Page 30 of Keeping Kasey
“His office?” she guesses.
Damon shakes his head. “Checked on my way over. It’s empty.”
“What do you need him for?”
“He has more files for me to digitize”—he nods toward the box on the desk—“but I’m going to get the rest from James, then I’ll find him.”
“I’ll go look. I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.” She looks at me. “Are you okay to wait here?”
My first instinct is to roll my eyes and make a quip about not needing a babysitter, but I remind myself that she’s trying to be nice.
“I’m fine,” I tell her, but don’t bother with a polite smile.
As soon as they leave, I take what feels like my first breath all day. I’ve gone weeks on end without interacting with a single human being—my record is seven—so being constantly surrounded by people is exhausting.
I’ve only been at this base for a few hours, and I already feel suffocated.
How am I supposed to get throughthree monthsof this?
I’m enjoying the blissful silence, aimlessly wandering Damon’s office and peeking through the box of files he’s supposed to digitize—and no, I don’t feel guilty for snooping—when the door bursts open.
Moreno curses under his breath, and I assume he was looking for his fiancée. “What are you doing here?”
I make sure to look extra bored when I answer, “Planning mass chaos and your imminent demise.”
His eyes narrow to slits. “Where is Elise?”
Does he think I did something to her? The idea is ludicrous, but his glare makes me think that’s exactly what he’s imagined.
“Hopefully, exploring new prospects,” I say, because it’s too easy to taunt him. He pulls in a long breath, but I hold up a hand before he can snap back. “She’s off finding Logan. What’s your deal?”
“I don’t like you.”
He stands in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest, and an open glare marring his features. Moreno has a large build, but it’s the atmosphere he carries that makes him intimidating. I hadn’t noticed it as much with Elise at his side, but right now, without her soft smile to balance his scowl, I can see why people cower before him.
And though there’s a self-preserving voice in my head pleading for me not to push him, I can’t bring myself to listen. “You’re not exactly a ray of sunshine yourself.”
“You may impress the others, but I’m not easily persuaded. Stay out of my way, andstay awayfrom Elise.”
I take lazy steps forward, wearing a perfectly apathetic expression.
“I don’t know what evil scheme you think I’m concocting, but whatever it is, you’re wrong. I was hired because no one is better at this than I am. So, I suggest you back off, or you might lose the only person capable of getting you what you need.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I think ‘warning’ is a more suitable term, but take it however you like.”
His laugh is clipped. “You don’t even know what job you’re here to do.”
“Don’t need to, want to know why? Because I’m that good, and you’d do well to keep that in mind. Now,thatwas a threat.”
I’m half-excited to watch him snap, but a low chuckle echoes down the hall, interrupting Moreno’s reaction.
I can’t see into the hallway, but I don’t need to. I know it’s Logan.
Moreno steps into the office as Elise and Logan join us, and though I don’t miss Elise’s scowl at her fiancé, I pay more attention to her brother.
I’ve done a fairly decent job pretending what happened in Logan’s office was just a play of my imagination, but as soon as I see him, all bets are off.
