Blaze’s gaze flicked up. “Arrogant assholes.”
“Suicidal,” I corrected flatly. “The only thing worse than messing with my bird is messing with my woman or my club. They were already on my kill list for the former, but they also thought I wouldn’t find it.” I let out a humorless breath. “Even if I hadn’t been suspicious, I would’ve caught it eventually. I’m that fucking good at what I do, and they should know it.”
“Can’t argue with that,” King murmured.
My lips curved into something that wasn’t a smile. “And if I hadn’t caught this on the ground, I would’ve handled it in the air. Because short of a fucking missile, no one brings my bird down but me.”
I went on to tell them about my early afternoon meeting with two representatives from Aegis Aerospace Systems. I'd managed—barely—to keep my composure as we discussed a handful of proposed design changes after the last test flight. Collaborating on those changes had seemed routine enough until today.
During the meeting, they had suggested the adjustments were minor enough that we could fast-track the next flight to the following day. An entire week ahead of schedule. It didn't take a genius to connect those dots. Of course they wanted me back in the sky as soon as possible. They'd rigged my fucking plane, and I was nothing more than a data point they needed to complete.
But I hadn't let them see my rage. I'd kept my expression carefully neutral, pretending to consider their arguments, nodding thoughtfully as if I were genuinely tempted by the idea. My agreement hadn't been enthusiastic, but it had been enough to make them confident they'd convinced me.
“I told them I'd take the night to think it over,” I explained to King and Blaze, folding my arms across my chest. “I acted like I was seriously considering it—using positive language, leaving the door open. I didn't commit, but I didn't refuse either. It's exactly what they'll expect.”
King nodded approvingly. “Smart. No need to tip them off. Let them think they've still got control.”
Blaze scowled, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “What's the play tomorrow?”
“I'll call it off in the morning,” I replied calmly, though my voice held an edge sharp enough to cut steel. “Give them some bullshit excuse about needing more prep time or wantingto double-check a subsystem before I’m wheels-up again. They won’t question it too much. I have enough credibility that they'll trust my caution.”
King considered that for a moment before nodding again. “Good. That buys us time.”
Blaze shifted, his arms still crossed and eyes thoughtful. “But time for what? What's the next move?”
That question was still digging at me—the uneasy feeling in my gut refusing to ease. “There's something else that’s bothering me.”
King raised a brow, waiting for me to elaborate.
“Linden found the discrepancy,” I explained, running a hand roughly through my hair. “But do they really believe she only told me? That I'm the sole person she confided in? Who else do they think knows about this? Because if they're willing to sabotage me and go after Linden, what's their endgame?”
King's eyes narrowed, instantly tracking my line of thought. “You think they might try to clean up anyone else she's talked to.”
I nodded. “Or at least anyone they suspect she talked to. Now that they're fairly certain she's here, they might not care if we're collateral damage. Aegis isn't playing small. They're testing remote overrides on military aircraft. They killed Carson, and who knows how many other pilots. It’s a billion-dollar cover-up. Why stop at one loose end?”
Blaze's jaw tightened. “They won't. They'll target anyone who might know about the cover-up or compromise their agenda. Probably have a contingency for it already.”
“Exactly.” I met King's stare head-on. “They're going to escalate. Whatever they do next will be bigger, messier. If they can't take Linden quietly, they'll do it loudly. They might even come at the club itself—make it look like a feud or a hit that doesn't trace back to them.”
King stood. He was already two steps ahead, his mind processing everything I'd laid out. His eyes met mine, the intensity in them making it clear he was ready for whatever war they brought to our door.
“We're already preparing for that. They won't catch us flat-footed. Echo’s got eyes all over on Aegis. Wizard and Rebel are hunting every digital footprint and surveillance angle they can access. Blaze and Kevlar will be ready for physical security and response if shit hits. Cruze has already acquired its internal, undigitized records, and Linden and Fallon are combing through them for additional information. Ace is still digging deeper into their money trails to see if there's anything else there to give us leverage.” King ran his fingers through his hair. “I have some other ideas, and I’ll get brothers on those as well. We’ll put these motherfuckers in the ground soon enough.”
Blaze nodded, already focused on the steps he needed to take. “They won't get close to Linden again. Or the club.”
“No, they fucking won't,” I growled.
Being blind to their plans was driving me fucking insane. We couldn't fully prep against an attack we knew nothing about.
But as I turned to leave the office, my mind was already racing toward Linden. She was waiting for me—safe for now—but vulnerable in ways that left me fucking terrified. Aegis Aerospace Systems had shown how far they’d go to bury this secret. They'd killed to protect their agenda before. They’d tried to take her already, and she’d been smart enough to call me. But now that they knew where she was, they'd escalate.
The threat wasn't just to Linden anymore.
But it sure as hell started with her.
16
TOMCAT
