Page 86 of Playing with Fire

The words hung in the air, a promise and a threat rolled into one. Whatever complicated feelings we harbored about Algerone, we all understood the value of what he'd given us.

"I'll start the analysis," Leo offered, taking the pad from my hands. "See what we've got to work with."

I nodded, grateful for his practical approach. Leo understood, without my having to say it, that I needed action. Needed to move forward rather than dwell on what we'd lost.

Reid returned and surveyed the room with a frown. “We need to debrief you. This way."

He led us down a corridor to a meeting room I hadn't seen before. It was smaller than the main command center but well-equipped, with a central table surrounded by comfortable chairs and screens on every wall. We settled around the table, our expressions grim. Leo took the seat beside me, his thigh pressing against mine, a silent reminder of his presence. Xander and Xion sat across from us, unusually quiet.

"Start from the beginning," Xion said, his voice tight. "What exactly happened out there?"

"It was a trap," I said, meeting their eyes across the table. "The whole facility was rigged to draw us in and then eliminate us. Phoenix wanted us to find that room, to see what he'd been planning. He wanted us to know how thoroughly he'd been watching us."

"And the bomb?" Xander asked.

"Triggered when I tried to move something from his desk. It looked like a simple paperweight, but it was anchored to something beneath. When I pulled, it detonated." I paused, the memory of Algerone shoving me aside flashing vividly before my eyes. "Algerone... he realized what was happening faster than I did. He pushed me clear of the worst of the blast."

The admission hung in the air, its implications clear. Algerone had saved my life. Had made a split-second decision to protect me at his own expense. I didn’t know how to process that.

Two staff members carrying trays of food and drinks. The spread was impressive given the late hour: sandwiches, fruit, an assortment of pastries, and a large carafe of coffee alongside a pot of tea. The staff members set everything down efficiently before withdrawing.

"Burns' security forces converged immediately after the explosion,” Reid said once they were gone. “Very coordinated. Very professional. This was not an amateur operation. These were hired mercenaries, for certain.”

"So Burns has his own private army," Xion concluded, his expression darkening. "Great."

"Not an army," I corrected. "But a well-trained security team, yes.”

"And he left Algerone to them," Xander said, his voice unusually subdued. "After ensuring the building would collapse on him first."

The bluntness of their assessment hit like a physical blow. I hadn't wanted to articulate it so plainly, but Xander was right. Phoenix had orchestrated the entire scenario, from the trap to the security response. Had calculated exactly how to separate us, weaken us, and potentially eliminate one of our strongest assets.

"Algerone gave me full access to Lucky Losers," I said, glancing at Reid. Since Maxime wasn't there, he was the highest-ranking member of Lucky Losers present.

Reid shifted uncomfortably in his chair, fingers tightening around his teacup. "With all due respect, Monsieur Laskin, I think you should discuss this with Maxime first."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why? Algerone gave me the codes directly. Full access."

"Oui, and I do not question that. But Maxime has run many day-to-day operations for years. He knows systems better than anyone except Monsieur Etremont himself. It would be... inconsiderate to cut him out completely. Especially now."

The unspoken implications hung in the air between us. I'd seen Maxime's reaction to the news about Algerone. The broken composure, the naked grief. There was clearly more between them than a purely professional relationship.

"Reid is right," Leo said quietly, his hand finding mine under the table. "Maxime deserves some consideration here. Whatever was between him and Algerone..."

"Was complicated," Xander finished for him. "But real. We all saw it."

I stared down at my untouched food, weighing my options. Part of me wanted to forge ahead immediately, to use these new resources to hunt Phoenix without delay. Every second we waited was another second Burns had to prepare his next move. But Reid was right. Maxime had decades of experience with Lucky Losers. His knowledge would be invaluable, and alienating him now would only create unnecessary complications.

"Fine," I conceded. "I'll talk to Maxime in the morning."

"In the meantime," Leo suggested, "I can start a preliminary analysis of what we found at the compound. The photographs, the surveillance data Phoenix collected. There might be something useful there."

I nodded, grateful for his practical approach. "Good. Focus on patterns, recurring locations. Phoenix has been watching us for months, maybe years. There has to be something in his surveillance that reveals his own movements."

"I'll help," Xion offered. "Two sets of eyes are better than one."

"And I'll coordinate with the security team," Xander added. "Make sure the Sentinel's defenses are at maximum. Phoenix has already proven he can penetrate our security once. We can't let that happen again."

The easy division of tasks, the immediate rallying of support from my siblings and Leo, eased something tight in my chest. This was what family meant. Not blood relation or shared DNA, but people who stepped up without hesitation when things got hard. People who knew exactly what needed to be done without being told.

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