Evolutionary Romance- The Complete Trilogy

by Sarah Biglow

  We headed up to the main floor of the compound. I spotted Henry and Declan in the main room, deep in conversation. Their hands touched and I caught Declan letting a small smile slip. Even after all the secrets, he’d managed to keep hold of his relationship. I stepped into the room and cleared my throat, drawing their attention. Henry spotted me first and immediately averted his gaze. He’d recovered faster than a normal person should thanks to a blood transfusion which included Declan’s super-speed healing genes. With a little more time, no one would even be able to tell he had been in a near fatal car accident.

  “You don’t have to look so guilty,” I said.

  “You have fun blowing shit up?” Declan asked.

  “I wasn’t blowing shit up. But yeah I guess it was okay.” I wasn’t ready to let them see how vulnerable being around my father made me. “I’m heading out if you need a ride.”

  “We’re hanging here for a while,” Declan answered.

  “Whatever.” I looked at Henry. “You know he’s not going to let you go back.” To say he was burned to his face—given his fire-starting powers—was too punny even for me.

  “I can’t just disappear. They’ll know something’s up,” Henry argued.

  “I don’t think I need to remind you that one of Lena’s best operatives nearly succeeded in silencing you permanently,” Clayton said, appearing in the room with a small hypodermic needle in hand.

  “I can get them to trust me again,” he insisted.

  “You have contributed enough to this fight already, Henry. Take the time to recover and spend time with those you care about. Besides, for the time being, it may be safer to let them think they’ve succeeded,” Clayton replied and inclined his head toward Declan.

  “But what about the reports of powered attacks in town?” Henry argued.

  “Hello, have you met me? I’m the queen of digging for dirt. Whatever’s going on, I’ll figure it out,” I said before Clayton could respond. It didn’t matter that this was the first I was hearing about possible super-powered attacks. All it did was give me more ammunition to use against my mother.

  Clayton turned to me and held up the device. “Shall we get this over with?”

  “What are you doing to her?” Declan asked, already on his feet.

  “Chill, okay? It’s just one of those mind reading blockers,” I answered and stepped into Declan’s path. We both knew I wasn’t an impediment if he really wanted to get past me. I’d seen the damage he could do with his hands of steel and super strength.

  “Why do you need one of those?” Declan asked, eying Clayton warily.

  “Because she’s taking my place,” Henry said in a resigned tone.

  “Fuck, Tina! I knew you were mad at your mom, but I didn’t think you were suicidal. And don’t think I’m not telling Sorano,” Declan boomed.

  “I’m just going to hang at the police station and keep an eye on things there. That’s all. She won’t even realize what I’m doing,” I countered.

  “I think we all know that’s not the only reason you want to be there,” Henry said, a dorky smile ghosting over his lips.

  “Shut up, Pyro.”

  “Oh, right. Your murdering boyfriend,” Declan said, cracking his knuckles to make his point.

  “He’s not my boyfriend.” I doubted he even knew I actually existed. “And if he is responsible for nearly killing you both, I’ll be the first in line to beat his ass.”

  Before either of the boys could respond, Clayton nudged me into one of the overstuffed chairs and positioned the needle against my neck, right below my right ear. “You’ll feel a pinch.”

  I gritted my teeth, but managed not to flinch as the device burrowed beneath my skin. “How do we know I’m not going to short this thing out the next time I get angry?”

  “It’s made of durable plastics. Nothing metal in there at all.”

  Plastic, like Magneto’s cell in the X-Men movie sequel. God, I hated Spencer for making me watch those stupid movies. Just because I liked dismantling computer networks didn’t mean I was a geek like him. I suppose I was lucky he hadn’t resorted to calling me Magneto. “So, once I’m settled at the station, what do I do? How do I update you?” I rubbed the spot behind my ear and winced at the noticeable lump left by the injection.

  “Face to face would be fine,” Clayton answered, capping the syringe and stowing it in his pocket.

