13. Javi
Stopping at my room, I quickly change clothes.
Knowing I’ll be heading to the precinct, I choose my most boring professional clothes.
However, I do make one concession to flair—my boxer briefs are silky and covered in rainbow print.
It’s hidden beneath black suit pants because, sadly, the police station never embraces flair. They’d be better off if they did.
I carefully put on my dress shirt and tie before taking a moment to pet Her Majesty Queen Floofy.
Only after adequately paying homage to her do I grab my suit jacket and put on my dress shoes.
By the time I leave, I’m not surprised to find a guard trailing after me.
Sending a dark scowl his way does nothing.
“Tennant’s orders, sir.”
Sighing, I don’t bother to argue with the man. Granted, I could easily kill him, but I’m supposed to set an example for my empire of therapists, and it would probably just encourage Atticus’s antics. Although, I’d like to see what happens the first time a guard tries to follow him.
I’m hoping putting him with Cristian will keep Atticus too busy to cause chaos.
However, I know better. When he and Marshall find out they’re connected to each other…
Yeah, there’s going to be an explosion. That’s a future problem, though.
Right now, I need to escape from these people and their feelings.
A SUV pulls up in front of me and I sigh, cutting a glare toward the guard who steps forward and opens the back door.
“Seriously? I can’t even drive my own fucking car?”
“Tennant’s orders, sir.” The man’s voice is so bland it would be a thing of beauty if it weren’t so fucking annoying.
Cursing, I shake my head. “Learn to stop sounding like a fucking broken record. I don’t have the patience for it.”
The man closes the door after me, and I struggle to wait patiently while he gets in the front passenger seat.
By the time we leave, I feel closed in again.
I was hoping to take this as an opportunity to get away from everything, but no, of course, Tennant would interfere with my plans.
As if he doesn’t have enough going on, the asshole manages to keep track of me too.
I’d be touched if it wasn’t so fucking stifling.
The Senator was so close I could taste his demise.
And justice. Snatched away now, but not for good.
This is only a momentary setback. As soon as I get Sarah back from whatever bullshit they’re trying to pull her into, I can go back to planning my revenge.
By the time I’m finished with him, he’ll be begging for death, which I’ll deny.
Again and again. For every moment he stole from my cousin and her child, I will make sure he suffers.
Ely saved me. I would be dead by now if it wasn’t for her. And it’s only because of Ely’s lessons that I’m managing to hold it together. After… After I pay the Senator back, I’ll think about what to do next. But for now, it’s one step at a time until I bury that asshole.
When the car comes to a stop, I’m jostled out of my blood-spattered dreams. Scowling, I wait for the guard to let me out of the damn car, even though I hate it. When I exit, I stop in front of him and cross my arms.
“I understand you have a job to do. However, the moment I go in there, if you’re with me, I will lose every bit of credibility.
Unless you want to explain to Tennant and the entire Council why I didn’t get Sarah released, I expect you to stay out here.
” The man hesitates, so I press my point.
“I plan on using my reputation when I talk with the Captain. Having a guard with me, one they will undoubtedly trace back to a criminal organization, means I lose my leverage.”
Eventually, he shakes his head. “I have specific instructions. While I’ll give you space and you can pretend I’m not there with you, I need to at least be in the lobby in case they try something. Nobody is safe, and you are my priority.”
“Fine,” I snap at him, throwing my hands in the air. “But you will enter a few minutes after me. I do not want it to be obvious that I’m being chaperoned. Not if I have a hope of getting Sarah out.”
“Very well,” the guard calmly responds, and I have to give him credit for that. Even if I want to kill him.
I wonder if Tennant would give me a pass on that… Given the way the man pales, my thoughts must be a little too obvious, so I shut them down and stride away from the asshole.
A text pings from my phone, and I glance down with a frown.
OVERLORD
Keep the Captain preoccupied for a bit. The warrant should go missing electronically.
Snorting, I should have known Leandro would be listening in somehow.
Granted, there will be a hard copy, but what doesn’t exist on the computer means a piece of paper is useless.
I do love working with effective people.
And truthfully, those who are on the more interesting spectrums are far more effective than the “normals”.
