Reed stood and sat back down in the chair on the other side of the desk while Diana collapsed in her seat. Siren joined Reed, her mind reeling with the implications.
Ashcroft was not only funding the private military contractors who’d attacked her and Reed and who’d carried out the operations on Fate Mountain, he owned the company.
“So, we’ve found that Ashcroft owns and funds Teton Resource Group, but we still don’t know who runs it,” Siren said.
“The Major,” Reed said in a low voice.
“I’ve never heard reference to anyone with that title in relation to this case before today,” Diana said.
“Garrett knew the Major was connected to a private military contractor,” Siren said. “He just didn’t know which one. We need to find him. Figure out his real name. Find out what company Teton Resource Group is funding.”
Diana nodded. “That’s not something I can do.” She gathered her folders. “Take these. I have copies of everything. “Find the PMC. Identify the Major.”
Siren took the folders.
“When you find them,” Diana said. “I want to know.”
She met Diana’s eyes. “You’ll know.”
Siren and Reed walked back to the van, and she tossed him the keys. “You drive. I need to make a phone call.”
Reed pulled out of the garage and headed to the highway. Siren waited until they’d cleared downtown before pulling out one of her burner phones. Dom answered on the second ring.
She informed him of what had happened at the meeting with Diana.
“We still have to identify the PMC run by whoever is going by the Major,” she said.
“You need someone with access to that world,” Dom said.
“I have a contact,” Siren offered. “James Okonkwo in Chicago. We served in intelligence together. He does consulting work now, but he keeps his clearances active. Teton Resource Group is probably a subsidiary of whatever PMC is running Ashcroft’s operations arm. James knows the structure of operations like these. If anyone can look at the evidence we have and tell us who owns it, it’s him.”
“Do it.” The line went dead.
“Chicago?” Reed asked.
“Chicago.”
Chapter
Seventeen
Cornfields stretchedacross the horizon in every direction as they drove through Iowa. Reed found a state park as the sun was setting and paid in cash for a site at the edge of the campground.
Siren had been studying Diana’s files in the dinette since they’d left Omaha. She’d barely spoken since she’d called Dominic. He didn’t want to interrupt her flow, so he started making dinner without a word.
He looked through the cabinets and tiny fridge in their kitchen and decided to make burritos. He warmed a can of refried beans on the propane burner and cooked some instant rice in the microwave.
When it was done, he spooned everything onto tortillas with shredded cheese and salsa. Reed set a plate in front of Siren and sat across from her silently. She looked up and blinked like she’d forgotten where she was.
“Thanks,” she said, her voice warm.
She ate her dinner, still glancing at the papers. Reed ate his meal across from her, watching her work. He kept thinking aboutDiana. She’d spent twelve years building this case after her mate was killed.
It made him think about what he would do if he lost Siren. It didn’t matter that they’d only known each other for two weeks. That they still hadn’t claimed each other. She was his mate. His one and only. Without her, life lost its meaning. The thought of it opened a bottomless void in his chest.
He wondered if this was what Diana felt. He took another bite of his burrito, not wanting to think about it. His father had lost his mother when he was fifteen. For a shifter, losing a mate was a hole that could never be filled. His father had carried on bravely for his kids, but he’d seen him falter. Seen the life drain from his eyes.
“I was just thinking about how hard it must have been for Diana to lose her mate. Like my dad.”
