L A Banks - 10 The Darkness by L A Banks

Author:L A Banks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-09-07T16:00:00+00:00

PART III

PRAYER

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Are you all right?" Marlene knelt beside Shabazz and waited for him to answer, both second-sight and eyes scanning him for any additional injuries that might have been overlooked. She quickly glanced at the spot on the floor where Damali and Carlos had been, hoping that the Neteru Council would be able to help them. But right now, Shabazz was her primary concern.

"Yeah, I'm all right," he said after a long pause and then looked up at Big Mike, who was standing near with Ayana up high in his arms. "Lost my pants in the hall, bro. The shape-shift thing ain't got no modesty." He forced a laugh and began to cover himself before trying to stand.

"I'm on it, bro. Don't nobody care about all that, so long as you cool and ain't nicked." Mike hustled out into the hall with the baby as female Guardians lowered their gazes. He handed Ayana off to Krissy and then tossed Shabazz his jeans, and Shabazz caught them with one hand.

Marlene monitored Shabazz as he unfurled his exquisite ebony body and deftly pulled on his pants. His aura was intact. The blue-white current of tactical energy still crackled through his magnificent dark locks. His eyes were clear and he was completely lucid.

He spoke with his back to the group, zipping his pants, but hadn't missed a beat as the senior Guardian team leader.

"All right. We just saw some deep shit," Shabazz said in a matter-of-fact tone, then turned around, folding his arms over his chiseled chest. Intermittent tension still ran through his body and made his biceps twitch. "We've got newbies in the house, and you all just saw live action on probably one of the worst days to join this team. Regardless, it is what it is. But you're going to have to come up to speed real quick, to avoid an incident like the one we just saw in here tonight."

Everybody looked down uncomfortably, especially Inez.

"I'll talk to her, 'Bazz," Inez said quietly.

"Talk to me, talk to me?" Inez's mother shrieked. "Did you just see what happened? Have you all been—"

"Stop," Shabazz said low in his throat.

The sound that came out of Shabazz was so close to a jaguar's growl that Mrs. Filgueiras drew back. Even Big Mike looked unsure. Shabazz unfolded his arms and rubbed the nape of his neck, locks crackling hard with static.

"No, Inez. Tonight, I'm going to break it down for young and old, new and senior—because we don't have time to tap-dance around so-called niceties. Mrs. Filgueiras, you are going to have to pull it together. Pure and simple. You ain't visiting your daughter, moving into a summer guest house with her and her new husband and kid. You are in the equivalent of a damned wartime military facility!"

Shabazz walked back and forth like a caged feline, his grace and swiftness unnerving to the uninitiated. When Delores Filgueiras started to cry, he spun on her. "Suck it up," Shabazz commanded in an even, deadly tone, bearing upper and lower canines.

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