Chapter 3 #2
I spun on Johnny. "You said the only exit was through that door." I pointed to the one I ran at earlier.
He didn’t blink. Just shrugged. "That door leads to the garage. I was pointing to the door you couldn’t see, which is that one.”
“You still tricked me.” I gritted my teeth.
He grinned. “Look, even if you could open that door, you wouldn’t be able to leave. You’d need to fly to get out of it. I am pretty sure you can't fly."
The jock's gaze swept the room, landing on me for a half-second too long. His blue eyes were sharp. "Did the others make it back yet?"
Matt’s answer was a growl. "No."
Mr. Fashion's attention locked onto me like a laser. "I see our guest is awake early."
Guest. Right.
I crossed my arms. "If you need to fly to get in and out of the garage," I said slowly, "one of you must be able to fly."
The jock's smile didn’t waver. I let my gaze rake over him. His face looked familiar. The athletic build. The description from the news reports calling Riven "the golden boy of the skies."
"You," I said, pointing. "You’re Riven."
The room went still.
Mr. Fashion's smirk was a polished blade. "Bravo. Quite the detective."
Johnny snorted. "I said the same thing, Doc."
My stomach twisted. So he is the team doctor. I turned on him. "So you’re the one who drugged me."
He raised a hand, palm out. "I merely sedated you. Nothing more."
"Nothing more?" I stepped closer. "You knocked me out, stuck me in a room naked, and now you’re standing there like it’s no big deal."
His brow quirked. "You were hysterical. And injured. Would you have preferred we left you conscious while we stitched you up?"
"Stitched—" My hand flew to my side. There was a bandage there, tight and smooth under my fingers. "You stitched me up? Are you even qualified?"
"I graduated from one of the best medical schools in the world. You’re welcome," he said smoothly.
The jock cleared his throat. "Mandie, right? Look, I know this is a lot. We didn’t bring you here to hurt you. My name is Roger. And Doc over here is Sebastian."
I barked a laugh. "Some doctor he is. So tell me, which one of you is in charge? And why are crazed supervillains after me?"
No one answered.
The silence spoke louder than words. They knew. They all knew.
Sebastian exchanged a glance with Roger, then turned back to me. "The boss isn't here. You know him as Quantum Knight. He is finishing a rescue mission in Brazil with Flexel. He should be here any moment."
The name sent a jolt through me. Quantum Knight. The one who brought me here.
Sebastian stepped forward. "I realize this is a lot to absorb.
But believe me, there was no grand design here.
It simply… unfolded. Now, we could return you to the city, but you would only be fleeing.
And running away will not change the reality.
You are a part of this now. Whether you wish to be or not. "
I bared my teeth. "I don’t."
Roger’s smile vanished. "I get it. I do. But we’re not the bad guys here."
The roar of a motorcycle cut through the air, vibrating the reinforced glass. I turned just in time to see the sleek, matte-charcoal form of Quantum Knight enter through the garage door, his suit’s gold circuitry pulsing.
Beside him, Flexel trod with effortless grace. He wasn't in costume. He was dressed in emo attire, ripped fishnets, layered leather, gothic harness glinting.
The contrast was almost laughable. Flexel in his street clothes, Quantum Knight covered in his billion-dollar tech suit, face hidden. They stepped into the futuristic lobby with purpose.
Johnny pushed off the kitchen island with a smirk. "Alright, everyone, the boss is here. Behave yourselves. No brawls, no fires, and definitely no crying in the showers. Again."
Roger smirked. "Speak of the devil."
Sebastian stayed where he was. "Everything go smoothly in Brazil?"
Quantum Knight’s helmet turned toward him. His voice, modulated through the changer, was smooth, almost too perfect. "Everything went fine."
I exhaled, arms wrapped tight around myself. Fine. Right.
Flexel's gray eyes flicked to me. There was something soft in his gaze. "You okay?"
The quiet question threw me. Like he actually gave a damn. I opened my mouth, but Johnny beat me to it.
"Of course she is." He grinned. "She couldn’t be in a safer place. Look at all the fun she is having."
