“So are we ready to pack up and head out of here?” Hedy asks, looking at her watch.
DeShaun taps my shoulder and helps me to sit up. He and Thane stand and are followed by the rest of the crew.
“Lead the way.”
29
Odd
It’s been two days since everything went down and we’re back in the Portal to Nowhere. With the bulk of the equipment gone, it feels empty and oddly prescient. The clean-up team did a good job getting rid of the blood, but the weird, sterile smell is off-putting. The holes in the wall where the television support brackets once were are an echo of the violence that happened in this room.
Hedy is in the waiting area, contemplating her next tattoo, and the rest of us are in here, waiting to talk to DeShaun. I know what he has to say will change everything, and I’m buzzing with what the future holds.
DeShaun walks into the room under his own power, and he is striking. The poise and control he’s always had are there, but now, with his ease of movement and relaxed stance, I understand even more fully how much pain, physical and mental, he’s been holding in his body.
Even the powers that be in Wimberley were impressed by his results and mine. That he had a measurable reduction in pain almost immediately, and that my serious injuries could be managed in the field, blows wide open multiple fields of medicine. Once they can overcome the limits of the serum, the practical and financial potential quickly becomes unlimited.
“All right, everybody, let’s get settled down,” DeShaun calls out, his rich voice as commanding as ever.
Everyone snaps to attention and takes a seat around the table, likely for the last time. My brother smiles across the table at me as Omar leans in and kisses his temple. He’s absolutely certifiable, yes, but having Omar in his life has given him balance. I wonder sometimes if he ever thought he could be in love like this, given the often-surprised look on his face when Omar does something particularly sweet. As much as I appreciate my brother’s murderous side, this loved-up side of him is also pretty amazing.
“What’s the scoop, hoss?” Anders asks.
DeShaun keeps it simple, direct. “I’ll be stepping away from the team, entirely and permanently.”
A small murmur goes around the room, but nobody is particularly surprised. A few folks look at me, likely wondering what our next step together is. I smile because I know the answer.
“I’ll be staying in the Dallas area, focusing solely on Blaylock Security and Investigations,” he explains. “And as it turns out, security upgrades often come with electrical upgrades, and I’ve got a ringer to consult with me for those clients.”
A smile spreads out across my face as he walks over to me and scruffs my short beard, leaning in for a soft kiss. The room explodes with laughter and applause and, of course, the exchange of a few five-dollar bets. Anders’ eyes are full of pride, even if they are a bit sad. We’ve been joined at the hip since birth, and this will be the first time we won’t be living in the same area. It wasn’t an easy decision, but for me, it was the only one.
Of course, DeShaun and I had started making these plans in the weeks post-surgery, but Greg’s attempt to take us out solidified them. The details are still coming in, but he was definitely working with the same global organization as Joshua Tremaine, and Wimberley now has enough information to take down a huge swath of locations here in the States.
I wait till the laughter dies down and let them know what I’ll be doing. “I’ll still be working with Wimberley’s tech team, mostly with medical applications, but I’m stepping away from the operations side of things.”
Having experienced a few more of DeShaun’s night terrors, I couldn’t continue the ops knowing the horrible impact on him, despite his strenuous objections. In reality, I’m an inventor and an engineer at heart, and being a part of two teams that are actively working to improve people’s lives is deeply satisfying. Also, Anders offered to kill more people to make up for my absence, which I thought was rather generous of him.
Jake quietly holds up a finger, and we turn to him. “I’m also going to step away from operations and will be focusing on my art while occasionally helping out DB and Odd where necessary.”
Quiet settles around the room.
“What’s going to happen to the Guardians if the guy holding our charter is no longer part of the team?” Ronan asks, ever the logistics guy.
“I’m disbanding the Guardians,” DeShaun says, holding up his hands as murmurs circle around the room again. “But I’ve talked with the crew in Wimberley, and any of you who want a place there are welcome to join them. They’re about to get real busy and could use the help.”
I scan the room, and there are a variety of reactions going on. Omar and Anders knew ahead of time and look excited. Everett and Rafi are whispering in each other’s ears and, if I have to guess, they’ll make the jump. Abigail looks like she’s ready to go to war tomorrow, and Parker is looking at Abigail, biting her lip. Thane and Ronan both look down at the floor.
I hop up and open the door, ushering in Hedy. She is, as always, beautiful and joyful in a way that fills the room. Her long, curly hair and freckles contrast with her shrewd green eyes, and her warm smile sets people at ease.
“Hey, y’all, nice to see everyone again.”
Greetings are exchanged and everyone looks at her, expectant.
“So,” she says, clapping her hands together. “I know this is a big change, and I want to talk about a few ideas that we have, but I’d like to hear from you first. I know that DB just laid out a pretty heavy announcement. What are your biggest questions and concerns?”
She smiles and waits for people to put the words together.
“What kind of operations can we be expected to go on?” Rafi asks.
