“Tell me exactly what happened, Haylie,” Jimmy requested in his usual, calm voice.
“Chris already told you the entire story,” I muttered in exhaustion, rubbing my temples. I didn’t want to relive the night’s events again.
“I want to hear your version.”
Lifting my eyes, I met the expectant gazes of Phil, Josh, Chris, Sarah, Scott, and… Dylan. He was watching me like a hawk. I wasn’t used to this. He usually averted his eyes whenever I was near, a constant scowl on his face. How much did he remember? Had I reignited his resentment of me?
“I was—”
The door banged open, and all of us jerked our heads to see a furious Lauren entering with purposeful strides.
“You must be Lauren,” Jimmy acknowledged, straightening in his chair but remaining unfazed by her dramatic appearance.
“Damn right.” Okay, Lauren was pissed. A bad sign.
“I know you have a lot of questions, Lauren, but I can’t allow you to be in here. We need to—”
“Seriously? You’re hitting me with the top-secret shit?” she fumed, hands on her hips and eyebrows nearly reaching her hairline.
“Lauren!” I exclaimed, afraid my best friend had gone too far.
“Don’t you Lauren-me!” She whipped her head around and pointed a warning finger at me, silencing me with the gesture, then turned back to Jimmy. “My best friend got shot yesterday, I saw a dead guy with his brains spilling out, and then I’m dragged into the underground blindly, while Haylie gets carried away to only God knows where, leaving me behind with nothing but fear for her, and no one wants to give me answers! I have a right to know what the hell happened, and why the fuck I wasn’t even allowed to call an ambulance!”
I threw a fearful glance at Jimmy, but he kept his face blank.
“Chris,” was all he said. Chris seemed to get the hint, reluctantly strolling forward to take Lauren’s arm and ready to escort her outside. She twisted out of his grip, stepping away.
“No. I won’t leave her.”
“Listen, Lauren...”
“I won’t leave!”
Chris stuffed his hands into his pockets, clearly uncomfortable with Jimmy forcing this task on him. I wouldn’t want to be in his position, either. He turned to Jimmy with pleading eyes. After a few seconds of silence, the leader gave in and nodded.
“Alright. Stay if you must, but whatever you’re going to hear, I need your word that—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I won’t tell anyone. I already know Haylie is different, and you,” she swept her gaze over the rest of us, “are the same.”
Oh-oh.
Chris stared at her in awe but didn’t say anything. He reached for her again, and this time, Lauren let him lead her to an empty chair. Jimmy eyed her for a few seconds longer, probably debating what Lauren suspected we were. Usually, people didn’t know Roes were different because they couldn’t see what made them different, but Lauren had an uncanny ability to see straight to the core of things.
“Okay. Let’s hear your story, Haylie.”
I shifted in my seat, thinking about where to start. “We left the club. Chris, Lauren, and I were the first to walk out. Someone bumped into me, and I saw three guys rushing past. They were just kids.” I huffed. Really, how much could go wrong in one night?
“Then, I wanted to check my phone, but it wasn’t in my pocket anymore. I was sure one of them took it, so I ran after them. All because of a stupid phone…” I added, my voice faltering, and tears threatening to flow. A reassuring hand touched my shoulder—Sarah’s.
“I almost had him, but he pulled out brass knuckles, and I ducked. I tackled him, but Dylan threw me behind him to take care of the guy. Chris was busy with the other two, and before I could decide what to do, a shot was fired, and I felt a stinging pain in my leg. The guy had pulled out a gun. Dylan…” I threw a sidelong glance at him, unsure how to proceed. He nodded slightly, indicating for me to continue. “I saw the Flare but didn’t know what it meant. Then he punched the guy. Once.” I emphasized the last word, still appalled at how swiftly Dylan had gotten rid of the guy.
Chris had told Jimmy that Dylan killed the guy with one swing of his fist. Apparently, being a Fighter caught in the Bluster was a deadly combination. It had been terrifying and mesmerizing to watch at the same time. I’d never seen such pure and carnal strength driving a person.
