Ramshackle (Raegan of Ruin #3)

36. Raegan

Chapter thirty-six

Raegan

A vine dives in my direction, its end sharp and lethal. I jump to the side, my arm swinging in an arc to cut it with my knife. Another one flies from the other side, but my gift is running hot through that arm, and I dash out of the way and grab it. The entire vine dusts to fine particles on the training room floor.

Silas runs at me. I reel in my gift, storing it somewhere safe and away from contact but readily accessible, and meet him halfway across the mat. I dodge his first attack, ducking and slamming my fist to his gut, then spinning up and kicking him back.

He coughs and holds up a hand. “Wait,” he wheezes.

Oops. I’m wound up from fighting Kellan earlier and forgot that’s not who I’m fighting now. But I still haven’t bested Kell in any of our sparring. I’m not expecting to suddenly be better than him. But just once , I’d like to get a win. Some sign that I’m making progress. “Sorry!” I call out while jogging over to him. “Are you all right?”

He laughs and rubs his gut. “Yeah, I’m good. They weren’t lying when they said you’re a fierce fighter. I’m not sure how to get a hit in with your defense.”

“You’re not thinking outside of the box enough, Si.” Kellan strolls up to our mat with a wide grin. “That was good work, beautiful,” he murmurs, bending in my direction and sending a quick wink. “Here’s how you beat her.” He whispers to Silas, and the other man’s eyes widen like a lightbulb turned on.

“I got it. Okay. One more time?” Silas asks, a mischievous smile on his face.

Kellan takes a few steps back and folds his arms over his chest to watch. His smirk is already set deep behind his facial hair as if he’s confident whatever plan of his will work.

I’d really like to mess that plan up, but I have no idea what it could be. It would be smarter to take the time to figure it out, but I’m more a girl of action. I learn better by experience.

Taking my place at the other end of the mat again, I nod and raise fisted hands before me. I keep my grip on the knife firm in one hand and shift my gift to the other in a reddish glow. “Ready.”

He sends four vines at once from his outstretched hand. I move to cut and destroy them from the middle, just like I had the last two. They’re gone without much effort, so I keep moving to get to him. If I land a hit on him, it’ll be another win.

Silas throws a thicker, stronger vine to intercept me, but it hardly slows me down.

Something tickles around my ankle. And then I’m jerked upside down and into the air. “Woah! What the hell?!” A vine is holding me high enough up that I don’t try cutting it. I’m not sure of my flipping and landing skills from this height.

Where did it come from? I’m sure I took care of everything he had.

I follow the vine to the ground, watching it wrap tightly around the edge of the mat to blend in, then to the seed it sprung from at his feet.

I’d been so focused on what was right in front of me that I didn’t even realize he’d snuck that one behind me.

Silas whoops excitedly as his vine gently carries me back to the mat. Kellan bellows with laughter and applauds.

I push back to my feet and circle stray hairs behind my ear. “That was a neat trick, but don’t think I’ll be fooled by it again.”

“We’ll see about that. For now, let’s call it a day. Everyone else has already wrapped up.” Kellan pulls out two water bottles which he passes to me and Silas.

We walk to the benches to catch our breath. Jackson’s leaning against the wall, one foot up and his arms crossed, his piercing blue gaze staring out from the shadow of his hood.

“Why don’t you ever help Kellan train the others? I heard you’re pretty badass,” Silas directs to him.

“The only way I know how to train is the way I was trained,” Jack replies coolly.

“How’s that?”

“He told me don’t die . And then he tried to kill me.”

Silas’s throat bobs. “Oh. Yeah, I’ll pass on that.”

“You ready to go?” Another Guild member walks over, eating what looks like a barbecue skewer. Fabian? “The party starts in a couple hours, and I want to eat before we get ready.”

Silas stretches his arms over his head. “You know there will be food there, right?”

I stare between them. Or the fact that he’s eating right now?

Fabian shrugs. “Party food.”

I look over my shoulder at Kellan. “Explain to me again why the Guild is having a party in the middle of us attacking GE’s bases while they’re actively trying to kill or kidnap everyone here. And after we kidnapped and locked up one of their zombies?”

Kellan chuckles. “Because we don’t let GE control our lives, and if we want to have a good time, then we’ll have it.”

“Because it’s a tradition!” Fabian cheers.

