Page 51 of Resolve
Charles’s stare lands briefly on Stephens’s and Creighton’s bodies before touching on each of the guys and finally landing on me.
He smiles and addresses all of us.
“I’d been expecting an attack from the Guild on my board if they were going to reject my offer. They’re low-hanging fruit, so to speak. The easy targets because of their public statuses. I had Bea prepareportals at their homes and workplaces, ready to adjust and activate should she see anyone of alarm. It was one of many plans I had in place should the Guild be arrogant enough to fight back. Your predictability has become your downfall once again.
“It’s almost disappointing you fell for one of the simplest traps. And yet, you’ve somehow still managed to surprise me.” His eyes settle on me. “How did you survive?”
I press my lips together, running through my options. The guys are still locked up. If I throw them the key, would they be able to unlock it in time? Or should I hold onto it and slip it to them when he’s not looking, so they can escape later?
But I’m no match for him without my gift.
His eyes slide to the other three in the cell. Jackson and Aiden aren’t in great shape. Even if their strength has returned like mine, their injuries are still dangerous if they don’t get help. Kellan is the only one mostly unharmed.
“I presume one of them helped you. Youandthe Guild Master I’d killed.” He holds his hand out, and Stephens’s gun flies into his hand to aim at me. I freeze, fear wrapping me in immobilizing vines as I stare down death.
What do I do?Is this it?
“We’ll do it execution style this time, I think. I got carried away before with all the bells and whistles in my fun.”
“No! Raegan!” Kellan bellows, yanking and beating the bars in his attempt to get to me.
Jackson rams his shoulder into the bars, running through the pool of blood he’s accumulated.
I swallow thickly, unsure of what words I could say to change his mind.
“Wait!” Aiden shouts. “You don’t want to kill her. If you let her live, you can have the Guild.”
What?
“They’ve already made their decision,” Charles counters Aiden without looking away from me.
“Because of me. They’ll follow me. And I’ll work for you. I’ll do whatever you want. If you have me leading them, then you’ll have the Guild, too. Just don’t hurt her. If she dies, then any chance of us or the Guild working for you dies with her.”
Charles stares at me. He takes in my blood-soaked appearance, his arm holding the gun steadily on me as he debates Aiden’s offer.
I fight to get my heart rate and breathing under control.
“And you?” Charles directs to Jack and Kell, turning his face to them. “Would you do anything to ensure she lives?”
“Yes,” they both answer without hesitation.
“Prove it.” Charles smiles at them. “See those dangling chains? Cuff yourselves. Show me how well you listen with her life in the balance.”
All three of them move to do it, raising their arms over their heads to clasp the metal cuffs to each wrist. My chest tightens at the sight of them like that, knowing it’s because of me. If Charles wasn’t such a superpowered psycho, I’d give it my all to take him down right here and now.
“Hm...” Charles scratches his jaw and looks past the barrel of his gun at me again. “Perhaps you do have some usefulness left. Do the other Guild members care about you this much?”
I don’t answer.
“It’s no matter.” Charles turns to the guys, finally lowering the gun. “I’ll consider your offer, Guild Master, and what you bring tothe table in exchange for her life.”
“For her safety!” Kellan shouts, his arms rattling the chains. “Swear that she won’t be hurt!”
Charles gives him a polite, businessman smile. “I’ll take your notes into consideration as well.”
While he’s busy watching them, I slip the key between my boot and the floor.
“Take her,” the GE president orders the two agents who’d arrived with him. He leaves first.
