Chapter 25
Chapter twenty-five
Raegan
It takes a full day and a half for me to wake up.
Thankfully, I didn’t overdo my gift this time.
The same can’t be said for Kellan. It’s the first time he’s ever pushed his limit, and he’s still recovering in bed when I finally rise.
Dane and Aiden are coordinating grocery deliveries downstairs for Guild members, according to Jack.
“I’m going to go see Portia,” I tell him, pointing to the shared wall so he knows I’ll be just next door.
He gave me a simple “Yes” when I’d asked if her team was okay.
That could mean anything from ‘she’s alive with no injuries’ to ‘she’s in serious condition, but not on her deathbed’. That thought decided it.
He taps his thumb multiple times over his phone screen—and I wonder for a second who he’s messaging—before he glances at the open bedroom door where Kellan’s sleeping.
I’m sure he’s annoyed he can’t come with me, but if the brute wakes up for a piss, there’s no way I can help carry him to the bathroom.
“Go see Aiden after.” When I give him a questioning look, he elaborates, “Make him get more sleep. He won’t listen to me. ”
“When has that man ever listened to me?”
Jackson smirks. “He listens.” I scoff, incredulous and ready to refute it when he adds in a more serious tone, “He pushed his limit, too. But he’s only slept eight hours in the last two days.”
Eight hours. I didn’t push my body and gift to the limit this time and still slept for thirty-six hours.
Fuck, Aiden!
“Alright, I’ll track him down after checking on Portia.” And see if he does actually listen to me for anything when it comes to his health.
I take the two steps to Portia’s apartment door before knocking.
“Porsh? It’s Rae. Can I come in?”
There’s a scuffle behind the door that sends my heart into my throat. Is she being kidnapped again? I jam her code into the keypad to unlock it. “I’m coming in!” I shout, throwing the door open just as Portia shoves someone into her bedroom.
“I told you, my best friend is here. Take a cold shower!” Portia yanks the door closed and beams at me over her shoulder.
“You’re awake!” she screeches excitedly, running and tackling me in a hug.
“I was worried when I tried to visit yesterday, and Jackson said you were still sleeping. Are you okay?”
I release a sigh of relief with a small laugh. “Was that who I think it was? You could have told me you were busy. I thought you were in danger when you didn’t answer.”
She laughs, and it’s such a sweet sound that I’m still in awe every time I hear it. “He knew how worried I was about you and that you were coming. Serves him right for trying to start something anyway.”
“You knew I was coming?”
Portia gives me a wicked smile and taps on her phone, then shows me the screen.
Rae’s Scary Stalker Assassin: She’s coming.
I blink, stunned. “Is that Jackson?”
She cackles and tugs me onto her couch with her. “When I said I tried to visit yesterday, it may have been multiple times. And I may have slipped my number under the door when he stopped answering with a note requesting that he update me as soon as you woke up.”
Laughing, I shake my head trying to imagine Jackson dealing with Portia.
“You haven’t answered my question, though. Are you okay?” Her expression sobers when she looks at me, and I’m immediately compelled to smile to ease that worry.
“Yeah. Everything that happened, well... it was bad, but… we’re—I’m okay.” I need to check on Aiden and wait for Kell to wake up before I can claim that for all of us.
Instead of relaxing, her eyes round with concern. “What happened?”
I don’t sugarcoat things for Portia. I explain what happened with Creighton and his strength-sucking gift.
Then the threats Charles made against me and the others; her face bleaches at the mention of me producing offspring for him to manipulate and use against the world.
Followed by Kellan’s torture, the arena where we found other Guild members and reunited with Dane, Reid, and Tinsley, and then how we’d tried to crush Charles and escape.
“Holy shit balls,” she breathes when I finish. “Is Kellan okay? I know he heals and all that, but still...”
My chest aches when I remember what they’d been doing to him. And then it burns hot with anger. I clench my fists in my lap. “He hasn’t woken up yet, so I don’t know.”
She sniffs with anger and crosses her arms. “At least you know everyone who touched him is dead and buried now.”
True. That does help a little.
Everyone except Charles.
“What happened with you guys?” I ask next.
“Oh, Noah went through the memories of the staff before we went near our target,” she answers, reminding me of how Noah had once gone through my memories to vet I wasn’t involved with GE or Portia’s kidnapping.
I’m still pissed at Joe for going after Portia even though he’s dead.
