Saved Between the Sheets: An Anthology of Stories that Get to the Point

by R. M. Walker

  Javin glanced up at me and tipped his head. He turned his back and lithely ran for the stone wall surrounding the cemetery. Watching his black cape blowing in the wind, I wanted to run after him and beg him to stay, but I knew it would be useless. Javin couldn’t handle emotional outbursts.

  “Don’t jump on any grenades,” I shouted. I had hoped to invoke some kind of sentiment with my usual warning whenever we split up. It was a pathetic attempt to remind him of the good times, but I was short on options. Once Javin disappeared into the night, I would never see him again.

  Javin stopped short and looked at the horizon. I searched for any signs of hesitation, but Javin wasn’t one to deviate from a plan. With his blue mask still covering his face, he hopped over the metal gate and was gone.

  I would miss Ara, but I would never get over losing Javin. My stupid dream of solving the biggest mystery of my life was over. I would never find a way to break through Javin’s defenses and prove to him that he was worthy of love.

  Looking down at Fist’s grave, I spared one tear for the man who had trained three young kids how to outsmart and outfight the villains of Crimson, yet had never loved them.

  * * *

  One Year Later…

  * * *

  Under the cover of night, I slowly approached the edge of the parking deck and knelt down to watch the black sedan pull into the lot below. Three high profile businessmen had died in the past two months under unusual circumstances. While I wasn’t in the habit of protecting billionaires, I was responsible for stopping villains threatening the city.

  I steadied my nerves and focused my ability. One, two, three. My hands and arms disappeared followed by my torso and legs. No one would know I was there, unless I lost focus and let a part of me reappear.

  Below me, Houston Kelly stepped out of the car and spoke to his driver. He cautiously looked around and headed into the towering office building. He was crazy to walk around without his private security, but men like him believed themselves to be invincible.

  I searched the dimly lit perimeter and noted anyone of interest across the street from the Creston Building. The killer could be studying Houston’s patterns, looking for the right opportunity to attack him.

  My instincts told me to signal Ara to evaporate and follow Houston into the building, and check in with Javin, who would have been watching the other entrances. For the hundredth time, I told myself that Ara and Javin were gone and I had no backup. I was on my own.

  Sighing, I checked one last time to make sure that no one was watching the CEO of Creston Enterprises and slowly backed away from the edge. I walked across the lot towards the stairwell and mentally prepared my route to stake out two more billionaires before dinner.

  I closed my eyes and lifted the energy around my body that I used to hide myself. I materialized and pulled open the stairwell door. I made it down one flight of stairs before the stairwell lights blinked out, leaving me in complete darkness.

  A gust of air was my only warning before a boot landed solidly against my head, knocking me down the stairs to the landing. Annoyed that I had been spotted, I drew on my years of training and threw my fist into the skull of my attacker, who was reaching down to grab me. Hearing a thud and a grunt, I thought I had incapacitated my attacker, but when I tried to get to my feet, my legs were kicked out from under me and I landed on my ass.

  Raising my legs, I wrapped them around something solid, hoping for a torso. I pulled my assailant down, tightened my legs, and put pressure on his soft flesh, waiting for a scream or a cry of mercy; instead, I felt a fist slam down on my thigh. I immediately released the asshole and retreated down the steps to the next landing.

  Thankfully, my eyes were adjusting to the darkness and I was able to see the outline of my attacker leaping down the steps towards my face. I attempted to catch him and take him to the ground, but I misjudged his angle and we both tumbled down the next flight of stairs. Landing in a heap, we untangled ourselves by throwing fists and kicking each other. We inflicted as much damage as possible until we retreated to separate sides of the landing.

  In my head, I heard Fist yelling at me to calm my breathing and use my abilities. I had two options, I could go invisible, though it would limit my fighting skills or slide through the building to the bottom level and escape to my car.

  My bruised knee told me to run, but I wanted to know how an average mugger had the balls to fight someone who was clearly prepared to fight back. I listened to Fist’s voice yelling, “Finish him, Sayah,” I got to my feet. Planning to take out his ankle and disable him, I suddenly felt my back slam against the wall and an arm press against my throat, attempting to cut off my air.

  I thought about sliding through the floor, but that would mean sliding through the man’s arm. Fist always warned me never to slide through people. He feared that my molecules would collide with someone else’s and I wouldn’t be able to put myself back together again.

  Determined to end the fight, I kicked the man’s shins hard enough to draw blood. When he didn’t flinch, a jolt ran through me and a sense of déjà vu made my mind go blank. I stopped struggling and listened to the breathing of the man. His cologne penetrated my senses and I rolled my eyes.

  “Javin, let me go, you psycho,” I gritted out.

  I felt his arm pull back slightly. “Sayah?” he asked cautiously.

  “Where’s your cape?” I asked, annoyed that he wasn’t in his battle gear. I would have immediately realized who was trying to kick my ass if he had been wearing his body armor.

  “Why are you here?” he asked calmly, avoiding my question.

  “I assume that we are following the same lead. Houston fits the profile. Top ten company, powerful CEO, and a total dick billionaire.”

