"

"Funny," Amir remarked.

"That's what I thought." Titus grinned as he sat down at the table. "Have you ever heard the expression 'beggars can't be choosers?'"

Amir's eyes narrowed. "We're not begging anyone."

"Hey!" Luna tucked her hair behind both ears. "What's so terrible about Zander?"

"Let's see." Amir pretended to ponder that one. "Zander is and always will be a part of BARDA."

Her dark eyes rolled. "That doesn't make him a monster."

"Moon, he's still unpredictable. I don't trust him."

"And you think he should have faith in you, A-Bomb?" Titus noted, and Amir groaned.

"Other than Zander's birthplace, what else do you hate about him?"

"Shouldn't that be enough?" That was sufficient for Amir's strong dislike of the guy. They both fought at first sight. That didn't make a good first impression.

Titus touched Luna's shoulder. "It makes no difference whether or not Amir likes Zander. The guy owes me a favor, and if anyone knows where all of our potential resistance fighters are hiding out right now, it's him."

"And we can trust him?" she inquired.

Amir laughed. Trusting somebody from BARDA? Yeah. Right.

Titus paid no attention to Amir's expression. "Zander wouldn't mess with me, not with so much at stake." He gave her a sinister grin.

Something stupid was on Amir's tongue, but it faded away like a thing of the past. He remembered Selena, the woman he'd seen with Zander at the club—a defenseless woman. There had most definitely been a relationship between the two, and Titus could have been taking advantage of that knowledge. Maybe he'd stashed her away or something.

"I've already spoken with him," Titus said, his arms stretched above his head like a cat in the light. "He's going to meet everyone in Chicago."

"Chicago?" Luna's voice was tinged with surprise. "How will we get there? By plane?"

He raised his head. "You'll need to drive there. BARDA has been able to detect anything in the air since the war began. It'll be tricky to fly."

"Damn," she grumbled.

"Yep. And anyone going across the pond to Africa will have to be careful as well. The organization has shot down commercial jets and passenger planes," Titus added, and Luna's face paled. "Some of them had three hundred souls on board."

"We hadn't heard about that," Amir said.

"Yeah, well, we're still trying to keep you guys up to speed." Titus grinned broadly and smirked at both of them. "I've already looked it up, and it'll take you about twenty-seven hours or so to get there, so you'll have one epic road trip. Zander will meet you at an airport—domestic side."

Titus smiled as if something in his last sentence had amused him, but it didn't phase Amir. He just wanted things to go smoothly for them and stop this war from continuing.

Amir rested his hips against the table. "So, how will Zander help us in going after the big guys? I didn't realize he's that important to them."

"Zander was a former agent with access to every underground facility known to man. I'm talking about every nook and cranny." Titus raised his feet on the table, straightening his legs. "He's your ticket to the BARDA playground. He knows where every human anomaly is cooling their heels, and getting him to take you to meet their chief will not be a problem."

Luna arched her brow.

"It'll be getting the Grand Papa to work with you. Engineered Souls and Hybrids band together in times like these, and they each voted for one person to be their President. They'll do whatever he agrees to." Titus paused, his nose scrunched. "I don't remember ever meeting the big fella, but I've heard a lot about him."

"What kind of . . . things?" Luna stammered.

Titus chuckled and shook his head. "Things that will keep you awake at night. Let me just say that he's even worse than what you've seen in the control room."

She swallowed.

"Anyway, I'm going to stay here and keep things in order. If I go along with you guys, I'm pretty sure Chase will fall through the cracks somehow, and I need to keep him from going AWOL. Greer volunteered to travel and help persuade him."

"Is this guy the real deal?" Amir asked, and Titus nodded.

"Yep. His name is Enzo. He changed his real name once he broke away from the organization. Many former agents and human anomalies have alias' now."

"Good for them," Luna said quietly. "They stay hidden."

"Just to be sure, both of you are going on this mission, right?" Titus shifted his gaze between Amir and Luna. "Because I seriously doubt either of you will stay here."

"Not a chance. I go wherever Luna goes." Amir massaged his chin. Thirty hours in a car with her could be exciting, even riveting, but with Greer? He wasn't thrilled with that idea.

"Speaking of Chase . . ." Luna paused to gaze at the front door of the faith center before continuing. "No matter what deal you made with him, you can't let him have those kids."

Titus' mouth lifted in a wide, creepy smile. "Don't worry. Chase will not be an issue. Everything with him will probably work out in the end. I'm keeping Matthew safe and sound . . . for now."

Titus' final sentence made Amir gulp. The hybrid was full of wonders, and he hoped to always be on his good side. He didn't want to cross him. That was for sure.

• • •

After Amir and Luna had finished praying in the faith center, they strolled outside into the late afternoon light and were greeted by Elizabeth. She was dressed in white scrubs and had her hair down.

