“Don’t you threaten me!” The woman wagged her finger in the young girl’s face.
“Motherfucker,” Alec growled. He was standing on my other side, watching the scene unfold with a scowl.
An older woman joined the young girl behind the counter. The boarding was getting delayed, and people were becoming fidgety.
“I demand to be moved to a seat that’s not next to a Dime, or I want a full refund!”
Several people gasped at the derogatory term, but a few exchanged sympathetic looks. One person even nodded.
Fear jolted down my spine.
The fact that seemingly normal businesswomen felt it was acceptable to say that word and demand to be kept away from humans in such a public way was downright terrifying. People were losing their fucking minds.
“If you don’t lower your voice, you will not be permitted to board this flight.” The older worker’s tone was firm, her mouth set in a hard line.
Before the woman could go on another rant, a man stepped up to the counter. He was middle-aged, his hair more salt than pepper, and dressed casually in jeans and sneakers. A backpack was slung over his shoulder.
“Excuse me.” He leaned forward, extending a hand to get their attention but keeping a safe distance. “I’m happy to take a later flight, if that’s possible. I really don’t want any trouble.”
Tyler grumbled something under his breath as he stepped around us and went to the other end of the counter.
“Don’t touch me.” The woman flinched away from the man dramatically, disgust all over her face. He took a step back, his hands out in front of him, and sighed in frustration.
The ground staff started talking again, explaining that the circumstances wouldn’t allow them to move either person to another seat or flight—it was outside the airline’s guidelines. The younger woman looked as if she was calling security on a walkie-talkie as the other staff began boarding the business-class passengers.
Meanwhile, Tyler stood tall and confident at the other end of the counter, speaking calmly to the man at the computer. Within minutes, he was handing the attendant a wad of cash. When he had his change, Tyler took two steps to reach the commotion.
“Excuse me.” His loud, authoritative voice demanded everyone’s attention. “I’d like to assist. I don’t believe anyone should be subjected to sitting next to such an abhorrent person for any period of time, let alone a long-haul international flight. I’ve taken the liberty of purchasing a business-class ticket.”
He spoke to no one in particular, addressing the group with one hand in his pocket. He was casual but commanding. Calm but intense.
The woman crossed her arms and threw a smug look at the human man and the ground staff. “I’m glad some people understand what—”
She was cut off by the younger flight assistant stepping up to the counter and addressing the casually dressed man. “Here is your new boarding pass, sir. Your section is now boarding. We apologize for the inconvenience.” She smiled professionally as he slowly took the boarding pass, a stunned look on his face.
He looked at Tyler and smiled tentatively. “Th . . . thank you.”
“My pleasure.” Ty smiled, and they walked back to us together, getting in line just as it moved forward.
The woman snapped out of her shock and lost her shit just as four security personnel rushed to the scene. They dragged her away kicking and screaming as several people clapped and cheered.
I beamed at my man, so proud. As he rejoined us, I took his hand and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a good man, Tyler Gabriel,” I whispered in his ear.
“I’m just sick of watching this shit get worse and worse.” He frowned as his fingers tightened around mine. “We need to start standing up for one another. If ignorant people are going to get more brazen in their bigotry and hatred, we need to get more bold in the way we stand up for what’s right.”
Thankfully, the flight was completely uneventful, even free from turbulence. It wasn’t as luxurious as the flight we took in Melior Group’s private jet on the way back from Australia, but it was still better than most of the flights I’d been on. Being able to stretch out and lie down was pure heaven.
We landed in Tokyo in the middle of the night. I wanted to call Mr. Takata and head to his grandmother’s village immediately, but the guys insisted on petty things like showers and sleep.
In order to avoid drawing any more attention to ourselves, we decided not to book a suite, opting instead to go with three regular rooms in a hotel. They were pretty small—we were in Japan after all.
After several rounds of aggressive rock-paper-scissors, Ethan won the privilege of sharing a room with me. He threw me over his shoulder and carried me into it along with all our luggage, making me laugh too loudly for a hotel hallway late at night.
His feet hung off the end of the mattress, but he snuggled into my side and fell asleep quickly. Unfortunately, finding my own sleep was more difficult. My mind raced: Were we careful enough getting here? What would tomorrow hold? I slept in fits and starts, and when the gray morning light peeked in through the curtains, I got out of bed.
After a shower, I called room service and ordered enough food for all of us in a whisper, trying to let Ethan sleep as long as possible. Then I called the others and told them to meet us in our room. Tyler grunted, and I heard him call Josh’s name as he hung up. Alec had already been up for an hour and been to the gym.
The food arrived just before the rest of my guys did, and for the first time, I was the one delivering breakfast in bed to Ethan. I may not have made it myself, but I ordered the fuck out of it like a pro. It totally counted.
He somehow managed to sleep through the room service being delivered and the others filing into the cramped space. Alec took the desk chair, Josh made himself comfortable on the ground, and Tyler leaned on the headboard next to Ethan, each of them holding a plate of eggs and pastries.
With a warm, delicious-smelling chocolate croissant in hand, I climbed on top of Ethan, straddling his hips. I waved the croissant under his nose as I kissed the stubble on his jaw.
