Gifted Connections [Book 2]

by SM Olivier

  I looked up at Remy. “We all felt that one,” he explained softly. “It was stronger than I ever felt it. It’s like when you found your release, we did too.”

  My eyes widened, and I could feel a blush coming to my cheeks.

  “Don’t worry,” he whispered in my ear. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It was hot, although I have to admit, I’m kind of jealous.” He nipped my earlobe. “Wish we could have made lightening,” he chuckled softly.

  I buried my burning cheeks into his chest. Not knowing what to say.

  “Everyone needs to buckle up.” Kendra looked a little frazzled as we came back.

  I could see everyone was now wide awake and staring out the windows as another lightning bolt lit up the cabin. Kendra hurried to her seat before the turbulence outside shook the plane.

  “What’s happening?” Micah asked worriedly as he wiped a hand across his face. I could see he was still tired. He still had bags under his eyes.

  “Blake made her last connection,” Alex said calmly from his seat.

  If we were on the ground I would have gladly dug a hole and climbed into it.

  Chapter 15

  It was dark by the time we returned home. I almost sighed in contentment as I saw all the lights on outside as we pulled up the long driveway. It looked like all the lights were on downstairs as well. I was famished and hoped they had some food waiting for us. I knew Jace had kept constant contact with them, so they were expecting us.

  I was beyond excited to be back home. Finally. As we all came in I could smell the aromas of food and my mouth watered. I took off my boots and neatly stacked them into one of the cubbies located in the mudroom.

  I was pleasantly surprised to see Sue was in the kitchen. She never stayed this late. She was busy cooking at the stove, and she gave us a large warm smile.

  “I cook now,” she said in her broken English.

  “Japchae,” Jemmy cried excitedly as she rounded the corner, hand in hand with Gavin.

  Gavin looked relaxed and happy, and I felt my heart warm for him.

  “Sounds like you had an eventful day,” Gavin said as he gave me a quick hug.

  I laughed and blushed. If he only knew. “You could say that.”

  “The unexpected lightning storm was quite eventful too,” Jaxson teased me with a wink.

  “I didn’t see any lightning on the radar,” Will said as he rounded the corner, with a petite blond safely ensconced in his arms.

  I cried out as the little blond ball of energy launched herself out of Will’s arms. “Blake!” she cried in excitement.

  I fell to the ground on my knees, my tears running down my cheeks unheeded. “Ella,” I cried pulling her close to me. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I left you.”

  “You didn’t,” she said resolutely. Wise beyond her years. “I know they took you away. I knew you’d find me. Did you know he’s here?” she said scrunching up her nose in distaste.

  I knew she was talking about Collin.

  I stared at her in shock. How had Alex, Ella, Micah, and I retained our memories in the time leap, but no one else had? I longed to ask Will, but with Sue around, I knew it would have to wait.

  I laughed shakily. “Has he been nice?”

  She rolled her eyes. “He bought me a new Wii U and video games. A lot of them. I told him money can’t buy forgiveness.”

  “I’m sure he’s sorry. He didn’t know,” I said softly. Not completely convinced myself.

  Ella looked behind me, her eyes lighting on Alex. “Alex! I missed you!”

  Alex blushed, but rushed to meet Ella as she hugged him. “I missed you too,” he mumbled, slightly embarrassed.

  I could see that I wasn’t the only one smiling and crying at their little reunion. Rachel had come into the room followed by Chip and Collin. She was freely crying. Along with Jemmy.

  “Want to go play my Wii U with me and Chip?” Ella asked excitedly. “Collin bought extra remotes.”

  “Yeah,” Alex cried in excitement.

  “Just until dinner is done,” Will gently informed them. They all squealed with excitement as they left the room.

  “How’s she doing?” I asked Will.

  He smiled, but I could see a deeper emotion behind his eyes. “She’s still fragile physically, but her will is strong. She’ll recover.”

  “And Chip?” I asked.

