Page 130 of Blind Prophet

As the door closes behind me, Ryan’s stern expression underscores the seriousness of the moment.

Trevor, Luke, Fisher, and two men I don’t recognize gather around the end of a conference table, reading updates streaming in from a source.

Ryan follows my gaze to the men at the end of the room.

“We boarded the ship. It’s ours,” Trevor says. “Getting the lay of the land. It’ll be deposed shortly.”

He’s talking about the ship they mentioned during my Project Unity debrief. The US and allied partners tracked it for weeks. In my opinion, they should’ve taken it out when they first located the stolen chemical weapons.

If Trevor’s sharing an update… “Is Arrow going?—”

“No,” Ryan answers. “Stolen chemical weapon cargo. Justifiable action. If what we learn implicates an American…” His head shifts, and those ice-blue eyes question, judging my character? No, assessing my performance.

“It’s not Dorian. You believe me, right?”

I glance back at the other men, but their attention is trained on Trevor’s laptop.

“Let’s talk privately,” Ryan says, leading me back to the conference door.

As we exit, Luke’s attention breaks, and with Ryan’s back turned, the look he gives me is pure venom. Damn. He’s pissed.

Because Dorian’s here? Because I didn’t come straight to the office like he asked? Because I’m the second woman he’s dated who has chosen her ex over him?

I can’t worry about his reasoning. I breathe in deeply, blinking away the ridiculous situation.

“Caroline, let’s use Stella’s office,” Ryan says, leading the way.

As I follow him along the hallway, I listen to the subdued chatter and keys. The tension in the air has lessened, yet here I am, following my boss for a private discussion. This is feeling like I’m in for a reprimand.

When he enters Stella’s office, he leans against the front of the desk, half-sitting, half-standing.

“Close the door.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Our military and allies have things under control. At the moment.”

“Stella and Trevor’s son? He’s safe?”

“He’s deployed.” Ryan crosses his arms over his chest, making it clear he won’t share more, and I understand. There isn’t more he can say. “Sophia’s kept us informed.”

I expected as much.

“In a mission, we all play a role. From Arrow’s perspective, you played a vital role in our assignment. Our government and our allies are counting on us to provide accurate intel.”

“Do you have a question?”

The overhead light reflects on the gray hairs sprinkled throughout his short-cropped black hair. His eyes narrow.

“Can we trust you?”

“Absolutely.”

“Don’t be offended by my question. I understand how loyalty can be tested. If someone asked me to choose between my wife and my country…I’ll hold my head up high and stand by my wife.”

“Ryan, you have my word. I’m not lying. I’m not even bending the truth. Dorian Moore isn’t behind this. And Halston…” I shrug. “He’s unreliable. He alternates between lucid and…” I press my lips together, at a loss for the right word. “In all probability, someone is accessing his accounts and leveraging his network. It’s highly unlikely someone in his deteriorating state could pull this off. I won’t say it’s impossible, but at the very least, people he hired are executing.”

“And you believe that person is his financial advisor? This Geoffrey Cromwell?”

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