Chapter 8 #2
The confession tumbled out in a rush, almost as if she had to say it all at once. Jim grimaced, trying to ignore the flicker of embarrassment he felt. He could only imagine the level of discomfort she must have to make her venture into the world after sunset.
“Oh, uh… well, if you want company, Harvey and I are going to watch a movie later,” he offered, trying to keep his tone casual, as if it were no big deal.
Kiki’s lips twitched faintly, an almost smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thanks for the invite, but it’s been a long day. I have some things I need to catch up on.”
She turned, effectively shutting down the conversation with her typical reticence. “If you change your mind, just come over,” Jim called after her, hoping his voice sounded more relaxed than he felt.
“Thanks,” she said, her words tossed over her shoulder just before she slipped out the door.
He watched her disappear, the shadows of the street swallowing her. With a deep breath, he turned to the staircase, his feet heavy as he made his way upstairs, his thoughts a whirlwind.
Kiki had always been a bit of an enigma, always hiding behind those oversized hoodies she loved so much, but underneath that quirky exterior resided a heart of gold. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something deeper in her story, some tragedy that pulled at her.
Before he could unlock his and Harvey’s apartment door, it swung open with a dramatic flair.
“You are not going to believe what happened!” Harvey’s voice burst into the space, his face lit up by an enormous grin.
Jim couldn’t help but laugh. “Let me guess, you were spying through the peephole on Kiki and Nikos’s date?” he teased playfully.
“Of course! They were molten. Absolutely scorching. If that’s a sign, it went pretty damn well!” Harvey bounced on his heels as he spoke, his body vibrating with excitement. “She was wrapped around Nikos, and they disappeared inside her apartment.”
Jim’s brows rose high as he processed the revelation. He couldn’t deny the surge of protectiveness that bloomed within him. He had been a little concerned when Harvey told him about the deal he had made with Aeto.
His concern had centered on what a billionaire like Nikos Aeto could have in common with Kiki, but Harvey had made some good points about it being harder for Kiki to scare the man off.
When he’d seen Kiki’s closed expression a few minutes ago, he’d assumed the date hadn’t gone well. Maybe it had gone a little too well, only for Kiki to discover the timing was off. That could dampen the fervor.
No wonder Kiki looked so unhappy when she left, he mused with relief.
He chuckled as he looked into Harvey’s dancing eyes. He had to admit he felt a spark of hope ignite for Kiki, too. Maybe, just maybe, their blind-date blackmail had actually worked. Kiki deserved happiness more than anyone he knew.
“You really think this could develop into something between them?” Jim asked, letting the hopeful undertone seep into his voice.
“Absolutely,” Harvey said, his eyes glinting with determination as he reached for the bag of groceries. “Kiki’s a sweet girl. If anyone can break through her walls, Nikos can. I mean, it’s impossible to miss the chemistry between the two of them.”
Jim lifted an eyebrow. “Only because it’s impossible to keep you from spying!”
Harvey laughed. “This is a moment! It deserves to be witnessed!”
Jim chuckled in response. “Okay. Let’s hope you’re right. I picked up Chinese takeout. Do you want to watch the movie you picked up yesterday?” he asked.
“Only if I can talk through it,” Harvey replied with a cheeky smile.
Jim huffed a laugh. “You always do.”
They put away the groceries and set their dinner on the tv table, Jim smiling fondly as Harvey continued to gush over the magnificent kiss he had witnessed.
Kiki perched on the edge of the shadows, a specter in black, waiting patiently outside Nikos Aeto’s apartment building. The evening air was thick with the scent of rain-soaked pavement. The rumble of city life washed around her as she paused, deciding her next move.
Her heart thrummed like a war drum, a rhythmic reminder of the task ahead.
Her gaze bore into the entrance of the underground garage.
It glowed like a beacon in the darkness, its bright lights casting long shadows on the walls as it illuminated the slick asphalt.
Her eyes skimmed over the steady gaze of surveillance cameras and the diminutive booth where the attendant sat, oblivious to the world around him.
Two black SUVs pulled up in tandem. The glimmer of their polished surfaces caught her eye, sharp against the night.
Anger flared through her veins and clenched her stomach when the gate whirred open.
The attendant’s smirk was a bitter reminder of the corruption that tainted the souls of some humans.
She waited a few minutes, giving the vehicles time to disappear into the guts of the garage before she flicked her hand, energy thrumming in her fingertips as she unleashed a silent command.
The attendant slumped forward, the smirk wilting away like a flower robbed of light as he collapsed in a heap inside his booth.
