UNPROTECTED

Part Twenty-One

Connor's POV

It was definatley Marcus.

His head had a deep wound etched into it and he was unconscious.

Sucking in a deep breath, I gave the order for him to be brought back to Pearilia on orders that he should be stitched back up and stay put.

Before Alina or Louisa could grieve anymore, a shot rang out in the silence.

Another one.

And then another. "GET DOWN!" I yelled, not wanting anymore casualties on my watch - or anymore deaths.

"Connor, there's something you should know. Delia and Marcus were scouting ahead, just before the explosion." It dawned on me then.

"Who gave that order?" Alina didn't seem surprised at my request - I think she had already figured it out.

"Ryan. I guess they thought it was a good idea."

Then I laughed.

"Oh, Alina. I think we've been played."

"Bravo. Did it honestly take you that long?" I whipped my body around to face the owner of the voice and grabbed the gun lodged in my belt. But I knew it would be useless. Alina did the same and scowled at Ryan. "I wouldn't. You lost a sister today, so I don't think that it's going to make any difference if you loose another one."

Underneath his arm, Louisa struggled, grabbing his forearm and trying to shift it. Shaking my head at her to stay still because of a gun touching her glistening forehead, I stepped backwards and dropped my own gun to the floor, forcing Alina to do the same.

"Good."

"Ryan. I don't get it. We love each other!" Louisa protested, probably making matters worse.

"That was all a game. Now shut it. You know, the Reformation bunkers should really get better security. I was telling Maria about our every move whilst she contacted my boss." He chuckled to himself and flinged Louisa to the floor, discarding her like a piece of rubbish.

"And whose your boss?" Alina pondered.

"Me." A man so visibly angry paced over towards me. "Ryan Ridge was such a better son than you ever would be. Bow down to me and my new boy. Bow down to me, Connor." My father spat, pulling out a weapon that would surely cause me pain if he used it. "Bow down to us."

A shot of electricity bursted out of the taser and landed on me, forcing my knees to buckle and slam to the ground and my body to seize up and freeze. I wanted to cry, but couldn't with the muscles in my face freezing up.

"Stop it!" Alina shouted, hurling herself at my father and battering him with her fists - I was just surprised at the strength that someone petite like that could hold.

"Get off of me Integer rubbish! I don't need your grubby hands on me." He grabbed her, allowing a tiny wince to escape her lips. I wanted to help so badly, but the electric shock hadn't worn off properly. "You will pay for that."

"No. I won't. You know that Integers and Primes have no need to pay for anything? The atmosphere has enough oxygen on it's own. You're just a greedy bastard!" With that, she slapped his face so hard that his nose began to bleed.

"Of course I know that! It's money for nothing so, who cares?" Alina smirked at his comment, surprising me. She stopped retaliating and let him knock her out with Ryan using a single blow to her head with the butt of his gun.

Then I remembered the plan I had made - and I knew that everyone here would be safe so long as Pearilia had done her side of the bargain.