He took a deep breath and groaned lightly. Lazily, his hands went to my hips, and he shifted me just a little lower—until I was settled over his morning wood.
I chuckled, and his mouth and eyes opened at the same time. He took a quick bite of the pastry before leaning up and planting a kiss on my lips.
“Delicious.” His voice was croaky and deep—all kinds of sexy.
“Me or the croissant?” I teased.
“Hmm. Not sure. I think I need another taste.” He took another bite of the croissant, but instead of kissing me, he pulled at the hem of my shorts, giving me that cheeky grin that made his dimples appear—and usually made my clothes disappear.
“We have company,” I informed him.
He looked around the room and shrugged. “They can watch. Or join in.”
His hands traveled up my sides, cupping my breasts.
“If you don’t eat these eggs, I’m going to,” Alec announced.
I climbed off Ethan. He groaned in protest, but Alec’s mention of eggs reminded me I was hungry too. One basic need at a time.
We polished off all the food and ordered more.
Ethan went to shower while we waited, and I planted myself on Alec’s lap, studying the tourist map and pointing things out past the window.
“The Imperial Palace is that way, and just past that is Tokyo Tower.” I consulted the map again. “And just a few blocks that way is Shibuya Crossing.” I knew they hadn’t been back since the accident, but I wanted them to know I was there for them. “We can go there if you guys want to. We can make time.”
“No.” Alec didn’t hesitate. His voice wasn’t hard or angry, just sure. “You guys can go if you want to, but I won’t. I want to remember them for how they lived. Not how they died.”
I stared at his profile as he looked out the window. My Master of Pain could be really poetic when he wanted to be.
“Me neither,” Josh murmured before taking another sip of coffee.
“Yeah, fuck that!” Ethan yelled from the bathroom, proving how thin the walls were in this tiny room.
I hugged Alec and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Evie, are you OK?” he murmured against my cheek.
Tyler had filled them in on my dark thoughts after I was attacked. They’d all chastised, pleaded, and questioned me every chance they got while we traveled. I’d been brushing them off, trying to tell them I was fine, but they just weren’t dropping it. I sighed and looked away. Tyler and Josh were both staring at me; Ethan was leaning in the doorway to the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his hips.
“Not really,” I finally answered, deciding to be honest. “But I’m going to be, and I’m already feeling better than I was last night. Can we just focus on why we’re here? One crisis at a time.” Being around them, seeing the concern in their eyes, really had made me feel better.
Reluctantly, Alec nodded and gave me another gentle kiss.
More food arrived, and we talked about lighter topics until I received a text message from Mr. Takata; he was waiting for us in the lobby.
We packed up and headed down, dressed in comfortable clothing light enough for a walk in the Japanese wilderness in the middle of summer. I wasn’t entirely sure where his grandmother lived, but he’d mentioned it was remote.
In the lobby, Mr. Takata greeted us with the same level of respect and reverence as when we first met, bowing low.
I returned the gesture.
“How was your flight?” he asked as Alec went to reception to check us out.
“There was some drama at the gate—a loud-mouthed, entitled Variant—but the flight itself was fine, and we’ve had most of the night to rest. I’m excited to get going. I can’t wait to meet your grandmother.”
He smiled. “She is very eager to meet you also.”
“Careful what we discuss in public.” Tyler leaned in, giving us meaningful looks.
“Naturally.” Mr. Takata inclined his head. “And just so you’re aware, my security team will be accompanying us most of the way.”
Tyler frowned, clearly not too happy about men with guns being in our general vicinity, but Mr. Takata waved him off. “It is a small team of three men whom I trust implicitly. They have been with me for over twenty years, and one of them is a cousin. I have not told them of your situation, but they have been briefed to defend your life as they would mine, Evelyn—with their own lives.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate that.”
“Yes.” Tyler finally nodded decisively, satisfied with whatever extra information his ability had provided. “Thank you.”
Mr. Takata led us out front to a black van with tinted windows. We all piled into the back, with two of Mr. Takata’s men in the front. The third man was to follow behind discreetly.
We drove west for hours until the city disappeared, replaced by low buildings and residential streets, then verdant green hills and traditional dwellings. The road continued to narrow, going from a six-lane freeway to, eventually, rough gravel and dirt.
We stopped once for a toilet break and once for lunch at a small ramen restaurant on the side of the road. The owner spoke no English, but the ramen was amazing. Ethan had two bowls.
Around three in the afternoon, just as the road was becoming unbearably bumpy and slow, the van came to a stop.
“From here, we walk.” Mr. Takata got out of the van and strapped on his backpack. We followed suit. Two of his men took off into the trees, following a narrow path, while the third waited patiently to bring up the rear.
Mr. Takata took the lead. Tyler shot everyone a stern look I wasn’t sure how to interpret, but they arranged themselves so I was surrounded as we hiked. Tyler walked with Mr. Takata, Ethan kept pace with me, and Alec and Josh stayed close behind us.
