Chapter Nineteen
Eoin
A thick folder drops onto my desk, breaking my concentration. I glance at it, then up at Niamh, who’s now shamelessly looking at my screen. “What are you doing? Does that say ‘custom leather collars’? I didn’t need to know this about you, boss.”
Around us, heads pop up. Everyone on my team has sharp hearing and the ability to multitask, and their experience in the army means their situational awareness is second-to-none. It’s why I try not to have personal or classified conversations in here.
“Collars?” Brayan says. “Is Eoin watching porn? How did you get around the firewall?”
It’s not just me who turns to stare at him, and his face goes red as he hurries to add, “Not that I’ve ever tried to watch porn at work. That would be unprofessional.”
“Today seems to be the day for learning unwanted information about my colleagues’ sexual interests,” Niamh says. “Could I get trauma leave for this? I feel like I need a day off to process what I’ve learned and bleach my brain.”
“Nobody’s getting trauma leave, and nobody’s watching porn at work,” I declare, exasperated. I scroll back up to the top of the webpage. “This site is for custom pet collars. Do we need to have a training session about the need to gather information before making conclusions?”
“It’s not like I used a combat spell,” she protests. “What—”
“Did you need something?”
There’s an instant of hesitation while she calculates whether she can push her luck, but I’ve got my resting boss face firmly in place, so she huffs and taps a finger on the folder.
“These are the updated monthly reports from the teams with the viceroys. Most of them are fine, but you should look at the one from the Pacific Islands. It seems like the team leader wants us to read between the lines.”
Frowning, I reach for the folder and find the relevant report. “Do I need to alert His Majesty?” Skimming the first paragraph, I immediately see what she means.
“I don’t think so. The vibe I got wasn’t about security issues, more like the team needs a shakeup.”
The more I read, the more I’m inclined to agree.
The report doesn’t outright state that there are tensions within the team there, but it’s not hard to spot the insinuation.
“Pull the details of everyone on the roster there and see if you can spot any obvious reasons for conflict,” I order.
“I’ll follow up with you about it tomorrow, and we’ll go from there.
” The next step would be a call with the team lead in question, but I want to have the relevant background fresh in my mind before then.
“On it,” Niamh assures me, hesitates again as her gaze goes to my screen, then turns and heads back to her desk.
I flip quickly through the rest of the reports, since I have them in my hands, but she’s right that everything looks fine.
I’ll do a thorough read prior to my monthly calls with the team leaders next week, but it’s pretty much all routine.
There’s no big threat to the viceroys here on Earth, just like there isn’t one to the king.
A chat box pops up on my screen just as I turn my attention back to the custom pet accessories site.
The hockey people are here for your eleven o’clock meeting. Erik brought three people with him.
Shit, is it that time already? I glance at the clock in the bottom corner of the screen, and yes, I’m behind on my work for the morning. “Ari, meeting,” I say while I type my reply.
Thanks—on our way. Impressions of the new people?
Ari stops beside my desk, his tablet in hand, and we both wait for Dáithí’s answer.
One polite professional, one arrogant asshole, and one who needs therapy.
“That’s an interesting take,” Ari murmurs. “I wonder who’s who?”
I click the message to like it, then lock my computer and stand.
“Let’s go find out.” For all our sakes, I hope this meeting goes well and resolves our concerns.
Raeulfr and Jared both want the collaboration with the Warhammers to go ahead, and the PR department has added their vote as well.
Not to mention, if I have to veto this, I’ll probably need to have a conversation with an angry Jared. That’s not going to go well for me.
Ari waits until we’re in the hallway before saying casually, “So… pet collars.”
“Do we have to do this? We’re working.” My attempt to sound professional is thwarted by the plaintive note in my voice.
“I’m just saying, you don’t have a pet. Which means—”
“Dáithí didn’t have many options to choose from when he got Elsking’s collar, and I know he wasn’t thrilled with what he picked,” I explain, hoping to just get it over with. “It’s not a crime for me to look at getting one for her that he’d like better.”
“That’s cool. Did you see anything that would work?”
I shoot him a sideways glance, but it doesn’t seem like he’s teasing. “Maybe. I need to email the company and see if they have the options I want.”
He nods, and as we come out into reception, lowers his voice and adds, “You should check with Dáithí and see if he has preferences too.”
I roll my eyes at him. “I’m not going to order anything without checking first.” I give Dáithí a smile and a wave, loving the way his face lights up as he smiles back, and then we turn toward our waiting visitors.
It only takes one glance to know which is the polite professional—he’s rising from his seat, a smile on his face.
“Hi, Eoin, Ari,” Erik says, stepping forward to shake hands. “It’s good to see you again.” There’s a slightly harried undertone to the words, which concerns me. Is he not confident in Ansas’s explanation?
“Thanks for coming in,” I reply. “I know you were hoping to be further along with plans by now.”
“It’s no problem,” he assures me, then half turns to gesture to the polite professional. “This is Craig Voss, our general manager. Craig, Eoin Feirstrigh and Ari Oensjord.”
“Great to meet you both,” Craig says. “We appreciate you giving Felix the opportunity to clarify the situation.”
I open my mouth, but my reply is cut off by a very loud snort. “Like there’s any clarification that could make Ansas palatable.”
