Page 60 of The Magic of Betrayal
"In here, if you please," Larson called out and Saige didn't look back before stepping into a room to the right.
By the time I entered, she was sitting facing the door, eyes locked on her hands clasped in front of her. Larson caught my eye from the head of the table, Saige was seated beside him. He gave me a nod of approval and for the first time in my career, it didn't make me feel like hot shit. No, it made me feel like a piece of shit.
"Sit, Sullivan, let's talk."
I took my seat across from Saige, but footsteps behind me had fire bursting from my palms, ready to defend, but they dissipated almost as quickly when my magic processed that it was just Johnny. He was dressed in tactical attire, black pants with more pockets than I could count, and a skin tight black t-shirt that did nothing to hide the fact that he was a strong motherfucker. Johnny walked around the table and dropped into the chair beside Saige and I raised my eyebrow. Why are they boxing her in? She's not a threat, and there was no need to intimidate her.
"Saige, thank you for meeting with me today. I haven't been to this part of the country before, have you lived in the area your whole life?" Larson asked like it wasn't weird at all.
"Yep. Nearly twenty-eight years," Saige replied, still not looking up from her hands.
"I see, and w—"
A loud crash and shattering glass stopped Larson mid-sentence, Johnny and I hopped to our feet.
"WHERE IS SHE, SLOANE!?" Cam roared, followed by an absolutely savage growl from Bagheera. Oh fuck, this is a shitshow.
A familiar tingle started in my head and my mouth dropped as I felt Fischer, fucking Fischer, dipping into my psyche. What the fuck? He had never used his affinity on any of us except during training, but he was using it now, and I was pissed.How dare he?
Heavy footsteps approached the conference room and a blast of lightning blew the double doors clear off their fucking hinges. Bagheera soared through the air and landed on the table, all of his razor sharp teeth on full display, hackles raised, and muscles ready to kill.
"Are you all finished?" Larson inquired in a bored voice before gesturing to the empty seats, "You're all here, you might as well take a seat."
Saige was frozen in her seat as she watched Fischer and Cam drop into seats at the table. Bagheera was still snarling though, despite Cam telling him to shift.
"Kaito. Fucking shift and sit your ass down or you'll be removed from this room. You're pissing me off," Larson snapped, some of his calm resolve slipping.
In the blink of an eye, a very naked Kai was towering above us and Fish tossed him a pair of basketball shorts as he hopped off the table. He nearly fell trying to get them on so that he could get to Saige.
"Sprout, listen, let me explain. It's not as bad as it seems, I promise," he pleaded, reaching for her but she leaned away from his seeking touch.
"Don't," she whispered and I heard Cam's knuckles crack from three seats away.
"Please, Cub, just—"
"Enough!" Larson boomed, slamming a fist on the table. "I've been patient. Now, everyone sit down and shut the fuck up, it's my turn to talk."
Kai looked exasperated when Saige turned away from him and focused her attention on Larson, but he knew our boss meant business, so he sulked over to the seat beside Johnny and crumpled into it. I could feel Cam and Fischer's gazes burning holes through my head, but I couldn't bring myself to glare at them in return.
"Now, Saige. I understand you own the magic shop in town, the one below the apartment the guys are staying at?" he asked and I wondered what the hell that had to do with anything.
"Yeah. The Mystical Piglet. It's my store," she replied, her voice numb.
"And do you have any family in the area?"
"Yes," she snapped, her jaw clenching.
"Who?" Larson pressed, not taking his eyes off her face.
"My grandmother."
"Is that it?"
"That's all that's in the area, and she's the only one who matters to me," she fired back, lifting her chin slightly.
"Larson, what is the meaning of this?" Cam asked, clearly unable to take not being the one in control any longer.
"Cameron, I'm just asking Miss Wildes some questions. Do you have a problem with that?" he challenged and I held my breath.
