Page 73 of Resolve
It’s every-fucking-where.
All of it calls to me, softly begging to be touched. To bend to my will. To turn into something more.
Goddamn it.
I pushed my gift too far, and now I have to figure out how toignore or quiet these signals so I’m not driven mad by them. It was useful when I needed to find more metal in a time of need.
I don’t need it just to get up for a glass of water.
I skip the bathroom and water, heading for the living room instead. Coffee it is.
“You should still be sleeping.” Jackson’s voice stops me at the doorway.
“I’ll sleep when I'm dead,” I counter grumpily.
“Says the man I saved from death.”
I pause, then admit slowly, “I don’t think I could fall asleep right now if I tried.”
Jack studies me with a cocked head and observant eyes. “You strengthened your gift.”
I nod. “Aside from the new sixth sense of metal I’ve acquired, I need to see how the Guild members have settled in and prepare for their stay here.”
He smirks, then lies back down.
I don’t know why he backed off, but I don’t wait to find out.
Cibrina answers on the second ring. “Aiden? I thought you’d still be sleeping.”
“How many injured members are there and what’re their statuses?”
“Most of the strike teams were restrained and only had blood drawn. They’ll be better with food, water, and rest. The ones in the arena who were injured have all been through their first round of healing between Cassandra and Holly. There were broken bones, internal bleeding, stab wounds, abrasions, and electrical burns. It’ll take another session or two for a few of them as well as time to rest, the healers included. Evie is in that group, and we’re waiting for herto wake up.”
She takes an audible breath. “Greg and Skylar—both Pits fighters—Parker and Lyla didn’t make it. Reid brought them back.”
I close my eyes and scrub a hand over my face. Four dead.
It’s unrealistic to think we could take down Gifted Enterprise without losses, but that doesn’t make it easier. Not when I’m supposed to protect them.
Skipping the cream and sugar, I let the scalding coffee burn my mouth and throat to see if I can cut through the headache and loss with a hit of caffeine. “What do we still need for the Guild? Has a hold been put on any job requests?”
“Yes, Quinn updated our website and the automated phone message if anyone tries to call. The official word is that the company is temporarily closed while the unofficial word Penn has spread online is that the company took its employees on a long vacation.”
“Great. Are there adequate kitchens downstairs for Miranda and her staff to work in?”
Cibrina hesitates.
“What is it?”
“There is no kitchen downstairs. Just a break room.”
I close my eyes, breathing through the pounding headache and incessant flickers telling me about all the metal nearby.
“Aiden. You should really get more rest. We can discuss this tomorrow or the next day,” Cibrina coaxes.
“What are we going to do about food? Income? Bills? Security? I’ll sleep when I know the Guild is taken care of.”
“Should we meet with Elias? He might have more insight on what’s available here for security.” And the financial concerns, but thankfully she doesn’t voice that admission.
