Page 101 of The Order

Andrew nods in agreement, waving his hand at Adam and watching the man take several steps from me. Xavier finally pushes away from the wall, observing the space with his companions. I watch how his hand trails along my things, moving closer to my general location. I do my best to continue navigating his mental space, only growing angrier each time I sense new thoughts of her manifesting. He thinks of her every time he looks at me, harboring as much hate toward me as I do him.

“I don’t need you defending me, you pathetic snake,” I nearly yell.

“We haven't broken any rules,” Hunter says, straining against the metal bar. “If you want money, take it,” Hunter pleads, unaware of how sick and twisted Officials can be. None of this has to do with money. It only has to do with their agenda.

“This isn't about you,” Adam hisses. Xavier’s hand is already on his shoulder, stopping him from getting closer to Hunter.

“You’re angry at me, Andrew,” I say, turning my head back to look at the man. He walks over to me, finally standing before me, observing me with thoughtful eyes. “No more going after her because of my actions. You've already taken so much of her,” I plea, trying to gauge how much they know about her absent chip. No one’s ever been able to do what she did without causing irreparable brain damage.

“What's he talking about?” Adam questions, unaware of how well I actually know Andrew and his daughter.

“Adam, step outside and guard the door. I don't need any of his companions trying to listen in on this conversation,” Andrew says, crouching down on his knees.

“But, sir. Xavier-”

“I don't think he said my name. Get the fuck out,” Xavier snaps, watching the man take a step back, clearly annoyed to be taking orders from someone so much younger than him. Xavier stands with a confidence many lack. Something about him is off-putting, making him much different from any other Official I’ve met.

“You too, Xavier,” Andrew says, looking at the man sternly.

Xavier looks hesitant. Still, he excuses himself with Adam, giving me a hateful look before closing the door behind him.

“I told you to stay away from my girl,” Andrew mutters, looking at me angrily. “The deal was you keep some of your memories, and in return, you let her live her life without you in it,” Andrew continues. I watch Hunter’s face change, clearly nervous about the direction of the conversation.

“We tried,” Hunter barks. “He did everything he could to make her hate him, even paraded another woman in front of her. It turned out the same way every time-”

“You know nothing about trying!” Andrew yells, cutting Hunter off. “For years, I have carried the burden of keeping both of you safe, yet all you do is find a way to her, no matter how many times I alter her memories or yours. Why can't you leave it be?” he questions, my chest growing tighter the longer I think of her.

Every time I see her, something urges me to be near her. It's the connection formed from when we were children. I hear her laugh in fleeting moments of the night. The sweet upturn of her smile devours her face as prominently as her kind eyes. I feel her hands on my chest, pulling me down to taunt a kiss I’ve still never allowed to happen, knowing there’s no way I could let anyone touch her once I’ve had her that way.

“You didn't leave it be when it was Katiana!” I yell, watching Hunter wince at my words. “You abandoned us all for a girl and a promise of a better life, turning your back on everything you knew, forcing your daughter to believe she was crazy when your fears about her started to become a reality,” I spit, thinking of all of Andrew’s theories about our kind.

“My daughter is safe if she stays in the world we created for her,” he says, pressing his finger to my chest. “It's only when she finds you that those fears start to have any meaning. Her naivety is the one thing keeping her away from what lies outside of these walls-”

“The Shifters? Open your eyes, Andrew, they’re already here, huntingour kind-”

“Not the Shifters, Fallan. There is something going on that’s much bigger than all of us, and it starts with them getting their hands on her and what she can do. The more time she spends near you, the more in danger she becomes. Can't you see that?” Andrew questions, filling my head with a rampart wave of doubt and frustration.

“Then we keep her away. We convince her to hate us-” Hunter starts.

“I've tried that,” I whisper, straining against the binds again.

“Not hard enough,” Andrew bellows, leaning his head forward into mine with an angry stare.

“I have a family I need to protect, Fallan. I promised your father I would keep you alive. How you choose to live that life is up to you.”

“Did that thought run through your head before or after you got my father killed?”

His hands fidget. “You were made in this sector, Andrew, yet you act like that brand no longer marks your calloused hands.”

“One more strike, Fallan, and you reach red. No one comes back from red.”

“You did.”

He pauses, running his hand along his sensor prod.

“I better not catch wind of you involving my son this time,” Andrew says, looking at Hunter. “The last thing I need is to get him involved in this shit show. In a few minutes, my men will return here and deliver punishment to you both for stepping out of line and speaking to my children. Prods only, so you’ll live.”

He pauses, looking back at me.

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