She nearly knocked Luna to the ground when she wrapped her arms around her. "My Luna, I've missed you!" Elizabeth moved closer to Amir, wrapping her other arm around him. "I was worried for both of you."

He grinned and nodded, lightly hugging her back. "It's great to see you."

"Yeah, Mom." Luna wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "I was afraid I'd never see you or the family again."

Elizabeth took a step back and looked at them for a moment. "We barely made it out alive, but with Vikram's help, we did."

"He just told me what happened with Liberty." Luna cleared her throat, looking at Amir and then back at her mother. "Have you seen her?"

Elizabeth tilted her head. "Not since this morning. I've been in the medical ward, assisting with any trauma patients."

Luna smiled. "When we were kids, you used to love nursing me and Liberty."

"And I still do." She put her hand on Luna's and Amir's shoulders. "Have you two eaten anything yet?"

Luna bowed her head. "We were on our way to the cafeteria."

"Okay. I can take you. Your father and Sarah are in there now," Elizabeth said. "Along with her other grandparents." With that last statement, she looked at Amir and winked.

"Sarah." Luna came to a halt mid-step. "She must be lost without us. Probably sad and lonely."

Elizabeth stepped in front of Luna when she took a deep breath and shuddered slowly. "Honey, honey. It's fine. Sarah is safe and sound. She has been a true angel throughout this entire ordeal. She is always looking ahead and never dwells on what she can't change. She learned from you."

"But she must—"

"Moon," Amir said softly when he moved closer to her side. "Sarah needs her parents right now. Let's show her how tough we are, okay?"

After Luna returned his stare, her lips trembled, and he wrapped his arms around her, comforting her nervous body. He and Luna both knew that seeing their families for the first time in months would be emotional, but this moment with their daughter would be even more heartwarming.

They both followed Elizabeth, passing several soldiers and medical teams while they shuffled through a crowded space on the other side of an open door.

In the cramped room, the cafeteria seemed to be large. The aroma of grilled meat, steamed vegetables, and sweet tea filled the air. Amir's stomach finally grumbled, and he became hungry.

Once the three of them crossed the threshold, he took a deep breath after noticing the back of his parents' heads and saw Adnan sitting across from them next to Sarah.

"Hey. I've got to check about something," Elizabeth said, inching away. "I'll see you both in a bit."

"Okay, Mom," Luna said, giving her a quick hug. "I love you."

"I love you," she said.

When Adnan's chin lifted, their gazes met. "Amir!"

Sarah rose from her seat and stretched her arms to her parents once her small eyes shifted toward them. "Mommy and Papa!"

Amir grinned and glanced toward Luna, watching as she lowered her waist and swooped her daughter into her arms. "Sweet Pea! I've missed you so much!"

"I was worried about you, Mommy." Sarah clutched Luna's neck, while Amir hugged his family.

"My son," Maryam murmured, her gaze settled on him. "You and Luna are okay."

Amir nodded slightly and took a step back to embrace Adnan, followed by Lawrence. "It was tough, but we got through it."

Holding back his tears was nearly impossible knowing that he and Luna were about to embark on another journey to help win this war. There were going to be many more separations to come.

"Promise me you and Mommy will never leave me, Papa," Sarah said, and Amir paused momentarily, tightening his grip on her waist.

"We're here now. That is all that matters," he said, wiping the tiny tears from her eyelids.

"Nice to see you again, son," Lawrence said after he clutched Amir's shoulder.

"Mashallah. God saw to it that you two made it out safely," Nasir smiled. "I'm sure you're hungry."

"I'm hungry," Luna said, browsing the cafeteria.

While the group gathered around the table and Sarah sat between her parents, a woman with short blonde hair wearing beige overalls walked by and laid down a set of crackers and cheese, along with several drink boxes filled with fruit punch.

Lawrence smiled and cleared his throat as he looked up at her. "Thank you, Ms. Patricia."

"Of course. More plates are being prepared for the new arrivals. The food should be ready soon," she stated.

Before she walked away, everyone nodded slowly. When Amir reached for a slice of cheese and a cracker, he noticed a duffle bag on the floor near his brother's foot.

"So, why is there a luggage bag under the table?" he asked, turning to face his family.

Lawrence and his parents exchanged melancholy glances before he returned his gaze to Adnan. "Is someone leaving from here?"

"Hold on." Luna adjusted her back and sipped her juice. "We just got here."

"We know that, sweetheart. We—" Maryam began, but Nasir cut her off.

"It's just something we feel inclined to do," he explained.

"And what is that?" Amir questioned sternly.

"What?" Sarah yelled. "I'm sick of people leaving all the time." She jumped out of her seat and into Lawrence's lap. "Everyone goes from here and never comes back."