“He found out about the guard hanging out with the gift-blocking darts, so we took him out first. We tried calling about the trap, but I think everyone was already taken because no one answered. Probably because we were dropping other teams off and got to our target later than the rest.”
All that makes sense as much as it sucks.
“Then I got the spy—Sam—to reveal himself and come with us. Elias shot the target from outside of the room, and we bolted out of there.” She shrugs, as if what they did wasn’t as incredible as it was.
First off, her gift and Noah’s are both amazing and terrifying.
Then to hear Elias shooting a gun and taking a life—even if she told me about it happening before—still shocks the shit out of me.
Then, how easily they were able to get in and out even with all the traps set for them.
They made it seem effortless. Even if I didn’t know about how they’d taken down a trafficking empire, it’s obvious they’ve worked as a team on missions like this before.
“That’s seriously incredible, Porsh. We’re lucky to have you guys on our side.”
Her cheeks flush, and she ducks her head, tucking hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I guess we’re pretty cool.”
I laugh at her sudden humility, showing me more how she feels about her men rather than their flawless mission. Otherwise, she’d have no problem boasting about their success.
The apartment door opens, and Elias enters. His brow peaks when he sees us together on the couch. “Is this a private conversation or should I wait patiently in my office for the chance to join you both?”
I look at Portia, and she shrugs. Even if we hadn’t already caught up on everything, I would have shared that information with him if he’d asked.
“You can join us,” she relays once we’ve both agreed through body language and expressions.
Elias smiles and dips his chin, ever the gentleman, then gracefully sits in one of the single upholstered chairs facing us.
He reclines into the seat back, his forearms covering most of the armrests on either side, and leans into his fist. “It’s hard to believe you’re the same girl who walked into my club trying to take down Gifted Enterprise by yourself. ”
“What do you mean?”
“Now you have the support of the Guild, underground gifted fighters, my team and Hype, and apparently half-siblings of yours continue to pop-up. Not to mention the four men who look ready to take a bullet for you at any moment.” His smile is warm.
“I’m pleased to see you open up and let so many people in.
The world is too dark and unforgiving for those who walk in it alone. ”
Portia shifts the slightest amount. I wouldn’t have even noticed if Elias’s gaze didn’t snap to her immediately.
“Thank you,” I mumble, embarrassed. But he’s right. I was a lone wolf on a mission of vengeance.
But now... there are so many people I’d call friends in the Guild and with Portia. I have Aiden, Kellan, Jackson, and Dane.
“Thanks for taking a chance on a reckless girl. And for still helping her and her friends even though it’s putting all our lives in danger.”
Elias nods once. “I could see your potential when we met. And I have to say, you did not disappoint. Your gift is stronger than anyone’s I’ve ever met. Did you know one of Gifted Enterprise’s headquarters was directly above you when you destroyed it?”
“Above the arena? I’d only been trying to destroy the underground facility.”
“By our research, you decimated his nonprofit front that managed all the donations and finances for the company. As well as whatever dark secrets he’d had in that underground facility. It’s a major win against him.”
Oh. Wow.
My body tenses as I realize what that could mean. How I could have put us all in danger. “And the public? What are they saying about the randomly destroyed building?”
Elias gives me a reassuring smile. “Charles already intervened, it seems. They’re passing it off as a freak sink hole that appeared beneath the building.
Because of its potential to expand, the area has been blocked off from anyone going in.
I’m sure only the government agents in his pocket will clear it before someone sees something they shouldn’t. ”
Well, then.
“It was a remarkable feat, Raegan. I can easily say I’m honored to be part of your team and helping you finally accomplish your goal.”
Damn it, I will not get emotional.
I swallow the sudden knot in my throat, and Portia giggles and wraps her arms around one of mine, knocking into me in the process and helping me get out of my head.
“He says the sweetest things, doesn’t he?
” She turns to him. “How are things downstairs?” she prompts, her tone casual even as her eyes slide to mine and shimmer with mischief.
I’m relieved that the attention has been pulled away from me. It’s tempting to retreat inward to get my shit together, but I’m too curious to see what Portia’s up to that I stay focused on their conversation.
“Ah, well. This is my reprieve while the Guild Master is preoccupied questioning a prisoner. My assistance was not needed for that task.”
That piques my attention. “Prisoner?”
