Page 38 of Ramshackle
He teleports in front of me, and I put my other hand on his arm. Dane does the same, with his opposite hand on Raegan.
“Jack! Now!” He looks our way but doesn’t move to join us immediately.Don’t do it, Jack. Getting her home is more important than him.
His gaze falls on Raegan, and I breathe a sigh of relief. He flies to Reid with his hand out.
Something flashes above us, and I look up at a sight I’ve seen once before.
Lightning.
Then, the world disappears.
Reid transports us to the quarantine wing in front of his and Tinsley’s room. Tinsley pops out of their room when she sees us and smiles. “Hey, you’re back! Reid! Come ’ere. I wanna show you something.”
Somehow, we all manage to make the jump without crashing to the ground. Jackson and I hold Kellan to ensure he doesn’t drop or fall on Raegan. Once he’s stable, I pull my phone out and dial Cassandra. “Kell, get her on the bed in the next room,” I tell him as it rings.
“In a minute, Tins,” Reid says softly. He looks from Raegan in Kellan’s arms to me, and I know he’s waiting to make sure I don’t still need him for something. He’s been beyond helpful in the last couple of months. He follows directions well, and if there’s something he doesn’t want to do or like, he’s straightforward and honest about it. I let him and Tinsley out of their room to wander the bunker and meet everyone, though they’re still considered probationary members.
While the other three move into the next room, I start following until I hear Cassandra’s voice.
“Hello?”
“Where are you? I need you in the quarantine wing at the bunker.”
“I’m out on a job. How fast do you need me?”
Two minutes ago. I should have had her on standby just in case, but I never imagined…
“Now. As fast as possible. How far out are you?”
She curses. “I’m on the other side of town. Is it Raegan? Did you get her back?”
Cassandra is one of a handful at the Guild who knows about Raegan being captured by GE. I’ve had more than just Jack and Dane working on finding her for the last two months.
I slam the side of my fist into the wall. “It might depend on how long it takes you to get here,” I admit, my smooth tone sharpening in frustration.
“I’ll get her.” Reid steps forward, and I look over my arm at him. He’s clearly exhausted from all the jumps he’s had to do in such a short time over long distances. I had planned on using the boat and a plane to get back, but Raegan’s life is hanging in the balance.
There was no choice.
“Cassandra, tell Reid exactly where you are. He’s going to pick you up.” I pass the phone to Reid so she can give him clear directions.
He gives it back to me with a nod. “We’ll be right back.” I blink, and he’s gone.
My phone gets shoved away, and I practically run into the room where the others are. Kellan’s pacing the floor, pulling his hair back like he’s going to tie it again and again. Jackson’s sitting on one side of the bed, trying to pick the lock on the collar around Raegan’s neck, while Dane is sitting on a chair on the other side, holding her hand between his.
Kell stops when he sees me, pinning me with his blue-green eyes. “Where is she?”
“On a job. Reid will bring her, so it won’t be much longer.” I move to the bed and nudge Jackson. “Let me.” He leans to the side, and I pinch the collar between my thumb and forefinger.
“It blocks her gift,” he states, which explains the power I feel thrumming between my fingers.
It doesn’t stop me from using mine on it, though, so the collar carefully splits apart on one side and curls away from her skin. Once it’s clear of her, I step back with it in my hand. On her neck,there’s a dark pink line with some red spots where it rubbed her skin raw.
Jackson strokes the hair from her face, and fresh anger spews in my chest when I see the bruise on her cheek and jaw. It’s a tiny fraction of everything I see. Like the bleeding welts on her back crossed over older scars that they never bothered to heal. The blood dribbling out of her nose and mouth concerns me the most. Is it from what caused the bruise, or does she have internal bleeding?
Kellan releases a wordless roar and punches the wall. “She’s taking too long!”
Reid and Cassandra pop into the room at that second. “I’m here! Where—Oh, shit.” She rushes to the bed where Raegan’s lying on her stomach with her head to the side.
