Adam runs a hand over his dark hair. “Yeah.” His green eyes meet mine. “Although it wasn’t my body. We had to pull some strings.”
“We?” I ask, and my eyes shoot to the two men also on the plane with us. They say nothing.
“So, what…you’re a detective or a cop?” Kash wonders, looking at Adam. “CIA?” Then jokes. “Hitman?”
“Not necessarily.” He shakes his head, chuckling.
“Then what the fuck are you?” Saint growls, tired of fake deaths and games.
He slaps the detective on the back. “He’s my boss. For the past four years, I’ve been undercover working in a top-secret division that specializes in human trafficking,” Adam announces, and the plane falls silent. He licks his lips and continues. “After we had our meeting senior year at the house of Lords, I began to investigate the disappearance of the girl I was accused of killing.” His eyes drop to his hands in his lap. “At first, it was to prove my innocence, but then it became more than that, and this has been my life ever since.”
“This whole time?” Kash smiles at him as if a proud dad. “You’ve kept this a secret? Why not just tell us?”
Adam sighs and ignores that. “The Lords want me dead.”
“No shit.” Saint snaps, “But why?”
“They—”
“The Lords are part of the problem.” Bill finally speaks and I was wondering why he’s even here. We all look at him. “They want Adam dead because he knows too much. To them, he’s turned on the society and betrayed his oath.”
“And you?” Saint arches a brow. “I’m confused…are you part of the Lords right now or have you too betrayed them?”
“I’m whoever I need to be,” Bill answers vaguely.
Saint snorts, not liking his answer.
“So what does that mean exactly?” Kash asks, looking back at Adam.
Adam drops his head once again, and Saint gets to his feet. “Goddammit, Adam,” he growls. “Your sister thinks you’re dead.”
“I’m protecting her.” Adam’s green eyes snap up to glare at him.
“Bullshit!” Saint argues. “She’s a fucking wreck…”
“They will come after her!” He jumps to his feet. “I’m trying to do something here! I’m trying to fix a problem that we’ve helped create!” He shouts and adds, “Your wife was raped. Again.” His words make Saint flinch. “My sister…” He pokes his own chest. “Raped...again. And she’s carrying that fucking bastard’s child! AGAIN! I’m trying to prevent another mother, sister, or someone’s daughter from having to go through that.”
I get to my feet and touch his arm. “Adam,” I say softly, trying to defuse the situation. He doesn’t need to bring up what we all know. It’s not going to change the past. Plus, I haven’t asked or heard if it’s been confirmed whether Benny is the father to one of Ashtyn’s babies. I’m just guessing Adam assumes the worst.
Adam steps back and falls into the seat between his boss and Bill. He opens up a briefcase and pulls out another manilaenvelope and slaps it down on Saint’s lap that reads TOP SECRET across the front.
“What is this?” he asks, opening it.
“It’s not just here,” Adam states.
“What’s not?” Kash questions.
Adam’s boss goes to speak, but Adam beats him to it. “The girls…the disappearances.”
“Tyler Cason Crawford.” Saint reads the name out loud.
I look at Adam. “Any relation to Tyson?”
“Not that we’ve found,” his boss answers.
“Is this Tyler guy a Lord?” Saint goes on, and his brows crease as his eyes skim the report.
“Not that we can tell.” Adam shakes his head.
