Page 12 of Remnants
Aiden, Jackson, and Reid.
Aiden immediately scans the room, his hard stare gathering as much information as possible in seconds before he speaks. “Are you Gifted Enterprise’s president?” he directs to Charles.
I grab Dane’s hoodie to keep him from continuing with our plan now that the others are here. Surely, if we combine our strength, we can take him down without risking Dane. He frowns at me, but doesn’t fight it.
Jackson is by my side before I see him move, his hand gently angling my face up as he inspects what’s likely a blooming bruise on my cheek.
Charles lowers his arm and regards Aiden with mild interest. “I am.”
Aiden draws his whip sword free. “Good. Then we can end this here with your death or surrender, your choice,” he threatens, his voice smooth and matter-of-fact.
My DNA donor laughs freely. “You think too highly of yourselves. I didn’t become president by batting my eyelashes, Mr. Guild Master. But I’ll gladly show you the difference between you and me.”
“Was it him?” Jack asks. His thumb strokes over the bruise, and I restrain a wince when it stings. His eyes flash with anger, telling me I didn’t do as great a job at hiding it as I thought I had. I nod in response to his original question.
“Get Kell first.” Charles’s attention is firmly locked on Aiden, so this is the perfect time for Jackson to sweep in and out with Kellan. “He stole Kell’s gift somehow, so he won’t be easy to fight.”
Aiden stares back at Charles, unimpressed. “Before we begin, what have you done to my Guild members?”
“Nothing but take back what was rightfully ours,” he responds, and Aiden’s jaw tightens.
“No person rightfullybelongsto anyone else—”
Charles snaps his head around. “Is that you, son?” he interrupts, casually dismissing what Aiden’s saying with his gaze now pinned on Reid, who had dropped to one knee when they arrived.
Reid’s hands curl to fists, but still, he doesn’t stand.
Is he injured?
And, also…son?!
Does that make him my brother?
“Don’t call me that,” Reid bites out, pain laced in his voice. “I’ve cut all ties with you. Where’s Tinsley?”
Charles’s smile is sickly sweet, like he’s taking great pleasure in what he says next. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your girl.”
Reid struggles to his feet. His face contorts with pain at the action, but he keeps moving, taking one step after another toward Charles. “Give her back. Give. Her. BACK!” Drops of blood trail behind him from a bloody gash stretched diagonally across his back.
“You had such promise, Reid. I thought you’d be my right hand until you met that girl. I’m disappointed in you becoming infatuated with some cunt.”
He roars, leaping at Charles with flying fists that the man easilyevades with a chuckle. Reid collapses to the ground, his chest heaving and discomfort tightening his face.
“It’s not the motivation I’d hoped for, but it’ll do. You need to be punished for turning your back on me, and unfortunately for your girl, she’s the price you’ll pay. I’m sure when you see her again, you’ll come around. We've made exceptional enhancements in our programming department since you left.”
Aiden moves in front of Reid and swings his sword at Charles, who once again dodges, but Jackson strikes him from behind.
Charles falls a single step forward, then straightens to square off, facing them both at once. The wound on his back heals instantly, adding another area of impenetrable scales. “That should have been a single death blow if you were serious,” he critiques. “Now, I know you’re in the fight, too.”
Dane nudges me. I drag my attention away from them to find Kellan at our feet. Gasping at the bullet holes still in his chest, I drop to my knees and reach for the nearest one. Dane squats to do the same with another one.
Charles frowns, his eyes searching the area where Kellan had been until he finds him with Dane and me. Aiden and Jack are both mid-attack when he makes a motion with his hands, and it almost looks like they hit an invisible shield as they’re repelled back. He casts one more glance at Reid. “I’d love to stay and keep testing my new gift, but I’m already late for an appointment. I’m sure you all understand.”
He disappears in the blink of an eye.
“Wasn’t his gift—”
“Almost forgot something,” Charles’s voice appears on the other side of Dane.
