Rogue Investigation Page 3

  I heaved a sigh, resting my hands on my hips. I wasn’t going to barge down the steps and demand his attention. If he was going to take his time, I could wait. Even if I hated it. Even if I didn’t want to witness this bullshit.

  The two girls giggled before both waving goodbye. One of them had the audacity to reach out and give his shoulder a squeeze. I wanted to scratch her skin off. I didn’t want to see her touching him. Hell, I didn’t want anyone to touch him. It was inappropriate. And why the hell was he just letting her do that? Didn’t he care about what people might think?

  No.

  Of course not.

  He was Robert Lannister.

  Probably didn’t even realize I was even here.

  “You can come down now, Freckles,” he said, not even looking up from his podium as he collected the notes he never used. The door had clicked shut, ensuring the two of us were alone. “Nice to see you. You know, since you weren’t present in class today.” He finally stopped fiddling with the loose-leaf sheets and looked up at me. “Care to tell me where you were? If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Well, that’s just it, Robert,” I said, taking each step with care. But seeing him with those girls - even though he wasn’t actually doing anything wrong - only added to this fire had set off in my chest and expanded to every inch of me. I was surprised he couldn’t feel the angry heat that radiated from me, like I was the sun, ready to consume him. “Are you asking or are you telling me?”

  He wrinkled his brow like he had no idea what I was referring to. “What are you talking about?”

  “Logan asked to see me,” I said. “And he told me something funny.” I reached the bottom stair and made my way over to him. Each move was controlled. I didn’t want to lash out. I didn’t want to be reduced to a crazy female who had no control over her distorted emotions. I needed him to understand how furious I was without actually showing my fury. “He said you told him to remove me from Dalton Rogers’s fighting team.”

  “Yeah.” He shrugged. Like it was no big deal. Like he hadn’t done anything wrong. “We talked about that. Remember?”

  “No.” The word was uttered through gritted teeth. “No, we didn’t talk about it. I didn’t agree to that. And now, I look like an asshole -”

  “Who cares what Logan thinks about you?” Robert said, grabbing the papers and striding to his desk.

  “-and Dalton thinks I want nothing to do with him,” I continued, following him. “And -”

  “Wait, you want something to do with Dalton Rogers?” He stood up straight and peered down at me, brown eyes roving over my face, trying to get a read on me.

  “-Logan thinks I’m running to you whenever I have a problem and that I’m asking you to do something about it,” I finished, throwing out both arms. I almost stomped my foot to emphasize my frustration with him but I managed to refrain just barely. “Why did you do that?”

  “Because,” he said, glancing down.

  “Because, why?”

  “What do you want me to say?” He snapped his gaze to mine.

  “The truth,” I said. I rubbed my lips together and tilted my chin up, staring at the high ceiling. As though the answers might impossibly be up there. “What, do you think I can’t handle things?”

  “What -“

  “Do you think I’m incapable or something?”

  “I never said -“

  “Because it feels like you think I’m some kind of child who can’t handle the real world,” I said. I looked at him again. Sweat beaded at the back of my neck. I knew the heater was on - it was a frigid forty-two degrees outside - but the emotions storming inside of me caused my flush to overwhelm myself. “Do you really think that of me?”

  “I would never think of you as a child, Lara,” he said seriously.

  “Then, why…” I began to pace again, each step as clipped as my words. “Why would you do that? You…you embarrassed me. I know I’m not fast and I hate running, but I shaved four minutes off my mile in three weeks. I’m progressing. Slowly, sure. And the whole Dalton thing -“

  “There’s a thing?” Robert asked, sarcasm back in his voice. He took a seat and looked up at me, a dry look on his chiseled face.

  “I know Dalton is a jerk,” I said. “I know he’s not holding you to fair standards -“

  “You think I give a shit about some kid?” Robert asked.

  “Well…yeah,” I said. “Why else would you pull me from his team? Why else would you not want me to train with him once I got my mile under control?”

