The Darkest Legacy (Darkest Min - Alexandra Bracken Page 0,33
you a better range of motion.”
He brought up the tip of the knife, wedging it between two of the narrow links connecting the cuffs. If he could keep his hands steady in this situation, even with the swaying of the truck, I sure as hell wasn’t going to let mine shake.
“It’s just funny to hear you say that,” Priyanka said, pitching her voice up higher. “Op.”
The metal links split and my wrists fell away from each other.
“You find yourself in handcuffs often?” I asked Roman, rubbing at the metal rings still circling my wrists.
He looked down at the knife’s blade, clearly trying to decide how to answer. “Are we still trying to relieve stress?”
My nerves were sparking, flaring hot and fast with no sign of burning out. So, yes.
Priyanka held up her hands. “Could we now turn our attention back to the situation at hand? How many people do we think are in the cab of the truck?”
“I heard two voices respond to the guy back here,” I said, crossing my arms over my stomach.
Priyanka rose to her full, impressive height, knocking into one of the empty racks that lined the roof of the truck. “Ow, dammit. All right, then, spark plug,” she said, her hand rubbing her head. “You’re up. Can you stall the truck?”
“What did you just call me?” I asked.
Roman sighed, giving Priyanka a look. “She means that you’re classified Yellow. A surge of power could stop the truck’s engine, right?”
I nodded. “But if they’ve insulated the cab, too, it’s going to be a problem for us.”
Roman’s mouth flattened for a moment, his brows drawing down in thought.
“You’re a Yellow too, right?” I pressed. “I didn’t imagine your button?”
In spite of everything, including my fears about them, it would almost be reassuring to have another Psi like me here. It would help explain why I felt a small instinctive tug toward him, even now. Yellow-classified Psi could connect to each other as they felt out the same electrical currents—one flicker of power brushing up against another.
Some days, that passing sensation felt like the only reassurance that I wasn’t alone.
“You didn’t imagine it,” he said. “But you have the better control by far, and I don’t know how useful I’ll be. How do you want to play this?”
I rubbed at my face, thinking. Control would be key here. It meant the difference between stopping the engine and exploding it, which could kill all of us. “I can take care of the engine. It’s going to come down to using the element of surprise. One of you can get the door open; the other is going to need to be ready to fire at any of the soldiers who come back to investigate.”
Roman nodded, his gaze sharpening with focus. “I’ll take care of them before they can get out of the cab. Priya will get the door open. Does that work for everyone?”
I was surprised when Roman flipped the knife in his hand, catching it by the tip and passing the handle over to me. I took it, swaying with the movement of the truck, and realized a second too late he’d only done it so he’d have both hands free to take the utility belt off the dead man.
Including the gun.
Shit. Why hadn’t I grabbed it the second he’d freed my hands?
“Could I possibly do more than get a door open?” Priyanka said. “Just so I don’t, you know, fall asleep waiting for you guys to save us?”
Roman cast an anxious look in her direction. “It’ll be enough for now. Don’t rush the horses.”
Priyanka gave him a look. He let out a sound of exasperation.
“What is it in English?” he asked.
“Don’t be in such a rush,” she said. “Or hold your horses. I like that one, though. A point to Mother Russia.”
I’d been right. English wasn’t his first language.
He nodded. “I just mean that it’s better to be careful and not overdo it if we don’t have to.”
“Okay, but counterpoint: Is it even possible to ‘overdo it’ with assholes like these?” Priyanka asked. “Can’t we also use the opportunity to send a message straight up to the top? To whoever might be running this show?”
“We just need to get out of here alive.” His tone had a note of pleading.
“And find out who’s responsible for grabbing us,” I added, watching them both for their reactions. Their expressions betrayed nothing.
“I hate it when you use that earnest look.” Priyanka blew out a frustrated sound. “It always makes me feel