∞ The Tethered Ones ∞

Chapter 41

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• Luna •

Every time I didn't turn in someone I cared about, they cut off a toe . . . echoed in Luna's mind.

With each passing day, the organization got worse and worse. She loathed their techniques. It was just barbaric to amputate a person's body parts because of something they demanded. They had to be stopped.

Standing up, Ethan moved past the coffee table and into the kitchen. "I've become accustomed to walking differently now so I could hide it." While gazing out the window, he placed his palms over the counter. "I tried not to turn in my family, but people I loved were threatened." He took a breath and trembled. "You can guess how many people they target to achieve their goals."

She gulped. "That's so cruel."

Ethan chuckled and turned around. "And they don't care. When I said half of the staff and anyone working for them were not doing it for a living and had to work because of their brutality, I was also referring to the lengths the organization will go to make a person comply."

Her lips trembled. "Are you trying to tell me that they could use those methods on me or Amir? Even his family?"

"Yes," he said, glancing at Luna. "If you get caught, and even worse, if both of you get caught, they'll already have the devices they need to use on you. They planted poisonous pods around Dr. Kim's yard in order to keep you guys there until they could relocate."

"Look how that turned out," Luna remarked dryly.

Ethan shook his head. "They had planned to amputate Amir's father's fingers if you failed any of their tests."

Her brows scrunched together. "But Mr. Khan has done nothing wrong."

"And? Other patients haven't, either. Nasir has a connection to you."

Luna began pacing the small room, trying to keep her breath steady. "That is why they have his family. And we don't even know their condition."

"No, we don't."

"Could they possibly have harmed Jamal, Kai, or your kids?" He shrugged, and Luna shook her head and shuddered. If the organization was abusing people's loved ones in this way, anyone they were attempting to save might be in worse shape than they initially thought. The ambulance car might come in handy during the raid. "Why don't you contact either of the brothers and find out where they are?"

Ethan's brow furrowed. "I can't. They have a security blocker in that hospital. You can't use your abilities. To be honest, I was surprised to learn that my family was there."

Her brow arched. "They must have transferred them when you left Dr. Kim's."

"Most likely."

"And now it makes sense why you asked Titus if he was sure if everyone was at that facility."

Ethan nodded. "Yes. I last saw Jamal in Mercy Hospital. That's in Northeast New Orleans, and it's a regular hospital with an ER. The psychiatric ward is on the top floor, with limited security."

"So, rescuing him from there would have been a quick and easy raid."

"Yep," he continued.

“I gather they severed your toes because you didn't turn him in when they demanded?"

His expression tensed. "I fought back during the first two amputations. But then . . ." He trembled and paused, his chest rising. "As soon as they moved to the third toe, I had to comply. I had to give them Jamal, someone who had changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined."

Luna's chest ached as she rested her hand on his shoulder. "We'll get Jamal and everyone else back. I promise.”

A small smile appeared. "I know. Labor Day . . . Everything comes down to Monday."

Her stomach churned, and her pulse quickened. "You said that you were once a prisoner. What happened?"

As she listened to him with an open mind, they both sat back onto the couch.

Ethan's eyes widened into narrow slits. He took a few moments before responding. "It wasn't too bad at first. They allowed us to see each other. They said it could stay that way if we both cooperated. And we did. But then Jamal was experimented on in front of my eyes. You know, bringing out the big guns and putting Dr. Kim's halo device over his head. My entire world came crashing down around me, and that's when I decided to go after everyone in BARDA."

It was the first time she had heard him mention seeking vengeance on the organization. The words felt strange coming from his mouth.

"Trying to accomplish that resulted in nothing but misery and, eventually, insanity." The corners of Ethan's mouth tipped up. "BARDA demanded that I give them more people I cared about," he explained. "They wanted Kai, then Hosea, my son, and then Isabella, my daughter. I lost another toe because I refused. They removed my right kidney after I resisted once more."

He gently lifted his shirt, revealing a scar on his stomach. "They also didn't use anesthesia on me."

Luna shifted. "What the hell!"

His jaw clenched. "I wasn't allowed to see Jamal after that—my punishment for failing to do what they demanded. They didn't care that I had my family protected. Even Layla, our surrogate, was safe. I tried, Mrs. Khan, I really tried. Keeping them hidden was never an option."

Nausea welled up inside her, and she wished she had something to say, but it seemed that this was one of those times when saying nothing meant everything.

"Then they started bringing in other members of my family and hurting them, and I had to sit there and watch their brains get fried." He sniffed. "I eventually gave in. When Kai came over to see his niece and nephew one night, I drugged him. That was the only way to hand him over. I later discovered that the organization knew where Layla and my babies' were."

"How did they find them?"

Ethan's hands opened and closed on his thighs. "They had a hybrid with them. This hybrid was more powerful than any Tethered Soul, Defective, or Origin I had ever seen. And do you want to know the worst part?" He asked, and she nodded. "They had the hybrid with them the whole time and could have found my family from the start. But they wanted to force me to reveal their location. My kidney and toes were removed for their amusement."

Luna's lips trembled. "Oh, God. I'm sorry that happened to you."