  “Right. For training.”

  “Are you sure you aren’t also a telepath?” he quipped with a smile.

  I resisted the urge to groan. “I’m gonna go now, losers.” I left the three of them in the main room and darted out the front door of the compound before anyone could stop me.

  Chapter Two

  Reese

  For the tenth time in the last hour, I checked my phone to find no new texts or calls from Lena Boudreau. It wasn’t like my boss to ghost me, still I hadn’t heard from her in nearly a week. Something felt off though I couldn’t place it. I wanted to think I was just being paranoid, but she had never gone dark like this before. Just as I set the phone back in the top drawer of my desk, I sensed a presence hovering beside my desk. I turned to find Tina, Lena’s daughter, watching me. I didn’t have a reason to be nervous around her. Hell, we barely knew each other and yet, I felt a flash of heat creep up my neck as her pale blue eyes bored into me.

  “Can I help you?” The words came out as annoyed, even though that wasn’t exactly how I was feeling about seeing her in my personal space. Pleasantly surprised, more like.

  “I’m looking for my Uncle Nick,” she answered and tugged on a few strands of her bright blue hair.

  Some people thought she was immature or attention-seeking for dying her hair such an unnatural color. I found it kind of cute. Not that I would ever tell her that. Some lines were there for a reason and I couldn’t cross the ‘being interested in the boss’s daughter line.’ Not after everything Lena had done for me. I cleared my throat. “He’s out on a call right now. Is there something I can help you with?”

  Instead of answering my question, she sat down in the vacant chair beside my desk. She leaned back, as if she intended to get comfortable and stay awhile.

  “You can’t just sit there,” I told her.

  She pulled out her phone and slid one of her earbuds into her ear. “I’ll just wait for him to come back.”

  I glanced around the bull pen. The few officers who were still on duty weren’t paying any attention to us. I gave her seat a little telekinetic nudge in the hopes that it would give her the hint I didn’t have time to entertain her. I felt something I’d never encountered before; resistance. It was as if the chair had a mind of its own. No, not the chair. It was her. How had I forgotten she had powers like mine? The metal legs of the chair started to buckle and I pulled back, hoping she’d take the hint. She barely reacted. Either she didn’t realize we had a shared superpower or she was better at bluffing than I had realized.

  “Look, you can wait for him if it’s important, but can you do it out in the waiting area? I’ve got stuff to do.”

  She arched a dark brow at me. “Bullshit. You weren’t doing anything else.”

  I didn’t want to admit that she was right, but there was no point in lying to her. “Okay, fine. I wasn’t doing anything. Still I am on shift, so just try not to be distracting.”

  She snorted. “Sure thing. You know, maybe you can help me after all.”

  “What do you need?”

  “Uncle Nick told me he could help get me an internship with the department. I figured, after hanging around the house all summer, maybe it was time to take him up on that offer. I don’t want to be one of those losers living in their mom’s basement forever.”

  I wanted to tell her I knew she’d been doing more than spending time at home since she had graduated, but she wasn’t supposed to know that I knew about her powers or what her mother was doing. “There are some forms you need to fill out to get the process started. I have to say; I didn’t picture you as
the law enforcement type.” More like a hacktivist.

  “Oh, I’ll save the running into danger for you, Mr. Police Officer. Give me a keyboard and I’m happy.”

  I hadn’t always envisioned myself in law enforcement, but I believed that things happen for a reason. Thanks to Lena’s guidance I’d found my way into serving on the front lines. I liked to think I was making a difference, even without the aid of superpowers. I let out a breath and stood up, turning my focus back to Tina’s request. “Just give me a minute to get the forms. I’m sure your uncle wouldn’t mind you hanging around to fill them out while you wait.”

  She gave me a thumbs up with one hand. “I’ll be here then.”

