Gone.
Permanently.
Runes is already moving.
"We clean this up tonight. Burn the body. No traces. Then tomorrow, we hit that motel. End this whole fuckin’ operation."
"I want in," I say.
"You're on shit duty for six months. That doesn't start until after we finish this." Runes meets my eyes. "You're in. We all are. Tomorrow night, we bring those kids home."
"And the traffickers?"
His smile is cold.
"They end up like him. Every single one."
I leave the basement.
Leave the blood and the body and the cleanup.
I need a shower.
Need to wash the last few hours off my skin.
Need to see Ingrid.
The clubhouse is quiet as I climb the stairs.
Most people don't know what happened in that basement.
They don't need to know.
Some things stay between the men who were there.
Our room is dark when I push open the door.
Ingrid's asleep.
Curled on her side, face relaxed, looking more peaceful than she has in days.
I stand there for a moment.
Just watching her.
Just breathing.
She stirs.
Senses me somehow.
"Gunnar?" Her voice is soft. Sleep-blurred. "What time is it?"
"Late. Go back to sleep."
"Where were you?"
"Handling something. It's done now."
