Chapter 6
Ridge
I look down at the list of names on my desk. There are fourteen in total.
I sigh and scrub a hand over my face.
Six of them are my staff members. They were males from my security team who were on rotation at the vaccination center when everything went pear-shaped. The other eight are civilians and clinic staff.
I press the heels of my hands into my closed eyes for a second before reading the list a third time.
They spelled one of the names wrong. I cross it out, spelling it correctly, initialing next to it. Then I run through the rest of the details, which are all correct.
Then I hand the printout to my PA, Layla.
“Get this back to the printers tonight,” I tell her. “I want the programs ready by tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Has the catering been ordered?”
“Yes, sir. It has been confirmed for both venues. Iron’s family asked if we could move the reception to the orchard rather than the hall. I told them yes. I hope that was the right call.”
“Absolutely.” I look up at her, noting that her eyes are red at the edges. Ethan Porter, who worked and died at the vaccination center, was her cousin. She helped get him the job.
“Listen, Layla…”
“Sir.”
“Take the rest of the day off.”
“Sir, I have to help prepare for—”
“It can wait. I’ll handle whatever comes in. Take the day off. Call your family. It might be time to visit the Mainland.”
She holds my eyes for a second, and then she nods once and goes to gather her things. I watch her through the glass of my office wall as she pulls her coat off the back of her chair, says something brief to one of the analysts in the bullpen, and walks out.
The pen is still loud. It has been that way for nine days straight.
Three workstations have fresh occupants on them with temporary transfers I pulled in from the northern outpost to plug the gaps.
The phones are going nuts. Two of my mid-rank officers are bent over a map of the Mistveil approach corridors, arguing in low voices about a third escape attempt this week.
Reds, trying to slip through. They’re pissed off at what the Mainland has done and want their freedom more than ever.
I had hoped that it would die down now that the opposite is true.
I can’t say that I blame them, but my orders haven’t changed, and until they do, we have a job to do. This war isn’t over.
Magma marches up and down, giving orders. I’ll leave him to it. He’s coping – for now. I’m waiting for him to pull me in to assist.
Hopefully, tensions will ease after the upcoming Council meeting with the Mistveil delegates.
I push back from my desk, pull on my jacket, and tell my deputy where I’m going.
“Are you sure you want to go yourself?” he asks. “I can have—”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
He nods once.
I run the arm of security that places, trains, and maintains every uniformed body posted across the island, from the gate of the vaccination center to the watch huts on the southern reefs. Everyone but the riders themselves; that’s on Magma.
He nods his head when he sees me, and I wave, walking out the door.
I head to my SUV and pull out. The first house on my list belongs to Dusk’s mate.
According to his file, her name is Coral. I may have crossed paths with her at a function once, perhaps twice, but I have too many under my command to remember every face attached to every spouse.
I get out.
Coral opens soon after I knock. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail. She is wearing one of Dusk’s shirts, oversized on her, even with the bump.
She is clearly with child. The file did not mention that.
“They said someone from the Security Central would come by,” she says.
“Coral. I’m Ridge. I’m—”
“I know who you are, and this is a surprise.” Her chin lifts a fraction. “Dusk spoke highly of you.”
“I’m so sorry that we are meeting under such terrible circumstances.”
A tear tracks her cheek. She wipes it away on the back of her hand.
“Come in.” Her voice catches.
The house smells of furniture spray and lavender. Like she recently cleaned every room. Perhaps cleaning helps calm her. There are flowers on every surface and cards stacked in two neat columns on the hall table.
She offers me tea. I accept and offer to help her make it.
“No, no. I won’t be a moment. Please. Sit.”
I do as she asks.
When she returns, she puts the cups down and lowers herself onto the couch opposite mine with the care of a woman in her last couple of weeks of pregnancy.
“When are you due?”
“Next month.” She pats her belly. “Not long now.” Her lip wobbles. “I keep thinking he’s going to walk through the door,” she says. “I made dinner last night and put out two plates. I didn’t even realize I’d done it until I sat down.”
“I am so sorry, Coral. It’s such a tragedy. Such a waste of a life, especially since we moved Dusk away from the frontline when the two of you mated. He should have been out of harm’s way. I’m so damned sorry,” I repeat. What more can I say? It isn’t enough.
“I know you are.” She wraps both hands around her cup. “I know.” She nods. “It isn’t your fault, Ridge.”
I would ask her how she is holding up, but I can see that she is barely hanging on, so I move to talk of the funeral arrangements instead.
“My office is handling everything, including the memorial service. I left an envelope on the table. It’s all in there.
Although I know they have already been in touch, someone from my office will check in with you again tomorrow in case you want changes made.
We can run with all of it if it is too much for you to tackle.
You do not have to lift a finger. However, you might want to give some input. ”
“Thank you. I’ll have a look.”
“There’s something else I need to discuss.”
She looks up.
My phone vibrates against my thigh, but I ignore it.
“Dusk’s pension provisions go to you in full.
