Page 71 of Revere

“Someone needs to step up.” He shrugs. “Someone needs to clean up this mess Declan created before the whole system collapses. And it sure as fuck won’t be Gideon Lancaster or his son.”

“It won’t.” I drag my palm over my face.

While I appreciate Declan’s vision for rebuilding the House, he went at it with brute force. Took a sledgehammer to the knees of Sigma House and sent the structure toppling. Now there’s a fracture between the fraternity and the men who came before them. Someone needs to bridge the gap before it crumbles.

“Why not use the girl already? Isn’t that why you had Declan deliver her?” Derek finally joins the conversation, watching me. “Put a little pressure on Gideon, and he’ll cooperate. Then we can finally deal with him.”

Darkness sweeps through me. At the mention of Patience, the urge to smash Derek’s face in with a hammer is so strong. But I don’t because Derek is correct; that’s exactly why I brought Patience to LA. I can’t let them know my intentions have changed, or they’ll flip it around on me.

Anson nods, considering what Derek said. “Dangling her in front of her father would speed things up.”

“I’m not worried about doing this fast. We need to do this right.” It takes everything in me to calm this biting edge in my tone. “The Lancaster daughter is a last resort. You don’t go near her unless I say so.”

Anson’s eyes narrow, but I don’t break his gaze. I hold the line and hope he sees it as a command, and not that she’s starting to get under my skin. Weaknesses are deadly in Sigma House, and that’s what Patience has become.

“Do we have an understanding?”

“Yes, boss.” Anson smirks, and it’s unsettling trying to decipher how much he’s figured out.

“Keep an eye on Gideon, and I’ll follow up with Declan about Alex. If it looks like a play is about to be made, I’ll reassess. Otherwise, we stick to the plan and hang back. The last thing we need is to get involved too soon and get caught up in the fallout. Wait until it settles.”

A knock comes at my door, and Sophia pops her head in.

Anson grins at her, his gaze cutting to me. “Looks like you’re busy. I’ll leave you to it.”

They stand, grinning at Sophia as she steps aside to let them pass. Derek winks at me before they disappear around the corner, but Sophia doesn’t notice.

“Can I help you?”

“The class turned in their research papers on the Irsite case this afternoon. If you need me to stay late and review them with you, I can.”

“Already done. I glanced through them as they sent them over.”

“Oh.” Her frown deepens. “Well, if you want me to stay on campus for a couple of weeks while you prepare for the interview?—”

“It’s fine.” I spot Patience over Sophia’s shoulder, walking down the hallway toward us. A beautiful little flare of jealousylights in her gaze. Possessiveness looks good on her. “I already have help in mind.”

Sophia looks over her shoulder, following my stare to Patience.

It’s incredible how Patience can cover every inch of her skin and still be the sexiest thing I’ve seen in my life. Her jeans hug her rounded hips. And her three-quarter-sleeve pink shirt is practically latex on her skin.

Patience freezes halfway down the hallway, her eyes moving to me.

I wave her forward. “Give us a moment, Sophia. I’ll see you in class.”

Sophia frowns, her eyes moving between me and Patience, and I know I’m risking my career. My reputation. My life, if I’m being honest. Because once her father figures out what I’m doing, he’ll take me out before I get the chance to deal with him.

I’m risking it all for her, and I couldn’t give two fucks about it.

Sophia glares at Patience as she walks out of my office, but Patience doesn’t meet her stare. She’s focused on me, just like I want her.

“Door,” I say, and she closes it behind her. “Come here, Patience.”

She rolls her shoulders back, smart enough to meet me on my side of the desk. I stand, meeting her when she does.

“You’re jealous,” I point out, and she immediately opens her mouth to argue, so I plant my thumb over her lips, stopping her. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing when it looks so fucking sexy on you, just that you have no need. Who was in my bed last night?”

Her cheeks pinken. “Me.”