“He risked his life to save someone he barely knows,” Damon said soberly from the open doorway.Xavier stood with him in the hallway.“That alone makes him a good man.”
“I’m beginning to think that too,” Apollo said honestly.
Please let him be okay.
Renee worked for a couple of hours until she could barely keep her eyes open, and Apollo ordered her to rest.Rocko was stable enough to survive but would require more healing once she’d gotten her strength back.
He settled into a chair beside the bed as the others returned to the barn construction with a bit more caution.At times, it was easy to forget that despite their abilities, they were still mortal and could be hurt and even killed.Memories of Robin, Damon’s boyfriend, went unbidden through his thoughts.Xavier’s father, Solomon, and other Noah Group goons had killed their friend back when they lived in New Orleans after Robin had been caught tailing Solomon.Through the notes left behind, it was determined that Xavier himself was a prisoner and test subject of his father but had desperately tried to save Robin before the group drugged him into unconsciousness.
Robin had been a good man, a survivor who could affect someone’s choices through his voice.Though he’d never used it against innocent people, it came in handy when investigating the group.The bastards had sewn his mouth shut with fishing line before killing him.Brick and his team had helped Apollo and his people stop Solomon’s plans to kidnap more survivors to harness their powers, and they aided the team in exacting their revenge for Robin’s death.
Apollo couldn’t stop his mind from drifting back to the last time he’d seen his friend alive.Robin and Damon had been curled up on a couch in the team’s old home back in New Orleans, watching some eighties television sitcom and laughing at the old jokes.Damon had his arm casually draped over Robin’s shoulder as the two shared a bag of chips.It was as normal as any other day.Conversations carried on around the room, plans were being made and futures discussed.The Noah Group had been making their presence known in the city, and Apollo had been keeping a close eye on them.They all knew that something was brewing just under the surface calm.
“Should we be posting someone over by that bar that popped up last month?”Damon asked.
“Yeah, Ace has been able to confirm that Noah Group goon, Solomon, has his dirty hands all over it,” Robin added.
Griffin growled.“Can’t believe the fuckers moved into our neighborhood.”
“We’re likely the reason they’re here,” Apollo answered.
“Why can’t they just leave us alone?”Renee asked.“Haven’t they done enough damage?”
“I don’t think it will ever be enough for those bastards,” Griffin said.
“We can never allow our guard down,” Apollo said.“We’ll run rotations at this bar and over at Solomon’s home to watch for any unusual activity.But don’t engage any of them on your own.”
“We’ll work out shifts,” Griffin said.
“I’ve got nothing coming up so I’ll take first shift,” Robin offered.
“Okay.Be careful and stay out of sight,” Apollo ordered.
“They’ll never know I was there,” Robin chuckled.
Unfortunately, Robin had been wrong.There wasn’t even a body left behind for them to bury.No headstone.No chance to say goodbye.
For hours, Apollo watched the rise and fall of Rocko’s chest.Even now, injured and unconscious, his presence provided Apollo with peace, confirming that it wasn’t intentional on Rocko’s behalf and making him feel guilty.Not knowing for sure if it required any extra energy on Rocko’s part, he still couldn’t bring himself to leave the man.This was insane.
“How is he?”Griffin asked from the doorway a couple of hours later.
“No change,” Apollo said.“How’s Renee feeling?”
“I had to force her to stay in bed and rest, or she’d be back at it.She’s stubborn.Her usual self.”
“Renee’s no good to herself or anyone else if she doesn’t get some rest.”
“That’s what I told her.She finally agreed to stay put for now.Who knows how long that’ll last.”
Instead of leaving, Griffin took a few steps farther into the room.
“Is there something else?”Apollo asked.
“I wasn’t even civil to him, but he still saved my sister.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t get it.”
