Ravage (Raegan of Ruin Book 1), page 32
The only explanation is that she was conspiring with GE the entire time, getting close to us to report on what we were looking into, and then Vera must have found out and Raegan killed her before she could tell us. That’s the only thing that makes sense.
I can’t accept anything else.
And Raegan doesn’t seem willing to give me any alternatives anyway.
What has been driving me crazy since she showed back up is that she’s acting like the Raegan on the island. Harder and angrier, yes, but I can still see the girl I’d fallen for beneath it all.
Of course, she’s the same. She was playing you before, and she’s playing all of you again now.
But then why is she fighting against Gifted Enterprise? Who is Gordon to her? Why did she react like that when she saw him again? Why is GE so interested in getting her back if she’s part of them?
What should all make sense and click into place isn’t adding up now that she’s here. It all made sense in my head as I thought I’d figured it all out. Now that she’s here, everything’s fucked.
I actually feel guilty for telling GE she was here. I’d been pissed when I heard she killed the goon that Kellan and Jackson had been interrogating. I assumed she wanted him dead before he spilled any more information about GE, and that was how she was covering it up. So, I went to take matters into my own hands.
Then when I held a gun to her head…I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have my answers. But most of all…I couldn’t while she looked at me like that. Like she forgave me for what I was doing. Like she’d given up.
I moved on to my next plan after that. Between my brothers keeping a closer eye on me to make sure I didn’t leave the Tower again and me knowing I wouldn’t be able to pull the trigger, I outsourced. She’s a part of GE, right? So why not have them pick her up and remove her from town?
It was an impulsive move. One I did out of anger at myself for not getting any answers or taking my revenge when it was right in front of me.
I regretted it almost immediately.
But once that picture was submitted to the paper, there was no taking it back.
I hadn’t considered that GE would stick around. That sending that picture would put a spotlight on this city and put everyone else in danger.
After everything I’ve done to try and help my brothers, it never feels like it’s enough. All I do is make it worse. By being hunted for my gift. By being impulsive. And angry. And bitter. And now this.
I’m at fault for Guild members being taken.
I’m the fucking idiot.
And Raegan made me realize that.
It’s all I can think about now. What I’ve done and that she’s fucking right. I’m pissed at myself for making such a dumb, impulsive decision. And I’m pissed that she’s the one who called me out on it.
I’m supposed to be one of the good guys. Protecting others like us. She’s supposed to be the enemy. The one working with GE who doesn’t care about others like us.
Fuck.
I throw my head back against the hard headrest and release an exasperated sigh. “Does your phone have music?”
“I’m not wasting the battery in case we need it.” Aiden keeps his eyes focused on the line of traffic in front of us.
“I need it.”
He scoffs at me. “We should talk about our plan when we get there.”
I roll my window down to let in the fresh air and honks of the city. We need to get to the outskirts and then it’ll be clear sailing. I perch my elbow on the door and subconsciously tug my hood down further. A habitual check any time I leave our space.
I suspect they have access to the satellites and cameras available. It’s the only explanation for how they find me so quickly if I ever go outside.
Just before we got off the island, Aiden and Jackson found out about the students turned lab rats. How they were trying to extract the gifts out of their blood to be used somehow. After GE kept showing up when I’d appear outside, we figured out that they must want my gift. I’m obviously non-compliant to their attempted indoctrination, so all that’s left is to take my blood and use it. We can’t let them have the power to turn off and on people’s gifts at their will. So, I stick to the plan of staying inside the Tower. Raegan was the exception. And now, because Aiden’s too paranoid for me to be left alone at the safehouse if this is a trap meant to get me alone.
I don’t mind because I hate being cooped up inside. I want to fight. To get my hands dirty and take out some of this pent-up rage on the people responsible for everything that went wrong in our lives. Instead, I’m a burden to my brothers. They have to protect me like I’m a defenseless prize. I hate that. They already looked out for me after Vera’s death. They’ve put up with my foul attitude that has been my constant partner for years.
Learning computers and the internet has eased some of that guilt, but it’s not enough for me. I should be there when they take the organization down. I want to know everyone involved in what happened to Vera.
“We already have a plan. Kellan’s group is going after the asshat politician, you and I are checking for our missing people, and Elias is going straight in and out once they have Portia.”
I almost sneered at Raegan that I told her so. That she brought nothing but trouble to those around her. I know I’m an asshole and completely capable of saying shit like that if I want to. But for whatever reason, I held my tongue on it. I hate her for what she did to Vera. For betraying me. For pretending to care about me. About us. She doesn’t deserve me holding my tongue.
But I did it anyway and I think that pisses me off most of all.
Because maybe things aren’t as clear cut as I thought.
My fingers tap against the side of the door in tune to a favorite song to distract myself.
“I need you to stick by me this time. Last time we got separated and you were almost taken, even if they didn’t realize who you were.”
I blow out a breath. My foot starts moving to the same beat in my head, popping up and down with my heel. There’s no carpet in here, so my boot hits the metal floor with a deep clang. Aiden presses his lips together in annoyance, but doesn’t say anything.