  Javin grunted in agreement. He fished around in his pocket and a second later the lights turned back on. “I thought you gave up crime fighting. Last I heard you were writing fluff pieces for the Crimson News.”

  “Rupert’s trust fund won’t pay out until I turn 25 later this month. You might be able to survive on air and meditation, but I need food and a place to sleep. Besides, it provides a good cover. I hear all the breaking news while sitting in my small corner of the room. No one questions me when I head out to interview the head of the PTA. It’s not my fault if the local bake sale happens to be directly across from the bank that’s being robbed,” I shrugged. “I’m more interested in why you’re here.”

  Seeing Javin again made my stomach clench. Despite the fact that he was still putting pressure on my neck, I felt the same warmth spread through me whenever he was close. His heat combined with his alluring cologne made every nerve and cell in my body beg for his attention. Even though I had every right to hate him for leaving me, my body refused to hold a grudge.

  His mouth was open and he was panting slightly from our fight. I imagined what it would feel like to lean forward, nibble on his smooth jaw, and run my tongue over his perfect lips. I hated that I had no control over myself when he was inches away from me.

  Staring into my eyes, he slowly released my neck and backed up a quarter of an inch. “Houston Kelly hired me to provide extra security until the killer is caught. I heard someone walking on the roof during my sweep of the perimeter. I was hiding behind the door. You weren’t watching your six,” he said arrogantly.

  And there it was. Javin was back to being team leader, assessing my failures. I wanted to punch him in the gut, but it would have been a waste of time. It wouldn’t be strong enough to hurt the bastard. I would have to drop him off the top of a building, again, for his healing ability to slow down long enough for him to feel any pain.

  “Had I known it was you, I would have thrown you down all four flights of stairs,” I growled. “Are you done interrogating me?” I pushed against his lean, hard frame, reclaiming two more inches of personal space. I needed to get away from him before I forgot how much I hated him for abandoning me and kissed him.

  His lips curled into a conceited sm
ile. “You would have tried to push me, but I would have taken you down first.”

  Annoyed by his pompousness, I gave him the finger. I focused all my anger and used it to slide through the floors below me until I reached the bottom staircase. I raced out the door and safely made it to my car without being followed by Javin or anyone else.

  Speeding out of the parking lot, I slammed my hand against the steering wheel. I thought Javin had left Crimson. Now, I find him working on the same case. I debated if I should leave the billionaire murders to him or challenge him for the lead on the case.

  After years of following Fist’s orders and Javin’s plans, I decided that it was time to follow my own path.

  * * *

  Two days later, I was sitting in my favorite cafe on Miller Street, editing my article about the fallen hero memorial ceremony. I stared at the photo of the new monument and focused on Fist’s name carved into the gray marble wall. He had done a lot for the city, all the heroes had, but Fist was the only one who had done it for selfish reasons.

  While drunk one night, he detailed how he had gone from a bullied scientist to a hero. His father had expected him to run TechTyme Industries, even though Rupert only cared about his theories on genetic manipulation. His father constantly berated him because he showed no interest in the business and threatened to cut off his research grant.

  With no support from his family and one too many broken bones from his cruel classmates during his time in boarding school, Rupert became crazed enough to test out a formula that transformed his frail twenty-one year old body into a weapon.

  Reborn as Fist, Rupert nearly became a villain. He used his abilities to mercilessly crush his tormentors and get even with his father. His newly improved body gave him the strength and confidence to threaten his father into signing over his multi-billion dollar global business, leaving his father with nothing. Once in control of his own fate, Fist became reckless and bored with running a business. Instead, he hired people to run TechTyme and decided to use his new gifts to pummel anyone worthy of a fight.

  As a kid, I assumed that loneliness had driven him to build his hero team. As an adult, I learned the truth. He had created the team so that he could cover more territory and inflict more pain on the enemies of the city.

  Typing the final sentence of my article, I wondered if the fair citizens would still idolize a narcissist who cared nothing for the city he protected or the kids he mentored.

  “I need a date,” said the voice from my nightmares and fantasies.

  Javin gracefully slid into the seat across from me.

  “I still know a few desperate debutantes who would take you up on your offer. Otherwise, there’s an app I can install for you. What’s your price limit?” I asked. Though I wasn’t crazy enough to believe that he was asking me out, my heart and my clit both liked the idea of being his date.

  He leaned over and pushed a fancy invitation towards me. “Here are the details.”

  “Who would invite you to anything?” I laughed.

  His eyes narrowed and he looked away. “Houston Kelly is attending the Creston Youth Charity tonight. I’m working security, but I need to look like a civilian so I can interact with the guests and question them without making it look like an interrogation.”

  I pressed my legs together to keep from groaning when I remembered how amazing he looked in a tux. “Rupert should have given you personality lessons instead of dance lessons. You’ll bore your date to death while interrogating the snobs,” I snickered as I planned to find him the least attractive date possible.

  His sharp eyes locked onto mine, immediately causing my nipples to harden. Hating myself, I couldn’t help but admire his strong jaw, tanned cheeks and brown eyes. I desperately wanted to know if a good fucking could melt his hard exterior and warm up his frigid heart.

  “You’re going to be my date, Sayah,” he said matter-of-factly.

