19 Roman
Roman
Outside the house, and inside the hall, chaos had descended.
I’d been called from off-duty this evening and forced to make the drive straight over, contacting Staff Sgt.
Marcus in route to see if he’d get a quick team together.
The colonel was breathing fire, and I had no clue when the smoke would clear.
Things had officially gone from bad to worse.
I’d been so preoccupied with my assignment—with Meg—that I hadn’t paid attention to the stirrings of rumors saying that an underground movement was starting. Not that I could’ve done anything about it while I was stuck on personal guard duty for the councilwoman, like some sort of pompous show dog.
I didn’t belong here. I belonged out there with my men, keeping peace in the city streets.
Still, when I’d heard there was an attack against the Troy house and an unnamed female had been harmed, I hadn’t been able to get here fast enough.
My fingers twitched at my side as Meg and I walked less than a hand’s width apart, and I resisted the urge to reach out and touch her, to reassure myself she was okay.
This was why she hadn’t been allowed outside without an escort, but I’d never thought the purists would attack a working member of the Troy House instead.
“She’s in the kitchen,” I told the medic team that raced past us, pausing when I saw the look of worry on Meg’s face. “They’ll take care of Katrina.”
I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to reassure her. None of the council would care that it was just a maid who’d gotten hurt. I’m not sure they would’ve cared if it were Meg either, but it wasn’t my job to speculate.
The Troy House was officially under protective orders. That meant a whole unit would be assigned to the premises and I’d be let off the hook.
“What can I do to help?” Meg asked.
“Nothing,” I said, a little too harshly. The thought of her getting in harm’s way for these people had my blood boiling.
As if she somehow sensed and matched my inner rage, Meg growled as she stepped into my space. “I’m not some useless accessory. I can handle myself, and I can help.”
Curse science, I wanted to kiss her again.
The heat pulsing from her threatened to make me lose all reason. I needed to focus. To get away.
“My job is to keep you safe.” I somehow kept any emotion out of my voice. “Now, please. Go to the sitting room.”
Meg turned from me, leaving a rush of cold air in her place, and I followed at a distance like a good little guard dog.
It didn’t matter. This was for the best. The sooner I secured the house and team here, the quicker I could be on my way and out in the city where I could do some real good.
We hadn’t had an insurrection with this much activity since well before my time in service.
There’d been stories of when Alpha Kera charged the city and the casualties she’d left behind.
Although the call was coming from inside the house this time, I couldn’t stomach the thought of my men out there without me.
It was my duty to protect them.
I left Meg with Councilwoman Troy, who was yelling orders into her phone, and posted one of the security guards outside the door as I hurried back to the kitchen.
The medics were already finishing up with Katrina. She’d have to give her statement to the investigator soon, but I had a quick window where we could speak freely as soon as the doors closed to the kitchen.
“Science, Roman,” Katrina cried when the medics left the room. “What is happening out there?”
“How badly are you hurt?” I tensed as I looked her over.
Katrina cradled the ice to her lips. “I’m fine.” She looked at Stephen, and the man went to stand by the door to listen for anyone approaching.
“You need to get Meg out of here,” Katrina whispered. “It’s not safe for her in the city. They’re talking about a riot.”
“We’ll handle it,” I tried to reassure her. She wasn’t that much older than me, but she’d started working for this house when my dad was still working here too, way before the ex-Mr. Troy divorced the councilwoman and moved to another city.
Katrina had been like an older sister, as much as she was able to at the time, and I’d never forgotten her kindness. Seeing her this twisted up about Meg, when Katrina was the one who’d gotten hurt, did something to me.
I chose to ignore it. “Was this a targeted attack?”
I had to make sure, even though the investigators would no doubt have those answers by the end of the day.
Katrina nodded. “They cursed Helen as they…” Tears filled her eyes and she blinked them away. “What are we going to do? I can’t risk anything happening to him.”
Damn it! I hated seeing the lower levels caught up in the government’s bullshit. I told them this marriage was a mistake. It wasn’t only the gods that we should be worried about. The people weren’t ready for this kind of public change.
And suddenly it made sense.
This was the catch. I’d known the gods were planning something big, bigger than forcing two unhappy people into a marriage they didn’t want.
They planned to throw us into civil unrest. To cause the city to riot and start a revolution that would no doubt end in mass bloodshed.
That was more in line with what I knew of the gods and their stories.
Well, they were getting their wish.
“Is there anywhere else you can keep him for a couple of days?” I asked, knowing deep in my gut that wasn’t enough time for this to blow over.
“I think so.” Katrina nodded, just as we heard more shouts from outside. “And Roman, I deleted the footage. But you still need to get her out of here.”
My eyes widened at her admission. Katrina wasn’t one to play outside the rules, but knowing she’d done that. For me…
“Lieutenant! We need you,” someone called from the front. “There’s a vehicle approaching!”