The Fortunates (Unfortunate #2) - Skyla Madi Page 0,39

to Oliver, knowing very well this could end our plans. What if he sends me away? What if he says I can’t be a part of his revolution anymore? “We can trust him.”

Oliver flinches away from me, stopping me in my tracks. “I trust him about as far as I can throw him.”

I jolt as Kade slips his hand against the small of my back, a clear gesture of possession, and it takes everything I have in me to keep my muscles from trembling underneath his commanding touch.

“Perhaps this conversation would be a little different if you didn’t have the upper body strength of a small child,” Kaden points out.

And he’s rather pleased at himself for it too. Oliver scowls, first at Kade and then at me. Kade’s hand tightens on my lower back as Oliver points a finger at my face.

“You swore you wouldn’t tell him,” he hisses, whispering so the others don’t hear.

They watch us, Fortunates and Unfortunates alike, their eyes peeled and their knees bent, ready to run at a moment’s notice.

“He wants to help, Oliver.”

“Oh, does he? When has a Sario ever wanted to help anyone but themselves?” He chuckles under his breath and shakes his head. “Ludicrous. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel comfortable having him here.”

Exhaling, I straighten my shoulders. If I’m going to run this show, I need to assert my authority. I need to learn how to be a leader…and I guess there’s no better place to start than here.

“You need me,” I tell Oliver, my voice calm and assertive. “I will be the one taking all the risks. I’ve let you set this whole thing up so it falls on my shoulders if it fails. I’m allowed a few pardons since I’m the one putting everything on the line.”

His tightens his jaw as I back him into a corner.

“Kade stays or I walk,” I add, nervously rubbing my fingers against my palm. “What’s it going to be?”

Oliver’s angry stare flicks between Kade and I, his jaw ticking with agitation. He might be pissed, but adding Kade boosts our chances tenfold. He’s smart, strong, and has all of the connections Oliver and I don’t. A flicker of light pulls our attention to the moderator on the top of the fence. That’s the signal. They need to light this place up before anyone gets suspicious.

“We’ve run out of time.” Oliver bends low and scoops up the bottle. “I’ll talk to Gerard. He should be able to buy us a few minutes out here next week.”

So…is that a yes to Kade being a part of everything?

“You’re crazy,” Kade states and I peer sideways at him.

Oliver frowns. “I’m crazy?”

“You can’t host these meetings out in the open with half the town in attendance. Give me a few days. I can put a secure communications system in place. That way, meetings can stay intimate, information is still delivered, and the chances of being caught are slim to none.”

“No.” Oliver shakes his head. “I don’t trust you.”

“I do,” I say. “And if Kade says we can do this without risking so many lives then I’m all for it.”

Biting his tongue, Oliver whirls on his heel and storms over to the group. They talk in hushed whispers before dispersing. No one makes eye contact with Kade as they walk by for fear of being recognised. He doesn’t mind it. In fact, he watches them with an amused little glimmer in his eyes. Happy with himself.

When the crowd disappears into the town, dragging their bodies in different directions, the moderators turn their lights on our space and comb the field like they’re supposed to.

My skin crawls and fear bubbles in my belly whenever their lights flick over me. Being allowed to do whatever I want is going to take some getting used to. Kade and I could climb the fence and sit at the top if we really wanted to. No one would do a thing.

“You snuck out,” Kade mutters, dropping his hand from my back and turning in my direction.

I drag my stare up the wide expanse of his chest and along each of his broad shoulders. How does he carry such a stone-like body upright?

“I did.”

He sighs. “This is dangerous, Nine. Meeting in plain sight? You could have been caught.”

“Oliver took all the necessary precautions—”

“Oliver.” Kade spits his name and glares off to the side. “I don’t trust him.”

“And the feeling is mutual on his side.” I reach out and slide my palms up his forearms. “You