"Oh, honey," Lawrence whispered, and Luna moved closer to her daughter, comforting her. "Everything will be fine. Nothing is going to happen," he continued.

"Yeah, listen to Grandpa," Luna said, but Amir was determined to find out why everyone was acting strangely around them.

"Is anyone going to explain who is leaving and why?" he asked again. "I'd like to know."

"I am," Adnan piped up. "I want to."

Amir shook his head, biting his lower lip. "No. I already know where this is going. You can't be serious."

"I'm going with you and Luna," Adnan insinuated. "There's nothing you can do about it."

"Like hell," Amir uttered.

"Language," Maryam said, looking at Amir and motioning to Sarah.

"I'm sorry for how I said that," he apologized, "but Adnan should think about this carefully before making a decision."

Patricia returned a few seconds later with several trays of food, including mashed potatoes, steamed rice and broccoli, two slices of ham, and a small bowl with a green salad and shredded cheese.

Everyone thanked her before she left.

"What you're planning is out of the question," Amir added, turning back to his brother.

Luna swiped the ham from his plate and placed it on Sarah's. He smiled when he watched both of them eat.

"You should stay here," he said, returning his attention to Adnan while he began eating his rice. "You have no idea what we're up against."

Adnan frowned when he fiddled with a Sprite bottle. Amir could tell what he was thinking. He could read his brother like an open book, complete with large words and illustrations.

"Look, you have to be here." Amir's gaze shifted to their mother, who was holding a large forkful of lettuce. "This is where you should be. It's too dangerous out there for you or our family."

Sarah raised her head. "Isn't it scary for you and Mommy?"

"It is." Luna looked at Amir while chewing on her slice of ham. Neither of them had explained the trauma they had to undergo, nor about the new abilities they possess that had been tested on. She took a deep breath, opened her mouth, and Greer appeared out of nowhere.

He took a seat on Lawrence's other side. "These two," he said, motioning with his hand to Amir and Luna, "are more powerful than The Avengers combined."

"Really?" Sarah asked, her grin shifting between Amir and Luna. "How?"

"Well, for starters, with a flick of my hand, I can create electricity," Luna explained, gazing down at her. "And Papa can heal anyone who is hurt."

"He can heal?" Sarah remarked, astonished.

Amir nodded and looked at his parents, who both had shocked expressions on their faces.

When Adnan looked at his brother, and then Luna, he frowned. "Is that why you don't want me to come along? Because I haven't yet developed my abilities?"

"That's one of the reasons," Amir admitted.

"I'm not completely useless, you know," Adnan stated. "I know how to use a weapon."

"I don't think Amir was saying you were useless, but maybe you should reconsider going off with them," Nasir suggested, siding with Amir.

Adnan, as expected, argued that he could help with something, but after Amir quietly explained to him about the dangers they are facing, and how the organization burned Luna's flesh just to test his abilities, he finally sat back, startled.

"So, you see? You have too much at risk," Amir said. "If anything happens to us, our family will need you."

After Adnan took a deep breath and rubbed his hands along the back of his neck, he grunted under his breath. "You guys are seriously going after anyone created within BARDA?"

"Yep." Amir knew it sounded ridiculous, but it was better than nothing.

Adnan shook his head. "Never thought the day would come when our resistance would ask for help from them. Nobody had intervened in months."

Amir nodded. "Exactly. To take back control, we must take the initiative."

"True," Adnan quipped.

"Titus is staying behind," Luna said, pushing the last of her food around her plate. "To make sure Chase doesn't try anything. We'll be leaving early in the morning. Then, once we have the reinforcements . . . the support we need, we will contact General Hayes. He's going to notify the Canadian government of our plans, and we'll return here at that point."

"But do you have to leave so soon?" Maryam cast a nervous look at Luna and Amir.

"We don't have much time to get this done," he declared. "But everyone will be safe here."

"I'm not concerned about us," Adnan said, and Amir wanted to smack him upside the head because he should be worried about their family. "Allowing you to go off, meeting people with who knows what abilities, and attempting to convince them to help us? That is risky."

It was, Amir reasoned.

There was no denying it, and he had never lied before, and he wasn't about to start now.

"I have faith that things will work out," Nasir said. "Allah will guarantee it."

Greer leaned forward, his weight resting on his arms. His gaze was drawn to Adnan's. "I understand you and I don't really know each other, and you have no reason to believe anything I say, but I promise you I will make sure Amir and Luna return safely and help put an end to this war. You can bet on that."

Amir sat back and looked at the soldier.

He'd never admit it vocally, not in a million years, but Greer . . . yeah, sometimes he was pretty decent, and Amir liked the way he sounded. He was dead set on keeping his promise and bringing them back unharmed. He just didn't need to know that Amir felt that way. Some things were best left unsaid.

━━─── • ───━━━