  “Because I don’t trust him!” Robert exclaimed, throwing his own arms out. His nose wrinkled, something I realized he only did when he was frustrated. “I don’t like him.”

  “Why? Because he blames you -”

  “Because he has the audacity to talk about something he doesn’t know shit about,” Robert said. “Dalton Rogers is a spoiled little brat. He’s a do-gooder, a kiss-ass -”

  “He doesn’t kiss your ass,” I pointed out.

  “-and there’s something about him I don’t like,” he said. “He thinks we’ll take care of the gods if we fight. If we defend. He completely forgets that in order to fight the fucking gods you need more than just hope on your side. He’s naive and idealistic and it’s going to get him killed. And I can’t have that on my conscience.”

  My eyes widened. I took a step back.

  “You think because he’s…he’s too good, he’s untrustworthy?” I asked, needing the clarification. I didn’t understand what Robert was saying, why he was so angry over Dalton Rogers.

  “I think he thinks he knows everything because he’s the dean’s oldest son and because he’s perfect at every damn thing he does when the truth is, he’s just a kid,” Robert said. He deflated like a balloon, slumping forward. He rested his elbows on his desk, hanging his head. “Vic was just a kid. And he rushed off, thinking he was going to save the world. Instead, he became a statistic.”

  “He’ll be remembered,” I began, but Robert snapped his gaze up to glare at me.

  “You think that this is what it’s about?” he asked. “Being remembered? A legend?”

  “He made a difference,” I said, curling fingers into fists. “People will celebrate what he did.”

  “Great,” Robert said flatly. “He’ll be remembered for a stupid decision. He’ll be remembered for dying.”

  “For fighting,” I corrected. “For standing up for something he believes in. For -”

  “What is this?” he demanded, straightening slightly. “Why are you so…passionate about this?”

  “My father died in the Tragedy of South Haven,” I said. I hated that I even brought this up. I didn’t want to make this about me, about him. I didn’t want his pity. “And no one will remember who he is. Hell, I don’t even know why he was in South Haven that day. Vic will be remembered as a hero. And Dalton…Dalton gets that.”

  “How do you even know that?” Robert asked. “You been spending time with him or something?”

  “Don’t do that.” I shook my head, lifting a hand. “Don’t turn this around on me. Just because you have issues with Dalton doesn’t mean I do. He wants to train me, fine. Why is that a big deal? Because you don’t like him?”

  “Because what if he’s using you to see what I’m doing, hmm? Did you ever think of that?”

  I furrowed my brow. I took a step back, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to focus on what he said.

  “Wait,” I said slowly. “What?”

  “You’re all worried about this traitor, right?” Robert asked.

  “You have got to be kidding me.” I released my arms from my chest so I could pinch the bridge of my nose. “You don’t really think Dalton, of all people, is the spy, do you?”

  “Of course not.” Robert's voice dropped into a harsh whisper. “He’s a kid, remember? But his dad…” He let his voice trail off.

  I sucked in a breath, then another. My eyes widened. “You don’t think…”

  I couldn’
t finish the sentence. Robert made sure to teach me quickly that we couldn’t speak freely here, even though we were alone in Robert’s classroom. The dean had traced Robert’s cell phone and tracked us to a diner last week to show up and tell Robert about the traitor. Dean Rogers wouldn’t call attention to the traitor if the traitor was him, would he? Unless he was trying to throw suspicion off of him from the get go?

  “I don’t know what I think,” he finally said. “But I don’t trust that family. Especially not with you.”

  I scowled. “Why?” I asked. “You think I’m just going to spill all your secrets?”

  “Of course not,” he said snidely, almost like he was offended I would even suggest that in the first place.

  “Then what -“

  Before I could finish my sentence, the door opened and someone walked in. He wore a sharp suit that molded to his tall, broad frame, chestnut brown hair slicked back from his chiseled, oval face, and his jade green eyes carried a lazy arrogance only those born wealthy seemed to possess.

