Rebuilt For Revenge (Editing)

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Octavia:

Kicking him square in the shin, I watch him fold like bad origami. He hits his knees, groaning. I snatch the walkie-talkie from his belt and fling it across the floor like it just insulted my mother.

Fingers digging into his hair, I slam his face onto my knee. A satisfying crack echoes. He lands on the concrete, covering his face like it might magically heal itself.

I spin just in time to catch a gun aimed at my forehead. Twist, knee to gut, back pressed against him like we're in some twisted yoga class. Then, yes... low blow. He drops like I just asked politely. Gun lands in my hand. A sharp whack to the head with it. Sorry, not sorry — a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

A body crashes into me. Floor. Thud. Warm. That's Taylor. Good to know he's got my back... literally.

"We're coming over!" rumbles a rough voice in the comms. KB. And thank God he's here — I've got a few people thinking they own this room.

"No, it's fine, sir!" I grunt, socking the guy pinning me square in the jaw. Taylor's legs, long enough to qualify as a weapon of mass destruction, boot him across the room. Damn those legs.

"It wasn't a question," KB says through the comm. "I don't leave anyone behind." And damn, I love that about him. Loyalty is dangerous... just like me.

I roll off Taylor, stand... and immediately get a metal bar across my neck. Ash's grunt of pain echoes from the wall as someone shoves him into it.  As I stare at the hand clenching the metal bar in their grasp.

Scar-face. I remember him. Nate Roberts. Former nightmare, still living rent-free in my nightmares.

He waves a black, blocky radio like he's about to start a magic show. Presses the metal bar into my neck. I grit my teeth. Ash shouts. He eats a gut-punch. I... feel a spark.

And then it happens. My eyes flare red. Not normal red — fire-red. Nate lifts the tool to hit me again. It disintegrates in his hand. 

"Funny, really," I whisper, kicking him square in the face from the floor. His head snaps back. I grab him by the hair, lift, and throw him into the wall. Concrete meeting bone. Music to my ears.

Everyone else freezes. Shock. Panic. Ash and Taylor exchange that smug "she's angry, run" look. Yeah, that's my specialty.

I stalk the thug holding Taylor, twist his wrist 180 degrees. He screams like I'm conducting a horror symphony. Kick. Snap. Bone-breaking satisfaction.

From the corner of my eye, Nate fumbles for a different radio. Taylor's hand knocks it across the room like it's a ping-pong ball. The door bursts open.

The guy holding Ash tries to run. KB's boot meets his face like gravity just got mean. "Going somewhere?" His voice vibrates with deadly calm. Legs go out from under me — good thing I'm used to getting tossed around. Taylor and Ash handle him quickly.

Paul hauls me to my feet. My eyes are still glowing, residual ember-red. KB smirks at me like I just made the room a little more fun. He knows what I do to people when I'm mad.

"Nate, how I've missed you," KB chuckled, removing his arm from around Don and limping toward the man pinned by the boys. His grin was sharp, predatory.

Nate's glare swept from KB to me, lips curling in a smirk. "The feelings aren't returned."

I rolled my eyes.

"Na-na-na. You don't stare at one of my girls. Got it?" KB's hand smacked Nate's face. The sound echoed off the walls. Blood dripped from Nate's mouth, making him look even more grotesque.

I glanced at Paul and Don, standing sentinel by the door. "Your only girl, you mean. And damn, those eyes," KB added, giving Nate a booted push. Head bounced against the wall. Ouch.

My red eyes faded, worry replacing the fire. How the hell are we getting out of here?

Nate's gaze flicked to me again. Mistake. Big mistake.

The boys shoved him to the floor and began dismantling him. Blood pooled across the concrete like a warning. I caught a glint of metal in the corner of my eye—a gun aimed at KB.

I spun, boot connecting with the weapon, sending it clattering. My other boot lifted his chin. "Think again." The next kick left him completely limp. One arm mangled, body a map of bruises and scars. Black-and-blue Nate looked like a horror painting brought to life.

"Now is the part where we dip," Paul says, punching Nate one more time for good measure.

I help KB to his feet. His right leg is shot; he leans on me.

We move as a unit — Don up front, Paul covering, Taylor and Ash sweeping, me keeping KB upright. We round a corner and BAM. Five massive men. Big, ugly, and all teeth.

I glance at KB, who gives me that small nod that says, we're about to make this fun.

I smirk. "Well... this is gonna hurt someone's ego... and probably a rib or two."

--------------------

Cashe:

9 o'clock. Dylan and Trixi had left after the movie. The boys seemed fond of them. I... tolerated them. For now.

The front door creaked. I padded toward the living room. The boys were sprawled across the sofa, controller in hand, bickering over some game.

"Hey, Dad," I greeted, noticing the dark bags under his eyes. Exhaustion written all over him.

"Hello," he nodded. Then paused. Noticed something. Too fast. "Where's Octavia? Already upstairs?"

I darted to the kitchen, filling a glass of water. Careful not to spill—the floor did not need more chaos tonight.

"So she had a family emergency?" He asked, taking the glass. Quick nod from me.

"That's what she said... but she looked way too worried for just helping her brother," Dante said, shock creeping over his features.

"She has a brother?"

"Yep. Older, apparently," I replied, sitting beside Xavier and Tom.

"And you don't think she went for the reasons she said?"

"Pretty much, sir," Xavier finalized, a frown on his face.

"Did you sense a lie from her?" He turned to me.

"From a mile," I said. Head nodding, I placed the glass on the table.

"Can't do much now except hope she comes back tomorrow. Then we ask in person," he said, clearing his throat. We all nodded reluctantly.

"Get to bed. Turn this off. It's too late." One last nod from me before he left, climbing the stairs.

"I don't think I'll sleep," Calum murmured.

"Me neither," Xavier agreed.

"Me neither," Tom echoed.

As the endless game of waiting begins.