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“So, for now, should we go through this training program?”
I smiled, some glee at what awaited them filling me. “I don’t think it would be a bad thing. It would give Fin and us some time to work through things in this jumbled mess of secrets and lies. Besides, it’s two weeks, still plenty of time to return to school in the fall if you plan to.”
“Do you think we’ve given them enough time to talk about their feelings?” Asa asked, standing.
“As much as I’m willing to give,” I admitted, standing up. “He can’t have all of her time.”
Laughing, Asa slapped me on the back, and we headed back to the room. As we drew near our door, Ryker rushed around the corner from the opposite direction. His face was slack, devoid of emotions, but I saw it in his eyes.
“What is it? What happened?”
He stopped in his tracks, looking between the two of us. If I didn’t know better, I could’ve sworn he was gauging whether we were together.
“I need to know what you decided first.”
“We were just about to go find out,” Asa replied, walking up to the door and looking over his shoulder at me. Nodding, I followed him, and he placed his palm on the scanner and it beeped to let us in. He poked his head around, probably to give them time, so we weren’t walking in on anything indecent since we had Ryker with us.
“Ryker has some news but needs your decision first,” he said, stepping in. I followed, finding the two of them on the couch. Their lips were puffy, but they looked like they’d been talking otherwise.
“What do you guys want to do?” Fin asked, checking with us.
“I’m okay with it. Milo?” Asa answered.
“It’s not how I imagined spending my time, but I’m game.”
“Cohen?” Finley asked me.
My eyes heated as I met hers. “As much as I appreciate your concern, sweetheart, I’m afraid I’ll be one of your trainers, not an initiate.”
“Oh,” she said. I could’ve sworn her cheeks heated, and her pupils dilated, but it was quick and gone when she turned toward Ryker. She took some time assessing him and finally let out a long breath.
“I’m not sure where I stand with you or The Order, but I guess the training program would give us time to figure that out. It looks like we’re all in. So, what’s this news you have to tell us?”
Ryker seemed to relax at her statement, moving closer to the couch. When he looked like he was going to sit next to her, I jumped over the back of it, falling into the seat. Asa snickered into his hand, taking the chair on the opposite side.
“I guess that seat is taken,” Ryker said, giving me a teasing look I didn’t want to acknowledge. Narrowing my eyes, I crossed my arms, but Fin pulled them apart, taking my hand. Smugly, I linked our fingers together, lifting my eyebrows now at Ryker as he sat on the coffee table. It was still too close for my comfort, but at least it wasn’t right next to her.
“Did you hear back from Dex?” Fin asked when Ryker didn’t immediately start talking.
“I think so. Cohen, I wanted you to hear this from me first because I knew you were close. Kristina was taken hostage on a mission last night, and I fear she didn’t survive.”
Gulping, I sat back, the news surprising me. “What happened?”
“Her team went to reconnaissance a building when they were ambushed. It’s too early to tell, but the intel might have been false, luring them there for this purpose. She was taken after her team was tranquilized. When they woke up, all their gear and vehicles had been tampered with. It took them four hours to walk back to the safe house. They called in an hour ago to report it.”
I realized then it was the messages he’d received while meeting with us. It made me respect his role and how difficult it must be to balance it all.
“What are the next steps? Why tell us?” Fin asked, proving she was perfect for The Order.
Ryker turned to her, and I realized we’d been having a silent conversation when his eyes left mine. “I’m telling you because I believe she was taken by MKG. And based on the package that showed up soon after the team reported in, I’d put good money on the fact that Dex is behind it.”
He pulled out his phone and clicked on something, pausing briefly before turning it. “What I’m about to show you isn’t pretty. Are you sure you want to see it?”
“Yes, I think I need to,” Fin replied, squeezing mine and Milo’s hands. Ryker nodded, letting her decide her limits, and turned the phone.
At first, I wasn’t sure what I was seeing was real. Lining the box were photos of Fin dressed in a red cocktail dress and red stilettos. She was younger, probably around the age I’d first met her. That was when it clicked that this must’ve been the night she was arrested. From every angle, there was a picture of her, and they pieced together in the box to highlight her face with a red circle around it like it was a sniper scope.
Finley gasped, her hands moving to her mouth as she took it in. I placed my arm around her, pulling her to me, hoping I was giving her some strength.