  As I passed behind her, I tried to get a glimpse of her phone, but she’d installed one of those screen protectors that distorted the image. Smart girl. I rifled through one of the filing cabinets to find the internship forms, trying to convince myself that her interest in the department was nothing more than keeping things in the family. Although, while she’s here it wouldn’t hurt to get to know her better. In a professional capacity only, of course. No flirting with the boss’s daughter.

  “Here you go,” I said and handed over the stapled packet of papers.

  Tina looked up from her phone and took them. “Got a pen?”

  I reached for the top drawer of my desk and noted it was slightly ajar. I had closed it before she showed up, didn’t I? I brushed the sudden onset of unease aside and handed over a pen. My phone still sat in the drawer like I’d left it. I’d heard about Tina’s propensity to hack police systems. Still she wouldn’t be foolish enough to risk doing it in the middle of the precinct with cops in full view, or would she.

  “So, how come you aren’t out on whatever this big call is?” Tina asked and tapped the end of the pen against her lips. I studied the way the clip made a small indent in her upper lip, far more interested in it than I should have been.

  “Luck of the draw,” I answered. It wasn’t entirely true. I’d wanted to go on the call, but Officer Boudreau had benched me. Like Lena, he’d been ignoring me the last few days and giving me the cold shoulder when he did act like I existed.

  Before Tina could make some sort of comment, voices filled the small space of the bull pen. Uniformed officers walked in, a couple of guys in handcuffs between them. Officer Boudreau led the cluster of officers and he stopped short when he spotted Tina sitting near my desk. I couldn’t hear the directive he gave the others, but I assumed it was related to securing the men in cuffs. He strode over to my desk.

  “What’s going on here?” There was no mistaking the accusatory note in his voice. He didn’t like the close proximity of me to his niece any more than her mother did.

  Tina looked up from the forms and gave her uncle a smile. The kind of smile that if spiders could smile, would disarm the unsuspecting fly until it was stuck in the web, unable to escape. “Hey, Uncle Nick. I thought it was about time I took you up on your offer of that department internship. I mean, my mother’s been pestering me to get out of the house and do something with my time all summer.” She gestured to me with the tip of the pen. “Officer Finley here was just helping me with the forms.”

  I waited in silence for Officer Boudreau to respond. After a long pause he looked from me to his niece and back again. “Thanks for getting her started, rookie. I can take it from here.”

  “Yes, Sir,” I replied.

  Tina scooped up the forms and followed her uncle to the other end of the bullpen. She shot me a smile over her shoulder before she fell into conversation with him. I sunk into my chair and let out a long exhale. The desk drawers beside me opened and closed of their own accord. I grabbed the handle of the middle one and slammed it shut with more force than necessary. It had been years since my powers acted up like this. Why is she making me so nervous?

  After trying to look busy for the last few minutes of my shift—and failing miserably—I clocked out, changed into street clothes and headed to the back lot of the station. No one parked back there and it gave me decent cover for my new favorite mode of transit. Since I’d discovered I could use my telekinesis to make myself fly, I’d given up driving anywhere.

  With both hands out to my sides, I let the air pressure build against the ground, propelling me upwards. With a grin that I was sure would never go away, I altered my direction—tilting my hands like the stabilizers on an airplane and pushed myself onward. I was careful never to go above the tree line. We may have a higher number of super powered people per capita in this town, but most folks were still ignorant to the experiments Kirkpatrick Industries had conducted twenty-some-odd years ago. I wasn’t going to be the reason they discovered the truth.

  I landed outside the run-down factory building that Henry St. Pierre used for secret target practice. His truck was nowhere to be seen, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t around. I hadn’t heard from him in a few days either. Despite the number of times I’d found him here, flinging fireballs left and right, it was still good practice to give him some warning I was coming.

  “Henry, you in there?” I called through the burnt-out shell of one of the windows.

  I got no response so I darted through the doorway. The space was empty. I spotted char marks on one of the walls and pressed my hand to the concrete. It was cool. He’d been here, but not in the last few days. Maybe he was hanging at the library. He took his cover story very seriously. I couldn’t blame him. He’d confided in me that the normalcy of being a librarian was a welcome change from all the super hero antics. Darting out of the building, I took off and headed back toward the center of town.

