Page 49 of A Sky of Storms
The leader sighed. “Because there are monsters and other Potentials here that could kill them. You know Mark wants an exact number. Stop asking questions and just do your job.”
“When’s he going to show up?” a woman asked despite what the leader had said. She was standing guard of the captives with her arms folded over her chest. “Here we are doing all the work and he’s off obsessing over that angel bitch. It’s embarrassing.”
Interesting. Either Mark was rendezvousing with Victoria, or he was off on another job and these people were only in on this part of his plans. Whatever said plans involving the captured Potentials were.
“Watch your mouth,” the leader snapped. “He’ll be here before the deal goes through.”
“She’s right though,” a guy said, coming to stand beside the woman. He was wiry, with short curly hair. “He needs to just fuck her already and be done with it.”
“Bit hard with the mermaid from Tritosa City always around,” a tall, broad-shouldered guy said with a chuckle. “I bet you fifty credits those two are banging.”
Apparently by angel bitch they meant Fallon, not Victoria. I rolled my tense shoulders at the comment and gritted my teeth. I didn’t care if Fallon and Zane were sleeping together. Good for them. I just didn’t like the way these people were betting on that. Yeah, that’s exactly why I was getting annoyed. Betting on something like that was pathetic and immature.
The woman smirked. “I dunno, I reckon she has something going on with that Kayden guy, they’re doing that whole hate each other thing but I reckon there’s more going on there.”
Once again, I found myself frowning at their comments. I needed to keep my mind on the mission, nothing else. Not that there was anything to dwell on in the first place.
“Ha, yeah I’ve seen that,” the curly-haired guy replied, then turned to the tall guy. “A hundred credits says she’s being dicked by them both.”
“Together or at different times?” the leader asked, getting in on the conversation.
“Doesn’t bother me.” The tall guy chuckled, shaking the curly-haired guy’s hand. “I’ll take that bet.”
They all laughed, finding themselves way funnier than they were. I clenched my fists. We were in a trial in which we could die at any moment and they were acting like hormonal teenagers discussing Fallon’s sex life. Immature assholes.
“So, do you reckon they cross swords?” a low voice asked. I spun, my heart leaping out of my chest, to find Ace crouched behind me. I swung my fist, but he dodged the blow and my upper half joined the lower half of my body in the water.
I sputtered, trying to get back out before an arm tugged me up and I found Ace grinning at me, a finger over his lips. Fuck that guy. If he’d just blown my cover, I’d skin him. I couldn’t jeopardise all the work I’d done when I’d gotten so close to answers. I glanced behind me to where Mark’s lackeys were, but none seemed to have noticed any sound I may have made. They’d been too loud, laughing at their stupid jokes.
“What do you want?” I grumbled, snatching my arm out of Ace’s grip.
Ace shrugged. “Saw you here and thought there had to be something going on for you to be sitting in the cold listening in on these assholes. Turns out I wasn’t disappointed. You didn’t answer my question.”
“Nothing is going on, not that I’d tell you anyway.” I looked down at his bionic hand, the tips of his fingers in the water. “I thought you couldn’t get that wet.”
“Don’t tell me you believed that too.” He chuckled, flicking water at me with his metallic fingers. “It’s waterproof. How useless would it be if I couldn’t do basic shit like take a piss without it fucking up? Do you know how many times a day your hand comes in contact with liquid?”
“I’m gonna hazard a guess and say a lot.”
“Ding ding ding.” Ace grinned, his black hair falling into his eyes. He shoved it back, combing it with his fingers into the rest of the long strands at the top of his head. The sides were shaved and on his left side, black ink was visible behind his ear that snaked up from his neck. “So, why are you lurking out here? Didn’t you hear all those crazy fuckers in the sky?” he asked.
“I like strolling around in the dark with monsters on the loose,” I replied, swiping water from my face.
“Sarcastic fucker.” Ace punched me in the arm.
I shrugged. “These assholes are holding people captive.”
He raised a brow. “Any idea why?”
“Why do you care?”
“I have my reasons.” He glanced away. “It’s kinda interesting, don’t you think?”
I sighed, turning my attention back to Mark’s lackeys. They looked like they were settling in for a couple of hours, which meant I had to decide whether to act now or wait until they stopped again. If I continued following them, they would most likely lead me to Mark. But what kind of person would I be to let the Potentials they kidnapped suffer? I thought of Katie and Rena in a similar position and made up my mind. I wouldn’t let Mark hurt any more people. The Potentials signed up to compete in this trial, not to be illegally traded like cattle.
“How much have you heard?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.
It shouldn’t be much. They’d passed a few bits of information like the time of delivery and Mark’s involvement, but other than the blatant round-up of defenceless Potentials, I didn’t think there was any useful information for Ace.
