Dark Heart Series- His Lonely Reign

Chapter 5: Digging Up Dirt

Noah

I sat in my office, listening to Sydney’s conversation with one of the girls from Order Fulfillment. I hadn’t meant to eavesdrop but, for some reason, I couldn’t help myself. Sydney’s voice had a hard edge to it, lined with control I recognized easily. She seemed reserved. Hesitant.

I couldn’t blame her, I guess. She seemed more aware than the others and even they had sensed something was off about this office. The last girl had been downright terrified any time I called her name. This one, however, was different. It hadn’t been fear I’d seen in Sydney’s eyes this morning. It had been a challenge.

Focus.

Pushing thoughts of my secretary out of my mind, I went back to my computer. News articles filled the screen. It was all over. Another supernatural attack, though the humans didn’t exactly call it that. A serial killer. Robbery gone wrong. Rabid animal. They used any excuse they could rather than face the truth.

Clicking out of the tabs, I ran a hand over my hair. The more attacks there were, the higher the risk that Elite Humanity would bring down the hammer. I needed to end this before it got out of control but, from Ace’s reports, it wasn’t us.

So who the hell was killing the humans?

It wasn’t just in New York. From what I’ve gathered, there have been attacks in almost every city across the United States. My contacts have been reporting more and more rogue supernaturals. At least, that’s what they thought they were. We haven’t had time to talk to any of them before EH showed up and nabbed them. Every single time an attack happened, the supernatural accused would be loaded up into the back of a black van and was never seen again.

My hand scraped along my jaw, the stubble I’d forgotten to shave that morning scratching my palm. These attacks worried me. I couldn’t deny they made me nervous. For years, we’ve had a sort of treaty with Elite Humanity. Now, everything was hanging by a thread.

Soft footsteps coming down the hall alerted me to Sydney’s return. She knocked on the door softly. “Come in.” I called out, preparing myself to be faced with her distracting aura again.

As the door opened, revealing stacks of papers paper-clipped together. I could barely see Sydney behind the mass amounts of white paper. Though this didn’t seem to stop her in her steps as she made her way gracefully toward the desk, setting the papers at the edge. Like always, the scent of jasmine and rose filled my office, nearly suffocating me. Her emerald eyes catching mine, unafraid.

“Here are the reports you asked for,” she said, motioning toward the paper. “I sorted them for you as well. They should all be in order.”

My brain struggled to fight through the fog of her scent. “Thank you.”

“Anything else?” she asked politely.

My eyes raked down her body. Today she wore a forest green dress that seemed to hug every curve. It matched the color of her eyes, though I’m sure she knew that. Letting my gaze trace the soft curves of her hips just a little longer before forcing myself to focus on the reports instead.

“That’s all.”

She said nothing as she left my office, but her presence still filled the room. It was distracting. I could hear her heart beating just outside my office, each even breath that set me further and further on edge. I couldn’t focus on the reports with her around. Feeling frustrated, I tossed them aside, knowing I’d just get to them later after she left.

Sydney worked at her desk for a few more hours, though I had no idea what she was doing. I’d started off pretty easy, only requesting the meeting update and reports for this quarter that had been sent. Maybe she was familiarizing herself with the computer or messing around. I didn’t know. All I knew is that her presence alone outside my door was distracting enough.

Unable to take it much longer, I pushed away from my desk and stalked out into the hall. Sydney whipped around as soon as the door opened, emerald eyes going wide.

“Why did you apply for this job?” The words were out before I could stop them.

She blinked up at me, looking confused. “Because…I needed one?”

“But why this job specifically? There are about a million and one secretarial jobs in this city.” I stepped closer, eyes locked on hers.

She fidgeted in her chair a bit, fingers toying with the ends of her red hair. “I guess this was one of the first ones I saw. Is there a problem?” She didn’t shy away from my scrutiny. Instead, she met my gaze with a challenging look, fire in her eyes.

“The reports weren’t in the correct order.” I knew I was being an ass. And I hadn’t even checked the damn reports.

“Oh, well, would you like me to fix them?” she asked politely, but I could hear the slight edge to her words.

“Did you make copies?” I asked, completely ignoring her.

“Of course.”

“I need you to take them down to the filing room. You should be able to figure out the system.”

“Right now?”

My eyes narrowed. “Unless you have something better to do?”

“No.” Her lips pursed, eyes sliding away from mine. Ignoring me, she gathered the papers on the desk, tucking them between her chest and arm before standing. “I’ll get that done now before I leave for the day.”

I didn’t move, forcing her to brush past me on her way around the desk. There was something…off about her. I just couldn’t place it. Usually, I was good at reading people. But her? She felt both like a stranger and yet not at the same time.

I watched her walk down the hall and disappear through the glass doors toward the elevator. The file room was on the floor below mine, tucked away in a corner with a scanner that only I, Mr. Grey, and my secretary could get into. After waiting for a few minutes, I went back to my desk, pulling up the security cameras. It was pretty easy to find Sydney. She stepped off the elevator, heading down the hall toward the file room. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on the desk, studying her. She moved gracefully, with a strength I recognized. She might have been human, but she wasn’t normal, that was for sure. Her movements were too controlled. Too purposeful.

