Page 27 of The Protégé

His face tightened. “Suicide isn’t something you cantoss around like that.”

Where did that defense come from? I considered myself a patient person most days, but right now his condescending tone cut into me. Whatever was going on in his mind washisproblem, not mine. I didn’t appreciate him taking his anger outon me. I was done with men blaming me for their shortcomings.

Weren’t we having a casual conversation just seconds ago? I’d triggered something, but I was too angry to inquire. He might just piss me off even more.

With the stress I’d been dealing with, I should have been the one lashing out. Liam used to take out his frustration on me, calling me names and making me feel unworthy, and then apologizing after. I hated his excuses.

Just because Orion had a handsome face and a bazillion dollars didn’t mean he could make me feel like shit.

I glared at him. “I don’t know what your problem is, but you need to fix it before Monday. Otherwise, it’ll be hell for both of us.”

Something flickered in his eyes, but I didn’t stay to find out. I stalkedtoward the accident, trying to inspect the scene from a different angle.

Arrogant and moody men could all go to hell.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ORION

I hoppedinto the shower as soon as I got home, wanting to wash off the irritation from the day. I increase the water pressure from the wall, letting the force beat the muscles on my back. The emotions building inside me needed to be washed away too.

There’s nothing wrong with being attracted to another woman.

Maybe the attraction to Elena was a phase that would soon pass.

But so far, the attraction seemed to have increased compared to when I first set eyes on her. Today proved that she had this tug on me. I didn’t like it.

At first, I was angry at her for making me lose control. Then I was angry at her for something she wasn’t responsible for.

Elena wasn’t responsible for Kate’s suicide. Elena had made a casual statement about suicide and I’d exploded.

That loss of control terrified me. I’d always been able to rein in my emotions, but ever since my encounter with Elena, something in me switched off.

Or rather, something in me had switched on. Something fiery, untamed, and unfamiliar.

I felt like a muddy river with so much crap in it I couldn’t tell what I was stepping on. Was it a fish, a rock, a log, or just some damn trash?

I needed clarity, and there was only one thing that could help me achieve that. Transform into The Roc, the master thief who could take anything he wanted without a trace.

The act of theft liberated me. It wasn’t about stealing something that wasn’t mine. The high-octane thrill numbed my anxiety. It was like a rewiring of the synapses in my brain, narrowing my focus to one thing rather than a massive pool of many things.

It was the only cure that helped me survive after my mother’s death. I became a better thief because I stole. Life was fucking ironic in that way. The big guy up there sitting on the heavenly throne was probably chilling with his angels and laughing at me.

Look at that fool. He thinks stealing is a sacred gesture that would garner him blessings.

If people knew my weakness, I could only imagine the kinds of blackmail I’d receive. But we all made choices that suited our lives. No one could tell me how to live if they weren’t in my shoes. When I stole a precious item, the adrenaline high made me forget myself, dropping me into another world where I became a different person.

You’ve got issues.

I didn’t argue with my other self—it was right. What was I supposed to do when the anxiety medication didn’t help? I couldn’t afford a panic attack right now. I had too much at stake and couldn’t afford any errors.

As I shampooed my hair, I thought of ways to torture my mentor’s killer. Or killers. The Trogyn needed to be eradicated, and my empire needed my attention and care as well. I hada dependable management team, but it was still my empire to oversee. My strict upbringing had its pros and cons. I could juggle many projects at once, but at the cost of my mental health.

Closing my eyes, I tilted my face up to the showerhead, feeling the water pressure beat down on my face. Elena’s face popped into my vision again, but I didn’t push her away. Instead, I focused on her pretty face while the water soothed me.

She was right. I had tostraighten myself out before Monday to ensure she got a professional working environment.

After toweling off, my body still thrummed from tension. If I wanted a good night’s sleep, I needed to be The Roc tonight. I dressed in dark pants and a black T-shirt. Then I browsed the people on my shit list. I didn’t want to stray far tonight. Who was near me?

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