Lucky Strike (Super Harem #1) - Catherine Banks Page 0,37
keep that secret in the dark pit it belongs in.”
“I want to know everything about you. That includes the things in the dark pit,” he whispered and kissed my ear.
“I tried to forget them, too. I should have known one of them would be involved. I should have recognized it was them when I saw the cyborg creatures.” Mom had always loved cyborgs. I was surprised she hadn’t turned Dad into one yet.
“Will you tell me about your childhood?”
I stepped back and smiled. “Sure, but not right now. I’ve got a million messages and calls to return.”
“Can I take you out for dinner tonight?” He smiled, but it seemed strained.
“Sure,” I agreed immediately. “You pick the place.”
He pulled me into a tight hug and kissed me deeply. His tongue swept over mine and then before I could respond, he pulled back. “I’ll see you tonight.”
I nodded and walked out in a daze.
Arms wrapped around me in the hallway and I immediately shocked them.
“Ouch!” Alura yelped and leapt away.
I gasped and rushed to hug her with my powers contained. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize it was you.”
She squeezed me back and patted me on the shoulder. “It’s okay. I should know better than to surprise a hero. Your aura is mixed. What’s going on? I need an update with all the juicy details.”
“I need to call Tyson first. Can I come to your room when I’m done?” I also wanted to stop by Hurricane and Vortex’s room, but I was conflicted if I should or not.
She smirked. “Go call your neutral, and I’ll wait in my room.”
I gave her another squeeze, went into my room, and dialed his number. He picked up on the first ring with what sounded like a speaker in a convention talking in the background. “Let me walk outside real quick,” he whispered.
“Tyson, where are you going?” Someone asked.
“I’ll be right back. I’ve been expecting this call,” he told them.
“If you’re busy—” I started but he interrupted me.
“I’m never too busy for you. Especially after you disappeared for days with zero contact,” he grumbled.
“Wasn’t my fault,” I muttered.
The noise died down and then he exhaled. “So, what’s the story?”
I told him everything I knew and apologized a million times.
“Stop apologizing. They quarantined you. You couldn’t have gotten out any sooner. I’m surprised they only kept you a couple days, honestly.”
“I was getting stir crazy. And I started randomly shocking things because I was bored.”
He laughed. I liked his laugh.
“I’m sorry about Alfred,” I said with a grimace.
“He is almost repaired. I’ve actually been adding upgrades, which is why you don’t have him back yet.”
“Upgrades? What kind of upgrades?” I asked suspiciously.
I could hear his smile. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
Exhaling loudly, I accepted my fate.
“You and I need to talk about your parents.”
I groaned. “Why? I don’t even like them.”
“Can we meet tomorrow?”
I wanted nothing more than to see him. “Yes.”
“It’s a date. Stay safe.”
“You, too.”
I hung up smiling, but worry still filled me.
My parents wouldn’t have been able to take those pictures, which meant the culprit was still out there.
My feelings were still too raw from everything, so I went straight to Alura’s room. If Hurricane and Vortex wanted to talk, they would have to come to me.
Alura ushered me in, set a tray of snacks and drinks down, and said, “Spill.”
So, I spilled. Everything. Tears I hadn’t expected streamed down my face, sobs made it hard to talk, and sadness filled me.
It strangely felt good, though. To finally let it all out.
She patted my back and said, “You’ve experienced so much change and pain in such a short time. But, your aura is much clearer now. The darkness is still there, but it hasn’t grown. And Hurricane and Vortex are idiots for breaking up with you. You three glow when together. It is their loss.”
“I don’t even know what I would say to them if they asked to talk,” I whispered and wiped my face.
“Live in the now. Don’t worry about the future. We are heroes and our future is not guaranteed. Go out, protect the citizens, be the badass woman you are, and don’t take anyone’s shit.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Tyson stood outside the Association Headquarters, leaning against the side of his sports car. He wore slacks and a button-up shirt that hugged him in all the right places.
My jeans and t-shirt suddenly seemed incredibly inadequate.
Standing just to the side of him were two familiar males.
My heart pounded and my feet stopped moving. Anxiety