head back in the seat. Three men, men that had trusted him, were dead. But Agamemnon had taught them that the greatest gift they could give to their brothers was their life.
Somehow, he doubted those three cared much about their brothers right now.
Reese slinked out of the car and walked to the entrance. Moonlight lit his way and comforted him as he stared down at the dirt kicking up with each step. The entrance was unlocked and he went inside and made his way to the control room. Most of the brothers had gone to sleep, or were out at the clubs getting drunk and partying, or were off in some small crawlspace getting laid. But Agamemnon was still working. Even at this time of night, alone, he still left his armor on.
“Brother,” Reese said, “I have news.”
Agamemnon was crouched low, working on some fiberoptic wires attached to a monitor, when he stood up to his full height. It still filled Reese with a sense of awe and fear.
“What is it?” he said.
Reese recounted in detail the events of the night, leaving out the portion relating to the boy. Agamemnon stayed quiet the entire time and when Reese was through he took a deep breath before speaking.
“The wife must be taught a lesson, brother. You must go to her and teach her the price of resistance.”
Reese nodded. He had anticipated him saying as much. “I will. Anything else?”
Agamemnon walked to him, staring down at him as if he were a young child. Fear tickled Reese’s spine and he put real effort into not stepping backward.
“You are responsible for the deaths of three of our trusted brothers. You must atone.”
“How?”
“You must find three others to take their place. They must be just as capable as they were. Agreed?”
“Agreed, brother.”
Agamemnon nodded and returned to what he was doing. Reese walked out of the room and had to stop and lean against the wall a moment. Usually, he felt comfortable in Agamemnon’s presence—as comfortable as one could feel. But tonight a nagging feeling in his gut told him he was lucky Agamemnon had not asked for more than just replacements.
Reese pushed it out of his mind and walked to the small room he shared with two others and collapsed onto his bed. No other men were in the room but he could hear the sounds of sex coming from down the hall. He wrapped the pillow around his head, covering his ears, and tried to go to sleep, knowing he wouldn’t be getting any tonight.
CHAPTER 22
Jack Kane sat on the edge of his bed, looking down at the smooth metal on his legs. He would put one foot down to the floor and then lift it again, amazed that steel was responding to his whim. He looked at the muscles in his arms and flexed them a few times before standing and walking to the foot of the bed.
With one hand, he lifted the bed into the air. Easy and smooth. He placed the bed back down and walked to the chair in the corner, lifting it as well. He couldn’t feel the tension in his muscles he knew he should have from lifting heavy objects.
“Are you ready?”
The doctor stood at the doorway, her arms folded as she leaned against the doorframe. She had changed out of her white coat and was in jeans and a shirt now.
“I don’t even know your name,” Jack said.
She smiled. “Heidi.”
“Heidi. I like that name.”
“Oh, I got you something. Hang on.” She ran out of the room a few minutes and then came back in with a pile of clothing. “Wear these.”
“No shoes?”
“You don’t need them right now, but we’ll find some for you. We’re going to be doing another micro-treatment and possibly one more tomorrow night if you’re up to it. We can’t go outside; someone will see you. But I want to take you to the gym downstairs.”
They walked down the hall and Jack paced so smoothly and quickly he forgot he was a man that had been crippled. No noises came from his legs; he walked as silently as if he were gliding.
They hopped onto the elevator and Heidi chose their
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