Page 132 of Remnants
Aiden glares at me. “You’re a real prick in my ass, Kellan.”
I bow mockingly. “At your service.”
He stands and stalks around the desk, snatching the file from my hand but proceeding from the room to the elevator. I follow him like a guard on his heels to make sure he reaches his destination withoutinterference. We don’t say another word to each other the whole ride up and into the Loft.
The others look up from the table when we enter, Raegan and Dane both appearing relieved and Jackson looking like…well, Jackson.
Aiden drops the file on the table and sits in his seat where a sandwich is ready for him.
“Eat.” I jab my finger at his lunch and then take my seat opposite his.
He sighs, caving to a single bite and swallowing before diving right in. “Our offshore bank account with most of our funds is frozen pending an investigation. With fewer jobs available and some members too freaked out to go on any, more than half of them have missed their last rent payment. We’re running on whatever we have in our domestic account, but with the money we’ve needed to counter Charles’s other attacks and no real income coming in for the Guild, it’s quickly being eaten away. I’m going through our assets to sell what we can and don’t need, but that’s only a short-term fix.”
Dane curses. “I can try to find money elsewhere. Go back to some of the high-paying jobs on the dark web.”
“What happens if we run out of money?” Raegan asks.
“If we can’t pay our utilities, then those will go first. No water, no heat, and no electricity or power. None of that means no cooking and no food for our members, who already can’t afford food because they aren’t making any money,” Aiden answers after finishing another bite.
Raegan chews on her lip. “You told me Elias owns the Tower?”She waits for his confirming nod. “He wouldn’t kick us out if we don’t make a lease payment or two. Maybe he can help us with the utilities, too, so we can focus on buying food.”
Relying on Elias Thorton is thelastthing Aiden would want to do. I’m surprised when he doesn’t immediately dismiss it out of pride.
“That’s something I’ve already considered if it gets down to that. The most recent mess is the criminal investigation that’s been launched into the disappearance and possible murder of Thorne…with me as the prime suspect.”
“What?!” I demand, hitting my fist into the table at the same time as Dane exclaims, “How?”
“Charles sent Thorne’s thumbs to Detective Unger with an anonymous tip that I killed him for the Guild.”
“Oh, fuck,” Raegan breathes, her hand flying to her mouth.
Dane scrubs his hand through his hair. “That bastard…how the fuck are we supposed to fight him if we’re too busy defending ourselves from everything else he’s throwing at us?”
“That’s the point,” Aiden replies, leaning back in his chair and ignoring the rest of his sandwich. “He’s trying to wear me down so we can’t interfere with whatever he’s working on.”
“It’s working,” Jackson comments, head tilted as he regards Aiden, who frowns at him.
“Yes, I’m aware.” Returning his gaze to the rest of us, Aiden continues, “I’ve been trying to put metaphorical tape on each issue as it arises, thinking there might be an end for us to make our move, but Charles clearly has no intention of slowing down these attacks.”
I squeeze my fist, eager to aim it at GE. “So, we fight. Aiden gets a good night’s sleep, and then we move on to Royce. We have the most intel on him.”
“I know he’s on the kill list, but does killing him help Aiden at all?” Raegan questions.
Aiden shakes his head. “No. But it’s a step closer to defeating GE. We can use all the progress we can get.”
“Holt and the portal girl have been around the necro’s beach house pretty often,” Dane muses. “We might be able to get those three out in one shot. Then it’s just the Board members, elects, and Charles.”
That doesn’t seem so bad.
Aiden’s phone rings, halting the conversation. His expression darkens when he stares at the screen. “Charles,” he answers, tapping the speaker button so we can all hear.
“Ah, I’m glad I caught you during such a busy time. How are you holding up?”
I grind my teeth with the effort to keep my mouth shut, wishing for the second time I could wrap my hands around his throat to stop him from talking.
“I know you’re calling for more than checking on the baseless accusations made against me and the Guild,” Aiden states.
Charles chuckles. “Oh, how could I have forgotten about those. No, no. I figured you might be in mourning.”
