He sighed, accepting that he had to start getting on an even keel again. It felt like he went from feeling good to bad in the span of a heartbeat anymore. He didn’t like being so off-balance. But that need for justice, hell, for vengeance, against his sister’s murderers refused to fade.
He’d had a piece of them two months ago, back when the team had rescued Bailey from being attacked. He could still feel Myers’s blood on his hands, the scent of death so near. For all he knew, Myers had died that night. But Yates and Sheer were still out there, still hurting the innocent and wreaking havoc on everything they could sink their claws into.
Dr. Edwin Lang had plenty to be held accountable for, but especially for taking psychopaths and killers and turning them into super strong freaks with now not only the will but the ability to destroy.
“Yo, Mr. Feel Good, what’s with all the dramatic sighs?” Elijah Ortiz smirked at him. The only member of the team besides Alex who liked to give Gideon a hard time, though Alex didn’t think Eli really meant it. The guy just had a difficult time adjusting to belonging. And not looking at life through prison bars, no doubt.
“You get less charming by the day.”
“Yeah, sure.” Eli shrugged. “Whatever you say. So you ready to start training again?”
Of the four Circs, not including Bailey, Alex was dead last when it came to hand-to-hand fighting. Not his fault, as the guys had all been mixed martial artists who made a living fighting on the underground circuit before becoming Circ. Alex had been a PI. One who worked without a license, but still, not anywhere near a professional brawler.
“Okay, fine. If it’ll get you off my ass, then sure.”
Eli grinned. Alex followed him into their gym, marveling that he now lived in a veritable mansion. Having absconded with nearly thirty million dollars of the Norton fortune, which had funded Dr. Lang’s research, the team had put down roots in the Pacific Northwest, of all places.
They lived in a small town outside Seattle, close enough to the bustling city but far enough away from neighbors that they had plenty of privacy, as well as security in place to deal with potential threats.
Bailey was still gleefully decorating the home. She’d started on the spaces they used the most, like the large media room, big ass kitchen, and their bedrooms. They also had a dining room they’d never eaten in, a sitting room he couldn’t see any use for, and a craft room she swore she’d put to good use…someday. But the real treasure of the mansion, according to Carter, lay below. The basement served as grand central for all of Carter’s many computers, servers, and their security equipment. A portion of the area had been sectioned off as a firing range, though all of them could shoot well enough thanks to their keen Circ senses.
Eli and Gideon’s pride and joy lay in their gymnasium, a large area attached to the indoor pool. Eli had a hard-on for anything involving brute force, and he and the others spent a lot of time working out their Circ aggression, as well as perfecting holds and offensive techniques.
Of them all, Gideon and Eli fought to hold the title of best fighter, followed closely by Carter. Gideon used strategy and had a methodical way of destroying an opponent, whereas Eli moved with a grace and speed that belied his size. He was a joy to watch, but Alex would never tell the guy that. Eli had a big enough ego as it was.
They walked through the mostly empty house, past cream colored walls and over gleaming hardwood floors.
Eli shook his head. “Bailey needs to get cracking on decorating the place if we decide to stay.” He snorted. “If. What the hell is Gideon thinking that this isn’t enough?”
Gideon wasn’t convinced they’d found a “forever home” despite the guys and Bailey being fine with it. God knew it was better than anything else Alex had ever lived in. He’d grown up middle class, like Bailey. And he knew the guys had been mostly street rats, living hand to mouth or worse. What exactly could Gideon want that would be better than this?
“How the hell is Gid not sold on this place?” Eli continued. “Man, we have a fuckin’ pool!”
“I know.” Alex pushed open the door leading to the gym and saw Carter lifting weights in the corner. Free weights, Nautilus machines, any and ever kind of weight training equipment they wanted complemented a large area meant for sparring. They even had shock absorbent floor mats used in professional arenas. Yeah, the guys had spared no expense when it came to working out. The rest of the house, apparently, could wait.
Eli stripped down to just his shorts, not bothering with shoes or a shirt. Like the rest of them, he was ripped. He had a swarthy complexion, and yeah, he was hot. Sexy. Short dark hair framed a face that screamed danger and sex in the same breath. His eyes often looked more black than brown, and the colorful tattoos across his chest bridged the dual sleeves on his arms. Old gang symbols mixed with skulls, snakes, and reapers. Eli wasn’t big on butterflies and unicorns. He was as dangerous as the venomous snakes inked into his skin, especially after what Lang had done to him.
“You done eye-fucking me?”
Alex flipped him off, and Eli laughed. Though Eli tried to play it off, Alex knew his friend was still unsure about having sex with men. Alex had grown up knowing he was bisexual, so needing the guys didn’t bother him at all. Carter was gay; he’d had to adjust to being with Bailey, but he’d managed. Gideon didn’t seem to care either way, though Alex had the sense their leader would likely label himself as straight.
Then again, as Doc and his team in New Jersey had said, being Circ wasn’t about being gay or straight. It was about being Circ. The need for his own kind pulled at Alex, as much as he sometimes wished it didn’t.
Eli felt the same, Alex could tell. But the big bad jackass would never let down his guard to show his vulnerability. Or at least, he didn’t feel comfortable enough with the pack to let it down yet. Though Alex knew a bit about everyone, he didn’t know their histories, just as they only had the barest inkling of what life had been like with Katie and his parents.
Alex removed his shirt and shoes but kept his workout pants on. His blood thrummed at the opportunity to fight, and he let himself engage, knowing Gideon had been right. Alex needed this as much as he needed that more intimate bonding with the group. Being sexual with the others since being back had helped, but this exercise would let him relieve the bloodlust as well.
He didn’t notice Eli step closer until venom-tipped claws shot at his chest. He automatically hardened his skin and dodged easily enough. “Gee. Thanks for letting me know we’ve started.”
“Please. As if the enemy is just gonna ask if you’re ready.” Eli showed a hint of fang. “You need work, Alex. You’re getting slow in your old age.”
“Idiot. I’m only four years older than you.” Thirty-three to Eli’s twenty-nine.
“Be easy on him, Alex. You know the baby of the group has issues,” Carter called out, the old man of the group at thirty-four.
Eli scowled at the blond giant. “Up yours, Carter.”
“So clever, little guy.” Carter snickered. “Kick his ass, Alex.”