I drop my heel back down and leave it there.
I may enjoy pissing the others off, but not Aiden. I owe him my life. I’ll forever owe him that debt for what he’s done, and what he’s given up, for me.
As soon as we learned that GE had sent an elite group specifically to hunt me down and take me back by any means necessary, Aiden has hardly left my side. He had a chance at another life when we got back from the island. Instead, he chose to be stuck with me.
“I know the drill.”
“I didn’t say anything earlier but…I’m also keeping an eye out for that man who came to the Guild and spoke to Raegan. Gordon.”
My brows knit as I stare outside while remembering that moment. “Why?” My stomach is uneasy recalling what happened, my chest tight.
“Because we’re looking for people higher up the food chain and he seems to fit that bill, doesn’t he?”
He’s not wrong, but I also know it’s more than that. Aiden’s targeting him because of Raegan. I don’t argue with him. Gordon may be our ticket to the board and answers about Raegan.
And Vera.
Pain burns the back of my throat and my hand starts to shake. I clench my hands before Aiden can notice and swallow the pain back down.
I will get answers.
Whatever it takes.
She deserves her brother knowing what happened to her and why. Then I’ll know exactly what to do to bring her justice.
The last light turns green, and Aiden guns it. Or, he tries to. His foot drops to the floor with the clutch out and the car barely increases its speed. It apparently needs to gain traction, because it finally starts to move. Aiden shoves it in gear and then jams the clutch again while the car struggles to gain momentum.
Kellan’s definitely playing a joke on us. There’s no way he uses this car for street racing. Even its parts aren’t worth it.
We eventually make it to the car’s final fifth gear and cruise down empty side streets. Aiden turns on the GPS on his phone as we start zigzagging through side streets and getting further from the city.
The car slows to a crawl and bumps and jerks when we turn off onto a dirt road. I grab the roof out my window and grimace as we feel every rock and divot in the road. We park next to Kellan’s ride, and I give it a long once-over.
“I fucking knew it.”
Kellan gets out and jerks his seat forward to let Jackson out of the back. He turns with a wild and crazy grin. “What’s that? Sour about your ride, Rapunzel?”
I scowl at the annoying nickname he’s pegged me with. “Were you hoping this piece of shit died on the drive? At least have a working radio if you’re going to offer a car.”
He laughs and slams his door shut after Jackson’s out. “Sorry I didn’t have any options to your taste, Princess. It’s the best I could do on short notice. Unless you wanted to have Aiden cozy up to you on your bike. He’s the one who refused to take his shiny McLaren out for the run.”
Aiden waves at the woods and lack of road around us. “My car is not going on missions in the middle of nowhere for it to get scratched to hell.”
Noah pulls up beside us in a navy truck with Elias in the passenger’s seat and parks.
“Everyone shut up,” Raegan snaps at us. “Let’s go save Portia and the others before you give away that we’re here.”
We catch up with the scout team at the perimeter in the trees to let them know we’re here and to have them watch our backs. We need to know that enemies aren’t going to be pouring in from behind us so we can keep our focus forward.
We divide into the planned groups and go to our assigned doors. We’ll be entering from different spots in the building to hopefully take out many people at once before an alarm is raised. We don’t want anyone calling for backup or we’re screwed.
Aiden’s hand grips the locked door handle at our door. It only takes a couple seconds for his gift to rearrange the metal lock to open. We slip inside, and I close and lock it behind us.
The room is dark. There’s a light on further inside that reflects enough off the walls to give us faint outlines. We creep forward one after the other. There are footsteps in the next room shuffling back and forth. A guard, most likely.
We clear the current room and peer into the next, which looks like an industrial kitchen. The guard is making a circle around the large, metal island in the middle. His hands rest on his gun as he makes another round and yawns.
As soon as he turns his back on us, I make my move.
I slip through the door and keep low, being careful not to scuff my boots on the concrete floor. Before he turns the corner, I jump and throw my arm around his throat and squeeze his airway. My gift activates to mute whatever power he may have so it’s just his body against mine.
It feels fucking good to use my gift against the enemy. To feel the drain of his gift leaving his body so that he’s an easier target. This is how I can fight. I can make a difference in the battle with GE and all of their gifted soldiers. If only I could use it on more than one goon at a time.
I use my body weight to pull him back into me and drag him back.
The guard scrambles at my arms and then reaches for his gun. Aiden grabs and disfigures it. I squeeze tighter and tighter. His body begins to sag, and I wait until I know he’s out. I switch my hold under his arms and Aiden takes his feet. We drag him to the backside of the island and Aiden uses his gift to cuff his wrists to the metal table.
“What are you doing?” Aiden shoots to me in a harsh whisper when we’re crouched down.
I shake my head and start forward. We can talk after. I promised to stick by him, but I’ve been practicing self-defense and grappling skills from Kellan. I’m not here to be babysat.
I’m here to fight.
We’re not just facing grunts anymore. Anyone who’s here knows exactly what they’re involved in. If we can incapacitate them without killing them for questioning, then fine. If not, I’ll have no regrets.
