Apollo (Luna Lodge #5)(2)

Apollo puffed up with pride. He had stepped up. It had been him that had led patrols when they still were uncertain. It was also him that stepped up to help Marius find the doctor. He'd cleared out all the men around the barn and searched day and night for the charred body of Reverend John.

By all rights, he was a hero, and it was about damn time people started recognizing that fact, instead of treating him like a hot-headed punk.

"But you need to start letting people in," Lucius added.

Apollo frowned. The conversation wasn't exactly going in the direction he thought it would.

"You walk around pissed off, shouting orders like you're the next leader. Quite frankly, no one wants to work with you." Lucius sighed and scrubbed his face. "I know you had your sights set on Hannah."

Apollo's face hardened at the slight. "This has nothing to do with her."

Lucius looked down both halls. His face darkened as he stepped forward, but Apollo stood firm. He wasn't going to be intimidated, even by Lucius.

"Look, I really don't give a shit if it is about her. That's over," he growled. "But everyone is sick of you snapping at every little thing. It's not helping the situation."

Apollo scoffed at the idea he wasn't helping. "Why? Because I actually take the threat seriously? Well, when the men around here want to put on their big boy pants, you just let me know."

Lucius scoffed. "Seems like the man who needs to grow the fuck up is you."

"Oh, I did," he said and gave Lucius a hard glare. "I grew up when the safety we dreamed of was shattered over and over. Funny how we spend a year being out in peace before spending another year with women and surrounded by hell. The Group isn't going to stop if I start saying please and thank you more."



       
         
       
        

"Save your anger for them," Lucius retorted. "Like I said, grow up."

Apollo snorted, turned and stomped toward the conference room door.

"I'll grow up when the rest of you do as well," he tossed over his shoulder.

"You're off detail," Lucius said to his back.

Apollo halted. Every muscle in his body strained to keep under control. He turned and glared at his temporary boss. He'd worked his ass off to get his position, and he deserved it. They all knew he was damn good at his job.

"And what do Sol and Titus think of this?" he spat out.

Lucius shrugged. "I guess they think you're being a dick, too."

Apollo took a step forward. Ranking or not, he was going to teach this prick a lesson. He was tired of this shit.

"Don't," Titus said from behind him.

Apollo stopped and turned to look at his leader. Despite himself, everything in him was trained to listen to the man.

"You agreed to this?" he asked.

Titus looked over his shoulder at Lucius and gave a nod. He hated when they did that. It was like he was some child they needed to discipline.

"Temporarily," Titus said when he looked back to him. "You'll be dealing with the camera installation for now. That's priority one. We have too many gaps in our defenses."

Apollo crossed his arms.

"And after?" He raised a brow in challenge. They needed him, and he knew it. There weren't near enough trained and experienced men, and with all the recent attacks, they were on high alert.

"We'll reassess when that's done," Titus said and gave another knowing look to Lucius.

Apollo wanted to do more. He wanted to start a fight right there in the hall, but it would only reinforce their thoughts of him. Just because he was hard didn't mean he lacked discipline.

"Fine," he said and pushed past his leader. "I've got a meeting to go to," he said. "Unless I'm too much of a dick for that."

"Prick," Lucius muttered.

Apollo ignored it.

Titus let out a loud laugh, which only served to piss him off more.

"Wouldn't be a meeting if someone wasn't," Titus said, still laughing as Apollo opened the door to the room.





Chapter Two





A large circular table took up most of the space in the room, and men filled the spots all the way around. A number of seats were open near the front, but Apollo sneered at the thought of sitting there.

The men grew quiet as he took his seat at the back of the table. It was certain that any hybrids in the room had heard their conversation in the hall, and those that hadn't could easily pick up on the vibe. 

Apollo ignored the men around him, who chatted amongst themselves, and focused on his leader as he entered the room. Titus took his place at the head of the table. Lucius and Sol sat to one side of him and Remus on the other. Apollo glared. Letting that smug bastard in was going to get them all killed. He was surprised that Major Carter had allowed it, considering how the situation had entangled his niece.