Portia releases me and collapses into the cushions behind her. “Someone from GE. Dee? Bee?”
“Bea?” I repeat, realizing who she must mean. The portal girl. “Where is she?”
Elias sighs. “As we are not as... accustomed to having prisoners, we’ve locked her in the storage room for office supplies in the basement.”
“I should go see if they need any help.” Especially if Aiden is as tired as Jackson claimed and he’s now alone with Bea. Dane should be with him, but still...
They both wave me off, promising to catch up more on next steps once all of our crew are rested and awake, and I head to Hype’s basement.
The hallway at the foot of the stairs is a hallucinogenic experience. The lighting is a soft purple over white walls and a reflective tile. But it’s the bright neon lights steaking along the walls like thick waves that makes me feel like I’m traveling through time or something. It’s disorienting.
A raised voice draws me to a cracked door a few feet down the neon tunnel to the left.
“And when he comes for me, he’ll kill all of you!” a female voice shrieks.
“I destroyed your tracker before we left your space. He’s not coming,” Reid replies evenly.
“He’ll find me! He needs me!”
“He doesn’t need anyone but himself. You’re delusional if you think otherwise.”
I draw the door open enough to see the room. Bea’s pacing at the back wall while Reid stands in the middle of the room facing her. Aiden leans against one of the shelving units of office supplies, his eyes closed. Dane looks pissed beside him, but he relaxes when he sees me.
“You’re awake.” He sounds relieved as he approaches.
Aiden opens his eyes, and Reid looks over his shoulder.
“We’re done for now,” Aiden says, pushing off the shelves and striding toward us and the door.
Reid follows without a word, and I make room for everyone to exit.
Once the door’s locked, I throw my arms around Dane.
Even though he’d reunited with us in the arena, I’m still fucking relieved he’s okay.
“How did you escape?” I ask, slowly withdrawing.
He kisses my cheek. “Alice followed us. And me, when we fell through the portal.” Dane jerks his chin at Reid. “He and Tinsley showed up, too. We destroyed the island and got everyone to Cibrina. Then we went to rescue you.”
“And Bea?”
Reid glances at the door. “I was able to tether to one of her portals and use it to get into her space.”
“Her space?”
He nods. “It’s a pocket in space-time where she manages most of her portals for GE.”
“We found a cuff on the island and put it on her before locking her up here,” Dane adds.
Aiden’s eyes are closed again when I check on him. I place my palm to the side of his face, then gasp.
“Aiden, you’re burning up.”
He opens his eyes, and they immediately lock onto me. It feels like I’m his anchor, holding him steady now that he’s latched on. I grab his arm.
“Dane, take his other side. We’re bringing him to the room.”
Aiden grunts. “Ibuprofen must’ve worn off,” he mutters. “I’ll take more.”
Tucking myself under his arm, I grab his wrist and start pulling him toward the stairs.
“I’ll watch her,” Reid murmurs, stepping in front of the door with his arms crossed to guard Bea.
“I’ll call Elias. Get security,” Aiden continues, determined to keep on top of everything.
Dane curses from under his other arm where it looks like Aiden’s leaning most of his weight. “How much fucking metal is on you right now?”
“I’ll call Elias. You’re going to bed,” I argue through gritted teeth. “But if you could pick up your feet more, that would be great.”
Thank fuck, he does.
The stairs are still a bitch.
Up from the basement. Then up to the second floor.
At least we’re not on the top floor.
“How is he rich as fuck but doesn’t bother with an elevator in this fucking place,” Dane rages aloud when we finally make it off the stairs.
Aiden’s so overtired and feverish that I think he’s barely conscious enough to move his feet for us. The rest of his mental faculties have checked out as he rambles some nonsense that I think he thinks are commands for things that still need to be done.
Dane shoots me a look and eye roll, and I smirk back.
Once Jackson answers the door, his gift relieves us of his weight so we can get him to take more medicine, undress him, and lay him on the futon since Kellan is sprawled across the bed.
Aiden drags me down with him, locking me against his heated bare chest with both arms and mumbling into my hair.
“Nagging metal... bend it... quiet... shhh...”
I stroke my fingers over his skin. “Go to sleep.”
Dane snorts and pulls a sheet over us. “I’ll come get you when food’s here.”
“Call Elias so someone can swap out with Reid,” I add before he leaves, and he nods with a smirk.
“Sleep tight.”