“Why not?”
“Because they're the reason she ran in the first place.” His voice went flat. “Father was abusive. Mother enabled it. She figured the streets were safer than home, and she was probably right until someone picked her up and sold her.”
“What's Ash doing about it?”
“Working with a family law attorney to get emergency custody transferred to the state, then finding a placement that isn't a group home or back with the parents.” Luka rubbed his eyes. Looked tired in a way I didn't see often. “It's a mess. Legal red tape, bureaucratic bullshit, and a system that's designed to fail these kids even when they're trying to help.”
“Sounds like Ash is having a great time.”
“He's ready to burn down half the New York family court system.” But there was pride in Luka's voice. “He's good at this. Better than I am. He gives a shit about the details, about making sure every single person gets what they need instead of just what's efficient.”
I'd seen Ash work. Knew the difference between Luka's calculated strategy and Ash's bleeding heart determination to save everyone even when it was impossible. They balanced each other. Made the Sentinels more effective because they could play both angles.
“How much longer's he stuck there?” I asked.
“Depends. If the custody hearing goes well, maybe another few days. If it doesn't, could be a couple weeks.” Luka pickedup his phone, checked his messages, then looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. “Want to say hi?”
“To Ash?”
“No, to the Pope. Yes, to Ash.” He was already pulling up FaceTime. “He's been asking about you.”
“We were on the plane together.”
“And he's still asking.” Luka's mouth twitched. “You know how he is.”
The phone started ringing. Ash's face filled the frame a moment later, all sharp features and dark eyes that went from tired to amused the second he saw me.
“Well, look who's still alive,” Ash said. “How's Chicago treating you?”
“Like a bitch.”
“So, business as usual.” Ash grinned. “You settling in okay? Declan's place working out?”
“It's fine.”
“He means it's weird as hell but he's too stubborn to admit it,” Luka said.
“I don't remember asking for your commentary.”
“And yet here I am, providing it anyway.” Luka settled back, whiskey in hand. “Ash, update on the placement situation?”
“Hearing's tomorrow morning. Attorney thinks we've got a good shot at getting the state to take temporary custody, but it's going to depend on the judge.” Ash ran a hand through his hair. Looked exhausted. “The Moldovan girl's doing better. We found a translator, got her connected with an immigration attorney. She's scared as hell but she's talking now, which is progress.”
“What about the others?” I asked.
“Most of them are stable. We've got them in secure housing, therapy sessions twice a week, job training programs starting next month.” He smiled slightly. “One of the women asked if she could work for the Sentinels after she gets her shit together. Saidshe wants to help pull other people out the way we pulled her out.”
“What'd you tell her?”
“That we'd talk about it when she was ready.” Ash's expression softened. “She's got potential. They all do, if we can just keep them alive long enough to see it.”
The conversation shifted. Ash caught me up on some of the operational details I'd missed since the flight. A trafficking ring they'd disrupted in Prague. Intel about a new smuggling route through the Balkans. Updates on cases I'd worked before heading to Chicago.
It felt normal. Comfortable. The easy shopwalk that came from being part of a larger operation, being connected to people who understood the work because they lived it too.
“So how's Chicago treating you so far?” Ash asked. “Staying out of trouble?”
“Define trouble.”
