‘And, Wise?’ Bastion said. ‘Tread carefully. Very, very carefully.’ He looked pointedly at Robbie, who nodded.
My eyes narrowed at the two men. ‘You better not be implying I need Krieg to save me.’
Bastion shook his head, looking serious. ‘Wise, you don’t just need Krieg. You need a whole damn team.’
Lucky for me, I had one.
Chapter Eight
Bastion and Amber excused themselves, and Loki was out for the count, leaving Robbie and me alone. My mind was still whirling, but duty was at the forefront, as always. And that meant Robbie and I had to have an uncomfortable conversation before we could get onto more personal topics.
‘Business first,’ I said crisply. ‘Talk to me about Lord Theodore Marlow.’
Robbie met my eyes with stormy silver. ‘He’s not on our books. If an ogre killed him, it wasn’t a legal contract killing. It wasn’t ratified, no due process.’
‘Goddamn it,’ I muttered, a headache starting at the base of my skull. It would have been far easier for me if Marlow’s death had been contracted. Without a contract, I was back to looking at Robbie’s people, and that didn’t feel good when I was dating their king.
I rubbed a tired hand over my face and wished I could curl up with Loki and avoid the world for a few days. Avoid this for a few days. Robbie and I were going to argue, and I wasn’t so secure inour budding relationship that I was confident we would be okay afterwards.
I hated the uncertainty, and I hated that our work lives were encroaching on our personal ones.
I exhaled. It had to be done. Time to seize the bull by the horns or, more accurately, the ogre by the tusks. ‘The ME confirmed that ogre tusks created the wounds,’ I began.
‘Yes, I read the report,’ he said evenly.
I glared. ‘What do you mean you read the report?’ So much for confidentiality.
‘Exactly that. You can get anything for the right price. You know that.’
‘Kate would never—’
‘Not Kate,’ he interrupted. ‘The leak came from my source at the Connection.’
I groaned. ‘The source that everyone will now assume is me.’
‘Perhaps, butweknow it’s not you.’
My temper flashed, hot and red. I was a straight arrow, had worked hard to cultivate that reputation, and now it was in jeopardy because of who I was dating. ‘Damn it, Robbie! This is my career on the line!’
He stood up, temper curling in his mercury eyes too. ‘And my people are being framed!’
That cooled my temper as swiftly as it had risen. ‘What do you mean,framed?’
His breath exhaled in a harsh whoosh. ‘You’re not going to love this, Inspector.’
I braced myself. So far anytime he had said that to me, I hadn’t loved what followed. I gave him a ‘go on’ gesture.
He grimaced. ‘An ogre was killed last week. An unsanctioned death. Not in-house.’
I stared at him. ‘One of your people was killed last week, not an in-house matter, and you’re justnowtelling me about it?’
I couldn’t deny the sting of hurt that caused, and he clearly saw it, for he reached towards me. I swatted his hand away and stood, temper warring with the dull ache of hurt that he hadn’t trusted me with this. Though the mating bond between us hadn’t crystallised yet, I hadn’t expected him to keep something like this from me. We spoke every day. The omission had been deliberate on his part, and thathurt.
I needed a moment to collect myself, so I walked to the kitchen.
I flicked the kettle on, and the ghost switched it off.
‘Not now!’ I snapped, putting it on again. A beat later one of the kitchen cupboards opened and a packet of Dairy Milk chocolate floated out. A peace offering. I snagged the huge sharing bar from the air, unwrapped it and broke off a line. I rewrapped the remaining treat and then bit into the smooth chocolatey goodness while the kettle boiled.
