Page 23 of Secret Gifts
“Crap. Now everyone is going to be gunning for me once they feel like this is my fault,” I huff, my voice muffled through the soft fabric covering my face.
His cool hand slides over mine as he pulls the pillow away. His eyes show more concern than my mom’s usual groupies.
“No one, and I mean no one, will be gunning for you. I won’t let that happen,” he says with such conviction that I almost believe him.
“Jase, no offense, but you can’t make that promise.”
He smirks, and then those soft lips find my forehead again.
“I can make that promise. Don’t worry about anyone gunning for you, besides, it was the others who ratted them out, not you. Most people don’t appreciate someone risking their safety to keep their pride intact.”
I smile lightly, and his fingers intertwine with mine as our hands hover over my body. A hunger sends my lower half into a desperate need to feel more of him, and I can’t help but let my leg find its way between his as I angle my body up on its side. In a brave, brazen maneuver, I lock both of my hands behind his neck.
“You’re supposed to get the captain out first,” I murmur softly as my mind thinks back to his cool hands pulling me from the earth and clutching me to his chest.
“I wanted the girl,” he says with a smirk, and then his lips almost reach mine before someone buzzes the frustrating little door bell.
“Damn it,” he grumbles, and I stifle a grin as he disengages from our close contact to go find out who has interrupted us.
Was he really going to kiss me? Does he see me like that? Surely not.
“Captain Morris, Captain Morris,” he says in repetition and I laugh lightly as I stand up from the bed and pull the shirt a little lower.
“Where is she?” my aunt worries. “Her mother has been calling me almost every five minutes.
“She’s in the bedroom,” Jase softly offers, and within a breath, everyone has joined me in the room.
“I swear I’ll rip that fucking asshole apart if I ever see him again,” Uncle Grayson growls while wrapping me up in his arms.
“Who? Hedin?” I muse while Aunt Angelica rips me free to hug me in her embrace.
“Yes... Hedin,” he snarls.
“He’s no longer a part of the United,” Jase chimes in from behind, and they both turn to face him, their eyes looking at him differently than what I’m used to seeing from them.
They're captains, but they’re staring at him like he has more authority - or a man with two heads.
“That’s good to hear. It doesn’t change the fact I’ll still rip him in half,” my uncle continues.
“Couldn’t say I’d blame you if you did,” Jase says with a bit of anger resonating in his own tone, his hands fisting at his side.
“How pissed is Mom?” I worry.
“Very... more so at the captain and the lead tracker than at you,” Aunt Angelica answers.
“Ex captain and ex lead tracker,” Jase corrects while walking out of the room.
“Either way, the wrath of Araya isn’t something to be taken lightly. They’ll have their reckoning. What I left out was the big finale.”
I swallow hard as I think back to the intoxicating power that exuded from me. It wasn’t anything like I had ever felt before, and it caused instant death.
“Was I-”
“No. Your pupils were still normal, which is why I was the most scared,” she whispers, her eyes looking for the absent Jase.
“I don’t know what to say. It just came out on its on, and it did exactly what I needed it to.”
Jase returns with a bottle of whiskey and four glasses he passes out. I smile as the amber liquid finds my lips, and my worrying aunt and uncle revel in the slow burn of the alcohol as well.