“Chris took care of the other two and rushed to my side. He shouted at me to run, and I realized Dylan was in the Bluster. Chris tried to snap him out of it, but it didn’t work. Dylan would have…” Killed Chris, I wanted to say but swallowed. “But I couldn’t just stand by and watch. I assumed Dylan got in the Bluster because he was reminded of Jenna.”
Dylan straightened where he was leaning against the wall but didn’t interrupt me. I winced, not wanting to add to his pain.
“I shouted for Josh, knowing he’d hear me and debated to wait until the others arrived, but everything happened so fast. I didn’t think, I just acted. I pushed Chris out of the way and crushed into Dylan. I pressed him against a crane, barely able to hold him. He was screaming Jenna’s name over and over. He thought I was her. I knew he’d kill me because he was too caught up in his rage. So, I… distracted him.”
Right at that moment, I would have gladly traded my ability for one making me invisible as I felt the leftovers of my dignity slowly evaporating.
Without wasting a second thought, I’d pressed my lips to Dylan’s. I still couldn’t believe it had worked. Dylan was on bad terms with me, and kissing him should have made him even more furious. Did he remember? Did he remember he’d grown completely still as soon as my lips touched his? That he’d nearly crushed me in his tight hold to get me closer to him? That he’d kissed me back fiercely and with a passion I’d never felt before?
I didn’t want to look, but my gaze swept back to him. His eyes were still riveted on me—probing, analyzing—but the animosity I thought I would find was nowhere to be seen. No, but there was something else. Fear? Disbelief? Awe? He was hard to read, emotions so rare on his face.
“Where is the dead body now?” Jimmy directed at no one in particular.
“I disposed of it,” Chris spoke cryptically, but Jimmy seemed to be satisfied with the answer.
“Do you have any idea what danger you put yourself in?” Jimmy asked me quietly after a pause, thankfully not prodding for more details.
I nodded mutely. Dylan could have killed me. Correction—killing me would have been inevitable, the chance of survival not existing, yet I was alive.
I scratched the skin above my thigh where the bullet resided the night before. Chris had removed it to allow Sarah to heal me. Only a tiny pink dot was visible, but it still itched like hell.
Lauren was still silent as a grave. My story must have been Greek to her, but instead of looking confused or shocked, she looked sad. Silent tears were running down her cheeks as she was still in shock of nearly losing me. Chris held her hand, squeezing it. I nearly started to cry, too. She was the best friend in the world.
Jimmy continued to analyze me with his probing gaze. “You said you pushed Dylan back into a crane. How did you do that? How did you get hold of a Fighter like him?”
I eyed Lauren, debating what to answer. “I… used my ability.”
Jimmy straightened, and I noticed Dylan square his shoulders in my peripheral vision. Apparently, this was news to both of them. “On purpose or accidentally?”
“Both. I doubted it would work, but it did. I guess my fear gave me enough control this time.”
“You could say that,” Chris threw in with a whistle. “The crane had a dent. Look at this.” He strode over to Jimmy to show him something on his phone. Jimmy’s eyes widened. Must have been a snapshot of the mangled crane. Chris wanted to show me, but I declined. I could do without seeing the destruction I was capable of creating. I’d seen it once, and it was enough to terrorize me for a lifetime.
Jimmy threw his pencil on the desk in a frustrated gesture. “Now, I assumed we thought of everything to protect you from the Hunters out there, but we forgot simple rogues.” He huffed a deep sigh. “Okay, change of subject. What about Cassie?”
I exhaled audibly, relieved to end the discussion. “Don’t look at me. I wouldn’t know.” Jimmy’s eyes switched to Dylan.
“She went home on her own and texted me she needed a few days off.” His voice was deeper than usual as if the events from last night were still pressing down on him. Well, that made two of us.
“And what was the reason?” No one answered. “Well?”
“Cassie got jealous,” Chris informed him at last.
“Of who?”
“Of who? Really, Jimmy?” Chris scoffed, shaking his head. They all seemed to know who was who, except me. Were they talking about Dylan and me? That wouldn’t make sense. Sure, we shared a dance, but Cassie knew as well as me that a thing between the two of us was as likely as Scott to quit smoking weed.
