Page 24 of Antonio Miles

“Mercy Raines,” Knight said. He clicked a photo, and a woman’s face filled the screen. She was maybe twenty, with hard, haunted eyes and a buzzed scalp. There was a line of stitches across her left temple and bruises layered purple over her jaw. “She went missing a month ago but I think she’s been gone longer. Only reason anyone realized she was missing was because her brother insisted on a welfare check.”

“And she’s at Éclipse?” Tonio leaned over Knight’s desk, looking at images and other printouts lying scattered over the surface.

“Yes. Or she was as of six hours ago. I got a facial match off the building’s loading bay security. She’s alive.”

A cold rage threatened to build inside me. “Then we’ll get her out.”

“That’s the plan,” Knight said, like it was the easiest thing in the world. “But the timeline’s tight. You’re running against a clock.”

Antonio leaned forward. “How high up does it climb? Who’s on top?”

Knight’s mouth twisted. “I traced the money up through Iron. It should have jumped to a holding corp, but there’s nothing. It just… stops. No records, no comms, nothing after the transfer. It’s a clean cut.”

Antonio frowned. “That’s not possible. Everything leaves a trail.”

“I agree.” Knight rotated his monitor toward us. “I built a shadow trace using the payment gateway, but after Iron, it’s like the money got vacuumed into a black hole. No shell companies, no kickbacks, not even a personal account. I’ve never seen a laundering job this good.”

“Can you break it?” I said, maybe too hopeful.

Knight looked at me for a long second, then shrugged. “Give me twelve hours and I’ll have a name. But it’s going to cost you some favors, and I’ll have to burn a couple bridges.”

“Do it,” Antonio said. The fact he didn’t hesitate chipped away a little bit more at any defense I had left against him.

Knight went back to his keyboard. “In the meantime, you need to focus on the next run two days from now at Enclave Éclipse. Same location, same security. Difference is, the buyer’s coming in person this time. Not an intermediary.”

“Who is it?” I asked.

“Don’t know. The guy’s never been photographed, never uses a real name. He's Denton's closer. Goes by Rainman, and he’s already in the city.” He pointed at a text chain with the name “Rainman” attached. “He basically takes an order and places the buy, delivering the package to whoever paid him. He’s definitely got a skill set outside the norm, so be ready for anything if you actually confront him.”

Antonio straightened in his chair, his jaw tight. “You said two days?”

“Forty-two hours, if the itinerary holds. If they move up the timetable, I have measures in place to know immediately, but for now, assume it’s a hard clock.”

I looked at the image of Mercy Raines, at the numbers and files rolling past. “I’m going, too,” I said.

Knight stopped typing and finally smiled. “Would have been surprised if you didn’t.”

Antonio was less thrilled. “No.”

I stared at him. “If I can help, I’m not sitting this out. You don’t get to make that decision for me.”

He set his coffee down with a soft, deliberate thunk. “I do if I’m afraid it could get you killed.”

“Then you better keep me alive,” I shot back.

The silence was a challenge. I held his gaze, refusing to look away, and he relented first. “You stay with me every second,” he said.

“Deal.”

Knight coughed into his hand, covering a smile. “Family drama isn’t my favorite thing, but it’s top ten. I’ll pull together anything you need, Tonio. Just promise you’ll try not to get shot on my watch. For some reason, Brynn likes you.”

“Is she still doing well?” Antonio asked.

“Yeah,” Knight said, his face easing into something almost tender. “She’s nearly back to normal. Lavender’s good with her. Brynn asks about you all the time.”

Antonio gave Knight a warm smile. “I promise I’ll visit her as soon as this is over.”

Knight nodded, then cleared his throat and brought up a new file. “Last thing before you go. They’ll know you’re coming. Denton’s already spun up new security. If you want in, you’ll need an inside badge and a biometric. Rourke’s old badge will get you through the first two doors, but for the main vault, you’ll need Denton’s thumb or his iris.”