Silas caps his water and stands. “These parties were started to bring us all together. It’s a celebration of the Guild and its members.”

“Wasn’t that the party around Christmas?” I ask.

“That’s the biggest one that we combine with the holidays. But it’s similar,” Kellan answers. “You’ll love it. It has the big three.” I give him a questioning look, and he drawls, “Music, alcohol, and dancing. Your favorite.”

Ha!

He’s not wrong.

Fabian and Silas wave goodbye as they leave first. I pause while gathering my things when I realize something. “I don’t have anything to wear.”

“Aiden already has something for you lying on your bed.”

Of course, he has.

I chew on my cheek to bite back a smile.

“You guys go ahead. I want to stop by to see Charles first.”

I can feel Jackson behind me before I hear him. “I’ll go with you.”

“He’s not going to talk to me if you’re staring him down in that way you do, Jack,” I say as I turn to face him. I reach up to slide my hand over his cheek, and he leans into it. “I need to learn more about him. Whether he’s just a good guy caught by GE or something else, I have to earn his trust enough that he’ll talk.”

“I’ll go, then.” Kellan steps up.

I angle myself to look at him. “That’s still—”

Jack tucks my hair behind my ear. “He can’t be alone with you.”

Sighing, I drop my hand. “Fine. But let me do the talking, Kell.”

He grins and leads us from the training room to the elevator. I push the button to bring us to the floor where the rescues from the island are living temporarily, then look to Jack when he doesn’t choose a floor for himself. “Which floor?” I prompt, and his lips curl to a smirk.

“I’m visiting someone else,” he answers cryptically.

“Who—?” But the doors open, and he strides out before us. Jackson has the locked doors open when Kellan and I catch up. They nod to whoever’s standing at the door and proceed further in.

It’s my first time here, so my head is swiveling left and right as I take it all in. Medical area, bunk rooms, and at the end of the hall is a large open area full of tables, chairs, and couches…it’s like a mini, single floor version of the Guild Hall. Except this one has a kid-friendly area with a jungle gym and toys off to one side.

Jackson keeps moving beyond the open area to more rooms in the back, but Kellan takes my arm to stop me when I automatically begin to follow. “He’s visiting someone else, beautiful. The one you want to see is over there.” He points to the man sitting at one of the long tables reading a book.

As if sensing that others are looking at him, Charles raises his head. He smiles when he sees me.

I smile back. Awkwardly.

I’m still not sure how to do this family thing. He’s a stranger to me, but this is why I’m here. To see if there’s more here that we can work with, to find out more about him and my mother, and go from there.

“Raegan!” He slides a bookmark between the pages of his novel and sets it on the table, then moves his gaze to Kellan. “And who is this?”

“Hi. He’s Kellan. My fr—”

“Boyfriend. Lover. Soulmate, ” Kellan interjects with a sharp grin.

I spin and jab a finger into his chest, whispering angrily, “What are you doing?!”

“Making sure he knows you’re being taken care of. And have someone like me on your side. And also”—his teeth flash— “getting my claim in before the others.”

Ahh! Prick!

“Go stand over there,” I snap, pointing away from the table. He can still see and potentially hear everything, but then I don’t have to worry about him saying something else to either embarrass me or derail the conversation.

Kellan laughs. “Are you putting me in a timeout?”

“Call it whatever you want. But you’re banned from joining this conversation.”

“All right, all right. I’ll go stand over there and look pretty for you.”

He winks and saunters to where I’d pointed out. I didn’t realize that I’d directed him to the kid area, but he doesn’t hesitate to greet them as he stands at the soft block wall that separates that area from the rest of the room.

Charles’s brow is furrowed while looking from Kellan back to me.

Great.

Relax. You don’t owe him any explanation.

Clearing my throat, I ask, “Do you mind if I sit?”

“Please.” He gestures to the seat across from him, and I take it.

“How are you feeling?”

“Good,” he replies. “I’m fully recovered. I guess now they’re trying to decide what to do with me.”

Aiden told me a little bit about the plan for the rescues. They’d try to find any surviving family members they could go home to and enter witness protection if needed, thanks to Elias’s FBI contact. Those who had no one else were stuck in limbo here. They aren’t members of the Guild to join the rest, but it’s too dangerous to let them back on the streets where GE could pick them up again. Aiden also wants to make sure none of the rescues have already been brainwashed to follow GE before releasing them.

