Page 124 of Ramshackle
I’m not looking for reasoning or logic right now.
I want action.
I glare at Kellan, debating throwing a fist at that smirk, but the asshole would take it like a brick wall and wind up grinning more.
Even if I muted his gift first.
Prick.
Turning away from him to fight that temptation seems like the best option, so that’s what I do. I stalk over to the wall and press my head and forearm against it to cool down.
I know I’m getting too worked up. If I let my emotions run wild, I’ll fuck this up, and the only person I can blame will be myself. I take a long, slow breath.
This is going to work.
Another breath.
We’re going to capture him and get answers on Royce. On GE’s president.
Another breath.
We’re going to end this war once and for all.
“Hey. You, okay?” Raegan pokes her head under mine at an angle, her blonde hair tumbling behind her to expose every line, every soft curve of her face. Her vibrant blue eyes swim with concern, and my gut reaction is to reassure her.
“Yeah.” I lift my head and turn to her, scratching the back of my head out of nerves to keep my hands occupied. “But I’ll be better once we’ve got the cuffs on him.”
She reaches tentatively for my hand. I don’t move it. As much as I want to reach out and take it, I’m still doing my best not to push anything between us. I’ve already admitted what I want. What happens next is up to her.
And she wound up sleeping with Aiden instead, a dark part of me snarks.
She takes my hand, and I squeeze it gently. She smiles, and it takes all my willpower to keep from tugging her into my chest, from wrapping her in my arms and holding tight. I want to feel her strength, and I want to share mine.
There’s knocking at the door, and her hand drops. Aiden opens it to let Reid inside.
“Sorry I’m late,” he speaks evenly, without an ounce of actual apology in his tone. He scans the room, stops on Raegan, and then shifts to me right beside her. It hasn’t passed my notice, or the others’, how he seems to watch her.
“Here’s your comm. Make sure you get somewhere close but out of sight until one of us gives the signal.” Aiden hands Reid the earpiece. He looks to me, and I offer him a short nod.
I’m ready.
Reid brings us to a rooftop in the heart of the city. We’re a couple blocks away from the meeting location in case Thorne plans to scope out the area first. Jackson does just that as soon as we arrive to make sure Thorne doesn’t have backup of his own hanging around.
The rest, aside from Reid and I, head out to meet Thorne first.
Waiting is the worst.
I’d rather be walking with them or doing any-fucking-thing else than pacing this rooftop and trying to be patient. Reid’s settled himself against something, his eyes closed and arms crossed as if this isn’t the worst time to fall asleep. We have to be ready to move at a moment’s notice because, with Thorne, every second matters.
“Hey!” I shout at him. “You can sleep when we get back.”
His eyes open and lock on me, but he doesn’t say anything.
As usual, the guy’s harder to read than anyone I’ve ever met.
“What’s this?” Thorne’s voice echoes through the earpiece, and I stop moving. He gives a sinister laugh. “I’d asked for information, but having you appear instead is a surprise.”
“I heard you’ve been asking around about me,” Jackson replies.
