Ramshackle (Raegan of Ruin #3)

29. Jackson

Chapter twenty-nine

Jackson

Thorne stalks down a sidewalk, the collar on his trench coat up and buttoned at the front to hide the scar around his neck. He looks the same as he had after his first death, with the exception of the added scar and crookedness of his ears. The smell of death that followed him before is less potent, but enough for me to follow with assistance from my gift.

It had taken me a few nights to find him, but good timing and an aerial view helped me catch him prowling the streets. I’d followed him that night until he ended up in a penthouse apartment, which appears to be where he stays during the day. I set up motion sensors on the door to alert me anytime he leaves, so I can find and follow him from there.

He turns beneath a neon sign, throwing a door open and moving inside.

I smirk from my perch. I know exactly where he’s going now.

The Pits, the gifted fight club Kellan started over a year ago, runs in the basement of this dive bar.

Any of the others might rush to get the people out now that he’s found them.

Me? I learned a long time ago to wait and see. A predator doesn’t jump the second it finds its prey. It waits. It watches. And then it attacks when it knows it’s already won.

I hop from roof to roof, dropping in the alleyway behind the bar with the staff entrance. The bouncer standing guard shouts in alarm.

My heels don’t get a chance to touch the ground before I’m flying at the bouncer, my fingerless-gloved hand slapping over his mouth as I shove him back against the brick wall.

“Shhh…”

His eyes widen in a panic, and he tries to reach for something.

I pull one of my larger knives and jab it against his thigh, pointed to his dick to make sure I have his attention.

He freezes.

My head tips to the side as I get a better look at him. Tall. Burly. Mustache and a goatee with earrings in one ear. He doesn’t look familiar, but then, I’d only been here that one time when Kellan convinced me to fight for him so he could win a big bet. The only name and face that comes to mind from that night is York’s, and he runs the Pits for Kellan now.

A slow smile curls my lips, and a full-blown shudder rocks through him.

I probably shouldn’t enjoy that reaction as much as I do.

“Call York. Let him know Kellan’s brother is here so he can inform your coworkers. I’d hate to be forced to kill anyone over a misunderstanding.”

I drop my hand from his mouth, but keep my knife secure where it is. No need for him to think he has any other option.

The man reaches slowly for the microphone dangling in front of his chest. “What’s your name?”

I don’t answer him.

He brings the microphone to his face, and the pinhole red light switches to green. “York. York!” He raises his voice the second time when he doesn’t get an immediate response.

“What’s the matter? We’re in the middle of a match, Gregor!” York’s voice crackles from the earpiece.

“There’s a guy here. He said to let you know he’s here so you can tell everyone else.”

“A guy? Is this some kind of joke? I don’t have time—”

“He said he’s Kellan’s brother,” he cuts him off. I’m sure that information means nothing to Gregor. As far as the people here, other than York, Kellan goes by Dragon. They wouldn’t know a Kellan. “He’s wearing all black and is freaky as fuck, York.”

That last part makes me chuckle, and Gregor startles at the sound like he thinks I’ll attack him for saying it.

York curses on the other end. “Yes. Let him in. Just stay out of his way. I’ll let the others know.”

I draw my hand back, flipping the blade and grabbing it again. Gregor rushes to open the door, and I offer him another smile. “Thanks, Gregor.”

His face pales when he realizes I now know his name, but I save him the heart attack and step inside to relieve him of my presence, pulling my gaiter back over my mouth and nose. The back hallway is primarily filled with storage rooms and back offices for the bar, but one door leads to the basement, where I’m confident Thorne is now.

Gregor slowed me down from following him but it was a necessary step to ensure the rest of my time here would be unbothered. The guard posted at the door for the Pits spots me and hurries to open the door without a word. When I look at him, his eyes drop to avoid mine.

I move quickly down the stairs. The last thing I’d need is Thorne leaving as I’m arriving and having us bump into one another. Once I’m at the bottom, I slip into the crowd. Just another head, another body here for the show. The mass of people makes it easier for me to hide, but it also gives Thorne the same advantage.

Looking up, I observe heavy lighting and catwalks hanging from the ceiling.

Always take the higher vantage point whenever possible.

I move to the back corner of the room, away from the cage that has captured everyone’s attention, and then use my gift to rise onto the nearest catwalk. The metal walkway is painted black to blend in with the ceiling, just like the hardware attached to the massive lights, which means my attire helps me to do the same. I’m invisible up here, and now I have a view of the entire room.

It only takes a few seconds for me to spot Thorne.

His smell no longer helps me when he’s indoors because it gets lost among the others, but he’s the only one wearing a trench coat with greased back hair. He’s talking to two people at one of the raised bar tables to one side.

I move across the room until I’m on the catwalk directly above them. The din from the fight and cheering below covers any noise I would make, but I use my gift to contain it regardless.

Crouching down, I concentrate on drawing the sound of their voices through the air to me.

“—my son. He has black hair and blue eyes. Usually wears all black. Last I heard, he was staying at a place called the Guild. Do you know where that is?”

I’m not interested in the fact that he’s been calling me his son while looking for me. It means nothing. Either he’s a shitty parent who abandoned me to the foster care system, or he’s lying to garner sympathy to get what he wants.

If I had to bet on one, it would be the latter.

“Sorry, I don't,” one of the patrons at the table replies.

The second one shakes his head. “Never heard of it.”

