“It’s true,” Gavin said stoically. “I saw Rose and Collin sneaking off before and though I’ve never caught them in the act, there’s definitely something going on.”
“I already had my team’s memories swiped,” Will said quietly, finally. “And I’m erasing the cameras that are in the hall. “I think it’s best if your sister and you come back to my house until we figure all of this out.”
Jemmy still seemed stunned and confused as she looked at all three of us.
I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s a clever idea. Not yet. I would appreciate it if you take Ella. She loves you,” I stated, looking at Will. “You taught her how to play chess and she beat you every time. But I can’t leave Collin yet. I still need to find out how Bridgette’s involved, although I think I already have a feeling.”
“Bridgette’s a bitch,” Jemmy muttered as Gavin stood up.
Will shot her a look of warning, but he didn’t bother correcting her.
“Blake, you need to go home with them, when you can. I don’t trust Collin, and who knows what that snake’s capable of. You still have the bruises he gave you yesterday,” he said insistently.
I grimaced as I pushed my gown further on my arms. “I have to,” I appealed to him. We just started tracking his phone. I can’t just leave suddenly and move in with the Bells. They’ll s
uspect that we’re on to them, and we don’t have enough yet. I know it’s more than just the three of them right now.”
“This is insanity, Blake. You aren’t even an adult yet, you can’t single handedly take this group down,” he paced angrily.
“I agree,” Will said uncomfortably.
“I’m gifted,” I said with a finality. “I’m stronger than Zach and Collin. If at any time I feel threatened, I’ll leave.”
Jemmy snorted, but not unkindly. “Sweetie. They are two of the most powerful men we know. There’s no way your gift is that strong…yet.”
I sighed and used the last of my strength I had to stand up. Earlier when I felt my gifts swirling within in, I think I had a clue what my new gift was. Without blinking an eye, I compelled her to recite the alphabet backward as I lifted the chair with one hand, produced a fireball in the other, had Gavin laughing uproariously, created an illusion of a juggling monkey, and created a forcefield.
I’m pretty sure I heard Will curse for the first time ever as I passed out. In my weakened state, I had used too much energy in one day.
I woke up back in the room I was originally in and started to panic, but then I saw that Troy was camped out on the chair beside my chair. He was sprawled forward in the chair, with his head on my bed.
Before I found out about my connections, he had been my ideal “type.” I always had an attraction to tall, dark, and handsome. Troy checked all those boxes and then some. With his Italian heritage, he had dark hair, and honey brown eyes. His long sooty eyelashes and tan made many a girl envious. He kept physically fit with the combination of his martial arts and weight lifting. His hair was kept like most military men—short on the sides. I had never seen it long; he was a stickler for clean cut appearances.
He ran a successful security firm, and I think that’s what kept me from forming my connection with him sooner. We hadn’t gotten to spend too much time together. However, in all fairness, I had been upset at him for a few weeks since he had called Jace into one of his security details. Which wouldn’t have been too big of an issue if Jace’s ex-girlfriend hadn’t been there. I knew they had been friends, I was okay with that. I wasn’t okay with the fact that the tabloids had blown their relationship out of proportion and I had let my insecurities get the better of me.
The guys were all attractive, and I knew I was cute, maybe even pretty, but I still struggled with the fact that I was supposed to capture their attention. In the beginning, I had thought I would be fine with the guys carrying on relationships with others, but the more I got to know them, the more I wanted them all to myself. I was selfish.
I reached out and ran my fingers through his hair, unable to resist any longer. He groaned deep in his throat before finally stirring.
He blinked up at me. His gaze puzzled and scrutinizing. He finally sat up and stretched. The bottom of his shirt rose up, and I could see the little trail of hair that started at the bottom of his belly button. He told me once he kept his ‘happy trail’ but shaved his chest and pubic area, daily. He even went as far as to keep his armpits, legs, and arms groomed. He wasn’t too crazy about inheriting the ‘hairy’ side of his heritage. I found it highly attractive.
He cleared his throat as he leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees, then steepled his fingers together so they rested on his sensual lips. “A couple of nights ago, I felt my tattoo burn and felt this overwhelming urge to call Noah. Noah seemed really…evasive when I finally talked to him. Which is truly out of character for him. That very night, I had a dream of taking a girl on this romantic horse carriage ride in Central Park.” I looked at him expectantly, not knowing how to proceed. “I don’t do romance,” at my raised speculative eyebrows, he laughed. “Don’t get me wrong. I do my share of wining, dining, and hooking up, but I don’t do romance. I’m very upfront with any girl. They know the rules. They know I’m unavailable.”
I nodded, waiting for him to continue. I had a feeling I knew where this was going. “Why did I dream about you?” he asked, as if he already knew the answer. “Last night, I saw you protectively holding Chip, even though he was bent on destruction, and in that moment, I knew it wasn’t a dream at all.”
“It wasn’t,” I said quietly. I looked down at my hands, trying to figure out the best way to continue this conversation. I didn’t want to lie to him, but I wasn’t sure if he was ready for the truth. The guys had taken it in stride the last time. I had struggled with it. Things had changed. Would they still take it so well?
I had a feeling Troy would and could handle it, but I was unable to let him know as Collin came into the room. A cup of coffee in his hand, flowers, and balloons. He stopped short as he saw Troy, his smile dying on his face.
“Ricci, what are you doing here?” he was frantically eyeing us. He looked panicked, but I wanted to reassure him.
After knowing my sister was clinging to life, it made me even more determined to blow his little operation up. I just needed to find out how much he truly knew.
“His team found my sister last night,” I finally said.
His eyebrows knitted. “Which one?” He must have realized his mistake, because he laughed uneasily. “I mean…Emma?” He turned to Troy. “Is that why you left the party early?” He was such a jerk; I know I had told him her name was Ella.
My eyes narrowed on him. I wanted to make sure he dug his grave deeper. “You went to a party last night? Which one?”