Page 129 of Ravage
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.
