Page 19 of Burn Bag

“Why hasn’t he just taken them out?” Lock asked, his arms crossed as he studied the map.

“It’s not that simple. You can’t take out just one player. Bring them all down at the same time or risk everything,” Fox said. He pulled up one image, pointing at the screen. “This fucker, he’s got his fingers in all the pies. We’re talking international government shit. He controls financial markets, medication distribution, international security…you name it, this guy influences it. Other nations don’t dare fuck with him.”

“Not just him. He can’t have that much influence,” I said, thinking about how that would all play out. “He’s got to have others working alongside him. A single bullet could take this guy out.”

Fox nodded. “I’m sure he does, but until we can identify the other members of the Shadow Government, we can’t make a move.”

“We can’t make a move anyway,” Lock grunted. “There’s a reason Cash fucked us all over when he left. He’s obsessed with taking down these guys. Look at all he’s sacrificed already,” he said, nodding to me. “Do you honestly think he wouldn’t do the same to all of us if we got in his way?”

“We can’t leave him out there all alone,” Fox argued.

“He’s not alone. He has his father with him,” Lock snapped. “He chose this. He walked away on his own. He left his family. He fucking shot Knight, and if I’m understanding this right, he also shot Kavanaugh. Who else would he sacrifice for revenge?”

“Revenge or justice?” I asked, my eyes flicking to Lock. “Tell me you wouldn’t do the same.”

“At the cost of everyone around me?” He shook his head. “What good did it do to abandon his whole family? How can you even defend him after he shot you? All to join this fucking elite group of men who want to rule the world.”

“I have my reasons,” I gritted out.

“Ones that Kate would understand?” he asked.

My gaze slid to Fox. He got it. I knew he did. After what happened to him as a kid, I knew there was no fucking way he’d walk away after someone hurt a member of his family. Hell would rain down on anyone who dared to come near anyone he loved.

“What the fuck are we doing here?” Lock asked. “You’ve gotta level with me. If there’s something else going on, then I need to fucking know.”

“You just said there are some things you wouldn’t sacrifice. I think this is one of those times you really don’t want to know.”

“Knight!” he called out as I turned my back on him. “Is this a game we can win? Or are you just refusing to let this go?”

I thought of Kate, of our kids, and all I stood to lose. All Cash stood to lose. There was so much at stake. But failure wasn’t an option. It would destroy us all.

“It’s a game we can’t afford to lose.”

I waited for the door to unlock and pushed through it. In another two days, there would be a funeral for Cash, one that I couldn’t attend. But I could go to Eva now and be there for her in the only way I knew how. This would hurt her more than anyone, but it was a risk we all had to take.

The momentthe door swung open, I knew something was wrong. Eva smiled at me and pulled me in for a hug. It wasn’t exactly the reaction I was expecting. Nor did I think she would welcome me with open arms.

“Kate already came by,” she said, glancing over her shoulder at me as she walked back toward the kitchen.

Closing the door behind me, I narrowly avoided one of her kids running into me as he zoomed through the house. I couldn’t remember their names, and now wasn’t the time to stop and talk. I had to find out what was going on with Eva.

I followed her into the kitchen where Kate and Izzy were sipping wine, of all things. “Everything okay?”

Kate shook her head slightly, but Eva turned to me with a smile. “Everything’s great. Wine?”

“No thanks.”

I leaned against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest as I took in the sight.

“So, what are your plans for after the funeral?” Kate asked delicately.

“Oh, I’m sure the guys will put something together. I’m not worried about it.”

“But what about the kids?” Izzy asked. “Are they going to be there?”

“Well, I suppose they should be, but does it really matter?”

It was like she didn’t even care that he was dead. Either that or Cash had pushed too far and she no longer cared, which I just couldn’t see happening.

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