“Kavanaugh.” Ferro waved his fingers for Kade to come back to the front of his desk. “There are things you don’t know about this case.”
“Bring me in then. Because from where I stand, taking her out seems an inappropriate course of action. I know the Guard considers every termination carefully, but Violet Castanega is innocent.”
“Your job is to simply take her out. There’s nothing else to be discussed. If you have a problem with the assignment, I can task someone else with it.”
Dune came to mind. The son of a bitch enjoyed the kill. Kade straightened his shoulders. “We’re trained to assess on the fly, to make decisions based on the specific situation.”
“That pertains to the way you fight, evade, or escape. Not the overall mission. You do not get to decide to spare a target. Terminate her or remove yourself from the assignment.”
Kade, meet wall. He shifted his gaze to the map and tried to discern where the yellow pins were.
Ferro stood, blocking his view. “As you know, all it takes is one turn of events—a woman, perhaps—to crash and burn a career. And others often pay the price.” Was he inferring that Mia wouldn’t get promoted if Kade screwed up? Ferro frowned. “I didn’t want to demote you after your father’s fall, but I couldn’t ignore the complaints. After all, your father did use his position to protect you whenever you came under fire for not following the rules. You had a reckless edge, thinking you knew best about cases and suspects. And you see where that got you.”
Dune had been the loudest objector, jealous bastard. While Kade used that edge to accomplish his goals, Dune had kept his nose to the line, cold and calculating. Yet Kade rose to Vega years before him, even though they both graduated from the Academy at the same time.
“Yes, that edge garnered me a ninety-seven percent completion rate.”
Ferro’s fiery eyes pinned him, and in that moment, he seemed very Dragonish. “You got lucky that your antics didn’t backfire. But if we let you continue, other Vegas were bound to follow suit. They might not get so lucky.”
Because they’re not as good as I am. Luck, hell. He held that bit in. “I didn’t know that Vegas were automatons with no authority to investigate or think.”
He could feel Ferro bristle and saw the flames go all jaggy in his eyes. “There are times when those skills are required. The most important one, though, is to be reliable and do as you’re told. I don’t understand why you’re so reluctant to do this. It’s a simple kill order, something you’ve done many times without question.”
“Before it felt right.”
“And this doesn’t?” Ferro put an edge into his words.
“No. My father taught me to trust my instincts.” And Cyn had reminded him just recently. “That’s what I did those times I was considered reckless.”
“Your father’s instincts were not always right, though, were they?”
That was a sore point. He didn’t know what had possessed his father to defect. He still didn’t understand, and despite all his digging, those answers continued to elude him. “I don’t have all the facts in that case.” Irritatingly so.
“Your father’s instincts were clouded by his feelings for a woman. It happens, unfortunately. The human side of us is weak.” Ferro gave him a dark look. “Is that what’s happening here?”
Kade shook his head as he pushed the thought of his hands on Violet far from his mind. “No woman would be worth throwing my career away for.”
“You are not weak like your father. In fact, since his downfall, you completely changed and have been an exemplary officer.”
Kade had become Dune—except for the liking-to-kill part. The thought shuddered through him. “Thank you, sir,” he gritted out. Nothing was more important than regaining his position, his identity. For himself and for Mia.
“I know you’re trying to do your job well, and I appreciate that. But I cannot have an officer in the field who doesn’t trust his superior. Don’t you trust my judgment?”
If Kade answered honestly, he’d be pulled this second. “I trust you, sir. Implicitly.”
“Then do your job. And only your job.”
Kade felt cold all over as his career pooled like water on his upturned palms, ready to pour through his fingers. Following orders was a lot easier than questioning them. “I’m on it.”
Ferro waited until Kade left the building before making his call. He studied the map until she answered.
“It’s Alec,” he said. “I had a visit from Violet Castanega earlier. She’s concerned about the recent rash of murders among the Fringers… thinks they’ll start clan wars again. In fact, she suspects a conspiracy.”
“A conspiracy. Really? Clever girl. I’d be more than happy to pay her a visit and dissuade her of the notion.”
“No, she’s being dissuaded by one of my Vegas. Permanently.”
“She’ll be Breathed by someone else?” Her jealousy was clear in the sharpness of her voice.
