Page 124 of Creed

“Or they have help to hide their tracks,”Papàsays hoarsely, settling behind his desk.

Army nods and checks his watch. “I’ll put Len’s call on speakerphone, but I need silence.”

I place my hand on the small of Sophie’s back over the sweatshirt of mine that she tossed on with her leggings and lead her to the sofa. Army’s phone rings as we sit, and he holds his fingers to his lips and then answers, sounding relaxed. “Prompt as ever, Len.”

“Am I on speaker?” Her voice is firm and no-nonsense.

“You are.”

“I think I have an idea of who you’re with,” she replies, and we all stiffen. “Even though I can’t get a read on where the fuck you are.”

“Friends don’t track friends, Len,” Army jokes coolly, but it’s a warning.

She snorts. “I don’t have time for this bullshit, so I’m going to cut to the chase. I need Sophie Demeanus.”

Sophie is rigid beside me on the sofa, her hands fisted in her lap.

“We’ve already discussed—”

“Enough, Army,” she snaps. “My team—”

“You’re not a team player, Len. You’re rogue. A lone wolf.”

“People change,” she grunts. “But you know my days of taking orders are over, so I’m more of an intel and action collaborator with them.” She sighs. “Look, I gave you something; now give me something in return.”

“Info for info, favor for favor, right?” Army hikes his brow. “But Len, you really gave me shit.”

“Army,” she warns. “I need to know if the Havoc Guardians are involved in this.”

“Why?”

“Because I need Sophie fucking Demeanus!” Her anger startles him.

Is she subtly warning Army that her team is about to strike at whoever they think has taken Sophie, thinking that’s the MC? And this is her last effort at salvaging her friendship and working relationship with Army by giving him a chance to come clean?

It’s a possibility. I remember Ash’s warning that he’ll protect the MC first and foremost, which I completely understand. His face is hard and closed off.

I exchange a quick look withPapà, Massimo, and Vito. Without words, they tell me the ball is in my court, and they trust what I decide. I motion to Army, giving him a nod.

His jaw works, and then he admits to Len on the phone, “The MC helped rescue Sophie from a threat in San Diego. We don’t have her, though. We were just the quick getaway.”

“Who was threatening Sophie?” she asks. Army stays silent, and Len huffs out a heavy breath. “Creed Santoro has her, yeah?”

Army mutes the phone just in time before the shock hits us. He furrows his brow. “Keep silent,” he stresses urgently. “Don’t give her anything. She listens and analyzeseverything.”

Sophie holds a hand over her mouth and grips my hand with her other one.

He unmutes the phone. “If you think you know, Len, then why you calling me?”

“We cracked Sophie’s security on her phone and found a contact titled Creed,” she says instead of answering Army’s question. I’m impressed—but my unease increases—because the security program I added to Sophie’s phone is supposed to be impossible to crack. “It’s an unusual name. We did some digging but no other connection.”

“Your point,” Army says gruffly.

“We went back on some intel Ollie gave about the first time Sophie acted unusual and out of character. She didn’t comehome one night after an industry mixer. No Creed was on the invite list—student, faculty, or industry rep.”

I close my eyes, knowing what she’s going to say next.

“But there was a T.S. on the list. As inTommaso Santoro, who just happens to have a son named Creed.”

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