"Down," I said, pointing to the floor. She shot me a dirty looks she slinked off the sofa and sat at Danny's feet with her head on his knees as she stared up at him. I shook my head. "I think my dog is in love with you, Newsome."
"Wouldn't be the first one!" Mike yelled from the kitchen.
"Fuck off, Kelly!" Danny yelled as he patted Tesla and said, "They have no idea what they're talking about. Don't listen to them, good girl."
"Hear anything about Vangel's promotion?" I asked Mike.
"Yeah, I heard he's out blackmailing everyone he can in order to lock up the nomination process," Mike said as he stirred the eggs he was cooking. "That bastard is up to no good. Did he come after you?"
"Me? What would he have on me?" I asked with as much shock as I could muster.
"No clue, but he was laying it on thick earlier." Mike shrugged. "Just wondering who he's targeting."
"No idea," I said as I walked back to the locker room to store my bag. I'd just opened my locker when Victor spoke.
"Made a decision, Connor?" he asked as he peered around my locker door with his creepy grin.
"Yeah, I have," I said. "No thanks."
"What?" Victor's shock at my refusal to give him what he wanted was palpable. "You do realize that I'm going to spill the beans on your little security business, don't you?"
"Yep, I'm fully aware of that," I said without further comment.
"I'm going to ruin you and you're going to stand idly by and let me?" He laughed maniacally.
"No, Victor, I'm not," I said, fixing him with a steely glare. "You're not going to do shit to me, you little weasel. I'm going to report you to Chief and let him deal with your blackmailing bullshit."
"You have no proof of anything," he said nervously.
"The hell I don't," I said, moving closer. "I know that you've be
en spreading your poison all over this station. You went after Brian and Gavin, and I'm sure if I start grilling guys, they'll tell me all about your little plan."
"How do you know that?" he spat. "It's nothing but a rumor! You can't prove anything."
"If I make Chief aware of what you've been doing, I'm sure he'll have zero problem investigating the issue and finding out the truth," I said as I stared at Victor who was now visibly nervous. "I'm going to recommend that you back the fuck off and leave me and the other guys alone. If you get promoted, it'll be on your own merits, not because a single one of us supports you."
"You're an asshole, Connor," he said, narrowing his eyes. "And I don't like guys who are assholes."
"Good, then that makes two of us," I said dryly. "Now get out of my sight and stay that way or I'll have your ass checked out by the Investigative Affairs Bureau so fast your head will spin."
"You'll be sorry you did this, Connor," Victor said as he slunk away with his tail between his legs.
I knew that he wouldn't be kept at bay for long; he was too slimy not to find a way around my warning, but I figured my threat would at least buy me enough time to tell Alex about CSC and tell Leo we were a go for the Metzler contract. After that, Victor would have no hold on me.
"Sneaky little son of a bitch," I muttered as I slammed my locker shut and went out to join the guys for breakfast.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alex
When Liz didn't show up for class again on Friday, I started to get really worried about her. I tried her phone several times, but she didn't answer. I figured that she'd had the same meeting with Dr. Gatskill as I had and that she was probably home licking her wounds.
I left her a voicemail when her phone picked up: "Liz, it's Alex. I'm worried about you. Call me and let me know you're okay, please? Did they tell you that they're holding back your funding? I don't know what I'm going to do if they find us guilty. Anyway, call me or else I'll come looking for you with a big plate of liver and onions! Love you."
I hoped that my message would pull her out of her funk and make her laugh, and that by sundown she'd call and tell me she was fine by making some sassy crack about Dr. Gatskill's wardrobe. I hoped.
I finished the anatomy lab lesson in record time, but I'd noticed Violet and her gang of girls staring at me as I did it. I wanted to say something, but I didn't dare stir up trouble while I was under investigation. Besides, I didn't think it would do any good even if I hadn't been in trouble. Violet and her posse were mean girls who took pleasure in making others miserable. I pitied them more than anything.