Page 61 of Fight or Flight
“Is this why they changed how future leadership is chosen?” Jax asks.
Jordan nods.
“The changes were approved last summer,” Killian says, a hint of suspicion in his voice. “That means this has been going on for way longer than whatever happened at Thanksgiving.”
Jordan and the others exchange a look.
“Might as well tell us the whole story, otherwise we’ll just get the information on our own,” Jax says bluntly, repeating Jace’s earlier words. “And we all know it’s better if we don’t search it out on our own.”
“The alumni first became aware of an issue two years ago,” Jordan starts, his tone icier than it was a moment ago. “We only know what we’ve been told,” he continues. “But apparently it took time for them to trace the leak back to the school, and we were only informed about the possibility of a mole at the end of last year. That’s all the information we have.”
“So what are we doing about this?” Jax asks. “I’m assuming you had to wait until after our appointments were finalized to bring us in on this. Now that you have, what do you want us to do?”
“Right now we need you to keep your ears to the ground and be on the lookout for anything that can tell us who the mole is.” Jordan flicks his gaze to Jace. “And we’ll need you to work your magic and see if you can find anything that might have been overlooked.”
Work his magic? What the hell is Jordan talking about?
“Understood,” Jace says in that same eerily calm voice that sends another shiver through me.
“Once we know more, we’ll come up with a plan to get the files from the Kings. Until then, we need to gather as much information about this situation as possible so we can find the mole before they figure out we’re on to them.” He looks between us again. “Understood?”
We chorus our affirmatives, and all three men visibly relax as Axel gently slaps the black button in the hidden panel we found, silently telling us that the meeting is over.
The door swings open, and we file out of the room one by one. Jordan and Axel head left down the hall, and Nico motions for us to follow him as he heads in the opposite direction.
We don’t say anything as Nico leads us back through the maze of hallways and rooms until we’re once again in the main foyer. Wordlessly, he tosses us a quick wave and disappears back the way we came.
“Well, that was interesting,” Jace says when the door to the western wing bangs shut behind Nico.
“Definitely interesting,” Jax agrees.
The twins exchange a look, and it seems like they have an entire silent conversation in only a few seconds.
I want to ask them what the hell Jordan was talking about back there with the security breaches and how Jax’s boyfriend is mixed up in things, but it feels wrong to bring up anything that we just learned out in the open like this.
“Well, that was fun, but I have class soon,” Killian says, glancing at his watch.
“Really?” Jace asks innocently as the four of us walk toward the main doors. “You consider sixty-five minutes soon?”
“Well, it’s soon if he’s planning on squeezing in a little afternoon delight between now and then,” Jax says casually and holds the door open so the rest of us can step through it.
“True,” Jace agrees solemnly. “That would create a tight timeline.” He glances at Killian. “Are you planning on squeezing in a little afternoon delight?” he asks innocently.
Killian just offers a smirk as we troop down the stairs and head toward the gate.
“That’s totally his plan,” Jace tells Jax in a hushed voice, like he’s telling his brother a secret.
“Definitely,” Jax agrees. “Better put a little pep in your step so you have time to finish.”
“And the only thing worse than having to rush the big finish is skipping it, right?” Jace says casually. “Unless you’re into that sort of thing, of course.”
My head is on a swivel as I ping-pong between the twins and Killian, who doesn’t seem all that bothered by their teasing.
“Have you heard the shit that comes out of their room when they’re getting their freak on?” Jax asks Jace like Killian and I aren’t even there. “They’re definitely not the type to skip the big finish.”
“Oh, I’ve heard it,” Jace says with a grin. “It’s like two bobcats fighting while a banshee screams in the background. Half the time I can’t tell if they’re having a good time or being murdered.”
Killian flips both of his cousins off and taps his ID card on the sensor next to the gate to log his exit.
