Chapter 9 #3
“That former camp our scouts found that, by all evidence, was Ramsey’s base up until recently,” Grey tells her.
“What about it? You want to send another recon team?” Lexi asks.
I shake my head. “By the time they found it, he’d already moved on, but Nash thinks there’s a chance they might still be checking on it periodically in case any new recruits show up there.”
“You want to send someone to check it out?” Lexi asks, clearly confused. “What’s the big deal? I think it sounds smart. Maybe Crow—”
“No, I want to check it out myself,” I say before I can punk out. “Well, me and Nash.”
“Oh.” Lexi looks like she did earlier when she was asking me about Nash, and I refuse to read into that expression.
“It’s too much of a long shot to spare our patrol crews,” I hurry to explain. “But if it does work, and Ramsey or one of his people show up, we want to make sure we haven’t sent someone he can manipulate.”
“Or turn to his side,” Grey adds. He softens. “Crow told me what Ramsey said to you yesterday. About trying to recruit you to his side.”
“Oh.” I blink, startled.
But, of course, he did. The fact that I forgot about it is just proof of how distracted I really am by Nash.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Lexi asks.
“Because it didn’t matter,” I say honestly. “I was never going to betray you.”
“Yes, but if he’s targeting you, we need to know so we can protect the people closest to you,” Grey says. The look he gives me has enough reproach in it that I feel bad for keeping the secret.
“You’re right.”
“I told Donahue to assign someone to keep an eye on your dad,” he adds.
“Thank you.” I feel equal parts relieved and guilty. I should have thought of that. Demanded it.
“We tried to do the same to Dutch and Razor, but I’m sure you can guess how they reacted,” Lexi adds with a rueful smile.
“I wish I could have seen their faces when you told them you thought they needed someone else to babysit them,” I say with a laugh.
“I’m sure you’ll hear about it,” she says. “Dutch was dramatic about the insult. Then he asked if it could be Andy who guarded his body.” She rolls her eyes.
“Gross. Please tell me he didn’t say it like that.”
“You know he did.”
I shudder.
“Anyway, Lexi and I both agree we need to do something more proactive about Ramsey,” Grey says, sobering. “So if you think this mission with Nash has potential, we don’t want to waste that. And we don’t want to give Ramsey another chance to hit us like that again.”
“Exactly.” I shoot him a look, relieved that he sees the strategic merit.
This has nothing to do with wanting to be alone with Nash. It’s work, nothing more.
“It could be a waste of time,” Lexi says thoughtfully. “Days with no activity.”
“Could be,” Grey agrees. “Or it could be the break we need.”
“It could be, but if you need me here—”
“I need you to find Ramsey,” Grey says simply. “Everything else, we can manage.” He looks at me steadily. “Besides. Your wolf could use some time out of the city. Away from the noise.” He says it matter-of-factly, like it’s tactical, but there’s something underneath it that’s more like concern.
Defensiveness creeps in. “You say that like I’m losing my edge.”
“Relax,” he says. “You’re still sharp—anyone can see that—but when did you last shift and just run? Not a patrol. Not a mission. Just run.”
I open my mouth.
Close it.
He nods like that’s the answer he expected. “You and Nash take three days. Marcus can run point on the Crossvale pack for us while you’re gone. Find us something we can use.” He glances between Lexi and me. “Any objections?”
I think about what he’s offering. Deep in the northeast woods. Alone with Nash. Days of letting my wolf have her freedom. My wolf, who has been prowling restlessly under my skin for weeks, pressing toward something I keep refusing to let her have. Even the Null hasn’t fully quieted her lately.
Lexi shakes her head. “I think it’s worth a shot.”
“Good.” Grey reaches for his laptop. “I want a map before you go, with the coordinates for the camp. Just in case we need to locate you.”
“You’ll have it.” I stand.
Lexi catches my eye on the way out—just long enough to convey something that I decline to interpret too specifically. Something knowing. Ugh.
In the hall, I check my phone and find multiple texts from Dutch.
Dutch: New update on the suit guy. He just asked Razor what kind of food you like. For “operational purposes.” Those were his actual words.
Dutch: OPERATIONAL PURPOSES, MIA.
Dutch: I need answers!
Suddenly, a new one comes in from an unknown number.
Except I know exactly who it is.
Nash: Just heard you greenlit the stakeout. We leave tomorrow at first light. I’ll drive.
I stare at it for a moment, wondering how he got my number. And how he heard the news so fast. But all roads lead back to Dutch—whom I’ve just decided to kill.
I type back: I’m driving this time.
His response comes in seconds.
Nash: I know when to pick my battles.
Smug, I pocket my phone and go find Echo before Elena makes good on her pest control threat. If she finds him first, though, I’m blaming it all on Dutch. He deserves it.