Page 86 of Scars of Fate

I saw the silent communication pass between them.

“You know the name,” I said.

Adam didn’t answer immediately.

Lucas did.

“Meridian provides security contractors to governments and corporations.”

“They provide more than security.”

“What did you find?”

“Every time Meridian received a payment, a village was attacked within forty-eight hours.”

Silence settled between us.

“Not random villages,” I continued. “Places near pipelines, mining sites, proposed military bases, or transportation routes.”

Adam’s expression hardened.

“They were clearing the land.”

“Yes.”

Lucas looked toward the dead men in black.

“And using local fighters to hide who was giving the orders.”

“Yes.”

I pointed toward the attacker’s phone.

“The men who took the convoy weren’t supposed to kill me. They were waiting for Meridian to arrive.”

“To recover you,” Adam said.

“Not me.”

I shook my head.

“The file.”

Lucas stepped closer.

“Where is it?”

“I don’t have it.”

His stare sharpened.

“The guard burned my notebook and destroyed my camera.”

“You said the file was digital.”

“It was.”

“Where is it?”