Page 298 of Knox Academy Omnibus
I don’t bother arguing for once. Jasper grins and falls into step beside me.
I set off to hunt his usual spots where he likes to lurk in the shadows. We don’t find him anywhere, and we only stop when I realise I only just have enough time to run to my room to change and get to lunch.
When we get to the cafeteria Elsie is sitting with Kalen and the twins. I’m sure that was Kalen’s idea because the twins are never considerate enough to think to invite her.
When I reach the table, Onyx reaches out for me and pulls me onto his lap. He peppers kisses on my neck. It’s very…un-Onyx-like but I like it.
Jasper heads to the line to get my food and Elsie's eyes follow him the whole time.
“Do you possibly want a job?” I ask Elsie.
“Doing what?” she asks cautiously, like I might be about to ask her to become The Order’s top fire starter or some shit.
“Well, I have someone who needs a personal shopper.”
She claps her hands in excitement and that sets off Kalen, who joins her. Only he looks like a piss-taking demented seal. I cut him a look, and his smile drops when he notices. He mouths ‘what?’ at me and I shake my head. He batts his lashes at me and gives me puppy dog eyes.
“We’ll talk later,” I tell him.
“Looks like we get dibs tonight, Kalen,” Slate jokes, and I backhand him in the chest.
“So when do you need me to help?”
“After school. Sawyer is bringing a card. All I need you to do is make sure the kid gets everything, and I meaneverything, a kid his age needs. I'm not up to date on gadgets and whatnot. Clothes for both, and if it's not too much for you, furniture too.”
“Do we have the layout of the house?”
“I’ll ask Sawyer. I'm sure he knows. I want them in their house by the weekend. So make sure you flash the card around and make it happen.”
Elsie smiles at me. Onyx pulls me back into him and wraps his arms around my waist as Jasper puts my food down in front of us. I smile up at him and he goes back to his spot against the wall.
Now that’s all sorted I can focus back on finding new recruits. I didn't want to have to ask the guys for help, but I honestly don't know where to start.
I’m deep in thought over lunch while the others chatter around me. I can feel Slate watching me, and he knows something is up, but he doesn’t reach out to me. I try to push those feelings to one side and concentrate on Order business. I’m looking to recruit half a dozen or so women in. Yes, we’ll still be outnumbered, but I’d rather have a few women who are strong and capable and able to prove themselves than a whole heap who are useless and make my decision look poor.
I guess I might sort of have Elsie on a casual, temporary basis, and I have my assistant, Adrianne. So maybe I only need four others. That makes the task more manageable.
I think about roles within The Order that would be better suited to women, and as much as I hate Sawyer’s earlier comment about using Elsie for the power of seduction, I know he’s right. Honey traps are an excellent way of gathering information, dirt, and power over our enemies. I just don’t want to pimp out my best friend. Doesn’t mean that there’s not a woman out there somewhere who would like the job though.
In terms of other roles, I need to find out more about what The Order does. There’s no point in hiring or recruiting just for the hell of it. Sure, I could have a female hitman…, hit-person…but with Baxter being the best already, what would be the point?
The bell rings, and I realise I’ve barely touched my lunch. I hastily get to my feet and grab my bag.
“Hey, you haven’t eaten,” Onyx murmurs gently.
“I didn’t have time. I’m fine,” I reply dismissively. His eyes flash dangerously.
To placate him I grab the sandwich off my plate and shove it into my mouth while walking away. My next class is self defense – yes some genius really timetabled intense exercise right after lunch – so I don’t want a full stomach anyway.
“Okay, okay, keep your hair on,” I say through muffled bites of sandwich, grinning at him with my mouth full.
A flash goes off and I blink just in time to see Kalen slipping his phone back into his pocket.
“Fucking stunning, sis! We’re so lucky to have a looker like you,” he taunts.
I flip him the bird and head off in the direction of the gym, calling over my shoulder as I go, “Not your damn sister, Kalen.”
Chapter Seven