  “Robert Lannister,” a low voice said. “I was told I could find you here.” He shifted his gaze over to me, and while it wasn’t exactly smarmy, his eyes lit with smug amusement. “And I’m not surprised to find you otherwise occupied.”

  “Christian Steel,” Robert ground out under his breath.

  My eyes widened. This was the weapons dealer? The billionaire?

  “What are you doing here?” Robert asked. There was an edge to his voice, different from the one he used with me. The one he used with me could be exasperated, but there was always a warmth to it. This one was familiar but cold, like Robert wanted nothing to do with Christian Steel.

  Christian slid his hands casually into the pockets of his slacks. “We need to talk.”

  Chapter Five

  Surprise, surprise, I was not invited to the secret billionaire meeting.

  Robert muttered something about talking to me later and to take the rest of the day off. Christian smiled at me but his arrogance was enough of a repellent that I couldn’t bring myself to be charmed by it.

  I gathered my bag and left, deciding to find Charley at the med building across Ring Road. My mind kept going over what Robert said about Dean Rogers - could he really be the traitor? He was dean of the school! Would he really betray his students, his faculty, his sons?

  I didn’t know.

  Robert didn’t trust him. And that meant something. I took Robert’s opinion seriously, maybe with one or two grains of salt. I didn’t know Dean Rogers at all, but considering he was in charge of the academy, despite Robert’s funding, I was pretty sure he wasn’t entirely pleased to have to listen to Robert make decisions without discussing it with him first. Like about my scholarship enrollment.

  But would his unhappiness extend to works with the gods?

  I didn’t know.

  I walked into the med building, a whoosh of crisp air wrapping around me. My body tensed. It was already brisk outside. I expected some heat in order to relax my muscles, not more cold air, but I realized it was necessary for med stuff. At least, that was my assumption.

  I stepped inside the office Charley had walked in before, only to find Charley and Dr. Dickbag head to head, going off about something. They didn’t even notice when I eased into the room.

  “...no way you’re going to shadow me,” he said in his low voice, each word as crisp as the air in the building was. “I don’t care how many cookies you bring in. It’s not going to change my mind.”

  “I’m not bringing these in for you,” she said, hands on her hips. Rarely did Charley ever get disgruntled by anyone or anything. The fact that her brow was furrowed and her green eyes flashed emerald told me she was more than just a little annoyed. “I’m bringing them in for your office.”

  “And what do you think that’s going to accomplish?” he asked. He was in scrubs rather than a lab coat, a mask cradling the underside of his chin. He was so much taller, so much broader, than she was, but she didn’t seem to care. It didn’t look like she had any intention of backing down whatsoever. “You think they’re going to flock to me and demand that I accept you as some kind of personal resident? You think I actually listen to their opinion?”

  “You should!” she said. “Or is your ego too much of a snowflake for that?”

  My eyebrows shot up to my hairline. For a minute, I considered leaving. I didn’t need to witness the argument between the two. Hell, I was uncomfortable watching my mother negotiate our cable bill every time our contract expired. I had no problem participating in arguments, but witnessing them caused my chest to knot up and my legs were grounded in quicksand and molasses.

  “Did you just call me a snowflake?” he asked. There was a touch of surprise to his tone. Upon looking at him, looking at the way he looked at Charley, I almost wanted to say there was an inch or two of respect in them, but that would be crazy. There was no way Dr. Dickbag respected Charley. He wouldn’t even let her shadow him.

  “No,” she said. “I called your ego a snowflake.”

  “And what do you think they’ll be able to tell me?” He threw his arm out to his side, gesturing at the office. “I have two doctorate degrees. What could they know that I don’t?”

  “I don’t know, maybe how to remove your head from your ass?” Charley asked. “You may know a lot, more than everyone else here combined, but that doesn’t mean you know everything.”

