He’s angry? Why?
When Justin punches the security code into the back door, I force my attention to my feet. I didn’t mind spying on Frosty when I thought he would try and hurt me, but I’m not being threatened right now and I don’t want the ability to go places I’m not invited. Not here. Why flirt with temptation? Why make these people suspect me of wrongdoing? Well, more than they already do.
The new room is just as spacious and filled with even more equipment. Besides a punching bag and boxing ring, there’s a row of treadmills, stair-steppers, elliptical machines and stationary bikes.
Love, Gavin and Jaclyn are instructing a group of eleven people to run the treadmill at top speed for two minutes, then move to the stair-stepper for another two, then the elliptical for another two, then the bikes. Then they have to do it all over again.
The recruits range in age from older teens to men and women in their midthirties. But no matter the age, these people have clearly never trained before, their stamina seriously lacking. The majority of them look as if they’re about to go into cardiac arrest.
How did Cole—or whoever—find them? River and I used to hack names from databases in mental institutions, searching for anyone who sees monsters the rest of the world is too blind to notice.
Love smiles and waves at Justin. When she spots me, all hint of friendliness vanishes.
She’s a beautiful girl with curly dark hair and brilliant green eyes. No wonder Chance is into her. Not that the two are officially dating, but really, it’s only a matter of time. Chance has never chased after a potential conquest, or hung around an actual conquest this long. Love ’em and leave ’em, that’s his usual style.
I should know.
I look at Justin. “Why did you bring me in here?” Not to introduce me to the recruits, that’s for sure.
“I’ve been in your shoes, remember? I know you need to burn off some dark emotion, and this is the perfect place to do it.”
“Take five,” Love announces, the recruits practically falling off the bikes. “What’s she doing in here, Silverstone?”
I bristle, even as I wither.
“She’s on our side now.” Justin steps in front of me. “Cage the rage.”
The recruits stare at me with open curiosity.
“Bathroom,” one of the girls calls, disappearing into what looks to be a locker room. I catch the barest glimpse of her hair—jet-black, straight as a pen—swishing from a ponytail.
My heart skips a beat. Why such an extreme reaction?
Love growls, “Don’t be a fool, Justin. She’s here because she has nowhere else to go. The moment she gets a better offer she’ll take off. If she survives the day.”
“Is that a threat?” I ask.
Gavin crosses his arms. “Out,” he barks at the recruits, and they quickly scurry from the room, following the same path the dark-haired girl took. When our group is alone, he points to the boxing ring. “Justin suggested you cage the rage, and I agree...only, I want you to do it in an actual cage.”
I blink at him, incredulous.
Love rubs her hands together with glee. “Yeah. That’s a very good idea.”
“Ladies.” Gavin waves to the ring. “If you’d be so kind as to climb inside, you may pummel each other to the death while the rest of us watch...and take bets on the winner.”
I’m not sure what’s wrong with me. I’m not Justin Silverstone’s biggest fan, but he’s not a bad guy. Despite the mistakes he made in his past, he recently helped us destroy Anima from the inside out. He’s proven himself. And yet, the moment he put his arm around Camilla and turned on his megawatt smile, I’ve wanted to open him up from navel to nose, just to play Operation. Same way I reacted when the waiter touched her.
I think I’m on my period.
I stride to the ring where Cole and River are still hammering at each other. I remove my shirt and drop it on the floor.
“Woo-hoo,” Ali calls. “Take it all off.”
Ha! Looking at Cole, I hike my thumb behind my shoulder. “Out. It’s my turn.”
He struts over, pats me on the back. “Go easy on River. He’s delicate.”
River wipes a streak of blood from his cheek. “Last night I didn’t go easy on your—”
“No mom jokes!” Ali shouts.
“Dad,” River quips, and everyone snorts with laughter.
A side door opens and in strolls an older woman with silver-streaked black hair and kind brown eyes. Ali’s grandmother. Everyone calls her Nana. She’s carrying a tray of cookies and small plastic cups of milk.
“All right, everyone. Recharge with a snack,” she calls.
“Are those chocolate chip?” Cole reaches her first and claims one.
“Oh, my goodness.” Nana sets the tray aside and coos at the guy. “Cole, dear, you have a boulder-size knot on your jaw.”
“River did it.” Cole smirks at the guy. “And he insulted my mom. And my dad.”