“Do you…have a home somewhere? Some place to go back to?”

Charles chuckles. “Can’t say that I do. I’ve been missing for a long while.”

He looks like he’s in his late forties or early fifties. And if he was with my mom, even for a short time, on the island twenty years ago...

I’m amazed he seems…normal. Not a brainwashed soldier or a zoned-out lab rat.

A child cries loud enough to draw my attention back to Kellan and the kid’s area. Kellan’s kneeling down to comfort the little boy. He raises his arm. It’s bright red like he’d been cut with something, but golden scales slowly fill in over it. The little boy stops crying to stare at it, wide-eyed.

“What’s on his arm?” Charles inquires, and I realize he’d also stopped to watch the scene.

“It’s his gift,” is all I say because I’m still not trusting enough of this man to tell him everything.

He smiles with a look of understanding and doesn’t ask for more. “So. Are you here for stories about Merina?”

I nod and smile back. “Yes. If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. I’ll start at the beginning, then. When we first met.”

I frown over my shoulder at the mirror. The dress Aiden bought me is the perfect party dress. Long sleeves, a V-neckline, and a short, swishy skirt. It’s a black skater dress that shows off my legs, especially in the matching pair of heels that I doubt I’ll last more than an hour in. But the back…it’s open in a larger V than the front, exposing my scars for everyone to see.

I left my hair down, styling loose curls in the hopes that it would hide the worst of it, but even with the top third of it covered, there’s no mistaking them.

There’s a knock at the bathroom door. “How’s it going in there?” Dane calls out.

I can’t wear this.

According to Kellan, everyone in the Guild will be at the party tonight. The members who may spend more of their time out on jobs or living in their own space will be coming. Aiden’s been working tirelessly on security measures and the best way to discreetly get the arrivals in, so I haven’t been able to see him since I found out about it.

“I’m coming in,” Dane announces when I haven’t answered, and the door opens before I can tell him I’m fine. He stops in the doorway, his hand frozen on the knob as his eyes trail up my legs. His amber gaze turns molten the more he sees, until he finally stops on my face. “You look…” He swallows hard. “You’re beautiful, Rae.”

Warmth floods my face. “Thanks.” I shift to hide my back from being visible in the mirror. “I need to find something else to wear, though.”

“Why? It’s perfect.”

I reach for my shoulder subconsciously. “It’s not the dress.”

Dane steps closer, his face drawn with concern. “Well, it definitely isn’t you, so what is it?”

I know he’s seen them. They all have. But when I wear my usual clothes, it’s easy to forget about the crisscross of ugly scars that run the length of my back.

My other hand reaches around, fingering the rough patch where it ends at the small of my back. No, I can’t…

His stare follows that hand, and realization has him clenching his jaw.

Dane turns my back to the mirror again, so we’re both looking at my scars. “These? You don’t need to hide them.”

“They’re ugly. They tell everyone what GE did to me.”

“They’re not ugly.” He pulls my face to his. “They show the world that you can’t be beaten. Wear them like a badge of honor. GE had you twice, and not only did you survive, but you came out stronger. You’re unstoppable. I’ve never met anyone as fierce as you.”

My heart flip-flops at his words, and butterflies gather in my gut with nerves. I scrutinize my back in the mirror one more time.

Deep breath.

“Okay. I’m ready.”

He smiles and kisses my cheek. “Let’s go have some fun.” His hand finds mine and squeezes before he leads us out of the bathroom to my room.

Kellan pops off the chair arm he’d been leaning against. His face lights up when he sees me, his smile growing until he sees my hand in Dane’s. “How the hell did you manage that?” His long stride brings him to my other side in two steps. “I was sure your asshole drama ways would give me another few months,” he teases.

Dane scoffs. “It’s none of your damn business.”

Kell’s eyebrows jump up. “No? I’d say it’s all our business now. Or didn’t she fill you in on the rules of the club?”

“Club?” I jump in. “What do you think you’re calling a club , Kellan?”

He gives me a roguish grin. “Just something Jackson and I chatted about.”

Right. Because Jackson chats about things like this.

I give him a look to express that very sentiment and he rolls his eyes.

“Fine. I did all the chatting. But he didn’t disagree, so it’s all the same.” He leans down to my ear. “You look ravishing, by the way. If I can get Dane on board, should we pause to pregame the party with me devouring your pussy?”

