Page 95 of Remnants
“It’s someone with the gift of immortality. One of their newer members mentioned meeting someone who’d claimed to have it.”
There’s a brief pause before Charles asks expectantly, “And?”
Fuck. NowI’msweating for Harvey. I grip my hands in my lap tohide my sudden stress. Dane notices and slips his hand over mine, offering a gentle squeeze. “He’ll be okay,” he whispers.
Aiden’s watching the speaker with a stern expression, and even Kellan and Jack have moved closer as we all zero in on the conversation happening hundreds of miles away.
“And…uh…Reid…he said you might be into that—wantthat, I mean. So, I wanted to report it to you in case he was telling the truth.”
Charles chuckles. “He said that, did he? And I’m to believe that you’re invited to these meetings after betraying them?”
“Oh. No, no. They don’t invite me. I’m still spying on them using my gift…like you asked me to. And they think I was just a witness to what happened with Claudia. I told them we’d been seeing each other in secret, and we both got attacked but she protected me. Kellan showed up right after it happened and I was still in shock.”
“Interesting you say that, considering the information from within the Guild has been lacking.”
“I didn’t think it was a good idea to text you while you were there in case they saw it. The immortal is the first big news I have to share since you left. And I told you about the others from that fight club who joined, too,” he presses, a hint of desperation coloring his tone.
There’s a long pause before Charles speaks again. “I see.”
I squeeze Dane’s hand and hold my breath, my eyes glued to the speaker.
“I have to say, Harvey, I’m impressed,” Charles finally responds, and my breath expels in a whoosh. “I thought your cover had been blown, and they’d have locked you up. But not only were you ableto convince them of your innocence, you’ve continued to gather valuable information from them in a time of particular importance.”
Harvey’s voice is paper thin. “Thank you, sir.”
“I’ll keep you at the Guild for the next couple of months. They won’t be around much longer than that anyway, but you can keep me informed of any major developments with that immortal or any planned attacks on us until then.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good work. Your siblings would be proud.”
“Can I…see them?”
“They’re all on assignment still, like you. Your mother is due with another in three months. If you help me with the Guild, then you’ll be back home in time for their birth. I’ll give you a few months break to be with them before your next assignment. Now, hurry back.”
“Yes, sir.” A door opens and closes.
Dane releases a loud sigh. “That nervous fucker made it.”
“For now,” Aiden remarks. “But it sounds like Charles is working on something big that we need to know about as soon as possible.”
“He was talking about the cuffs and collars at first, right?” I chime in. “Reid said he’s been making a ton of those, and now it sounds like he’s trying to make them look pretty for people.”
“If they’re just being used on secluded islands or in secret labs, why would they need to look fancy?” Kellan drawls.
Aiden’s expression is grave. “We’ll know that answer when we find out who he’s selling them to, as well as how widespread this is. My concern is his end goal with this. Is it for money, or an attempt to find and control every gifted person?”
There’d be no need for brainwashing and training, then. Or maybe this is the alternative for the ones who are strong enough to fight it.
A thud hits the middle of the office. Reid surveys the room, his brow furrowed and lips pressed in a flat line. Once he finds Dane, he strides over quickly, leaving Harvey groaning on the floor.
His hands slap on the desk. “I need you to pull up an address,” he demands sharply. “382 Wisteria Circle.”
Dane frowns at the command, but a nod from Aiden makes him complete the request in seconds.
“Is this Royce’s beach house?” Aiden asks as the screen zooms over a beachfront property in a cape.
“You could have ruined everything!” Harvey cries, rising to his feet. He stumbles over to Reid, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him to look at him. “Are you insane?! The whole mission…just…” He makes an exploding sound and motion with his hands, then jabs Reid in the chest with his finger. “That wasmylife on the line!”
