Grim Vengeance

by Jennifer Reinfried

  Emma stared at him for a second. Understanding shone in her eyes, and she turned to the doctor. Shawn watched her face transform. Her lips curved up into a small smile, rounding her cheeks slightly. Her blue eyes softened, and she relaxed her eyebrows. Tucking a bit of her hair behind one ear, she actually giggled.

  “See, you’re not going to hold them here.” Emma stepped closer, holding eye contact with the doctor.

  “What?” was all the man could say. He leaned away from her, face wary.

  “There’s nothing suspicious at all about them. They were hurt, stabbed, and you healed them. They’re all right now, so you can let them leave.” Emma rose up on her toes, bringing her face inches from his.

  “Y-yes. Of course. I know that. They’re fine.”

  Shawn let out a silent scoff. Damn. Duncan’s right. Her power is way stronger when she’s being friendly. Flirty.

  Emma nodded and smiled, continuing her conversation with the doctor. “Nothing is wrong. Everything’s normal, and there’s no need to worry.”

  “Or get the police involved,” Lucas offered.

  “And we don’t need the cops here.” Emma didn’t break her gaze away. “Right? No cops?”

  “But...I already called them...”

  “Oh, no.”

  She’s pouting. Holy hell, she’s actually pouting. Shawn watched with horrified awe. Is this how I looked when... He smothered the thought but told himself he’d revisit it once they were out of danger. If they ever were.

  Emma stared up at Dr. Christiansen through lowered eyelashes. “Call them back. Tell them you made a mistake, that there’s no need to come here. All right?” She bit her lip.

  “Oh, of course. Yes. Yes. I’ll call them right now.” The man scurried out of the room as if a fire had broken out inside.

  Shawn and Lucas stared at Emma.

  “What?” she snapped.

  Lucas looked away, pulling his blanket from his legs. He winced as he stood. “Come on. We need to get to Duncan.”

  “Dressed like that?” Emma’s gaze traveled down his hospital gown. “I think they cut your clothes off.”

  “So distract everyone we come across the way you just did. Who cares? We need to move.”

  Shawn still couldn’t take his eyes off of Emma. How could I let her do that to me? Had it been that obvious? No. She didn’t know she had a power back then. But she was still trying to seduce me for malicious means.

  She stepped up to him. “Shawn? He’s right, we have to get out of here. Come on.”

  He instantly felt a bit more calm. Tearing off his restraint as Lucas had done, he stood from the bed.

  “Hey.” Emma’s soft tone froze him to the core. She looked him in the eye. Before he could glance away, she said, “I care about you. So much.”

  Warmth filled him low in his stomach, and he smiled.

  “Seriously?” Lucas growled.

  She turned to look at him. “I care about you, too.”

  Jealousy flared inside of Shawn, but he didn’t speak. He watched Lucas flash a rare grin and slide his hand through his short hair.

  “We need to go,” Shawn barked. His voice was harsh, but he still smiled. She cares about me. Peace and serenity kept him alert yet calm. They slipped out of the room together, with Emma in the lead.

  They were approached almost instantly by a young female nurse with red hair pulled back into a bun. “Hey.” She frowned, approaching them in quick strides. “You two need to get back in there.”

  “No, they don’t.” Emma placed a hand on the woman’s arm, who turned and glared at her.

  “Yes, they do.”

  Staring at her, Emma shook her head. “You need to let us leave. Okay? You’re going to let us all go. Us three and our friends in the waiting room.”

  “Uh. Sure.”

  “You’re not going to alert anyone. You’re going to tell anyone who asks where we are that you don’t know.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Don’t know what?”

  “Where you guys are.”

  Emma smiled. Shawn marveled at how the simple shift in expression lit up her face, brought even more beauty and life to her. She cares about me. Something nagged at the back of his mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. He followed her out of their wing and down a long hall, Lucas close behind.

  —-

  Isaac felt his eyes dragging downward for the third time since Emma had left with Dr. Christiansen. His cheek rested on his fist but slipped forward until he started awake, fully alert again. I need some damn coffee.

  Aaron chuckled. “Same. And some food.”

  Grinning, Isaac stood. On it, he thought, staring right at the mind reader. Cream or sugar?

