Nori scowled at Kylo and got a clip around the back of his head from his father. “Less of that. Now, who’s making breakfast? I’m starved.”
Chapter Twenty
Kylo
It felt strange dressing to go back into his office as if it was just another day. Stranger, too, taking Conrad with him. There was a disconnect, and Kylo could feel it—not between him and Conrad. Kylo got the impression that anytime Conrad thought he needed distracting, he’d come up with something guaranteed to reinforce their bond. Between what had been going on with Selina, and his previous obsession with Devil, his regular day job, the bread and butter crimes in the area had taken a back seat. It was time for that to change.
The crimes in the area, the regular ones, still deserved his attention. Fortunately, homicide, which was his main focus, was rare in Paraguay.
“Hang on a minute,” Conrad said as Kylo parked in his regular spot. He’d taken the Jeep again, after Mao had retrieved it from the Death house, as he anticipated having to drive jungle trails again through the day, it seemed like the best idea.
“I’m all right, if that’s what you’re asking.”Work mode. Work mode. Work mode. Is Selina watching? Or one of her minions?
“Actually, I haven’t asked anything yet.” Conrad’s grip was firm on Kylo’s neck—a great way of pulling Kylo’s focus back where it belonged. “How are you playing our mating in the office? You work with these people. What will work best, do you think?”
Kylo huffed, staring at the building and then back at his mate. “I know you haven’t worked in an office before, and introducing you in the office is the least stressful part of our day. I have my job because of what I can do, not who I fuck. And face it, if we went in there,” he waved a hand at the building, “and I tried to pass you off as a random consultant, then people would watch us like fucking hawks. Because worrying about whether or not we’re sleeping together is more interesting than the shit they have to deal with in their job every day.”
“So, you’re all for telling it straight and leaving them to just imagine what we actually do in bed instead?” Conrad grinned. “We make a hot couple. Worth fantasizing over.”
Kylo felt his cheek heat. Only Conrad had that ability. “I can’t be responsible for what they think, only what they say. They will be respectful, because if they aren’t, they’ll answer to me. Boom. Done. No issues. What will cause gossip is if we spend all our time out in the car, instead of in there.”
“I haven’t worried about what people think of me, ever,” Conrad said with a laugh, and Kylo felt the loss when he removed his hand. “Just trying to look out for you and your position, Mon Bebe.”
“Yes, well, I appreciate that, although calling me Mon Bebe in the office probably isn’t a good idea.” Kylo reached for the door handle. “At least not during an investigative interview situation.”
“No, Mon Bebe. Got it, Mon Bebe.” Conrad was laughing as he got out of the car.
I probably shouldn’t have said anything.
Striding in through the precinct doors, Kylo shrugged on his responsibilities like a well-worn leather coat—heavy, but familiar. Nodding at the young woman on the reception desk, Kylo kept moving through, conscious of Conrad on his left flank. He would take his mate through the offices and introduce him to everyone. He always preferred to start his day from his office and move on from there.
Stopping by Pete’s desk, Kylo picked up his messages and flicked through them. There was nothing in there that needed immediate attention, so Kylo looked at Pete, who was drooling over Conrad, who was standing by his side.
“Pete, this is Conrad. He’s come to us from the Thalassa Offices in the States. He will be this area’s liaison between the new Hybrid division the Shifter Council has implemented, and our precinct. After that nasty business with my brother’s mates, and the business with the death house, we all decided Conrad’s presence is going to be very useful to us.”
“Ugh, don’t mention that death house.” Pete wrapped his slender arms around his chest and shuddered. “I still have nightmares about that place. It’s very nice to meet you, Conrad.”
“Conrad,” Kylo laid his hand on his mate’s arm, “You can share an office with me. There’s a spare desk there—”
“We’ve got two empty offices down the hallway, Sir,” Pete interrupted brightly. “Conrad will have a better chance of getting to know us all if he has his own space. It would give you some privacy for your council business, too,” he added with a longing look in Conrad’s direction.
“Conrad is my Fated one, Pete, so put your eyeballs back where they belong, wipe the drool from your chin, and get me a copy of our standard consultant contract. I also want a copy of the latest map of our jungle area—paper form, not an electronic file. And I’ll also need you to print out any reports relating to major fires in the jungle that have occurred within the past twenty years. There shouldn’t be many of them, so that shouldn’t take long. Thank you.” With a curt nod, Kylo led Conrad into his office, closing the door with a sigh.
“Job one done.” Turning, Kylo waved at the empty desk he’d always had in his office. “Yours. You can let Pete know whatever you need—computer, stationery, and anything else you consider important in an office space.”
“You’re very confident when you’re dealing with your staff. Firm, but fair. I like it.” Conrad waggled his eyebrows. “I thought you were going to pee on me at one point.”
“Cats don’t pee to mark territory. They rub their scent over their mates—something I’m sure I did to you when we woke up this morning and again after our shower.” Purposefully not looking at his amused mate, Kylo went around behind his desk and sat down, plopping the messages he’d collected onto it.
“Are you sure your guardian of the office space, Pete, wasn’t employed because of his cute looks?” Conrad took his chair and moved it, so he was sitting behind Kylo’s desk, right next to him. “Mates can’t lie to each other,” he added, nudging Kylo’s shoulder with his own.
“I wouldn’t lie, anyway.”Damn it, who’s nicked my pen?Unable to find it, Kylo clicked on his computer. “Pete needed a job. He doesn’t do well out on cases, as you could tell from his reaction to my death house comment. He’s good at the admin side of things, and physically, he is more Mao’s type than mine. Happy?”
Conrad laughed, the full sound bouncing off the walls that saw little to laugh at. “With you, I’m always happy.”
~/~/~/~
Two hours and three cups of coffee later, Kylo stabbed at two different points on the map. “One of these places has to be where Selina lit her first fire. I’m thinking, it’s more likely this one.”