The next room is the one with the light on as it shines through the open double doors on the other side. Low murmuring tells me there are at least two people there. We approach the doorway, but stay behind the open door for cover.
He holds up four fingers, and I nod. Four men.
I pull the gun from the back of my pants and begin screwing on the suppressor from my pocket. It’s not ideal for stealth, but if all four are gifted, we could use the advantage.
As I ready my weapon and adjust my grip, Aiden pulls his whip sword out. He had to keep the metal on him light for this mission, but I hardly ever see him going into a fight without that one weapon. It’s made up of diamond-shaped metal blades hinged together and attached to a hilt so it can curve and move like a metal whip. Aiden’s gift enables him to control every part of the metal, from forcing it not to hinge and become a sword, to lengthening, shortening, sharpening, and directing exactly where it will go.
It's a dangerous weapon already, but in Aiden’s hands?
Guaranteed death for any who dare stand against him.
We share a nod and then burst into the room.
The four men are sitting at a table together in the center of the room with drinks in hand.
I fire two rounds in rapid succession on the man sitting closest to the door. Then I re-aim my gun on my next target opposite my first.
I pull the trigger twice again, but this guy has the extra seconds to react and dives to the ground. I run and jump on the table, aiming on the other side. Gunfire erupts from the semi-automatic he has through the table. I leap off of it. I shoot repeatedly, aiming for him under the table when I land before he can turn his gun on me.
The gun clatters to the ground. I fire one more time to be sure he’s gone and then check on Aiden.
His sword slashes across his opponent’s throat and then whips back down and lengthens at the same time to reach the fourth man. He tries to dodge it, but Aiden adjusts the direction and three of the diamond blades at the end plunge into him.
He whips the sword back to himself so the end curls at his feet.
Another door opens. I aim the gun at the middle of the doorway, but a blue merle Australian shepherd dog trots in instead. I sigh and lower my gun.
Elias and Noah had brought this dog along for whatever reason. I can’t imagine why someone would bring a pet on a mission, until he sniffs across the floor like a bloodhound. Elias and Noah follow him in. Noah eyes the carnage in the room with a look of mild approval. Elias, on the other hand, is pale and looks away as soon as he spots the first body.
The dog whines and paws at the floor in the corner. Elias is the fastest to move to him. Either he’s desperate to find Portia or to get out of this room. Or both.
He starts feeling along the walls and hitting it. The floors are square concrete slabs, so there are lines between each slab. The dog is pawing at one of the lines.
“Secret passage?” I guess. Aiden has these built into the Tower and our safe house, so I’m familiar with hidden spots.
“Kit smells her through there. We just need to find out how to open it.”
That’s good news. If Portia is down there, then the others will be there as well.
If they’re here at all.
Noah strides across the slab and then squats and presses down on something. The slab drops a few inches and then glides back, revealing stairs. “I checked the memories of everyone we came across to get a better layout of this place,” he explains coolly without looking up at anyone.
He doesn’t wait for any of us to make sure we’re ready or to check if anyone’s at the bottom before he rushes down. Elias and the dog take off after him. We follow behind. The hallway ends at a T cross-section.
The dog sniffs in each direction and chooses a side. “We’ll go this way; you take the other side,” Elias directs.
We head down our side of the hallway, clearing room after room. The walls are glossy white, and the floors a polished concrete. It smells like chemicals and cleaning products. Most of the rooms are empty. Either it’s too early for the staff to be here or they’re concentrated elsewhere.
Aiden grabs the handle of the last door, forcefully unlocking it as he had all the others, and pulls it open.
Our Guild members are there, along with a few others I don’t recognize. They’re sitting or lying on hard benches along either side of the room. There’s a drain along the back wall and a hose and that’s it.
“Aiden? Dane?” one of our members, Sheila, gasps.
Aiden steps into the room to look them over. I keep watch just outside the door.
“Is anyone injured?” he asks her.
“Richard might have a broken wrist. The rest are just scratches and bruises.”
“There’s a team waiting outside to get you back to the Tower. Dane and I will get you there, but we need to move fast and quiet.”
Everyone murmurs their understanding and shuffles to their feet. I take point while Aiden takes the rear. A crash sounds down the opposite end of the hallway in one of the rooms. There’s yelling and more sounds of fighting. My skin crawls with the need to go help the others, but we made it clear in our planning that each group would stick to its own goals. As soon as we have this group clear of the building, Aiden and I can come back.
I hurry up the stairs and back through the kitchen to the door we came in. The way is thankfully clear, but I can hear more fighting underway up here. I unlock the door and yank it open. One of our guys is already there with a couple of others to collect everyone. I step back and hold the door open, ushering everyone out.
I twist back to talk to Aiden and frown when my feet don’t turn with me. Something thick and tacky holds them down.
“Aiden,” I warn. The last rescue is stuck at the threshold with one foot sinking into the concrete. I shove them over, sending them toppling out the door with enough force that his foot yanks free, leaving his shoe behind.
I catch myself against the door frame before I fall onto the floor that’s starting to suck my feet down like quicksand. I slam the door shut.
