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“We have some leads. I’m sure our security has more information now.”
“What’s going to happen to all of them?” Now she was angry, though her eyes were still damp.
“We’re going to keep them here. Ask a few of them questions so we can gather more information. Then get them into foster homes or other orphanages.”
Arden didn’t say more as she followed me. We reached the far corner, where Lucas, Lex, and Jagger were talking, their voices hushed. Lucas looked up at me, then bowed his head.
“Let’s talk outside,” I said, nodding toward the door.
Some enforcers opened it for us. The cool air brushed against my skin, which should have been a relief after being in such a cramped, emotionally charged space. But I was pissed. Why were so many children being kidnapped and exploited? And why were all of our suspects slipping through our fingers like water?
Arden stayed back, leaning against the side of the building as she stared off into the distance.
“The only suspect we found fleeing the scene was this man—brown hair, brown eyes, average build. But he has this tattoo near his neck. His shirt is hiding most of it, but it’s a start, at least,” Lucas said.
The fae looked familiar, but his face was so generic that I couldn’t pinpoint where I’d seen him before.
“Wait, can I see?” Arden said, appearing behind my right shoulder. Her warm scent took the edge off my irritation.
Lucas looked between us, and I nodded. He showed Arden the image, and her breath hitched.
“I know him. That’s Tommy,” she said, taking the paper from Lucas. “He gives me jobs with the Forsaken Lunars. I’d know him anywhere.” She swallowed, her eyes wide. “The Forsaken Lunars have to be behind this.”
The recognition was a slap in the face. We’d only seen him briefly at the Forsaken Lunars HQ, but now the memory of him stood out starkly in my head. I’d seen a lot of criminals, but somehow, he hadn’t struck me as one who would do this.
We had been monitoring the Forsaken Lunars for decades. Up until now, they had just been a minor disturbance. As it turned out, they were a much bigger threat that we’d ever imagined.
Chapter24
Lex
None of us spoke after Arden dropped Tommy’s identity. She was telling the truth—she’d gone pale and put her hand to her stomach like she was afraid she’d get sick. And the kidnappings were clearly affecting her, too. She had been in the very same situation these kids were at their age. No parents. No family. No security. She wouldn’t lie.
I rubbed Arden’s upper back. Her fingers trembled as she held the paper with Tommy’s photo.
“Is he a close friend? Past lover?” I asked.
Jealousy shot through me at my last question. The thought of another man touchingourArden caused a burst of fury to flow through my core.
“No. He’s neither a close friend nor a past lover.” Relief spread through me at her words. “But we’ve had a business relationship for years,” she said, taking a deep breath and letting it out. “I mean, I never thought he was an amazing person. We did shady stuff. But kidnapping at-risk kids? Hewasone of those kids, just like I was.”
Jagger rested his hand on her lower back, his dark eyes intense in a way that made most fae nervous. But Arden didn’t break eye contact.
“So, you can help us get him,” Jagger said.
“Technically?” She handed the paper back to Lucas, who tucked it into his folder. “It’s complicated.”
“We’ll discuss our plans and inform you of what’s next, Lucas,” Flint said, before turning back to us. “Let’s go back inside and figure things out.”
All of us were silent for the short ride back to the central section of the palace. Since we’d had to abandon dinner, I asked an aide to get food for us while we worked.
Arden flopped onto one of the big leather seats around the table, all the warmth and excitement she’d had earlier gone. I understood. The whiplash of going from our fun dinner—Flint’s insistence that he didn’t want to share Arden aside—to a mass kidnapping rescue was unsettling.
“So, you know Tommy,” Flint said, sitting down across from Arden. “What can you tell us about him?”
“He’s worked for the Forsaken Lunars for a long time, at least ten years, I think,” Arden said, sitting cross-legged. “To be honest, I was always surprised he was a part of it. He’s kind of shy and needy, not the kind of guy to be in an underground criminal group.”
I shrugged. “Maybe it’s an act.”