His attention shifted elsewhere. "Some scars stay with you for the rest of your life, Luna. Some of them serve as a guide to survival and, at times, triumph. All we can do is keep moving forward while never looking back."

She shuddered and cleared her throat. "Does . . . does Dominique or anyone else know what happened to you?"

His eyes closed. "No. And I'd like to keep it that way."

She nodded and realized Ethan would never be the same after everything he'd been through. Tears climbed up her throat once more. She wanted to cry for him, for Jamal, for their family, but most of all for the people they once were but would never be again. She'd even felt a smidgeon of sympathy for him, which she never thought was possible.

He then shut down. He talked about anything—the weather, his life in Jamaica, the Simpsons—but nothing about the organization or what they did to him and his people. Part of her was thankful. She wasn't sure how much more she could take knowing everything.

The problem was that once they stopped talking about serious topics, her mind went right back to Amir and what he was doing. She couldn't sit there any longer.

She couldn't sit anywhere.

After saying goodbye, she made the quick and rough trek across the lawn, avoiding a ditch.

She rushed toward her house, grabbed the door handle, and pushed it open. Unease grew. It was far too easy for anyone other than herself to walk into their home.

Sucking in a breath, she gently closed the door and looked around. Everything was quiet, and she wondered if her husband was around.

Stepping into the bedroom, her gaze was fixed on the bed. And her chest fluttered.

Amir was sprawled on his back, one arm stretched across the space beside him, the other resting over his bare stomach. His narrow hips were wrapped in sheets. In sleep, his chiseled lines softened and his lips relaxed, almost angelic. His top cheeks were framed by thick lashes.

He appeared much younger when his eyes were closed, but he was even more stunning when he was awake. His masculine beauty was otherworldly and captivating. Something between the pages of the books she read.

She sometimes had trouble convincing herself that they were really together and he was fated for her.

She sat on the edge of the bed, unable to take her gaze away. She didn't want to startle him. So, she sat quietly, thinking about their fight, watching his chest rise and fall steadily.

She wondered how he felt after she'd left. Her stomach dropped the moment she realized how stupid she'd been, because she had acted like a crazed pre-teen who felt controlled. The fluttering returned, and she could almost forget about the earlier anxiety punch, almost but not quite—

Amir rolled over, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her down beside him. He kept moving, burying his face in her neck. "You're back," he whispered.

She smiled as she rested her hand on his shoulder. His skin was scorching hot. "I can leave again if you want."

"Don't you move a muscle." He threw his leg over hers and snuggled in closer. "Have you eaten anything?"

"No. I thought I'd wait for you."

He took a deep breath. "We could ask to leave for a while."

"Would that be a good idea?"

The corner of his lips tipped up. "Maybe not. I was thinking about something while you were away. I've never actually taken you out on a date."

Luna chuckled. "The last time we had a 'date,' well, one that I call a date, was in the hospital."

He turned to face her, his eyes glistening. "What did . . . we do?"

"It was the Fourth of July, and you snuck Cami and me up to the rooftop to watch the fireworks. Faisal joined us, and it was almost like a double date."

Amir beamed as he squeezed her even tighter. "That sounds incredible."

"It was. You had declared your undying love for me two weeks prior." She lightly caressed his skin, leaving lazy circles around his knuckles. "I'll never forget that moment because you waited until I was single to tell me how you felt."

"So, I liked you before you were . . . available?" His brow furrowed and his eyes darkened.

She bowed her head. "I mean, it was fine. You never made a move on me during my entire relationship with Chase, and I think you even put your feelings aside before that so you could try to connect with the woman your family chose for you."

A stone had formed in her stomach. She bit her lower lip, unsure of what else to say. She didn't want to linger too long in the past, but they were talking about it. This was the good stuff.

"But that was then," Luna added, "and this is now."

Amir grinned. "Now. Sounds great."

He raised his head, kissed her on the nose, and buried his face in the pillow.

She burst out laughing.

"It's late," he grumbled.

"It's noon."

"That's too late. I intended to take a short nap."

He slid an arm over her hip and turned his head so she could see his face. "I can't believe I upset you. I didn't mean to."

Her heart was shattered. "No, I'm sorry, baby. Zoe and Dominique were there to give me advice, which I took. I'm here."

"I'm glad," he mumbled into her hair. "I missed you more than you know."

"You knew how to reach me if you wanted to."

He chuckled. "I was giving my moonlight some space."

"Ah, bliss. I like that nickname. It's a lot better than Big Bird."

A brow rose. "I can always call you that."

"Eh, I'm used to it." She fiddled with the sheet's edge, twisting it around her fingers. "You can call me anything and I'll be fine."

One eye opened. “Amir?"

She walked right into that one.

He bit his lip. "What is it? I call you by my name, but you don't do the same for me? My feelings are hurt."

"I'm sure I can smooth them out for you." She wanted to smack herself as soon as those words left her mouth.

Both eyes were open now, and Amir did something that both surprised and irritated her: he smiled that big one. "This is what I call making up after a fight. I think I want more of these."

"More of what?"

"Fights, Amir," he uttered.

