"You think he's connected?"
"Maybe. The discharge is public record—or what looks like public record. Could be real. Could be a cover identity." I tap the screen. "Word in veteran networks is someone with that background specialized in weapons modifications during deployment. Ran side deals, got caught, took a discharge to avoid court-martial. But nobody I've talked to has actually met him. It's all secondhand, thirdhand information. Could be our guy. Could be a name someone's hiding behind. Could be completely unrelated and we're chasing shadows."
Will reads through what I've found, expression darkening. "If this is real, and if he's our guy, the operation is more sophisticated than we thought. Building a distribution network, using legitimate fronts like our shop, applying military tactics to criminal enterprise."
"And now someone's threatening The Forge to force us to stop cooperating with ATF." I close the notes. "Which means whoever's running this—Kline or not—knows Monroe's getting close to something, knows we're helping her investigation, and wants us to back off before she finds whatever they're hiding."
"We can't stop."
"No." I stand, checking the security feeds one more time. The Forge sits quiet and empty, waiting. "But we need to make a choice about Monroe before whoever's behind this makes it for us."
Will heads for the door, then pauses. "She followed you here, didn't she? Saw you come in after the memorial ride."
I don't ask how he knows. Will reads people the way I read tactical situations. "Probably waiting outside for you to leave so she can confront me without backup or witnesses. Smart play."
"What are you going to tell her?"
"Haven't decided yet." The truth, because lying to Will serves no purpose. "Part of me wants to shut her out, protect theBrotherhood by maintaining operational security. Part of me knows whoever's behind this is escalating, and we might need federal resources to stop them before someone gets killed."
"And the other part?" Will's tone suggests he already knows the answer.
"The other part wants to see what happens when I let someone capable past the walls." I meet his gaze. "She's either the threat that destroys everything or the only person strong enough to handle what's underneath the VP polish."
"For what it's worth, I think you should trust her." Will pulls the door open. "Not because she's federal law enforcement, but because she survived years undercover with the Devils and still has enough humanity left to see the difference between criminals and veterans trying to build something legitimate."
He leaves before I can respond, footsteps fading down the hallway toward the exit.
I'm alone in The Forge with monitors showing empty rooms and a decision that's going to determine whether the Brotherhood survives this investigation intact or burns because I made the wrong call.
Running on minimal sleep affects reaction time. Degrades decision-making. Makes mistakes more likely when mistakes could cost everything. Time spent managing security upgrades, financial records, ghost orders investigation, and now the breach. All while maintaining the VP facade, keeping Brothers calm, and dealing with the federal agent who sees through the operational layers I've constructed.
I could keep playing this defensively. Could maintain operational security, refuse Monroe access, force her to get warrants and subpoenas for every piece of information. Could protect The Forge by keeping it hidden and hoping whoever's behind this doesn't follow through on their threat.
Or I could make a different choice.
The type that either ends with the Brotherhood destroyed or with an ally who understands exactly what we're protecting and why it matters.
Footsteps pause on the pathway outside. Lighter than Will's, more cautious, the careful approach of someone who knows they're about to cross a line.
Monroe.
I pull up the exterior camera feed and watch her position herself near the entrance, out of direct sight line but close enough to intercept when I exit. She's in professional mode, but something about her body language reads differently than the controlled federal agent who served the warrant.
The decision crystallizes. Not because I trust her completely, not because federal cooperation serves our interests strategically, but because I'm done carrying everything alone and she might be the only person outside the Brotherhood who can handle the truth without exploiting it.
I shut down the monitors, lock the surveillance room, and head for the main entrance.
She straightens when I step outside. Careful positioning, professional awareness, but not aggressive. "We need to talk."
"You followed me from the bar." Statement, not question. "Smart tactical decision. Wait for Will to leave, confront me when I'm alone and possibly off-balance."
"I'm not trying to catch you off-balance. I'm trying to understand what you're protecting in this building." She gestures at The Forge. "Because whatever it is matters enough that you went from conversational to combat-ready in seconds when your phone buzzed."
"And if what I'm protecting isn't relevant to your investigation?"
"Then I need to know that so I can focus on what actually matters." She holds my gaze. "I'm not here to build a case againstlegitimate operations. I'm here to stop weapons trafficking that's getting people killed. If this building is connected to that, I need to know. If it's not, I need to understand why someone would threaten you with it."
She notices the fatigue. Tactical observation. "You look like you've been running tactical operations for weeks without sleep. Whatever you're managing, you don't have to do it alone."
