ﮩ٨ـﮩ٨ـ Tethered ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Chapter 23

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• Amir •

Amir and Luna ate their lunch as if it were any other day, trying to forget that no matter what promises Titus and Greer made, it could be the last time they were together. The couple chatted for a few minutes longer with their families and Sarah before heading to their room.

"Do you think it's a good idea to keep Adnan behind?" Luna asked, holding Amir's hand. "What if he could help us?"

He shook his head. "No. I can't allow it."

She came to a halt and turned to face him. "Allow it? Adnan is not a child."

"I never said he was," Amir replied. "All I want him to do is stay here, where it's safe."

"I know. But it's brave of him to be so . . . I don't know . . . ambitious about going with us."

Amir inhaled deeply and pulled Luna into him, resting his chin on top of her head. "You're right, Moon. That's exactly what he is, and I respect my brother for it. All we need to do is put an end to this war."

"How?" she sniffed.

"We'll find a way, baby," he assured her. "We have to do whatever it takes."

Amir's attention was then drawn to two familiar faces entering through a set of double doors in the middle of the empty hallway. Dominique and Owen.

"Amir! Luna!" Dominique squealed, sprinting toward them.

"Dom!" Luna replied, and she and Amir wrapped their arms around Dominique and Owen's necks, giving them a brief hug. "It's been a long time."

"It's wonderful to see you two." Dominique took a step back. "We knew you were here, but they were debriefing you."

Luna swallowed and cleared her throat. "Yeah. We were shown . . . a few things."

"I'm pretty sure I know what it was," Dominique said, and Amir noticed a small cut over her left brow. "Finding safety has been difficult."

"But, Dom, we're safe now. Let's keep it that way," Owen said as he straightened his back. Amir hadn't seen him in over six months, and he swore he'd grown five inches taller. Maybe it was the boots he was wearing.

"True," Dominique replied. "In any case, have you seen your family?"

"Yeah, we know about my sister," Luna said, her eyes lifted. "And we just saw our parents and Sarah."

"That's awesome. Have you had anything to eat?" Owen questioned, and both Luna and Amir laughed. They'd been asked that question a lot.

"We have," Amir replied, his gaze settled on Owen. "It seems that is all anyone is worried about."

"Oh, we don't mean anything by that," Dominique implied, reaching for Amir and Luna's shoulders. "Knowing that this base was once under BARDA control, most of the new arrivals have refused to eat for days, if not weeks. We're just . . . looking out for you both." Amir took a deep breath after hearing her statement. "Do you get what I'm saying?"

"They are frightened that no one can be trusted here. Even close friends and family," Luna noted with a slight nod.

"Something like that," Dominique answered. "It's also about who is here with us."

"Oh. So . . . everyone knows Chase is here?" Luna queried, her voice low and soft.

Dominique nodded before taking Owen's hand in hers. "Even when surrounded by lead, others can sense his presence," she explained. "His aura scares people."

"You don't have to tell me that. I can feel it," Luna said, clearing her throat. "I still can't believe he's alive and kicking."

"Right? I get it. We have several guards watching over him at all times, but none of us will allow anything to slip through," Owen explained. "More than half of this base loathes him."

"I can't imagine why," Luna uttered. "Sorry. Anyway, how are you doing? How are your children?"

"Scared. Every day, they fear that this war will never end," Dominique said. "But, with the progress we've made so far, their worries have eased."

"Oh, Dom . . ." Luna trailed off, softly patting her friend on the shoulder. "We'll get through this and defeat them. That's exactly what Amir, Greer, and I plan to do tomorrow."

"Do you think it's a good idea for you guys to meet with whatever BARDA has created?" Dominique's voice cracked. "I've worked with a lot of them, and they're not the most trustworthy people."

As the small group moved toward the wall, Amir straightened his back and propped a foot against it. "We don't have a choice at this point. If things go as planned, they will be useful. None of us can continue to live in fear like this."

Owen and Dominique both nodded, squeezing each other's hands, and Amir reached for Luna's. "You're right," Owen said, his attention on him. "It's just . . . we know exactly what we're up against. Domi and I have worked with this organization for nearly two decades and have witnessed numerous experiments take place right in front of our eyes. We couldn't do anything because . . . because they'd erase everything we knew."

