“So which do you pick? I’d go for Finn, really. I mean, you don’t have any choice, I suppose. You’re not going to kill a child, and if you don’t kill your partner, then I will let Raoul loose on the boy.”
FINN HEARD every word Dakota said. He came around slowly a few minutes before a phone was shoved in his face and Talon was being led into the warehouse. He had no idea where he was or how long he’d been out. He vaguely remembered the enhanced appearing in Adam’s room and had no idea what he’d done to him. Whatever it was, it put him out quickly.
Finn glanced back at Adam. He looked like crap, to be honest. His worried gray eyes bored into Finn, but Finn wasn’t sure what, if anything, anyone could do. Adam was tied up, so presumably they weren’t sure of his loyalty yet. He hadn’t seen Adam demonstrate any ability apart from bending the metal safe door, and whatever the other enhanced guy did, he put Finn out nearly instantly, so he guessed he could do the same to anyone.
He could feel Talon’s panic. He knew Talon was trying to look and sound calm, but the rapid pulse point in his neck kind of gave it away. Well, to him, anyway. He wasn’t sure the others either noticed or cared. He vaguely acknowledged it was odd he wasn’t panicking himself. Dakota had just given Talon an impossible choice, and one that, unless the team found them, would mean he was going to die.
His breath hitched in the silence that weighed heavily in the room, and Talon swung his eyes away from Dakota and fixed them unerringly on Finn. There. Those gorgeous fucking blue eyes that saw everything, shining straight at him, carrying helplessness, anger, an apology almost? Was that what it was? It wasn’t that Talon was being given an impossible choice—he had no choice at all, really.
Finn tried to smile. He tried to tell Talon that it was okay, that he understood Dakota made it impossible. He wanted to be brave, to be the big man. To tell him he was forgiven… but what he really wanted was to cry and be told it wasn’t hopeless and it wasn’t going to really fucking hurt. He didn’t want to die, but most of all, if he were completely honest, he didn’t want Talon to be the one to have to kill him.
“I don’t have all day,” Dakota said, sounding bored.
Talon wrenched his gaze back to Dakota. “My team is on its way. There is no way you can get away with this.”
Dakota smiled. “My family owns this warehouse. Disused for the moment, but we keep security cameras trained on the perimeter in case of a break-in. So there is no team outside. There are no cops. There is no cavalry, and no one is going to ride to the rescue.” He glanced at Oliver and sighed. The boy was wearing a thin T-shirt and a small jacket. It was fairly cool in the warehouse. “Oliver, you may want to take off your jacket. It’s going to get a little warm in here.” He looked at Raoul. “Raoul, if you please.”
“Stop,” Talon ground out. “You can’t do this.”
“Oh, yes, before I forget,” he continued. “If any of us feel like you are trying anything, Raoul will kill the child immediately. For the few seconds he can’t breathe, he will retain his ability to kill both you and the child. So don’t even think about trying anything. Raoul has also demonstrated his abilities on more than one victim at a time. I doubt if you have.”
Raoul now had a firm hand on Oliver, who was crying. The lights started flickering alarmingly.
Dakota followed Talon’s gaze to where he glanced at Adam. “No, no help there either. Some abilities are useful but not deadly. Adam can merely open locked doors, and while that would have been incredibly useful in the early days financially, Adam has decided he doesn’t want to join us, so we’re just going to let him bleed out here on the floor.”
Adam’s face was gray and his eyes were closed. The gauze was now completely covered in blood, and Finn didn’t know what to do to help, but somehow, knowing his best friend was still his best friend made the day a little less shitty.
“Bring Finn a little closer, if you please.”
The enhanced holding Finn dragged him nearer to Talon.
Raoul caught hold of Oliver’s shoulders and pulled him to stand in front of him. He took off the boy’s jacket and then turned him back around to look at Talon.
“Talon.” Dakota’s voice carried a warning this time. “I am running out of patience.” He nodded at Raoul, and Raoul looked at Oliver closely. Everyone saw the boy lift a shaky hand to his head to wipe the sweat that had suddenly bloomed there.
