The left side of the counter was desk height, so he moved over and rested a butt cheek on the edge while he waited. Two men with RMI badges were crossing the lobby. Although they glanced in his direction, they didn’t stop, just kept walking and talking. God, they looked young enough to still be in high school. Privileged prep school brats who probably had everything handed to them. Daddy paid for college and helped them get internships and now they’re working at an Internet company owned by Daddy’s frat brother.
That could’ve been his life, he thought with disgust. Everything handed to him, the world as his oyster—that kind of bullshit. He had been brilliant once, and creative, and he’d had the support of Mommy and Daddy, too. But the accident changed all that. No longer was he the perfect, pretty son that could be proudly paraded in front of their country club friends. They even shipped him off to a remote boarding school, saying he needed to “be with others just like you” to learn “life skills.” He’d developed skills, all right. Caught the attention of some very powerful people. Now, he quietly fixed problems the government couldn’t afford to fix on its own.
The receptionist cleared her throat as she stood, making a point of looking at his ass planted on her desk. “Ms. Hart will see you now. Right this way.”
Dark and Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance by Jennifer Ashley, Alyssa Day, Felicity Heaton, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Erin Quinn, Bonnie Vanak and Caris Roane
CHAPTER 10
After a quick check to see that no one was within earshot, Asher began, “I’m a member of an elite group of warriors who, for generations, have been tasked to protect our people from those who would harm them. We’ve been coming here for centuries for that very reason.”
“Harm? But who would—” Olivia’s confused expression quickly changed to a knowing one. “Our army, right?”
He nodded.
She let out a long breath. “I can’t say that I’m surprised. I’ve never quite believed the propaganda they spew about the quote unquote evil barbarians who come through the portals to rape women and blow up cities.”
“They are good at spreading false truths.”
“Since the army controls many of the information outlets,” she said, “they can say whatever they want.”
“And many of your people believe them. Righteousness, even when misguided, is a powerful motivator.”
“But you can’t deny that the explosion was very real. It wasn’t a made-up story or a minor incident fluffed up to look worse.”
He set down his cup. “One thing I want to make clear to you, Liv, is that an Iron Guild warrior would never do the things they claim that we do. Yes, we kill soldiers and destroy army property, but it’s only to keep them from finding the portals. We never kill innocent people.”
“Then who was it?”
He stared out the window as he recalled seeing the dark figure with the backpack right before the explosion. He shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said, although he had his theories.
“Well, I’ll tell you who I think it is,” she said, putting down her cup. “The army. They make it appear as if it’s the work of our enemy in order to further their own ends. It’s the ultimate justification to start or continue a war.”
“What kind of government would do that to its own people?”
She gave a harsh laugh. “The kind that kills a father in front of his family and kidnaps the son.”
He let out a low curse.
When he met up with Rickert, Toryn, and the other warriors at the next rendezvous, he’d tell them what he’d witnessed at the club and relay Olivia’s story about her father and brother. Maybe it was time for another raid on one of their military bases just for the hell of it.
“Why are you here now?” she asked. “Are you alone?”
He told her about the army finding the Crestenfahl portal and the death of his friend Fallon.
“Shit, Asher. That’s horrible. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m seeking out the one responsible.”
“What I wouldn’t do to seek out my own revenge.” She set down her cup. “You said our army harms your people. What…do they do exactly?”
The group near the fireplace stood, gathered their things, and headed toward the door. Asher waited until they passed. “Those in power here have always been jealous of what we have in Cascadia. Not our technology or our way of life, of course. Things over there are somewhat medieval. No electricity or running water. We use horses for transportation and live simply in villages and castles. What they’re looking for over there are those with fata-blood.”