  Slamming my laptop closed, I sneered at him. “You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore. You lost that right when you walked away from Rupert’s grave.” As much as I wanted to be his date, I couldn’t allow him to walk into my life and take over as if I was still at his beck and call. I had wasted too many nights at home waiting for Fist to send us on a mission and stood up too many boyfriends to run off and save the city. I was done putting my life on hold for the team.

  I stood and reached for my bag, but stopped when I witnessed the sexiest smile of my life light up Javin’s handsome face. I gulped, unsure if I was dreaming or hallucinating.

  He slowly stood up while I remained frozen in place. “Wear something simple. I need you to blend in,” he said, his eyes still locked on mine. “Meet me in the lobby at 7:00 PM and don’t be late.”

  My mouth was too dry to form a snarky reply, so I shook my head like a petulant child.

  In an uncharacteristic move, he quickly leaned over and gave me a peck on the cheek before ducking out of the cafe.

  Bastard! Every time I thought he was incapable of expressing any kind of human emotion, he surprised the hell out of me by exuding enough sex appeal to make me forget my name. Why couldn’t I accept that Javin was a manipulative asshole instead of pretending that he was something more?

  * * *

  Stepping out of my car, I smiled broadly at my reflection in the car window. Wear something simple, my ass. Javin knew nothing about persuading men to confess their darkest secrets. Snooping around all night would yield little compared to the results of the scarlet satin dress that complimented my boobs and jet-black hair in vivid detail. The fact that it was backless and sat just above my ass was merely a bonus feature. With this beauty, I could boldly talk to any man in the room, just as I used to do when Rupert took me to events like this to search for dirty politicians and crooked businessmen.

  I grabbed my clutch and headed to the ostentatious front steps of the Collins Reception Building to join the upper crust of Crimson’s elite. I nodded and smiled at a few people who I recognized from Rupert’s banquets and other fundraising events. I also received a few eyebrows and hushed remarks at my boldness for returning to society life after Rupert’s death. After all, how I could possibly afford a million dollar donation without my trust fund?

  “Is this your idea of simple?” Javin grumbled behind me.

  I glanced at his perfectly tailored black tux and laughed. “Is that your idea of blending? I bet you have two marriage proposals by the time we hit the elevators, as long as they don’t figure out that you are an obsessive workaholic who only thinks about fighting techniques and stalking criminals. Oh, and that you can’t carry on an actual conversation without pissing someone off.” I hated admitting that his tall frame looked scrumptious wrapped in thick black fabric, but I saved myself by reminding him that his neurotic tendencies wouldn’t win him any friends during his investigation.

  “I look like every other guy here. You look like you want every man in this place to feel you up,” he replied tersely.

  Surprised by his overprotectiveness, I shrugged off his comment. “No, that will be every man’s fantasy, which will make it easier for me to talk to them. With this dress, men will want to flatter me and prove how much smarter they are than everyone in the room. They will be begging to tell me their secrets. You remember what these people are like. They crave approval and will do anything to maintain their importance in society. They would sell out their own family to make more money,” I whispered as we entered the building and headed up the wide staircase towards the elevators.

  He stared at my dress from the corner of his eye. “I know. Rupert never trusted them, not that he trusted anyone. Whenever he asked me to sit in on his meetings to act as his eyes and ears in the room, I definitely saw the downside of having money. The presidents and VPs were like vipers attacking each other for control of the conversation. They only cared about their own self interests.”

  “Remember how much Houston Kelly and Rupert hated each other? I fully expected Rupert to dive across the table at the
last charity event they attended and strangle him when Houston insulted him,” I replied.

  “I heard about that fight. Houston was rallying support for a new technology that would have made him millions. Didn’t Rupert ask you to spy on Houston because he thought Houston was illegally selling tech on the black market?”

  “Yup. I refused so he tasked Ara. I don’t think Ara found anything of interest. Speaking of which, have you heard from her?” I asked.

  Stepping into the elevator, we smiled politely at everyone.

  “Nope. I tried searching for her, but you know what she’s like when she doesn’t want to be found,” he whispered.

  I rolled my eyes when I thought about Ara’s mood swings. She often had trouble controlling her ability to shift into various water states and locked herself in her room to brood. She and Fist fought all the time until she froze the entire lab during one of their training sessions. After that, Fist refused to train with her alone.

  Reaching the reception area, I worked the room and said hello to nearly everyone in attendance, while Javin moved around, listening to different bits of conversations. As much as I hated mingling with the snobs, it felt familiar after my years of accompanying Rupert to his social engagements when I was old enough. He never brought an actual date with him so that he could attempt to flirt with the gossipy women for information about their powerful bosses. He was even known to seduce a few of the married women, when it suited his needs.

  By the time I made the rounds, I had learned that the three men who had died - Robert Calvin, Drew Augusta and Daniel Draven - didn’t have much in common, aside from their mundane deaths that appeared to be accidents to the untrained eye. Each was involved in different areas of business. Robert researched wireless tech applications, Drew manufactured textiles and Daniel developed compact weaponry. Though almost everyone in the room knew of the men, none of them could recall seeing the three of them in the same room together.