Broken People (Serial)

Thirty-Seven

Still flushed from the ride, Cielo left Cole in Rake's and Spinner's trustful hands, and walked away before they could start their scolding. Not that they didn't have a good reason to be upset. Taking off like that had been an irresponsible thing to do with the machine still in the prototype stage, but it was so much fun.

She bumped into Dale, and his hands shot out to prevent her from falling. Under his piercing gaze, Cielo's smile vanished. Annoyance washed over her because she had done nothing wrong. She lifted her chin up.

"You're asking too much of him." The words came out before she could actually think them.

"And you're forgetting he works for me," Dale said. He took his time before stepping back. His tone was reserved and not aggressive, but the warning was there.

"He's useless to you if he can't work."

"He's useless period if he can't work."

The staring contest lasted for several seconds before Dale said, "But your people are supposed to take care of that."

"You're rushing it—"

"There's no time."

"And if he fails? Will you say it was worth the risk?"

"It's only worth it if we succeed," Dale said.

That was cold. So cold. For the first time, Cielo wondered what he wanted so badly from inside the Hrad. She'd never cared before. The circus policy was to fix them and then forget about them. But while the patient was at the circus, he was still under their care. "I won't let you—"

An arm slid around her tense shoulders, pulling her back. "Don't threaten my crew, Mr. Armstrong," Nicholas said.

Cielo hadn't heard him approach.

"I was only stating a fact." Dale's eyes traveled from Cielo to Nicholas and then back to her. "I'll come back tomorrow," he said and left the car.

"I could have handled him." Cielo glared at Nicholas as she stepped away from him.

"I know," he answered with an easy smile. "But he doesn't have to know that."

"He's killing him. He wants too much, too fast."

"Cielo, we don't kill people." Nicholas's fingers brushed against her cheek. "We'll be there every step of the way. We'll make sure he's all right in the end."

"It's not good enough." Cielo shook her head. "We should call off the deal."

Nicholas gave her an odd look, and the corners of his mouth tightened. "Armstrong can expose us all. I'm sorry, but the deal stays on."

"Well, you're not the boss here." Cielo frowned at him, hands on her hips. She'd go and wake up Big Dino if she had to, but this madness needed to end.

"Perhaps not," Nicholas said quietly. "But I do know my contract. Do you know what the first clause is? Protect the Nightingale at all costs. That is what I'm doing. " He turned and started for the exit, leaving a frustrated Cielo behind.