Page 56 of Flint's Arrow
“Cyrus, this is Director Hanson from agency operations.” A crisp female voice filled the sudden silence. “I’m calling to informyou that Supervisor Patterson has withdrawn all complaints regarding your contracted assassin, Flint, and the allegations concerning the ex-agent, Arrow.”
Arrow felt Flint tense beside him.
“The agency has reviewed all available evidence,” Director Hanson continued, “and we are satisfied that Arrow, as a former employee, is entitled to live his life as he chooses. We apologize for any inconvenience Supervisor Patterson’s actions may have caused.”
“Inconvenience,” Python muttered. “That’s a nice word for harassment.”
“Additionally, we received a video recording of a shifter challenge regarding ex-Agent Arrow’s mating bond. The challenge was conducted within established shifter law parameters and concluded appropriately. We will be monitoring Supervisor Patterson’s conduct going forward and ask that if he contacts you for any reason in the future, you let us know.”
Cyrus’s expression didn’t change, but Arrow caught the slight tightening around his eyes. “I see. Thank you for the update, Director Hanson.”
“I’ll email you a copy of the recording for your files. Have a pleasant evening.”
The call ended, and the silence was deafening. No one spoke. Arrow could feel everyone’s eyes on him and Flint, but he kept his gaze fixed on Cyrus, who was staring at his phone as if it might explode. The notification chimed as a message was received. If Cyrus watched that video…
“Now, babe, it’s not what you think…” Python started to explain.
“Which one of you took the video?” Cyrus’s voice was dangerously calm.
“Well, technically, I did,” Python said. “But in our defense…”
“Ourdefense.” Cyrus stood, slipping his phone into his jeans pocket. “You’re implying this was a group effort that you kept me out of.”
“We were trying to help,” Storm offered. “Python said Patterson was harassing you…”
“So you decided to handle it behind my back.” Cyrus looked around the table, taking in each guilty face. “Instead of trusting me to do my job as your handler.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Flint said. “We do trust you, and we all consider you our friend. It’s just…”
“You just what? Thought I was too fragile to handle agency politics? Too incompetent to protect my people?”
“No!” several voices protested at once.
“I thought you had enough shit to deal with,” Python said, standing to face his mate. “The agency’s been calling you constantly, demanding interviews, pushing paperwork. You’ve been stressed, tired, overworked with the workshop as well, and we didn’t want to add to it.”
“So you took Arrow to fight Patterson without telling me.”
“It was a legal challenge,” Arrow said quietly. “I had to defend Flint’s honor. Patterson called him unsuitable and called me weak for choosing him. Surely, you can see…”
Cyrus’s gaze swung to Arrow, and for a moment, he saw the bear beneath the handler’s calm exterior. “And you didn’t think I’d want to know about that?”
“I thought you’d try to stop me.” Arrow met his eyes steadily. “Or worse, try to handle it yourself. This was my fight, Cyrus. Flint is my mate, and it was my choice.”
“Your choice could’ve gotten you killed.”
“But it didn’t.” Flint stood, leaning against Arrow’s shoulder. “He won. He proved Patterson wrong, and now the agency knows Arrow can’t be bullied or controlled, and neither can any of us.”
“By risking his life!”
“By defending his mate,” Python corrected. “Which is exactly what any of us would’ve done. What you would’ve done for me, babe, you know it.”
Cyrus stared at his mate for a long moment. Then he turned and walked toward the sawmill.
“Babe?” Python called. “Babe, where are you going? We haven’t finished dinner yet.”
“I’m going to jack off in the back seat of your Maserati,” Cyrus called over his shoulder, “so that my scent can keep you company, seeing as you’ll be sleeping in the damn thing tonight.”
Python’s face went white. “But babe, you’ll leave stains on the leather. Cyrus, no. Wait, babe, can we talk about this?”
