Page 9 of Raze
“On that cheerful note,” I begin, standing up. “I’m leaving. Good afternoon, good night, good riddance, whatever you want for a goodbye.” Jackson stands behind me and Aiden moves in front of me. “Uh, what are you doing?”
“You’re staying with us now,” Aiden says calmly, as if that isn’t the craziest thing we’ve said to each other this afternoon. I scoff incredulously and look around at the others for backup, but no one argues with him. I stop on Dane, ready for him to argue, but his jaw tenses, and his lips stay shut.
“Nope. Nuh-uh. I need my space, and I do my own thing. You already know I’m shit at following instructions, so it’s much better that we go our separate ways again. I appreciate your help with Portia, but now that temporary alliance has ended.”
I push to move past him, but he bands his arm around the front of my waist, holding me back. “I saw how Vera reacted to seeing you. You’re just as much a target as Dane is. Only Vera wants you dead, and Gordon is still out there. We stick together now.”
I’m shocked that Danestilldoesn’t pipe in on any of this and give him a look for it. He raises his eyebrows and smirks at me.
Asshole.
“Portia and Elias aren’t at Hype anymore, either,” Jackson reminds me, but I think he’s saying it more to fill in the rest of the group. “You won’t have as much protection there as you will here.”
Aiden’s eyes narrow at me. I don’t know why. It’s not like I owed telling him that. I shoot Jack a quick glare over my shoulder and then shrug like it’s no big deal.
“He’s also asked her to keep her distance from Hype until things settle,” he adds behind me.
Oh. Right. I remember him saying that, but somehow it didn’t click that it meant I’d have nowhere to sleep. Just that I wouldn’t be hanging out at the nightclub for a while.
Damn.
“Typical,” Aiden responds, like there’s a bad taste in his mouth. But I don’t think it’s on my behalf. “He’s willing to hide gifted from the world, but as soon as he’s faced with conflict, he runs with his tail between his legs.”
“He’s looking out for Portia,” I jump to his defense. Elias has still done more for me than anyone else has, and I won’t forget it that easily.
“He’s a coward,” Aiden replies venomously. “Regardless, you’re not safe there. You’ll stay with us and lie low for a bit until we figure out our next move.”
Fat chance they’ll be able to stop me in the middle of the night, so I decide it’s better to give in now and sneak out later. I really could use the nap and then I’ll peace out after snagging some food, too. “Fine. Where do I sleep?”
“My room,” Aiden answers without hesitation. “Since Dane is otherwise occupied on the couch, I’ll take his room and you can sleep in mine.” I open my mouth to argue but he continues, “Or you could stay on the couch with Dane. I’m sure he’d bethrilledto share with you.”
“Fine,” I say through clenched teeth. I shove past him to the doorway where I’d seen him naked last night just out of a shower, assuming it’s the room I want, and slam the door behind me.
Gordon’s stylus taps furiously against his tablet while he frowns at me with disapproval. I try again, gritting my teeth through the pain of using my gift as I fight to break the metal pole in my grip. Another crack splits through it.
“Enough!” Gordon yanks the pole away and tosses it to the floor. I jump back from his roughness, but he closes the space in a single step and grabs my arm. “If this is the effort I get for keeping you alive, then I’ll cut my losses and be done with you here.”
“I’m trying, I swear! It hurts—”
“Don’t lie to me, pet. You didn’t bat an eyelash over killing your friend. Or are you saying it’s easier for you to use your gift on people?” He releases me and scratches his chin. “Yes, that may be worth a try.”
“No. Please, I can’t do that.”
He sneers as he looks me up and down. “My patience is running thin. Either you do exactly as I say without complaintor—”
His phone rings and, frowning, he answers. “What? I’m busy—Oh?” His lips twist up as his eyes land on me again.
An icy shiver snakes down my spine.
“Yes. Yes, I’ll be right there to take care of it.” He pockets his phone. “Good news, pet. You get one more chance to prove to me you can be useful. Fail this, though, and there will be no more chances. I’ll hand you over to the lab.”
I squeeze my trembling hands into fists, hoping he doesn’t notice my fear. This is it. If I fail him one more time, I’ll be hooked up to a machine for the rest of my life like that room of gifted prisoners he’d shown me. There will be no opportunity for me to find a way to free the others after that. And that’s my only goal now.
Taking a deep breath, I ask, “What do I need to do?”
Gordon smiles, and my skin crawls. “You’re going to clean up your own mess while showing me you can be a good pet for GE. For me.”
He places his hand against the small of my back, and I hurry forward, trying to keep his touch from me by keeping a step ahead of where he’s guiding us out of the gym and through the corridor. I’m so focused on avoiding his hand that I don’t keep track of where we’re going until he stops us. We’re in an office of sorts, based on the desks, computers, and people sitting around.