The way he called her his name sounded both dark and tantalizing at the same time. She tried to stand up, but his arm held her down. "No more fights, Prince, and please stop calling me by your name."

"Not until I hear you call me by yours," he countered.

"Luna . . ." she whispered.

"Amir..." he murmured, caressing her cheek. "I'm happy now. At least verbally." He wiggled his brows.

"You can be such a perv, A."

"And you're a drama queen."

She rolled her eyes and let loose a torrent of feelings. "If you want us to patch things up, insulting me is not the way to go. But I'll let that one slide. I just want to find a happy medium and restore harmony between us. I've spent my entire life being controlled by BARDA, Chase, and every other force out there, so please excuse me for being over dramatic." She took a breath and kept her gaze fixed on him. "We've been through hell and have come out stronger, Amir. That is something I never want to lose."

"Moon . . ."

"Don't Moon me." Luna scowled, on a roll. "We woke up happy and in love, talking about getting food and coffee, and then you have the audacity to ask me to stand back on the raid?" Was that your attempt to control the situation? And get that silly grin off your face. None of this is funny."

Amir tried to remove his smile but failed. "I enjoy it when my Moon is enraged. It's making me . . . hot."

"Oh, shut up." She pushed his arm, disgusted. "Let me go. You can go look for something to eat by yourself."

Instead of letting her go, he shifted atop her, balancing himself on either side of her shoulders. He was grinning now, that annoying, cocky grin of his. "I have to say, this side of you is enticing."

“Enticing?”

He cocked his head sideways. “Yes. Being in this house gives me a sense of domestication. I know we've stayed together in different homes before, but it feels different in this neighborhood. All we're missing are Sarah and the future children we will have. Fighting with you is enjoyable and thrilling. I could get used to it."

"You're thinking about babies?" She stifled a laugh. "Of all the things you could be thinking about, it's children."

"Should I be thinking about something else?"

“Yes. Our date."

He laughed. "We should do both. A date, and then work on making babies."

Luna shook her head. "You're being ridiculous."

"No, I'm optimistic."

"I'm not impressed," she mumbled.

"You should be, sweetheart."

"Don't try to sweet-talk me."

"I'm not," he said. "That's the truth."

She moistened her lips as she looked over his shoulder. "I don't know what to do with you."

"Sure you do." He beamed.

She gave a lopsided shrug. Okay, he had a point. Discuss food and possibly going on a date, and even making babies?

"So, where should I take you?" The tip of his nose rubbed against her cheek. "Pizza Hut?"

"Why are you thinking about a date when your family is going through hell?" She was sick as soon as she said those words. Ethan's story came to her mind. "Sorry. I shouldn't have brought them up."

"It's fine, Moon. I'd like to take you somewhere before the raid. I wish Sarah was here so we could all go out."

Luna glanced down for a moment. "I know. But I think it'd be better if our group came here after we raided the facility. That way, none of them will be involved. Faisal would like to come, and we can't lose him."

"You're right," he murmured. "But I wanted to see our daughter before then."

"I know, honey. That would be fantastic for her. We just need to wait a little longer."

He looked at her for a moment and then pushed himself against the bedpost. "I'm sorry if you felt controlled earlier."

"And I'm sorry for acting like a toddler."

His wide grin reappeared. "Baby Luna."

"Don't start," she snarled. "I'll ask Dominique where Owen's doghouse is. She'd show me."

"Woof-Woof."

Luna jabbed his upper arm. "Be careful, Buster."

Amir touched the spot above his heart. "Do I sense a new nickname for myself?"

She remained flat on her back, too tired to move. "It's your dog name. Have fun with it."

"Awesome. Another name to add to my list."

"Yep, and the nicknames will continue to come," she replied.

He laughed as she pushed herself out of the bed.

"It'll be a never-ending list before we know it," she added.

Amir appeared in front of her and cupped her cheeks. "Then let there be a list. Everything will be fine as long as we're together."

"Together." She smiled, trying to keep the tears from welling up in her eyes. She remembered everything she'd learned about the organization, how horrible their treatments were when they apprehended people; she didn't want to think about that right now, but the knowledge was there, like bacteria that can't be killed. Both of them were getting back on track, and bringing up what Ethan had been through and the reasons for his actions would ruin their happy mood.

Besides, Ethan might not want that information shared. He should be the one to tell his story, not her.

Amir's lips twitched. "So, are we good?"

Luna nodded. "If you promise not to give me any crap about going with you Monday."

He pressed his forehead against hers. "I don't want you to be there, Moon, but you drive a hard bargain." He sighed and wrapped his arms around her. "Just promise me you'll stay with us the entire time."

Her lips were pressed against his chest. "I will."

He kissed her knuckles. "How's that for getting your way?"

“Meanie.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, soaking in his warmth. None of this would happen if she had her way. But that was the point. She wondered if any of them would succeed.

"Oh, before I forget," he said, taking a step back and reaching into his pocket. "Since I can't give you a wedding ring, I made you a hair ring." He pressed a lock of his hair into the palm of her hand. "This may seem silly, but I wanted you to have something from me."

He's remembering . . .

Luna smiled, her eyes filling up with tears as she slid it on her finger. "This is perfect, A. Just perfect."

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