"And you will, but not at the expense of your health." He pulls back enough to look at my laptop screen. "What are you working on now?"
"Tracing the money trail. Condor gave me access to the financial records he pulled, but some of these shell companies are buried under so many layers it's like peeling an onion made of legal documents and deliberately obscure paperwork."
Ice Pick studies the screen, his brow furrowing. "That company there, Meridian Holdings. I've seen that name before."
"Where?"
"On shipping manifests when we were running guns through the port. They own one of the warehouses we used for storage." He points to another company name. "And that one, Pacific Trade Solutions. They're listed as the company that hired us for security at one of our legit contracts."
My stomach drops. "Wait, are you saying the Saints have done business with these shell companies?"
"Unknowingly, yeah. Looks like whoever's running this operation was using legitimate businesses as cover, hiring local contractors including us to provide services without anyone realizing what they were really funding."
"That's smart. Keeps everything compartmentalized, makes it harder to trace." I pull up another file. "If the club's worked with them, there might be records. Contracts, payment receipts, anything that could help establish the paper trail."
"I'll talk to Hustler. He keeps copies of everything for tax purposes." Ice Pick straightens, running a hand through his hair. "This is bigger than we thought, isn't it?"
"It always was. The Reapers were just the visible part. The people running this operation, they're embedded in the legitimate business world. That's how they've stayed hidden for so long."
He's quiet for a moment, processing this. Then his phone buzzes and he checks it, his expression darkening.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Zip. There's someone at the gate asking for you." He looks at me. "Says her name's Sarah. Your roommate?"
My heart jumps. Sarah. I haven't spoken to her since everything went to hell, and haven't dared to make contact in case it puts her in danger. The fact that she's here, at the compound, means something's wrong.
"Let her in," I say, already standing. "She wouldn't come here unless it was important."
Ice Pick makes the call, and five minutes later Sarah's being escorted into the common room by Zip. She looks exhausted, dark circles under her eyes and her usually perfect hair pulled into a messy bun. When she sees me, relief floods her face.
"Ava, thank god. I've been trying to reach you for days." She rushes forward, pulling me into a hug that's tight enoughto bruise. "Are you okay? I heard about the Reapers and the bounty. I was terrified."
"I'm fine. I'm safe here." I pull back, studying her face. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Our apartment was broken into. Someone trashed the place, went through all your stuff. The police said it looked like they were searching for something specific." Her hands are shaking. "I didn't know what to do, where to find you. Then I remembered you mentioning the Saints Outlaws once in an article, and I figured if anyone knew where you were, it'd be them."
Ice Pick steps forward. "When did this happen?"
"Two nights ago. I was staying at my boyfriend's place, came home to find the door kicked in and everything destroyed." Sarah looks at me. "Ava, they took your files. Everything related to your investigation."
"I've got backups. Everything's on encrypted drives." But my stomach's tight with worry. "Did they hurt you? Threaten you?"
"No, but they left a message." She pulls out her phone, showing me a photo of words spray-painted on my living room wall.
Tell Ava Langley we're not done.
Ice Pick's jaw clenches, and I can feel the anger radiating off him. "Zip, get Vulture. Now."
Zip disappears, and Ice Pick turns to Sarah with an expression that's probably meant to be reassuring but comes off more intimidating. "You did the right thing coming here, but we need to know everything. Did you see anyone? Notice anyone following you?"
"I don't think so. But I'm not exactly trained in counter-surveillance." Sarah looks between us. "What's going on? Who are these people?"
"The same people Ava's been investigating. They're dangerous, and if they know you're connected to her, you mightbe in danger too." Ice Pick pulls out his phone. "I'm calling Robert. We need to get you somewhere safe."
"Wait, who's Robert? And why do I need to go somewhere safe? I just came to warn Ava, not get involved in whatever this is."
"You got involved the moment they broke into your apartment." I take her hand, squeezing it. "These people don't leave loose ends. If they think you know something, if they think you can lead them to me, they'll come after you."