I turn my phone onto vibrate, knowing the next text he sends will signal it’s been done. I ignore the pain wrapping around my heart that reminds me there’s no reason for me to worry about it being anyone else checking in… I lost the only person I had in this world.
Slipping the phone into my pants pocket, I stroll toward the doors, entering the precinct with my head held high.
It’s one I’m familiar with, thankfully, and I’m barely waiting before the receptionist catches my eye and gestures for me to come forward, neatly cutting in front of several others whose complaints go ignored.
“Javi! I wondered where you ran off to!” Joscelyn exclaims as she smiles, leaning forward to take a good look at me. Tsking, she shakes her head. “You still need to eat more, young man.”
“Oh, come now. You’re going to make me blush,” I flirt back. Despite the receptionist’s advanced age, she giggles like a young maiden. I know very well that she’s married and it’s harmless, but I figure any leverage I can get helps.
“Are you here to see a prisoner? I don’t have you on the list, but I just got in.” Her pout looks wrong, but I force a grin for her benefit.
Touching my chest, I state, “You know they’d be lost without you! But in this case, I have a special request. It’s actually a favor I need.”
“Oh, really?” She leans forward, her eyes avid at the idea of gossip.
Lowering my voice, I match her posture and whisper, “I really need to see the Captain. I know he’s horrendously busy, but is there any way that you can get him to spare me a few minutes?”
She chews on her bottom lip for a moment as she narrows her eyes, searching my expression for any chance I’m lying.
Thankfully, my masking abilities and my reputation cover for me.
With a decisive nod, she gestures for me to come with her.
I beam at her and meet her at the door so she can buzz me in.
As soon as I’m through, she grasps the sleeve of my blazer, tugging me alongside her while she chatters, rapid-fire gossip that requires no thought on my part.
I grit my teeth at her towing me along like a child, but at least she isn’t actually touching my skin.
However, I remind myself that she’s far too valuable to kill, even if I briefly entertain the idea.
By the time we reach the Captain’s office, I’m about ready to jump out of my skin.
Thankfully, the man is sitting in his office for once, reading a report.
Actually, his desk looks like it’s about to cave in from the weight of the paperwork scattered across it.
Given Joscelyn’s unimpressed stare, he’s clearly on her shitlist for not having it done already.
Her brisk knock is met with an irritated grunt, but when he raises his head and catches sight of me, he immediately relaxes and waves me in.
With a nod toward Joscelyn, he says, “Thanks for escorting him here. You know the other men would have tried to stop him and forced him to give his expert opinion on open cases.”
“That’s why you pay me the big bucks,” she retorts sarcastically, and then, turning to me, she gives me a quick hug and says “Don’t be a stranger” before heading back toward her job. I laugh as she sashays through the bullpen, knowing nobody is going to mess with her.
“Well, this is a surprise. Take a seat.” Captain Davids gestures to the one visitor chair I know isn’t completely uncomfortable.
I sit down and take a deep breath as he sets the report aside and leans back, steepling his fingers together.
“Normally, I have advance notice you’re coming.
I’m assuming there must be a pretty big problem if you’re here unannounced. ”
“There is. And honestly, I was hesitant to come. You know I hate to get involved where I’m not wanted.
” The Captain lets out a booming laugh at that, and my lips twitch because he may have a point.
Finally, he subsides and I continue, “But in this case, I felt it necessary. You have a potentially serious situation going on.”
The good humor flees the Captain’s face as his eyes dart toward the drawer I know holds his whiskey. He resists the temptation with a sigh and leans forward, pressing his hands against the desk. “Alright, what shitshow am I looking at?”
“One of your officers arrested a doctor. Supposedly, she’s under investigation for misappropriation of funds and not reporting a GSW.
Now, I know this doctor. Her ethics rival mine.
You know I don’t put my reputation on the line for just anyone.
I have a sinking feeling that someone is pulling strings…
And the last thing I want is for this to be splashed on the front page of the news, putting your hard work in jeopardy. ”
“That’s a very serious allegation.” He scrubs his face, but turns to his computer and wakes up the monitor. “What’s this doctor’s name?”
“Sarah Ranlen. She was arrested at the hospital earlier.”