Finn had seen enough. “Talon. It’s okay.”
Talon looked at him, incredulity and agony etched on his face. “I can’t,” he whispered.
Everyone heard the tiny whimper from Oliver as the boy’s body sagged against Raoul, the flush stark on his previously pale face.
“Talon, you have to,” Finn said, glancing once more at Oliver as his eyes rolled up in his head and he slid to the floor. Raoul made no move to catch him.
“Stop,” Talon ordered and looked at Dakota. “There will be nowhere—nowhere you can hide that I can’t find you, nowhere you can run that I can’t catch you. You will regret this day every second for what remains of your miserable life.”
Dakota just raised his eyebrows and looked pointedly at Finn. “Last chance.” He looked at Raoul. “Raoul?”
“No,” Finn shouted. “Talon, look at me. Do this for me. You’re not killing me. You’re saving a child’s life.”
Dakota lifted his hand to Raoul to indicate he should continue, but at the second everyone saw him do so, Talon took a step toward Finn and stared at him, the blue eyes Finn loved so much brittle with the agony of what was being forced upon him. Finn wanted to tell him it was okay. More than anything he wanted to tell him he loved him, and as he opened his mouth to speak, Finn’s breath caught just as he was going to take the last one. For a second it seemed time stood still, and then his lungs tried to expand and nothing happened. His arms grew heavy and his feet wouldn’t move. The heart that had been pounding in his chest slowed down.
No pain. Even as he felt himself toppling over, the arms he longed to feel caught him and held him. Finn heard a whispered apology and felt wet cheeks. No burn. No lungs screaming for oxygen. It was almost like falling asleep. Something brushed his cheek, but it was getting too dark to see. It could have been a kiss. He almost imagined it a kiss.
Chapter Twenty-Two
TALON’S ARMS shook as he watched the life go out of Finn’s eyes. The life he was draining. He choked back a cry and pulled the still body to him tightly. He couldn’t survive this. He was done.
He looked up, anger flooding his body. He didn’t care anymore.
“Talon.” Dakota stepped back as he issued the warning, and Talon smiled, satisfied Dakota had seen in him his future and he knew his life was forfeit.
For a second the silence was ominous, and then an explosion rocked the building and Talon fell back, still clutching Finn.
Smoke, panic, sirens. People—it seemed hundreds of people—none of whom mattered to Talon except the one he held in his arms. He barely registered the guns firing and the bodies flying. He took no satisfaction in seeing Raoul take three bullets before he could kill anyone else.
“Talon.” Gael shook his arm. “Talon, let us see to Finn.”
Talon was helpless as they ripped Finn from his arms. The noises fell away. The sounds. The smoke. None of it registered. Not even the paramedics desperately trying to restart Finn’s heart—the heart Talon stopped.
Talon watched as the paramedics cleared everyone from Finn’s lifeless body. The jolt as the electricity flooded it. The second attempt… and the third. He wanted to scream when the paramedics sadly shook their heads.
“No. No, let me.”
Talon raised his eyes as Adam, who was awake, struggled against the paramedics who were trying to help him. “Talon,” he cried desperately. “Let me. I can save him.”
Talon bolted upright and grabbed Adam, oblivious to the freshly gauzed wound on his chest. “Let him try,” he ordered and practically thrust Adam down next to Finn.
“My ability isn’
t just opening doors.” Adam grunted in pain. “It’s—well, look.” Adam hovered a shaky hand over Finn’s chest, and sparks began to crackle and fire from the ends of his fingers.
“Stand back,” Gael shouted, pulling Talon out of the way.
A second bang and Finn’s body seemed to jump from the floor. Adam was flung three feet away, and the paramedics swarmed once more.
“We’ve got a pulse!” one of them shouted in excitement.
Talon let Gael hold him because he wasn’t sure his own legs would. He didn’t realize he was crying until Vance dragged him from Gael and hugged him and he wondered why Vance’s shirt was wet.
FINN OPENED his eyes to familiar white walls and closed them again almost immediately. He was getting really, really sick of waking up in the hospital.
