Page 27 of Trapped Truth

An icy prickle creeps down the individual nodules of my spine.

“Do you trust your team’s intel?” I glare at the lit road like it personally offended me. “They went behind your back to contact our superiors, after all.”

“I don’t know what loyalty is like in your ranks, but my people know where their allegiances lie. Don’t think anything happens without my knowledge.”

“So you did send them to approach Sabre,” Hyland cuts in.

“I told them to make sure the information reached the correct people.”

“You’re lucky they weren’t tossed in a matching cell next to the pup’s insane brother.”

“Hah.” Blaine chuckles in sheer amusement. “I think your directors will understand the value of our help when we’re soon outnumbered by the army my father is amassing.”

“You don’t know that.” I flex my hands, aching from where I’ve been strangling the steering wheel. “It’s just a rumour. He might not even be back in the country.”

“Open your eyes. He’s here, and there are plenty of men on the street who remember Nolan Madden’s name. It won’t be long until he has rebuilt his ranks enough to strike.”

The thought that we failed so spectacularly to dismantle the Madden empire leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Now, it seems our failure has returned to bite us.

“Son of a bitch.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

“We spent years locking your precious gang members up,” Hyland snarls over his shoulder. “Fucking years. Now you’re telling us there are rats in the street singing your father’s goddamn name?”

“Without a shadow of a doubt.” Blaine doesn’t mince his clipped words. “Despite my best efforts, he still has many allies.”

“Then what the hell did we work so hard for?”

“Nothing,” he replies flatly.

“How can you say that?” I fire at him before Hyland can start yelling.

“Kill one soldier and another will take their place. Our organisation wasn’t wiped out. You simply scattered it into small enough pieces to disappear and rebuild when the heat cooled off.”

The atmosphere in the car reaches sub-arctic levels of deep freeze. I’d rather Hyland didn’t launch himself back there to strangle our unlikeliest teammate, so I indicate to take the next exit.

“Are you letting us out so I can smash his skull in?” Hyland speaks quietly enough for only me to hear.

“Can you two kill each other another time?” I sigh, utterly exhausted. “Fuel, food. Ten minutes, then we’re back on the road.”

“He’s treading on thin ice, Warner.”

“I’m aware, but we don’t have time to be bickering about the past. Not now.”

“We’re stopping?” Ember rouses from where she’s been resting on Axel’s bicep.

“Yes, love. Just a quick comfort break.”

She nods then gently wakes Axel, careful not to startle him too abruptly from his semi-lucid daze. Thankfully, the service station ahead appears to be open despite the late hour. I’d kill for a hot coffee.

We park in the most secluded spot, far from the street lights and any other customers refuelling or seeking a late-night pick me up. Hyland leaps out before the engine has cut off to skulk around the car and scan the lot for threats.

“Need a hand with Speed Racer here?” Blaine deadpans.

“Fuck you,” Axel grunts.

“Hard pass, Slaughter. I’m here for your girlfriend, nothing more.”

“Jesus Christ.” Ember facepalms. “A hand would be great, thanks.”