Page 14 of Echoes

I lean against the desk, folding my arms. "I was just welcoming Avery back. Aren't you meant to be in session with Christopher?"

Grey snorts. "I'd rather have my throat slashed again. So, are you going to tell me the real reason you dragged her in here?"

I smile at him, raising an eyebrow. "No. But when you need to know, I'll tell you."

His face hardens, all emotion leaving his eyes. Even without it present, I can still read his body language. I know he's surprised she's back, more so that I apparently brought her here. There's a part of him that's relieved, but an even bigger part that's fighting to destroy everything in his path. He's a walking paradox, a bomb ready to detonate into a bloodied mess of flowers and glass.

I have to handle this carefully. It's a delicate situation, and I know he wants answers.

I told him to wait last night—promising I'd fill him in later. I didn't give him a timeframe, but judging by the fact he's stalking the communal areas, he wants them now.

"Are you going to at least tell me what the fuck happened yesterday?" he asks in a low voice.

"What do you want to know?"

Grey leans against the end of a bookshelf. "You said you made a deal with the chairman."

"I did," I answer casually. "He wasn't too pleased but we have his balls in a vise for the time being."

He glares at me, unsatisfied with my answer. "Deadman. Spill it."

My face darkens. "Grey, you're my right-hand man, so you can get away with a lot. But you need to pull it back."

"This isn't just another move for you. This affects me too," he replies. "It's my life being dragged through it."

"Please," I scoff. "I warned you to keep away from her. You already knew the potential consequences. We don't need the same shit happening again. There's bigger things to focus on. Perhaps you should remember that instead of thinking with your dick."

Grey pushes off from the bookshelf, walking toward me. To anyone else, they would be worried—terrified even. But I know he won't lose control, he never does with me.

But he's mad… out for blood. I need to find a way for him to vent some of that frustration. Apparently, his last task wasn't enough, even if he did go partially rogue.

"It has nothing to do with my fucking cock."

"Don't insult me," I reply, paying no attention to the short distance between us. "Whether it's your dick or your emotions, you're too invested in this. You need to get control of it."

"I do have control," Grey answers, visibly relaxing. "I don't want to be kept in the dark."

I give him a tight smile. "You won't be. It will all become apparent soon enough. As for the board, they heard about the situation with Hallman and Arthur. It wasn't just for the society's benefit, but yours too. I need you to focus on your tasks. We're at a critical point now."

Grey lets out a long breath. "What do you need from me?"

"Make sure Jillian and Byrone are still on track. Security measurements are tightening here. The formal investigation is done, but despite our visit to Arthur, we can still expect some pushback."

He nods in agreement. "What do you think he has planned?"

Laughing, I shrug. "Probably the same bullshit as always. He won't do the obvious segregation tactics. With Hallman's death being a suicide, it would be fruitless punishing the collective. It would make him look like the bad guy. No, he'll want to try to control the situation from the inside."

"So, he'll be gathering intel, trying to get people on his side."

"Precisely. It's likely he'll have alerted the staff to keep tabs, but I suspect he'll also be trying to find some sheep as well—students that are stupid enough to side with him."

Grey's eyes widen slightly. "You think he's gotten to Avery?"

He always was a smart man. Grey reads people just as well as I do, if only he had complete control over his emotions. He did—until she came along. Which is why I need them separated for now.

"Definitely. Or at least, he will be trying," I confirm. "At the moment, she's the only one he'd have leverage with—not to mentionyour relationshipwith her. It's possible he'll have more people, but it's not likely they will have enough to give him the information that he wants."

Anger crosses Grey's face and I sigh. Here we go—those fucking emotions again.

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