Page 99 of Scornful

They always do, but this one shatters spectacularly.

Words pour out between sobs. He gives us confirmation about the bomb, details about the Patriot's operation, locations, plans, names of associates—all things we weren’t yet privy to.

"There's another one," he gasps suddenly, blood dripping from his mouth. "Another bomb."

Everything stops.

Kraken's hand freezes mid-swing.

The temperature in the room seems to drop ten degrees.

Runes steps forward. "Where?"

"The spa. Your women's spa. Set to go off when it reopens tomorrow."

Ice floods my veins.

Astrid works there.

Charm, Fern, half the ol’ ladies.

If we hadn't grabbed this piece of shit tonight...

"Exact location," Fenrir snarls, his own control slipping now. "Now."

Marcus gives it up—under the sink in the main treatment room, remote detonated. "Professional job," he claims, almost bragging through his pain. "Enough C4 to level half the building. Timer set for 10 AM tomorrow. First busy hour."

I want to tear his throat out myself now.

The image in my mind of Astrid in that building when it explodes... I take a step forward, but Tor grabs my arm.

"Get Hakon," Runes orders Tor, his voice tight. "Tell him we need his Army experience. EOD. Now."

Tor disappears upstairs.

Thank fuck Hakon served in the Army bomb squad before prospecting.

We might actually handle this without calling in outside help or evacuating the area.

"The Patriot." Kraken returns to his work. "Where is he?"

"Safe house," Marcus coughs. "North side. 4782 Willowbrook Drive."

"That was fast," I say suspiciously. "No more resistance?"

Marcus laughs, a broken sound. "Won't matter. He moves every few days. Probably gone already. That's yesterday's spot."

"Addresses," Kraken repeats, yanking Marcus's head back by his hair. "Any others you know."

Marcus rattles off two more addresses, a warehouse on the docks, some associates' names.

Information flows like blood now, pooling at our feet.

The Patriot's operation is bigger than we thought. It’s not just the drugs anymore.

Now he’s getting into weapons, and we already knew about his network of corrupt cops and politicians.

"He said kids make the best victims," Marcus wheezes. "Said it would break you faster than killing brothers. Make you sloppy, emotional. Easier to defeat."

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