"That's how they kept this secret hidden from society for so long." Luna gulped. "Humanity was one big experiment."

As the minutes passed, all four of them narrowed their eyes in the cool, quiet corridor. Dominique then looked over at Luna and opened her mouth.

"It won't be that way for long," she anticipated. "We have a fantastic team ready to annihilate their asses." Luna laughed at Dominique's words. "Besides, neither you nor I have anything to be worried about. Do you want to know why?"

Luna shook her head. "Why?"

"Our men are keepers. They keep us safe."

"Okay, okay. This is not some science fiction romance story," Owen grumbled under his breath. "Let's get back to the point."

"You're such a drama queen," Dominique quipped when she lifted her chin to meet her husband's gaze. "This is why I love you."

While holding Luna's hand, Amir smiled. A door suddenly opened in the middle of their conversation, revealing a bare-chested Ethan Trent holding a white cotton towel.

Luna stared, her gaze trailing down to his socks. She then brought her attention back to him, and exclaimed, "Ethan!"

"Hey everybody." Ethan nodded lightly while he looked at Amir. "Mr. Khan."

"Assalamualaikum," Amir welcomed him. "Nice to see you again, Ethan."

"You just . . . He called me by name," Ethan chirped, slightly grinning as he squeezed his towel. "Am I dreaming?"

Dominique and Owen both chuckled whilst they stood by, and then she spoke up. "Where is my brother?"

Ethan looked behind him, and all five of them peered through the threshold, spotting Jamal holding their two sleeping children.

"I finally got him to sleep," Ethan said as he cautiously closed the door behind him. "Jamal is suffering from PTSD. He can't seem to fall asleep anymore."

"I'm sure it's rough," Luna commented, turning her head to look at Amir. "I have trouble sleeping sometimes."

"I think it is rough for all of us," Owen added. "Speaking of rest, I've got something for both of you if you want it."

Amir and Luna raised their brows. "What is it?" she whispered.

"Here." Owen reached into his pocket and pulled out two small vials filled with clear liquid. "It is a sedative. It's a powerful medicine that can put you to sleep in seconds and keep you sleeping for twelve hours straight."

"I . . . I'm not sure," Amir said while Luna remained still and quiet. "We don't want to take any more medication."

"No, I know, but believe me, you'll want to take this before you get on the road," Owen insisted. "It could also boost your abilities. It has an enhancer inside of it."

"Wait. What?" Luna's mouth dropped open.

"Don't give them that, Owen," Ethan said when he took a step forward. "Their body may react differently than the bodies of others who have been tested with it."

"For the first time, I agree with you," Owen said. "This, however, will be Amir and Luna's decision. They won't know what happens unless they try it." He then handed Amir and Luna each a vial. "Before you take it, make sure your stomach is full. It's more effective."

"Uh, thanks." Luna twirled her vial between her fingers. "I hope it's safe."

"You have nothing to worry about." Dominique put her hand on Luna's shoulder. "We've been taking this for years and nothing has ever happened. You can trust us."

Amir and Luna both nodded.

"All right," he said. "We'll think about it."

"Well, it's good to see you guys again," Luna said, gently hugging everybody. "Amir and I want to go back to our room and pack for our trip."

"Of course." Dominique smiled, her eyes settled on them. "We'll catch up with you two in the morning. Good night."

"Good night," Ethan uttered, staring in their direction. "Sleep tight."

"And don't let the bed bugs bite," Owen said quietly, smirking.

"Ha-ha," Amir moaned as he and Luna began to make their way to the exit.

"I truly missed them," Luna commented once they passed through the door.

"Me too," he agreed.

When they entered their room, they both went straight to the closet and took out the camping gear Greer had brought over earlier. Amir's nerves were frayed as he cast glances at Luna while they began packing clothes.

His heart skipped a beat when he watched his wife stuff the last sweatshirt into a duffel bag. Things were going to happen quickly after they leave the base, and he had no idea what they would endure on the road or when they would meet up with Zander.

He realized that this could be the last time they were together.

He wasn't trying to be cynical, but they'd be stuck with Greer. The three of them were glued to the hip for the conceivable future, and if things got really bad, this would be the last time he and his wife had a few minutes alone.