Jimmy eyed Dylan questioningly. “You must have pissed her off for good this time.”
“It’s not his fault. Cassie overreacted, as always,” Sarah came to his defense.
“I didn’t say it was his fault, it’s just not like her to behave like this. I know she’s a drama queen, but disappearing and leaving everything behind because of a stupid crush?”
“She’ll come back,” Dylan reassured him.
“Where do you think she is?”
Dylan shrugged. “With her sister, maybe. She lives not far from here, but the compound is her home.”
“Alright. As I now lack one teacher, I want you to take over Cassie’s Intermediate class for the time being,” he directed at Dylan, whose expression remained stoic. It seemed as if his mind was somewhere else. “Haylie, I’ll switch you from Scott’s class to lessons with Lisa starting tomorrow. And,” he added, rustling through some papers until he found the ones he was looking for. “Dylan gave me regular reports on your progress. You’re doing exceptionally well. Speed, strength, condition, reflexes… outstanding. Because of last night’s events, you’ll get the afternoon off. From tomorrow on, you’ll be part of Dylan’s Intermediates.”
Hearing this, I shook my head in disbelief. After everything that happened, he still wanted me to train with Dylan? I cast a fearful glance in Dylan’s direction, afraid of his reaction to Jimmy’s announcement.
“She needs more than that,” was what he said instead from where he stood in the corner, and all eyes flickered to him.
“What do you mean?”
“Her progress is faster than the average. She needs half the time to learn than the rest. We’re wasting valuable time, even if you upgrade her to the Intermediates. I suggest personal training and maybe, after a few weeks, physical training in combination with her ability. She’s a magnet for disaster and needs to be able to defend herself.”
“And who should be this personal trainer? You?” Jimmy asked with a chuckle, laughing at his own joke and spinning in his office chair. I refrained from moaning and slapping my hand against my forehead. This was so not funny…
Dylan straightened and cleared his throat, uncomfortable with all the eyes resting on him. “Yes.”
Jimmy stopped spinning his chair, his brows knitted in confusion. A snort came from behind that sounded like Chris, Sarah gasped, and my heart dropped into my stomach as I replayed his answer in my head.
What?
“Nice,” Scott commented, a lazy grin on his face.
I was glad Cassie wasn’t around, or I would have had to worry about my safety. Jimmy threw me a questioning look, as if expecting me to help him out with answers, but I was just as stupefied. He frowned and glanced at Chris, but he just threw his hands in the air in a don’t-ask-me gesture.
Dylan wanted to train me? Where the hell did that come from? I didn’t understand the world anymore…
Jimmy’s eyes landed on Dylan at last. They were staring at each other for a few seconds, as if Jimmy wanted to test Dylan’s sincerity. My eyes bounced to Dylan, but he didn’t back down. After the silent stand-off was over, Jimmy announced his decision.
“Alright, personal training with Lisa and Dylan it is, then. I’ll give you the schedule later. Now for the difficult part,” Jimmy declared before facing Lauren.
“Say something,” I pleaded with her, my personal issues with a certain, sexy guy forgotten for the time being. I prayed I hadn’t shied away my best friend.
Lauren stared at me with tears in her eyes. Then she smiled. “I always knew you were special. I’m glad you found the place where you belong,” she sobbed and rose from her chair. I met her halfway, and we jumped into a bone-crushing hug.
“You’re crazy, you know that?” I sniffed into her hair, her familiar, exotic fragrance calming me.
Lauren laughed with a tremor in her voice. “Yeah, right. I am the crazy one here.”
After our little episode was over, I shifted my attention to Jimmy. “What now?”
“We have to take Lauren home. I need your word you won’t tell anyone about the compound, the people in here, or anything that happened last night.”
“Of course. Your secret is safe with me.”
One of the many good sides of Lauren was that she didn’t force answers. Never. What she’d heard today must have been mind-blowing because she didn’t know anything of the Roes’ world. I owed it to her to clear everything up one day.
“It was nice to meet you, young lady. Josh will take you home.”