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“You can’t show him you know anything, Kade…please” I beg in a whisper. If Tom even has the slightest indication Kade knows anything, he will eliminate him. Tom might not look like much, but he has connections. Dangerous ones.

Kade backs away slowly towards the bus without taking his eyes off Tom. The threat carries in the eye contact. The future promise of pain.

I walk up the aisle of the bus. Cass and Cara sitting together laughing and grinning like smitten teenagers. Kade is sitting to my left in the aisle seat. I hold my hand out to graze his arm as I pass. We can’t sit together, it would draw too many questions, and Tom still has access to the camera, but the minimal touch is just enough to let him know I’m okay.

I take my seat further back next to Cyrus. He’s grumpy today. His arms folded across his chest and his eyebrows are furrowed so close together he looks like he has a unibrow.

“You and I are meeting Aaron as soon as we get back to HQ.” He orders.

“Won’t Kade have questions?” I ask.

“He has a meeting with your father, he’ll be preoccupied.” He states. Kade hasn’t mentioned anything about this meeting. Concern amping up inside.

“What’s the meeting about?” I enquire. Cyrus must know, he’s Kade’s second in command. He knows everything.

“Kade doesn’t even know. He got an email this morning, right after he realized you left. Put him in an even shittier mood.” He rolls his eyes. I’m sure he’s fed up. I’m just glad he hasn’t mentioned what he heard this morning.

“I will say you look well rested, Wildcat, considering I heard you get thoroughly ravished this morning.” He chuckles. I put my head in my hands. I want the ground to swallow me whole.

God, I feel so hot and it’s not because of the embarrassment. The heat on this bus is unbearable.

“You okay?” Cyrus asks, clear concern on his face.

“Aren’t you hot?” Taking off my jacket. He chuckles.

“I can catch a hint, don’t worry, Wildcat, I’ll shut up.” He laughs. I’m glad he is so amused by my sexual experience last night. My chest is tightening making it hard to breathe. Shooting pains run down my left arm rendering it completely numb. He must be shocking me again.

“What is it?” Cyrus blurts out.

“It’s nothing,” I say.

“We’re going straight to Aaron, you hear me?” He orders and I nod. I can’t live like this. I’m worried this is damaging my body in some way. I need answers. Aaron needs to have them. Cyrus won’t accept anything less and neither will I.

KADE

The email was pure demand and no explanation. I’ve been summoned like a dog. I don’t have time to go to my office. I storm up the stairs to the top floor and enter the chief’s office without knocking. I’m not in the mood for etiquette.

“Sir, you asked to see me?” I question. Standing at attention. I know who I’m speaking to, I’m not entirely stupid. I know when to push boundaries and when to hold back.

“Nice to see you too, Kade.” His comment laced with sarcasm. This is going to be a long meeting.

“I’ll get down to it then since I know you’ve all just come back… I need you to authorize leave for Emilia in September. I have my assistant organizing the wedding and honeymoon since Emilia hasn’t shown any interest in doing this herself, I just need you to the authorize the leave.”

He is completely clueless. I can smell the alcohol from here, and I’m a full desk length away.

“Sir, with all due respect, have you considered that Emilia doesn’t show any interest because she doesn’t actually want to go through with it?” I plant the seed. Maybe deep down he does care for her, he’s just too deep into his grief to realise it.

“Has she told you this?” he asks.

“No, but I don’t get the impression that she likes Tom very much, do you?” I press. Maybe if I can get him to think about this, he won’t push her with the wedding. He seems to consider this for a second until he shakes his head.

“Just authorize the leave, Kade,” he orders. I’m not giving in. I’ll stall him for as long as I can. She’s not marrying that bastard.

“I’ll have a look at staffing levels when I get back to my office, will that be all?” I counter.

He waves a dismissal at me, and that’s all I need before I stalk out of his office. He’s a drunk. The chief of police is an alcoholic, dealing with the loss of his wife and his daughter. Completely neglecting the daughter that is still living. He needs help. I can’t tell him. I can’t abuse Emilia’s trust like that. It needs to come from her. I think if he knew, it might bring him out of this stupor.

The briefing room is completely empty. Good. Everyone must already be at jobs. I sit down at my desk and heave a long sigh. A file labelled classified lays on my desk. Blueprints of a penthouse apartment. Tom’s penthouse.