Chapter Twenty-Nine – Kicking the Hornet’s Nest #2
We’re being ignored. Deliberately.
At least at home, things are getting better and better. Jo’s situation with her co-workers and human patients hasn’t changed, and she hasn’t gotten to have her official gregalis clinic yet, but bit by bit and unofficially, it’s happening anyway.
She’s now handling the prenatal care of Makena, the Harris pack’s nyra, alongside the obstetrician, Dr. Moretti.
After treating the Solomons’ oldest son, Benjamin, she had them bring all the other kids back for check-ups and vaccine shots.
Then the Bielke pack’s fathers were in town visiting, and they brought one of them to see Jo at the hospital.
Jo told us later, laughing, that the old man hadn’t been happy at all about his sons making him go.
During the exam, he even called Otto a ‘pain in the ass’ for dragging him there.
In the end, it was just an ingrown toenail, but it was infected enough that he could barely wear shoes without wincing.
But after Jo drained it, trimmed the nail, and bandaged him up, he thanked her and asked if she could take a look at one of his brothers too. Apparently, the brother has had this pain in his left ear that comes and goes for more than a year.
Jo was delighted, and her happiness was contagious, making us euphoric and a little bolder.
My brothers and I start talking about making arrangements for a trip to D.C.
to show up at the Department of Justice in person, just like we did at the New Jersey Attorney’s Office.
We would need leaves from both the garrison and the DEA.
But before we can take the first step, D.C. comes to us.
It’s Tuesday morning. We’re still deep into physical training, dripping sweat, lungs burning from a brutal finisher set, when Josh steps into the room and calls us over.
His face is tight. “The whole Eneas pack is in the Command Room,” he says. “They’re waiting for you.”
Fuck. My. Life.
What the hell could’ve possibly happened to bring the entire Eneas pack all the way to Great Sky for us?
We move immediately. No time to rinse off, no time to change.
When we step into the Command Room, we see them: Commander Elias standing center, flanked by Julius on his left and Leon on his right. All in full uniform.
No greetings. No nods. Just pressure. Elias speaks first. “Close the door.”
Shane reaches back and does it.
“Sit.”
We do.
“We’ve been monitoring your work through the Solomon’s reports,” Elias says. “What we saw was solid field performance and results. A major takedown of a trafficking operation that spans state lines, bigger than what anyone expected.
“Then you identify someone who’s been evading prosecution for close to twenty years. That alone would’ve been impressive. But instead of walking away, you pushed harder, went after the U.S. Attorney, started circling the DOJ.”
He looks straight at me. “It was a reckless move. Naive. But also brave. Not many would’ve had the guts. The problem is we weren’t the only ones watching.”
Julius steps forward slightly. “Your actions caught attention not just inside the justice system. Whoever’s protecting Miles Aranya knows who you are. They know you’re the ones pushing. And they’ve started to respond. ”
My stomach knots.
“We received an intelligence report yesterday,” Julius continues. “Judge Loyle has been threatened, directly and repeatedly. We believe those threats came from the same network you’ve been chasing. He’s stepping down from your case.”
Jay’s jaw tightens. Shane’s face hardens, eyes narrowed.
“We can’t prove anything, so our hands are tied. The replacement judge is Charles Gesson, and he was selected for his anti-aegis bias. He’ll do everything in his power to make sure you’re convicted. This wasn’t a reassignment; it was a placement.”
We all know what that means.
Jay’s the one who says it. “They’re trying to bury us.”
“Yes,” Leon says, nodding. “They probably see a conviction as the cleanest way to shut you down. And they’re not wrong. If you’re found guilty, you lose your place at Special Ops, and with it, any power to keep digging into the doctor.”
Elias continues. “We’re doing everything we can behind the scenes; you already know the MAB’s invested in your win. But whomever you’re chasing, they’re powerful enough to move judges.”
Elias’ voice stays level. “We’re under pressure too.
Leadership made it clear, loud and direct, that if letting a trafficker walk is the price to keep Special Ops beyond human reach, then so be it.
In their view, you should’ve dropped it and kept your heads down.
And they’re right, in a way. This will benefit the DoD agenda greatly and weaken the MAB’s position. ”
His gaze sharpens. “We’re supposed to rein you in. Discipline you and show you’re under control. But what’s the point now? You already kicked the hornet’s nest. Whatever comes next, you’ve already bought it. So we’re not here to punish you. We’re here to warn you.”
He looks each of us in the eye. “If these people know anything about aegis, they know exactly where to strike if they want to break you. They’ll go for your nyra and try to use her to make you back down. All they need is to keep the pressure on until the trial finishes the job.”
My heart spikes. Fear hits hard, raw and pure, filling my lungs. Panic takes over my brothers’ faces too.
I was so caught up in the goal of taking Aranya down, I never once thought we might be putting Jo in danger. I knew the man was shielded by powerful people, but the worst-case scenario in my head was him walking free. Not this.
“We’re only two weeks from trial,” Elias continues. “You’re going on leave. Stay with your nyra and protect her.”