Page 66 of Remnants
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“What else?” Aiden presses on as if that last piece of information wasn’t already terrible news for us.
“He’s charming. He can win people over with a single conversation. It’s how so many in the government are in his pocket. How all those children can disappear without a paper trail, or murders become accidents or tragedies instead.” Reid rubs the back of his neck. “Not to mention, he’s a master manipulator with control over his emotions. You won’t be able to get him by making him angry to trip him up. The guy’s only modes are relaxed and smiling or disappointed and straight-faced. He’ll kill you without hesitation in either.”
“You sound afraid of him,” Jackson muses.
Reid’s jaw tightens. “Of course, I am. You’d be a fool not to be.”
Jack smiles chillingly. “I can acknowledge his strengths without being afraid of them. Everyone still has a weakness.”
“He doesn’t. There’s no one he cares about other than himself. He’s not impulsive or emotional. And he has six gifts at his disposal, which he masters as quickly as if he’d been born with them. He’s a goddamn prodigy.”
“He wants Dane,” Jackson throws out, and Dane glares at him.
“Thanks,” he snarks.
Jack shrugs.
“To a point,” Reid answers. “He’d never risk himself or GE over anyone. If he feels cornered when it comes to Dane, he’d ratherkill him for the emotional blow it will have on Raegan than allow someone to threaten him.”
“He sounds like a real peach,” I grumble.
Dane’s frowning hard at his palm as if he can see and mentally curse his own gift. I can see the anger and frustration in him building through his tensed arms, tight jaw, and the look in his eyes. They’re like windows straight to his heart, overflowing with emotion that’s impossible to contain.
I get up and take the hand he’s glaring at, holding it in mine. He smiles tightly, trying to pretend he’s fine but failing miserably. “It’s alright,” I murmur just for him. “He’s never getting close enough to reach you again,” I promise. “I’ll break the world to pieces if he tries.”
A genuine smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. “You’re such a badass. I fucking love you.” He kisses my cheek, but my heart’s too occupied skipping and then performing somersaults in my chest for me to react.
Did he just—
“I’m confused,” Reid says, bringing me back to the infirmary. “I thought you were dating Aiden.”
Kellan chuckles and opens his big mouth. I rush to cut in first before he says something mortifying. “I am. I’m with all of them.”
Reid’s expression hardens. “What?” He looks at each of the guys, his face darkening as that information sinks in. “No.” He throws the blanket and sheet off him like he’s preparing to grab me and leave.
Aiden stands to block him. Dane squeezes my hand, and Jackson sits up, a knife flipping between the fingers of one hand. Kell’s grinsharpens to bared teeth, his eyes locked on Reid.
“Excuse me? What do you mean, no?” I demand sharply.
“I mean, no. I’m not letting these guys—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” I interrupt, stepping forward and sticking a finger at him. “Ijustfound out you’re my half-brother last week. You have no say in anything in my life. This ismychoice. You don’t even know me.”
“I did once. I was around when you were born. I played with you when you were little before your mother took you and ran. You’re my baby sister I looked after for four years.”
I don’t remember any of that.
But I don’t remember anything before my time with Grams, so I’m not surprised.
“That doesn’t change anything. Look. I’m happy you think of me as a sister. I think I might like to have a brother.Ifyou aren’t a pain in the ass about it. So, are we going to have a problem, or can you respect my decision as a grown-ass adult?”
Reid’s hands fist, his jaw working as he stares at the group of us with a new understanding.
I silently will him to let this go. I’m shocked he’d been upset about it at all, considering I didn’t think I meant much to him. Harvey had said that he knew about me, but we’d never met. Knowing that Reid had been around me as a toddler, I guess, makes some things different. For him, at least, since I remember nothing of him. I feel a little bit guilty that I don’t, considering his concern for me. If he’d played with me and looked out for me, I should have some memory of him buried somewhere.
Finally, he sits, and the room relaxes. “Alright.”
