19. Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
SEBASTIAN
I stand by the front door, hands clasped tight in front of me, the morning sun glaring off the glass, my frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
The job’s simple—guard the entrance, check IDs, bar anyone without the right papers from this puffed-up personality’s event, some fool racking up death threats like medals.
It makes it worse that there are four of us, all dressed in tactical gear.
The suits were just to show up in, I guess but hiring highly trained men on a door when anyone could do this blind?
I’m a beast, broad and scarred, my presence alone a deterrent, and the guy beside me looms larger, a mountain of muscle growling at stragglers.
Across the entrance, Seth—a cheeky bastard—grins at patrons, cracking jokes, like this is just a run-of-the-mill kind of job.
As the rush of the crowd slows, I wonder if there was some point for Sarge sticking me here versus anywhere else.
A test in weathering my anger? For shits and giggles? Who knows.
Seth leans forward, that shit eating grin still plastered on his face. “New job, huh? Thought you were inseparable from your squad,” he muses and I snort, checking a woman’s ID, shaking my head as she whines, the monster beside me snarling her into retreat. Maybe this job doesn’t completely suck.
“I heard that his whole team isn’t working together anymore. Word has it that he’s dealing jobs to the highest-paying customers. We had a bet going on whether or not you were part of it,” he presses, leaning closer, and my blood runs cold, my grip tightening on the next ID I scan.
There’s no way news traveled that fast from yesterday or this morning when Sarge was going to present the information.
Which means that people have known about us way before we returned last week.
I’m trying to remember if there was something that stood out, something that should have set me off and made me realize that things weren’t right.
But only hindsight brings everything into the light.
Seth resumes checking identifications as well while picking up the conversation I’m not trying to have. “It’s obvious you’re not a part of it. Which is great. However, I heard one of the higher-ups talking—” Seth starts, and I cut him off, my glare sharp enough to slice.
“How the fuck do you know all this? You’re not supposed to know this.”
He lets out a heavy breath, twisting his body slightly to face me.
“My dad’s one of those higher-ups, and he does a very bad job at whispering.
They’re all pissed, but I’m assuming at least one of them is guilty too.
Has to be, you know? How else would Kurt have that kind of reach?
You got any thoughts? Who do you think it is?
” Seth’s words tumble out, all at once and I just glare at him, silently telling him that this isn’t the time or place.
Of course someone higher than Kurt would have to be involved, but it didn’t really dawn on me until right now.
For some reason that makes it both better and worse that it’s not entirely Kurt and Heath’s operation.
Still, it has my mind reeling as I avoid Seth’s curious stares and we work in silence.
It isn’t until a little while later that an ID I recognize is being thrust into my hand.
“Victor?” My entire face scrunches up in confusion before I look up to see a former squad mate, his camera slung across his body.
He throws me a grin before gesturing off to the side, asking if I can leave my post for a minute.
Unlike with some of my other positions, stepping away from the door is an easy ask.
I follow him a few paces away, frowning when he stops out of earshot of everyone else.
“Yeah?” I mutter, crossing my arms, bracing for whatever he’s got.
Victor glares, his tongue running along his cheek, his usually soft gray eyes hard and unforgiving.
“What’s this I hear about Kurt doing the dirty?
Thought I trained you guys better than that.
” It’s sometimes easy to forget that this man barely over 5’7” was the one who helped shape the four of us at one point before an injury sidelined him, trading guns for a lens.
“Still get to shoot something,” he adds when I glance down at the camera.
I’m a little terrified at how fast the information has spread, but it seems like everyone is just more comfortable talking about it now that the report has been filed.
“I didn’t know anything and you did train us better than that.
” I drag a hand down my face, trying to find words to better explain what the fuck is going on, but I come up with nothing.
Victor steps a little closer, the menacing expression on his face sending a tendril of terror through me.
“Unfortunately, I’m not surprised. Kurt always wanted things easy.
However, if I ever find out that you or the other two were part of this shit, I will come back to haunt you.
The investigation is about to be blown wide open, and I need to know that you’re going to be nowhere near this shit. ”
I nod, swallowing hard, my voice little more than a rasp. “We’re not a part of it.”
“See that it stays that way,” he mutters, patting my shoulder.
“How does everyone know already? We only found out this week!”
The man sighs, his shoulders falling, something between understanding and sadness lurking in his expression.
“Sebastian, Kurt must have done a damn good job keeping you three in the dark. There were whispers, bits and pieces that something was rigged. Nobody really knew who until someone higher up started digging. Kurt’s name came up a dozen times, easily.
And you know how secrets are, they’re impossible to keep when the wrong person gets a hold of it.
The report posted today just made everything we already suspected public.
Stay out of trouble. Excuse me while I grab some wine and look at overpriced art.
” He throws me a wide smile before heading inside.