Fury Rising Read Online Free Page B

people he considered his friends. His family. He was always relieved when another day went by and they didn’t show up.
    Mason had no idea where they were living these days. He knew Aries had abandoned their last safe house, a big sprawling mansion in the middle of Shaughnessy, one of the richest parts of Vancouver. Where they were hiding now was anyone’s guess. But Mason also knew that Colin wouldn’t have voluntarily left on his own. No, the guy was too much of a coward. He refused to do pretty much anything if it held a hint of danger. So if the Baggers had caught Colin, where were the others?
    “Where is he?” Mason asked.
    “That’s the thing,” Karen said. She reached over and grabbed some of Mason’s bread, tearing off a piece and stuffing it in her mouth. “He’s in the office, talking with Leon. Hanging out, like they’re best buds.”
    “What?”
    Karen ignored him and continued on. “Guy’s a total leach. He couldn’t stop staring at my chest. Undressing me with his eyes. I could have knocked the entire coffee cup in his lap and he wouldn’t have noticed.”
    Mason grabbed her hand as she reached over to take the last of his bread. Karen paused and gave Mason a pouty look.
    “What were they talking about?”
    “I dunno. It’s not like they let me pull up a chair and listen. I got called in to serve them coffee and I didn’t stick around. I like staying alive.”
    Mason pushed his plate in Karen’s direction. He no longer wanted to finish it. Standing, he walked away from Karen who called out thanks, already stuffing the last of the bread in her mouth. She was more interested in finishing his food than finding out where he was going. Mason didn’t blame her. No one got enough to eat anymore. Especially in this place.
    He’d been stuck at the Plaza of Nations since before Christmas and it was by his own choice. He’d had the chance to run before, back when Aries tried to break Daniel and him out. But Mason stuck behind, for more than one reason.
    The last time he’d seen Aries was about a month ago. He remembered the conversation vividly. Not a day went by when he didn’t think about the words they’d exchanged.
    “I can still get you out,” she’d whispered. Two in the morning. He’d gone around to the back, behind the stage in the Plaza of Nations. Although the whole place was fenced in, there was a bit of space there where they could talk undetected. The Baggers may have kept them under lock and key, but they didn’t often patrol. They didn’t need to. Being stuck inside the Plaza was a better fate than getting shot trying to escape it. Very few people attempted to leave. Where would they go? Being outside the fence wasn’t any better than being inside these days.
    “No,” Mason had said. She looked well. Healthier. Springtime had been good. The rain had stopped falling every day and the days grew longer and warmer. Aries didn’t tell Mason where she was hiding, they both knew better than that. Instead, they had a safe house set up, a small building in the downtown core. She’d check it once a week in case Mason ever changed his mind and decided to split. But so far it hadn’t happened.
    “Why?” Another familiar question. “We can get the kids out too. Casey. The adults. We’re better organized now, Mason. There’s a lot more of us. We could do it without the casualties of last time.”
    Last time. They’d come in, guns blazing, tearing up the place. But people died. Good people. It wasn’t worth the deaths to save the few that managed to get out. The retaliation afterwards had been beyond terrible. The Baggers lined them all up and killed half the group, forcing the survivors to burn the bodies.
    No, there would be no more rescue missions. Mason would make sure of that.
    “We can’t take the risk,” Mason said. “You know that. Too many died last time. It’s not just about me.”
    “I know that. But come on, you’re not even wearing that stupid monitor