Flight of Fancy (17 page)

Samson was on him in a heartbeat. But like Tyler before, he too twitched and fell forward. He didn’t pass out, but he didn’t attack either. It was like he was frozen, staring at something only he could see.

“Hurry. Can’t…hold him…much…longer…” Aidan’s weak summons spurred Gavin to action. An image of keys in Samson’s pants flashed in his mind’s eye, and he followed Aidan’s instructions, fetching the keys and crawling to his partner. But after he’d freed Aidan from his restraints and stood, Gavin encountered yet another problem.

He hobbled like a lame horse, and Aidan didn’t move from the wall.

“Aidan, you’re going to have to help me.” Gavin stumbled over to the book lying on the floor and grabbed it, then returned to Aidan.

“Hard to move. Tie Samson up. Gimme a minute.”

“Shit. You’re slurring.” Gavin knew he’d lost a lot of blood, but it was Aidan’s mind that had taken a hit. Somehow his lover had felled both Tyler and Sampson with mind powers he wasn’t supposed to have. “It’s okay, partner. We’ll work our way out. Somehow.” Gavin wondered what the hell to do now. Guards were still posted outside in the hall, and who knew when Kerr, Samson, or Tyler might revive?

“Samson. Tie him up.”

Gavin nodded and found some duct tape—surprise, surprise—that he used to tie up the creep on the floor. He put a generous amount over Samson’s mouth as well, knowing how much it would hurt to be ripped off.

“Go out this door to the left,” Aidan whispered, his voice hoarse. “There’s another hallway leading to an underground tunnel, one that wasn’t on the blueprints.”

“Aidan?” Gavin touched his shoulder and felt a huge wave of relief when Aidan opened his eyes. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“Stubborn boy. No discipline.” Aidan blew out a shaky breath. “You’ll have to help me. I used up a lot of my reserves already. But I looked into Samson before he started in on me. I know exactly how we’ll get gone.” Aidan grinned, and Gavin joined him, but inside, he wanted to cry.

Chapter Ten

Aidan didn’t recall much about their escape, only that he’d instructed Gavin on where to go when prodded. Somehow Gavin had found them a car and a cell phone, and now, two days later, Aidan lay in Dr. Cannon’s clinic, safe and warm. He felt awash in a dreamy lassitude that made perfect sense with Gavin nearby. Time seemed suspended when his lover neared, love and serenity so close, he could almost touch it. Visions from his past rose to haunt him, but then Gavin would touch him or talk to him, and the bad things vanished.

Unfortunately, someone continued to intrude on his calm. The woman standing in front of him refused to go away, no matter how many times he closed his eyes or turned his head. She just wouldn’t shut up.

“Damn it. You have to eat, you big dunderhead. Gavin will be back in another hour. He’s fine. Relax.”

He grimaced. “Aren’t you supposed to be empathic?” Gazing at the worried redhead with his good eye, he felt a psychic rush of relief settle his nerves. Normally he didn’t like anyone tampering with his psyche, but Kitty sometimes unconsciously employed her empathy to keep the peace. She wanted him at ease.

Kitty frowned. “I feel your pain, literally. So yeah, I’m empathic. Take your meds and eat, idiot. I know you’re worried about Gavin, but—”

He forced a laugh. “I’m not worried about the pencil pusher. From what I hear, he saved the day.” Two days ago, when he’d risen to consciousness the first time, he’d let Jack know everything about their escape—well, everything except how he’d manipulated minds—giving credit where credit was due.

“No. You both did. Gavin told us how, without you, he’d never have gotten the book or escaped. Good work.”

Pleased with her praise, Aidan nevertheless wanted to make sure Gavin took his fair share of recognition for a job well done. “Yeah, well, if Gavin hadn’t come to find me when he did, I’d be a trophy on Kerr’s wall.” Of torture. He shivered inside, recalling how dark the place had been. The menace and evil thoughts pouring through Tyler, Samson, and Carl had been brutal, to say the least.

He glanced up when Jack entered the room. The small clinic, run by Julia Cannon, catered to anyone needing medical attention. Cost was no object. But she also specifically helped out people like him—those with psychic abilities who had certain anomalies regular hospitals would notice. Aidan, though hurt, would heal three times as fast as a normal guy getting sliced and diced. Already his swollen eye had nearly faded, and he’d only been back for forty-eight hours.

To Jack, Aidan asked, “Any word on them yet?”