  He looked down for a moment. “The little guy will be staying with us for a while. We’re unable to locate his mother at this time, and there was no way we could leave him at the hospital in his…condition.”

  I nodded, understanding the unspoken meeting. When the gifted received their gifts, they could be volatile at times. They were already emotional, confused, scared. Adding the disappearance of his mother and losing his only friend would have sent Chip over the edge.

  “Would you like to see your room and take a shower before we eat? You have about 20 minutes or so till we eat,” Will said, looking over at Micah.

  I blushed. I had been totally self-absorbed. “Sorry, Micah. Let me introduce you. This is Will. He…adopted Ella, the little blond, and I, well before,” I explained. “Ella is my sister, technically our cousin,” I said quietly. But she doesn’t know.” Then I pointed at everyone else. “That’s Sue, a family…friend, then there’s Gavin and Jemmy, Rachel and Collin.”

  Micah was slightly self-conscious as he shook their hands. He was awkward in his movements as only 13-year-old boy could be. It didn’t help that he was nearly 6 feet and looked like he hadn’t eaten a decent meal in ages.

  I found out that he had lived on the streets for years. He never knew our mother, and his father had left him with a girlfriend when he was 7 years old. When his father didn’t return, she kicked Micah out. He was street smart and had a rudimentary education. He met several homeless people on the streets, and quite a few of them took care of him. He made his way into many of their hearts, especially the veterans.

  Some of those veterans came home from overseas and didn’t know how to ‘life’ anymore. They suffered from PTSD, got hooked on the sleep aids and pain killers. They lost their lives, they lost their families. Some of them ended up on the streets. But some of them instinctively had that protective gene in them. These were the ones who had cared for him.

  It wasn’t until he knew he was being chased did he leave his little group and had to find other places to sleep. He had to find other soup kitchens to hit up.

  “We have some clothes for you,” Jemmy said brightly as he came to give her a handshake. She swatted it away, to draw him into a hug. Not caring that he was dirty and smelled. “I can show you your room. You’re right across the hall from Blake and Ella.”

  His face almost matched his bright red hair as she stepped away from him. I knew he couldn’t be accustomed to affection. “Yes, please,” he mumbled.

  Jemmy left the room, pulling Micah behind her. We all laughed at the panicked expression on his face.

  “Come on and sit down in the dining room,” Will urged. “Tell me more about this lightning storm.”

  “Oh, we hit lightning,” Jaxson snickered.

  “Jaxson,” Troy said with warning in his voice.

  Will looked at us in contemplation but shrugged.

  “Has anyone located Mr. Young and his family?” Noah asked with concern as we sat down.

  “No,” Collin answered. “He won’t answer my calls either.”

  “Do you think someone saw you with all of us and tipped him off?” Jaxson asked as he traced the wood grains in the table top.

  He hadn’t said much today about his girlfriend, and I wasn’t sure if he missed her or not. The last time, he needed a little time to wrap his head around ‘us’ before he had finally broken up with her. He had always told me his relationship with her had been one of convenience and not love. Drake on the other hand…

  I looked over at him and noticed he still seemed withdrawn into himself.

  Collin shrugged. “Bridgette’s go
ne too. No one has seen them since late last night.”

  “Not since the party,” Jaxson added.

  “So, we all need to be aware of our surroundings until we find out if Horatio has anything else planned,” Will stated. “Rachel and I have been interviewing a lot of the people on our teams today, and I am happy to say that we had very few traitors in our ranks. I also handpicked the ones I want to be with Jaxson, Jemmy, Rachel, Noah, Drake, Collin, and Blake.” He suddenly frowned. “I hadn’t realized how lackadaisical we had gotten. A lot of our teams have gotten lazy. I’m surprised they have been so successful on their missions. Remy and Troy, I would like it if you started a training program. I would like you to improve the program we have in place and implement it.”

  I didn’t bother asking if a team was necessary for us. I had made my last connection. I was torn between admitting it and letting it go. It was embarrassing enough that my intimate life was out in the open. With six connections, I would be in constant speculation. Why add more to it? So, I didn’t inform Will on the change of events.

