Chapter 24 Black Jack
Ezra’s pov Some time earlier…
I walked ahead of James to get to my uncle’s study. I am sure James was pissed that I didn’t follow my uncle’s command right away. Usually, I did; it was easier than dealing with the trouble that always followed when I didn’t. Warning, Elizabeth was worth it. I don’t know if she knows what her parents really do. If she did, she wouldn’t have fought to protect everyone, including Kayla. Especially at the risk of her own life if she did. General Storm and Lady Rose are selfish assholes. If the world knew their secrets, like we did. The public wouldn’t consider them “heroes” by any means.
They have been at this game for a very long time, they have so many people in their pockets. We had to be extremely careful who we brought to the house. Even so, I still brought Elizabeth even though I suspected it before I brought her here. I wasn’t sure why, I just had to keep her out of the traditional hospital, even though the attack on the school was very publicly known. I worried it would risk her parents finding her before I got some answers. That's what I told myself, though.
The stale smell of cigars filled the air of my uncle’s office. I walked in like I did nothing wrong and took a seat in my usual chair in front of his desk. I did not speak, I was not allowed to speak until spoken to, per my uncle’s rules. I was in his place, and he chose when he would start a conversation. I held my usual bored facade even though the cigar smoke threatened to choke me. If I gave in to my urge to cough, it would be disrespectful to my uncle. I had to sit here and wait for him to start the mental game.
At least fifteen minutes passed before he spoke.
“Well... it is about time you showed up.”
“I came when I could.” I could not apologize for making him wait. That would show weakness to my uncle, and my uncle hated weakness. He blames weakness for the reason why my parents are dead.
“You are to come to me as soon as I call for you.” Irritation laced his words.
“I know,” I replied, anything less is unacceptable.
“Why.” It wasn’t a question; it was a demand.
“I was inspecting the girl we brought to see why she wasn’t awake yet; Griffen ran some extra blood tests to see if there was anything medical for why she hadn’t woken. Moments before James announced you requested my presence, she woke. I was just explaining. She was in a safe place receiving medical attention, and I would be back to explain further and to question her.” I explained with little emotion.
He did not need to know how I felt or the real reason Griffen was running an extra blood test. I am sure that is partly why I was here. Why was Griffen running an extra blood test? What could he be looking for? We both knew what that information would do to us if he knew what we suspected, but it was not safe for those secrets to be let out here; we would talk at school or something. Even there, it would be difficult to talk about things. The superheroes were not the only ones with spies everywhere. My uncle had them too.
“That will be all...” My uncle dismissed me without looking my way. That wasn’t good. It was never so easy with him. Something was up. I had to be on my guard. I’ll have to warn Griffen, too.
I nodded at my uncle without question and made my way out. James gave me a look as I passed that confirmed something was up. I did not make eye contact with him; I didn’t need to. I know James lives in my uncle's pocket. The more I am indifferent to him, the more it pisses him off, but he can't do anything about that. Even being my uncle's heir won't stop him from taking any chance he gets; he sells me out.
I calmly walk out of the office. Once I am sure no one can see me, I take a deep, relaxing breath. We are not out of the woods yet. I quickly find Griffen in one of the spare rooms, drinking a black coffee.
“Any word yet?”
“No, nothing yet. I should be getting a text soon about the results.” Griffin replied carefully, eyeing my body language.
“Good, because something is brewing with black jack.”
“Do they know?” Griffen asks carefully.
“I am unsure about that, but we should proceed carefully,” I tell him. Griffen was the only person I could trust.
“Understood.”
Even though Griffen was older than me, he was more like a big brother than anything. He was just a kid when he lost his older sister, Sarah, and it messes with him daily. I don’t know if what he suspects about Elizabeth will help him or hurt him. For his sake, whatever answer he gets will give him some sort of closure.
“We go check on her,” Griffen said as he tossed his cup in the trash.
“Yeah,” I agree, and I follow Griffen out of the room.
We walk in comfortable silence for a few minutes until Griffin speaks up.
“School should resume in a couple of weeks. There will still be damage to the school, but it will be repaired enough for regular classes.”
“Oh yeah?” I could really care less about school, but it was a good reason not to be stuck here with my uncle.
“Yeah, they have no clue if, and when LOTLAS will resume,” Griffen Mulls out.
I am not surprised. Elizabeth made that toxic screamer mutant explode like a bomb. There were barely any remains from it. I still can’t believe she survived something like that. We rounded the corner and had one more hallway to go before we reached the medical room where she was staying.
All of a sudden, a blood-curdling scream broke through the air. I didn’t even stop to think of my actions, and who would see, I broke out in a run.
I busted through the door to see a man laughing as Elizabeth shook in pain. He held a knife and made small cuts along her burns. Her IV that had her pain meds in was out and spilled on the floor. I saw red. I attacked without considering who this person was and what influence he had. I was going to kill him.