Titan Elite (Demigods Duet Book 2)

by Kolleen Fraser

  “I can’t make promises about what will happen when the tour is over. The way things are going, we don’t even know if we will survive the tour.” I kiss him, burying myself in his strong arms. Everything we have gained and lost on this tour, life is so fragile. “Take me to bed, Jake, make me forget the world.”

  “This time, I’m taking my time. No games, just you and me,” he says with a smile. I slip up onto the tips of my toes and very slowly, with my eyes locking onto his. Press my lips to his, soft and careful, like we could break each other with a single touch. I smile wide at him, wanting to jump up and down and shout to the world that Jacob Mason is mine.

  “Come on then,” I say with a wink, walking toward my bedroom, beckoning for him to follow me, he does a silent fist pump, which makes me laugh.

  His smile lights up, sweeping me off my feet and over his shoulder. “I’m going to see you naked again, high five!”

  “Oh my god, shut up before I change my mind,” I say laughing.

  “Hey, no backsies.”

  “You’re an idiot,” I say shaking my head.

  “I love you too, babe,” he says, smacking my ass for emphasis.

  We lose ourselves in each other’s touch for the rest of the day and night. Making silent promises to each other. This is real love, no more playing games, no more heart break, we deserve this moment of happiness.

  Laying in his arms he says, “In a perfect world I would have swept you off your feet when we were kids, we would have spent every day of our lives happy, loving each other.”

  “In a perfect world.” I whisper, this moment is perfect. “When I’m with you the world is perfect.”

  Business as Usual

  Tonight we have a simple recon mission during a private dinner party. Only the girls were invited to attend, so I have to assume there will be men there to ogle and fondle us. Gross. Tonight I’m dressed in a stunning, form-fitting back dress, the slit coming almost to my hip. Checking my reflection one last time before we leave. Turning side to side trying to get a glimpse of the gun and holster strapped to my inner thigh. Nope, it is completely hidden. I feel like a femme fatale in this dress, powerful and sexy with my deep, red hair falling in waves down my back, thick smoky eyes making me appear wild and dangerous.

  Grabbing the adorable yet pointless tiny red sparkly clutch my stylists picked out for me. I throw my lip gloss inside because otherwise I’m carrying an empty purse and that’s just stupid no matter how “cute” it looks.

  Walking into the living room, I see the rest of the team gathered. Imari is dressed in a short pale blue sparkly number while Ianna is ethereal in a gorgeous flowing, deep blue gown, the stylists really went all out for tonight’s appearance.

  “You’re to mingle with the guests, cover as much ground as you can. You will be equipped with a hidden camera to get as much footage as you can of everyone in attendance. Imari will get friendly with the man in charge, we need a positive ID on this guy.” Marcus goes over our orders one last time. Seems pretty straightforward. Though, I don’t even want to know what “get friendly” entails.

  Marcus continues his pep talk. “No one has seen Silas since his outburst after the bombing. So we can only assume he won’t be showing up tonight. That puts us one man short. Everyone has their orders; Mason will accompany you girls, for security purposes. We aren’t anticipating any problems. Asher and Adam will be waiting at ground level a few blocks away in case any problems arise. Adam will be in shortly to explain the necessary equipment to you. Any questions?”

  “Why are we going solo? After the attack you’d think it would be more important to keep us together.” Ianna says. Making a good point.

  “It’s just a party, you go, flirt, and have a good time, but stay alert, we need to watch our backs. Whoever was behind the attack is either preparing for another assault or waiting for us to make the next move. If we take any more time off whoever is behind this will get a few steps ahead of us. Relax, no one will hurt you. Imari will be there to provide any extra attention the men require, right Imari? He scowls at her with a condescending smirk.

  Imari cringes, “Yes, sir.” Submitting to him, once again.

  I’m outraged on her behalf. “Imari, no. You don’t have to do this. Marcus, tell he she doesn’t have to do this!”

  Imari, without looking up says, “It’s okay, Nyx. It’s why I’m here.”