“No. That story you made up about an undercover agent at the house turned out to actually be true. Feds have been circling Kerr for months. We just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time, I guess. They bagged Tyler Barnes. A real piece of crap, by all accounts. He’s wanted in several states for killing and torturing police officers. Weird fucker—ah, guy.” He amended with a side glance at Kitty.

“My ears are burning. I’m leaving him with you,” she said to Jack. “I have my own problems to deal with.”

Jack frowned. “That guy at the gym bothering you again?”

“What guy?” Aidan asked. Kitty brought out the protector in all of them. Pretty, funny, and genuinely nice, she had a bevy of friends. Yet to Aidan, used to solitude, she always seemed kind of alone. Then again, what the hell did he know?

“It’s not the guy that’s the problem. It’s his sister and her fiancé.” Kitty blew out a breath. “Nothing I can’t handle. It’s not a big deal.”

“Let me know if it is,” Jack ordered. “And that’s not a request.”

Kitty rolled her eyes. Not many fucked with Jack, but she tested him on a regular basis. And she was the only one Jack seemed to tolerate.

“Yes, master.” She winked at Aidan. “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.”

“Witch.”

She laughed and left him with Jack. Oh joy.

Jack turned and stared down at him, his muscles bursting from his clothes.

“Are you getting bigger?” Aidan hadn’t thought that could be possible.

Jack let out a breath. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“It was our intel that was compromised. No way they should’ve known who you were, but somehow they piggybacked on to that fifty grand we gave you.”

“So they tracked the money to Stallbridge. Now I get it.”

“We’re fixing the problem as we speak.” Jack grimaced, and Aidan was just glad he hadn’t been responsible for the financial mistake. “As far as the others… No word yet on Kerr or Ruelle. They rounded up the other dickheads at the party. Nearly half of them had outstanding warrants.”

“Good.”

“Feds took them away. The others went free, unfortunately. I’m bothered about Kerr and this Samson character. Samson Ruelle doesn’t exist, that we can find.”

“I was afraid of that.”

“Yeah, well, I have a bad feeling you haven’t seen the last of him either. Avery told me to put someone on you.” Avery, the clairvoyant. “Gavin’s your shadow until this is done.”

“Wait. What?” Aidan sat up and groaned when his body protested. Vehemently. “Gavin isn’t the bodyguard type.”

“He saved your ass.”

Aidan swore. “Yeah, okay. He did. But he can’t handle a guy like Samson. Fucker is as big as me. And Samson’s not right in the head. Seriously.”

Jack looked behind him and, seeing no one there, leaned closer to Aidan. “You’re right; he’s not. Avery had a vision of the guy tagging Gavin. Shot him with a tranq. Now would you rather that asshole just met with Gavin alone, or would you like to be around when it goes down?”

Aidan blinked. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. I’m not dicking with you for my health. I want Gavin watched. He’s feeling good that he succeeded, and I want to foster that. I don’t want him to leave the team.”

“Leave?” His voice grew louder, and he didn’t like Jack’s expression. “What’s so fucking funny?”

“Nothing.” Jack sighed. “You people give me a headache, you know that? I meant what I said. Gavin wants a place on this team. He earned it. Hell, he’s had it since we got here. Little shit is a genius with our books. But he wants fieldwork to make him happy?” Jack shrugged. “He’s got it. He’s your new detail.”

“Christ.” Aidan needed to get on the mend, pronto.

“And just to keep things running smoothly, I’ll have Justin and Kyle Cannon keeping an extra eye on things. The Cannons owe me a favor. They can provide some extra security, since most of the rest of the team is tapped. You and Gavin are taking time off to heal. I assume you’ll be out at your place, in that secluded area near the mountains.”

“Yeah.” Aidan knew that look. “Hell. You
want
us to draw them out. We’re bait.”

Jack didn’t say anything.

“That’s fucked up, Jack. Gavin could get seriously hurt.”

“Oh?”

“Come on. Say what you want, but Gavin’s not like the rest of us. He needs time to grow. He’s not…” How to say it without insulting Gavin. He didn’t want to ruin Gavin’s dream of being a heavy hitter, but honestly, Gavin was soft and sweet. Just the way Aidan liked him.

“I know. But he won’t hear it. He did good with you on that op. So use him now and get him up to speed. If he wants fieldwork, it’s his.”

“I’m telling him the truth.”

“Tell him whatever you want. The feds are all over Kerr, but they’re not as concerned with Samson Ruelle. I am. I want this Ruelle character dealt with. I don’t like threats close to home.” Jack frowned. “I have to get back to the gym. With Kitty distracted and Avery and Nathan on a break, we’re shorthanded.”

