47. Chapter 47
Chapter forty-seven
Galen
Galen stood at the loading dock of PGC with a nervous look on his face as he hung up his phone.
“Need to talk, mate. That wuz Veronica; she can’t come. Charlotte needs emergency medical care.”
“What?” asked Alex.
Galen said the doctors had run some tests at Mass Gen and identified her treatments weren’t working as well as they’d believed. She was going into surgery tonight.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!” said Alex.
“Take a breath, mate. Medical staff will be here shortly with the serum,” said Galen. He knew that Alex understood Bruno was the only other option. “Ya right with this? If not, I can find another doc.”
Alex shook his head.
“Alone in a truck with the man who tried to kill us and yur ex, Wynn. What could go wrong?” said Galen.
Alex smirked and responded by pointing behind Galen, who turned in time to sidestep an attempted kiss from Andrea. She scowled at Alex for warning Galen and punched Alex gently on the shoulder. As Galen was distracted, Michael snuck up behind him and placed him in a bear hug, which Galen quickly slipped out of and smacked Michael on the back of the head.
“Ya do this, Alex?” said Galen.
Alex smiled and shook his head as Ryo walked up the loading ramp with Bruno in handcuffs. Ryo responded he made the decision since they were bringing a known terrorist along.
Bruno said they had nothing to worry about from him, because he planned to keep his end of the bargain he had made with Alex. He cautioned Michael not to break the equipment he was loading; Alex might drop Michael off the side of a building.
“Still bitter?” asked Galen. He hoped Bruno remembered who had stopped Alex. Galen leaned close to Bruno and said, “If ya do anything except breathe in this truck, I will personally make sure it runs ya over for the simple pleasure of it.”
Bruno nodded as he quickly sat, and Ryo handcuffed him to the wall.
Ryo told the group they were sending out three identical trucks to different locations across the city. If the Sons of Enyaluis tried to follow them, they would make it as difficult as possible. Ryo added that a severe nor’easter was raging outside, so it would be a bumpy ride.
“Yu’re wrong, mate. It’s the attempted murderer, yur ex, and mah exes in the back of a truck. Sounds like the start of a bad joke.”
“I don’t know, Galen,” said Alex. “If you take the terrorist out of the situation, it’s only our exes. Throw in some alcohol, and I bet things could get freaky.”
Galen shook his head and rolled his eyes at Alex’s sense of humor. He wondered how he could make inappropriate jokes at a time like this, but he knew the answer was that it kept him from crying.
“Take your seat; let’s get this party bus on the road,” said Alex.
Galen watched from across the truck as Alex sat by Danyal’s hospital bed, holding his hand and stoking his hair as the truck left the loading dock at PGC. Galen knew these moments from his struggles after Amara’s assault. He recognized all the stages of grief at once. Although he avoided organized religion for years, he quietly prayed for Alex and Danyal. They deserved a chance to be happy. Alex would be devastated if he lost Danyal. Please let this work.
Galen took off his seat belt and climbed into the truck’s cab. “Didn’t know ya could drive a big rig, Ryo,” said Galen.
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Galen,” said Ryo. “My father was a long-haul truck driver in Japan.”
“Now that we’re alone, wanna know yur problem.”
“It’s all in your head, Galen,” said Ryo.
“Bullshite, ya’ve been riding me from the beginning. Let’s not forget ya were willing to shoot me to stop Alex from leaving. Yur actions say otherwise.”
“I don’t like your attitude, and you have no respect for the chain of command. You think you’re running something. I didn’t want you to be assigned to Alex. Other seasoned security staff were better qualified.”
“How’s that my fault?” said Galen.
“It’s not. Ms. Dea chose you personally.”
“Eh, why?”
“You’d have to ask her, but I think she wanted to dangle a distraction in front of Alex.”
“Come again?”
“Alex has a type. He likes tall, dark, and handsome international men. You fit the bill perfectly. Ditta didn’t do anything without a reason.”
Galen didn’t respond as he processed the situation. Ryo had some fucking nerve to speak to him that way, but could he be right? Was he merely a distraction to Alex?
“I can tell by your silence that I hit a nerve. So, what happens to your intense bond with Alex when you become a third wheel? Are all three of you staying in the penthouse? Is it going to be a throuple?”
“Ya don’t know anything, Ryo. Alex is exhausted and running on fumes. Ya better not add to his stress with yur conspiracy theories.”
“The lady doth protest too much,” said Ryo.
“That the only literary reference ya know, Ryo? Shut the fuck up and drive.”
Galen stood to return to the back of the truck, but was bounced around like a rag-doll by the increasingly violent winds hitting them from all directions.
Ryo told Galen to sit back down, that the violent storm outside was worsening and everyone needed to stay buckled in for safety. Galen could see Ryo was concerned as he looked at the storm radar on the phone mounted on the dash. He saw that the storm was several hundred miles wide and had knocked out power across Boston, based on the dead streetlights. Many of the streets were blocked by downed trees. Ryo asked if Galen could get this information to Alex without moving. Galen nodded as he took off his ring.
Alex, we have a problem. Storm is getting worse. Downed trees blocking the route.
No! We can’t waste time, Galen.
Galen could hear Alex in the back of the truck instructing Andrea and Michael to keep Danyal safe.
Don’t come up here, Alex!
But Galen was too late with his warning, as Alex was already climbing into the cab of the truck. Ryo demanded Alex sit down, and Galen chuckled when Alex blatantly ignored the demand. An argument ensued, with Alex asserting that they couldn’t turn back because Danyal’s vitals were dropping to where he might not survive if they diverted. Ryo yelled that Alex would get them killed.
“Give me a chance to get us there safely,” said Alex.
Ryo shook his head as he stopped the truck just in time to miss hitting a downed tree in the road. Alex begged and said that storms were nothing more than energy that he could wield, since he felt stronger as they approached the vortex. Galen watched Alex put his hands on the cab ceiling and close his eyes. He watched Alex breathe in and out slowly. Galen was amazed, and his heart raced as Alex placed a protective electromagnetic barrier around the truck. Galen advised Ryo to slowly drive the truck due east while Alex cleared the roadways. Galen watched in disbelief as the clouds and severe rain in front of the truck began to separate, as a bright yellow energy barrier formed around the truck. Any trees blocking the road quickly moved out of the way like repelling magnets.
Prove this arsehole wrong, Alex!
Careful, Galen, we’re still connected. I need to concentrate. Wearing your ring to protect you from stray energy is probably safer.
Galen smiled and complied.
After twenty minutes of intense silence, Ryo indicated they were about five blocks from the church. Ryo said he’d never been able to observe Ditta in action and wondered if every day with Alex was like this.
Galen shook his head. “Alex is getting stronger with each feat and becoming more magnificent.”
Galen laughed again when Alex called Ryo out for being rude by talking about him while he was still in the room. Galen asked if Alex was right, and Alex nodded, adding that it had been easier than expected to use the energy from the storm to clear their path. Ryo accused Alex of bragging, but Galen knew Alex deserved all the credit and more. Ryo thanked Alex for the assistance and advised him to hydrate and rest since they were about five minutes from the church.
Galen turned to help Alex return to the back of the truck.
“Galen,” said Ryo.
Galen turned to look at him. “Ya’ve said enough.”
“My words to you were harsh. Whatever happens, you have a place with PGC if you want it.”
Galen turned away without responding. He knew his priorities were more aligned with Alex than with protecting PGC any day.