  “You’re a child,” Dickbag said. “And you think you can help me?”

  “Oh, I know I can. I could teach you things you don’t know if you’d just give me a chance.”

  He scoffed, flicking his wrist. “Preposterous,” he dismissed. “You can go back to Lannister and tell him that this,” he gestured between the two of them, “isn’t going to happen. I’ve learned I do much better on my own. And I definitely don’t need the assistance of a child.”

  Charley clenched her teeth together. I knew she wanted to refute the fact that she was a child because she wasn’t. She was twenty, just like I was. Maybe she didn’t have the experience or the education Dickbag did but that didn’t mean she was a child. Somehow, she managed to hold her magic back. Probably because refuting that point would only make her look like a child..

  “You’re an asshole,” she said.

  “Tell me something I don’t know.” He thrust her basket back into her arms. “Now, get out.”

  Charley whirled around on the balls of her feet and nearly ran into me. Her eyes widened when she saw me but she didn’t say anything. Instead, I followed her out the door, practically skipping to keep up with her. She didn’t even slam the door shut, something I was sure I’d have done in her place.

  “You okay?” I asked tentatively as we stepped out of the building.

  “I need…to get…out of here,” she managed to get out through her gritted teeth.

  “Well, I have my mom’s car,” I said. “Let’s get something to eat. Deeno’s?”

  Charley and I sat in my usual booth, cheeseburgers in front of us. Charley had onion rings in place of French fries and water instead of a shake. We didn’t speak, even before we received our food. I didn’t want to push her. When she was ready to talk to me, she would.

  We ate in silence. My fingers, my mouth, clamored for more. I had been here a couple of weeks ago with Robert and now I was back again with Charley. Normally, I came here maybe once a month since I couldn’t afford to eat out all the time, but with the money I was making being Robert’s TA and the fact that the foundation benefits Mom and I received once Robert looked into our rejected application and manually pushed it through, I had extra to spare.

  I should be saving it. I knew that. I couldn’t say if things were going to continue to work out, but still. It was nice to treat myself once in a while, especially since it was clear Charley needed this.

  “How’s Kore?” I asked after setting down my chocolate shake. It was nearly finished, the whip cream mixing in with the ice cream.

  Charley looked up a
t me, her face softening as it usually did whenever she spoke about her sister. “Good,” she said before swallowing a bite of her onion ring. “She’s pissed she can’t transfer over to Godslayer even though she’s eighteen with a 4.2 GPA, but other than that, good. Maybe bored.”

  I chuckled. “I can’t imagine Kora being pissed,” I admitted, leaning back against the cushy booth. I started picking at the tear.

  “Trust me, she has a temper behind all that innocence.” Charley brushed hair from her face.

  I tilted my head to the side. “You okay?” I asked after a moment.

  “What? Oh. Yeah. He’s just…ugh, he’s just so aggravating.” A petal from her crown of flowers fell from her head and landed on the surface of the table. “I mean, I get he doesn’t want a stranger coming in on his territory but it’s not my fault. And I don’t want to get in trouble for not making an effort into getting the residency. But there’s only so much I can do.”

  “Why do you think he’s being this way?” I asked. I fiddled with the straw, mixing the last bits of ice cream with the whip cream.

  “I don't know,” she admitted. “I talked to his RN, Billy. Apparently, he’s always been an asshole but the suspicion started a few years ago. It’s like he doesn’t trust anyone but himself. And, again, I get it, but geez.” She rolled her eyes, “I just want to help. Not him. But people. People who need it. And working with him would give me that opportunity. I hate that I want this so bad. I hate that he gets to dictate that experience, if that makes sense.” She shook her head. “But enough about me. I know I’ll wear him down. Eventually. What about you? How is it working with Robert Lannister?”

  I sighed, shrugging my shoulders. My hair fell over my shoulder and after wiping my hands with a paper napkin, I began to tease the dirty blonde locks with my fingers.