His housing allowance will also continue for the next five years.
Medical cover as well. There is also a separate settlement that pays out as a lump sum within thirty days.
None of it requires you to apply. My office will handle every piece of it.
If anything is delayed, or denied, or queried, you call me directly. I will deal with it.”
I put my card on the table.
“That is my personal number. Do not hesitate to call me.”
She sits with her eyes on the cup. The rim shakes a little where her thumb rests.
My phone vibrates again.
Dammit. Can’t they leave me alone for one afternoon? This is important.
“He used to say you were a hard man to work for,” she says.
“I am.”
“Dusk liked it. He said you were fair.” She gives a small, broken laugh. “He loved working for you and for the unit.”
“I appreciate that more than you know. He was a good male. I was lucky to have him on my team.”
My phone vibrates a third time. I take it out. The screen shows several missed calls. All three are from Councilor Reed.
“Do you need to take that?”
“Not really.” From my tone, I’m sure she can hear that it might be important.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind. I know you’re a busy male.”
“I’m sorry,” I mutter.
I open the device. Councilor Reed does not call three times in a row without good reason. Why is she calling me instead of Magma? Unless something has happened to him. Nah! He was in the bullpen when I left.
Shit!
“It might be,” I admit. I stand. “I’m so sorry, but I have to take this. I’ll be two minutes.”
“Of course. Please.”
I step out into the front garden and pull the door closed behind me. The afternoon is bright and a little too warm for my jacket. I walk to the end of her path and press the call back.
“Councilor, apologies for missing your calls. This is Ridge.”
“We need to meet ASAP and it’s important. Today…right now, please.” She sounds stressed.
“With all due respect, Councilor, I’m with the family of one of my dead officers. I had planned on visiting the other families this afternoon. What about this evening? I could swing by your office or even your private residence?”
There is a small pause on her end.
“It can’t wait. This is an emergency.”
Crap!
“I see. I’m all ears.”
“Not on the phone. I need to see you in person, and as soon as you can break free. But not at the Council buildings or at your office.”
I stand very still.
“What is going on, Councilor Reed?”
“Do you know the Sister Stones, on the western escarpment?”
I frown. “Yes, I know them.”
The Sister Stones is an old place. Three weather-worn stones leaning against one another above a shallow spring, almost swallowed up by the forest, half an hour’s walk in from the western trailhead, if you’re going at a decent clip.
Nobody goes there much anymore. The young used to be brought there for naming ceremonies a generation ago, before the practice died out.
There is no road. It isn’t the ideal meeting place, unless you want confidentiality.
What the hell is going on?
“Meet me there in an hour. Come alone. Come on foot from the western trailhead.”
“Councilor, this is unusual—”
“Listen to me, Ridge.” Her tone drops. “This is important. Do not tell anyone about this call. Not even Magma. This stays strictly between you and me. Are we clear?”
I don’t like it one bit.
“You’re asking me to keep this from my own commanding officer.”
“Yes. If anyone in your office asks where you are going, tell them you are visiting the next family on your list and that you may be back late.”
My beast, who has been quiet in me all afternoon, lifts his head.
“I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I, but here we are.”
“What’s going on?”
“I would not be asking it of you if I had any other choice. I cannot divulge anything more on this line. When you arrive at the Stones, you and I will speak, and then you can decide what you do with what I tell you. Until then, I need you to trust me.”
“And if I say no?”
“It’s an order.”
I huff out a breath. “I trust Magma with my life. I don’t like going behind his back, even if it is an order from a Council member.”
“If you turn me down, I will have to find someone else who will agree, and I will be sorry I asked you, and you will not hear from me again on this matter. But I am asking you, Ridge. Please come. Hear me out. Please.”
I look back toward the house. Through the front window, I can see Coral on the couch, her hand still resting on her belly.
“Okay,” I agree.
She pushes out a heavy breath. “Thank you.”
The line cuts.
I stand at the gate with the phone in my hand and the sun on the back of my neck and the slow, low coil of my dragon stirring under my ribs.
I have served this Council for many years. Nine of them on the frontlines. In all that time, no Councilor has ever asked me to meet them off the books.
Reed is always strictly above board.
Something is going down.
Then again, we are in troubled times.
I put the phone in my pocket and go back inside.
Coral looks up when I come in. Whatever is on my face must show, because hers changes.
“You have to leave.”
“I do. I’m sorry, Coral. Duty calls, and it cannot wait. Someone from my office will arrange a sit-down with you for tomorrow. You have my number.” I glance at the card on the coffee table.
She nods. Her eyes fill again, but she holds back the tears.
“Thank you for coming. It means a great deal.”
“I’ll be back to see you at the funeral…unless you need me sooner.” I dip my head once, and I let myself out.
In the SUV, I sit with my hands on the wheel and the engine off. I will have to make time to see the other four families.
Then I start the engine.
My beast is awake under my skin now. What is going on? Why can’t Magma know about it?
I hate this.
I pull out into the road and press my foot down on the accelerator.