Page 70 of Nugget

“Enough!” the agent Stryker had stolen from shouted. He stepped past Axel. “Gavin?”

“No,” Gavin whispered.

What the hell? Stryker turned to look back and froze. Gavin had gone completely pale. He was also shaking so hard that Stryker didn’t know how he was standing. Stryker went to grab Gavin, but he took a step back.

“Gavin?” the agent repeated.

Stryker moved to block the agent’s path to Gavin. “Back off.”

“Move!” the agent ordered. His eyes flashed. Familiar eyes. Eyes that Stryker knew.

“What the fuck?” Stryker demanded.

“No!” Gavin yelled. “You’re dead!” He stumbled back.

“Oh my God! Gavin!” the agent ran at him.

Stryker turned while Bo and Trevor leapt at the agent. Aaron Johnson pushed at Stryker’s back, but Stryker was stronger than he looked. He wrapped his arm around the agent’s neck. Axel reached for Gavin as he fell down the steps of the deck.

“Release me!” the agent shouted.

Above them the skies darkened. Lightning flashed and the ground rumbled.

“Gavin, it’s okay.” Axel hugged Gavin tight. “Calm down. It’s okay.”

Stryker was losing his hold on Aaron Johnson. A human against a paranormal was not a fair fight.

Aaron broke free then launched himself at Trevor and Bo.

“It’s not Gavin causing the storm!” Stryker shouted as the rain began to come down hard and fast. “It’s his brother!”

All movement around him stopped.

“What?” Axel demanded.

“Let the agent go,” Stryker said.

Trevor and Bo looked at Axel. Axel nodded. Agents Cunnings and Johnson pushed away. All the men on the deck werebreathing hard. Well except for Gavin who looked like he saw a ghost.

Stryker marched forward.

“Gavin.” Stryker cupped his face. “Papi, can you hear me?”

“I—” Gavin turned pain-filled eyes toward him.

“I know,” Stryker said. “I know.”

Gavin shook his head.

Stryker wrapped his arm around Gavin’s lower back. Gavin leaned on him. Stryker almost couldn’t hold him up. Luckily, Axel moved to add his support.

“What’s going on, Stryker?” Axel asked him.

“Look at him.” Stryker pointed at Agent Cunnings. “Look at his eyes. Can’t you see it?”

Trevor and Bo both turned.

“Fuck!” Bo murmured. “He smells just like Gavin. Thunderbird.”

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