  “Both.”

  Anything else, Your Highness?

  Aaron feigned offense but waved a handful of dollar bills at Isaac. “One of everything in the vending machine, please.”

  Isaac waved the money away and turned, focused on the snacks.

  The front doors of the emergency room slid open to reveal the unmistakable sound of chatter on a handheld radio. He froze. Cops?

  Suddenly Aaron was next to him. “Yep.”

  “Sir. Please, turn around.”

  Both men complied. Three officers, two male, one female, stood in the waiting room, all with their hands on their belts near their weapons.

  “Hey, now.” Duncan sat up in the chair he’d been dozing in. “What’s the matter?”

  “We got a call about suspicious persons here. Matching your descriptions, along with two patients and a second woman.” The female officer gestured at the emergency room doors, sending a colleague toward them without a word.

  Isaac’s mind flew. He attempted to step forward, but Aaron put a hand on his shoulder.

  “Your girl to the rescue.”

  He flicked his gaze to the right just as Emma came through the sliding doors with Shawn and Lucas in tow, matching hospital gowns crisp and clean.

  The officer that had been approaching the doors stopped. His knees bent, and he started to pull out his weapon, but not fully. “Stop. Now.” His voice was strong.

  “Bet this is making one hell of a show for the receptionists back there,” Aaron muttered. “At least they’re not dumb enough to be filming on their phones...yet.”

  Isaac kept his hands at his sides, unsure of what to do.

  “No, you stop.” Emma put a hand on her hip, staring the cop directly in the eye. “Back off. Now.”

  “Yes ma’am.” He complied, clearing her path and allowing her to pass.

  “Excuse me?” The female cop stalked forward. “These are our suspects. What’s the matter with you?”

  “Let her pass,” was all he said.

  “The fuck?” She slid her weapon from her belt, staring at the brunette before her.

  Emma was faster. Taking advantage of the woman’s gaze, she smiled and said, “Put your gun away. None of us are a threat to you, or to anyone.”

  The officer frowned but otherwise didn’t move.

  “Put your gun away. We are not a threat.”

  The radio on the woman’s shoulder crackled, and a voice requested something Isaac couldn’t make out. She holstered her weapon and walked away, speaking quietly into the mouthpiece.

  Approaching the final cop, Emma smiled and chewed on her lip. “You’re cute.”

  Isaac raised an eyebrow. Uh, what? The man’s like, sixty.

  “You know that we’re not a threat, right?”

  The man snorted. “A’course. I don’t even get why we’re here. Pointless call.”

  Emma giggled. “Isn’t it? That’s okay, though. You all can just go back to the station and tell everyone there it was a mistake. Right?”

  “Sure.” The man crossed his arms and leaned against a pillar, eyeing her figure. “Too bad, though. I woulda liked to...” He frowned, his expression that of a man struggling with inner demons. Isaac stared at the exchange, wondering if his vision was literally going
green around the edges and why he so suddenly cared if she flirted with someone else to save their asses.

  Aaron shifted next to him.

  “Everything’s fine here.” The female cop interrupted. “That was the chief. Said the doctor called back, had made a mistake. These people aren’t a threat.” She walked forward, hand extended toward Emma who accepted it, gracing her with a wide, sweet smile.

  Minutes later, the officers left. Everyone stared at Emma. She wouldn’t meet anyone’s gaze.

  “Can we just go?” she asked in a soft voice. “Please? I want to get out of here.”

  Shawn stepped forward. “Of course. Guys, come on. Show some respect.”

  “Respect?” Mari scoffed. “Didn’t you see that?”

  “Yeah.” He grinned at Emma, scratching the back of his head, shyly looking at his feet. “She totally saved us all.”

  Isaac took in Shawn’s behavior and Lucas’ odd smile. Oh, good. She refreshed her hold over them. Spectacular.

  This time Aaron cleared his throat. Isaac shot him a look to find the man staring back at him with eyebrows high.

  “Oh, shut up,” Isaac muttered.

  —-

  Chelsea’s eyes widened, and her hands flew up, clawing at the weapon that impaled her.

