Page 138 of Specter Bred

I crawled farther along the ridgeline, searching for another angle, but every time I exposed so much as a shoulder, another volley of bullets forced me back into cover.

Then a single rifle shot echoed across the valley.

"Drop it, Claybourne!"

Grizzly's voice carried across the canyon with unmistakable authority.

I risked another look through my scope.

Claybourne stood frozen, Grizzly's rifle trained squarely on his chest while Archer covered the remaining enforcers from the flank. Behind them, muffled shouting echoed from somewhere beyond the collapsed entrance. Fists pounded against solid rock. Claybourne's backup was alive, but trapped. There was no way they were digging their way out in time to save their boss.

Shots echoed through the valley, signaling that Archer had taken care of Mathias’ remaining men. I made my way down the ridgeline as Grizzly crouched in front of Mathias, who knelt on the ground with his hands now zip-tied behind his back.

"You and I have been playing this game a long time, Mathias," Grizzly said evenly. "So I won't waste your time by beating around the bush. Intel recently crossed my desk that you held an arms meeting with several Helix generals south of Arca's border.

Mathias's eyes widened before a surprised laugh escaped him.

"You're joking, right?" he scoffed. "That's what this is about? I do business with everyone! Helix. Arca. The Northern Shifters, even. Hell, I'd sell a rifle to a direworg if it had the cash. That's the business. And Command knows it."

"They've been willing to overlook your dealings because, despite your greed, you served a greater purpose." Grizzly's expression hardened. "That arrangement ended the moment your meeting included a former member of Arca Command."

Mathias frowned.

"What are you talking about? I thought you said a meeting with Helix generals, not former Command..."

As he spoke, Grizzly slipped a hand into his front pocket and pulled out a personnel photo. He held it in front of Mathias.

Councilor Warren Voss.

Recognition flashed across Mathias's face. In an instant, he knew exactly how fucked he was.

"So it's true," Grizzly said quietly. "You met this man."

"Fuck," Mathias let out a long, resigned sigh. "I had no fucking clue he was a former councilor. If I'd known—"

"Don't lie," Grizzly cut him off. "The only thing that would've changed is how careful you were about covering your tracks."

Mathias gave a small shrug, offering no argument.

"Now," Grizzly continued, "are you going to tell me what I want to know, or am I going to have to drag it out of you?"

Mathias looked up at him. "If I talk... am I square with Command? I didn't know the bastard was an Arca rat."

Grizzly held his gaze for a long moment before giving a single nod.

"Command will clear you." Grizzly held his gaze. "Now talk."

Mathias let out a slow breath.

"He was part of the group I met just south of the Helix border. I figured he was just another General."

Beside me, Hayes leaned in close. “Guess Grizzly was right about this being a short conversation.”

I glanced at him, trying to follow what Mathias was saying.

Hayes lowered his voice. “You must be disappointed.”

“Why the fuck would I be disappointed?”