Gifted Connections: Book 2(122)

Paul grimaced. “I’m sorry. We just didn’t have the time to explain it in your environment. You really pissed Horatio off this time. The moment after you were extracted, he blew up your home.”



I was taken back to my room and brought a lunch tray. They promised me that they would take me to see my family once they were briefed of our situation. I didn’t understand their tactics, but they must have a reason for it. I still didn’t know if I could trust them. The door opened once more.

A woman and two men stood in the door.

“Hello, Amanda,” the woman softly spoke to me. “I’m sorry you’re here under these circumstances but we needed you all to come with us quickly.”

She was a beautiful woman with her long black hair and cornflower blue eyes. She was dressed in a smart three-piece suit. If I had to guess her age I would put her in her early thirties, but the laugh lines around her eyes indicated an older age. She seemed so familiar to me. When she smiled at me, I felt a memory try to push through.

“I know no Amanda,” I stated coldly as I stumbled back to the bed. I sunk down on it and braced my head against the wall.

I was back to being belligerent. Paul seemed sincere, and I truly believed he wanted our help. He had told me about his operations. He said he had roughly eighty people in his fighting force. Each one of them had military or law enforcement history. They also knew, or was related to, a gifted individual. Even with his apparent friendliness and earnest expressions, I still felt leery of the whole situation.

I was brought out of my musings as the woman advanced into my room.

The woman smiled at me as she tsked at me. “You always were such a stubborn girl. You go by Blake now, right? If you like, I’ll call you Blake.” Her eyes were kind as she was looked at me, but I couldn’t trust her.

“That would help, since it is my name,” I sneered. “I’ll also like for you to bring me back to my…family,” I rolled my eyes as I looked over at the two burly men behind her.

She sighed as she turned into the hallway.

I noticed she had left the door open and I started to creep towards it. I stifled a shriek of surprise as she popped her head back in. “Come on now. I have some people waiting for you.”



I followed her through the long white halls, constantly looking for a way and opportunity to escape. I was starting to feel defeated as we came to double doors at the end of the hallways. Finally, I was met with color once more. I was standing in a wide-open room. Two men stood near a half wall looking down.

I could hear grunting and laughter below me and I peered over the edge. I saw close to fifty people (more men than female) below me, sparring each other. It reminded me of the sparring we did at the academy, but more intense.

They were dressed much like the men leading us down the halls. I knew I wasn’t physically capable of running from them or overtaking them, so I acted complacent for now.

One of the men turned and looked at me. He smiled when he saw me. “You must be, Blake. I have heard so much about you.” He came over to me and held out his hand. He was slightly taller than me, but his build reminded me of a bull dogs. He was built, but stocky. He was bald and attractive. His brown eyes danced when he smiled.

I looked at him coolly. “I’m sorry I can’t say the same about you.”

“Oh, of course,” he chuckled. “I’m Leo. Troy’s right-hand man.” He held out his hand.

I took a step back and glared at him. He had betrayed Troy. Why were we constantly bringing people around us that was betraying us?

“I think she will be more receptive once we take her to her family,” the woman chuckled at me.

His eyes widened. “Of course. They’re waiting for her in there.”

They began walking once more, and I followed them to another set of doors. It looked like a large conference room. A large table dominated the room with several chairs surrounding it. I saw all my guys and Jemmy, Gavin, Will, Beth, Cora, Rachel, Terrance, and Sierra. Beyond them I could see the children playing in an enclosed courtyard. They all seemed relaxed as they ate at the table and talked quietly.

Jace saw me first, pushed his chair back and closed the distance between us. He picked me up and brought me close.

I laughed and felt the tears threatening once more. Two things happened at once. Jace stiffened, and the room suddenly became still and quiet. I looked around in confusion. Will and Jaxson were now standing side by side, looking at the woman behind me like they had seen a ghost.

“Megan,” Will finally said quietly.



We were all sitting at the conference table after I found out that the children were fine happy. Other children were playing with them, and their ordeal had been forgotten. Will had left the room with Megan, so that left us trying to make sense of it all.

“Is our home really gone?” I asked quietly from Jace’s lap. He had refused to let me go once I was returned to them.

“Yes,” Troy finally said. “Leo showed me the pictures.”

I looked over at him. “How do we keep allowing people that may harm us into our lives?”

Troy shook his head. “I still trust him with my life. He’s been running my company in my absence, and he got intel on the possible attack on us. He couldn’t reach me, since my phone was taken. He goes way back with Paul Keebler. He contacted him. Apparently, Paul had already been watching us.”