  Vance grinned, watching as the woman he had once trusted with his life flailed, a confused look on her face. He chuckled. Did not see that coming.

  She reached out and gripped Charlie by the throat before he could take a step back. The man didn’t seem too concerned, even when Chelsea’s hand lit up as she struggled to speak, her mouth opening and closing in rapid motions.

  Charlie laughed. Flames engulfed his face but left his skin and hair unburnt. Soon, her grip weakened, and she fell to her knees, releasing him.

  Together Vance, Michael, and Charlie stepped back, letting Chelsea tip forward. Dark maroon blood spurted from her throat and out of her mouth. Her eyes rolled back in her head. She landed face first on the concrete floor, body twitching in random spasms.

  One down, two to go. Vance smiled. “Michael, you are to come with us.”

  “But, sir, I—”

  Whirling, Vance snapped the orders once again. “I made myself clear, did I not?”

  Michael blinked rapidly, nodding. “Yes, sir. Of course.”

  Rounding on Charlie, Vance snarled. “Tell me where Isaac is. Tell me how to find my nephew.”

  “Whoa. Easy, there. It doesn’t work like that. See...” Charlie reached behind him. Vance tensed, but it was only a carefully folded map. From another pocket, he produced a small vial of red liquid. “I’ve found a way to track people I’m looking for, but I just need a minute for it to work.”

  Letting out a sigh, Vance watched as Charlie opened the little bottle and smeared a drop of its contents on the back of his hand. The Synth then opened the map, staring at it intently.

  Seconds ticked by. Nothing happened. Charlie frowned, his brow furrowing in concentration. His upper lip twitched. Sweat formed at his hairline.

  “Fuck!” Charlie ripped the map in half, his face flushing. He tore at the paper again, shredding it.

  “So...what just happened?” Michael, his face wary, eyes flicking between his boss and the upset Synth, took a step toward Vance.

  Charlie sighed and ran a hand through his sandy hair. “The blood. It...it wore off. Goddammit.”

  “Wore off?”

  “Just.” He held his hands up. “Let me think a minute.”

  Michael shot a warning glance at Vance.

  Irritated, the Russian gripped Charlie’s shoulder. “If you do not know where Isaac is...if you lied...”

  “I didn’t. They’re holed up at some cabin in Salt Lake City. But I took too long getting here. I can’t get their exact location. We’ll have to figure out a different way to...” His eyes widened, and he looked up at Vance.

  “This is getting old fast.” Michael pinched the bridge of his nose. He stalked over to the couch and pulled a small handgun from the cushions. “I say we take him out.”

  Charlie scoffed. “Just listen.”

  “Make it fast and make it good.” Vance crossed his arms over his barrel chest, staring down at him.

  “We don’t have to go to them. Don’t have to find them. Instead, we need to lure them to us. Get them to a place we can control, so you can get Isaac and we can take out the rest.”

  “How?”

  “Lab 15. You know where it is.”

  Vance straightened his shirt, tugging at the sleeves one at a time. “I do.”

  “They’re making more Synths. They must be young, right?”

  “The process just began two years ago. The children cannot be much older than a year, giving time for the women to conceive and give birth.”

  Charlie was nodding, his face eager. “Perfect hostages.”

  The plan was clicking into place in Vance’s mind. “And my face is known there. We can walk right in.”

  “Shawn wouldn’t hesitate to try to help these poor, innocent souls.” His tone was mocking.

  “Neither would Emma.”

  “And all she has to do is command the rest to follow, and they will.” Charlie’s grin was malicious and cold.

  “Then we go now.” Vance stepped over the body before him. “The sooner this is done, the sooner I can get back to my life.”

  Charlie nodded, still smiling. Michael rolled up his sleeves and pulled his hair into a ponytail.

  Vance headed through the large metal door. The sooner I can kill Emma and release the hold she has over my nephew.

  Chapter Nine

  Jaxon threw a concentrated force of energy at the large mirror in Orson’s enormous master bathroom, watching the jagged pieces shatter as they hit the stone flooring. The glass glittered in the soft white light of the small bulbs in the ceiling.

  -Did you have to?-

  He sighed. “I can’t focus on practicing if you won’t stop reprimanding me every single time I break something.”

