Page 75 of Resolve
I don’t sugarcoat things for Portia. I explain what happened with Creighton and his strength-sucking gift. Then the threats Charles made against me and the others; her face bleaches at the mention of me producing offspring for him to manipulate and use against the world. Followed by Kellan’s torture, the arena where we found other Guild members and reunited with Dane, Reid, and Tinsley, and then how we’d tried to crush Charles and escape.
“Holy shit balls,” she breathes when I finish. “Is Kellan okay? I know he heals and all that, but still...”
My chest aches when I remember what they’d been doing to him. And then it burns hot with anger. I clench my fists in my lap. “He hasn’t woken up yet, so I don’t know.”
She sniffs with anger and crosses her arms. “At least you know everyone who touched him is dead and buried now.”
True. That does help a little.
Everyone except Charles.
“What happened with you guys?” I ask next.
“Oh, Noah went through the memories of the staff before we went near our target,” she answers, reminding me of how Noah had once gone through my memories to vet I wasn’t involved with GE or Portia’s kidnapping. I’m still pissed at Joe for going after Portia even though he’s dead. “He found out about the guard hanging out with the gift-blocking darts, so we took him out first. We tried calling about the trap, but I think everyone was already taken because no one answered. Probably because we were dropping other teams off and got to our target later than the rest.”
All that makes sense as much as it sucks.
“Then I got the spy—Sam—to reveal himself and come with us. Elias shot the target from outside of the room, and we bolted out of there.” She shrugs, as if what they did wasn’t as incredible as it was. First off, her gift and Noah’s are both amazing and terrifying. Then to hear Elias shooting a gun and taking a life—even if she told me about it happening before—still shocks the shit out of me. Then, how easily they were able to get in and out even with all the traps set for them. They made it seem effortless. Even if I didn’t know about how they’d taken down a trafficking empire, it’s obvious they’ve worked as a team on missions like this before.
“That’s seriously incredible, Porsh. We’re lucky to have you guyson our side.”
Her cheeks flush, and she ducks her head, tucking hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I guess we’re pretty cool.”
I laugh at her sudden humility, showing me more how she feels about her men rather than their flawless mission. Otherwise, she’d have no problem boasting about their success.
The apartment door opens, and Elias enters. His brow peaks when he sees us together on the couch. “Is this a private conversation or should I wait patiently in my office for the chance to join you both?”
I look at Portia, and she shrugs. Even if we hadn’t already caught up on everything, I would have shared that information with him if he’d asked.
“You can join us,” she relays once we’ve both agreed through body language and expressions.
Elias smiles and dips his chin, ever the gentleman, then gracefully sits in one of the single upholstered chairs facing us. He reclines into the seat back, his forearms covering most of the armrests on either side, and leans into his fist. “It’s hard to believe you’re the same girl who walked into my club trying to take down Gifted Enterprise by yourself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Now you have the support of the Guild, underground gifted fighters, my team and Hype, and apparently half-siblings of yours continue to pop-up. Not to mention the four men who look ready to take a bullet for you at any moment.” His smile is warm. “I’m pleased to see you open up and let so many people in. The world is too dark and unforgiving for those who walk in it alone.”
Portia shifts the slightest amount. I wouldn’t have even noticed ifElias’s gaze didn’t snap to her immediately.
“Thank you,” I mumble, embarrassed. But he’s right. I was a lone wolf on a mission of vengeance.
But now... there are so many people I’d call friends in the Guild and with Portia. I have Aiden, Kellan, Jackson, and Dane.
“Thanks for taking a chance on a reckless girl. And for still helping her and her friends even though it’s putting all our lives in danger.”
Elias nods once. “I could see your potential when we met. And I have to say, you did not disappoint. Your gift is stronger than anyone’s I’ve ever met. Did you know one of Gifted Enterprise’s headquarters was directly above you when you destroyed it?”
“Above the arena? I’d only been trying to destroy the underground facility.”
“By our research, you decimated his nonprofit front that managed all the donations and finances for the company. As well as whatever dark secrets he’d had in that underground facility. It’s a major win against him.”
Oh. Wow.
My body tenses as I realize what that could mean. How I could have put us all in danger. “And the public? What are they saying about the randomly destroyed building?”
Elias gives me a reassuring smile. “Charles already intervened, it seems. They’re passing it off as a freak sink hole that appeared beneath the building. Because of its potential to expand, the area has been blocked off from anyone going in. I’m sure only the government agents in his pocket will clear it before someone sees something they shouldn’t.”
Well, then.
