Page 29 of Asphyxia
Why couldn’t we have had a unit with a window fire escape…
This guy didn’t even need to try to be terrifying; he was fucking scarier than Derek skipping lunch.
I did the only thing I could think of in this kind of situation—puffing up my chest and pretending to be my usual cocky and arrogant self. I mirrored his position and forced myself into adon’t fuck with meguise, hoping to God that it would work in my favor.
“I’m not saying shit until you tell me who the fuck you are and why you’re here.”There you go, Marcus, play his game.
At least he wasn’t here for Madison if he was inquiring about Dean, which made it even easier to maintain myfuck youattitude.
The officer sighed, running an agitated hand through his short, dark hair, his shoulders relaxing from their tense state.
At least now, he didn’t look like he was about to fucking eat me anymore.
“Sergeant Alistair Drake. But you can just call me Drake.” He cleared his throat before continuing. “I’ve been informed by precinct one that Dean has been asking questions about the abandoned flour mills, and I need to speak with him directly.”Interesting…
Was this regarding his classified assignment?Oh, it’s fucking payday, baby!
“He’s not here. Most likely already at the CIA.” I coolly shrugged, even though I knew precisely where Dean was—at the mill with Derek. “But I can relay your message when I see him later.” I arched my brow, hoping he would take the bait.
“I don’t think so, kid. I’ll catch up with Dean at the CIA instead.” Drake huffed as he dropped his arms and turned to reach for the door handle.Fuck!
“Stop calling me a fucking kid. I’m twenty-fucking-four.” I shouted.
So what if I was pitching a fit over nothing? It was either this or sitting behind my desk all day scrolling through security footage that I’ve already seen a million goddamn times.
Drake glanced over his shoulder at me, running his tongue along the front of his teeth.
“And I’m thirty-four. You’re a fucking kid and are throwing a tantrum like one, too.”
“Dean won’t tell you shit about what he’s doing, he’s loyal as fuck to the CIA. You’re better off working with me.” I rushed out, realizing just how much of an asshole I sounded like with that sentence.
I truthfully had nothing against Dean, but if he wouldn’t tell me—his best fucking friend—about his classified assignment, he sure as shit wouldn’t disclose the details to this guy.
“Are you saying you’re not loyal?” Drake arched his brow in question.
“No, I—That’s not what—”Fuck sake.“What I’m trying to say is that I could be of more use to you than him.”
I was desperate for something more exciting—adrenaline-inducing, than what Conrad had already assigned me, and the fuck if I would give up the opportunity when it barged right through my front door like an open invitation.
Drake stood there momentarily, his back still facing me as he contemplated my offer to work with him. I watched as his shoulders sagged, and he sighed a curse.
“Fuck it, fine. Let’s go then. We’ll talk more at my office.”
I rubbed my hands together, reveling like I had won the fucking lottery right before looking down and realizing just how fucking stupid I looked.
“Might need a change of clothes, kid,” Drake smirked as he turned the handle and nonchalantly opened the door.
Accepting my luck for what it was, I immediately took off towards my room to get dressed, not even bothering to waste a single second arguing over the fact that he called me a fuckingkid, yet again.
IassumedDrakewouldbe taking me to precinct one, seeing as that is where he received his information on Dean. But when I exited his blacked-out Ford Explorer, we were on the complete opposite side of the city.
“What’s this?” I questioned as I got out of the SUV and stared up at an old red brick building that looked like an old apartment complex that hadn’t been used in at least the last ten years.
The lower-level windows were boarded up with plywood, blocking prying eyes from seeing inside, and the upper-level windows had old, stained, and weathered newspapers taped to the inside.Classy. I mean, at least if you really wanted to know how long this building had been sitting here abandoned, you could just check the date of the papers.
“This—” Drake gestured to the doors before stepping past me. “Is where my team and I are currently working. Hidden from those attempting to interfere with our plans.”Plans?“Inside… I’m not saying anything more until we are in a secure area.”
“What part of this old-ass building could possibly be consideredsecure?” I mocked as I followed him through the door, taking a sharp left down a dark, cement staircase.
