Chapter 11
Chapter eleven
Raegan
We’re in Aiden’s office, discussing board member details, when multiple phones ring like an alarm.
“Pull up security footage,” Aiden orders before he’s even read whatever message is on his phone.
Dane—with his re-dyed blond hair—turns to the keyboard. Individual camera feeds pop up one after another in boxes across the screens on the wall as Cibrina recalls her gift, and the golden text of information we’d been reviewing fades.
Kellan moves in front of the door as a barrier, crossing his arms, his gaze scanning the camera views with a fierce expression. Jackson pushes off the wall, his hands automatically going to his hoodie pocket to start pulling knives.
I call on my gift, readying myself for a fight.
“Is it Charles?” I ask, looking to Aiden.
“No.” Reid takes Tinsley’s hand, as if in preparation to get her away, if needed. “I’d be able to tell if it was.”
“We’ve blocked his ability to teleport here anyway, so unless he came through the front door—” Dane adds, then stops himself when Aiden’s head snaps up, his dark eyes pinning mine. His jaw tics.
“It’s a false alarm,” he begins, lifting the phone to his ear.
The tension in the room eases a fraction.
“What happened?” He listens to the person’s reply, then pinches the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed.
“No. Clear the alert and let them through. We’ll be right there.
” He shoves the phone into his pocket. “It’s Elias,” he finally elaborates, his tone edged with distaste as he says the name.
I can tell because it’s no longer there when he continues, “And Portia. They apparently forced their way past the initial security checkpoint and set off our alarms.”
I’m only half-listening as I practically leap to the door, pushing at Kellan to make room so I can leave the office.
“Watch out! I need to go see her!” I shout when he doesn’t immediately shift aside.
“Who’re they?” Reid asks, his brow scrunched as he stands and watches me.
Kellan laughs and grabs the doorknob. “Slow down, beautiful. We’re going with you.”
The others gather at my back as Cibrina explains my friendship with Portia and Elias before I started working with the guys, which leads Reid to ask why I wasn’t on the best of terms with them when I’d first arrived in this city.
Thankfully, Kell’s opened the door, and I’m out before I have to worry about Reid’s reaction to that whole story. The five of us take the elevator to the first floor.
I'm brimming with excitement and nerves. Excitement, because I really freaking missed Portia and her contagious energy. And nerves, because we’d only known each other for a short time before she was taken and then ran away.
What if I’ve over-fantasized our friendship in the last few months?
What if it meant more to me than to her?
The doors open, and I make myself push past that doubt as I race down the hallway to the large open area that’s just beyond the security checkpoint and a wall of translucent glass.
The murky glass blocks this side of the first level from being visible to the entrance, so Aiden and I don’t have to hide.
Security guards form a line a few yards in, blocking a small group of people. It’s more than just Elias and Portia. I don’t recognize the others, and the surprise of seeing more people slows my steps.
“Oh my god, she’s here! Rae!” Portia shouts when she sees me, then runs at me at full speed.
Shit, she’s not slowing down.
I brace myself, then feel Kellan at my back just before she crashes into me, her arms squeezing me against her full chest. We bump into Kell, but he helps steady us so we don’t fall.
“You’re alive! They kept saying you died, and Aiden died, and I knew it couldn’t be true! But then these guys wouldn’t let us through, and I had to see you no matter what!”
I can’t help but laugh, wrapping my arms around her. “We’re okay. Thanks to Jack, we made it. But we have everyone still pretending we died.”
Portia pulls back, her forest green eyes bright. “I have a gazillion questions for you and so much to tell you, too.”
“Me too.” I glance over my shoulder at the guys and notice Aiden and Elias eyeing each other, their postures stiff.
“Thorton.”
“Adams.”
“It’s still appropriate to provide notice of a visit. Or at least follow the security protocols a business has in place rather than forcing your way in,” Aiden remarks in a smooth yet threatening tone.
Elias smiles. “A landlord doesn’t require giving advance notice to check on his tenants.
It’s polite, of course, but not mandatory.
” Aiden’s eyes narrow, but Elias continues, “The forced entry was out of concern for Raegan’s well-being.
Security confirmed with my source that you’d both died, and it was necessary that we press through to verify it for ourselves by someone with a first-hand account.
