The conference roomwas at capacity. Shane, Gina, Lach, Kyle, Charlie, Bear, Ben, Elias, Waylon, Flint, Gabe. Dogs settledat their humans' feet—Camo beside Kyle, Fleur at Gina's, Sam near Lach.
Everyone had taken seats around the table except Gina. She never sat during meetings. Just paced or stood, her body trying to keep up with her mind. Whenever someone asked if she wanted to take notes, she'd tap her temple and say, "Got it all up here."
The speaker at the center of the table crackled. "Reporting in,” Elissa said. She was the head of Watchdog Security in Los Angeles and rumored to be one of the best hackers out there. Shane thought she always sounded like the quintessential California Girl. But today, her tone had weight to it.
Shane didn’t waste another second. He told them about Romano’s call.
“Shane?” Elissa said. "First of all, I'm so bummed this is happening to you. But we will get her back. Right, Spooky?"
Gina gave the speaker a fierce grin. Her golden eyes flashed. "Damn straight we will."
Flint’s fingers flew across his laptop keyboard. The screen on the wall flickered to life, and Shane's worst nightmare appeared in black and white—a firefighter in full gear carrying April over his shoulder. She was limp, unconscious.
Not dead. Please not dead.
Shane felt his chest constrict. He forced himself to breathe.
"Unfortunately," Elissa continued, "this is the best image we could get. It was a well-coordinated and orchestrated group effort. They used strategically placed smoke bombs to fake a fire and cover their escape. I found Romano on a lobby cam.” The image on the screen changed to an overhead shot of Romano in the main crowd flanked by a couple other guys wearing dark glasses and baseball caps. “All three disappeared, like, literally into smoke."
Shane's jaw clenched.
"But," Elissa added, "the good news is, Spooky ID'ed our fake fireman and I’ve since confirmed the identity."
Everyone looked at Gina. She slowed her pacing and took a deep breath. “Thanks, Lis. Then it’s time to make the call." She glanced at Kyle, and something bitter flickered across her face. "This should interest you, Pup."
Kyle straightened. "Who is it?"
"The one who targeted you over this very land.”
Understanding dawned on Kyle's face. "No shit. This is?—"
"An old Capitoline ghost. We had an agreement, and I can guarantee he's not going to be very happy with his employees."
Gina pulled out a satellite phone. If Elissa had gotten her hands on it, Shane imagined its encryption was so heavy even the NSA would have trouble cracking it.
The room went silent. Even the dogs sensed the shift in energy.
The call connected. Gina switched it to speaker.
"Konstantin," she said. "It's Gina."
There was a long pause. "What a surprise. It's been long time, Smith. What can I do for you?" The man’s accented voice dripped with false warmth.
"We had a deal."
"Da. And I have kept to it."
"Your men kidnapped someone under my protection."
"What men?" Konstantin's tone shifted, going carefully neutral.
"Dimitri Volkov. Vince Romano. Three others. Right here in Lyons, Konstantin."
Ice crept into his voice. "I gave no such order."
"You're telling me they went rogue?"
"Yes."
