Chapter Twenty-Three
Neith
Fortunately, I know that Trip isn’t threatening me, no, he just made an observation. Besides, he knows that I have seen him do things that he shouldn’t be able to do as well, so at this point, he has as much on me as I do on him.
I hate thinking like that, especially about someone who I like, but I can’t risk anything, and I would rather be safe than sorry. Life has taught me that lesson, and it wasn’t an easy lesson to learn.
Ty clears his throat, breaking the tension as he says, “Thank you for the USB stick, it’s going to make a huge difference to our operation and how quickly we can arrest the other people who have brought from The Owner and will also help to free the kidnapped and enslaved a lot quicker than we would have been able to. ”
Trip nods and crosses his arms over his chest. “I have a copy.”
Ty’s smile turns sharp, “Smart man. Don’t forget my offer. I think you would fit in incredibly well at SID.”
“I don’t do teams,” Trip says, with a shrug.
I get that, I mean, before I met the guys, I would have said the same thing. I don’t like relying on anyone, and having spent so long with just myself to rely on, I find it difficult even now, relying on the guys.
Ty nods, “That’s fine. You don’t have to.”
My eyes narrow slightly, “What about Navy? She said that you put her on a team?”
Ty smiles slightly, “Navy is still a new agent, fresh from the academy, and until she finds her feet, even though she is extremely good at what she does, I would prefer it for her safety that she works with a team. Especially in regard to the case that she’s currently been assigned to.
She knows it's temporary, she’s just not happy about it. ”
I grin, “Yeah, that sounds like Navy. Speaking of, I’ll be right back.”
The guys carry on talking with Ty as I step away. If I don’t message Navy now, then I’m going to forget, and I really don’t want to forget.
It’s not because I don’t care enough, I just won’t remember. Something will happen to distract me like it always does, and it will be a while before I find the time to remember that I wanted to check in with her in the first place.
Me: Hey, Joey said that you’ve been put with a team and you’re not happy about it. How’re you doing?
I glance back over to the guys, “Is Joey okay?”
Ty looks over at me and nods, “Yep, he’s fine, he got a scrape on his arm, and he’s over with the medical team. He’ll heal up in no time though.”
I nod, “Thanks, Ty.”
My phone buzzes in my hand, and I look back down at it. Leaving the guys to carry on talking about whatever they were talking about, probably something important that I should be listening to.
It surprises me to see that she has already messaged me back. Although knowing Navy, she might have known that I was about to message her anyway and was just waiting for me to do it.
We never did get to meet up properly, and I have no idea when we’re going to be able to anymore. We’re both so busy. Actually, we all are, Neera and Joey too, and would really like them to meet Rana too, but who knows when we’ll be able to make that work.
Navy: Erm, I’m not entirely sure. It’s interesting.
My eyebrows raise.
Me: Interesting good, or interesting bad?
Navy: I honestly don’t know. I know I’m being vague, and I don’t mean to be, I just have no idea. But, I’m close. I might finally get the fucker who imprisoned me.
It hits me, I misunderstood her when we were at the Training Academy, and she first hinted at her past.
It has nothing to do with Casimir. It was just a similar situation.
Thank fuck.
It means that she’s not in danger of being recaptured by Casimir because she escaped him, and quite frankly, that was something that I was seriously concerned about.
Although it does mean that she’s in danger of being recaptured by someone, and I hope that the team Ty has put her with is up to having her back, because there will be fucking hell to pay if something happens to her.
I glance back over at Ty and the guys, “Ty, is the team you’ve got Navy with up to the job?”
Ty’s expression is serious, “They are the best at what they do, as unique as she is.”
His answer is somewhat cryptic, but it is reassuring.
I have one more question though, “Are they willing to kill to keep each other safe, including Navy?”
It seems like a dramatic and probably inappropriate question to ask, but I don’t particularly give a fuck.
“They rival you and your team,” Ty replies simply.
“Can we meet them? They sound like fun,” River asks, with a huge smile.
Ty chuckles, “I’ll see if I can arrange when you both have free time. They’re stationed in one of the other realms, usually.”
“Awesome,” Doc grins.
“Thanks, Ty,” I call out and then look back down at my phone and continue my conversation with Navy.
Me: I’m here if you need me for anything. I know what it’s like. Give ‘em fucking hell.