No one spoke, all of them on high alert, and Mr. Takata abandoned his attempts at small talk quickly. I understood why they were cautious—we were in the middle of nowhere, in an unfamiliar place. This would be the perfect opportunity for an ambush or a double-cross. But I trusted Mr. Takata, and Tyler’s ability would certainly warn us of any danger.
I was really excited to meet another Vital like me—one that had more Variants than was supposed to be possible and glowed like a nightlight. Nothing was going to ruin my mood. I took in the tall trees, listened to the birds singing, breathed the fresh air. Despite the heat, it was invigorating, especially after sitting in a van most of the day.
The uphill path was wide and clear—wide enough for a small horse and cart but way too narrow and uneven for a car. Maybe an ATV could’ve worked?
I’d never had even a passing interest in ATVs, but an hour into the trek, that was all I could think about through my panting and sweating. Training with Kane was no joke, but this kind of prolonged, long-distance style of exercise—up a hill—was way more than I was used to.
Ethan was fine, even with both our packs slung over his broad shoulders, and Alec hadn’t even broken a sweat. Tyler and Josh were starting to breathe heavily, and Mr. Takata was struggling about as much as I was.
Still, none of us seemed willing to stop for a break. A heavy tension had settled over our group, probably due to how suspicious my guys were, how leery they were being. I couldn’t blame Mr. Takata for wanting to get to our destination as soon as possible, and I couldn’t blame them for wanting to determine whether we were really safe here or not.
My legs burned, but the promise of what awaited me on the other side pushed me forward.
After nearly two hours of walking, the trees thinned. Mr. Takata’s pace slowed considerably, and we all had long drinks of water.
Voices and the sounds of life started to reach my ears, and I couldn’t stop the smile from breaking over my face.
In my excitement, I tried to rush forward, but Ethan caught me by the hand and held me firmly in place, in the middle of their protective circle.
“Welcome to Urahidaka,” Mr. Takata announced. We emerged onto the outskirts of the most picturesque place I’d ever seen.
The houses were mostly wooden, built close together near the center of the village and more sparsely at the edges. Smoke rose from several chimneys, which jutted up from thatched and tiled roofs. Goats and geese wandered as freely as the villagers along cobblestone streets. The village was set into the side of a hill overlooking a valley. A few fat white clouds floated by lazily, but the afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the whole scene.
The air was crisp and fresh, tinged with that light hint of smoke and animal smell that was so unmistakably “countryside.” The faint, steady sound of running water indicated a nearby stream we couldn’t see.
It was like a postcard!
“It’s so beautiful,” I breathed. Standing there, looking at the calm valley, the Japanese maples swaying in the light breeze, I could almost pretend all the horrible things happening in the rest of the world weren’t real. How could they be when this valley and this village sat here so peacefully?
A middle-aged woman rushed up to us. Her hair was tied back neatly, and she wore a plain yukata.
“Konnichiwa. Youkoso,” she greeted us and bowed to each person individually.
“Konnichiwa.” My Japanese was rusty, but I still remembered the basics. I bowed a little lower than she did as a sign of respect.
“This is Youko, my cousin. Our grandmother lives with her and her family. She will take us to her home now,” Mr. Takata explained in English.
She gestured politely down the cobbled path toward the squat buildings, and we followed. We passed through the village’s main square, which was centered around what looked like a few teahouses and one small grocery store. A large cherry blossom tree grew in the very middle.
After passing down several winding lanes, we stopped at a house. It was similar to all the others in the area—slightly raised
and mostly constructed of wood with a tiled roof. A front garden displayed an array of brightly colored, artfully arranged plants.
After we all took our shoes off, Youko led us inside. Most of our group had to duck their heads in order to pass through the doorway.
The home was as traditional inside as it was outside—tatami mats, low tables, and cushions to sit on. As we rounded the corner into the main living space, I froze, my eyes going wide.
If any doubt lingered in my mind about Mr. Takata’s story or motives, one look at the elderly woman in front of me instantly dispelled it.
Her face was creased, her white, almost translucent hair tied into a knot. She hunched slightly over the gnarled hands she’d folded neatly in her lap.
She looked like any number of dignified, old Japanese women, but what made her remarkable—what had me gasping—was her glow.
It wasn’t nuclear. It wasn’t the warm white that emanated from my skin when I was under extreme pressure or, lately, when I called it up intentionally. No, this was a very subtle, almost hazy luminescence that seemed to hover around her.
I didn’t have to check with everyone else in the room—I was pretty certain I was the only one who could see it. I felt drawn to her, inexplicably connected in a way that was bigger than both of us, bigger than all of us. In a way we weren’t capable of understanding yet, no matter how hard we studied or how rigorous our scientific process was.
This was pure Light.
I knew she could do what I could do, because I felt it in every fiber of my being.
I moved forward. Her eyes fixed on me as mine did her, completely ignoring everyone else in the room. They all had the presence of mind to remain silent.
I dropped to my knees in front of her and bowed low. “Konnichiwa. Watashi wa Evelyn desu.” Fumblingly, I expressed my gratitude for her time and for welcoming us into her home.
A light touch brushed the back of my head, and I rose into a sitting position, resting my butt on my heels.
Vivid Avowed (The Evelyn Maynard Trilogy Book 3) Page 27