  “Everyone has to go through it too,” Jemmy grumbled looking at us pointedly, as she came into the room and mutinously sat in her chair.

  We all started laughing, except for Gavin, but I could tell it took everything in him, not too.

  “Pops wants us to start on Monday,” Jemmy groaned. “Before school,” she wailed in self-pity.

  Remy and Troy laughed even harder. “We can have a game plan completed by tomorrow night,” Troy reassured Will.

  “I think we should start with a run on Monday morning, maybe four miles.” Remy gave Jemmy a wicked smile as he rubbed his chin.

  “Nooo!” Jemmy howled.

  It almost felt like old times as we all sat down for our late dinner. Collin even seemed to be adjusting well to our new situation, and I was pleased to find out he had run to the apartment and got all our belongings, so my clothing would be waiting for me, after my shower. Jemmy had already informed me that she was borrowing one of my jackets.

  I didn’t mind; it reminded me of the old days when she would raid my closet or allowed me to wear her clothes. She was determined that we would be going shopping tomorrow. Rachel, Ella, Chip, Alex, and Micah needed a more complete wardrobe.

  Micah was shoveling food in his mouth and didn’t seem to care that he might have to go shopping with us tomorrow. He didn’t realize how Jemmy was. I’m sure he would grow to hate it by the end of the day. It was rare for any 13-year-old boy to enjoy shopping.

  “I’m taking Micah,” Jaxson stated resolutely. “She will make it a lot longer than it has to be,” he explained to Micah.

  Micah nodded. “This is good. What is it?” he asked as he pointed to the plate of noodle and meat stir fry in front of him.

  “It’s japchae,” Drake finally spoke. “It’s a Korean dish, typically made with glass noodles, thin strips of beef, and vegetables. Sue likes to put spinach, carrots, garlic, and onions in hers.”

  He was in his element when he talked about food. I really wished I knew how to talk to him. We never had any issues talking in the past, or should I say, the future.

  “Mmm, its good,” he said around another mouth full of food.

  “Do I have to go?” Chip piped up. “My mommy has lots of clothes for me at home.”

  Noah looked at him with sympathy. “I’m sure she does, buddy, but until we find her, you need new clothes.”

  Chip made a face, “But I already got new underwear, jeans, and shirts.”

  “You’re going with the boys,” Ella said bossily. “You too,” she pointed at Alex. “I’m going with the girls.”

  Some of us laughed at her bossiness.

  “Okay,” Chip mumbled unhappily.

  “Okay,” Alex said agreeably.

  “I guess that means I’ll go with you, too,” Jace said with a smile in his voice as he looked over at Jaxson.

  “I’m coming,” Noah volunteered.

  “Can we play more video games?” Ella asked as she pushed her plate away.

  Will looked down at his watch and over at me. I nodded. “It is a Saturday night, you can stay up a little later.” he smiled indulgently.

  “Yay!” Chip, Alex, and Ella stood up with excitement, getting ready to run out of the room.

  “Hold it,” I yelled after them and they froze in their tracks. “Sit down and ask to be excused. Then take your plates into the kitchen and put them in the sink.”

  They reluctantly all sat back down, asked to be excused, and then took their plates into the sink, before running back into the living room.

  After dinner, everyone took their showers and got dressed into more comfortable clothing. Even though we were tired we all decided to meet back into the kitchen, where Drake volunteered to make some cupcakes for the kids, although we weren’t telling them yet.

  Will asked if he could invite Steven, Beth, Cora Karn, and their daughter Nadia over. They were another connection trio. Steven was their nucleus. Beth and Cora, his wives. They were members of the board, and Will felt he could trust them in our secret. He was hoping if they got involved they could help us figure out how to proceed from here, plus they had the right to know when changes were being made to the whole Knights division.

  I looked longingly at my bed as I pulled on a pair of sweatpants and one of my tank tops with the built-in bra—there was no way I was putting another bra on. I towel-dried my hair, getting as much moisture as I could out of it before adding some product into it. I figured I had dawdled long enough and left the comforts of my room.