  Asher’s turn to be outraged. “No it fucking isn’t!”

  She places her hand on his arm trying to calm him. “I will flirt and play nice, that’s all. Don’t worry, I’m no one’s whore,” she says with hard eyes staring daggers at Marcus. Good for her.

  Asher rubs her arms; I can see his reluctance to let her go. “Just be careful and remember, I will be right outside the whole time. If anything goes wrong, you call me immediately. Kai and I will come running guns blazing if need be okay?”

  “Okay,” she says nodding.

  “I love you,” he says cupping her cheek.

  “I love you too, Ash.” It’s a sweet moment between them, I try not to watch but fail. He really does love her. She deserves to be happy, they both do.

  Mason comes over to me, pulling me into his arms. “Promise me you will be safe in there and stay close to me.”

  “I’m always safe,” I say with a smile. He snorts in response, I’m never safe.

  “Move out,” Marcus orders.

  Adam is waiting for us in the transport, he begins attaching devices to us and explains what equipment we will be using. “Each of you will be carrying one of these, a recording device to record any conversations you have while mingling,” he says, holding up a Titan symbol pin with jewels in red for me blue for Ianna and silver for Imari to match our powers. “It will record everything. That’s it, smile, make nice with the fancy men and come home, safe.” There is a genuine kindness in Adam that wasn’t there before he lost Endyra. My heart breaks for him, to be here now, helping us. I would never be able to be this focused after losing someone I love; I’d be a mess.

  “Thank you, Adam.” I say as we step out of the transport. He just nods his head in reply, closing the door behind us.

  “I’m so grateful for an easy night,” Ianna says as we walk into the building.

  We enter the party and the chatter stills, the guests share an expression that is a mixture of awe and disdain for who and what we are. Freaks on display, well dressed freaks, but freaks nonetheless. I hate these people. Holding the world for themselves and banishing demigods to the island.

  The team separates from each other to do our rounds, smiling and answering the same stupid questions we get every time we are out in public; Does it hurt when I burn? Do demigods all sleep around? Can I give them a BJ in the bathroom? Idiots.

  After a few laps around the room I settle into the background and sip my glass of champagne. Mase comes to stand at my side. “Stay alert. Something isn’t right,” Mason whispers close to my ear. I casually glance around the room, seeing nothing out of sorts I watch Mason. His eyes are squinting as he stares off down a hallway to the right. He senses something and the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.

  “What is it?” I ask. He doesn’t answer but takes my hand in his so I can feel what he feels. The power flowing through the room and him is extensive. There is something back there and it is emanating enough power to take us all out. Shit. We need to get out of here.

  “Who?” I whisper.

  “It can’t be…”

  “Mason, you’re scaring me,” I say, squeezing his hand trying to get him to talk to me.

  The guards lead Imari down the same hallway we are watching. “Mason, who is back there?”

  He still doesn’t answer me, he’s frozen in place, as all the color drains from his face. “This was a mistake, we need to leave, now.” He tries to pull me toward the door but I resist.

  “We have to do something. We can’t let Imari walk into something she can’t handle. I have no idea who it is or what they
are going to do to her,” I whisper yell at him. His grip on my arm is the only thing keeping me from bolting back there and raising hell.

  In my ear, Asher’s voice pipes in, “I lost communication with Imari. What’s going on up there?”

  Imari’s scream detonates the chaos we were holding back so carefully. I pull the gun I had concealed in a thigh holster and run full speed toward the door they took Imari through. Knowing without looking behind me that Ianna and Mason have my back. I kick open the door, taking in the scene. Two guards are holding her arms and there is a man standing over her. She remains on her knees, with blood trickling out of her split lip and a red mark across her cheek. Crushed on the floor beside her lay the surveillance camera she was wearing. Shit just got real.

  I keep my aim steady as the man watches me with no trace of emotion whatsoever. He has cold grey eyes, salt and pepper hair. He sends a shiver through my body, something about this man terrifies me to my core. “Hand over Imari and you can walk away from this in one piece,” I state.