  -Oh, come on, we both know you broke the mirror for fun. You’re not doing anything, not focusing. Hell, you still haven’t disposed of the corpse in the living room.-

  Gritting his teeth, Jaxon slid his fingers into his hair and yanked. “Shut up. Seriously. I know what I’m doing.”

  -Sitting around a dead guy’s house while he rots? Right. Sorry, my bad. It’s a great plan.-

  “I’m waiting for instructions. From Charlie. As you already know. When I get them, I’m going to go to—”

  -Salt Lake City, I know. Where you intend to murder people that helped you, that care about you. Oh wait, like you killed me. Forgot that doesn’t stop you, does it?-

  “Damn right it doesn’t,” Jaxon mumbled as he stalked out of the bathroom. “So. What’s it like in my head, hmm? Dark and ominous and full of anger?”

  -All I see is what you see. I can’t feel a thing other than how disappointed I am in you.-

  His steps faltered. “Wow. Nice.”

  -Like you care. All you want is revenge. How can you not see the bigger picture right now?-

  “Which is?”

  -Your brother. He cares about you. He doesn’t want to fight you. No one did, but you kept attacking, over and over. You won’t stop, and you’re forcing people to take up a defensive plan to bring you down. If you just stopped your rampage, this thing would fizzle out. No one would get hurt, including yourself.-

  “I’m not going to get hurt, Dad. Didn’t you see? Orson shot at me and I stopped the bullet before I even realized what had happened.”

  -He was one man. Alex was one man. Please, son, stop while you’re ahead. We can go back to Duncan. He can help you.-

  “No.” Jaxon stopped next to the rolled-up carcass of Orson Harper. The carpet had loosened slightly, and a thick, sour smell emitted from the lump before him. A fly buzzed in his face. Waving it away, he frowned. “Where did that come from?”

  -You left the window open. Ever since you came here.-

&nbs
p; “Ah. Whatever. It’s all good. Fucker lives in the middle of nowhere.”

  -Doesn’t mean no one will come looking for him. What if he was expected somewhere tonight? Or three days ago when you killed him? Did you think of that?-

  “Hey, you tell me, you’re the one who can read my thoughts now.” Jaxon glanced at the front door, irritated at the anxiety he suddenly felt building within his chest. “But you’re right. I think it’s time we get out of here.” He walked into the kitchen and snatched up a set of keys he had discovered in the foyer the day after he’d killed Orson.

  -You’re just going to leave him there? Wrapped up like a rotten burrito? Jax, come on. Do you WANT to get caught?-

  “Who cares? I want this to be found. Maybe they’ll think it’s Grim, back for more vengeance against criminals.”

  -So you’re framing your brother? He loves you. Vance put his face everywhere connecting him to Grim. You’re hurting him, and he’s done nothing to you.-

  “Other than betray me.”

  -You can’t fight him, Jax. His strength alone–-

  Jaxon whirled around, hands in the air. “His strength? Are you joking? I’m invincible. How many times do I have to tell you that?” He slammed a palm on the destroyed granite countertop before him and began to pace, shoes crunching in the broken glasses he’d tossed days earlier. “Nothing will stop me. Nothing can stop me. Not you, and especially not Shawn with his super strength.”

  -I wasn’t talking about physical strength. Listen to yourself. You’re ranting. Out loud. In a house with a corpse. You’re not well, Jax.-

  “Not well? Gee, I wonder why?” He stuck a hand in his right pocket and yanked out Henry’s crumpled and worn list. Spreading it carefully along the counter, he glared down at the slightly slanted handwriting.

  -Please...don’t...-

  Jaxon jabbed a finger at Bruce’s name. “There. Right fucking there. My own father’s name. Did you even know this existed? That Henry wrote this list?”

  -Not until recently. Just like I didn’t know Shawn was Grim, and neither did Vance. None of us thought a blind man could have done what he did.-

  “And the reason you truly took us to Redborough? It was to work for Vance.”

  -I...I had heard he was making a name for himself, yes. I knew if I was on his good side, it would mean my protection as well as yours and Shawn’s. I didn’t know how to find him right away, contact him, so I waited until the opportune moment.-