Chapter 49
Chloe's POV
My fingers tap against my leg nervously. Over an hour ago, Beca and I came back inside, then she took her father upstairs to talk. Not wanting to intrude and wanting to spend some time with my mother, I chose to wait in the kitchen. Bad mistake. Every couple of minutes I glance upstairs wondering how it's going and worrying that Beca needs me. I could ask her telepathically, but I don't want to interrupt.
"It'll be okay," my mom whispers and kisses my cheek. I just smile at her and glance back upstairs.
"I have arrived," Grandma Joyce announces and I jump up to hug her.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to help and to see one of my favorite people who I believed has been dead this whole time. Speaking of Beca, where is she?" Joyce looks around and pouts when she doesn't see her.
"She's upstairs with her dad. He's alive." Joyce's eyes widen.
"Wow. So why aren't you up there with them?"
"She needs to talk to him and I didn't want to interfere. I'm trying to give them some time together. She knows how to reach me if she needs to." I tap my head to show what I mean and Joyce nods.
"So you're just waiting?" I nod and Joyce sighs. "Why don't you explain the plan to me and I'll see where I fit into it. I'm also pretty sure your siblings are on their way though I don't know if they'll make it in time."
"Oh jeez," I throw my hands up. "I'm trying to not involve everyone I love in a dangerous battle. Hopefully they haven't gotten on their flight yet. Then, we might have a chance to put the plan in action before they get here."
"We all love you and Beca. We'll do anything for you guys, including putting our lives in danger." Joyce sets her hands on my shoulders and I sigh.
"I know. I just don't want you guys to. I thought that I lost Beca for a year and if I lost one of you guys too…"
"I know and I'm sorry you had to go through that, but it doesn't change anything. You can't live the rest of your life stopping others because you think you might lose them. What is life without a little risk?"
"Such words of wisdom," Beca says from the doorway and Joyce twirls around instantly going to Beca and wrapping her arms around her. "I missed you too."
"How's my girl doing?" Joyce pulls back and holds Beca in front of her. "Let me have a look at you. Oh no, you are way too thin. Chloe, have you talked to her about eating? It's very important. Eh, anyway, all that matters is that you're back."
"For two seconds before we head off into battle. Are you here to help?"
"Yes. Do you have any idea how I might do that?" Joyce lets go of Beca, who comes over to me and wraps an arm around my waist, holding me tight. Joyce looks down and smiles before getting serious again.
"I need someone to help lay the explosives in the lab."
"And how are we getting these explosives?" Joyce asks, raising an eyebrow and Beca smiles up at me wickedly.
"Chicago knows some people. He's picking them up right now."
"So when is this plan being put into action?" Beca's dad finally speaks and from the way Beca looks at him with nothing but a small sadness, I'm guessing they worked it all out. The same can't be said for me and him though.
"We're thinking tomorrow. We still have to message Fergus which will be done tomorrow morning. Hopefully, everything works out and we can destroy Fergus and everything that has to do with him."
"That sounds very simple," Chris Mitchell scowls and Joyce glares at him. When he steps forward, Joyce sticks her tongue out at his back. Her gaze drifts over and meets mine. I slightly shake my head and she just shrugs innocently.
"It sounds like it, but there are several things that could go wrong with this."
"Have we figured out where I'm going to be?" I look at Beca and she glances down.
"You got the group past security last time right? I'm sure if there are still people there, they'll need you to work your magic on them."
"This has nothing to do with keeping me out of harm's way?"
"Of course it is, but it's also because you have an incredible power that will be better used at the lab."
"You're lucky I agree," I glare at Beca playfully and she blushes before kissing me on the cheek. When I look up, Chris is smiling at us, his eyes soft. My eyes narrow at him and when Beca notices, she nudges me in the side with an elbow. I just shrug and she rolls her eyes.
He explained everything to me. I may not be able to forgive him for what he's done, but I can push past it and get to know him again. It'll be nice. Beca's voice floats through my head and I give her a smile, letting her know I understand.
"So we head out tomorrow?" Chris asks and I nod. "Well, we better rest then. It's getting pretty late."
"That's a good idea," Joyce agrees and kisses me on the cheek. "I'll see you two in the morning." With that, Joyce strolls out.
"Chloe, are you sure you have to go?" My mom asks and I nod.
"I'll be careful and I know you want to help which is why you need to stay here. I know that you used to mess around with the computer a lot. Do you remember how?"
"Mess around with a computer? What do you mean?" Beca looks back and forth between us, her eyes widening when she finally gets it. "You used to be a hacker?"
"Eh, I wouldn't call myself that. Just a few things here and there. After Chloe's dad died, I had to resort to certain measures when the bills started piling up. You'd be surprised how much people pay for some information on their spouse."
"Damn," Beca shakes her head. "Ms. Beale, you are one badass." My mom keeps a serious face, but I see the smile in her eyes. Even though their relationship still weirds me out, my own curiosity gets the better of me.
"Does Eli know this?"
"Do I know what?" Eli asks, coming into the kitchen and kissing the top of my mom's head. She sets her hand on his chest and shakes her head.
"Nothing dear. I just have a job to do while you guys are out and fighting tomorrow."
"Damn," Beca mutters under her breath. "A real fucking badass." I nudge her again and she laughs, pushing me back. I turn my attention away from Eli and my mom, and to Beca.
"Is that how you want to play?" I shove her lightly, making her laugh even harder. Moving so fast her hands blur, she pushes me up against the wall, my wrists above my head and trapped in her grasp. Her silver eyes meet mine, suddenly dark. Amusement still dances in her eyes as she moves closer to me.
"This is exactly," her lips trail down my jaw with light touches. "...how I want to play." Everything but Beca and I fades away in the background. All that I can see is Beca and all that I can hear is her voice whispering in my ear.
"I've missed you so much," Beca whispers, her lips brushing my ear. "All I could think about was getting back to you. Every time I went to sleep, you were the last thing I thought of and when I woke up, you were the thing that got me out of bed. When I was tortured, I focused only on you. When I was being beat up by one of his experiments, you were the thing that kept me moving. Without you, I would be nothing." Beca pulls back and I notice tears streaming down her face in sync with mine. She uses her thumb to brush them away and I lean my face in her palm. Our hearts beat in perfect unison now and ache with the same pain. For a year we were separated. Now that we're together, it should be gone, but it's not easy to forget a pain like that.
"Are we gonna die tomorrow?" I ask, my voice shakier than I want it to be.
"There's a big possibility that this will be a mistake and we'll all die, but we can't focus on that. For now, we focus on here, today. We focus on being together, nothing else matters. If we die, at least we'll die knowing that we tried. I have faith that in the end, we'll be together. We're meant to be, Chlo and nothing can keep us apart. Hell, I came back from the fucking dead to be with you."
"I guess that should count for something," I laugh, more tears streaming down my face.
"Let's live tonight like it'll be our last because let's face it, it probably is."
"Okay. Just the two of us?"
"Just the two of us." With that, Beca takes my hand, neither of us aware that my mom and Eli had left a while ago, leaving us alone. Neither of us register anyone as we walk by and go upstairs. We barely hear the lock on the door click and for a while, it's just us, our sighs barely a whisper in the night.