Page 80 of Fractured Memories

His chest heaves with a breath before he spits out, “Yeah. Good.”

I know he’s not, but I won’t push. I’ll give him space on the ride back up, but I’ll tell Jude to bring Mika over for dinner. Getting the group together will help ease his agitation at his shooter still being out there.

Honestly, a little whiskey and teasing could do us all some good.

“I’ll see you up at the top.”

Lochlan walks away, and I nod to Till, who will be driving him back up. Unlike most of the guards—whom Lochlan has befriended the majority of—he’s quiet. It’s probably what Lochlan needs right now anyway.

I watch them pull away before ducking into the car. Jude will give them a few minutes before following, keeping distance between us. It’s part of us traveling separately, which is why Rohan isn’t even here right now. Someone has to stay behind in case their aim gets better.

“That was short,” Jude says, but I hear the question in his tone.

“That fucking prick is dead.”

He hums in response. “Unfortunate.” I don’t even answer. “What are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. I don’t mind letting Jude know that I am at a fucking loss because he’s brilliant enough to help.

“I think they are stretching you thin.” My eyes flick over to see his ice blue ones in the mirror. His gaze drops back to the road, and he keeps his tone neutral as he drives. “At first, it was attacks in new spots. Then it was Eden. Now Lochlan. They are drawing your attention in different directions, and you’ve responded by keeping every guard on shift as much as possible, infiltrating buildings, and practically admitting to the public you can’t find the rebels.”

He’s got a point. Not that I like it. I can’t find the rebels, and it does seem like they are leading my attention in one direction while coming from another. I don’t know how they are getting all the information they need to avoid me—which buildings are being swept or when Lochlan will be in the city—but until I can stop that, I need to change how I’m responding.

“Keep going.”

His lips twitch. “Stop the campaign offer of incentives. Let that die down. You have never paid for information before. Caius has always been enough.”

“He’s more effective, actually,” I mutter.

“Exactly.” We start our ascent up the mountain. “Rohan and I can reassign the guards. Instead of having them sweep buildings where the citizens see what we’re doing, we resume normal rotations through the city and down the mountain.”

“I want the fucking rebels found, Jude.” Lochlan is alive, Eden is finally back in my bed, and I don’t want to chance either of those another time around.

“So we set up snipers.” Lochlan’s home comes into view as we reach the compound, the guards stepping aside for Jude to enter. “Only at main points around the city, so we don’t overwork our squads. They will be out of sight and hidden, watching for any unusual activity without the citizens realizing it.”

Well, fuck me. He has a solid plan.

“How long have you been thinking we needed to make a change?”

He parks in my garage. “Since the day Lochlan was shot.”

I step out of the car, Jude following. “He needs time before we have a meeting⁠—”

“Kieran!”

Jude can’t hide his smirk. “You were saying?”

“This day keeps getting fucking worse.” I turn as Conor storms through the door to the garage. “Conor. I don’t believe we have a meeting scheduled.”

“This was pressing.” He huffs as he stops before Jude and me—the bastard still looking far too entertained. Until Conor’s gaze lands on him. “Did you pull a shop owner out of his store bloody in the middle of the day?”

It’s my turn to be amused as I twist toward Jude. “Yes, Jude. Did you?”

That wipes his stupid grin off his face. “Yes.” That dry tone is back.

“Why would you do that?” Conor rakes a hand through his short, brown hair, looking flustered. “Do you understand the mess this has created?”

I fight not to roll my eyes at him. “I’m sure it was cleaned up.” By who, I don’t know. Nor do I care.