Motherfucker.
“A warning would have been nice,” the director says, turning on his heels and walking away.
Oren starts to follow him, and I snort when I’m expected to as well. This web just gets bigger and bigger.
Director Rene leads us past my old office and into another, the looks following us as we weave through the cubicles and halls. We come to an office in the back that’s hasn’t been in use since I’ve worked here.
He turns to Oren. “Grab Agent Deavers, Ramos,” Director Rene commands. “I would like to have a word with Brenner.”
Without argument, Oren walks out of the room, closing the door behind him. Leaving me and my old boss alone in the room, bare save for a desk, bookshelf, and a couple chairs. His mention of Deavers confirms how connected he is with my former enemy. The one who, at some point became privy to my quest for vengeance. Just someone else I thought I could trust keeping an eye on me.
“Are you well?” he asks me, his brows pinching together in concern.
“Do you truly care or is The Omen paying you to ask?” I grind out.
The director looks at me for a moment before huffing a laugh, falling back into the office chair and offering me one of the others. I shake my head, not wanting to be sitting when Oren brings Deavers back.
“The lines between the right and wrong sides of the law are more blurred than you could even begin to fathom, Brenner,” he says. “Sometimes to accomplish our tasks we need to connect with men with criminal minds. Some are worse than others, some want the same scum off the streets we do, but not all are void of humanity.”
I hum.
“And this is the part where you tell me Nathaniel Olin is a good man and I should give him a chance.”
“No,” he says with a chuckle. “The only people who would see good in him are those he keeps close, and that good only extends to those few people. He cares about his family and his business. That does not make him any less a killer or someone to be feared.”
The director watches me, waiting for a response I don’t give.
“Are you wanting to come back?” The director sits up straighter, leaning onto the desk with his forearms when he realizes I’m not going to talk anymore about this issue. “I’m willing to drop your suspension if you can learn to keep your head on straight.”
I roll my eyes, then frown.
“My place is next to Malia,” I say, shaking my head. “I won’t be coming back.”
Director Rene dips his chin in understanding.
The door opens behind me, the director rises to his feet, and I turn to fully face Deavers as he walks in. Oren shoves a laughing Deavers into the room, closing the door once again then locking it. Deavers looks at the director, the amusement of whatever joking he and Oren were in the middle of washes away and turns into confusion.
I spread my legs to widen my stance, crossing my arms tight against my chest, ignoring the resulting pain in my shoulder. Deavers’ eyes slide to mine, and his jaw opens and closes twice while the color drains from his face.
“Agent Deavers,” I say, tilting my head and assessing my prey, “you’re looking a little green. Are you feeling alright?”
His mouth snaps shut then he swallows. His Adam’s apple’s frantic bobbing gives away his nerves, despite the indifferent look he’s suddenly wearing on his face.
“Have a seat.”
I nod my head to the chair on my left.
Deavers strides forward and I step aside to allow him passage. When he starts to sit, I splay my hand on the back of his head and slam it into the desk with a resounding crack. I growl through the pain in my shoulder, pressing him deeper into the mahogany as he cries out.
Leaning into his ear, I whisper, “We’re going for a ride, Agent. You have something I want.”
Deavers whines and struggles against my hold, but I push harder.
“I don’t have anything!” he whimpers. “I don’t know what you want from me!”
I snarl and release him. Deavers springs to his feet and presses a hand to his nose, checking the area I made him bleed. His nose is obviously broken, based on its new odd shape, and will definitely be bringing us attention we don’t want or need.
“Tawny Olin,” I say with a shrug. “Your bitch took something from me and you’re going to help me get it back.”