  A young Latina girl sat at the circulation desk. I knew she was one of Tina’s friends or at least acquaintances. Tina didn’t really do friendships from what her mother and uncle said. I approached the desk, hoping I didn’t catch her too off guard.

  “Hey, you’re Marisol, right?” I asked.

  She looked at me and her gaze fixated on my face. She stayed silent for a moment, as if trying to read me—like any good empath would do. “Yes. Can I help you?”

  “Maybe. I was looking for Henry. We were supposed to meet up, but he’s MIA. I was hoping he might have grabbed an extra shift and had forgotten to tell me.”

  Her gaze narrowed at me and her lips pressed into a thin line. “No, he’s not here. I have not seen him today either.”

  “You know, it was a long shot anyway. I’ll just give him a call and see if I can catch up with him that way,” I said and left the circulation area before Marisol could comment.

  What the hell is going on with everyone ghosting me?

  I stepped out of the library and pulled out my cell phone. I called Henry’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. “Hey, H, it’s me. Just wanted to check in. I haven’t heard from you in a few days. I know things were a little rough with your boyfriend and I wanted to make sure you’re all good. Hit me back when you get this.”

  I ended the call, but couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very off about this whole situation.

  Chapter Three

  Tina

  I stopped listening to Uncle Nick’s explanation of the minute details of the internship when I noticed Reese head out of the precinct. I wanted to follow him and see what he was up to—I still didn’t know if he was responsible for the attempted hit on Henry and Declan—but I also knew it would be rude if I just bailed on Uncle Nick.

  “You didn’t hear a word I said, did you?” Uncle Nick said, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

  “I was listening,” I muttered.

  “Tina, just because you’re my niece doesn’t mean you get special treatment. I can pull the strings to get you in, but you’ve got to put in the work and show them you are capable of holding this position.”

  “I get it. Look, just give me the info and I’ll read it over. I promise.”

  He sighed, but handed me the packet of pages. “You’re going to need to get fingerprints done and undergo a background check, to
o, before you start.”

  Thankfully I’d managed to stay on the right side of the law—or at least I’d darted back over the line before anyone had caught me. I could see the look of anxiety in his eyes and I flashed him a grin. “Relax, Uncle Nick. I’ve never done anything that would get you in trouble. And nothing I’ve done has ever been traced back to me.”

  “That better be true.”

  He headed in the direction the other officers had escorted the two morons in handcuffs earlier, leaving me free to go where I pleased. I made my way out of the station and wandered along Main Street, unsure of where to go. I’d only just seen Clayton. I didn’t want to seem too needy if I went back to let him know I’d landed the internship. Besides, my mother wasn’t stupid. She was probably tracking my GPS location. Too bad for her, I’d disabled it on my phone forever ago.

  I headed for the town’s only coffee shop and took one of the outside tables out of view of other customers and pedestrians. I fished in my bag for the new phone I’d just bought. I linked it to my regular phone and with a few taps, transferred the cloned data from Reese’s phone. Now, I would see what he did and who he talked to without him or anyone else knowing.

  “Let’s see what you’ve been up to, Officer.”

  I scrolled through his texts. Most were to my mother with a consistent theme of being ghosted. I knew my mother was cold, but this seemed excessive even for her. He had a handful of outgoing calls to her phone number, too. I flicked through the other calls. None that looked like they could be to a girlfriend. Fuck, Tina focus! His most recent call was to Henry that lasted forty seconds. Why would he call Henry if he was the one who’d tried to kill him? For a minute I considered that Henry’s theory was just complete bullshit. There was nothing to point to Reese being a homicidal lunatic. Although, he could also be covering his tracks and trying to divert suspicion. He could show his phone logs as a way to say “see, I was trying to get in touch with him the whole time”.