The Powerful Pride of an Immortal (Immortal Supers Book 4) by Kurtis Eckstein (ebook reader for surface pro .TXT) 📗

would mess you up, and it would take you a while to recover. You have two daughters to take care of, so please. Please trust me, trust your instincts, and don’t try to read my memories.”

She took another deep breath, truly focusing on me again. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Needless to say…I didn’t know what to say…

Her words bothered me in more ways than one. Between what she disclosed about herself, and the implications of how it might make Freya psychologically unstable for a time…all of it, just really bothered me.

When we got back in the vehicle, I was still a little shaken by the idea, prompting me to completely forget about getting dessert. We were back on the interstate, with our trip to the large pond being thirty minutes behind us, before I remembered again.

Winter immediately told me not to worry about it, but I stopped off at the next exit anyway, working hard to change the mood. Especially since my mood was directly affecting her.

By the time I’d stopped at three different places, to get her ice cream, a box of jelly-filled donuts, and some cinnamon balls filled with frosting, along with another vanilla iced coffee, she was cheerfully wolfing it all down, the happiest I thought I’d ever seen her.

Nothing like sweets to cheer a person up.

Jackie ended up calling us on the way, wondering how far out we were, and also giving us the option to come in the next day, instead of tonight. However, Winter said her computer was broken and it was better to just take care of it now, so she didn’t have to worry about it the next day.

I wasn’t exactly sure what her computer had to do with it, but didn’t ask.

When we finally arrived at the CDS location where I now worked, I was shocked to find Lexi waiting for us, having driven my green Mustang. Her expression was a mixture of emotions as she threw herself in my arms the moment I reached the glass doors leading into the building’s lobby.

I kind of felt awkward having her thank me like I was her biggest hero, quickly admitting that I’d just been along for the ride and Winter did everything, including taking the guy out.

Lexi looked at Winter in surprise. “Oh, I’m sorry. Thank you.” It was obvious she felt awkward now.

Winter only nodded, her pale green eyes thankfully their normal color, due to the light coming from inside. I wasn’t sure the lights ever went out here, even if most people worked during the day. No doubt, there was always someone working, and security definitely worked around the clock.

Lexi continued. “I just got here a few minutes ago, but Jackie told me on the phone that she’d be waiting in her office for us.”

“Us?” I repeated.

Her cheeks flushed. “Well, no. The two of you. I just came because I wanted to thank you right away.”

I nodded in understanding. “Well, let’s get going then, so we can go home.”

Lexi smiled warmly, wrapping her arms around mine as she led the way inside the building. I didn’t feel awkward about it with Winter standing there, because she was pretty much well aware of the intricacies of all our relationships at this point.

However, when we got to the office, Lexi was stunned all over again for a completely different reason. The desks had been put back in place, but many of the electronics had been damaged earlier, making it noticeable that something happened recently.

Winter automatically answered her thoughts, before Lexi could even ask if I knew. “I punched Radley Lockhart in the face earlier today. He was being an asshole.”

Lexi gawked at her. “Y-You did?”

She nodded.

Recalling the incident prompted my own question. “Actually, what was he thinking about anyway? Or what did he say in his head that irritated you enough to punch him? Not that I’m complaining,” I added.

Winter remained silent, avoiding my gaze.

Jackie popped her head out of her office then, overhearing us talking in the otherwise empty place, since her door was cracked open. “Oh, you’re back. Please, join me.”

We all filed inside, with Winter sitting in one of the two leather chairs in front of Jackie’s desk, while I took the other, and Lexi sat on the edge of the couch behind us. Jackie then proceeded to record Winter explaining what transpired, with her sharing what she overheard to prompt her to identify the target, as well as my experience with speaking with him face-to-face.

By the time she was done, it was pretty obvious I didn’t do anything at all, other than hold the guy down, not that I’d really been expected to in the first place. After all, I was sort of still in orientation. However, I had to admit I felt a little embarrassed.

Once Winter was finished, Jackie cleared her throat, directing her words at the person responsible for completing the assignment. “Well, since the mission was successful, my superiors wanted me to offer your usual rate again, even though you declined it earlier.”

Winter shook her head. “No.”

“Wait,” Lexi finally interjected. “You took the job for free?”

She nodded, glancing back at her. “Because I punched Radley Lockhart in the face. Less problems this way. It was worth it.”

Lexi gawked at her. “Yeah, but I’m sure he deserved it.”

“It’s fine,” she replied, giving her attention back to Jackie.

My boss focused on me. “Anything you’d like to add to the report?” she wondered pleasantly.

Of course, I wasn’t expecting any kind of extra monetary compensation, even if I had helped out, since I was on salary now, whereas Winter was hired help who was paid on a case-by-case basis, like Nick used to be.

I shook my head. “No, I mean I wasn’t much help anyway, so–”

Winter interrupted me. “Yes, you were.”

“Well, I mean–”

She cut me off again, her gaze suddenly intense. “You helped. A lot.” She then looked at Jackie, responding to her thoughts. “Yes.” She paused. “Yes.”

Okay seriously, not knowing what was being discussed was a little frustrating, especially when