Page 36 of Killaney Fire

"You're quiet," I say, breaking the silence.

His eyes flick to me in the rearview mirror briefly before returning to the road. "You prefer I talk?"

"I prefer you not be a robot."

The corner of his mouth lifts slightly. Not quite a smile, but close enough to count.

"I'll work on it," he says.

I roll my eyes and turn back to the window.

We're five minutes away from the Killaney compound. Callum called a meeting, so Declan and I are descending upon it.

We arrive at the wrought iron gates, and the guards wave us through without hesitation.

Octavian parks and kills the engine.

I reach for the door handle, but he's already out and around to my side before I can open it.

He extends his hand.

I stare at it for a second, then take it, letting him help me out.

He's been doing that lately, and I've been liking it. It's always cold in that damn car, and his hand is warm. I feel like I can steal some of it. It helps steady my nerves.

Again, something else I'd rather die than admit to.

He shuts the door behind me, and I look up at him, our eyes meeting.

"This way," he says, imitating a robotic voice.

I laugh and cover my mouth as if not wanting him to see he got me.

I clear my throat and walk past him. "Come on. Let's get this over with."

I walk inside and make my way down the hall toward the office.

Octavian follows a few paces behind me.

When I reach the double doors, I pause.

"I'll be waiting out here," he says.

I nod and push them open.

Callum sits behind the desk, arms crossed, his expression carved from stone. Declan sits slouched in one of the chairs.

Both of them glance up when I enter.

"Keira," Callum says. "Glad you're here. Come sit, please."

I do, taking the chair next to Declan.

"Okay, I'm just going to say this," Declan says, shifting in his chair. "I think we got a fucking mole."

I sit up straighter. "A mole?" I ask, my eyes bouncing between the two of them. "What do you mean?"

"There was another attack last night. Four of our drivers," Callum says, leaning forward. "It was too precise. Only a handful of people knew about the pickup."