abilities.” Knight chuckled. “What do you say we get the hell out of here?” He didn’t wait for a response but scooped me into his arms and stood. “What about the bodies?” I asked. “I’ll call for backup.”
At the mention of backup, of calling Headquarters, the fact that I’d let Quillan escape came back to haunt me. I could tell it was going to keep on haunting me. I shouldn’t have been so soft. I should’ve taken him in. Shoulda woulda coulda.
“That reminds me,” I started before taking a breather. I definitely wasn’t feeling myself. “All this talk about confidentiality and getting me dropped off the team at Headquarters…” Knight raised an eyebrow like he had no idea where my questions were leading. “You knew all along that someone from Headquarters was involved, didn’t you?” He grinned. “Confidential.” I couldn’t help my laugh, weak though it was. Knight glanced at me. “What happened to Quillan?” I gulped down my own sense of failed responsibility. “He got away.”
###
Two days later, as I ambled into Headquarters, I might as well have been the Virgin Queen of England for all the whispering and knowing looks I aroused. I’d never liked being the center of attention so I hurried to my desk until I got too winded and walked the rest of the way.
Trey was at his desk but I didn’t acknowledge him, just dropped my backpack on the floor and started up my computer, relaxing into my chair. “You okay, Dulce?” I glanced at him and nodded although I still wasn’t feeling myself. “Yeah, I’m fine.” “If you need to…talk to anyone, I’m always free.”
I smiled, thinking Trey had definitely turned out to be a better coworker than I’d thought he would. “Thanks, Trey, I might take you up on that.”
The unmistakable sound of Sam’s heels tapping down the corridor heralded her arrival. I glanced at her with an encouraging smile and a wave of my hands.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.”
Sam’s eyes were wide and her mouth twitching-something she always did when she was nervous. She hesitated only momentarily before throwing her arms around me. “God, I was so worried. I wanted to come see you-why didn’t you answer your phone?”
I sighed. “I guess I just needed some alone time.”
Sam nodded. “I can’t believe Quillan! I can’t believe he lied to us all!”
I still couldn’t believe it, myself. The truth of the matter was that I hadn’t been able to sleep, remorse plaguing my every thought. I shouldn't have let him go-that’s what it came down to. I was, before anything else, a Regulator. And as a Regulator, my first and foremost duty was to apprehend criminals, but I’d let Quillan slip through my fingers. I stopped berating myself as Elsie's voice interrupted. “Guys, the chief of the Relations Office is here!” I glanced at Trey and Sam, who stared vacantly back at me.
“He wants us all to meet in the conference room,” Elsie insisted and clapped her hands together as if to tell us to hurry when none of us made any motion to do anything.
I followed Trey and Sam into the conference room where I was ushered to a seat at the end of the conference table. Trey tried to take the seat and Elsie shooed him out of it, beaming at me instead.
I wasn’t a hero and I didn’t want to be treated like one.
Nonetheless, I took the seat with a lukewarm smile as if to say “thanks” and turned to the sound of the door opening. Knight strolled in, dressed in black, as beautiful as he ever was. Goddamn, the man was sexy as sin!
Then I noticed the smaller man next to him-maybe five feet eight inches, fifty years old or close to it, receding hairline, and thick glasses. So, this was the Chief of the Relations Office, come from the Netherworld? Rhetorical question.
Knight eyed me and gave me a grin; I was embarrassed and looked away. I didn't want anyone to think I was getting preferential treatment. I was just another Regulator and that was that. Knight took the seat next to me and the Chief assumed the seat at the head of the table. Elsie fluttered about offering coffee.
“Well, let's get started,” the Chief said. “For those of you who haven't met me,” none of us had, “I'm Chief Sterno and I run the relations office in Hildoff, Netherworld. It's my pleasure to be here today to meet all of you.”
He glanced at every one of us while we murmured our “happy to see you toos” and I felt like it was my first day at school.
“I'm sure you've heard of the unfortunate situation involving the previous Chief of Headquarters so I won't get into that,” Sterno continued. “I do want you to know we are doing our best to find a replacement.” There were a round of nods and sighs. “In the meantime, Knightley Vander will be substituting, just until we find a permanent replacement,” the Chief finished. “Please call me Knight,” the Loki clarified. I glanced around and noticed all the females openly admiring him. Ugh. “Knightley?” Trey whispered, elbowing me in the ribs. “Watch it,” I grumbled, wondering if my poor side would ever heal. “His name isn't Todd?”
“No,” I whispered back, frowning. I hadn't wanted to lie to Trey and hopefully he wouldn't take our mis-truth as a slight. “We didn't want to put you in harm's way so we had to withhold his true identity.”
“He really wasn't your friend at all?” His expression was crestfallen.
“No, he forced me to secrecy, Trey.” When all else fails, blame someone else.
Trey just nodded. Meanwhile, the fact that Knight was going to be my boss, if only temporarily, was starting to sink in. I couldn't say I liked it. In fact, I didn't like it at all. I'd gotten a taste of Knight's mode of leadership, and it wasn't one I wished to repeat. “So, please welcome Knight,” the Chief finished. Everyone clapped. Knight smiled and raised his hands as if to quiet the room. “I'm Knight, as the Chief said and it's great to meet all of you.” A few sighs from the ladies in the room. I just shook my head.
“Today is not only about introductions, though,” Knight continued. “I also have a bit of good news.” He paused and glancing at me, pasted a huge grin on his face.
“I'm not sure if you are all aware, but Dulcie O'Neil worked with me on this case.” There were a round of oohs and aahs. I didn't like the direction of the conversation but there wasn't a damned thing I could do about it.
“And because of her courage, we were both able to escape. I just wanted to announce that I'm promoting Dulcie O’Neil to the position of Head Regulator.”
Another round of claps, and I felt as if I’d been slapped. Surprise overtook me, and when I met Knight's grin, I resisted the urge to walk out. No one in the room should've been congratulating me. I didn't deserve a promotion. As far as I was concerned, I'd failed miserably.
“Thank you,” I said in a small voice, trying to pretend that nothing was the matter, that I was as thrilled as everyone else. It was a hard order and I'm not sure I succeeded.
Sam hugged me, and Trey looked like he was biting back tears. Holy Hades.
After the meeting disbanded, and I'd had about all the pats on the back I could take, I followed Knight into Quillan's old office. Quillan's name plate still hung on the door, and I had to drop my eyes. It made me feel oddly sad. Knight took a seat in the large, brown leather chair and cracked his knuckles. “How’s your side?” “It’s fine.” He nodded. “Dulce, what can I do for you?” I didn't know how to say it, so I just reached inside my pocket and handed him the envelope.
He took it with a smile but the smile soon disappeared as soon as he started reading. “What is this?” he demanded and dropped the letter onto the desk as if it had just bitten him.
I sighed. “My letter of resignation.”
TWENTY ONE
“Resignation?” Knight repeated, his eyes fixed on the surface of his desk… Quillan's desk.
“You shouldn't have promoted me,” I said and collapsed into the large leather chair across from Knight's. Eyeing Quillan's office fern, I rubbed the fronds between my fingers as a wave of sadness coursed over me.
Knight chuckled. “Usually people are thrilled to get promoted.” He leaned forward, propping his chin on his fist. “You deserved it and more.” I shook my head and sighed. I'd have to tell him sooner or later. “Quillan didn't escape.” Knight's eyebrows furrowed, and his mouth twitched as his eyes searched mine like a hawk's. This wasn't going to be fun. “Go on.” I inhaled. “I let him go.”
Knight reclined in the leather chair again, and bobbed back and forth, the chair groaning in protest
