Page 121 of Resolve
Raegan
I’msodistractedbythe text and Alice’s answer that the slight squeak of the door opening catapults my heart from my chest. I whirl around to see if we’ve been caught. It doesn’t cross my mind in that second of surprise that we’re still invisible as long as we’re quiet. My thoughts are too stuck onshit, shit, shit.
Aiden frowns at me when he enters. The shadows caused by the dim lighting only make him look more intimidating, but I breathe a sigh of relief when I realize it’s him. Dane tries to wave him over to talk, but Aiden shakes his head and points to the floor. He’s saying to wait until we’re in the tunnels.
Kellan and Jack arrive at the same time, anti-teleportation devices in hand.
Finally, we can go.
Aiden doesn’t let anyone talk until we're on the other side of the bunker in the tunnel that takes us to the bar.
Kell leans his arm on my head, and I swat him away. “Were you the one causing all the ruckus, beautiful?”
“Nope. Not me,” I reply, casting a side-eye to Dane, who, in turn,throws a glare at Alice.
“Don’t look at me. Ask Harriet the Spy,” he grumps.
Alice returns his glare. “Are you so old you forgot my name?”
Dane drags a hand down his face, then slides it through his hair. “Never mind. The professional teenage spy here touched something she shouldn’t have.”
“Hey, you said it was fine,” Alice argues.
“I said that so you’d stop panicking and making things worse.”
She gives him the middle finger.
Aiden sighs. “Let’s hope it’s not reported in, or Charles doesn’t bother with it. Nothing says it was us.”
“Was that why the guy on the radio called my patrol guy downstairs?” Kell asks, and I wince.
“Oh, yeah. That one was me,” I admit. “But he didn’t see us. He ran after the noise from Dane and Alice.”
“Which was before Alice’s phone blew up with text messages from Charles,” Dane adds.
“What were they?” Aiden inquires.
“A threat.” She looks over her shoulder at the rest of our siblings. “He has Tobias.”
The others’ expressions are divided between fear, resignation, and anger as three of them speak at once.
“—should’ve gone for him first—”
“—no way he can handle Dad—”
“—we’re all screwed—”
Aiden’s phone rings while they bicker. He holds his hand up, silencing the others.
“Who is it?” I ask, craning to readUnknown Numberflash on thescreen.
“Charles,” Aiden answers, immediately switching the call to speakerphone.
“Guild Master,” Charles greets, his pleasant tone icier than usual. “It’s time we end this, don’t you think?”
Aiden’s smile is malicious. “I couldn’t agree more. If you’re calling with the terms for your surrender, however, it’s too late. We’re coming for you, Charles.”
I wait for the GE president’s laugh that usually follows whenever he or his company is threatened.