  He laughs at this. “Phoenyx. I should have known Marcus didn’t have the balls to leave you in the gutter where you belong. My sons never did follow orders.”

  Sons? Father? It can’t be. “No, you’re dead, I saw Marcus kill you.” This can’t be real.

  “You saw what Marcus compelled you to see, ignorant girl. And I assure you, I’m not your father. I found you and your mother on the street, she begged me to take you in. I needed someone to raise my boys and she was a sexy piece of ass. Though in hind sight I should have saved myself the hassle and killed you both.”

  He’s not my father, I repeat the words over and over in my head until they sink in. Marcus isn’t my brother.

  “I caught Imari here spying on me at my own party. I knew her father well. Murdering him in cold blood like that, was despicable,” he says before he backhands her; sending her falling to the ground weeping.

  “Imari!” I try to run to her but Mason pulls me back.

  Asher is screaming in my ear, “Fuck! We’re coming!”

  “I see the leech is still playing the part of your savior,” he says motioning to Mason. “You’ve always jumped to help her and never lifted a finger to help your own father.”

  Looking at Mason, I ask, “Father? What is he talking about?”

  Ignoring my question, Mason stares him down. “I would sooner kill you than help you.” He stands in front of me as guards file into the room.

  His father’s laugh chills me to the bone. “Fair enough, kill the leech,” he orders before all hell breaks loose.

  Imari jumps up screaming, pulling out her gun, she shoots two guards before making a run for the door, calling for Asher. Father raises his gun and before I can react the impact of the bullet throws her small body to the ground. She lands with a thud beside me. Her eyes are darting all over the room. I grab her hand; her eyes focus on me. “I… don’t know what to do!” I start sobbing, ignoring the tornado of gunfire and screaming happening all around us. Her eyes are losing their focus, she’s going to die in my arms and I have no idea how to stop it. Her head slumps to the side and her cold eyes stare lifelessly behind me.

  As more gunshots ring out, I know I need to do something. I kiss Imari’s hand before gripping my gun, ready to kill them all. I get a few rounds shot off, singling out his men. There are too many of them, Ianna is crouched behind a desk, gun in hand. We won’t win this. “Asher, get up here now!”

  Suddenly, Mason drops to the floor. “Mason!” I run to his side as blood soaks his shirt. With shaky hands I press the wound, crying, “Jake, look at me.” But his eyes won’t open, sobbing into his chest, praying to any deity that will listen to save him, I can’t lose him.

  They will not take him away from me, rage solidifies in my veins. With one hand pressed against Mason’s chest the rest of my body erupts in flames. I launch fire balls through the room screaming. I will burn this whole fucking world down with us. If we are going to die today, they die with us.

  A sharp blow to the left side of my head causes the room to dip into abrupt darkness.

  Check Mate

  Marcus

  My father will die for this. He knew exactly where to hurt me; he knew how precious Phee is. I never should have put her in a position to come face to face with him. She was never supposed to be anywhere near him. The plan was to lure him out of hiding. The sick bastard was one step ahead of me, again.

  I clench the steering wheel, racing the twenty-minute drive determined to make it in ten. I need to get them out. That fucking party was a set up. Punching the steering wheel. “Fuck!” He has them. Mason and Phee are the only family I have; I can’t lose them. Are they still alive? Is it too late? I shake the thought. Negative bullshit and emotions getting in the way of the task at hand, if I let the what-ifs sink in I will break down.

  About a block from the target I pull in behind the surveillance van. Kai and Asher were supposed to get in and save them, that was the fucking plan. The moment they come into view I launch into lecturing them, “If something bad goes down, you save the god damned girls. Those were your fucking orders!”

