The boss lets out a long, drawn-out sigh the way Brody had at the hospital. When he speaks again, the bored tone is gone, replaced by a seriousness that causes me to shift in my seat. “We knew the underboss would gather his entire clan for the execution. If we were to eradicate all the Halehorns and their supporters—”
“You needed to make sure they were all in one place,” I interrupt. Quickly noticing my mistake, I say with head bowed, “I apologize for my rudeness.”
“RC, you of all people will never have to apologize to me ever again.”
I look up so fast that I’m hit with a dizzy spell. I fall against the side of my chair. All four guys with me reach out to steady me, Screw and Bedlam being the ones who get to me first. Even Brody and Zamara take a step toward me. All of them have forgotten that we are in the presence of our leader. The boss breaks out in jovial laughter, which catches everyone off guard.
It takes him a moment to recover, but when he does, he says, “You are clearly loved by everyone in this room.” Warmth spreads inside my chest at the truth of his words. Even more so when Bedlam resettles me in my seat and our eyes meet. He runs his fingers across my knuckles, and a welcome shiver rushes over me. He kneels beside me again when the boss continues. “To be honest with you, there were moments when I had to stop Brody and Zamara from rescuing you, and still they defied me.”
The times the guards at my door spoke about Brody and Zamara coming. I glance at each of them in turn. Brody drops his gaze while Zamara blushes. I feel another crying jag coming on, but I inhale deeply to stave it off. I can break down later.
“And if I’m to continue in my honesty,” he says. “There were moments when I had to stop myself from rescuing you, but I couldn’t do anything without raising Horacio’s suspicions. He needed to continue to believe you would be executed. I’m sorry that you had to endure what you did for the sake of peace in Terra One. In my lifetime, I can count on one hand the truly strong people that I know. The day I saw you at Punishment Square in the condition they brought you in, I counted you to be one of the strongest. I am truly in your debt.”
A myriad of emotions war inside me. Betrayal. Anger. Hatred. Joy. Relief. I can certainly cuss out the boss for his underhanded tactics. I can definitely scream at everyone in the room for leaving me out of the loop. I can even run out of here and never return. But what would I get out of doing those things? During my sentencing and my subsequent torture, I had accepted what was happening to me as a consequence for what I had done. Let’s say the underboss didn’t have plans to overthrow the boss. Let’s say everything went as it was supposed to. I wouldn’t be here right now. I wouldn’t be alive, given a second chance to fix things in my life that I didn’t get right the first time. So is it crazy to say I understand why the boss did what he had to do? No. We are the same in that regard. I killed Star to save the lives of the most important people in my life. The boss eradicated the Halehorn family for the sake of peace in Terra One. To be a part of that, the horror I suffered, is equal parts inexcusable and understandable. I will deal with the fallout in my own time. Apparently I have an abundance of it now. That realization is my saving grace, what eases some of the sting.
“Is there anything within my power that I can do for you?”
Oh, the question has so many tempting possibilities. Short of asking for rule of Terra One, I feel like I can get anything I want. That’s when my old self kicks in. I know of only one thing that can partially make up for what I’ve been put through. Well, at least it can be a start.
“This year’s Impulse Cup,” I say. Everyone around me groans in unison. “Has it concluded yet?”
The boss laughs again. “Since we devoted all our resources in flushing out the last of Horacio’s supporters, the organizers haven’t restarted the IC.”
A wicked grin spreads across my face. “Then I know what I want.”
“Name it.”
“Postpone the IC until I’m ready to race again.” I give Ace and Bedlam a sidelong glance. Fire blazes in Bedlam’s eye while Ace merely grins. “I seem to remember promising to take first place this year.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
AS I sit alone in my hospital room staring at my hands and following the IV line trailing up to a bag of nutrients and painkillers, I wonder what’s next for me. I’ve been reborn through a baptism of fire. Do I wish there was less pain involved in this life-changing event? Sure. Who wouldn’t have wanted less pain when dealing with a psycho killer and her equally psycho family? But that’s all done now. Brody assured me that they’ve rounded up every last one of the bastards. A new underboss is being selected, and the boss is busy strengthening relations with
