Page 44 of Unexpected Heroine

“I have my crystal ball here,” she quips. “It says you’re about to ask me about two specific individuals.”

“Affirmative.”

“And said individuals are currently under Redleg’s protection, being hidden from a certain big, bad, disgusting organization. How am I doing so far?”

I grind my teeth, enjoying the twinge of pain. After a brutally long two seconds, I grumble, “Can we skip to the part where you tell me where they are and what intel they’ve given up so far? Or do I need to do some kind of dance first?”

“As tempting as it is to make you do a dance—and I haven’t ruled that out yet—I don’t think you realize what you’re asking of me. I’m not supposed to reveal their locations. I’m already on Big Al’s shit list. Literally. He wrote our names in a notebook that’s labeled Big Al’s Shit List. Your name is in there too. I’m not trying to get fired during my first month at Redleg.”

Before I pressure her to go against Boss, I should see if its even necessary. “Can you at least tell me if they gave up any good intel?”

“Actually, I can talk about that with you. Just don’t ask where they are.”

“Fine. Tell me what information they shared. I’m not asking for their locations.”

Yet.

“Davidov was as tight-lipped as they come. Boss and Leo didn’t get anything out of him.”

“Seriously?”

“Afterward, Leo told me Boss didn’t put the screws to the guy. He wouldn’t let Leo either. He’s very concerned about how this is going to go with law enforcement.”

Closing my eyes, I clench my free hand into a fist and crack my knuckles. “That’s fucking disappointing. What about the other guy?”

“Savin was much more cooperative, which isn’t a surprise. He confirmed the names of the six men who were at the house when we raided it. They matched the IDs we made from the photos Jonesy snapped during the op.”

I switch the phone to my other ear. “Did he give up anyone higher up the food chain?”

“No, but he said he would if he and Tasha could get into WITSEC.”

“That it?”

“He knows the location of other trafficking prep houses and some other key locations where they do business.”

“He knows the locations or gave them up?”

“The former. He’s not talking any further without protection and a deal.”

“Fucking hell.” My back teeth creak from the strain of my jaw clench. “Did he indicate if he knows where Yev might have gone to hide?”

“Negative. Although, I don’t recall if we asked him that specifically.”

A groan I can’t suppress breaks free. “As much as I’d love to ask you where they’re all located so I could have my own discussion with them, you’ve already told me not to bring that up. So this is me, not bringing it up.”

Rather than responding to my not-so-subtle hint, she changes the subject. “How’s Lettie?”

My pacing stops, feet frozen like the inside of my chest. “She’s... what do you want me to say? She’s fucking traumatized and putting on a brave face. It’s awful, Mia.” I stop talking when my voice begins shaking.

“Oh, T. I’m so sorry for what you’re both going through.”

Unsure where to pivot the conversation, I let silence fall long enough for it to get awkward. In an effort to take the focus off my inner turmoil and Lettie’s suffering, I ask, “How are you making out with the hack to your home security system?”

Mia’s grating sigh meets my ears. “Stumped like the trees in The Lorax.”

“Uh,” I drawl, unsure of her meaning.

“Ignore the Dr. Suess reference. Let’s just say it’s not going well. Adding insult to injury, I’ve reached a jack shit level of progress at figuring out who the mole is on the task force.”

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