Chapter 16 #2
She smiles brightly, pulling her feet into her seat. “I think it’s cute. But don’t deflect, it’ll be fun! A little stress relief after all… that. You really scared me, Florence, when I didn’t hear from you…” Cici trails off, chewing on her lower lip.
I wince, searching my friend’s face, her bright green eyes gleaming back at me. “Okay. Just for you.”
Cici claps her hands together eagerly and reaches down into her bag. She pauses, her skin instantly turning pale. “W-where’s my laptop?” She stutters as she whirls to me, eyes alarmingly white. “I-I always have it. It was right here.”
I immediately jump to my feet, looking around the seats.
Greer stands, the silver device locked in her hands. “You dropped it last night when you ran out of the van. I meant to give it back to you earlier but you were with Florence… I didn’t want to bother you.” She drops her head, eyes cast to the floor.
My lips thin as I retrieve it from her. “Thanks,” I murmur.
Cici stands, waving her off. “No biggie, I’m just thankful you got it. Gosh Greer you have no idea how much you just saved me.”
Greer smiles sweetly. “Anytime.”
My instincts prickle like I’ve brushed a live wire. But Cici tugs me back down in my seat, typing away on the keys. “I knew you’d say yes. I’ve already found the perfect place.”
Ana’s heels click against the floor as she leads Nyx and me to her office on the second floor of T.A.L.O.N. “Please come in, make yourselves comfortable,” she says lightly, but it’s the slight shake in her tone that has me on alert.
The structure inside never ceases to take my breath.
It feels more like a sanctuary than an office.
Pale stone arches stretch skyward, framing windows that open up to the beautiful mountain view.
Light pools across the floor gently, as if it’s Heaven’s gateway itself.
Tulips of all colors fill the shelves along side her literature.
The tall chair behind her desk is white and simple; what makes it a throne is her presence as she delicately takes her seat.
I’ve got to be the ugliest thing this area has ever held, I think.
I wore my plaid pajama pants and slippers on the plane and didn’t have the chance to change as she was waiting for us in the garage.
“I trust you’ll make a quick recovery, Florence?” Ana asks. The director’s hand shakes slightly as she attempts to busy herself with random items along her desk.
I nod, “Mm-hmm, yeah I should.” I shift forward an inch in my chair. “Ana are you okay?”
The officer door opens, the scent of cigar wafting into the room. Nyx and I straighten as Scott makes his way around the desk. “Apologies for my tardiness.”
Scott hikes the thigh of his pants leg up, taking a seat on the edge of Ana’s desk. I look at Ana, already knowing she’s about to burst inside from his choice of seating.
Nyx clears his throat and pushes his chair back. “Scott, you can take my seat.”
Scott gleams, adjusting his tie. “Why, thank you, Nyx.” He stands, watching as Nyx takes a stance behind me, his flannel tightening around his shoulders as he folds his arms. Scott fills the empty spot and then begins.
“We’re here for the obvious reason of the mission footage unexplainably disappearing.
We wanted to hear a report from the both of you, while its fresh in your minds. ”
“All wolves accounted for. Maxim is still undergoing surgery for repairs, and once he has recovered, he will be transported to a maximum-security prison, I assume of your choice, Scott. Neither of us have information about the missing footage, but I do know Cici is not responsible. We were already having connection issues before entering because of the location,” I relay evenly.
Nyx nods in agreement.
Ana crosses her legs, placing her hands gently back into her lap. Too gently. Something doesn’t feel right. She won’t even look me in the eye.
“I investigated the signals myself, Scott, and can confirm Cici followed protocol,” she says quietly.
Scott examines the assortment of gold rings lining each finger of his hand.
“That’s understandable. But what’s not is why our criminal has no hand on one arm, the other is stitched up like a teddy bear and I also just ran into Greer on my way in.
She had some very interesting intel on one of my leads plowing down Maxim and his son in a semi-truck. ”
The tension from Nyx plows into my back instantly.
“He had his gun pointed at Florence’s chest the moment we moved in.
” His voice deepens. “I think you would rather Florence be with us in this office today, than have a hand on a man who has committed the multiple felonies we’re prosecuting him for. ”
Scott shifts in his chair, ignoring Nyx. “And the semi, Florence?”
I stiffen, speaking from my chest. “There were some complications where the wolves were being held— I was compromised and thrown in there with them, “I say speaking from my chest. “I had no other choice but to break out directly into the truck. That’s when I saw Vincent and Maxim escaping. No one was able to get to them at that time, so I took my chance.”
“You were compromised?” Scott laughs. “And yet Vincent is nowhere to be found. You seem to be taking a lot of chances here lately, Florence.”
“And there’s not a scratch on anyone but herself because of it,” Nyx growls, taking a step closer.
“Unfortunately, that’s our point,” Ana finally chimes in, folding her fingers into a steeple. “Where were you, Nyx, when your partner was thrown into a den of wolves?”
I jump to my feet, my chair screeching back into Nyx. “Don’t do that, Ana! He followed my order!”
She mimics me, her chair colliding with the frame behind her. “Ding! Ding! Ding! Florence, you don’t run the show all by yourself! You are going to get killed making decisions on your own. You are a team and certainly don’t act like it. Nyx should not be following you.”
Scott slides his own chair back with lethal patience, sticking his hands in the pockets of his pants. “You’re going to step down from lead.”
I blink rapidly, looking from Ana to Scott. “What?”
Nyx steps forward. “With all due respect sir?—”
Scott lifts his hand. “I won’t hear anymore. I won’t have my reputation ruined by my units running rogue. And Florence, I hope you can learn a thing or two. Maybe follow some orders for once.” He buttons his jacket as we stand in silence. Tears painfully threaten my eyes.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, my wife is waiting.”
He moves to open the door, and sure enough, Talia’s angled body stumbles in. “Oh. Honey. I didn’t think you’d be done so soon.” She smirks as her eyes glide viciously from my slippers to my mummified hands.
Scott extends his arm, ignoring the fact we all just witnessed her eavesdropping.
“If Florence is no longer a lead, then neither am I,” Nyx barks out, clenching his fists at his sides.
Scott sighs. “That’s your choice, Reaper.”
“Consider it made,” Nyx snaps, slamming his fist onto the shelf. The entire unit shudders. Books topple from the shelves as a ceramic vase splashes across the floor in glittering sheets. The tulips it once held scattering unevenly in front of Scott’s polished shoes.
Talia smooths the black sequins across her dress, slipping her claws around her husband’s bicep. “You look rough, Florence. Hope you feel better soon.”
Scott inclines his head in goodbye and seals the door behind him.
Ana moves around the desk, reaching for me. “Floren?—”
“No!” I side-step her, walking backwards until my back hits the shelf. “Just, no.”
Nyx’s shoulders slump as he stares blankly at his boots.
“You can’t keep blaming all this on Scott, Ana.” I grit out.
She drops her head. “You don’t understand, Flossie?—”
I turn, jerking the open the door as the flood gates pour open, and race to the elevator.