“Look at you.”
Finn cracked a shaky smile as he recognized Jeremy’s voice and opened bleary eyes. He heard a snore to his right and saw Gael stretched out asleep between two chairs. His heart plummeted. Gael opened his eyes and sat up in a hurry, then started to smile and stopped when he saw Finn’s eyes fill with tears. It was stupid, and he closed them.
A big hand covered his. “Ah, kid,” Gael said apologetically, but Finn wasn’t listening. He was too busy hearing the sound of his heart breaking.
He must have gotten himself worked up with the crying because a doctor appeared, glanced in concern at the monitor, and added something to his IV that made him go back to sleep.
The next time he woke up, he blinked as Vance’s face came into focus. Vance shot to his feet. “Shall I call someone?”
Finn almost smiled at the faint panic in the big guy’s voice. Almost. “I won’t have another meltdown.” He tried to swallow and sipped gratefully at the water Vance held to his lips. He wanted to ask where everyone was, but he knew Vance would see straight through his question and know he wanted to know where Talon was. And he wasn’t sure he was ready for the answer.
“The team’s in the waiting room. Jeremy says he’s trying to get the hospital to designate a special one for us, seeing as you seem to be making a habit of it.”
Finn looked up. It was no use. He had to ask. “The whole team?”
Vance sighed. “I’ll go get Gael.”
Which told Finn everything he needed to know. He didn’t bother trying to stay awake for Gael to have to tell him Talon wasn’t there.
THE NEXT time he opened his eyes, Finn was astonished to see Agent Gregory quietly sitting in the chair, reading a report. “Sir?” Finn said.
Gregory beamed and closed his file. “Agent Mayer. Good to see you awake.” Gregory patted Finn’s hand awkwardly. “My boy, the FBI is very proud of you. Deputy Director Cohen himself sends his thanks.”
Finn parted his lips soundlessly and then he remembered. “Adam?”
“Adam Mackenzie is recovering nicely, and with a little help, has got himself a good attorney. Isaac Dakota is completely lawyered up, unfortunately. Raoul Esperanza, Mark Allen, and Thomas Kent were all shot and killed at the scene.”
“Oliver?”
“Oliver Martinez is at home with his mom, who has apparently kicked Oliver’s dad out. Isaac Dakota has been incredibly clever and is simply blaming his dead colleagues. He is insisting Raoul Esperanza threatened him into using his family’s money and contacts. He has only a low-grade telekinetic ability documented, so the lawyers are working through all that now. We are still no nearer to finding out where the other enhanced children are, but that will be the number-one priority for your team when you rejoin them.” Gregory smiled. “I actually have a letter sent from the new classmates of the boy you helped in the bank. He’s started at a new school, and his mom has had a T-shirt made with the HERO logo. Totally against regulations, I might add, but what can I do?”
Finn’s heart shrank a little even as he was pleased to hear the good news about Bobby. He was being offered everything he ever wanted.
“Agent Gregory? Please accept this as my official notice of resignation,” Finn said quietly.
“Resignation?” Gregory repeated as if he hadn’t heard properly. “What do you mean?”
Finn looked him in the eye. “I am resigning from the team.”
“You don’t have to worry about the four weeks anymore,” Gregory quickly countered. “You will receive training along with your regular duties from now on. In fact, I have another candidate in mind to partner either Gael or Vance.”
Finn wanted to cry again. But this time he didn’t. He couldn’t work with Talon. Talon clearly couldn’t bear to be in the same room as Finn, which made it impossible for the team. And he loved Talon. He was sure of it. And Talon needed the team more than Finn did. He would do this for Talon and walk away.
“Talon is temporarily suspended until he gets a psych clearance, but I expect that to be a formality,” Gregory added.
Because he killed me. “I’m sorry, Agent Gregory. I know you took a chance on me, and I will always be grateful, but my decision is final.” Finn lay back and closed his eyes. He knew it was rude, but he couldn’t bear to see the condemnation on Gregory’s face.
