Courts and Cabals 2 by G.S. D'Moore (warren buffett book recommendations TXT) 📗

for a second to get real with the shifter, “I actually wanted to be one of you,” I waved around me, which was hard to do in handcuffs. “I wanted to join the Response Division. I probably couldn’t have cut it as an agent, but I wanted to be a part of this. Do you know why?”

From the look on his face, I’d caught the big guy by surprise. “Why?” he took the bait.

“I wanted to get back just a bit of that power,” I made sure he knew I was dead serious and not fucking with him. “I’ve spent years around supernaturals, and not just your average werewolf girl next door types; I’m talking blue-blooded, trust-funded, fucking powerful in every conceivable way supernaturals,” I paused to let that sink in. “Do you know what I learned?”

“What?” Vernon had relaxed enough I was sure he wasn’t going to beat my ass.

“I learned that they’re a big bag of dicks,” I deadpanned, completely serious.

The sound that came out of the werewolf was somewhere between a growl and a laugh.

“I learned real quick what they thought about me. They saw themselves as the big boys and girls on campus, then there was fifty feet of dog shit, and then people like me. If I didn’t have a particular set of skills, which I will neither confirm nor deny I have in the first place, they wouldn’t have given me the time of day. I could be bleeding out in the gutter and they’d step over me so I didn’t soil their Italian loafers.”

“Get to the point, Dupree. This is a nice kumbaya moment, but your lawyer is gonna have an aneurism if we’re any later,” Vernon made a hurry up motion, but he never said he disagreed with my point.

“Fine,” I shrugged. “The moral of this story is that after what I’ve seen of the WRA Response Division, what you’ve personally put me through, and that shit your boss just pulled; it’s clear to me that you guys are no different than the assholes I went to school with,” I looked the agent in the eye to make sure he knew I meant every word of what I said. “Now I’m done, and I’m not saying another word until my lawyer is present.”

“Chew on that,” I crossed my arms and leaned against the back wall of the elevator.

The werewolf’s face scrunched up in concentration, and it took him a few seconds to press the start button. The elevator was pretty speedy, so it didn’t take us long to reach where we were going. The door began to open, but Vernon stuck out his arm to stop me from getting out. I heard a man yelling somewhere nearby, but that didn’t seem to disturb the agent.

“I’ll give it to you that most supernaturals are a bag of dicks,” he smiled at the term. “We look down on humans because they’re weaker than us, and thinking like that gets us into trouble. That’s why the WRA is here, so asshole supernaturals don’t fuck up the world. I’ll even admit that the people I work for can be just as fucked up as your preppy schoolmates. Everything in life is a contest of power, you better get used to that.”

I was surprised by the agent’s candor, and the solid life advice. “Aren’t you just full of surprises?” I still didn’t trust him farther than I could throw him without my Fae gifts.

“Now, I’ve got a question for you, Dupree,” he moved his whole body to block the door and obscure any cameras. “Is your cabal any different? Aren’t they all about power, money, pussy, or all of the above? You name it, they want it. And no,” he forestalled my complaint, “I’m not talking about your butt buddies. I’m talking about the people in power. The people who make decisions. Are they any different than the assholes at your school, or my boss?”

I opened my mouth to retort, but he held up his hand, and moved to allow me off the elevator.

“Just think long and hard about it before you give me an answer,” he gave me a shove to get me moving, and once we rounded the corner, I saw a familiar face.

“There you are,” it was the lawyer who rescued me from Vernon last time. By the scowl on his face, he remembered the UN agent just fine. “I hope they haven’t been mistreating you.”

“Just standard procedure, counselor,” Vernon replied, sounding bored.

“So, it’s just standard procedure to keep an American citizen from obtaining a lawyer,” he turned to me. “Please tell me you didn’t sign or agree to anything.”

“No, but they tried,” I told my legal pitbull.

“Even if you did sign it, I’d get it thrown out. I heard what happened in Vegas, and you’ve been without a lawyer for nearly two days. You might be ready to shit all over the constitution, Agent Dud, but the judge presiding over the case most certainly is not.”

“Whatever,” Vernon rolled his eyes at the posturing. “Think about what I said, Dupree,” he turned on his heal, gave a small wave, and stalked off.

“What did he say?” the lawyer asked. “If he tried to compel or intimidate you in any way . . .”

“No, none of that,” I said quickly. “Sure, he was an asshole at times, but . . . nothing,” I trailed off.

“Damnit,” despite my newfound convictions, and unwavering opinion that Vernon Dud was a dick in the bag of dicks that was his division, that didn’t mean what he’d said was a lie. It was actually pretty introspective. “Furry bastard,” I hated when people got under my skin, and I stewed like that as my lawyer led me toward what had to be the courtroom.

I saw and felt UN security officers moving with us; far enough away to