Luna turned around and zipped up the bag. Her hair was down and wavy, just the way Amir liked it. Her cheeks were slightly pink, and her bright brown eyes seemed to cover up her entire face.

Her lips tipped up at the corners, and it said something remarkable that she could still smile, like, really smile, amid all of this. "What?" she questioned.

"I was just thinking. That's all." Amir took a step forward, then another, until he was close in front of her, forcing her to lean her head back.

He cupped her cheeks slowly, memorizing the high sweep of her jawline, the heavier fringe of her lashes at the outer edges of her eyes, down to the slight upturn in her nose and fuller bottom lip.

He didn't want to waste these minutes. He wanted to spend them loving her. Above all, he wished their paths had altered. Not that they wouldn't be together or anything, but for the first time, he wished they weren't superhumans battling a corrupted organization out to get anything they had created. Instead of going to war with an army of psychopaths, they would have been able to live like a normal family with Sarah, have children, and even travel the world.

He wished he could take them to Pakistan and show them how beautiful it was before the chaos began. Before everything in his country was destroyed. He wanted to spend the weekend at a beach or in the mountains camping. He would do anything to ensure that they all had a normal family vacation. But wishing for things at this moment was a waste of time. And he was losing time.

He dipped his mouth to hers, kissing her softly at first, and deepened their kiss when her hands landed on his shoulders, slipping back around his neck. He could live off the taste of her.

He traced the pattern of her lips, memorizing the feel of them. Luna let out a tiny, soft moan when she leaned into his chest, her fingers running through his hair at the nape. Need crashed into him, penetrating every cell.

His hands ran down her sides, lingering for a moment around her waist, before smoothing his palm over her rounded thighs. He preferred to be this close to her. He was a needy weirdo, but she relished it.

"Do you want to . . . ?" she murmured.

He grinned against her mouth before kissing her neck and along her ear. "Only if you feel like it."

"Why wouldn't I want to make love, A?"

"Because of everything we've learned and witnessed."

Luna swallowed and looked Amir in the eyes. "Let's forget about those heinous crimes and focus on the here and now. We've earned that right."

Amir nodded, kissing the corner of her mouth lightly. "I love you, Mrs. Khan. Always will."

Luna leaned back, slipping out of his reach. She looked him in the eyes and smiled playfully while she reached down and pulled her shirt off over her head.

Such a beautiful soul, Amir thought, his eyes wandering over her shape.

Then her bottoms came off next, along with everything else she'd been wearing. Pink swept over her body, and she didn't avoid his stare or duck her chin.

Luna captivated him in every way. She was spectacular, but it went far beyond that. She was extraordinary, and her scars were like those of a professional wrestler. She was intelligent and tenacious, but most importantly, she was kind, and she'd given him the ultimate gift by loving him.

That was the most important factor he would always remember about their life together.

Love was a blessing, a beautiful gift from Allah.

Amir joined Luna in the buff and wrapped his body around her. He did not have to tell her he wanted her. Because the words had already been spoken, they had no meaning. And actions were always louder, more significant.

He devoured her.

Moving lower, first on his knees, then to the small bed, her breasts were flushed against his chest, and then he backed up. He desired to do more, a lot more, but he hadn't thought to find any protection, and the last thing either of them needed to worry about was a child on the way.

But, just like before, there were other . . . alternatives. They did it until his senses were completely consumed, and he fell in love with her over and over again. They were hungry, pushing it to the point where they were almost foolish in their feelings for each other, pulling back at the last second, and then falling over the edge, hands on each other, mouths fused.

Their love was beautiful.

Luna was amazing.

And Amir was the happiest man alive.

• • •

The next morning, the time had finally come to leave. Both Amir and Luna had missed out on reuniting with everyone they knew was at the base, including Cassie, Mera, Raul, Max, and the others. But Amir was confident that if everything went well, they'd get another chance to see them again.

He and Luna met Greer after grabbing the last suitcase, while Faisal stood at the exit doors, one arm around Cami's shoulders. Amir had no idea what to say to his cousin. Goodbye wasn't enough. So he came to a stop and stared at the couple, hoping that even if this plan failed in the worst way possible, Faisal, Cami, and their families would continue. They would be happy and safe.

Luna was the first to greet them. She hugged Faisal and then her best friend. Cami said something to her, and Luna smiled back.