“Put Ian to work.” The pained look on Jack’s face made Aidan chuckle. “Yeah, I know. But he can be charming when he wants to be. And he’ll occupy Keegan.” Jack’s other nightmare—a huge-ass Texan with a chip on his shoulder when it came to the boss. The pair seemed to be in a constant struggle to prove who was top dog. Keegan didn’t seem to realize Jack would never bow to anyone. Even Aidan had enough sense to know that.

“Good point.” Jack smiled, and for a moment, the heavy shadows that constantly lingered over him faded away. Good Christ, the man was hot. Not as sexy as Gavin, but still. Then Jack’s lips thinned again. “Now get some rest. Your boy should be back soon.”

Hot or not, only one man meant the world to him. Aidan forced himself to ignore the flush on his face.

“Hell. I’m done sending you guys out on ops. Every time a pair goes out, you come back a couple. Or worse, a threesome.” Jack snorted, no doubt referring to Keegan, James, and Rory, his biggest pains. “So the undercover work. You handled it?”

“Yeah. You want details?” he challenged, more than ready to defend his time with Gavin, especially if his boss thought he could malign Gavin and get away with it.

“Hell no. Collars and whips aren’t my thing. You just take care of
your boy
, you hear me?”

“It was just an op, Jack. Everything’s back to normal now.”

“Yeah, okay. Well, I have other things to do than pamper your sorry ass. Get up, get dressed, and get the hell out of here.”

Aidan thought he heard his boss say something about him being a dumb shit as he left the room.

Then Dr. Cannon walked in. “Aidan, why are you almost out of bed?”

Busted. “Ah, sorry, Doc. I have orders to go. I really can’t stay here.”

Gavin entered, looking fresh and innocent. He had a fading bruise on his left cheek, but other than that, he appeared fine.

Dr. Cannon shook her head. “You people are great for business. You come, I fix you up, and you leave. Bam. Then you’re back again.”

“You’re leaving?” Gavin scowled. “He’s not healed yet. Look at him.”

Aidan felt underdressed in his pajama pants. God, he wanted to get home and into his own bed.

“No, he’s not.” Dr. Cannon shut the door. She was an older woman in her fifties, beautiful, with a grace and dedication to her profession that did her proud. But a look at her eyes told Aidan the underlying truth. The woman had power, a lot of it.

He felt itchy, ready to leave. “It’s okay, Doc. Gavin’s going to watch out for me while I heal. Jack’s orders,” he said to Gavin.

He tried to ignore his pleasure when Gavin brightened.

Gavin nodded. “I passed him on the way. I’ll make sure he gets rest and fluids, Dr. Cannon.”

“Only the good kind,”
Aidan sent him, attaching an image of Gavin’s cock in his mouth.

“Cut it out.”

“Okay, you two. Stop talking. I need to concentrate.”

How the doctor could know they communicated telepathically was a mystery, but Aidan had a bigger problem to worry about. He didn’t like her getting so intense on him. “Really, Doc. I’m good.”

“Shut up, Aidan. Let her heal you.”

And then it was too late. Doctor Cannon put her hands over his chest and pushed. Not with her hands, but with her mind. Energy splintered through his rib cage, where most of the damage had been done.

Aidan sucked in a breath as pure fire washed over his wounds.
“Fuck.”

“Hold on. Just a little more,” she said, breathless, her eyes closed.

Gavin hovered protectively, but he was no more than a blur as more heat traveled down Aidan’s side to his leg, where that asshole Tyler had belted him.

Aidan groaned as the pain slowly leached away. “M-much better.”

“Wow. That was incredible,” Gavin said excitedly. “His bruises and cuts healed while I watched. That’s amazing.”

“And draining.” Doctor Cannon straightened and cracked her back. “But worth it. You’ll be just about healed all the way in a few days, Aidan. You’ll have some tenderness in your ribs, but the breaks and infection that started are gone. No rough stuff for at least a week. I mean it.”

Aidan was impressed with her mean voice. “No problem. I owe you, Doc.”

“No. Your boss paid us in full. I like that man. He’s sweet.”

Aidan and Gavin just looked at each other; then Aidan turned back to her. “Uh, are you talking about Jack? Jack Keiser?”

“Of course.” She beamed and patted him on the cheek. “Now you and Gavin can recuperate. And Gavin, remember what I said when we talked earlier. Don’t let him overdo.”

“Yes, ma’am.”