Gifted Connections: Book 2(115)

“Don’t be delusional,” I said through clenched teeth. “You’re a coward. That’s what got you kicked off the team. If your team can’t trust you to help them when they are in danger, how do you expect them to want you to watch their backs? Look at you now. You have four of us tied to your…” I looked around the room. “Thirteen. You got your little feelings hurt and what…you turn. Just like that. So easily bought. Just like a common whore.” I spat out.

He reached out again and smashed a fist to the side of my face. I couldn’t stop the cry that left my lips. He laughed in satisfaction.

“Ned,” Michael’s voice said over my shoulder. “Knock it off.”

He walked around in front of me. My eyes widened in surprise when I noticed that he wasn’t tied up. “I’m sorry, Blake,” he said earnestly. “I had to do it.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t supposed to end like this.” He looked over at Steven. “We planned to detain you and secure you. That’s it. No casualties. He went rouge.”

“Why?” I gasped out with a dry throat.

“I had to,” he explained. “I have a mom who needs medical treatment. I don’t make enough money. It’ll take me forever to climb up the ranks to make that kind of money.”

“Did you tell Will? Did you tell Terrance? We could have helped you out." I had to swallow the tears that threatened to spill over as I looked over at Steven. “You played with his daughter. You were treated like family. How could you do this? Why?”

“When Horatio comes, I’m a free man. I never have to work ever again, and my mom can get the treatment she needs,” he explained passionately. I could see he was sincere, and he thought it was going to be an easy job, but I still felt betrayed. I knew Will would have helped had he just asked.

“So, Nadia has to grow up with no father. Dave’s wife will no longer have a husband. Lyle’s daughter will never know her father. Don doesn’t get to walk down the aisle with his fiancé this summer. What about Oscar? Were their lives less important than your own?” Rachel yelled at him hysterically. It didn’t surprise me that she had taken the time to know the members on our team.

Michael flinched with every word she said. “No, no,” he said with remorse on his face. “I’m sorry,” he stated before he pulled out his own gun and lifted it, pointing it towards Ned and his girlfriend. “Do it now,” he looked at me urgently, before I heard his gun go off.

“No,” I heard Ned yell as his girlfriend collapsed to the ground.

“Now, Blake!” Rachel yelled at me as I saw other girls and a few guards, rush towards their fallen friend.

I looked up as I saw a ball of fire soar across the room. Troy was no longer slumped forward and bound. He was now launching himself towards me as I heard a boom in my ears. I saw the others leap into action, and I imagined a force field around us, protecting us from the people now rushing us. I saw now that every female we came to rescue was in on this trap. My head ached but I needed to protect my family. I needed to snap out of the grief trying to consume me.

I saw Troy had created another diversion, lighting a fire in a pile of discarded skids in the corner of the room. Some girls screamed in panic, trying to get the fire out.

I was able to erect a force field, but not before blood began pouring from Michael’s ears and mouth. I could hear the sickening gurgle coming from his mouth. I looked up in shocked horror as I watched a woman looking satisfied at her work. She turned to glare at me.

“Not today,” I muttered to her as I told her to sleep. She collapsed, her head bouncing off the pavement. I wanted to exact vengeance on her, but I couldn’t. I stared in shock at Michael. He had betrayed us. He had cost us so many lives tonight, but he had bit off more than he could chew. I truly believed he thought it was going to be a simple job. I believed he wanted to help his mother. He hadn’t realized the price of her health would be so high. He knew he was going to die. He had hoped for clemency. His head turned my way, and I could see him mouth. “Sorry, sorry,” before the light in his eyes went out.

I closed my eyes and felt the tears fall from my eyes. People like him and Collin had made a deal with the devil, not realizing what a steep price it had been to pay. Some people may think they didn’t deserve anyone grieving for them, but in their last moments of life, did their last-ditch effort of redemption, wipe away their prior sins?

Troy produced a small flame and burnt the rope binding my arms and legs. Then he went over to Rachel and severed her bindings.

“Now what?” Rachel sobbed softly as she came over to hug me.

I was trying to rub the feeling back into my arms, but hugged her when she rushed to me.

“Who has their phone,” I said urgently as I watched more people run into the building. I knew time was running out for us. We were horribly outnumbered. Horatio was here. I could feel him. There was a searing pain in my head. Icy coldness enveloped my brain. He was trying to get in.

“They took ours,” Troy cursed as he walked up behind us to embrace us.

I felt panic war with reasoning, but a flash of us sitting in a diner came across my memory.

Jax! I screamed out.

What’s wrong honey? He asked immediately.

Tell Micah to come get us, I pleaded with him.

What’s wrong?! He demanded