Protecting Her(28)

I nod. “Good. I’m glad you finally came to your senses and acted responsibly.”

“I know how to clean up my messes. She won’t be bothering me again.” That grin is still on his face, which concerns me. Is he lying to me? Hiding something behind that grin?

“Is that the only reason you came over here?” he asks. “Because I must tell you, Pearce, our friendship won’t last if you continue to lecture me on my behavior. You’re not exactly a saint. In fact, didn’t you arrange for a murder to take place today?”

I move to the edge of my chair. “How do you know that?”

He chuckles. “Because it was my assignment. I was supposed to complete it weeks ago but I was traveling and just didn’t get around to it. The deadline to complete it was today. I told them I didn’t have time.”

“And they accepted that?”

“It pays to have power.” He smooths his slicked back hair in place.

It’s just like Jack said. Royce can do no wrong. The organization needs him, so they’ll let him get away with things the rest of us wouldn’t be allowed to.

“I suggested they give the assignment to you,” he says.

I burst up from my seat. “Why the f*ck would you do that?”

“Because you needed it. You need to toughen up, Pearce. You’re too emotional, probably because of that woman you’re with. This is why one should never fall in love. It makes you too emotional, and you can’t have emotions in the business we’re in. If you do, you’ll let your guard down and be killed. I’m just looking out for you, Pearce.”

I stare down at him, seething with anger. “I do NOT need you to look out for me, nor do I need you concerning yourself with my emotional state. It’s none of your damn business. And if you EVER tell them to give me an assignment like this again, you will be the one getting killed.”

He smiles. “See? I’ve already toughened you up.” He rises from his chair. “I need to go. I have to be at an event in the city at noon and I’m meeting with an associate at eleven to help me relax. I’ve been feeling a bit tense.”

When he says ‘associate’ I immediately think of Shelby.

“Are you meeting with Sophia?” I ask.

“No.” He pats me on the back. “I wouldn’t take your girl, Pearce. I know how special she is to you.” He walks to the door.

“So you haven’t been with her recently?”

“If I had been, do you really think I’d tell you?” He smirks. “See yourself out.” He leaves, and I’m left alone in the study.

I don’t know what to do with him. He’s always been wild and out of control, but now it’s even worse. Being chosen as our future president has given him more power than he can handle. He’s going to get himself in trouble, and yet no one seems to care. Nobody is keeping tabs on him or punishing his bad behavior.

I’m done dealing with him. I can’t control him. And now he’s interfering with my life, using his influence to dictate my assignments. I need to stay away from him. From here on out, I will see him at meetings and parties, but that’s it. I’m going to keep my distance from Royce.

As I’m driving back to work, my Dunamis cell phone rings. What now? I sigh as I answer it. I punch in my member number and listen.

“Freelancer 579 needs to contact you,” the voice says. “Will you accept the call?”

Freelancer 579 is the one I hired. Freelancers aren’t allowed to call us directly. They have to call into a main number and then the calls are diverted to us. There must be a problem or he wouldn’t be calling. Or maybe he has a question.

“I’ll accept the call,” I say.

I hear a clicking noise and then, “Is this Pearce Kensington?”

The freelancers aren’t supposed to know our names. They know us by numbers, not names. And this doesn’t sound like the man I hired.

“Who is this?”

“It’s the man you tried to kill, you f*cking bastard! I do your dirty work and this is how you repay me?”

I pull the car over to the side of the road. “Tell me who you are. I know you’re not freelancer 579.”

He lets out a short laugh. “Freelancer 579 is dead. I killed him five minutes ago. This is freelancer 486. The one you screwed over.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never hired you before.”