  I thought about my room as I made my way down to the kitchen. It was going to take some time before I could make it feel like my own again. I had added so many personal touches before, and I was determined to restore it to its former glory.

  I saw Nadia had already made herself comfortable with the other kids, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t take long for her to reestablish her friendship with Ella. I was the last one to enter the kitchen, and I noticed the large chef’s kitchen seemed fuller than I had ever seen it. Everyone had found seats around the island and pulled some chairs into the room from the dining room.

  Drake was busy scooping out the batter into the cupcake papers, and I grabbed another scoop from the drawers and started helping him fill the muffin tins. We worked effortlessly together, and it only made me feel more at home. I just wished we were able to talk. Talking with Drake had always been easy. Since arriving…again, he seemed to want to keep me at a distance.

  Tonight, he was whipping up a chocolate cupcake with Reeses peanut butter cup filling and a peanut butter frosting.

  Will was handing out coffee cups, and Jace started handing down the coffee pot with cream and sugar, for those who took it that way.

  Will cleared his throat. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I asked you to come over here tonight,” he addressed Steven, Cora, and Beth.

  “Does it have anything to do with Zach skipping town?” Beth said shrewdly. She was the most outspoken in their relationship.

  “It’s a part of it,” Will nodded. “We have recently found out he was in bed with Horatio.”

  No one seemed surprised by it, and Steve said as much. “It doesn’t surprise me too much. He always pushed us to be more out in the open by our gifts, so it was a matter of time, but why now?” he looked over at me perceptively.

  “What I’m about to tell you is a bit…hard to believe,” Will preempted. “Do you remember the institute we were involved in, years ago?”

  “She’s Amanda!” Beth gasped as she pointed at me.

  I nodded as I placed the cupcakes in the oven. “I was. I go by Blake now.”

  “When did you find her?” Beth asked as she stood up from her stool. She came around the counter. “You don’t remember me, do you? I was young when I started working for the institute,” she stated. “It was me who took care of you. It used to make me cry seeing what they did to you. Maybe that’s why I never wanted children.” She looked over at her pai
r.

  Even though she had carried Nadia, it was Cora who ‘mothered’ Nadia more. She only had Nadia because Cora was unable to, and Steven and Cora had wanted a child desperately.

  I looked at her and had a flash back of sitting on a stool in a stark white room, in my stark white uniform, as she ran a brush through my hair. I had a flash back of her reminding me to brush my teeth. She used to sneak cookies and treats to me because we had been on a strict diet.

  I smiled tremulously. “I do,” I said quietly. “You used to bring me Oreo cookies.”

  She nodded and smiled.

  “Jace actually found her the first time, and the second time, Noah found her,” Will said quietly. At their confused glances, he elaborated. “Horatio has a time changer working for him. You know how interested he was in Blake when we had her, but since then his…obsession has grown, especially since he found out that she is his daughter. He wanted her to be on his side, and I think he’ll go to any lengths to get to her now. Especially if he knows how very unique she is.”

  “Those are some…unbelievable accusations. Do you have proof?” Cora looked shocked.

  “I was working for him,” Collin spoke up quietly. “I was working with Bridgette Mason, his other daughter, and Mr. Young.”

  The connected trio exchanged looks. “How is she unique?” Steven asked as he continued to look at me with his piercing dark eyes. He was as dark in coloring as his connections were light.

  “She’s connected to my sons,” Will finally said.

  They looked at Jace and Jaxson.

  “All of them,” Will added.

  Cora laughed uncomfortably. “You’re kidding right…?”

  I could see the shock in Collins gaze as I turned around and showed them my mark on back of my neck below my hairline. Each one of the guys stood up and showed them our identicalηmarks.

  “I always knew she was special,” Beth said after moments of stunned silence.

  We gave the cupcakes to the children, made some more coffee, and took our own cupcakes into the den so that we could get more comfortable in our discussions.