4

Andre

I was staring at my findings that I'd been compiling over the piles of reports and court rulings I'd been going through for weeks now… And I hated that my gut had been right. Not only because it was bad for the kingdom and I hated how much corruption was in every corner of the country I loved, but I would have to talk to Grand Duke Ian Brooker.

That normally ended with a shouting match and a week of my subordinates avoiding me like the plague. Mostly because I ranted about quitting after he pissed me off, and no one actually capable of being in charge of the kingdom's police and overseeing policing the capital actually wanted the job.

Only the corrupt, power-hungry assholes who would ruin all of the hard work and would reverse any good mandates I'd put in place. That would only happen over my dead body so… I never quit.

Someday, someone would eventually have to take over my position, but everyone brushed off my threats because I was so young. I was the youngest commander the police force had ever seen, and that meant I had many good years ahead of me to keep leading the charge.

Except I was tired.

I was tired of fighting too many battles I was not winning. I was tired of beating my head against brick walls that hurt and I couldn't bring down.

And I now had the evidence compiled into several concise reports that I'd spent weeks putting together. It was countless hours where others lived their lives, spent time with their family or friends—and I had none of that.

I was tired of that being the answer. I couldn't do my job as I should with the restraints and weights being placed on me. I wasn't getting the results I should because others were dropping the ball instead of bringing things over the finish line.

A lot of times intentionally. It would frustrate me when it was ineptness or mistakes. That was something I could work with but corruption? I couldn't deal with it anymore and I was staring at the piles of proof of it.

"You cannot keep going like this, Andre," I said to myself and rubbed my tired temples. After several minutes, I realized that I was too tired to come to any decisions that night and locked up all of my proof before heading home.

My sleep was short and only from exhaustion. I handled what I needed to in the morning. I sat down to write a letter to the grand duke and be frank that things needed to change and I had the proof that was indisputable of what was going so wrong with the justice system.

Also that this was my last plea to be listened to and supported as the police should be or I was retiring.

I didn't lose my temper and make threats. I didn't rant or blast him or anyone… Simply told the truth. I was tired of burning my life away for a cause that I didn't feel anyone else believed in. If the choice was years more of that or retiring and leading a peaceful life working in a small area, then I chose the latter.

Hell, I would rather be a damn farmer and only have to be responsible for myself than be a cop anymore. I couldn't keep having the weight of keeping people safe and being haunted when justice failed. I was part of the system, and if no one would hear me that there were problems, then I couldn't be part of that system anymore.

I was just about to finish it up when there was a flurry of movement that I could see through the windows of my office. I glanced up and saw several different commotions and people grouped together watching something instead of working.

I couldn't even hold in the sigh. That meant it was something big because my people were well trained to stay focused.

It also meant it was something that I needed to be involved in.

Of course, it did.

And probably it would be something else that would make me feel failure later because of something beyond my control. It still weighed on me in the end since logic didn't control our emotions.

I locked the letter away to finish later and headed towards where the commotion was. I wasn't sure if it was luck or a reason to curse when I saw Count Colin Follan, the grand duke's right hand. What I might have said was forgotten though when my gaze landed on the loveliest lady I'd ever seen standing next to him.

She was shorter than me, maybe about five-five, and her thick, jet-black hair was pinned back but seemed not to obey her as pieces fell around her face. It wasn't smoothed down with hair products as many ladies in the capital used and I didn't think it was from the travel. No, it was almost as if her hair was rebelling against being pinned up and wanted to be free.

And I wanted to see it that way. I bet it was a sight to behold when it was wild and flowing around her. I caught a glance of light green, large doe eyes and they were breathtaking.

Except she avoided looking at me. So she was a noble lady who wouldn't bother with a commoner.

Typical.

Still, she was beautiful… Even with the lingering bruises on her face.

"Countess Mabel Matthias, this is Commander Andre Lessa," Colin introduced, snapping me back to the present and out of my distracting thoughts.

She dipped her head to me. "It's an honor, Commander. Thank you for your service to the kingdom."

Well, she was a polite noble even if she wouldn't bother to give her full attention or the respect of her gaze to a commoner. I could take that. "It's my pleasure to meet you, My Lady." I swallowed a flinch when the name Colin had given me sank in.

Thiswas the woman married to the snake David Matthias? This beautiful fairy of a lady shared a bed with that asshole? That shocked and disgusted me, but then I focused on her bruises, and rage filled me so deeply that I almost lost my professionalism for once besides behind closed doors.

