Page 83 of Shield and Savior

His voice cracks. “I can’t go into the field. I’m a mess, and I can’t sleep.” He’s been having nightmares since the fire. I do too, but his seem worse. He only sleeps well when I’m next to him. He continues, “And I have other responsibilities.”

She catches my eye, and her frown deepens. “Did you tell her your real name?”

“Yes.” Years ago, he had his identity scrubbed from the internet, changed his name, and started a new life.I didn’t get a clear reason why, but I suspect Alana isn’t the only one who worked for the Olympians. And whatever they were doing, it makes my family’s crimes look like shoplifting.

“Did you tell her mine?”

Lance shakes his head. “It’s not my secret to tell.”

He didn’t. Lance and Alana were a package deal. And while he didn’t go into any details, I know there’s a line of loyalty he would never cross.

He drops the envelope on the bed. “Alana, I have to?—”

She cuts him off. “Don’t be fucking stupid. I’m not talking about this now.”

“But…” he starts.

She raises her hand, and he stops. Her eyes burn into me. “Take notes. I only have a few minutes left.” I take out my phone and start typing as she speaks. “Have Macie call my real estate agent, tell her to sell the following properties: Aspen, Seattle, Atlanta, Vermont, both Malibu houses, and the Penthouse.”

What the actual fuck? How much real estate does she have lying around? Even Lance gasps. Did he not know about them? Or is he surprised at her quick sale?

But Alana keeps rattling off commands. “That should give us enough money to last about a year, without affecting Mastodon’s payroll or insurance. Next, call my lawyer. His name is Peter Olympian.”

“I thought you didn’t want their help.”

“Peter isn’t helping, he’s being paid. Have him draft an offer to Patriot Security for a two percent stake in Grasshopper. I’d be willing to go as high as five, but no more.”

“What the hell is Grasshopper?” I haven’t seen that name anywhere in any of the files.

Lance supplies the answer. “Back in college, Alana invested in a gaming start up company. She owns sixty-five percent.”

Jesus, I own like five shares of Tesla; we are not the same.

“If we have Patriot, we can use their safe houses, campus, and clients. Add that to what Mastodon has, we’d be poised to be the second largest private security firm on the East Coast.” She points to the folder on her dresser. “I want your opinions on the new logo.” She pauses and glances at the image. “You know there was a small part of me that hoped the graphic designer was behind this whole thing. At least that would make sense to me.”

It’s an elephant wearing sunglasses and with a protective trunk wrapped around the baby elephant, who is also wearing sunglasses. “I think it’s perfect.”

I show it to Lance, who rolls his eyes. “Are you fucking kidding me? That’s the first design.”

Alana shakes her head. “No it’s not. The first time the sunglasses were square, these are more rounded.”

Lance sighs and rests his head on my shoulder. “I can’t anymore.”

“Oh yes you can.” Alana rips the envelope in half. He groans and starts rubbing his temples, but she’s not done. “Take the numbers of the therapist Hadeon gave me. Both of you use it. You’ve seen some shit, and you need to deal with it to have a functional grown-up relationship. Daddy issues, insecurity—both will eat away at your relationship like cancer if you don’t make an effort to work on it now.”

“What about you?” I ask.

She waves the thought away. “Pshaw. I am the model of perfect mental health.”

I open my mouth, but Lance grabs my arm and shakes his head.

Alana’s lips curl slightly at the corners. “Open the folder and review the HR standards for an interoffice relationship.” She shifts her attention to Lance. “I told you I’d never make you choose, but I’m not ready to let you go either. I’m sorry, but this is the compromise I am willing to make.”

My stomach drops when I open the folder to see an offer letter. It’s double what I make with Joey and light-years more than what I made working at Waffle House. The title is Senior Office Management and Logistics.

Alana smiles at me and says, “Welcome to Mastodon.”

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