“Ah, well. Please call me if you hear anything. I’m offering a hefty reward to anyone who helps me find him.” Thorne slides a business card to the center of the table. Both patrons agree vehemently that they’ll be sure to call if they see or hear anything now that there’s a reward on the table.

My old mentor turns away from them and moves on to the next table.

It’s the same story. Most take his card after he mentions the reward, but a few wait for him to leave before ditching it to the floor.

I pick one of those to bring to my hand.

It’s all black, with only a phone number and Reward for any information listed in metallic gold.

The flashiness of the cards is supposed to help convince people that he has the cash needed for a large reward. A simple yet effective trick.

Thorne works his way through the large room in a circle. Once he’s back to the start, he casts a final sweep over the room and then leaves.

My phone vibrates in my pocket as I wait to give him a head start.

“We’ve got a lead on her father,” Aiden says when I answer. “It’s on another island, so we’ll be bringing Guild members again to help us get in and out like last time. How are you making out on your end?”

I tuck the gaiter beneath my chin. “He was at the Pits.”

“What did he do?”

“Asked around about me. And the Guild.”

He pauses, considering. “Do we need to shut it down?”

“No.” I flip the card in my hand. “I have a plan.”

“We’re going to the island tomorrow night. Will you be back for that?”

“I’ll be back tonight. The plan can wait.” It needs time to sit anyway.

“We can talk about the plan tomorrow, then. See you soon.”

The call ends, and I slip the phone back into my pocket. I tug the gaiter back in place and sneak to the floor before exiting the bar the way I came. The bouncer at the back door startles when I leave, and I can’t help myself.

“Good night, Gregor.” Then I jump into the air, climbing higher until I reach the rooftops, and then follow the rotting scent that will lead me back to Thorne.

He returns to his penthouse without any additional stops. I watch him for another hour, prowling around his living area and talking to himself for too long to be considered sane before I decide to call it a night. If he leaves his apartment again tonight, my motion sensor will alert me. For now, I’ve no interest in watching a man who’s clearly losing his mind.

It’s a good hour between the penthouse and the long length of tunnel to the bunker from the nearest Guild-owned business, but it’s still early in the night. When I enter the bunker past the security room, I pivot to the elevators instead of my usual route.

There’s someone I’ve been needing to speak with, and now’s as good a time as any.

Especially as we’re about to potentially add another person to the mix.

I’m not thrilled with the idea of Raegan’s father. She hasn’t mentioned him, and I haven’t seen any sign that she’s looking to find him. Her hunt for her mother’s information had merely been a method of proving to Aiden that she was innocent of his accusations after finding her birth certificate. Not out of some need to find or learn about her parents.

And I have no interest in sharing her attention with one more person. I’ve compromised plenty with my brothers and Raegan. And I’ve only done so because it’s them. If anyone else tried to win her affection, another Guild member perhaps, they’d disappear before getting the chance.

It doesn’t matter that a family member’s attention is different than the kind my brothers and I have with her. I want all of it.

This latest lead is merely Aiden overcompensating for his mistakes. I’m only going to go along with it in the small chance that Raegan’s now become invested in it. I won’t take away her hope, even if it’s new and unplanned.

The elevator jolts to a stop. I step out, strolling through the corridor until I reach the locked double doors at the end. Pulling out my phone, I tap through the app for all the Bunker locks until I see the one for the new quarantine area for island rescues.

There’s an audible click when it unlocks, giving me fifteen seconds to open the doors and walk inside before they automatically lock again. Claudia looks up from a table at the entrance, her laptop and a notepad in front of her.

“Oh, Jack. I didn’t know you were coming. Can I help you?” she asks politely.

Claudia joined the Guild after Aiden took it over. They’d met some time before, and he brought her in when we’d needed someone with medical training to assist with brainwashed or traumatized gifted.

I slip the gaiter down and remove my hood as well. “I’m looking for a young girl. Five or six years old, and who can change her appearance.”

“That sounds like Mallory. Is everything alright?”

I nod, slipping my hands into my hoodie pocket. “I have a few questions.”

Claudia’s brow knits. “Oh. Well, she’s been through a lot. I’m not sure—”

“I won’t push her,” I remind her, and her face clears. Claudia’s seen me with kids before. I may have no qualms about hurting other people, but when it comes to children, I won’t harm them. Aiden thinks I have a soft spot in my jet-black heart for kids because I was once an ignored or feared foster child, but that’s not it.

Children are innocent of the crimes and immorality of adults. That’s worth protecting for as long as they have it.

“Right. I’ll take you to her now. She’s had a difficult time sleeping, so she’ll most likely be awake. If she is asleep, however, you’ll have to come back.”

I give her a curt nod of understanding. She smiles and leads the way through a long hallway. This area has a kid section that the Tower and bunker didn’t have before to help us accommodate younger children we’ve rescued. The FBI agent Elias put us in contact with for protective services has limited us to only one child a week that they can handle, so Aiden and Cibrina put this together for the children waiting their turn.

Claudia pauses in front of a door. “Just wait here. I’ll bring her out if she’s awake.” She goes inside and returns with Mallory a minute later. “Mallory, this is Jackson. He just has a few questions for you.”

Round blue eyes peer up at me. I can see the moment she recognizes me as some of the fear fades from her gaze, and she offers me a small smile. “Hi.”

I squat, as I had on the island where we rescued her, and this time, pull out a lollipop with a smile. “Hello, Mallory.”