Keith started to pace the small room. His eyes jumped first to Rea and then to Karma. Rea's stomach rolled slightly as if afraid of what her father would say next. Didn't he realize this wasn't a good time?
"I say 'this time' because after Karma came to me, I checked up on Rea and his dad." Keith faced him. "If you remember, Davis Construction worked on parts of the water bases. I've been taking contracts for the bases for years."
Rea gave a slight nod. He didn't recall the name Davis Construction on documents, but he'd never thought much about the workers that did the building. His father had handled most of that. Mostly Rea made sure the training got accomplished.
"You knew Rea was alive," Karma said softly. "You were lying to me from the start."
Rea wanted to hold her, but he also didn't want to move. He wanted Keith to stop talking. They could work it out later.
"I met you back then, Rea. I met you and your father. I saw how things were."
Karma glared at her father. "He was just a teenager."
"He was no type of leader, Kar. He was so beaten down. I didn't want my girl to have any part of that. I told Rea's father he should be more careful in guarding him. I convinced him to protect Rea's identity. They moved from base to base, so for the most part, I didn't have to worry about it much."
"You told Rea's dad to hide him that way, I'd never stumble across him again." Karma looked over at Rea. He didn't know what to say.
"He's right." He shrugged at Keith. "I was no type of leader. I'm still not. I train men and keep an eye on Gears." Admitting this in front of Karma felt like the world was crushing him to the ground. "I'm always going to be tied here to the bases. I get that. It makes sense that your dad wanted a better life for you. Let's just get the lights on, and we can talk about it later."
"I want to talk about it now," she spat. "Let's be clear. I don't want The Seemyah."
"But you do want your freedom. That's something I can never give you." Rea couldn't ask her to trade her dad's organization for the water bases. It was the same responsibilities. Both The Seemyah and the bases were about cohesiveness. She'd be stuck with a family either way. Freedom was a way of living that she coveted. It was why she'd left The Seemyah.
Rea realized he wanted her to be happy. Even if that meant she would leave him.
"What if I don't want freedom? Maybe I changed my mind." Her smile made him forget about Fletcher, the gunfight near the trains, and the lights.
Her words settled over him like a warm blanket. She still wanted to stay. He thanked God for her stubbornness.
Keith's voice broke in before Rea answered. "The Seemyah is yours, Kar. You can have the world at your feet."
Rea swallowed. He couldn't give her the world. All he had to offer was his heart.
"Ask me to stay, and I will." She paid no attention to her dad, and Rea's heart melted.
A silence stretched between them. Was he enough? Was being a 'we' enough? Their relationship had been so hard up to now. If she stayed, could he make her happy? Damn it —he would try.
"Is it that easy? I ask you to stay, and you will?" A smile tugged at his lips.
"I told you that from the start."
"Then, please stay with me." Rea held his breath.
Gunshots hit the door. Rea pushed Karma to the furthest wall. He put his whole body over hers. It was a natural move to keep her out of harm's way. Rounds passed through the sheet metal and insulation. Bullets struck the cement blocks near one of the panels.
Keith grabbed Eric by the collar and threw him down on the floor. "Stay there," he commanded.
Gears spun around. He glanced at everyone. "I did it!"
"Get down!" Rea barked. Gears obediently dropped to a knee.
Karma shoved away from him. She only moved for a second when the overhead lights came on. She stood next to the light switch checking a pistol she produced. His friend had indeed done it. Power was back.
Gears crawled on the floor and glared. "I was hoping for a thank you."
"Yeah, in a minute." He pulled out his Glock and moved closer to the door.
The squawk of Keith's two-way radio drew everyone's attention. The voice on the radio belonged to Brice.
"What's happening?" Rea asked.