“Fuck’s sake,” Dane grumbles from my other side, clearly having overheard.

I smack Kell in the chest. “Knock it off. Where are Jackson and Aiden?”

Kellan isn’t deterred in the least and slides a hand around my back. “Jack’s on guard duty somewhere, and Aiden is at the party. He had to give the opening speech or whatever boring announcement, and now he’s gotta mingle. Dane and I will be your dates for the evening.”

I smile through the tiny sting of disappointment. It would have been nice to have all of us together for the party, but I get why the other two have other responsibilities. The three of us had a few good times together at Old Red, so I know tonight will be even better.

We make our way to the main area of the bunker, where members usually lounge or eat. The top area still has tables for people to sit at, but there are food and alcohol stations throughout. We pause at the railing to look over the lower level.

All the tables and lounge areas have been cleared to make room for the mass of people dancing in front of a stage. The lighting is dim, giving way to floating colored lights that bob and drift overhead. The music carries easily through this open, two- story room, so even though we’re upstairs, it sounds like we’re right there.

Kellan hands me a drink. “I see Aiden,” he shouts over the music and points downward.

I squint, but it’s still dark, and too many people that I can’t find him. I should thank him for the dress. And maybe ask him why he picked this one. Did he pick it intentionally with my scars? Or maybe he forgot I had them?

It’s Aiden. He doesn’t forget .

I jerk my head to indicate I want to go to him, and Kellan leads the way with Dane at my back. We get down the stairs, and Kell wraps an arm around my shoulders to pull me in close. Dane keeps a grip on my hand as we move through the throng of people. It finally clears, revealing Aiden standing beneath a large tree.

His eyes are already on me.

And where Kellan and Dane are touching me.

Great.

When Kell doesn’t loosen his hold now that we’re free from the crowd, I crane my head back and find him baring his teeth in a grin at Aiden like a damn challenge.

“Stop trying to start shit,” I growl at him, ducking and twisting free. All without spilling my drink, I internally cheer. The movement breaks my hand away from Dane as well. I’m not here for a pissing contest or club rules or any of that crap. We’re here for the party, and I’ve finally given in to having a good time and forgetting life for a few hours.

It feels weird to let my guard down after everything going on, but Kellan made it sound like the bunker is the most secure location in the country tonight. That Aiden has spent months working out the details and putting the necessary measures in place so that this event wouldn’t be canceled. And so members would feel safe enough to lower their inhibitions and have a good time.

Who am I to argue with that?

I toss the rest of the whiskey down my throat, swallowing in burning gulps as if I’m downing shot after shot.

“Fuck, beautiful. Let me catch up.” Kellan downs his glass just as fast, and we grin at each other. He takes my empty drink with his and sets them down on the tray of a passing waiter. Then grabs the shots there and passes them to me and Dane.

“Don’t drink too much,” Aiden warns, reminding me of the time he’d caught the three of us drinking at Old Red. I’ll never forget how he made us work out and train the next morning as punishment.

I move nearer to him so I don’t have to shout. “I thought you were going to be nicer to me,” I tease, smiling wickedly with the shot in my hand.

Aiden pinches either side of my jaw and pulls me in close. “I never promised nice,” he purrs. “Only punishment.”

A thrill of desire shoots through me in a rush of heat.

Oh.

Fuck.

Yes.

I take a step back, my eyes locked on him, and suck down the shot. His eyes narrow, but I smirk and walk away into the mob of dancers. There’s nothing he can do right now with the entire Guild present. But later?

The people around me are jumping and grinding to the music. I stop at a small opening and begin to move to the beat, swaying and hitting the rhythm in a way I haven’t felt since Hype. There are girls squealing closer to the stage that cuts through the song. I try to ignore them, but when I hear the name they’re shouting, I look up.

Zedd, the serious guy with Gabriel, is the one singing on stage. My brain glitches at the sight of him grinding into the microphone stand and pouring so much emotion into the song. He screams sex, from the way he moves to the sound of his voice ear-fucking the crowd. It can’t be the same guy. A twin, maybe. But then I spot Gabe dancing and yelling for Zedd at the base of the stage.

A hand slaps over my eyes, and I’m tugged back into a lean chest. “Don’t look,” Kellan drawls. “I accepted my brothers because I knew how you felt about them, but there is fuck-all chances of any other man touching you. If you think you can handle more dick, then I’ll give it to you. I’ll tell the others, and we’ll fill every pretty hole of yours until you’re dicked out of your mind.”

