Page 57 of Trapped Truth

“No, it’s necessary.”

“We need backup. It’s too risky.”

“I said no! Our safety has been compromised. Twice. Until we find out how it happened and eliminate the threat, I’m done taking chances by trusting anyone outside this room.”

At last. Some common sense.

The grump falls silent, his head tilted back so he can glare up at the warehouse ceiling. I feel a little sorry for him. It can’t be easy to watch something you’ve loved and fought for become the enemy. I know what that’s like, and it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

“Is it safe to go home?” Ember’s face is more ashen than usual.

“That location is secure.” Warner studies her closely. “How’s the leg?”

“Wonderful, feels like getting a luxury massage. I want to go to bed.”

“You’re lucky it was a flesh wound and nothing more serious.”

“Luck didn’t have much to do with it,” Axel says candidly. “She yanked the blade right out of her thigh then stuck it in that motherfucker before he could finish the job. It was hot as hell.”

“What happened?” Raye cocks a brow.

Fishing the phone from my pocket, I pull up the image I snapped of our assailant’s ink. His body was covered then removed for Sabre to clean up not long after. The doctors tried to stabilise him, but the blood loss was too extreme.

She sucks in a breath upon seeing the photo. “Well, shit.”

“Must be from the older generation, no longer part of our ranks.”

“I’d say so. I don’t recognise him.”

“I’ve had that symbol scrubbed from all those still associated with us. This asshole must’ve dropped off the radar during the investigation and has since realigned with my father.”

Raye nods, running an absent finger over her own hand. The faded swirls from the old tattoo are barely visible. Nothing discernible as a gang mark. My father insisted on all his foot soldiers being tagged.

“I wasn’t able to question him, his injuries were too severe. But it doesn’t matter. The brand tells us enough.”

Across the circle, Ember snickers to herself. “Sorry.”

“With that kind of loyalty, he wouldn’t have volunteered any information regardless.” I shrug in nonchalance. “His life was forfeit.”

“He still shouldn’t have gotten close enough to harm anyone.” Hyland runs his hands through his hair then deftly ties it back. “We need to be more careful.”

“What we need is to go home and rest.” Warner climbs to his feet, a hand braced on his covered prosthetic. “It’s going to take time to organise the sting. I want everyone ready.”

One by one, they file out of the temporary office, leaving me to linger behind with Raye. At some point, Spyder snuck into the back corner. He approaches the desk to join us once our guests have stepped out.

“So this is how it is now, huh?” His lip curls in evident dislike.

“We have to work together, Spyder. You know that was always the goal. We located Ember to garner Sabre’s favour almost a year ago for this sole purpose.”

“We agreed to use them,” he corrects. “Not become best friends.”

“Allies.” Raye’s left eyebrow shoots up.

I spare her a surprised look. She glares back at me.

“What? Even I can admit when we need help. There’s a trail of burned-out locations leading right to us, so it won’t be long before Nolan’s breathing down our necks. We’re in trouble.”

“You’ve changed your tune.”