Page 17 of Resolve
“All the security in the world isn’t going to make a difference unless we find a way to block those two gifts.”
“Cibrina’s been doing her own research and working with Reid and Tinsley.”
Aiden taps a message into his phone. A few seconds later, he states, “Cibrina’s with them in their apartment. We’ll go check on their progress.”
The door to Raegan’s room opens. I turn to look on instinct, and Aiden does the same. She strolls down the hallway, followed by Kellan and Jack. Aiden had suggested that she empty her bag into the dresser drawers after breakfast. Even though the bathroom’s not finished yet, I think he wants to see her feel more at home here with her own space.
“I knew that wouldn’t take long,” she says, running her fingers through the tangles in her hair now that it’s dried.
“She only filled two drawers,” Kellan remarks, crossing his arms and giving Aiden a look. “Workout clothes in one, and everything else in the other.”
“Don’t forget the dresses,” she points out. “I had a few of those that went in the closet. I think that’s plenty. The rest of my stuff is still in Aiden’s bathroom until mine’s done.” She casts her ocean gaze over my screens, then looks between me and Aiden. “What did we miss?”
“We’re going to Reid’s apartment to see what we can do about Charles being able to teleport here whenever he wants,” I answer first, folding my arms behind my head and leaning back.
Her brow furrows, nose scrunching with displeasure. “I guess it’s too easy to hope he’ll ignore us for three weeks and we’ll kill him before then?”
“Yes,” Aiden immediately responds. “Hope all you like, but we’ll prepare for the worst. He’s already been a step ahead of us with the zombie attack at the beach house and sneaking into the Tower for Harvey.” Rae’s expression falls at the reminder of her half-brother. “Keeping him out of the Tower and away from Guild members at this point is our top priority.”
“Does the rest of the Guild know? About Harvey?” she asks tentatively.
Kellan clears his throat, shifting on his feet. “Cibrina told them this morning. We’ve just finished cleaning up from the attack, so everyone’s taking a break today to process it all.”
Raegan nods slowly. “Can I see his apartment?”
Kell and I share a look as I lower my arms. “Most of it’s been cleaned,” I tell her softly.
“What are you looking for?” Aiden questions.
“I’m not sure exactly. Maybe something left behind by Charles or Harvey. Didn't his personal things get moved to that apartment? He could have something from his time before the Guild.”
She’s leaving something out, but none of us pushes for it.
The guilt of his death is sitting with each of us. We’d promised to protect him. He was still a Guild member. Still a part of this family we’ve been building, even if he had made some wrong choices to spy on the Guild for Charles. Hell, he’d been part of the Guild longer than any of us, coming from Thorne’s time.
Aiden swipes his thumb across his phone. “We’ll go with you, and then to Reid’s after.” He types something out—probably letting Cibrina know—then pockets it.
Harvey’s temporary apartment is on the thirty-third floor. When we arrive, Aiden plugs in the master key information into his phone to unlock the door.
“Brawn before beauty.” Kellan shoves his way to the front, flashing Rae a grin and a wink. He always does that—acts like a clown to distract her. But the way his shoulders tighten tells me he’s alreadyslipped into his protective mode for her.
I feel the same way as we walk down the dark corridor toward the living area. Kell and Fabian cleaned it as much as they could with the supplies we have, but... there was no getting the deeper stains out. The smell of blood and death is still here, lurking beneath the harsher chemical scents from the cleaning supplies.
Raegan’s sandwiched between Aiden and Jackson as we file down the hallway, and part of me is tempted to take her hand and drag her out. She doesn’t need to see this. I’ll search the apartment for clues or anything left behind if that’s what she wants.
The room opens to the kitchen and living area and, before I can act on that impulse, we all spread out to see the area clearly.
Red stains the carpet in faded blotches, moving in a clear path to the couches, and then to the kitchen, where even the grout is crimson in one area. I look at Raegan. Her gaze follows the evidence of the fight, her face pinched with set determination while her eyes tell a different story. It’s that sorrow that has me reaching for her hand to squeeze it.
She turns a sad smile to me, squeezing my hand back and letting go. “I'll start in that room.” Rae points to the doorway on the other side of the kitchen and leaves without another word. I debate following her to help, but Jack’s already on her heels.
Damn.
“I’ll go through the bedroom,” Aiden says, striding to another room.
Kell goes into the kitchen, leaving me with the living area.
Great.
