Chapter 5 Riven #2
“Riv, Riv, Riv …” she starts, using my nickname to piss me the fuck off. “You didn’t think you could keep a secret from me, now did you?” It’s rhetorical, so I don’t speak.
She smiles, pleased by my obedience, and says, “Sloane Keenan is the daughter of Gideon Keenan. You didn’t think I’d look into her after what happened?
” Another rhetoric. I almost mouth off, but decide to remain silent.
“And imagine my surprise when Sloane shows up at your show, my show.” Sabel is looking rather pissed now, which has me rather delighted.
I hide it. “Why was she there?” she finishes.
This question was not rhetorical.
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s a fan,” I say, because I don’t know. I assume Sloane was there because of her work, but I’m not going to tell Sabel that. Why am I protecting Sloane? Wouldn’t it just be easier to say all that and have Sonus get rid of Sloane for me?
No. It’s not like I want Sloane to die. Even though killing people is part of my pastime. Ugh. Filing cabinet, now, right along with these pesky human emotions that I currently don’t have the time to sort through.
“She isn’t. We looked into her. You and I both know what she does for work, and we don’t need another doxxing incident.
We’re still recuperating from the last one.
I realize she took a couple of years off after the incident with her father, but we have to see this new development as a threat.
Deal with it. You know what will happen if you don’t,” Sabel says, dead serious as ever.
The muscle in my jaw twitches, but I stay silent, again.
Callum looks away from the surveillance footage, furrowing his heavy brows in suspicion and folding his large arms across his chest like a disappointed father.
Raithe raises his dark brows and gives me a ‘no shit?’ look like he’s impressed.
I huff out a laugh. These guys really couldn’t be any different.
‘Later,’ I say to them with a single look, one that doesn’t require words.
“Now, let’s go over tonight’s show. Shall we, boys?” Sabel says, changing the subject as she pushes off the desk and walks over to the debriefing room. We follow behind her. I walk with my hands fisted by my sides, nails digging into my palms to stop myself from strangling her to death.
“I know what you’re thinking, man, and we probably all are. But … later. Okay?” Raithe whispers. I give a quick nod, but I know he can see the fire in my eyes. I know he can sense the fury within them that’s just begging to be released.
We pass by a couple of other surveillance rooms and make a right into a larger area with a full self-service bar, several black leather lounge chairs, and low lighting from various sconces adorned on the walls.
I head straight for the bar and pour myself a whiskey neat.
I don’t usually drink. I hate the way it dulls my senses, and I prefer to be on alert at all times.
However, right now, I know that if I don’t dull one sense in particular, then I’ll rip this building to shreds and then burn it to nothing but ash.
So, I pour myself that drink and knock it back in one sip, setting the crystal glass back down on the bar top and leaning back against the ledge.
Raithe and Cal sit in a couple of lounge chairs in the far corner across the room, as Sabel hands them each a printout of today’s data.
I sigh, pushing off the bar to walk over and take a seat on Cal’s left near the closest exit point.
“Today’s data shows a marginal rise in favorable results.
If you look at the graphs on page two,” Sabel says, turning the page, “you’ll find that the heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rates of participants all point to a rise in alpha waves.
There were a few outliers, one that will need a closer look, but for the most part, this is promising.
The frequencies are working. Our sales are up and climbing by the day.
I think we’re ready for phase two.” She shuts the data log.
“Phase two?” I ask, suddenly on alert. This is the first I’m hearing of any phase. I knew the bitch was up to something.
“Yep. You’re on a need-to-know basis, Riven. And that’s all you currently need to know.” She turns and starts walking out of the room. She doesn’t even make it to the doorway when I hear her voice.
“Riven, come with me. The rest of you are dismissed.”
Why did I think it would be easy to get out of here tonight? I get up and reluctantly follow behind her.
“You good? Want us to wait?” Cal asks, ever the protector.
“Nah. Go ahead and see if you and Raithe can find Kai. I’ll shoot a text when I leave,” I say, turning and walking out of the room.
I don’t look back or wait for a response.
I know they’ll do what I ask of them. They’re loyal to a fault, and neither of them wants to test Sabel’s threats of punishment. We all know what she’s capable of.
I follow Sabel into her office at the complete other end of the hallway.
She strides over the deep plum carpeting to her tacky red desk, plopping down in her tall, creepy, throne-like chair.
She motions for me to take a seat in a chair across from her.
I sit, staring at the giant picture placed on the black wall above her head.
It’s a giant photo of her holding a tiny white chihuahua, its beady black eyes staring into my soul.
I grimace. I always did dislike those dogs, so small and yappy.
It’s fitting for a person like Sabel, though.
I focus my attention back on Sabel, but I can feel the walls in my periphery.
This room isn’t big by any means, but sitting in it with her makes it feel all the more constricting.
“So, Riven, do you want to tell me the real reason why the daughter of the high-profile client you murdered was at your show tonight?”
I’m pretty sure the walls on either side of me do close in now.