Craig’s smile disappears, and Erik’s face falls. “Now, Coach, maybe let these guys get to know your sense of humor before you start with the jokes.”
Ah. His stress is suddenly completely understandable. And I’m pretty sure I know who the arrogant asshole is.
“Jokes? Who—”
“This is Coach Franks,” Erik cuts in desperately.
I nod, but don’t offer to shake hands. “Coach.” My gaze slides to the last member of the group, who Dáithí believes is in need of therapy. Based on his background check, I suspect it would be for anger management. “And you’re Felix Ansas.”
He nods and comes forward, hand half outstretched as if he’s not sure I’ll take it. “Thank you for this meeting.” He’s pale and his jaw is tight. I’m sure he’s been lectured on how important this is for the team.
I shake his hand, and some of his tension eases. He offers it to Ari too.
Ari hesitates.
Even as I glance at him in surprise, mortification flashes across Ansas’s face and he drops his arm.
“Let’s take this to the conference room,” I suggest, eager to distract from the awkward moment. “Down this hallway, gentlemen.”
As we find places around the big table, I give Ari a “what the fuck?” look, and he pulls a slight face in return. Whatever it was, he regrets it.
“We won’t take up more of your time than we have to,” I say, then nod to Ari, who casts the photos from the enforcement report onto the big screen at the front of the room.
“Our concerns stem from this incident, which led to charges of aggravated assault and destruction of property,” he says calmly. “Mr. Ansas, could you cast some light on what happened?”
Erik jumps in. “The assault charge was dismissed.”
“We’re aware, and we’re in no way implying it shouldn’t have been, but we want to understand why Mr. Ansas was even in a position for the charge to be laid.”
Felix clears his throat. “I regret everything that happened that night. Tony and I had an argument earlier that day, and I’d been wallowing over it… It was poor decision-making on my part. I’ve never done anything like that before or since.”
I study his face. This was the only reported incident of violence Ari found, but “we argued and I was mad” is a lackluster reason for the level of damage that was caused.
The kind of rage needed for this is usually caused by one of two things: a deeply triggering event, or a propensity for violence.
It’s the latter that we’re worried about.
“We know that this was an isolated incident,” Ari agrees, “but you do have a reputation for being short-tempered on the ice also. We’re concerned by your inability to control your anger.”
Not the most diplomatic way to have phrased it. Ari’s really not on his game today, and I make a mental note to follow up with him. He seemed fine before.
“I’m paid to be aggressive on the ice,” Felix answers with a hint of heat. “Aside from that one time, I’ve never been physical off it.”
Ari raises a brow. “You’re paid to assault your own teammates?”
“Getting back to what happened that night,” I cut in, stomping my foot down on Ari’s.
What the fuck is wrong with him? “You mentioned that you’d been ‘wallowing.’ Do you mean that there was alcohol involved?
” Alcohol-fueled crimes are rare in the community, since high metabolism makes it hard to remain drunk for long, even with specialty liquor, but they do still happen.
He shakes his head. The nerves are gone now, and he looks pissed. Probably with Ari. “No, I wasn’t drinking. I had a game the next day, and I never drink the night before a game. I was just so mad.” His gaze drops to the tabletop.
“I’m sorry, we need to know why. We need to be sure it’s not something likely to come up when you’re in the company of the king.”
Felix shakes his head. “It won’t.” He looks so uncomfortable that I want to take his word for it, but I’ve never let anything slide when it comes to Raeulfr’s safety.
“I’m sure you’re right, but we need—”
Coach Franks bangs his hands on the table. “For fuck’s sake, it was just homo drama! The gays always make a big deal of shit.”
Erik closes his eyes, and Felix’s face flushes with angry color, but even as I process the fact that he really did say that, Craig snaps, “That’s enough, Coach.”
“I’m just clearing shit up so—”
“Enough.”
I meet Erik’s gaze. “Neither the DEA nor the king personally will agree to be associated with any organization that condones homophobia.” I’m surprised I even need to say it.
I’ve been told that homophobia is something humans invented after the species wars, but it’s not widespread in the community.
Erik nods and starts to speak, but Craig steps in. “The Warhammers are committed to being inclusive. Homophobia isn’t tolerated.”
Felix’s jaw tenses in a way that tells me his experience hasn’t reflected that, and I make a mental note to follow this up before I sign off on anything.
Of course, it might be a moot point if we don’t get the violence issue resolved. I look him in the eye. “Would you be more comfortable if we continued this conversation privately?” I need the answers, but that doesn’t mean he has to share them with everyone in this room.
He shakes his head. “Thanks for the offer, but it’s…
fine. Tony and I had been together for a few years, and I found out that day that he’d been seeing other people too.
That’s what we argued about. I never meant to hurt him, I swear.
He jumped between my stick and the window, and I couldn’t stop it in time. ”
I’ve seen the surveillance footage, including the way Felix immediately threw the broken hockey stick aside and rushed to check his unintended victim was okay, so I believe that.
As for the rest… I’m sure there’s more to the story, hurtful words to go along with hurtful actions. I don’t need to know them.
Raeulfr isn’t going to date Felix and then cheat on him, so while I might not ever want a friend of mine to get involved with Felix Ansas, he doesn’t pose a danger to my king.
Now all I need to worry about is whatever crisis of intelligence Ari’s having. I need him in top form, both here at work and as part of my support team for the Summit of Love.