"First, your officers have a driver who works for her husband that we brought with us," Colin told me quietly. "He refused to bring the countess to the police until she lied about the reason. We need him protected as he has knowledge that many will want him dead for." His eyes cut to the countess and I was getting a clearer picture of the situation.

"Was there any crime directly against the grand duke?" I asked after a moment.

Colin did a double take and relief filled his eyes. "Yes, there was actually."

I nodded. "Then we'll handle our procedures now and remand him to the grand duke's custody until his trial so the grand duke can handle things as he needs since he is a member of the royal family.

Colin thanked me… While the countess flinched.

What was that about?

We went to a meeting room so I could get fully filled in and she wouldn't meet my gaze, seeming upset that I was there almost. I wasn't sure it was me though and I asked Colin and the grand duke's people to step outside for a moment.

"I would like the knight Whitney to stay, if you please, Commander," she said quietly.

"Of course, My Lady," I immediately agreed. "There is no trouble here. I am being brought into the situation late, and I simply wish to hear some of this from your own mouth without the risk of influence."

The tension left her shoulders, but she still focused on her hands. "I understand."

Hearing even the short version of what she'd been through since her husband had demanded a divorce disgusted me and it was clear that was only the beginning of her struggles. I thanked her and made sure she had my card so she could contact me directly if she needed me.

And then had the slap in the face as she immediately shuffled it away among papers.

Why didn't she toss it in the garbage by the door and completely insult me?

It hurt my heart for what she'd been through but also that such a beautiful woman was of such low character like other nobles. It hurt me that this was the world I truly lived in.

I moved on to what I needed to so everything was handled well on our end even if I knew it would be a mess later. I checked in and saw her using the time she had to wait wisely and meeting with an attorney I recognized. I was pretty sure he was Colin's attorney who I thought handled some matters for the grand duke now and again.

The man seemed flustered a few times and grim from what I saw, so I made a point to be waiting for him when he was ready to leave.

"I suggest you behave honorably for what the lady needs you for," I warned him quietly. "We are involved in the matter, and I will be keeping a close watch as a personal favor to the grand duke."

That last part was a fib of course, but I doubted the grand duke would actually mind since Colin was involved.

The man flinched and shot a glance around to make sure we weren't being overheard. "I have never acted dishonorably in my life when it comes to my clients which is why I am so well sought after. I am worried for my life with what they want to pull me into, Commander." He sighed when I simply stared at him. "How often do the nobles battle with each other and we—"

"Are the ones with the wounds to show for it," I finished, understanding where his mind was.

"Yes. Count Matthias is a fool, but his father is not, and he will not let this become a spectacle to hurt his family's standing. To get free, the countess needs to make a scene about how the women of the kingdom are treated. I applaud that, truly I do. I simply do not wish to be a part of it when I do not have knights to protect me when they all do."

I let out a slow breath. "Does she know you are in danger?"

"No, she has—she was kept as an obedient doll from what I can see. She did a noble daughter's duty to obey like the old mindset of monsters believe she should, and she did it well only to be sent to hell. My heart breaks for her, and I will do my best to set her free, but my life has value as well."

"It does, and I can assign two officers to protect you through this." I shook my head when he tried to argue. "I did not realize there was going to be a divorce that she was filing."

He snorted. "The smartest thing that woman has ever done in her entire life was refusing to sign the divorce papers her husband tried to force her to."

"Do you have them?" I hedged, wondering what was so bad in them.

"Yes, but I need them to start plotting my case." He let out a heavy breath. "I am not even this type of attorney, Commander. I am—business deals and such are my forte. This is—I do not like messes, and this will be the biggest mess the courts see this decade."

Those beautiful green eyes filled my head as my mouth moved faster than my intelligence could stop me. "Let me help?"

"Excuse me?"

I nodded. "I am good with messes, Alec. I am exceedingly good with them, and I can get you the help they will not think you need. I am clearly knowledgeable about the law." I hurried on when he opened his mouth. "I have a feeling what you learn through this divorce will be the start of what the grand duke will need more of for later."

He winced and glanced back towards the room he'd been in even if he couldn't see it. "Yes, there were many, many crimes committed after all. Dear goddess, I barely know much." He studied me a moment. "Why would you be willing to do this and get involved in this mess before you were required to?"

I sighed, not willing to say the truth and I was tired of too much evil always winning when I was supposed to be in charge of stopping that. I decided to give him a half-truth. "I am considering retirement soon." I nodded when he couldn't hide his shock. "As you said, too many forget us when they calculate the damages."

