Revenge (Book 3 in the Rise Trilogy)

The Last Arrow, A Signal Fire, and The Fight of a Lifetime.

 The Last Arrow, A Signal Fire, and The Fight of a Lifetime.

"Hello, Connor! Hello, Riley! Welcome back.”

“It’s great to be back, Stephane,” I say with a smile as I lean forward to hug him after we’ve gotten off the Aquila which is on the far side of New York away from the firing.

“Is everything ready?” Connor asks Stephane after I’ve released him from my I-missed-you-so-much-hug.

Stephane nods. “Oui. Lafayette waits for you inside the tunnel beneath the city.”

“Great,” I say. “We’ll meet you there.”

….

“Eww, eww, eww, eww, eww,” I whine as we walk down the cold, slimy, smelly, wet, stone cold walls of the underground tunnels. “This is so gross.” I grip Connor’s arm that isn’t holding the dimly glowing lantern and squeal as a big fat rat runs past my boot. “I wanna get out of here. I don’t do closed in places.”

“You are going to be fine,” Connor chuckles.

“No,” I whisper. “I won’t.” I look down sadly as I fight tears again. I need to make sure he’s going to be okay. “Wait,” I say quickly as I grip Connor’s arm tighter to stop him in his tracks.

“What is it?” Connor asks as he looks at me.

I slowly reach over and take the lantern from his hand and set in on the ground. Then, I reach up and snake my arms around his neck and press my small body against his firm warm chest and close my eyes. I feel Connor’s arms slide around my waist and he holds me close.

“What is it, Riley?” Connor asks me softly.

“I just need to make sure you’re gonna be okay,” I whisper as I fight the tears pooling in my eyes. I don’t want him to die. Please, Lord, don’t let him die…

Connor removes his hands from my sides and brings them up to hold my face to look up at him. “Nothing is going to happen, Riley,” he says to me softly. “I am going to kill Charles Lee and we will end this threat when we find my father as well.”

“No,” I say to Connor. “It can’t end like this.”

“Like what?” Connor asks.

I’m silent. I can’t tell him.

Connor realizes this and slowly leans down and presses his lips softly to mine and that’s when I let the tears flow.

….

“Sometimes I worry...” Stephane’s voice floats down the hallway towards Connor and I as we continue to walk down the dark and endless stone walls of the underground New York. “That these Patriots - for all their talk of liberty and equality - will fall back into the old ways!”

“It will depend greatly on who is chosen to lead them,” We hear Lafayette's voice add. “A man of humble means - who has worked to earn his place... I think a man like that is less likely to dream of thrones.”

“All men dream of thrones,” Stephane mutters sadly. “It is in our nature...”

“Then what would you do?” Lafayette asks.

“Ensure their leader is sterile. Without an heir, the threat of succession is ended - and might be left to the people once more.”

The two men continue to whisper to each other until they see us approach. “Connor! Riley!” Lafayette says happily. Knowing Connor’s dislike to hugs and affection except from me, he turns to give me a small hug of happiness to see us again. I smile as we exchange the hug until he releases and continues. “This tunnel will take you two into the military district.”