Hardcore Love

The Meeting

Silas POV

Entering the house, I was wondering how the Shadows came across this house. They don't seem to the type of people to settle down any time soon. They all seem like they are very active people, especially Ghost. She was calm and quiet but I could sense that she was plotting something. Now that think about it, she was like a cheetah, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Sharing a look with my brothers, there were questions that we haven't dared to ask yet. Mr. B was the first one to speak up after we were directed to the living room. "Mr. Morgan and Mr. Henshaw found out some information we all believed that you all need to know. It's about the military council." Giant inquired "What is it? Because they have already screwed us over more than once and we need to know why before we react." Victor and Corey tell them all about what they found, including the reports they found. When all was said and done, Apollo excused the eight of them to let this information sink in. Once they were out of the room, it was like the eve of a storm that might pass over. I was relieved that they reacted calmly so far but what will they do once this all sinks in? I was focusing on not letting my worry take over when I jumped at a gentle touch. Lifting my head, I see Ghost frowning softly at me and my brothers before gently grabbing my hand to squeeze in a comforting manner. Her blue-green eyes showed shadows of worries and concerns. Every once in a while with her just looking, her eyes would glaze over revealing that what I saw in her eyes went far deeper than I what thought. As I was about to ask, she moved as the other Shadows entered the room and reclaimed their seats. Ghost blanked her face as she moved back into her seat. North was silently asking what I had found out as I told him later with a look.  There was a flicker of emotions on all of the Shadow's faces as Techno spoke with a sad but accepting tone, "Thank you all for this. We appreciate the help more then you realize. All we ask is that you all let us handle them without you interfering without our okay." Axel softly added, "You're welcome and we understand why you all want to handle this on your own. All of us are willing to help out if you need help. Please just remember, we care about you guys even if we know very little about you. We give a shit and when you all are ready to talk, we are here to listen." With a nostalgic soft voice, Ghost piped in, "We will let you know and forgive us if it takes us a while to believe that we have someone that we can talk to. All fourteen of you have done more good for us than most people we know, so thank you." She stood up not looking at anyone as she left the room. After that, we were directed to where we could get some sleep for the night as the others went away. The worry I felt earlier came back stronger than before as we were left to our own devices. 

Gabriel POV

Fucking shit, that could have gone better. I was surprised when I felt the desire to help them take their minds off this. With one look, you could see that they have been through hell and back, fighting through it all.  Heading off to bed, I hoped that tomorrow morning would be better for them. I found Luke looking more serious than I ever see him nowadays. He saw my questioning glaze and my silent question, what are you thinking about? "How it possible to not care about the Shadows? They just got told some seriously bad news yet their reaction? It almost like they already accepted the idea of being hurt again. Also, why not go after them now when they can be caught in the act?" Taking a moment to answer, I softly replied "I don't fucking know shit right now. That's what fucking worries me shitless right now." There was a soft knock on the door, as it opened to reveal Shadow and Ghost. Those two shared a silent conversation. Grayson looked both of us from the top and bottom twice. "As I understand, there was some shit news shared and you lot are worried about the Shadows." We both nodded yes as he continued, "You have proven to be true to your words which is more appreciated then you realized so thank you for that." What the fucking hell is he talking about? What the hell happened to them that made them not trust what people say? Also, when the hell did he get here? Ghost was shaking her head at us with a small amused smile that stayed when she looked at us. In an amused soft voice, she spoke "the past is our biggest source of strength and our biggest weakness. There are times where the past is best left in the past." Grayson moved out the door, as Ghost stayed for a couple of moments after he left. "Get some sleep, you're going to need it for tomorrow. Be prepared to work out early in the morning." She said to us as she left the room and closes the door behind her. What the fuck just happened here?

Luke POV

After that encounter, we got ready for bed still shell-shocked. As I climbed into bed, Gabe was complaining about me wearing my birthday suit as he kicked me out to put on some PJs. Once done, I was finally allowed in the bed as we both went to sleep. The next morning, the sun was bright and boldly streaming into the room. I groaned loudly shifting right into my best friend. Gabe grumbled as he tumbled right on to the floor. Gabe was a loose cannon with the number of cuss words that went flying rapidly out his month just in the first 5 minutes. I released another groan when the clock announced the time was 5:30 in the morning. Just as both of us got our bearing together, there was a very loud knock on the door. "Get up and get moving. Meet me outside in the back yard in ten minutes." I'm positive that was Giant but using the sudden burst of energy to be ready to work out with Ghost's words in mind. Seven minutes we were dressed and out to the back yard when North bumped into us. Behind him, there was the rest of my family and the toma team. We all look very sleepy and not entirely sure of what was going to happen. Out of the blue, the Shadows just attacked and I noticed the small table that was sitting in the back end of the yard. There were two of us per Shadow but the one missing was Ghost. Silas gives me an out to see if I could spot Ghost. A slight rustle of leaves above me gives me a glimpse of the tiny blonde Shadow. Spending thirty minutes just trying to get to the small table, we all called it quits. That was when Ghost popped down from the trees and grab the summer sausage all in one go. North exploded at that moment when her feet touched the ground. "Is it because she is blind that she wasn't in the training this morning? Also, why did none of you say that she is blind?" Ghost just walked up to us and spoke in a neutral even tone. "I asked them not to say anything to test all of you. And for this morning, I have my reasons for why I didn't join in. However, I was aware of everything you all were doing. So do me a favor, get off your high horse and stop assuming that you know everything. If you were to look at everything you know about me, you would realize that you know very little to nothing. Now let's eat breakfast before it gets cold." Silence in the dining room was very shocking to me as I just watch Ghost and Shadow interact. Shadow broke the silence when he asked, "How was the training session this morning?" Looks were shared as the tale of this morning was told. At the part of the tiff between North and Ghost, he just nodded along not asking about it. Techno followed up with what we had planned for the day. Mr. B and Axel shared looks as Axel responded. "As far we know as of right now nothing. Is there a reason why you ask?" "Yes, there is. If you are okay with this. Where the main meeting place for the council is not that far away. We were wondering if you guys could place some bugs and cameras for us and we are willing to leave one of our phones so that they don't become suspicious of what we are doing right now. They are going to be in town for at least an hour after we meet with them." Shared looks all around as we all agreed to do that. The Shadows left to get ready for the day as Ghost leaves her phone at the house with the maps on showing an address. Kota and Marc chatted with Mr. B and Axel creating a plan.  Kota and Marc come over as we finish prepping for the job. Marc spoke for both of them. "Alright, this has to be done as quickly as possible. Two outcomes if we do this right. One of them is to give the Shadows what they ask for without us having access to the cameras and bugs for their safety. The second task is the hardest, we need to get trackers on the council members. This is for our sake and we will leave a note for them to know about it." The coffee table opened up to reveal trackers with a note that Victor read out loud. "I figured that you would track them, so here are some of our trackers that will last for two months. There are extras, so use them wisely for your future jobs. Computer underneath for you, Corey and Victor. The others won't know till later. Ghost and Shadow." With that, the plan was told and we got to work using the gifts that Ghost and Shadow left us. Three hours later, all fourteen of us meet up at the mall with our vehicles packed ready to go home.  With conversations ending and some starting, we left to go home not sure of the future.