  “After transmission was cut we charged in guns and powers blazing but they out numbered. We waited, thinking they’d flee the building but they didn’t come out. They’re still up there. We didn’t want to proceed without you. This would be a full on attack, out in the open. We are obviously dealing with something far more sinister than the average party douche bags we’ve encountered so far in the tour. The whole party was a set us, every asshole in there was armed. We tried to get up there, I swear we fucking tried, Marcus. There were just too many of them.” This I knew, James Warren is a certifiable psychopath who enjoys torturing people and using his mind control to entertain himself. I need to get them out, now. Before he does any damage.

  “There has been no movement or additional gunshots since all hell broke loose and we retreated. Everything has been quiet,” Adam informs me.

  “How are we going to get in? Can you mind zap them or something? Get them to let us in?” Kai asks. He’s visibly shaken with Ianna trapped. A perfect example of why I could never bring myself to fall in love. Love makes you weak. He’s whimpering mess, ready to recklessly dash into the nest of the enemy to save her, most likely getting himself killed in the process.

  “That is a stupid fucking idea, Kai. I can’t mind control an entire building and I seriously doubt the guards will stop trying to shoot us long enough to let me compel them. You need to man the fuck up if we have any hope of getting them back.” I haven’t the time to be kind or patient with him.

  “This is fucking war! I say we blow their fucking door in, and show them what happens when you fuck with the Titan Elite,” Asher yells, flames envelop both arms. He’s wild with anger, and I have to agree with his reasoning.

  “Fuck planning. Let’s go get them,” Adam says, agreeing with Asher.

  “Every moment they are with him they are in danger. I agree, we don’t have time for a calm thought out plan. Let’s go get our people and fuck these bastards up in the process.”

  “Adam, do you still have their location?”

  “Yes sir, they haven’t moved in the thirty minutes since communication was cut. They are exactly where we left them. All we know is shots were fired about an hour into the mission, from what we heard Imari and possibly Mason are injured.” I run my hand through my hair and resist the urge to scream.

  “Why would he cut off our communication and not leave?” Because he could have just killed them but I don’t say that out loud.

  “Probably to lure us in,” Adam adds.

  “So we are about to walk into a trap? What do we do?” Kai asks.

  “Fuck the trap. We need to get our team, and I don’t care if we have to kill every one of those fuckers in the process.” Everyone nods in agreement. Nothing will stop me from getting my family back. I will happily start a war with this fucker to bring them home, safely.

  Fully loaded with
ammo and enough explosives to level the whole damn building. We prepare to launch every ounce of our formidable power on this bastard. Making our way toward the entrance, something feels wrong already. There aren’t any guards posted outside the building.

  “This doesn’t feel right, Marcus.” Kai says checking out the alley.

  “I know, but we have to go in. We can handle anything they throw at us, focus and stay alert.”

  Asher reaches out for the door handle, melting it in his fiery grasp, the mangled metal clangs to the ground. One last breath from each other and we launch into the doorway prepared to fight for our lives.

  Only we don’t fight, because there is no one inside the door, or in the stairwell, or in any of the rooms we pass on our way to the top floor. The building appears deserted. My heart sinks at the thought of the tracker leading us to their dead bodies somewhere behind these doors. Shaking the thought off. Fuck, focus.

  “Trackers have their location on this floor, dead ahead. No pun intended.” Adam adds. Fuck I hate that guy, I almost killed him, if he wasn’t a tech genius I would. He’s that good and that annoying.

  Asher moves up to get us through the door but it falls open at his touch. He locks eyes with me, every horrible possibility passing between us. Giving him a quick nod; we proceed as planned. Fuck, please don’t let this be a trap. Am I insane leading them in here, not knowing what we will face?

  Bursting into the penthouse guns ready, we find it empty, set up for the party, decorations and food show an elegant party took place but the bullet holes in the walls tell a different story.

  “What the hell happened here?” I say to myself.

  “Where are they?” Asher asks.

  “There,” Adam says pointing down a corridor. I follow closely, my heart pounding in my chest, weapon drawn. We pause outside the door, listening for any activity inside. A small whimper comes from inside, causing us to burst in expecting a war.