Holy shit.

If I hadn’t already been turned on by Aiden, I’m well past that point now. I clench my thighs as arousal pools between them.

Am I going to make it through this night?

“You hear me, beautiful? That’s not a threat; it’s a promise.”

He waits for my nod before he traps my hips against his and we start dancing to the music. Dane joins us a minute later, and then the three of us keep dancing song after song. We switch places; sometimes, it’s just me and one of the guys, and sometimes, it’s me with both. Most often, it’s me on my own while the other two create a barrier around me that keeps anyone else from trying to join.

I have no idea how many hours it’s been before I decide it’s time for a pee break. Dane left a short while ago to check on Aiden and Kell is getting us more drinks. I ask someone for directions, then head that way, quickly taking care of my business. I’ll be back before Kellan knows it.

Yessiree.

Giggling, I glance up and see a waterfall among the foliage, and a dark, rock tunnel beneath it. Wait. Where am I? Did I make the right turn? I don’t remember passing this on the way to the restroom. The music is gone, replaced with the rush of water that echoes against the stone while my ears still thunder with the beat.

I look behind me and find more greenery and stone trails.

Shit biscuit. How did I get here?

I move to the tunnel behind the waterfall, fascinated by the roaring surge of water. It smells like rain. Or that earthy smell of water on stone.

No way I passed this earlier without pissing myself. I made a wrong turn.

Something moves in the shadows.

I yelp, but it disappears behind a hand as I’m pressed chest-first into the damp wall.

“Where are you going all alone, little one?” a familiar, husky voice whispers.

Jackson.

One of these days, I’m going to surprise and grab each of them out of nowhere to see how they like it.

“You should be more careful. You never know who might be wandering in the dark.”

There’s half a second for me to relax before his fingers find my swollen, needy cunt. My filter’s currently garbage with the amount of alcohol swimming in my veins, so my moan is loud and long into his palm.

He moves my underwear to the side, and then his dick fills me in one quick thrust. I cry out in surprise, the sound once again muffled by his hand. Even though I’m wet enough, the sudden stretch has me seeing stars. My hands slap against the cool, stone wall as he drives into me like he’s on a mission. He’s relentless, taking me like a prize found in the shadows.

And I’m loving it.

This is wild. It’s raw.

My body clenches at the pleasure building fast and hard.

“What the—Goddammit, Jack!”

I turn my face as much as I can in his grip to see Kellan sauntering toward us. “What about the rules? Where was my invite?” He bends to my eye level and smirks. “You like that, beautiful? How about I take your fine ass and start on that promise of mine?” He blinks, then curses. “I need to start carrying lube on me from now on.”

Jackson doesn’t let me stay distracted for long.

He fucks me rough and frenzied, showing me how desperate he’s been to have me again. My nails scratch and claw at the rock as he builds me up higher. Faster. Stronger.

I’m a whimpering mess behind his hand, just as needy for this as he is.

He slams into me one last time and it sends both of us breaking apart at once.

“My turn,” Kellan snarls before I’ve had a chance to catch my breath. He reaches for me.

“Did you hear something?” an unfamiliar voice asks from deeper in the tunnel.

“Dammit, Jack!”

Jackson extracts himself from me with a small chuckle. I wobble on my feet, and then my world flips upside down and I faceplant with Kell’s back. “We’re going back to the room to finish this,” Kellan rumbles against my face.

I punch his back with the side of my fist. “Put me down!”

“Keep warming me up, beautiful.” He doesn’t run, but he takes full advantage of his long strides to get us to the nearest elevator. Jackson stays with us, and I get the giddy feeling that he plans to join in.

We make it to the room in record time. Kellan, thank fuck, sets me on the bed instead of dumping me while my stomach is still filled with alcohol. I sit up to unbuckle my shoes, but Kell grabs my wrist. “Leave them on.”

I lean back on my elbows, looking up at him seductively through my lashes. “Where do you want me?”

Kellan’s grin sharpens. “Oh, I know just where to—”

“Wait.” Jack angles his head at the door like he’s listening for something.

“I don’t care what anyone’s doing in the hallway,” Kell growls, shoving his pants and boxers down, his erect dick springing free, just as Dane bursts through the door.

“Thorne’s dead!”