When Amir walked over to him and placed his hand on Faisal's shoulder, he had to take a deep breath. "Look. Everything will be fine. You and the family will be safe here."

Faisal leaned in until his brow brushed up against Amir's. "And you three will be safe."

"Inshallah."

Faisal nodded and hugged him. They were both aware of the dangers and the potential outcomes, but they didn't express it to one another while they said their farewells. Leaving his cousin, his family, and Sarah in the same building as the man who had ruined everyone's lives went against everything Amir believed in.

But he had no choice.

He needed to do something to help the world get back on track so he could provide a future for the people he cared about. That was his new mission.

When he and Luna walked out those metal doors, his nerves pricked with the urge to go back downstairs, but he ignored it and focused ahead. General Hayes was waiting for them beside a black SUV, the type of vehicle used by BARDA agents.

Amir wanted to blow up the car, but that wouldn't work in their favor. Impulse control.

"We'll be waiting for you," the general said. "I don't think I need to remind you how important this is or what is at stake, but if you survive, you won't have to worry about any of us for the rest of your lives. I will make certain that, no matter what measures are in place in the future, you will be exempt from all laws and restrictions. You'll be free of all of this."

As Amir met Luna's surprised stare, he took a moment to process what the general was saying. Amir figured out what she was thinking once his brain started working again. "Not only for us."

General Hayes eyed him.

"I want my family and friends to be included in that," Amir said, looking over at Cami and Faisal. He had no idea what the man had in mind when all was said and done, but he didn't give a crap. "I also want to protect Luna's family—her parents, Liberty, and Vikram—from having to deal with any of these experiments again. Because I am certain that if we are successful, the experiments will not be over."

Luna's lips trembled while she pressed them together. He knew she could hear his thoughts because a tiny droplet covered her eyes.

"Have I made myself clear?" Amir urged.

"You have, Mr. Khan." General Hayes nodded. "None of you will ever have to be worried about us again."

"That includes any children Luna and I may have. None of them will be a part of your experiments, do you understand?"

General Hayes shifted his weight and smiled back. "Yes, sir."

"I'll hold you accountable."

Before Amir could catch his breath, the doors swung open, and a long strand of silver hair flew out, followed by Sarah, who dashed toward him and Luna.

He took a step back from the general and the soldier next to him before lowering his waist and embracing his daughter.

"Stay inside, okay?" Amir told her, and she nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "Mommy and I will be back as soon as possible."

"But I don't want you to leave," Sarah sobbed.

"I know, baby girl," Luna said after she wrapped her arms around her. "Don't you want to go back home?"

"You mean our house in Louisiana?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Luna nodded. "Yep. We can all go back if it's still standing and nothing has been taken."

"Then we can pack our stuff and move into Papa's house," Sarah added.

"Or we could do that, too. Either choice is fine," Amir said, smiling. "We ask that you stay with our family and listen to them. Can you do that for us?"

Sarah smiled while nodding. "Please hurry back. I miss you."

"And I miss you, sweet pea," Luna said calmly, clutching her close. "Take care of Uncle Vik and Addy for us. They need you."

Amir glanced up at Lawrence when he came forward and reached for Sarah's hand. "I'll bring her back inside. The others wanted to come out to see you two leave, but they have strict policies in place," he explained as his eyes narrowed. "But everything will be fine here. We'll look after her."

"Shukria, Lawrence," Amir replied, softly hugging him. "I'll bring your daughter back safely."

"I know you will."

"I love you, Daddy," Luna said while she clutched his shoulders. "Take care of everyone for us. And tell them how much we love them."

Lawrence kissed her on the cheek. "I sure will."

"All right, all right, I think it's about time you guys got on the road," Titus said, nearing the group in his multicolored overalls and a goofy grin on his mouth. "Time is of the essence."

Amir gave another quick nod, and then there was no time to hang out any longer. He wandered around everyone and opened the passenger door for Luna. Greer was going to be a backseat rider, whether he liked it or not.

"What was the deal with Cami?" Amir asked her after he gripped the car door.

She smiled when her gaze met his. "She said exactly what I want to say to you."

"That she loved me, too?"

Luna laughed, which made Amir smile. "No, she praised you."

━━─── • ───━━━

Here we go. It's time to hit the road. There will be plenty of action and chaos. :)