“More or less? What the hell does that mean? Either you did or you didn’t, so which is it?”
For the first time, I see color rise in Allister’s cheeks as he fights to keep eye contact.
“You better start talking.” My hands ball into fists at my side as I fight the urge to wrap them around his throat.
“I cleared the building before she went in for her meeting. It was empty, except for a few staff, so I positioned myself outside while she met with her professor. But then she wanted to go to the library?—”
“The library? Why the hell was she in the library when I specifically told you to accompany her to her professor’s office and nowhere else?”
“She said she needed to meet with her friend to work on something.”
I stare at him, unblinking. “School’s out, Allister. Finals ended two weeks ago. So please, enlighten me on what the hell they could have been working on?”
He swallows hard as I stare him down. “She said something about internship applications? But I could be wrong.”
“You mean, the ones that don’t open for another month?”
Allister runs a hand over his face. “I…didn’t think about that. But I swear, I never saw Oscar?—”
“Clearly, because you were too busy taking a fucking cat nap.” I take a step closer, and he tenses like a man bracing for a punch. “Your one job was to keep eyes on Riley, and you failed. You made it easy for anyone, including Oscar, to get to her, and it’s a miracle she came back alive.”
Allister’s lips part like he’s going to argue, but then he snaps them shut again.
So, he can be smart when he chooses.
“You’re done,” I tell him flatly. “You don’t work for me anymore.”
“Boss, please?—”
“Save it. You’re lucky I don’t put a bullet between your eyes for negligence. Now get the hell out before I change my mind and decide to use you to set an example.”
Allister pales but nods as he lowers his eyes to the floor. He knows better than to try and beg for my forgiveness.
My blood is on fire.
“You have five minutes to get the hell off this property before I trigger the alarm and you have a full firing squad on you,” I threaten before storming out of the garage.
If Oscar really was on campus, and Riley lied in order to meet up with her brother, I’m going to lose it.
The minute I’m in the foyer, I send my fist into the wall, cursing as my knuckles scream.
It’s not enough force to leave much of a dent, but it’s enough for Ciara to notice.
I’ll have to apologize later, but right now I need to confront my lying wife.
I storm upstairs and throw open the bedroom door to find Riley sitting in the armchair by the window with her laptop balanced on her knee.
The soft evening light makes her hair look more copper than auburn, and when she sees me, she smiles in that way that makes her green eyes light up.
That kind of smile usually melts away my bad moods. But not tonight.
Tonight, it’s going to take a lot more than a smile to get me to come around to the fact that she lied to my face.
“Did you see Oscar today?”
Riley flinches, and that’s enough confirmation for me to know that what Brennan said is true.
“Jesus Christ, Riley.”