When she reached the door, she glanced around, checking to see if anyone was watching. Her card slipped over the scanner, the light flashing green before the door unlocked. Then she was through. I switched the cameras, finding her just as she closed the door behind her. Sydney paused for a second, taking in the room before heading toward one of the long desks in the center of the room. Rows and rows of filing cabinets were stacked along the length of the room, creating a maze of black metal. We could have gone digital a long time ago, but I’d refused.

She set the reports on the table, glancing over her shoulder. I wasn’t sure if she knew there were cameras in there or not, but I was intrigued to see what she’d do. Heading over to the first cabinet, she pulled out the drawer, flicking through the labeled files. Her fingers moved fast, eyes scanning the papers. I’d told her to figure out the system, but she was reading through the files as if to actually get a sense of what they were.

Unease crept through my chest, forcing me to my feet. It didn’t take me long to reach the file room. I scanned my card, shoving the door open with my shoulder.

Sydney slammed one of the cabinet doors shut, whirling around. One hand flew to her chest, the other balling into a fist. “Jesus, you scared me.”

“What are you doing?” I asked, stalking closer. That feeling in my chest grew, spreading through me like poison.

“Putting away the files like you asked.” It was a simple enough answer. But it didn’t feel right.

I eyed her warily. “If it takes you this long to complete a simple task, then don’t bother. I’ll have Grey do it in the morning.”

Red flared across her cheeks. “I—”

“Am done for the day,” I finished for her, glancing at the watch on my wrist.

Her full lips parted slightly, drawing my attention to them before I could stop myself. Thinking better of it, Sydney’s mouth snapped closed. Without a word, she brushed past me, leaving the reports on the table. I closed my eyes, her scent drifting past me full blast. The unease in my chest turned sour.

I stood there in the file room for as long as I thought it would take for her to get her things and leave. For whatever reason, I didn’t want to face her again after that. The way I treated her shouldn’t have bothered me. But it did. I had been unreasonable, as I usually tended to be. For all I know maybe what she was doing was her way of getting familiar with things so she could put it away like I asked. But I didn’t give her the chance to do that.

Running my hand over the stubble on my jawline I let out a frustrated growl that rippled from my chest. My beast was on edge every time she was around, and the fact I couldn’t tell if it was because there was something wrong with her or that he liked her—irritated me further.

By the time I got to my office, even I was about done for the day. Her desk was empty and Sydney was nowhere in sight, which made me feel worse, surprisingly. Just before I reached my office door though, I paused.

Someone was inside.

Striding through the door, I found my youngest brother lounging in the chair in front of my desk. He didn’t move, typing away on his phone.

“What are you doing here?” I sighed, leaning against the wall.

Glancing up from his device, the screen went black. Despite being several years younger, Lawson could have been my twin. We had the same dark hair, the same chiseled jaw and light eyes, though his were blue rather than gray. Tattoos covered his bare arms, remnants of ink inching up along his neck. He wore a cut-off leather jacket over a black t-shirt—his usual go to and so completely different from my suits.

“Updating the boss on security,” Lawson replied, saluting me. I ignored that, heading for my desk. “What? No playful banter today?”

“It’s been a long day,” I replied evenly.

Lawson studied me, sitting up in the chair. “What’s got your panties in a bunch?”

“A lot of things. Take your pick.”

“I saw your new secretary before she left,” Lawson whistled. “Girl’s got fire in her. I can tell.”

I glanced up at him sharply. “Did she say anything to you?”

“No,” he chuckled, “but she was muttering about what an asshole you were while packing her things. I nearly gave her a heart attack when I came up. What’s her problem?”

“Me, apparently.” I leaned back in my chair, fingers locking together behind my head. “It’s her first day. She’ll either get used to it or quit like the last one.”

Lawson rolled his eyes. “Could you at least keep this one for a few more weeks? Running background checks on every single secretary is getting old. It’s probably the least exciting thing about this job.”

“Yeah, well your job is about to get a whole lot more interesting,” I told him.

He perked up slightly, blue eyes glowing. “Oh?”

I typed away, bringing up the news articles I’d been reading that afternoon. Turning the screen around, I made sure he could see them. “What have you heard?”

Lawson leaned forward, eyes scanning the articles. “Probably the same as you. Rogue supernaturals not following the rules.” He shrugged as if that was that.

“But this many?” I asked, unable to keep the frustration from my voice. “They know the rules. They know my rules.”

Lawson’s gaze slid away. “Not everyone follows either.”

My fist slammed against the table. “Yeah, well unless they’d like to bring EH down on all our heads, they need to.”

“Let those pieces of crap come,” Lawson snarled. Hatred flaring in his eyes. “It’s about time we did something about them.”

“Don’t be stupid,” I snapped in return, causing Lawson to bristle.

“So what do you need me to do?”

Catching his eye once more I sighed contemplating exactly what it was I wanted him to do. We had to be careful, because there was no doubt in my mind that EH already had people in the city trying to figure out what was going on. But at the same time, part of me wondered if they had stooped so low as to have taken part in making these attacks happen.

Nevertheless, something had to be done.

“I need you to figure out what the hell is going on, and I need you to be discreet.”