“Probably.”
“And you’re coming anyway.”
“Yes.”
Something shifts in his expression. Resignation mixed with respect. “We need help. Two of us alone won’t be enough.”
I think hard. Run through every contact I have. Every person who might possibly help us raid a Syndicate research facility while being hunted by Aurora.
The list is impossibly short. Of course it is. Who would willingly get involved in such madness?
Then an idea surfaces.
Dangerous. Complicated. But maybe possible.
“I think I know someone who can help us,” I say slowly.
He looks at me with cautious hope. “Who?”
I hesitate, not sure this will even work. Not sure they’ll agree. But it’s the only option I can see.
“I need to make a call,” I say instead of answering. I pull out my phone. Power it on. My hands are steadier than I feel.
The number I’m calling… I haven’t used it in years.
But maybe—maybe—they’ll help anyway.
Chapter 28
Jericho
She ends the call and powers off the phone immediately. The brief conversation leaves me with more questions than answers.
“Who did you call?” I ask while she tucks the phone away.
She’s quiet for a moment. Then: “My old pack alpha. From before I joined Aurora.”
I process this. “Your pack.”
“Yes. He’s getting on the next flight with some of the pack’s fighters.” She moves to the window, checking outside even though we’re well hidden. “They’ll meet us tomorrow.”
“Will it be enough?” The question is more blunt than I intend. “How many are coming?”
“I don’t know exactly. He said he’d bring whoever he could on short notice.” She turns to face me. “But my pack’s top fighters are formidable. Even two or three of them would significantly improve our chances.”
Relief washes through me. We’re still facing terrible odds, but backup—actual trained fighters who might be willing to help… That changes the equation slightly.
“Are you okay with this?” I ask. “Reaching out to them. Touching that part of your life again.”
She’s quiet for several beats. Moves to sit on the edge of the cot. “That pack was my life before Aurora. Before…” She stops. “Before everything changed.”
“Before Chance died.”
“Yes.”
I need to address this. Need to try explaining, even though I know words won’t fix what happened. “The operation that led to his death. I’ve tried to remain pragmatic about it. The decisions made. The intelligence we were working with. The—”
“Don’t.” Her voice is firm but not angry. “Not yet. I’m still coming to terms with it.”