Kiki moved without hesitation, melding into the shadows as she slipped across the street. The lights flickered ominously over the entrance, as if warning the world of her intrusion, before they went out. She approached the booth, her senses alive, each heartbeat quickening her resolve.
She turned the door handle with deliberate care and stepped inside. The cramped space smelled stale, a suffocating mixture of cheap cologne and sweat.
The attendant lay crumpled against the corner, unaware of her presence.
She swiftly patted him down, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his vest until she found the wad of cash nestled in an inner pocket.
A smirk danced on her lips as she pocketed the money and gave a gentle pat to his cheek.
“You should make better choices, dude,” she murmured.
Kiki rose and stepped out of the booth. With a twist, she locked the door behind her before she pulled it closed.
That should really drive him crazy, she thought with amusement.
She relished the satisfaction of playing her part in this little game of shadows. This was the part of being a superhero that she liked. It looked like there was going to be a nice donation to Jose’s equipment fund.
She made sure she was far enough down the ramp to be covered by shadows before she waved her hand again. The lights flickered back on over the entrance.
The attendant rose, rubbing his head groggily, his confusion clear as he mumbled to himself.
Her lips twitched when she noticed him squinting around the brightly lit interior of the booth.
When he patted his pockets and let out an explosive curse, Kiki couldn’t help but chuckle silently, a ghostly sound swallowed by the ambiance of the city.
The sound of his frustration rang in her ears like sweet music.
“You snooze you lose, dude,” she chuckled.
She turned and moved down the slope into the bowels of the underground parking lot.
The lights flickered above her, a stuttering heartbeat guiding her deeper into the shadows.
The atmosphere thickened with tension as she navigated through rows of parked cars, each a fortress of expensive steel that protected her from being seen.
The murmur of low voices caused her to slow her steps. She moved forward with caution. Crouching behind the back wheel of a sleek Bentley, she pressed her back against the cool metal, her breath shallow, the world narrowing to the whispers resonating just a few feet away.
“Are you sure it’s the right Aeto?” one voice hissed, dark and gravelly, tinged with impatience.
“Who cares? We can take both of them. That way there is no confusion if we took the right brother or not,” another answered, smoother, dripping with confidence.
“Why the fuck do they want him? He and his brother are nothing but a couple of rich playboys,” a third grumbled.
“Who are you to question why he is wanted? Just do as you are told,” the fourth man replied.
The slight French accent in the fourth man’s voice sent a chill down her spine.
She tilt her head back and clenched her fingers around the wad of money, trying to understand what was going on.
“Why do they want him, though?” the third guy asked.
“That’s not important. We were told to bring him, so we bring him. What the Founders do with him is their business,” the man with the French accent replied.
Kiki’s heart raced, the words wrapping around her mind like vines, tightening.
The Founders.
She closed her eyes. Eight years.
Eight years ago, she and Brie had been on that mission in the Middle East? What did they mean it’s been eight years?
Her eyes opened wide as comprehension filtered through her.
The soldier.
Nikos.
Had he been the soldier hanging next to Oscar? The one taken to their camp? The one—
She swallowed the dread pooling in her stomach. She had never seen the soldier up close.
Brie had.
Brie had healed him.
Kiki had overheard their handlers talking about him. He had been in bad shape. They didn’t think he would make it. The Founders wanted to test Brie’s skills, see if she could heal the man—before they killed him.
Only he escaped at the same time we did thanks to the unexpected attack on the compound.
These men wanted Brie. They planned to get Brie through Nikos.
Kiki felt hot and cold all at once.
The first voice lowered with earnest frustration. “I don’t like this. The Aetos are rich. It isn’t like they can disappear and no one notices or cares.”
“The two are in fucking security with bodyguards. It would have been nice to have a full team to back us,” the second man muttered.
“I told you, it doesn’t matter. We do what we were ordered to do. If you can’t handle it, I’ll tell the Founders. I’m sure they’ll be understanding,” the first man retorted with heavy sarcasm.
“No need for that,” the second man hastily said.
“What do we do if he doesn’t know where this girl is?” the third man asked.
“We use him to draw her out. She’ll come,” the man with the accent said with confidence.
“How do you know? It’s been eight years,” the third man said. “Hell, she might not even remember him, much less give a damn.”
“She’ll come for him. I feel it. She’s not the only one with certain… talents,” the man murmured.
Kiki stiffened, finally placing the voice beyond a doubt. It could be no other, though now the voice was older, deeper.
She closed her eyes and breathed. Eric.