Page 61 of Broken Ties
“The boy is an idiot. He would’ve given me anything I asked for the chance at a turn with the girl.”
If I could wipe that memory from my mind forever, I would. If I could erase my father altogether, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second.
Swallowing roughly, I push my plate away from myself. “So what are you going to do, Rey?”
The nickname slips out of me again even though I haven’t called her that in years. Using it now could be written off as the survival instinct in me, but the hoarseness of my voice is so gut-wrenching there’s no denying it’s genuine. She could hand me over to our father right now and that would be the end of me. Hell, she could use me as a bargaining chip to gain some favor and claw her way out of the misery she’s trapped in.
She only stares across the table at me for a long minute, her eyes still a dull version of mine. It’s as though all of the life has been squeezed out of her, leaving behind the shell of the sister I once knew. I don’t know how Rachel can stand it, how my mother can look at her and notdo somethingabout it.
I might be her only biological child, but Bonded Groups should care for all of the children, not just those with genetic links. Even as I think it, I want to laugh at my own naivety. My father would mock anyone stupid enough to voice that opinion in his presence, but he’s also one of those assholes who think a woman shouldn’t be a Central Bond… as if it’s some sort of option and I’ve failed the Bassinger name.
I fucking loathe the man.
Aurelia finally speaks, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Take your car and go, Atlas. Your mom will cover for you—we both know she will. If you’re determined to walk this path to hell, then just… get out of here before Father finds out.”
My hands curl into fists under the table.
I’m torn by the childhood memories of following her around like a little lost puppy, my big sister who was always a good sport about her brash and arrogant brother. The way I’ve hated her Bonded Group. The way Peter hitting her had broken something in my brain, and then again when I realized the reason she’d covered it so well was because it wasn’t the first time.
He wasn’t the first man, either.
Father had beaten her along with both of his own Bonded.
Aurelia picks up her own cutlery as though dismissing me, the same way our parents always have, and my chest aches all over again. “Atlas? For what it’s worth, I hope I’m wrong and she’s worth it all… and I hope I never see you again. Don’t ever,evercome back.”
TWENTY
GRYPHON
Even after all these years of being friends with the Draven brothers, only for those foundations to strengthen even more once we found out we all share the same Bond, I’m still left speechless sometimes at Nox’s ability to manipulate his way out of trouble with such ease. North somehow managing to funnel Nox’s obsessive and neurotic research skills into something that actually benefits our Bond is no small feat either, but it pays off and in a huge way.
Nox figures out not only the Gift that’s being wielded but how to track the Gifted down.
For all his bravado to his brother, it takes longer than the single day he claimed was all he needed thanks to the legion of Resistance scouts, decoys, and protections on the Gifted. Every move we make is always met with vicious retaliation, but the escalation now is like nothing we’ve seen before.
The missions are grounded.
Unser and the rest of North’s advisers move in to damage control, rattled by the sheer mounting threats. North goes into overdrive dealing with the council and putting up an impenetrable front to stop any dissent brewing within the Top Tier families.
The anticipation eats at me, chipping away at my patience until I want to scream. Typically, it’s Nox who manages to put words to the writhing death-call in my blood, as though I’m a Death Dealer now as well purely by association.
With a scathingly derisive tone, he practically spat out his retort to their fears at the sole meeting he was compelled to attend. “They’re throwing their numbers around as a front while reeking of desperation; that means we’re close. We’d be fools to stop now and give them time to prepare.”
He’s right, I’m certain of it, but as my Bond becoming one of the Gifted who could be kidnapped becomes a very real threat, I have no choice but to side with North’s decision. Nox fumes about it, but North and I refuse to prioritize hunting the Magnifier Gifted over protecting my Bond, so he holes himself up in the Draven mansion with his research files and plans out our next attempt.
I take watch over my Bond—at a distance so she has no idea I’m there—with the little down-time as North and Vivian will allow me. Fuck, if I wasn’t certain she’d rip my throat out, I’d glue myself to her side permanently until this mess is over with.
Instead, I’m stuck with Harrison in a van half a block away. He’s one of my most trusted subordinates, but he’s also the mouthiest of the lot. Even Kieran, my closest friend outside of my Bond Group, gives me less shit than this asshole does when he thinks he can get away with it.
There’s a tug in my chest the moment the door to the dorm rooms opens and Gabe steps out, scanning the area before my Bond steps out behind him. She doesn’t wait for him to finish his sweep, I don’t think she even notices him doing it, and her body language screams ‘not fucking happy’ in a way that makes me feel violent.
There’s nothing in the area to worry about, but it’s instinct to check, to protect our Bond no matter the cost. Gabe’s shouldersare tense, his hands balled into fists at his side, and I’m instantly worried he’s about to have a power slip with our Bond standing right next to him.
They’re close enough that I could project the words directly into his mind, but it doesn’t take my Gift to figure out Gabe’s still struggling with being around our Bond. Having me rifle around in his head will only push him closer to the edge and he’s the last person who deserves to be dealing with that.
I send him a text instead.
Harrison and I are in position as backup. I have guys further out, holding the perimeter, but there’s nothing flagging in the area. No matter what, I have you both covered. You can just focus on getting our Bond there.