THE NEXT day Finn got dressed slowly. He was fine. A little shaky but fine. He was sure, despite Gregory being pissed at him, he would give him a reference. He had a job to get, an apartment to find, and a car to rent. He had the rest of his life to sort out, and wallowing in pity in a hospital bed wasn’t getting him anywhere.
Gael had left him his wallet and bank cards they got back from the bank, and he was going to come back for him this afternoon. But Finn wasn’t going to wait for him. He liked Gael, but Gael’s loyalty should be for his team leader, not for him. He wasn’t sure he was ready to admit he couldn’t be in Gael’s company without being constantly reminded of Talon.
Jeremy walked back into his room to find Finn dressed. “I didn’t realize you were going this early. I thought it was this afternoon. Isn’t Superman coming back for you?” Jeremy picked up his charts.
Finn smiled. Jeremy called everyone on the team “Superman.” He knew it was a term of affection. “I’d appreciate if you’d call me a cab.”
Jeremy sighed. “Really?”
Finn nodded.
“Okay, but you’ll have to give me fifteen minutes to get your discharge paperwork ready,” Jeremy replied, and Finn settled back down to wait.
A pleasant lady came in to ask Finn to sign some insurance forms about ten minutes later, and Jeremy returned with a wheelchair a few minutes after that.
Finn screwed up his nose.
“Hospital policy,” Jeremy said and grinned. “Park your butt.”
Finn sat and tried not to grumble while he was pushed out to the entrance.
Jeremy stopped by the doors. “Your cab’s just outside.” He smiled. “I don’t want to see you back here anytime soon,” he scolded.
Finn smiled, picked up his bag, and headed out of the doors. Then he came to a complete stop as he took in the huge black armored vehicle currently blocking all the cars behind it. He blinked in shock as he read the white letters on the side of the BearCat.
Human.
Enhanced.
Rescue.
Organization.
Shit. Finn’s eyes filled. He was going to cry again, but not at the stupid car or the silly name. It was at the man who had jumped down and was solemnly holding the door open for him.
Talon.
“Someone told me you wanted a ride?”
Finn stared at Talon, who wasn’t just holding the door. Those big hands were cradling Finn’s heart. He cleared his throat and ignored the honks of the cars that couldn’t get past the BearCat. “That depends entirely on where we’re going,” Finn said, ashamed at the wobble in his voice.
“With me,” Talon answered. “I don’t care wherever it is you want to go, but you have to take me with you.”
Finn, aware of the crowd gathering to stare, let Talon help him up into the front seat. Talon ran around and climbed in. Within seconds the powerful engi
ne had rumbled to life, and Talon pulled away from the hospital.
“Where do you want to go?” Talon asked cautiously, as if he were afraid of the answer.
“Why, Talon? Why did you come and get me? Don’t you think it makes it harder?”
Talon swore quietly, pulled the BearCat into the parking lot, and killed the engine. He didn’t speak for a few seconds.
“I killed you.” Talon ground out every pain-filled word. He stared unseeing in front of him. “I held you in my arms and took the life from you. I couldn’t come, because how could you even bear to look at me when I can’t even bear to look at myself?”
Finn clamped his lips and swallowed. He put a hand gently on the shaking shoulders. “You don’t think I blame you, do you? Talon. You had no choice. Neither of us did. There was no way you could let Oliver be hurt.”
Talon made a pained sound in the back of his throat, and suddenly Finn was dragged into his embrace. “I killed you.” Talon’s muffled voice came from where his head was buried in Finn’s chest. “I had to watch you die. I came to the hospital, but as soon as they said you were okay, I ran.” He lifted his tear-soaked eyes. “I couldn’t watch you blame me. I couldn’t watch you realize I am the monster they’ve all been calling us for years.”
Finn dragged his own arms around Talon and held him tighter.
“I had my phone turned off, but then Gregory turned up. He told me you had resigned from the team. Gael was going to collect you and bring you to my place so we could talk. Then your nurse called and said you were leaving.”
Finn squeezed Talon tighter. Jeremy. He should have known.
Talon loosened Finn’s arms and gazed down at him. “Talk to me, please. I know I don’t deserve you, but—”
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