Page 90 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“You want to talk for a reason,” I get to the point. I hate wasting time.As I’m sure he does as well.“You know I have to prepare the new cameras on campus.”

“Already done,” he reveals. “Hannah has secured every perimeter we’ll be forced to access due to schedules and club activities. I’m sure Ares will opt-in on the art commitments while Zander will be intrigued with the computer science activities.”

I was going to argue with his choices, but the longer I think about it, the more I realize he’s pretty on the ball with what they would choose.

My silence encourages his continuation.

“Precious Gem will take on the fight club. I have a strong hunch she’s into kickboxing. Adding a bit of real fighting instances would relieve some of that pent-up anger in her.”

“You make it seem like she has an anger management issue,” I grumble. I sound offended.I’m not.At least, I don’t feel like I am. Doesn’t explain my harsh tone of voice.

“You think you’d be fine and dandy watching the man who bullied you for years walk the same halls as you?” he offers, and I catch onto his smug look despite the way his gaze darkens. “Better yet, the man who had every intention of watching you die, even if it meant by your own hands.”

I hold my tongue as I give him a hard stare in return.

“I rest my case,” he concludes, knowing I’ve lost this unexpected battle. “If she doesn’t like it, she can drink tea and talk gossip like the other Maidens.”

She wouldn’t do such a thing.

“What do you actually want to talk about?” I press.

“I want you to tap into the database and get me Precious’ neurological scans and records for the last ten years.”

My response is silence because I’m trying to comprehend why exactly he’d need V’s neurological records. I’m thinking of all the possibilities, but nothing is ringing in my mind that explains the pressed urgency.

“Why?”

“You’re not concerned about the high probability of Evangeline having the same mental illness as Leighton?”

I don’t like the way he’s speaking down at me. As if V’s health isn’t as important to me as it is to him.

“It’s not like I’m not concerned about Eva’s health,” I begin to emphasize because I don’t like to be belittled when I care dearly for Gemini. I may not be able to show it the way others can but don’t disregard how much I care.How much I love her.“I didn’t grasp the signs of urgency to delve into her health records in the neurology department.”

“You should have the moment you discovered Mr. Leighton has multiple personalities,” he declares. “That was only confirmed with her conversation with Iva. You had to have reviewed the tapes by now.”

When I don’t reply, he simply chuckles.

“Don’t worry, I made copies and erased the original footage so no one else would have access to find out Leighton’s dirty little secrets. I know that was originally your duty, but I did confirm you were fired by Prescott, hired by Domino, who used Zander’s funds, then fired you again before the whole fiasco that led us to this moment. Though I’m pretty positive you weren’t told who your new employer will be, or you would have enlightened them that you have school commitments now.”

“I’m acting as Ruthless King,” I argue.

“No. You ARE a Ruthless King, Aries,” Matteo snarls, drawing my attention to him.

His stern look makes me fight not to scowl in return because he’s right.I don’t know who I work for now, and high chance that he’s going to force me to find out.

“Meaning, someone else is going to have to look after Precious in the meantime.”

“No one can do what I can do,” I press.

“You don’t want me to prove that wrong, now do you?” he offers with a tone of gratuity. “Because I can.”

“You’re questioning my abilities because?” I want to know why he believes I lack right now.

“Because there have already been signs that Eva could follow down the path of her father. My father. The man who has verbally admitted being a carrier of a neurodegenerative disease that leads to multiple personality disorder, and you’ve done nothing in your control to figure out how to slow or even eliminate the chances.”

“He didn’t necessarily admit…”

“Does the man need to go down to the medical terminology to let you know that he’s mentally ill, and there’s nothing he can do about it?” Matteo argues.

---