Page 101 of Resolve
Reid opens the door to reveal the car.
Aiden frowns, turning to Elias. “We didn’t want flashy. We’re trying tonotstand out.”
Elias slides his hands into his slacks and offers a polite smile. “You asked for something that comfortably seats eleven. Considering the height of some of the group, there needed to be ample space in the back seats as well. This is what’s available with those requirements. Unless you’d prefer I find you a short school bus instead.”
Kellan howls with laughter, and Dane scoffs, pushing him to the door. “Shut up and get in. You’re driving.”
Aiden’s stone-faced when he appraises Elias with his dark stare. I grab his arm and smile at Elias. “Thank you,” I emphasize sweetly, “for everything you’ve done for us, Elias. We really appreciate it and are in your debt.”
He bows with a hand over his heart. “For you, Raegan, it’s always a pleasure.”
Aiden’s arm bulges in my grasp, and Portia giggles behind me. I shove him toward the car while Portia and Noah say their goodbyes to Elias.
Sam keeps shuffling his feet while he waits for the next step. I offer him a warm smile. “Do you want to take the back row?” The further away he is from the crowd, the more comfortable I think he’ll be. “I’ll sit in front of you and you can squeeze my arm or shoulder if you need anything.”
He nods twice, his arms crossed and gaze locked on the ground.
Cibrina smiles and waves us off as we pile into the massive black vehicle with shining chrome accents that reflect the neon lights of the city in their pre-dawn glow. The interior is just as luxurious with leather seats, plenty of legroom, and air control per seat.
Kellan whistles from the driver’s seat, where a screen the length of the dash gives him all the information he could need on the car’s stats. “Goddamn. This isfancyfancy.” He strokes his hands along the curve of the wheel. “Let’s hope they didn’t waste all the money on looks.”
He pushes a button, and the engine roars to life. “Buckle up, buttercups!”
“Who the fuck are you calling buttercup?” Alice snarks from the first row window seat. Reid made Tinsley switch with him, so he’s between the two girls. I don’t think Alice can or would do anything to Tinsley, but he’s nothing if not overprotective of her.
Portia invites Sam to sit with her and Noah in the back row, but Noah stealthily maneuvers himself between them, so Sam’s in the window seat and Portia’s on the aisle.
Jack, Dane, and I are in the middle row. It’s roomy as heck, even sandwiched between the other two rows. There’s plenty of room to stretch my legs and between us. The headspace is so far above mine that I can almost stand.
“They’re going to think someone famous is in here,” Dane mutters as he discovers a hidden tray on one side of his seat.
I don’t disagree. It looks like an SUV limo with full tints like people with money and power ride around in.
“If we need to teleport it back, will you be able to move it?” Aiden asks Reid from the passenger seat.
Reid considers quietly, then replies, “Even if I can, it won’t be easy. It’ll be draining.”
Aiden nods. “If it comes to that, we’ll abandon it.”
Kellan snorts as he drives us away from Hype to the nearest highway. “You just want to come back to Elias without it.”
“I would never be so petty.”
Dane rolls his eyes and smirks at me. I lean toward him, and he automatically bends so I can whisper in his ear. “Only this group could be so unserious at the start of a big mission.”
His smirk spreads to a grin and a low chuckle. “Gotta have some fun between fights of life and death.” As soon as the words leave him, his expression darkens. Then, as if catching himself, he forces a small smile for me.
I squeeze his hand. He grazes his thumb over mine.
“You don’t have to pretend you’re okay with me. I’d rather know exactly what you’re feeling.”
“I am okay. Sometimes it just creeps up on me. Then I remind myself this was what she wanted. GE isn’t hurting her anymore.”
I nod, pride and sadness blending in my chest to a warm ache.
He checks the time on his phone. “We’ve a while until we get there if you want to rest on me and Jack.”
It's just before three in the morning—when the Hype bar and nightclub usually closes for the night but Elias had them close an hour earlier because of this.
