Page 29

Marcus

"I don't want to show you." Hunter's words are stern.

I knew the reason why. It was sickening what we found, and we didn't even go through everyone's files. There were so many other girls' names in their system.

"Is it about me?"

Hunter's eyes flicker to mine and back to hers, "You are part of it…but it’s a bunch of information on members and potential people wanting to be followers of the Divine."

"Well if it’s about me, I deserve to see it." She crosses her arms tightly around her chest.

"It doesn't work that way, princess." I speak for Hunter. He looks so conflicted on the matter. He knew not showing her was fucked up, but showing her was just as fucked. Elliott deserved to know, but at what cost? They already took so much from her. A normal childhood, family, life.

"That's not your call. Hunter, tell him I deserve to know."

"Ell—"

"Tell. Him."

"Even if he did, it's on my computer and you aren't getting in." I counter.

"Is this a joke?"

"Woah, woah…" Kam comes in between us and raises his hands to either side of him, separating us. "Let's calm down. First of all," he turns to me, "did you finally get into their system?"

"Yeah, he did." Hunter interjects.

"And she isn't allowed to see it? What if she could help us connect the dots?"

"The dots don't need to be connected. It's pretty straightforward.

" My fist balls up on my side, remembering all the logs they had on her, the depth of their recordings.

That video of her as a child. What made me even more sick was there seemed to be hundreds of them from her alone…

and that was one file out of all of them… there were thousands of other names.

"Flores, look at me." Kameron's voice is more lethal than before and I obey his words, dragging my eyes to his. "Show me what you found."

"Hunter and I just got back, I don't think I'm up for another round of that." I look away and he walks up to me swiftly, snatching my chin in his hand.

"Don't touch me." I snap at him, smacking his hand away from me .

"Show. Me."

"No." I stand up taller now, not backing down or giving in to his command.

"I'll get him up to speed on what we know." Hunter's hand lands on Kameron's shoulder. "Kam, let's go."

"I'm coming too." Elliot comes up beside Kam.

"No, you're not." I hiss out.

"I don't take orders from you, Marcus."

"Just Kam and Hunter, huh? Good to know."

"I don't take orders from any of you." Her eyes sweep over all three of us before she darts out of the office.

"Fuck." Hunter huffs out as he drags his hands down his face.

Kameron looks at me, "What is your problem? Have you been this way to her the whole time she has been here?"

"And what way is that, Kameron?"

"An asshole."

"If by asshole you mean I haven't dropped on my hands and knees for her like you and the big guy over here," I jab my thumb towards Hunter, not caring if Kameron knows that Hunter has been all up on Elliott in his absence.

"Then yeah, Kam, I've been an asshole. A big one. I don't sugarcoat shit for her."

Kameron and Hunter look at each other silently, judging how they felt about this new information but Hunter swiftly deflects, "Says the guy who wants to spare her feelings on what you found. Typical. "

"There's a difference between wanting to spare her mental state and wanting to hold her in her sleep ‘cause she had a fucking nightmare." I locked eyes with Hunter.

"What the fuck is your problem?" Hunter breathes out.

"This!" I swing my hands out, motioning to the three of us, "This right here is my fucking problem.

" Their eyes go wide at my words, but I don't care anymore, "Why don't you both talk about Elliott and her well-being?

Better yet, talk about who wants her more now.

I'll be in my room trying to get through the rest of the cyber walls to finish this fucking mission. Or did you both forget about that, now that this fucking girl has you both so pussy whipped and has invaded your goddamn minds? I’m not gonna let a pretty piece of ass and some teary eyes blind me from reality. "

"Marcus." They bark in unison.

“No, you both fucking know I’m right. She is a part of this mission. That’s it. So get your fucking fix now so your heads can get back to the job, and stop acting like she means more than she is. A pawn in this fucking game with Everton.”

“Hey!” Kam growls, advancing on me.

"Fuck off." I grumble not looking back as I leave the office. The moment I turn down the hallway I see Elliott standing there, her shoulders hunched and tears streaming down her rosy cheeks.

A small part of my chest aches at how her face is scrunched up in agony, as if the words she just heard physically hurt her, but I brush it off. I don’t need her and all the distractions that come with her.

“Clean your face up, princess.” I say shouldering past her.