My grip on the bars tightens until my knuckles go white, and his lips twitch.
“You’re a little… tied up right now,” he says, stepping closer. “So why don’t you tell Kurt we’ll meet at the end of the week. We’ll all sit down and make a plan.”
My own smile forms on my lips as I let my grip slide, and drop one arm to hang loose through the bars. “Sure. Come on by. We’ll put a roast in the oven, pop some champagne… and make sure you leave with a bullet in your skull.”
Frank huffs with a shake of his head before turning for the exit. “You know how this ends, Alder. You’ve seen what we’re capable of.”
“And youhaven’tseen what I’m capable of,” I say.
He stops and looks over his shoulder. I lift my hand hanging through the bars and curl my fingers into the shape of a gun, aiming it straight at him.
“Bang,” I say with a snap of my wrist, and the promise of the shot I’ll take on him one day.
His chin lifts and his eyes darken. But he turns without a word and walks away.
Well, fuck.
TWENTY-ONE
The shift isimmediate as I step onto the faculty office floor, like the air itself knows I’ve arrived. The faint hum of conversations stalls, and silence ripples outward in waves, aimed straight at me, as tension crawls over my skin.
Of fucking course.
I had hoped working from home yesterday would help the whispers die down, but apparently not. I knew leaving the conference would cause waves, and now I’m walking into the storm. But I have a lecture this afternoon, so I’m about to find out if I sink or swim.
“Cade?” Omar’s voice sounds behind me as I make my way down the hall.
I glance back to see him in his doorway, wearing an expression of some impossible blend of irritation and concern, looking like he hasn’t yet decided whether he wants to dress me down or save me.
“A word?” He steps aside, gesturing into his office with an invitation I know I can’t decline.
I sigh, shift the strap of my bag higher on my shoulder, and walk in. He shuts the door behind us, and I sink into the chair across from his desk.
“I assume you know what this is about,” he says, lowering himself into his seat and folding his hands on the desk in front of him like the disciplining department head he’s supposed to be right now.
I nod once and just stare back at him. If he wants to have this conversation, I’m not going to do it for him.
His elbows land on the desk as he crosses his arms and observes me with a look that says he doesn’t actually have the stomach to rip into me. Caution is dulling the edge of whatever he’s trying to bring into this conversation, and concern is taking centre stage.
“Cade,” he starts, his voice softer than I expected. “I’m not going to sugar-coat this.”
Really.
“I’ve been worried about you for a while now.” His eyes drag over me like he’s taking inventory of my damage. “But lately… with the Basin Kings…” He exhales sharply, as if the words taste sour in his mouth. “What’s going on?”
A muscle in my jaw tightens. “So you brought me in here to dissect my personal life?”
His gaze hardens. “When it affects your work, yes.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Then say what you mean, Omar. You’re pissed I walked out of the conference.”
“That’s part of it,” he admits, leaning back. “But it’s more than that.”
I flick my hand towards him with a gesture for him to go on. “Do tell.”
He pauses for a moment as he seems to gather himself. “Cade… You’re brilliant. You do excellent work, and you’re a valued member of this department. But to bring a member of the Basin Kings onto this campus, and intothisspace, and leave your responsibilities to go with him?” He shakes his head. “It doesn’t add up. Are you ok? Do you need help?”
My gaze shifts past him to the large window at his back. The clouds hang heavy today, dark and ominous as they threaten to burst. But raindrops dot the glass in a half-hearted drizzle, like they can’t quite follow through with that threat.
