Apollo had gathered a bag of my clothes and toiletries. Even blew up an air mattress for us to sleep on. But my heart soars when I see our dining room table. And the chairs. Set up as a desk for me, just like it was at our university-approved apartment.
“I made this big deal out loud for their recordings,” he says as we sip coffee from paper cups. “Said I was getting you a new table for after your discharge so that you couldfocus on your studies. Slipped the bags out as a distraction, saying I was bringing them to you. Valen was with me.”
I nod. “Hopefully, they buy it.”
“If not? I’ll get him to mess with the videos. Switch out the evidence or just destroy it. Either way.”
“Either way?” I ask.
He presses his lips against my temple. “We’re not alone in this.”
forty-one
It’s beena hurried few days, stacking everything in place that we need.
“What lies in darkness will be brought into the light,” I murmur.
Despite dictating everything that needs to happen, delegating to everyone what their roles are, I hate relying on others to do their jobs. I like being in control.
Scout’s hand brushes the back of mine as we stare at the solid wooden doors on the second floor of the administration building.
“You got this,” she whispers, and I smile.
Without her? I think I wouldn’t care enough to go through all this trouble. But for my wife?For us? Yeah. It’s a must.
Before Scout, I performed everything in my life like a role I wasn’t meant to play. Terrified that any day someone would see straight through me. But not right now. Not with her beside me.
Following the rules and trying toimpressthose people did nothing for me. They don’t matter to me at all. Everything I care about is standing next to me.She’smy focus now. She and I and our future together.
Something locks into place inside my chest. Settles in like it always belonged there.
I’m not a fraud anymore. I’m not the guy trying to keep up anymore.
I’m the one stepping forward.
I clear my throat and whisper, “Wegot this.”
And for the first time, I believe it.
With a sidelong glance, I try to keep the emotion out of my voice. “You were appointed to me. But Scout? I’d fucking choose you every time. There’s no one else I’d want standing here with me.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Don’t say that. It sounds like you’re going to die.”
I reach for her cheek and brush it gently with a thumb. Her fear is reflected in my chest. We both know this is dangerous. But it must be done.
I grip the handles and throw open the doors, letting the light in.
Entering the space, it’s lined with a few robed elders hidden by their hoods. Scout shuts the door behind me as I stroll up to the only empty chair. But I don’t sit. I stop behind it, hands settling on the back like I already own the seat. Lay my eyes on every dean, every administrator sitting with eyebrows raised as they study me. Stunned looks on their faces.
“Sorry, son. That chair was Dean Dutta’s. You can watch us from over there.” One of the men with frazzled white hairclinging to the sides of his scalp points to a wooden hard back in the far corner.
My pulse rises into my neck. Not just from the anxiety of what I’m about to do, but also righteous and visceral wrath.
“No. This is for the POT’s other Student Leader Representative.”
“I’m sorry?” Dean Chauncery, head of the College of Business, speaks up. It’s not a question of fact. It’s one of challenge. As if someonedarequestion these men’s decisions.
“Yes. The student body voted. Student Council enacted the change under section 101.9. Unanimous. And binding. Therefore, not only is the Pairing Oversight Tribunal required to accept one fraternity Student Leader Representative for all pairing votes. But they now have to accept one from a sorority. And I, as SLR, have chosen her.”
