Forced Bonds (The Bonds That Tie, #4)(43)

“If these are your congratulations, I must admit I find them lacking. I have been busy dealing with the issues with the Resistance and keeping as many of my community members alive as possible while dealing with the worst that humanity has dredged up.”

I also include her in this statement, but from the way she gives me a very political smile back, she misses that fact. “Yes, well, it can be difficult dealing with members of our community who are thugs and criminals, though we find that a good police force and a rigid law system has worked for the non-Gifted communities. Maybe you should consider the same for the Gifted.”

She has no idea of the policies that we have in place, or the ruthlessness that we employ when dealing with the Resistance. I doubt that her community would happily set Dobermans on criminals and watch them tear them limb from limb the way that we do with the shadow creatures. I very highly doubt that they would comfortably watch a nineteen-year-old girl commit mass murder against their enemies, so I find her condescending tone just a little off base.

It’s hard to keep my tone from being scathing but I think I manage it. “Is there something that you would like to speak to me about? Because I have other places to be today that will be more productive than this little chat we have been forced to have as a group.”

She holds a hand up to her chest as if scandalized and simpers, “How can we live in harmony if we are not all keeping open lines of communication, Councilman Draven? Maybe this is why your entire community has been displaced. Maybe you should hand over their safety and security to somebody who is more capable at providing for them.”

I nod slowly at her as if I'm considering her words, rage filling my gut and my shadows writhing inside of me to be let out to just eat the bitch alive, and then I reply, “And how much money does your family have, Senator Oldham?”

She frowns at me for a moment. “I don't see how that's any of your business… but it is all on public record that we’ve been very fortunate since coming to this country all those years ago.”

I nod slowly again, and then say, “And how much of that wealth have you personally used to house and feed and clothe and protect and teach members of your community? How much of that money have you given to the Gifted community? People that are completely separate and different to your own, but who may have requirements that are not being met?”

She frowns deeper at me and blusters, “We live in a society in which people are responsible for taking care of themselves. I owe them nothing.”

I nod slowly to her. “Yes, and my community is at war with itself, as well as members of your own community who have chosen to pick a side. So, instead of running away with my money to somewhere safer, I have chosen to stay and protect as many people as I can. I've put my money where my mouth is. I will not be told by some half-bred hick that I am incapable of doing my job. Someday, when you choose a cause that actually means something to you, and you do put your money behind it, then maybe I'll listen. But I don't foresee that day coming anytime soon, do you?”

Her mouth opens and shuts a few times as she gapes at me like a fish, and I give her one last decisive nod as I skirt around her and out of the building, taking a deep breath of the fresh air before walking over to find Rafe and get into my vehicle.

“Everything okay, Mr. Draven?” Rafe asks and I nod, sliding my sunglasses on against the glare of the day as he pulls out into traffic.

“Same shit, different day, but I already knew that there was no real point in attending.”





Chapter Thirteen





Oli



I had assumed that they were keeping Sage at the council building in the cells in the basement, the same as they were keeping Atlas’ sister.

I'm not sure why. Everyone had told me that she was being treated differently, better than those that we know are Resistance members, but it hadn't occurred to me that there would be anywhere else for them to keep her that was as secure.

Gabe and Atlas walk me over to the Tac training building, somewhere I haven't actually been yet. The only time I had spent with Tac personnel was when we were heading out on a mission, and everything for that is kept at North’s offices at the center of the Sanctuary.

I only knew this place existed because Gryphon spends so much of his time down here, and I’m starting to begrudge it for stealing him away from me.

When we walk through the door, I find a large training center with a smaller, indoor obstacle course through a set of large glass doors that are smaller than the ones at Draven, but still deadly-looking nonetheless. A small cafeteria with dozens of tables and chairs has a cluster of Tac personnel already sitting there, and there are a hell of a lot of security cameras covering every inch of the place.

I feel a little nervous as we step into the building, but only because there are so many eyes on me the moment we get in there. It feels so much more intense than the wary looks and outright staring that I get from people out on the streets of the Sanctuary.

I have to force myself to stand still and not tuck myself in behind Atlas or Gabe.

“It's okay, they're all just trying to get a look at Gryphon’s Bonded. The woman that changed everything when the Resistance showed up. They're all used to having a lot more casualties and facing the disappointment of not bringing people home, but every time you’ve been involved, the survival rates have skyrocketed. You're sort of a celebrity around here.”