Page 42 of Broken Ties
He sees it, misreads it, and nods like we’re both freaking out about the same thing. “Fucking Death Dealers, man! They’re out snooping in our shit again. You know Renault was killed the last time they showed up to one of the recruitment camps, right? Their nightmares killed our strongest Telekinetic like it wasnothing.”
My plan adjusts instantly.
Waving my hand to shoo him from the seat, I scoff, “Like I give a fuck about the Dravens. Get out of the way so I can cover my own ass and get back to this stupid dinner before my mom comes searching.”
Kyle side-eyes me, and I smirk at him again. “Walk away, man. You need the alibi if you’re questioned, that way you won’t be lying when you say you haveno ideawhat Ireallydid here. My father wouldn’t ever let someone get that close to me, but you’ll be free game if we take too long.”
He gulps at the reminder that even being from a Top Tier family wouldn’t spare him from Davies if he got found out. I’m also certain it wouldn’t save me, but Kyle practically scrambles away from the seat like it’s on fire at the thought of facing that psychopath.
Fear pools in my own stomach thinking about him, but the rage burning in my veins at what he did to my Bond is far stronger, my heart thumping violently in my chest to spread thatfire rapidly through my limbs until I’m ready to rend the man limb from limb.
Kyle and Walker murmur with each other about how stupid I’m being over a hookup by the bottom of the staircase, but I ignore them as I watch the screens shift in and out of focus, an inky stain moving around the footage that looks like the world’s best CGI.
It’s without a doubt the Dravens.
I owe those assholes nothing. In fact, in any other situation, I’d want them to suffer the worst and most torturous deaths possible for what they’ve been putting my Bond through at that stupid university… only, she’s aCentralBond. Obvious, I know, but it means she has four other Bonds to think about. Now, I don’t give a fuck about any of them surviving this war—except how it affects my Bond.
She’s met them all now. It’s not as easy as finding her and running away with her, fuck the rest of them, because if they die, it won’t be an ‘ache in the chest sort of pain’ or something that can be easily dismissed. No matter how she might feel about them thanks to their shitty treatment, prolonged proximity establishes ties.
Losing them could break her.
The girl who couldn’t be broken by the most sadistic motherfucker in the Resistance might be strong enough to bear the pain of a lost Bond, but I can’t be sure until I’ve met her in person. Bonding with me could soften the blow, maybe, but she’s terrified of the power exchange, with good reason.
I can’t let any of them die before I know for sure.
Not if I have a say in the matter.
I wipe the footage, disable the cameras for the entire area as well as two dozen more in different areas, scattering the order I shut them off to cover my tracks. My mom will still probablyfigure it out, but fuck it, as long as it throws my father’s closest friends off, I don’t care.
Glancing over my shoulder, I grab the last fifty or so files to be uploaded to the archiving server and send copies to my own highly encrypted cloud server. As I move to log out and get the hell out of here before my luck runs out, something new pops up on the screen. My bond tugs at my chest, pulls me toward it in a way it’s never acted before. Scowling, I open it.
It’s a report, but I only manage to read the opening line before Kyle is calling out to me, forcing me to hit send and log out with my gut churning viciously.
Phase Two Approved: Recoup the God Bond by any means necessary.
FIFTEEN
GABE
Getting back to the Draven mansion after a full day of dealing with my mom’s ignored responsibilities and signing off on a whole stack of expenses for her care is like finally taking a deep breath. The afternoon sun is still scorching hot and sweat rolls down my spine as I yank my helmet off and wait as the garage door slowly opens before me.
Three of the Gryphon’s team are on watch at the front of the mansion, and I know there’s bound to be a dozen more out of my line of sight guarding the perimeter. Covered from head to toe in Tac gear, it’s only their badges that distinguish them from each other. If I hadn’t spent years around them, it would be impossible to tell who I’m looking at, but I nod in greeting at Harrison when he lifts a gloved hand at me, the other gripping his firearm firmly.
He’s been here the entire time Gryphon has been on bedrest, taking up Kieran’s position as Second while Black himself has been the temporary Lead. I’ve never been close to any of them, not like Gryphon is anyway, but even if I were, I’m not in the talking mood. Not with my Mom’s weary sighs still ringing in my ears and her doctor’s recommendations playing on repeat.
Rolling my motorcycle forward, I get the garage door swinging shut behind me before I’m fully through just to hide myself away from any prying eyes. The moment the room plunges back into darkness, relief washes over me, but I only get to enjoy it for a second before the rush of guilt that always follows hits me.
It’s a thousand times worse this time, though.
Usually, I can find something positive to focus on, some silver lining to all the awful shit I’m drowning in, but there’s nothing to break through the desolate feeling that’s eating me alive. Shit, this must be what the Resistance feels as the Draven’s nightmare creatures consume them. I might not feel any sympathy for them, but it’s anabsolutelyhorrifying death to consider.
Bile creeps up the back of my throat so fast I almost choke on it, a hand slapping over my mouth to stop myself from puking. Light-headed, I can’t help but think that this is probably what taking acid and panicking feels like. Instant, overpowering, and sickening, the self-loathing is enough to eat me alive.
It takes me a full minute to be sure I’m not actually going to be sick and another before my legs are steady underneath me. I’m sure there’s no way I’m going to get through the mansion without someone stopping me and asking me what the hell has happened, but at least I haven’t lost my lunch on North’s tires.
I’m barely through the front door before I hear the telltale sounds of North raging with anger. It’s not such a rare occurrence that I don’t recognize it straight away, but I stumble over my own feet when it’s Nox’s voice answering his brother’s ire.
Too far away to make out what they’re saying yet, I pick up the pace as my stomach starts to churn dangerously again, only this time the panic is centered entirely on what the hell could’ve possibly happened now. A thousand possibilities, but no matterhow much she hates me, no matter how much I’m starting to hate myself for knowing better, I can’t help but instantly think of her.