"Yes, you are certainly in a position to take the most damage and constantly. I would never want your job."

I snorted before I realized it. I didn't want my job as it was either. "While I know the laws in my sleep, dancing through the bureaucracy isn't easy. Someone who does know that I could trust if I wish to slip away quietly would be hard to come by."

"I fully understand, Commander." He thought about it a moment and extended his hand. "You have a deal. Honestly, I could use all of the help I could get as this—they will move fast and they will hit hard. I am one attorney without a firm behind me no matter my reputation."

Which meant he needed manpower.

"I actually have three injured officers who could use hours if you can keep them sitting which our jobs do not allow for much," I told him. "Given what we will have to deal with later and that the grand duke is involved, I can justify the pay. They are talented and seasoned."

"I will take it and maybe try to steal one if they're good." He shrugged, looking unrepentant. "I have been in need of a clerk for a while. As you said, knowing who to trust is the hardest part of life, and when you are the one who is held to the fire in the end…" He shrugged.

Yes, I understood his point all too well.

I hurried to have two guards assigned to him. Another officer I sent out to contact the three who were injured and gave the address of his office. If nothing else, they were more than capable of working as copy scribes for him for everything he would need to submit to court.

Then again…

"Did you make sure the attorney had any magic stones to help him with this mess, My Lord?" I asked Colin. I swallowed a sigh when he gave me a confused look. "How much paperwork will he have to copy alone?"

"Oh dear, yes, I am a dolt. Thank you, Commander. I will have several sent to his office right away."

How nice for him that he had that option. Anger filled me that I swallowed down that we didn't have any chance at them as police and spent our personal time that we weren't paid for copying reports that ended up being worth kindling for fire.

I finished what I needed to for the day and went to the address with two other officers who were starting their shift and would be Alec's guards overnight. I picked up something to eat on the way and enough to share.

The officers guarding were grateful to be relieved and able to head home. I thanked them for the effort, but the rest of what I might have said died on my tongue as I witnessed the flurry of everything inside of the office.

And we weren't the only ones arriving.

Six of the grand duke's knights showed up with more food and supplies, the one I recognized from earlier. Whitney? I was fairly sure that was her name.

She did a double take when she saw me as well, dipping her head to me. "Is there some update that we need to know about, Commander?"

I glanced over at Alec. This was his show and I wasn't going to ignore him. I wasn't going to be party to the grand duke's people running him over… Which I knew well.

Alec looked up and waved us all in. "Commander Lessa offered his help since I am not a criminal attorney." He met Whitney's gaze. "Plus, we both know this goes beyond me and he will be involved in the next stage."

She nodded, focusing on me. "The grand duke will be thrilled to hear that." She waited until we were all inside and closed the door behind us. "This is the last shift your officers are needed though. I have handled the oversight of Alec's protection and have assigned him knights starting in the morning."

"Of course. My injured officers still are able to assist since they'll be able to catch up the active duty officers easily once we're at that stage," I replied. I was glad when she accepted.

Whitney cleared her throat and gave Alec a pitying look. "The countess took the grand duke's advice and asked the queen for her help in balancing the scales in court."

Bold. I was impressed that timid woman did that.

Alec went pale and sat down heavily.

"This is good for you if she does it, Alec," Whitney said firmly before he could freak out. "If the queen involves herself, no one will act—"

"Accidents happen all of the damn time," he snapped. "Ones that get swept away and—" He shot me a worried look.

I simply snorted. "You do not have to worry about my feelings." I gestured to the other officers I knew well. "We know exactly how often that happens, but it's not our fault. Do you know how often our investigations are ignored and someone declares our evidence nonsense?"

"All of the fucking time," the eldest of the three officers grumbled, not even looking up from what he was doing.

"I believe the grand duke is completely unaware of that," Whitney muttered.

"Because like most nobles, the high-ranking ones especially, they know the most and do not hear what they do not want to," I snapped. I cleared my throat when everyone froze and tension shot up in the room. "I apologize. None of this is your fault or on you." I scrubbed my hand over my neck. "This has been an ongoing issue that keeps landing on deaf ears."

"The grand duke's specifically?" she asked after a moment.

The five officers there who all knew me shared a look and burst out laughing, shocking Alec and the knights there.

I simply sighed and offered Alec food while they calmed down.

