Chapter 30 #2
“If you focus hard enough you can probably feel the strength you think you’re feeling from his intrusion is just an illusion. Horatio is a master deceiver. He wants you to believe he’s stronger than you, but in reality, he isn’t.” Jaxson comforted Alex.
By then Alex’s body was shaking and a fine sheen of sweat erupted over his face.
I watched as a bead of sweat trickled down his temple.
I knew he was battling with his perception and reality.
I didn’t know if he could beat Horatio at his age.
I had no doubt eventually he would be much stronger than Horatio ever could be, but right now time was against us.
It was a powerful older man versus a child who had his gift of a year.
It’s true that he was constantly growing and discovering new facets of his gift, but all of it was still untapped.
Without the knowledge of his full capabilities, he was doubting himself.
Suddenly a thought struck me. I knew connections were important.
I had felt it when my men had physically joined me.
I realized it gave me greater control and strength when they were touching me.
When Alex’s hand seemed to begin to waver seemingly seconds from falling to his sides in weariness I yelled at Gavin and Mercedes.
“Connect to Sierra. Form the bond she may need to help Alex!”
Without a word Mercedes, Gavin, stepped forward. In a surprise move it was Mercedes who reached out to firmly grasp Jemmy by her bicep. “You’re a part of this too.”
Jemmy’s eyes filled with tears, and she didn’t hesitate to allow Mercedes to pull her in close.
Jemmy was trying to become a better person.
I wanted to believe her attempt to get to know Mercedes were genuine, but like Gavin she seemed reluctant to believe her.
Merci had seemed to take the self-preservation approach to keep her at arm’s length, fearing Jemmy would regress once again.
In that moment, I felt sorry for her. Yes, I had given her several chances by now, but maybe this was a turning point.
I always believed apologies without actions were empty.
I was always wary when people showed signs of improvement only to stumble once more.
I realized then that for the sake of Drake—because at the end of the day she was his only remaining family left—I should also stop shutting her down on her attempts at reconciliation.
Together all three of them embraced Sierra and Alex.
A high-pitched sound suddenly filled my ears, but it wasn’t necessarily unpleasant, just—weird.
There was an intangible vibration that seemed to surround us all within the force field.
The hairs on the back of my neck and across my arms seemed to stand on end.
I didn’t need to see Alex’s face to know it was working.
I felt it with every fiber of my soul. Their connection was giving us the protection we needed.
I heard some of the operatives inhale sharply while others began to question what was happening. I smiled when I realized that it was successful hypothesis. My smile only grew larger when I heard Alex giggle. “It’s working! It’s working!”
“It sure is!” Sierra proudly stated before kissing the top of his head. “Look how amazing you are.”
Pops, Kurt, and Greg seemed confident that it was a triumph and seemed to decide it was time to get the ball rolling on our end. It wouldn’t be long before Horatio realized his attempt had been a failure and who knew what his next actions would be.
“Lincoln are you ready?” Greg asked.
Lincoln turned to me before tilting my chin up to me. He brushed his lips against mine before pulling back with a smile. “Ready.” He confirmed.
He reached up and instead of grasping his mother’s necklace he pulled out a picture of the twins and I the first day they were given their freedom from the incubator. I had to swallow the tears that threatened to fall. His mom’s necklace had once been his centering tool and now it was us.
“You and the babies are what will always be a reminder of who I need to return to.” He murmured seconds before his eyes glazed over.
His body stiffened for a second before all the tension seemed to leave his body at once. From any outsider looking in, he appeared to be daydreaming. No one not privy to the magnitude of his gift would ever think he wasn’t mentally present any longer.
“Are you in?” I silently inquired.
“Yes. How the hell does any man wear skinny jeans? His boys are choking in these nut huggers. Gah! I hate that I had to think that thought, let alone experience it!” Lincoln grumbled.
I couldn’t help but laugh and at some of their questioning looks I explained. “Lincoln’s in, but he’s not a fan of skinny jeans.”
I saw a few of the men adjust themselves as if in silent camaraderie and agreement. Marcel snorted. “No man’s right in the head if they allow their nuts to be strangled like that.”
