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“Alec. Where is he?”
Right.
“I fired him.”
When his frown deepens, I narrow my eyes.
He slowly shakes his head. “Oakley.” His tone is cautious, which has my spine tingling. “I’m afraid that’s not your call.”
His eyes are tortured, but there’s a secret there.
Please don’t say it.
But he doesn’t have to because, in that next second, there’s a loud slam outside, and I turn to see Alec storming for the front.
I don’t look back to Hillock to confirm, but he states yet another newfound fact in my fucked up world. “Blackline belongs to him, too.”
He pushes through the door, his eyes wild as they skate across the room, hitting Hillock’s over my shoulder before dropping to mine.
He stalks my way, and right when his feet plant before me, the side door closes, signaling it’s just the two of us standing here.
“Stop pushing me.”
“Leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Get fucking used to it.”
“You’re not wanted here.” My stance is strong, but my voice wobbles. “I hate you.”
“Back to that, are we?” he growls, stepping closer, forcing his chest to mine, so I have no choice but to lift my chin to meet his stare. “Tell yourself what you want, princess, but watch your fucking moves. You and me?” His brows drop in anger. “We’re not done.”
He jerks away from me and storms for what is apparently still his office, but he stops in the doorway and glares over his shoulder. “And stay away from my brother.”
With a light growl, I turn and storm for the gym. Not because Rowan is in there—that’s just an added bonus to derail Alec’s power trip—but because I have some anger to burn.
I go straight for the rock wall, hastily stepping into my gear and clipping it in place.
“Everything okay?” Rowan asks, his hands finding his hips as he catches his breath.
I glare his way and then slide my eyes to the door. Sure enough, in stalks the beastly bastard, his glower as strong as ever.
I look back to Rowan, and he scoffs, shaking his head as he goes back to work. I turn to do the same, ignoring the asshole who steps beside me, pulls his shirt from his body and begins to hook himself up.
I hurry and lock in, and then I start my climb.
When I get a solid three feet up, I realize my mistake.
His light chuckle tells me he knows it, too, and he stays right where he is, five steps behind, enjoying the view I’ve stupidly given him.
Dick.Chapter Twenty-FourOakleyI’ve been back at work for three weeks now, and finally, things at the academy once again feel like second nature. My routine has kicked back in, only my days are a little shorter, as the long hours seem to push me into exhaustion.
No matter what I do, I’m in a state of constant fatigue, making me extra irritable. I’m guessing it just comes with the new territory. My dad’s will might state that Alec now holds shares in the company, but he hasn’t pushed to get the ball rolling on formalities, so I surely haven’t offered him more responsibilities. I don’t want or need his help.
“Okay.” I brush my hands off and grab my water from the floor to take a small drink, trying to fight off the dizziness that hits. “Good job, guys. Times are improving consistently. Tomorrow, we’ll be testing on forcible entry, so review your notes and practice form if you need to. I’m not locking up for another hour, so have at it if you want some extra practice on your own time.”
The recruits nod in agreement, all moving to stand and grab their things. Alec steps forward and starts speaking as they get ready to head out, so I hurry for the door. I can’t handle standing there, listening to him with the recruits. It reminds me too much of when I used to watch my dad with his recruits.
Before I can exit, Gio jogs over.
“What’s up, Gio?”
“You, uh, come early, right?” he asks, his features tightened.
“Yeah.” I nod, my brows pulling in. “I’m here around five thirty every morning. Why? What do you need?”
“I heard Rowan comes early.”
“He has been lately, yes.”
“That only allowed for him?”
He eyes me, and I tilt my head a little.
“Why would it be allowed only for him?”
“Just figured, since you two were kind of a thing, maybe that’s why he’s here before anyone else.”
“If you’d like to come early for workouts, you can. As for the rest of what you’re insinuating, you’re out of place.”
Frustration lines his forehead in the form of deep creases, and he nods, his eyes on the floor. “Right, yeah. Sorry. I just assumed.”
He goes to turn away, and I feel bad. “Gio.”
He looks back to me, dismay floating across his stare, his shoulders drawn up in tension that I don’t understand.