One of the officers who was there as a guard calmed down first. "We all know to hide when the grand duke or the count visits on his behalf because they will not listen to a single word the commander says. They will give him the typical line—though politely—that his job stops at the arrest basically and pat him on the head with how good of a job he's done since he took over."

"They're so busy boasting crime has gotten better since the grand duke has become the Minister of Justice and taking the victory lap that they never hear the commander that it's only superficial from the lowest ranks," that eldest officer said. "And how they ignore him and what he endures constantly. It disgusts most of us and hearing the hypocrisy that the—"

I cleared my throat when the knights started to get on edge, glad when the officer nodded and focused back on his work.

"What hypocrisy?" Whitney asked, repeating herself and focusing on me when the others wouldn't answer.

I sighed. "That the grand duke values every person in the kingdom no matter their rank. Every officer knows that's complete bullshit and it's for show so he looks good publicly while ignoring the corruption has gotten worse." I expected them to get mad at bashing their master, but I froze when the six knights stared at me as if I'd spoken a different language.

Truly, it was as if I'd told them that milk came from dogs instead of cows. It wasn't simply shock but as if they couldn't process what I was saying to them.

Alec cleared his throat and I glanced at him. "I have worked with the count and grand duke on many, many deals and I can tell you that he cares. His conditions for—"

That officer slammed his hand on the table. "His people. He cares for the commoners that are his people. And nobles. The rest of us—" He lifted his head and the anger in his eyes was thick. "When I am on active duty, I have been the commander's right hand and witnessed how dismissive both are to him. I do not know how he hasn't quit yet. And that's how they treat a war hero."

"There has to be a disconnect somewhere," Whitney said firmly. She shook her head when we all made an array of noises. "The grand duke and count both speak of you with great…" She looked at one of the other knights.

"I have heard the grand duke say he wouldn't have made it through the war without you and you are the hero who saved countless lives," the knight said. "And no one could execute your position as well as you do and make such sweeping changes as fast as you have."

"All of that is true," the officer said firmly. "Those are simply facts." He glanced between them. "When have you seen them respect that? Reward it?" He snorted when they seemed confused. "The hero of the war that gained the kingdom massive land and he did not even get a fucking title. We are the only kingdom on this continent where the head of the police isn't titled."

"Is that your main complaint?" Whitney asked, looking a bit disappointed.

I let out a slow breath. "Between the commoners here or am I speaking to the knights of the grand duke?"

They shared a look and nodded before confirming they would have the conversation as fellow commoners.

"I was offered a marriage into a noble family instead of a title of my own for all of my ‘heroism' in the war. Instead of an actual award and commendation, it came with strings because some noble fancied the idea of having a war hero son-in-law and was friends with the king.

"I'd hidden in piles of our dead soldiers to shroud from the enemy and deliver orders so more of us did not die. And that was what they thought I should have as a reward? To become a trophy? I did not hide how insulting I found it because I was shocked and still injured, not sure I would ever walk again from what the doctors told me.

"So since the noble was insulted I wouldn't weep with gratitude at the idea of marrying into his family to a woman I'd never met, it was decided this was the best I would ever get. And the grand duke gives me the same disappointed look every time I have brought up the topic of a title, never hearing me that it's not me—"

"But the position," Alec muttered, nodding when I did. "You are too limited in your station to head the police. I have wondered that many times."

"Yes, but it's meant to be insulting," I chuckled darkly. "I cannot attend the fucking meetings I should. In other kingdoms, the head of the police is separate from the Minister of Justice and that's the courts. I have suggested that many times so the grand duke can focus on the corruption there instead of inspecting our damn stations which undermines me.

"He simply reminds me of my station and basically that I insulted the royal family by not accepting the benevolent reward they offered like I was a stallion instead of a war hero." I met Alec's gaze. "So you shouldn't be surprised that I plan on retiring if this last plea to stop tying my hands behind my back is ignored."

The officer still writing snorted. "If I was as talented as you are, I'd take any of the dozen offers from other kingdoms you get always to become a citizen and clean up their police forces. Several of us hope you do join one of our allies because it's what you deserve." He glanced up at me. "One offered you a marquis title and land to help their lawless border area, right?"

"Yeah, they did," I sighed. "It was tempting." I folded my arms over my chest. "Most days I regret turning it down. I was foolish and had hope that maybe if I paid enough patience that my insult would be forgotten and doing good work would matter more."

"And now?" Whitney asked quietly.

Alec cleared his throat. "He asked me to help him to transition his life and quietly sneak away from the eyes on him when he retires soon."

Yeah, that about said it all and much more, didn't it?