Navy: The guys or the fucker?
I grin.
Me: Oh, it’s like that, is it?
Navy: No!
Uh-huh, I think I’ll be reminding her of this at some point in the future, but for the moment I’m going to let it slide.
Me: In that case, both. Message me if you need me.
Navy: I will. Thanks, Neith. Message me if you need me too. I mean it.
Me: I will.
I smile as I put my phone away. Talking to Navy always makes me happy, and there’s a small part of me that hopes that she’s going to need some backup, so that I have an excuse to go and see her.
At this point, working a case together might just be the only chance that we get to spend some time together. I wouldn’t have seen Joey if he weren’t here.
I have no idea where that would leave fitting in Rana and Neera though.
Maybe Christmas?
Maybe we could do a big family Christmas get-together, and they can come to that? I know they’ll have their own families to spend time with at Christmas, but we can do it around Christmas. It doesn’t have to be on Christmas Day.
I’ll talk to the guys about it at some point and see what they think.
When I get back to the guys, they’re all still talking, and Ty has disappeared to do something else.
“So, what do you think? Are you going to give Ty’s offer to join SID some thought?” Griff asks, Trip curiously.
Trip looks down at the card in his hand, having pulled it from fuck knows where since the last card turned into a USB stick, and shrugs, “As I said, I’m not really a team player.
Never have been. I don’t really trust that I won’t be forced to be on a team at some point,” He glances over at River, and Ransom, and adds, “Plus, I feel like they would ask too many questions.”
I instantly know that he’s referring to the fact that he can use magic, and as a shifter, he shouldn’t be able to, but the others all look confused by his words.
Understanding flashes through River’s eyes, “There are ways around that, trust me. We can help you navigate that if you were to choose to join SID.”
“Hmm,” Trip replies noncommittally. “I’ll think about it.”
“Fair enough,” Reed replies. “So what now? Can we call someone for you?”
Trip shakes his head, “There’s only one person that I would want to know that I’m free, and she already knows I’m alive and out. As for your other question, I’m not sure. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to make a choice. I’ll figure it out.”
I have to admit that I thought that he would immediately be going to find Rana. Especially because of his reaction in the cells, but like everything, there is obviously more going on that we aren’t privy to.
“Well, if there’s anything that we can do to help you, just let us know,” Van offers with a smile.
River reaches out his hand, “Thanks for your help, man. We wouldn’t have known about the seal if it weren’t for you.”
Trip grins and grasps River’s hand, “No problem. I should be the one thanking you anyway. It’s unlikely that we would have ever been able to escape otherwise.”
“You can thank Rana for that. If she hadn’t given us so much information, we would have never been able to pull this off, and the place would have disappeared on us again,” Reed tells him.
Trip’s eyes cloud with emotion, and he smiles, “Is she okay?”
The guys hesitate, unsure how to answer, but I decide that it’s best to answer as honestly as possible without telling him things that it’s not my business to tell him.
“She went through hell,” I start, and he tenses, his purple eyes darkening with anger, “but she’s safe now.”
“Are you sure?” He asks.
Van nods, “She’s on my family's compound, and they’re all looking out for her. She is safe.”
Trip nods, “In that case, as much as I want to make sure that she’s okay with my own two eyes, there are a couple of things that I need to sort out first.”
“Actually,” River replies with a big smile, “I think I have a suggestion.”
My eyebrows dip in confusion, since I have absolutely no idea where River is about to go with this.
Trip narrows his eyes slightly, “I’m listening.”
“I know that you have no reason to trust me, but if you find yourself at a loss, make your way to the compound sooner rather than later. There’s a security gate, but we’ll let them know that you’re coming.
The town is safe, secluded, and very well guarded, which is why we know that Rana is okay there.
There is a nearby pack, but they won’t give you any trouble.
I’ll let them know that you might be turning up at some point, too.
I think you’ll find that it’s exactly the kind of place that you’re looking for to regroup,” River explains.
He turns to look at Raiden and asks, “Raiden, do you have a pen and a piece of paper?”
Raiden nods, looking confused as he pulls both things out of the many pockets on his pants, and hands them to River, “Sure.”
“Thanks, man,” River replies as he quickly writes down what I’m assuming is the address to the compound and hands it to Trip. “There’s a wolf shifter in town called Merrikh, he can show you around.”