Page 30 of Four Calling Birds

“I came because Top called me.” I braced myself, knowing that the next words were going to cut. “Not because of you.”

Goose was staring down at his plate, his fork hovering over the potatoes. Mack’s hand stilled on my nape, then gave me a reassuring squeeze.

“Bring the kids, Goose,” Mack said, ignoring Taz. “We’ll be here to help you. Maybe you can grab a nap in a guest room. I’m sure you’re pretty sleep deprived.”

“Fact.” He said by way of acknowledgement. His hovering fork speared a piece of meat, and we all resumed eating.

Taz went back to the folder in front of her, reading. Her mind was working at double speed. That photographic memory of hers was taking it page by page.

“The Scorpio Network?” She looked at me, searching for confirmation. “How did you get in with them?”

I put down my fork, swallowing hard. “It took me two years. I had to create a persona that would work, then run their gauntlet.”

“Their gauntlet? You’re kidding.” She looked at me skeptically. “People die during that thing.”

“I passed out three separate times, but I made it through.” I looked at Mack. His jaw flexed. He was grinding his teeth. His hand stilled in my hair, as he took a deep breath, letting it out through his nose before his hand resumed its sweet caresses.

He didn’t look at me. His eyes got distant, as he brought his other hand to his mouth, as if he was the thinker. I knew something was swirling in his brain. None of it was pleasant.

“This contact,” Taz raised the folder in her hand, “The one that supplied the intel says that they moved you because Scorpio was on his way to the safe house where you were recovering.” She opened it up to a specific page, though she didn’t need to read it. It was already in the vault of her enormous brain. “Then they bypassed it, after you were moved, and now they’re coming here. Probably by nightfall at the earliest. So how did they know you were here? Was your contact bugged?”

“No, they debugged the vehicle, and the safe house. Not to mention that we run jammers all the time, so they can’t trace a signal.” I swallowed, finally realizing the puzzle that was my imminent execution.

“Great,” Taz said, looking down at the folder again and shaking her head. “Now Top’s in the line of fire because of you. As if you needed to cause more problems…”

“Taz!” Mack slammed a fist onto the table, making all the cutlery jump and clatter. Goose, Veder and I stilled as the dishes settled back down, and the rattling ceased.

Taz only pursed her lips, then kept on reading. Then her brows furrowed. She picked up a piece of paper and flipped it back and forth. Then looked at me. Then back on the paper.

“Did they suspect you before you got out?” Taz asked, her eyes still on the files, only paying attention to me with half her brain as she looked for answers to questions that only she knew.

“I thought they did. But a week before the Transnistria deal went down, Magnus…”

“That’s Magnus Bjornstad?” Taz interrupted, turning a page. “The Scorpio Network’s front man?”

“That’s the one.” I answered. “He shared a drink with me. I figured that meant that my cover was solid. I have no idea what it was, because it was strong as fuck, and I passed out afterwards, but…”

“You passed out?” Taz lifted her head, looking at me with unblinking eyes. “How soon after?”

“I don’t really know, I don’t remember…”

“Did he drink the same thing? Like you saw him pour the drinks, and he had some himself?”

“No, he just handed me a glass…”

With a terrifying flick of her wrist, a switch blade was in her hand. “VD, hold Top back.”

18. You’re Bugging

Mack

“Puttheknifedown,Guerro!” I roared, as VD held back my arms. “Stay the fuck away from my wife!”

The girl had lost her fucking mind. She was taking everything too far, and she needed to sit the fuck down. But VD… man… the guy was strong. He held me in a vice grip from behind, his arms across my chest, holding me in place with his huge fucking weight.

“Goose!” I ordered, “Take her down.”

Bo lifted his groggy head from the couch, and barked. Goose looked at me, then at VD. Then Taz. Then at Lotte.

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