His sarcasm was almost as bad as mine. I ignored the jab. "Thank you," I muttered to Flexel.
Roger cleared his throat. "So, this is Donovan, also known as Flexel. And the boss there is Quantum Knight."
Of course. The boss was the only one hiding his face.
Quantum Knight turned his helmet toward me. "You need to stay at the Keystone until we figure out why they’re after you."
"What the hell is the Keystone?"
He didn’t answer.
Roger gestured around like a game show host. "This place. It’s our base. Home sweet home. You should see the gym. Matt bench-presses buildings in there."
“Eat whatever you want in the fridge. If there is an emergency, there are bunkers underneath. You can get there through a trap door under the coffee table. We will get you some new clothes.” Quantum Knight’s robotic voice was like nails on a chalkboard.
I remembered then that I was wearing someone else's clothes. "So, which one of you fine gentlemen wants to admit he undressed me before putting me to bed?"
No one answered at first. I waved my arms to show the oversized shirt.
Quantum Knight finally spoke. "It was Doc and me. He had to stitch you up, and your clothes were covered in blood."
"I am sure you got quite the view then, didn't you?" I shot back.
Quantum Knight ignored it. "The world is in chaos. We’ll still have to go out on missions, but there will always be someone here with you. You are safe. And you can keep sleeping in my quarters."
My stomach dropped. His room. His bed.
I frowned. "Hell no, I'm not."
Roger laughed. "He never uses it anyway. This place only has six bedrooms. Each one is spoken for. His room will be the only place where you have privacy. Trust me, he is hardly ever here."
Quantum Knight’s helmet tilted, like he wanted to argue. But he didn’t. "Suit yourself. Sleep in this common room for all I care. But you can't leave until we know for sure it is safe."
My mind raced. Steal a car? They’d track me. Hitchhike? Dead before the highway. Call Cassie? Phone gone.
Sebastian’s voice cut through my spiraling. "If you were attacked again, you might walk away with something worse than stitches. If you walked away at all. You’re safe here, Mandie."
I turned to him. "What kind of doctor are you? A surgeon who likes to cut people open?"
His lips quirked. Not a smile. "Psychiatrist."
"Psychiatrists don’t do surgery," I snapped.
"No," he agreed, stepping closer. I smelled faint citrus. "But I do have steady hands."
My breath hitched.
Johnny groaned. "Oh, come on. We’re all standing right here. Can we not with the sexual tension? It’s exhausting."
Roger clapped him on the back. "Jealous?"
"Disgusted," Johnny corrected.
Quantum Knight’s visor flickered, like he got a message. "We’ll brief you on the mission details later. For now..." He turned toward the hallway. "Get settled. And talk with the doc."
Donovan hesitated, gray eyes on me. For a second, I thought he might say something. But he didn’t.
Quantum Knight turned to the team. "I have to do some recon for tomorrow. Let me know if anything goes... wrong."
And just like that, he entered the garage, and the roar of his motorcycle faded away.
Matt spoke up, voice rough. "I need to lie down. Only way I get rid of this headache is to pass the fuck out."
Roger grinned. "Rest up, big guy. I think the boss has plans for you tomorrow."
Matt groaned and headed to his room.
Sebastian motioned to me. "Please, Mandie. I'll help you to your room so we can have a session. A little private discourse would be therapeutic. And I can examine your stitches."
"I am sure you would love to get me alone," I snapped.
Sebastian rolled his eyes. "It is the most civilized way. Much preferred to having a mob of laymen spewing clumsy explanations at you."
He had a point.
"Fine," I said. "But you'd better explain some things to me."
"I will do my best," Sebastian said with too much confidence.
I shoved past Donovan and Johnny. Roger let out a laugh that made me turn back.
"Something funny?" I snarled.
He flashed a smile, grabbing a drink from the fridge. "Admit it. You like it here."
I didn’t answer.
Because the worst part? He might’ve been right. This place was bigger, cleaner, and a lot less lonely than any apartment I’d ever had.