Portia wouldn’t have been satisfied with anything less.
And it appears it’s a good thing we did. ”
He turns to me, his smile softening. “Raegan. I’m relieved to see the rumor is false. Have they been treating you well since I’ve been gone?”
I open my mouth to respond, but Dane steps forward and snaps, “Says the guy who kicked her out of his apartment the second things got rough.”
Portia jabs a finger at Dane. “Hey! Don't talk to Elias like that! You weren’t so great to Rae when we were here before, either.”
Dane’s jaw snaps shut.
Kellan bursts out laughing.
But Portia isn’t finished. “That’s right! I remember you. And now that I’m back, just try saying mean things to Rae again and I’ll make you regret it!”
Dane takes another step toward her, and I jump between them. “Guys, stop—”
“Good!” Dane retorts, his fist raised. “Do it. If I ever say anything like that to Rae again, then you'd better follow through on that threat. Because I’d rather die than ever hurt her again.”
Portia mirrors him. “I will! I’ll—Wait.” She looks at me, confused. “What?”
I offer her a small smile and shrug. “How soon are we catching up?”
Elias clears his throat. “That aside, he was right in his accusation.” He bows his head at me. “I shouldn’t have done that or said those words to you. Regardless of what I was feeling at the time, it’s no excuse. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Oh, I never—I didn’t—”
“Apology accepted,” Aiden says, suddenly at my side. He leans in close, crooning softly in my ear, “You could have been back on the streets with what he did. You deserve the apology for his selfishness.”
His warm breath and voice send a pleasurable shiver through me.
“Now! We’re catching up now!” Portia grabs my wrist and pulls me away, only to pause three steps in. “Oh. Which way?”
A quick check over my shoulder reveals seven pairs of watching eyes. I turn my wrist to take her hand. “The snack bar. This way.”
I guide her to the gym in the back, scanning the tattoo on my wrist to gain entry, and then pulling us inside.
Training for the day is over, but there are still some Guild members putting in extra time.
Portia watches them with wide eyes, and I casually wave to Evie and Silas as we pass by to the snack and shake bar.
“Uh, Rae?”
“Yeah?”
Portia points behind me. Jackson follows within arm's reach, his hood up and hands tucked in his kangaroo pocket as he strolls behind us. He smiles at me when our eyes meet.
“Don’t worry about him.”
Portia loops her arm through mine and leans in, whispering, “He knows I’m not a bad guy, right? He’s not here to kill me if I sneeze wrong?”
“He wouldn’t dare touch you without my permission, Porsh,” I reassure her, throwing a swift look over my shoulder to drive home that fact.
Jackson’s smile curves to a smirk.
Opening the door to the mini cafeteria, Portia walks in first. Jack leans against the gym wall outside the door, settling in as our guard, before I close it.
She tackles me into another hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay! Elias has ears everywhere, and when he heard that you died, we rushed here as soon as we could! I’m sorry I left when I did. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help with GE.”
“Don't be. I was relieved you were out of harm’s way. I just wish we’d kept in contact more so I knew you were okay.”
She withdraws, a guilty expression on her face, before she looks away. “Well, actually...”
“Elias did that?!” I gasp, mind blown.
Portia giggles, swaying in her seat as if the act of laughing throws her off-balance.
A loud slurp sounds between us as she sucks on the straw for the last drop of spiked smoothie.
“Mhm... it was—it was so hot, Rae. Like... I wouldn’t have thought that’d be something I’m into, but seeing him do it?
” She swoons and falls in her chair, which thankfully has a back rest.
I drink my own alcohol-infused smoothie through a straw straight from the blender.
Warmth cocoons me as armor between deep feelings and the stories we’ve been swapping back and forth.
I didn’t hold anything back, giving her the details of some things I haven’t yet shared with anyone else.
Everything that happened when I was back with Gordon.
How I felt. How I’m still battling the memory of him in the dark or my nightmares. My self-doubt.
I’ve gotten better. I can see it now, looking back, that I’ve changed. While it doesn’t always feel like it in the moment, it’s comforting to go through my past and see, in hindsight, that I am moving forward, bit by bit.
Between sharing scars and new tattoos, we’ve both stripped our shirts off and haven’t bothered putting them back on. Kellan told me no one outside would be able to see us through the windows, so it’s just us.