Kai nodded.“An update would be good.And thanks for that intel.That was good work finding leads where there weren’t any, Ka—Surge.Mahalo.”Crap almost dropped his real name.
Surge caught that slip if his raised eyebrow was anything to go by but inclined his head.“Bateman got the message at just the right time.Fuckers had yanked Dale right out of the gym.They all moved pretty fucking fast, though.Within minutes there was nothing left but four dead bad guys and Dale pulled out alive.The immediate danger to the Pathfinders is gone—for now.”
Relief tugged at Kai’s chest, and Hogan leaned forward, expression serious.“Thank you, brother.We owe you one.”
“Anything forohana, and we sure as shit do not keep count” Surge said simply.Then his eyes narrowed.“But don’t think it’spau.Bruddah,it is far from over.The focus is shifting.Word is, the heat’s turning toward Hawai’i.Different players, same game.”He paused, then added, “And on the other matter—it’s moving, slow but sure.Can’t say too much until I know what Hogan knows and what he doesn’t.”
Kai’s gut twisted.He angled the screen.“I’ll bring him in on the DEA stuff.”
Surge’s brows shot up.“All of it?”
Kai winced, but Hogan’s voice cut in, firm.“Yes.All of it.”
A pause, then Surge nodded.“Then here’s what you need to know.Kavaci’s making bigger and sure as shit bolder moves in the States.Recruiting, building, spreading.It’s bigger than we thought.The trafficking of drugs and guns is already up and running, the human side is just kicking off, and it is starting here.”
Kai’s stomach turned.The thought of anyone, let alone kids being trafficked for sex was abhorrent to him.Hell, to anyone who wasn’t inherently evil.
“I’ll send through what we have,” Surge said.“I’ll welcome your insights into the intel.”
Kai nodded.“You’ll get it.A hui hou, brah.”
Surge lifted his chin in a Polynesian acknowledgement known the world over.“Malama pono, bruddahs.”
The call ended with a hiss of static, the laptop going dark.Hogan leaned back, arms crossed, waiting.
Kai rubbed at the scar on his forearm, buying time.“Surge is Kael, my brother from the orphanage.This van?A product of his company, Black Tide Customs.They customize vehicles into pretty much anything you might need.”
“But, given what this is kitted out with, I am guessing that they do more than just customize recreational vehicles for a living?”Hogan asked, suspicion edging his voice.
Kai’s smile was thin.“There’s always more.”He drew in a breath.“For the past couple years, I’ve been chasing corruption inside the DEA.A mole who has cost the lives of too many really good agents.Maybe more than one traitor, I cannot be sure.Every time I get close, someone tips them off.I started this hunt about the time you were in Chechnya.”
Hogan’s eyes darkened.“Why am I not surprised that you know about Chechnya?”
Kai pushed on.“And the Kavaci?They’re connected.A month ago, I tried to infiltrate a sect, follow the trail, but I got burned by the same mole I have been trying to find in the DEA which is how I know this is all interconnected somehow.I went into hiding, avoided going to Black Tide to keep them out of this mess, and that’s when I reached out to you for help.I was caught two days before you found me, beaten then left for dead.But soon, once we have more information and a plan, we need to call in the Pathfinders because this isn’t just about me and the DEA anymore.It’s a vendetta against the Pathfinders.They want you all gone.”
Hogan’s growl was sharp.“We should’ve been involved from the beginning.”He shoved back from the table, anger flashing.“You don’t get to decide where we draw the line.”
He stormed out of the van, the door slamming behind him.
Kai sat still, letting the silence settle.He knew Hogan needed time.Reaching for the laptop, he opened it again, pulling up files on Kavaci.
Hogan would come back.
And when he did, they’d start unraveling the puzzle together.
