Read Online Fight for Power by Eric Walters - Free Book Online Page A

away.
    â€œAdam!” Quinn called out. “I won’t forget what you did, no matter what happens to me.”
    I nodded. “I don’t think I’m going to forget today either.”
    Herb helped me out of the room. The woman—Paula—was on a bed off to the side. A nurse and Dr. Morgan were at her side, and as I watched they gave her a needle, probably something to calm her down. Herb led me over to a chair and sat me down.
    â€œFirst off, I want you to know that you were in no danger,” Herb said.
    â€œNo danger?”
    â€œHer gun wasn’t loaded.” He held up her pistol and opened the breech to reveal that it was empty.
    â€œHow did you know?”
    â€œBecause I gave the gun to her.”
    â€œYou what?” I demanded.
    â€œI gave it to her. I gave her the gun.”
    â€œBut, but, why? I don’t understand.”
    â€œI’m so sorry I couldn’t tell you. I knew that the prisoner wasn’t willingly going to give us information, so I left to figure out what to do. And that’s when I ran into her. I gave her the gun—I made sure it was empty and that she didn’t have any other weapons—and I aimed her toward Quinn.”
    â€œIt wasn’t real?”
    â€œIt was real. To her and to him and to you.”
    â€œBut why didn’t you tell me what you were doing?”
    â€œIt all just happened. There wasn’t time or the opportunity to explain it to you.”
    I felt myself filling with anger. “There was time. All you had to do was come back in, for just a minute, pull me out, tell me what you were doing. You could have done that.”
    â€œI couldn’t risk it. I had to trick him.”
    â€œYou tricked me .”
    â€œI had to have you react as if it were real.”
    â€œHow would you know what I was going to do? I could have wet myself, run out, left her to kill him … or at least try to kill him. I could have pulled my gun and shot her. Did you even think of that?” I demanded.
    â€œI thought of all of those things. It was a risk we had to take. Besides, you didn’t do any of those things,” he said.
    â€œBut I could have.”
    â€œNo,” he said. “You couldn’t have. It isn’t in you to just walk away. It isn’t in you to try to shoot her. I know that. You did exactly what I expected you’d do.”
    â€œThat doesn’t change the fact that you lied to me.”
    â€œI didn’t lie to you. I just didn’t tell you right then, but I did tell you as soon as I could. I didn’t have to do that,” he said. “I could have kept it from you even now, but I didn’t.”
    I got to my feet. The anger had stopped the shaking. My hands curled into fists, and I realized that I wanted to take a swing at Herb. But I couldn’t do that either.
    â€œYou used me. You used her too,” I said, gesturing to Paula. She was on the bed, silent, knocked out by whatever they had given her.
    â€œI did, and that might be the best thing that could have happened to her. It might give her a little peace. And for you, I’m sorry, but I had to do it. If it makes you feel any better, it worked. Quinn is going to give us information that’s going to save lives—well, at least the lives of our people.”
    I guess that’s what mattered. I’d been tricked and my body was still surging with adrenaline, but I had to convince myself that was a small price to pay.
    â€œIf you want to take a swing at me, that’s okay,” Herb said. “I understand.” He gestured to my balled-up hands.
    â€œI don’t want to punch you. Well, that’s not the truth. I’m not going to punch you.” Slowly, deliberately, I unclenched my fists.
    â€œI just hope this doesn’t mean you’ll trust me any less in the future,” Herb said. “Because you know I trust you even more now.”
    â€œWhat are you talking