Page 118 of Heartless Legacy

I quietly slip back around the side of the building and down the street to where I parked my car. A mosquito bites my neck a few feet away from the rear bumper, then everything goes black.

Holden

The door to my father’s office is open. I hear him pacing back and forth as he talks on the phone. He’s frustrated aboutwhatever’s being discussed. “I’m telling you thatshouldn’thave been possible, not that itwasn’tpossible.”

He passes in front of the door again. “I’m not a computer technician. I wouldn’t even know where to start on tracking down what happened. Now, do you want to file a cyber crime report?” He moves back towards his desk. “I know it’s not ideal to have to explain what you were recording and why, but if you’re suggesting this wasn’t just a computer failure, then that’s your only recourse.”

Back to the door. “Then find another way to record and store the data from the social club.” He stops in front of his desk. “Okay, Arlo. You do that.”

Arlo Kimble is a member of the league security council. Judging by the one-sided conversation, it sounds like there’s a problem with the blackmail videos they collected at the social club. I wasn’t forced to participate in the last mixer, but others chose to do so. Dad stops pacing and turns towards the door, spotting me. “How much of that did you hear?”

I step into the room and admit, “Enough to guess what happened. Not enough to offer any ideas about how or why.” I’m glad it happened though, because Thea was there, and I hate the idea of anyone having anything they could use against her.

My father lets out a weary sigh as he sits in his chair. “Things used to be so much easier when I was a prospect. Hell, even when I was a field agent playing a game of Russian Roulette with a serial killer, I didn’t flinch as much as I do now, when the phone rings.”

“You flinch when the phone rings because you’re a worried father.”

“That’s a lot of it. But some of it can be blamed on my position on the security council.”

“You’re not happy with your position?”

“I am, but sometimes I wonder if I joined the correct committee.”

“What else would you have done?”

“Door greeter? Cloak checker?” He smiles. “Anything but be the guy they bring their suspicions to about every single anomaly on the planet.”

I nod in understanding. “Your job makes you a sounding board for their paranoia.”

He hums. “Everything seems like a security issue when you have a lot of enemies. The trick is managing the paranoia, so it doesn’t make you do stupid things which lead to actual security risks and threats.” He smiles again, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “That phone call was me making sure that didn’t happen.”

We’ve never really talked about his job with the council before. I think I assumed it was easier than it is. “How often do you do that?”

“Lately, it’s been more times than I care to admit.”

“Is our security that vulnerable?”

“Not at all, but after the incident at the social club, there are some who think it might be. I’ve submitted a vote to contract Wolfe Security for additional security personnel. Maybe this time I’ll get enough votes to make it happen.”

“I’m sorry.” I say, meaning I’m sorry he’s being bothered with this stuff.

This time, my dad’s smile is more genuine. “Don’t be. I chose a complicated life.”

My father is one of those look on the bright side types. I guess given his job he has to find the good, or he’d be like me, constantly weighed down by the bad. “How do you deal with the complications?” I ask.

“The same way I hope I’ve taught you and your sister to deal with them. By honoring your word, and doing what’s right, and knowing that sometimes those aren’t the same thing, andaccepting responsibility for what comes after you make either of those decisions.”

He comes over to me, jingling his keys in his hand. “Hayden’s at a friend’s, and I promised your mother a date, so I need to go get ready, unless you need me for something.”

“I’m actually gonna head back to campus soon.”

Squeezing my shoulder he says, “I’m here if you need me.”

I know he’ll never ask me for help, but I reply, “Me too, dad.”

Chapter 71

Holden

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