Free Bound by Darkness by Alexis Morgan

for a pad and paper.
    â€œThey’re all good men and know how to keep their mouths shut. When your whole life has been one big secret, you learn early how to fly under the radar. They also hang out in my office a lot, so no one will think anything of it if they’re in there more than usual.”
    â€œPerfect.”
    She studied the names, noting Lonzo’s last namewas the same as Larem’s. Were they brothers? And why wasn’t Larem on Devlin’s list? Hmm.
    â€œI want to thank both of you for coming tonight. We’ve made a solid start on fixing what’s been broken for way too long. I’m hoping these changes will help us all get back on track.”
    She really did. Men’s lives depended on it. Too many had died already because of bad management and simple carelessness.
    â€œI will be seeing a lot of both of you as we move forward. As you’ve probably already guessed, I believe in hands-on management. I’m well aware that will ruffle some feathers, but I’m convinced the problem has been the lack of direct contact between those who control the purse strings and those who do the bleeding.”
    Devlin shook his head. “Look, I know you mean well, but there are areas that are off-limits to civilians, and for good reason.”
    Time to make her position clear. If she blinked now, she’d lose all chance of maintaining control. “I’m sorry, but you don’t have the authority to restrict my movements, Devlin. I can—and will—go wherever I need to. The Board of Regents has granted me full access.”
    Then she offered what she hoped was a conciliatory smile. “Just tell me where I need to be careful.”
    â€œYou may have the right to see anything and everything, Ms. Willis, but I’m the one responsible for the safety of all who enter Paladin headquarters. I will not allow you to wander the tunnels unescorted. And before you think we’re trying to hide something, Lacey Sebastianworks for the organization as a geologist and is under the same restrictions.”
    â€œI see.” And she did. “I promise to use common sense, but I can’t let you dictate how I do my job.”
    Neither of her guests looked convinced, but they couldn’t say they hadn’t been warned. “Again, all I’m asking is that you give me a chance. And if you have a problem with something I’ve done or said, I’d appreciate your coming straight to me with it. My door will always be open.”
    â€œI hope you mean that.” Devlin stood and helped Laurel up off the sofa.
    Sasha followed them to the door. “See you soon.”
    Once they were gone, Sasha got ready for bed. A few minutes later, she crawled between the sheets and turned out the bedside light.
    God, it had been a long day—too long. She had no doubt that tomorrow would be just like it, but right now she was too tired to think that far ahead.
    Instead, her mind filled with the image of Larem Jones smiling as he walked away from her. She really hoped she hadn’t gotten him in trouble with Devlin. Maybe she should warn him. No, bad idea. Her working relationship with Devlin was too fragile to risk getting between him and one of his men.
    As she drifted off to sleep, her last thought was that she’d just have to find some other excuse to see Larem Jones again.
    Larem stared at the flyer on the shelter bulletin board and cursed. It had been two days since he’d lastseen Sasha after spending an afternoon with her down at the piers. Forty-eight hours of spinning his wheels and getting nowhere on his assigned mission of further befriending her. Torn between wanting to spend more time with her for his own selfish reasons and his guilt over the whole idea of spying on her, he’d considered and rejected several ideas.
    He pulled the paper down off the board to study it further. There was going to be an outdoor concert at the zoo to raise money for