Page 100 of Lau Ahi
I looked around the area to see where Ori was and to figure out why there was a need for him to discuss any of that with me.
“I’m not sure that we’re supposed to be talking about it. Especially not out in the open like this.” I kept my bag gripped in my hands in front of me as a barrier. He gave me the creeps and I wished he would stop coming to speak to me.
“You can come up to my office and we can discuss it there.”
My danger radar went off as my hand started to tingle and the desire to make him bleed came over me.
“No, thank you.”
“Is this about Nakoa? I’m trying to understand why you think you would be better off working with him than with me.” He had some type of problem with Ori and he had no issue with showing me he didn’t fuck with him.
“You don’t need to understand a choice that came down from those above your pay grade.” A slight one he didn’t miss, by the way his eyes flickered over my face and down my frame.
“He’s not above my pay grade—”
“I’m speaking of Agent Cochran. It’s my understanding that she and the rest of your superiors made the call. I wasn’t speaking of Agent Nakoa.”
“He can’t do shit for you when it comes to working with the bureau again.”
I had to refrain from laughing in his face. It was nothing but arrogance that had him assuming people would fall over themselves to work with this department. “Who said I wanted to?”
He glanced around checking to see if anyone was observing this show of power he was performing for me. “I’m just saying if that’s your aim then working with me would be the best way to go. The idea that you are on this case and don’t want to gain something from it is just you being dishonest with yourself.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. Everyone wants something in this world. Nakoa can’t give that to you. He’s on his way out. This is his last case so giving you this chance to make him look good one last time is their way of trying to make his record perfect before he walks out the door. Now I am dedicated to this organization. Won’t quit while I’m in the middle of my career and definitely don’t mind helping someone else if that means they’d done their part to help me succeed.” His voice had lowered and I knew he was weak by the way he wasn’t just as loud about his attempt to coerce me to go against the directives I’d been given.
“Help you? Isn’t this YOUR JOB?” I didn’t hide the disgust on my face, something he noted and eased the tension in his face.
“Everyone helps everyone. And when you need to succeed then the best thing to do is to use your resources.”
“And you think that’s what I am to you? A resource?” My tone was flat and I was irritated by the implication that I was a tool in his arsenal.
He made the mistake of taking a step closer to me, and that made my ire increase. “There could be more—”
Agent Anderson was snatched back by his collar unceremoniously before he could speak another word. The sheer force used meant that he was lifted off his feet and Ori tossed him a few feet away as he whined in protest.
When Ori turned toward me his eyes were wild, flashing angrily before he schooled his features. The look was pure fire and I could see it in his eyes. They turned smoldering when he looked at me but the flames couldn’t be missed.
“You ready to head upstairs?”
Ori’s hand was on the small of my back ushering me away from the chaos he’d caused. He seemed unbothered by the madness behind him and didn’t acknowledge what he’d just done.
“Yes.”
We had an unspoken agreement not to speak on what had gone on but I could tell he felt some kind of way about it. Speaking on it wasn’t going to happen within the confines of this elevator and might not while we were within these walls. He stood closer to me, protectively, silently brooding while I attempted to maneuver through what had happened and what was coming. All of this was heavy: dealing with death and needing to perform in the capacity they’d brought me on while also being aggravated by my interaction with Agent Anderson.
We stepped off the elevator as in step as we could be with the height difference before we entered the room together.
Alec immediately looked up like he could sense something was going on.
“You good?”
His words were directed to Ori and I knew they were doing some silent speaking thing they’d honed since they’d been partners so I wasn’t going to interrupt. Instead, I moved from next to Ori and took my seat at the table. Alec nodded before Ori wordlessly walked out of the room without saying anything else.
I waited on Alec to say something but he just stood by the door with his eyes trained on the hallway.
“What is going on?”
