Page 54 of Trapped Truth

“We can all make threats about flying bullets, you know.”

After inputting the code to disengage the door lock, I gesture for the Anaconda Team to enter ahead of me. Once they’re all in, I seal the entrance shut behind us, leaving Spyder laughing. Not the best security system, but this place is only temporary.

We’ve been moving locations multiple times a month for a while now. It seemed like a healthy precaution at first, given my allegiance to Sabre printed in black and white. The last thing I wanted was for a scrap of paper to interfere with my business, or vice versa.

Given recent events, I’d wager that precaution has paid off. The Anaconda Team isn’t the only one my father is hunting. According to whispers on the street, several of our old haunts have been targeted. The warehouse where I first fought Ember was set aflame two nights ago.

“Why are we here?” Hyland grumbles from the back of their group. “Anyone can hack a hospital system to check appointments. That doesn’t mean Sabre has a leak.”

“How many coincidences need to occur before you open your eyes?” I fire back.

He casts a savage look over his shoulder. “Some of us have dedicated our lives to this company. It’s not so easy to break that level of trust.”

“That attitude is precisely your weakness.”

At the end of a dim, sawdust-scented hallway, we veer left into a wide open workshop. Carpentry tools and rusted machinery are still in place, unmoved since the firm went into liquidation and ceased trading overnight.

Past the rows of abandoned workstations, we’ve constructed a rudimentary office behind stacked plywood and hanging tarps. Warner hangs back from leading our approach to let me enter first. I’d hate for Raye to attack him.

“Miss me?” I stroll in ahead of them.

Her pink head lifts from a stack of paperwork. “Like a gangrenous limb. What took you so long?”

“Complications. I’ve brought company.”

“Oh, goody.”

Her expression sours further at the troupe following me inside, two now visibly injured. The hospital staff stitched and bandaged Ember, but she refused to be held longer than necessary. A shot of pain relief and we fled not long after they called time of death on our troublesome assassin.

She huffs in annoyance. “More like stray pets off the street.”

“Play nice, Raye. We’re on the same side now.”

“I agreed to play nice with those two clowns at Sabre Security for you. Don’t expect me to smile and roll out the welcome mat for all the strait-laced wannabes you bring home, Blaine.”

“Wannabes?” Axel splutters.

“How’s the bullet wound?” She scowls at him.

“Perhaps we should give you one so you can find out for yourself.”

“Try it, motherfucker. I’ll have you ripped open and bleeding out in three seconds.”

“Guys.” Warner stations himself in the corner, tucking his weapon away. “Blaine’s right; we’re all on the same side. If we could have a conversation without death threats, that would be a good start.”

I’m not sure how I feel about the team leader agreeing with me—for the benefit of the situation or not. But with Raye’s mouth shut and Axel deflating, his words seem to do the trick for now.

“Everyone take a seat.” I gesture around at the collection of wooden crates.

“Nice office,” Hyland taunts as he settles onto one.

“It’s temporary.”

“Pretty far cry from your old digs, isn’t it?”

“Feel free to go back to being hunted on the street or shut your damn mouth. The adults are talking now.”

“You’re not my boss!”