Alex covered his mouth, but a snicker still came out while some of the older teen boys openly guffawed. Marcel seemed to remember their presence and held his hands up in surrender. “Sorry! My bad. I should watch my mouth sometimes.”
One of the teen girls snickered to one of the teens. “I guess you wear them because it’s not a problem for you.”
I heard one of the teen boys defensively state. “They’re not that bad.”
And without skipping a beat the girl retorted. “They wouldn’t be if your berries are miniscule.”
Most of us were unable to contain the laughter that escaped us.
The boy looked embarrassed and I would have felt some sympathy for him if he wasn’t the same kid that had hit on Victoria.
Even after she showed him her mark and informed him that she was taken, he still attempted to convince her into “dating” him.
Teen boys could be so horrible with understanding the concept of consent.
Pops clearly wanted to change the subject before we continued that course of conversation. “Micah, Victoria, Tara, you’re up!”
“Copy that.” All three of them nearly said simultaneously.
“Be safe!” I silently bade them before they disappeared.
It felt like hours passed, when in reality only a minute or two had passed before Micah’s voice came to my head. “Mission complete.”
“They’re done.” I informed Pops, Greg, and Kurt.
“Mercedes and Bentley are you ready to place us?” Kurt asked.
“Can I lower the shield?” Drake inquired.
I looked over at Alex. He looked tired but he was smiling. “Yeah. He’s been weakened but I don’t even think he knows it yet.”
“Let’s keep it that way.” Gavin muttered before leaning in and kissing Sierra. “Go back to safety. Please. I need both my girls to be safe.” He lovingly cradled her belly.
It wasn’t until he was turning away that I saw Sierra wince and slightly bend over.
I frowned at her odd behavior. Once again something niggling at the corner of my consciousness.
I didn’t have time to figure out the issue as Remy and Jaxson took my hands and led me toward the portal.
I was forced to close that “tab” once more so I could get my head in the game.
Gavin, Jemmy, Terrance, Marcel, Dawn, Jaxson, Remy, Miranda, Kurt, Kade, and a few other operatives I barely knew were among the first group to be transferred.
Drake had suggested that we “arrive” at the dry storage area situated between the kitchen and the cafeteria.
It was large enough for us all to fit with ease and kept us from being spotted by the occupants on the other side of the wall through the kitchen’s pass through.
We didn’t want to make our presence known until it was time.
Before Mercedes could disappear, Gavin was pulling Mercedes in. He kissed her soundly before framing her face with his hands. “Be safe, okay, no going rogue.”
She beamed at him before mockingly sniffing in ire. “I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
Bentley chuckled. “We all know that I’m more likely to do that.”
“Uh huh, right.” Gavin shook his head.
His sentiments were echoed by most of us. We all knew that Bentley might be impulsive and wild in his ways, but it was Merci that would go out on the ledge recklessly for those she loved or cared for.
Gavin gave her one more quick kiss before tapping her butt. “Go on get.”
She mockingly glared at him before opening up their portal and disappearing.
The first thing I noticed was instead of jealousy or anger, Jemmy just appeared—defeated.
She was looking away, not out of insecurities but pain.
She was still trying to convince Gavin to attend couples’ therapy, but he was still unwilling to until after the baby was born and our lives were more settled.
He didn’t want to stretch himself too thin emotionally.
The second thing I noticed was how much Gavin had changed in less than a year.
When I met him nearly a year ago, he had been a virgin and horrified by my circumstances of having multiple connections.
He was also very private with his affections.
He wasn’t big into public displays in the least. Yet the more comfortable he got in his relationships and the way Sierra and Mercedes supported him he came out of his self-imposed shell.
I must have had a dopey grin on his face because he raised a brow at me, smirked, and silently asked. “What?”
I responded back to him telepathically. “Remember when you were horrified to think you may be one of my connections? Do you recall how you openly shuddered at the idea of having more than one connection? Now look at you with three.”
He rolled his eyes before good-naturedly telling me. “Shut up and remember while we’re surrounded by flour, sugar, and spices and be safe Ake.”
I laughed at his obvious evasion. “You too!”
“Okay. I’m off. See you all on the other side.” Gavin informed us all then he took a few steps before disappearing.
“We’re up next,” Jaxson grinned at me, placing his arm over my shoulder.