Page 33 of Code Name: Grit

“You didn’t knowGrit called the briefing?” I overheard Dragon ask Lumi when I approached the command center several minutes later.

“He was quite tight-lipped about it,” she replied, her tone neutral.

I caught her gaze briefly before entering the room where Admiral stood at the central display, conferring with Tank. Dante looked up as I walked in, his eyes narrowing when his sister walked past us without a word.

“What’s going on?” he asked. “Why the urgent recall?”

“I’ll explain in the briefing,” I said, going to stand near Admiral.

As the team took their seats, I thought about the news I had to deliver. Each time a report came in confirming corruption in our ranks, it shook our collective confidence in federal law enforcement harder.

“Before we get started with Grit’s agenda, there’s something else we should address,” Admiral began, his weathered face creased with concern. I nodded once and took a seat in the nearest empty chair.

“Tank reports the Belcastros have halted efforts at the shipping terminal. They’ve pulled back personnel, redirected resources, and gone dark on the previously active communication channels. This isn’t just caution—it’s a complete operational shutdown.” He manipulated the digital display, highlighting surveillance footage from the past twenty-four hours. “The Belcastros don’t spook easily. They’ve operated under law enforcement scrutiny for decades. To abandon such a significant expansion this abruptly suggests either they’ve detected our specific surveillance methods, or”—he paused, eyes narrowing—“they’ve received intelligence from someone with intimate knowledge of our operation. Someone who knows exactly what we’re looking for and why.”

“I fear it’s a combination of both,” I said when he looked over at me. I stood, dreading the words I was about to utter. “While on the Galliano stakeout last night, I witnessed someone entering the restaurant shortly after Marco Venutti arrived. I should also mention that the second person to join him was Christopher Rivera, one of Manhattan’s ten council members, who serves on the city’s zoning committee.”

I pulled up my surveillance photos while heads around the room nodded in acknowledgment of the unspoken implications of the councilman’s arrival.

“As you can see in the photos, there is another former bureau agent working for the Belcastros. Ethan Keller, previously the supervisory special agent for the FBI’s Manhattan field office, counterintelligence division, and now with the DOJ.”

The room fell silent. Keller hadn’t been just any agent—he was respected, decorated, and a man many of us had looked up to. Including me. The betrayal felt deeply personal, like a reopening wound.

“Jesus, not Keller,” Tank said, his voice hollow. “Didn’t he lead the task force that took down the Angelico family a few years back?”

“That’s right, and last night, he met with Marco Venutti for over an hour.” I enlarged the image, removing any doubt. “We have to assume everything we’ve done has been compromised.”

Admiral’s expression hardened. “If Keller’s corrupt, our entire mission could be compromised.”

“Which explains why the Belcastros backed off at the terminal,” said Dante. “They’re regrouping, changing tactics.”

Throughout the discussion, I couldn’t help glancing at Lumi. She sat next to Dragon, eyes locked on the display, expression unreadable. Each time I looked at her, I felt her confusion and hurt radiating in my direction. I knew she was wondering why I hadn’t told her who the man was last night when she’d asked.

“We need to completely reassess our approach,” Admiral said, his voice cutting through the shocked silence that had fallen over the room. “The Belcastros know we’re watching them. More importantly, they know how we’re watching them. This isn’t just a tactical setback—it’s a fundamental breach of operational security.”

The digital display flickered as he pulled up a complex map of Belcastro territories across the five boroughs. “Everything we’ve learned this week has likely been for naught. Every surveillance position, every intelligence vector, every undercover approach.” His finger traced across multiple locations. “We need fresh angles and unconventional methods. Break into groups and reassess from the ground up. I want perspectives we haven’t considered.”

As the team separated, I found myself seated at a table with Admiral, Tank, and Atticus. Dante shepherded Lumi toward the far corner, positioning himself between her and me with Dragon in tow.

Tank spread satellite imagery across the digital surface. “If we assume full compromise, we need to establish new surveillance protocols.” His voice droned on with theories and suggestions, but I absorbed none of it. My focus kept betraying me, gravitating toward Lumi like a compass finding north.

She sat with her back straight, fully engaged in conversation with Dante and Dragon, her analytical mind visibly working through the problem. Occasionally, her eyes would flick in my direction, catching me watching her before deliberately looking away. Each time felt like a door slamming closed.

Tank noticed my distraction. “Something more interesting over there, Grit?” His voice carried enough volume to draw unwanted attention.

“Nope,” I muttered, refocusing on the digital display.

Admiral watched this exchange with eyes scrunched, and when Tank conferred directly with Atticus about something, he leaned closer.

“Take five,” he said quietly. “Clear your head.”

I nodded, grateful for the reprieve, and headed outside. The autumn air felt sharp in my lungs after the days spent in the city. I made my way down the worn path to the lake, where a moisture-heavy breeze carried the scent of pine and decaying leaves.

Admiral’s footsteps crunched behind me minutes later. He didn’t speak immediately, just stood beside me, watching the water lap against the weathered dock.

The late-morning sun scattered diamond reflections across the lake’s surface, a serenity that mocked the turmoil I felt. Admiral skipped a flat stone across the water, the ripples disturbing the perfect mirror of sky and mountain.

“What’s going on with you and Lumi?” he asked after several seconds of silence.

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